Final answer:
Earl Robert and his 900 soldiers were ambushed by a smaller force of French and Indians at Durham, leading to a panicked retreat despite their numerical advantage, with significant casualties among the officers and the Virginia troops.
Step-by-step explanation:
Earl Robert and the 900 Soldiers at Durham
When Earl Robert and his contingent of 900 soldiers arrived at Durham, they were attacked by a smaller force of approximately 300 French and Indians. Despite the numerical superiority of Earl Robert's forces, they were overcome by panic which led to a chaotic and cowardly retreat. The officers attempted to rally their men and demonstrated bravery but suffered heavy casualties as a result, with nearly sixty being killed or wounded. The regular soldiers showed a lack of discipline and the incident highlighted the bravery of the Virginia troops, many of whom were killed, leaving scarcely thirty men alive out of the three companies present. This exemplifies a historical encounter where superior numbers did not guarantee victory, and the impact morale and discipline can have on a battle's outcome.