When Washington got back from the western side of the mountains, it became evident to the governor of Virginia that the French must either be driven away or the English people must be shut in to the country on the east of the mountains. The people in the colonies did not like the notion of being fenced in like a lot of cattle in a pasture. So Washington was again sent to the West in 1754 to take possession of the country. On his first trip, he had seen a spot where the Alleghany [al-le-ga'-ny] and Monongahela [mo-non'-ga-hee'-la] Rivers meet, which he thought would be a good place for a fort. A small company of men were sent ahead to build a fort at this place; but the French drove them away and planted a fort of their own on the ground. This was called Fort Duquesne [du-ken'].
Though the French in America were not many, they were nearly all soldiers. So when Washington with his party had got through the wild mountains into the western wilderness, he found that there were many more soldiers on the French side than he had. Hearing that a French party was dogging his steps, he marched in the night and surrounded them. After a sharp skirmish, the French fled but were nearly all captured. This little fight was George Washington's first battle.
But Washington soon found that he must retreat or be taken. He fell back to a place called Great Meadows, where he built a sort of fort and called it Fort Necessity. Here the Half-king in despair left him, and the French attacked his little force. After the conflict had lasted one day, Washington, seeing himself outnumbered, agreed to march out of the fort and return to the settlements, which he did. This expedition of Washington's was the beginning of a great war between England and France.
The next year troops were sent from England under General Braddock, who set out to drive the French from Fort Duquesne. Braddock was a brave man, but one of the sort who cannot learn anything. He laughed at the lank and careless-looking American troops, who cut a sorry figure alongside of the English with their bright red coats and fine drill. He was sure that these rough Americans were of no use. Even American officers were treated with contempt by the British authorities and were not allowed to rank with English officers. Washington was so stung by this that he resigned his place, but he accepted a position on Braddock's staff.
Rough as the mountain roads were, Braddock traveled in a coach as far as he could and tried to keep up the display common in Europe. He said that the American Indians would not amount to anything when they came to fight his well-drilled English troops. Washington could not persuade the general to send scouts on either side of his line. One day, there came to Braddock a company of woodsmen in hunting shirts. They were commanded by the famous Captain Jack, who was known as the "Black Hunter" of Pennsylvania. Captain Jack's whole family had been killed by the Indians in his absence. He had then taken to the woods and devoted himself to revenging the death of his family and to protecting the settlers. He and his followers lived in the forest and often encountered the Indians. This Captain Jack, and all his men, came to General Braddock and offered to help him as scouts. But Braddock put all his confidence in his solid ranks of English soldiers, and he foolishly refused the offer of the Black Hunter and his men.
As the army drew near to Fort Duquesne, Washington suggested to the commander that the Virginia rangers should be sent in front, because they were used to the woods. But Braddock was angry to think that a young American should advise an old British general.
On the 9th of July, 1755, as Braddock's army was marching along the narrow track through the woods, the Indians and French attacked them. All at once, the woods rang with the wild war-cry of the Indians. The forest, but a minute before so silent, was alive with fighters. From every tree and thicket, the Indians leveled their rifles at the red coats of the English, who fell like pigeons under their fire. Unable to see anybody to shoot at, the English soldiers did not know what to do. The Americans took to the trees and stumps and returned the fire, and Washington begged the general to order the British to do the same; but Braddock made them stand up in line, where they could be easily shot down.
Braddock fought bravely and fell at length mortally wounded. Colonel Washington did his best to rally the men and save the battle. He had two horses shot under him, and four bullets went through his coat. The army, so gay and brave in the morning, was soon broken to pieces, and the men fled back to the settlements.
But Washington had become the hero of the people. He was now put in chief command of the Virginia troops in defense of the frontier and managed affairs well. In 1758, he commanded the foremost division in an expedition under General Forbes, which slowly cut its way through the rough wilderness of Pennsylvania, and, having at last got over the mountains, forced the French to leave Fort Duquesne. The fort was rebuilt by the English and renamed Fort Pitt, in honor of William Pitt, the great prime-minister of England, who was a true friend to the Americans. When a town grew around Fort Pitt it was called Pittsburg.
The war between the English and French was finally closed in 1763. Canada and all the country east of the Mississippi were given up to the English, and settlers soon began to make their way into what are now the States of Kentucky and Tennessee.
Before the war closed, Washington retired to his home at Mount Vernon, and was married to Mrs. Martha Custis, a widow.
The French were settling west of the English in Virginia, preventing them from expanding westward. Washington was sent to take the French lands. Washington tried to build a fort at the crux of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, but the French drove them out and built their own fort, Fort Duquesne, there. Washington battled with the French, losing and retreating again and again. The next year, British troops under General Braddock came to fight the French. General Braddock was overconfident, refusing advice from Washington to send scouts and turning down help from Captain Jack and his fighting men. The French and Indians ambushed the English as they marched on a narrow path through the woods. The British made easy targets due to their fancy red coats, while the Americans, French, and Indians wore clothes that blended in with the woods. The Americans hid among the trees and fired back, but General Braddock made his British soldiers stand in line, where they were easy prey. General Braddock was mortally wounded, and the English lost the battle. George Washington fought bravely and was put in charge of the Virginia troops. Eventually, he recaptured Fort Duquesne. Years later, when the war was over, the English had won all land east of the Mississippi. Washington retired to Mount Vernon and married Mrs. Martha Curtis, a widow.
Vocabulary
Scouts: Soldiers sent out singly or in small parties to gather information and locate the positions of enemies. Woodsman: A man skilled in the ways of living and traveling in the woods. Hunting Shirt: A loose shirt or jacket, made of deer skin or homespun cloth, and worn by hunters. Ranks: Rows or lines of soldiers. Rangers: Troops employed to range, or ride through the woods and guard the settlements against enemies. Wounded: Injured, such as by cut or gunshot. Mortally Wounded: So badly wounded so as to cause death. Widow: A married woman whose husband has died.
Enrichment
Activity 1: Narrate the Story
Narrate the events aloud in your own words.
Activity 2: Study the Story Picture
Study the story picture, 'Major-General Braddock's death at the Battle of the Monongahela, 9 July 1755,' and describe how it relates to the story.
Activity 3: Map the Story
When the war was over, the English had won all land east of the Mississippi River. Find the land east of the Mississippi River on the map of the United States.
Activity 4: Complete Copywork, Narration, Dictation, and Art
Click the crayon above. Complete pages 39-40 of 'American History Copywork, Narration, Dictation, and Art for Third Grade.'
Review
Question 1
Why did the English and Washington initially march against the French?
1 / 7
Answer 1
French forts restricted the English to the eastern part of Virginia and prevented westward expansion.
1 / 7
Question 2
What happened when Washington and his men built a fort at the juncture of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers?
2 / 7
Answer 2
The French drove them out and build their own fort, Fort Duquesne.
2 / 7
Question 3
Did General Braddock and the English troops respect the American militia?
3 / 7
Answer 3
No, General Braddock and the English troops laughed at the American militia because they did not know military drills or wear sharp red uniforms like the British.
3 / 7
Question 4
Why didn't General Braddock heed Washington's advice to send scouts or accept help from Captain Jack?
4 / 7
Answer 4
General Braddock was arrogant and overconfident.
4 / 7
Question 5
Why did the French and American Indians defeat General Braddock?
5 / 7
Answer 5
General Braddock made his British soldiers stand in line, where they were easy prey. In addition, their red uniforms did not blend into the woods and made the British easy targets.
5 / 7
Question 6
Who led the troops after General Braddock was mortally wounded?
6 / 7
Answer 6
George Washington led the troops after General Braddock was mortally wounded.
6 / 7
Question 7
What was the outcome of the war between the English and the French?
7 / 7
Answer 7
The English won all of the land east of the Mississippi.
Why did the English and Washington initially march against the French?
French forts restricted the English to the eastern part of Virginia and prevented westward expansion.
What happened when Washington and his men built a fort at the juncture of the Alleghany and Monongahela rivers?
The French drove them out and build their own fort, Fort Duquesne.
Did General Braddock and the English troops respect the American militia?
No, General Braddock and the English troops laughed at the American militia because they did not know military drills or wear sharp red uniforms like the British.
Why didn't General Braddock heed Washington's advice to send scouts or accept help from Captain Jack?
General Braddock was arrogant and overconfident.
Why did the French and American Indians defeat General Braddock?
General Braddock made his British soldiers stand in line, where they were easy prey. In addition, their red uniforms did not blend into the woods and made the British easy targets.
Who led the troops after General Braddock was mortally wounded?
George Washington led the troops after General Braddock was mortally wounded.
What was the outcome of the war between the English and the French?
The English won all of the land east of the Mississippi.
References
'Major-General Braddock's death at the Battle of the Monongahela, 9 July 1755 by Unknown. (19th century, {PD-old-auto-1923})' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Braddock's_death_at_the_Battle_of_Monongahela_9-July-1755.jpg. n.p.
A First Book in American History
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