Lt. Col. George Washington-1772
Pre-Cursor to Revolution
The French & Indian War-1754-1763: (2 of 3)
Battle of Great Meadows/Fort Necessity-July 3, 1754
Washington made a wise decision, in not attacking the much larger French force at Fort Duquesne. Expecting retaliation for his ambush on the scouting party, he retreated to a location called Great Meadows, and built a protective structure, called Fort Necessity-a circular stockade made up of 7 foot logs. Additional men from the Virginia Regiment arrived on June 9th and a few days later, 100 British regulars.
Just before noon on the 3rd of July, 600 French and Canadian troops from Fort Duquesne, along with 100 Indians, attacked Washington at Fort Necessity. Greatly outnumbered, the battle was swift and sure. The French leader-Louis Coulon de Villers-the brother of Jumonville who was killed in Washington’s previous attack, negotiated a deal. If Washington would surrender his garrison, the Virginian's could return home. It was young Washington’s first and only defeat in his long career. On the 4th of July, 1754, Washington led his militia back to Virginia.
Braddock's Expedition-1755
When news of Washington's battles reached England, the British decided to send an Army to North America to rid them of the French transgressions. Major General Edward Braddock was selected to lead the expedition. Britain’s plans called for simultaneous attacks on French forts, however Braddock’s mission, was to personally lead the effort against Fort Duquesne.
Gen. Edward Braddock, landed in the new world, as Commander-In-Chief of the British Army in America. His force included several regiments of British Regular's, militiamen from several of the colonies and a few Indians. In all, his Army was 2400 strong.
Braddock’s charge was to take Fort Duquesne, then capture the remaining French forts along the way, until he arrived at Fort Niagara. Twenty-three year old George Washington, served as Braddock's aide, during the campaign.
Braddock's Road
Gen. Braddock assembled his men at Wills Creek-(Present day Cumberland, Maryland).on May 29, 1755. His task was overwhelming to say the least, but he had some interesting help. Benjamin Franklin supplied wagons and supplies. Two young wagoners, who would go on to achieve great fame in their own right, joined the expedition-Daniel Boone and Daniel Morgan.
In order to move his men and equipment the 110 miles through the heavily wooded Allegheny Mountains, they needed a road. They began their trek by following the path that Washington had blazed, to Fort Necessity a year earlier. This path had to be widened to 12 feet, to accommodate the wagons and artillery pieces.
Movement through the dense woods was slow-on average, only gaining two miles per day. To speed up movement, Braddock split his men into two columns. The lead column consisted of 1,400 men, which marched ahead of a column of 800 men, led by a Col. Thomas Dunbar. On their way, they passed the remains of Washington’s Fort Necessity, which he had abandoned a year earlier.
Sources/Credits:
The relations of Pennsylvania with the British government, 1696-1765 By Winfred Trexler RootLt. Col. George Washington-1772 Painting By Charles Willson Pealle (1741-1827) WP:PD-Art
Conference of French and Indian Leaders around a ceremonial fire by Emile Louis Vernier (1829-1887) WP:PD-Art
Fort Duquesne Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Artist: Alfred Waud (1828-1891) New York Public Library WP: PD-Art
Battle of Jumonville Glenn: WP: CC-BY-SA