FRENCH and INDIAN WAR

Fight for a Continent

The conflict between France and England that took place here in Pennsylvania The woodlands of Western PA was a focus for the worldwide struggle for power between England and France, and set the course for a great deal of United States history - and future!

Having claimed the area of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers years before through LaSalle's explorations, the French had let the English colonists lay claim to the land and develop trade with the natives. In the 1740's it became apparent to the French that the English settlers were taking over an important part of the continent, and the French should retake it so as to connect their settlements in Canada and Louisiana.

In 1749 they began actively courting the indians, and with the arrival in Quebec of Marquis Duquesne as the new governor of New France in 1752, a strategy was decided upon. A string of forts would be built connecting Canada and Louisiana, controlling the land and blocking the English from expanding westward. Fort Presque Isle was built at the present site of Erie, and Fort Le Boeuf at present Waterford, 19 miles overland from Fort Presque Isle. Fort Le Beouf sat at the northern end of the Ohio River's headwaters. It was here that in 1753, Virginia sent 21 year old George Washington to express concern over the French violating England's claim. The French, of course, dismissed this, as they felt England's claim to be wrong.

In 1754, Virginia sent a small force to build a fort at the beginning of the Ohio River, at present day Pittsburgh. (Ironically, this area was claimed by two English colonies, Pennsylvania and Virginia, as well as by the French.) This palisade was begun on February 17 and finished just as more than 500 French troops arrived on April 17. The French forced the Virginians to retreat, to replace their palisade with a fine fort, Fort Duquesne. Washington was leading a military force to the site when he learned of this, and also of a French force sent to challenge him. On May 28, 1754 Washington and 47 men, along with several indians led by Tanaghrisson (the Half King), attacked the 35-man French force under Ensign Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville, east of present Uniontown, at a place now called Jumonville. (It is still unclear which side fired the first shot.) Four Virginians and fourteen French, including the French commander, were killed or wounded.

Going back to his encampment at Great Meadows, Washington hurried to complete the little palisade he had started. Poorly sited, poorly designed and poorly constructed, Washington did not plan on using it for defense. He started on his way to attack the French at Fort Duquesne, but when he heard of a large French advancement he began a retreat, making it back to his hastily-built Fort Necessity. Jumonville's brother, Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, had ironically arrived at Fort Duquesne with over a thousand reinforcements just after news of his brother's defeat had arrived. He set out to attack the Virginians, catching up to them at Fort Neccesity. Under intense fire all day and a third of his 300 men killed or wounded, Washington agreed to surrender terms that the French surprised them with, and headed back to Virginia.

In 1755, the British sent Major General Edward Braddock and some British regulars to the colonies. George Washington was to help Braddock, but when he tried to convince Braddock not to march and fight in the traditional European formal patterns, Braddock wouldn't hear of it. On July 9, as they approached Fort Duquesne, they were attacked by the French and Indians. The British were defeated, suffering 1,000 casualties out of the 1,300 man force, and Braddock was killed.

The British seemed to lose interest in the area until William Pitt became Prime Minister. He placed Brigadier General John Forbes in command of a powerful army assigned to attack Fort Duquesne. This attack would be mounted through Pennsylvania, using forts at Carlisle, Bedford, and Ligonier. Colonial troops were also used, Virginia's under Col. George Washngton and Pennsylvania's under Col. John Armstrong. British Colonel Henry Bouquet took over much of the command when Forbes fell ill. As the British advanced on Fort Duquesne the French, unsuccesful at delaying the attack and greatly outnumbered, burned the fort and retreated. Forbes took over the ruins, built a new fort named after the Prime Minister, and the British rule over the area was firm.