Here, one of the companies of the Virginia corps was stationed, and James, finding that they were expecting, every day, to be ordered up to Wills Creek, determined to join them at once.
The scene was a busy one.

Stores were being landed from the transports, teamsters were loading up their waggons, officers were superintending the operations, the men of the Virginia corps, who wore no uniform, but were attired in the costume used by hunters and backwoodsmen; namely, a loose hunting shirt, short trousers or breeches, and gaiters; were moving about unconcernedly, while a few of them, musket on shoulder, were on guard over the piles of stores.
Presently a tall, slightly-built young man, with a pleasant but resolute face, came riding along, and checked his horse close to where James was standing.

James noticed that the men on sentry, who had, for the most part, been sitting down on fallen logs of wood, bales, or anything else which came handy; with their muskets across their knees, or leaning beside them; got up and began pacing to and fro, with some semblance of military position.
"Who is that young man ?" he asked a teamster standing by.
"That is Colonel Washington," the man replied, "one of the smartest of the colonial officers." "Why, he only looks two or three and twenty," James said in surprise.
"He is not more than that," the man said; "but age don't go for much here, and Colonel Washington is adjutant general of the Virginian militia.

Only a few months back, he made a journey with despatches, right through the forests to the French station at Port de Beuf, and, since then, he has been in command of the party which went out to build a fort, at the forks of the Ohio, and had some sharp fighting with the French.

A wonderful smart young officer they say he is, just as cool, when the bullets are flying, as if sitting on horseback." James resolved, at once, that he would speak to Colonel Washington, and ask him if he could join the Virginian militia.