French and Indian War

Fort Necessity

On a nice spring day we traveled to Ft Necessity near Uniontown, PA. In July of 1754 this was the site of one of the first battles of the French and Indian War fought for control of the Upper Ohio valley and, ultimately, the North American continent. The war is also know as the Seven Years' War that was fought by the British and French elsewhere around the world. It was also the first major event in the military career of the young Virginian, George Washington.



Interior of fort

Great Meadows

Washington had set the fort too close to the woods and the French and Indians had excellent cover to fire on the fort from this location.

Jumonville Glen

The fighting had started on May 28, 1754 when Washington and a small group of men and their Indian allies encountered a group of Frenchmen encamped along Chestnut Ridge. During the skirmish the French commander, Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville, was killed. 

This lead to a large force of French and their Indian allies under the command of Louis Coulon de Villiers, brother of Joseph, to leave Ft Duquesne at present day Pittsburgh, PA to confront Washington at Ft Necessity. After heavy casualties during fighting on July 3, 1754, Washington and his men were allowed to withdraw after signing a surrender document.

Although this is probably not original forest, this area feels very desolate and give a good indication of the effect this type of wilderness and terrain must have had on these men in the 1750's

 

 

Braddock Campaign

Unable to accept the outcome of this battle and the French presence in the America's, the British planned a campaign against several French strongholds in the east. The centerpiece of these attacks was to be Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock's expedition to take Ft Duquesne at the head of the Ohio River at present day Pittsburgh, PA. He had a seemingly formidable force of 2400 men but little experience with wilderness fighting. In April 1755, Braddock moved out widening Washington's old road as he went. On June 25th he passed the Great Meadows and the ruins of Ft Necessity. Splitting his force on July 9 1755, Braddock moving forward with about 1300 men and collided with about 600 French and Indians 8 miles from Ft Duquesne. At the end of the battle two-thirds of the British troops and most of their officers were dead or wounded.

 

Braddock himself was mortally wounded and died on July 13 1755 during the retreat. He was buried in the middle of the road to disguise the grave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workmen repairing a section of the old Braddock road believe they found Braddock's remains in 1804. These remains were re interred on a nearby knoll next to the National Road, present day Rt 40. A large granite monument marks this spot.

Mount Washington Tavern

While in the area, we also stopped at the Mt Washington Tavern. Built about 1827-1828, it was one of the first stagecoach stops along the National Road.

This is all part of the Ft Necessity National Battlefield run by the National Park Service. More information is at www.nps.gov/fone.