the remainder were at fort cumberland, the layer of his rifle dagworthy, or spread among the small forts on the virginia frontier. washington sent out a plea through surrounding frederick county for malicious to rendezvous at winchester. they would then force the french indian raiders out of the shenandoah. only 15 men showed up. almost ideal hopes of raising a number of men to scour the adjacent mountains have vanished into nothing, complained washington. the inhabitants of this county is to be equaled by nothing but their perverseness. while supremely frustrated by the raiding indians, washington would learn much from them, about patients, about waiting for opportunities, about avoiding major battles if possible that would come to fruition in the distant future when he served as commander in chief of a far larger body of troops. things only got worse along the frontier. panic spread, the residence at winchester anticipated a full-scale attack at any moment. townspeople assisted by soldiers at washington's orders chop down trees and bushes near the main street to prevent indian ambusher