Washington’s First War

George Washington was in way over his head. On May 28, 1754, Washington was a 22-year-old military officer from what was then the British colony of Virginia. Bold, brave, and ambitious, the future U.S. president was also completely inexperienced in war. And he was about to make a serious, even tragic, blunder.

That morning, Lieutenant Colonel Washington was leading a group of 40 Virginian soldiers through the deep woods of what is now western Pennsylvania. Although Native American peoples already lived in this area, France and Great Britain also claimed it for themselves. The British called it the Ohio Country.

At the time, French forces were building a base called Fort Duquesne (doo-KAYN) at the Forks of the Ohio River (see map, below). The location would give them control over rivers leading into the heart of the continent. Washington’s mission: to tell the French to abandon Fort Duquesne and get off what the British claimed was their land.

George Washington was in way over his head. It was May 28, 1754. He was a 22-year-old military officer from what was then the British colony of Virginia. The future U.S. president was bold, brave, and ambitious. But he was completely inexperienced in war. And he was about to make a serious, even tragic, mistake.

That morning, Lieutenant Colonel Washington was leading a group of 40 Virginian soldiers through the deep woods. The area is now western Pennsylvania. Native American peoples already lived there. But France and Great Britain had claimed it for themselves. The British called it the Ohio Country.

At the time, French forces were building a base called Fort Duquesne (doo-KAYN) at the Forks of the Ohio River (see map, below). The location would give them control over rivers leading into the heart of the continent. Washington’s mission was to tell the French to give up the fort and to get off what the British claimed was their land.

The day before, Washington had been warned that a party of French soldiers was headed his way. Were they coming to attack? He had to get the jump on them.

All that night, Washington and his soldiers stumbled through pitch-black woods in sheets of rain. Near dawn, they reached the camp of a Seneca chief named Tanaghrisson (ten-AH-gruh-son). The chief was a British ally. But he had his own agenda. Tanaghrisson believed the French planned to kill him and his followers. He wanted the British to strike first. 

Tanaghrisson and a few of his warriors led the Virginians to a rock wall overlooking the French camp. Below them, some 35 soldiers were waking up and making breakfast. 

The day before, Washington had been warned that a party of French soldiers was headed his way. Were they coming to attack? He had to get the jump on them.

All that night, Washington and his soldiers stumbled through pitch-black woods in heavy rain. Near dawn, they reached the camp of a Seneca chief. The chief’s name was Tanaghrisson (ten-AH-gruh-son). He was a British ally. But he had his own plans. He believed the French planned to kill him and his followers. He wanted the British to strike first.

Tanaghrisson and a few of his warriors led the Virginians to a rock wall overlooking the French camp. Below them, some 35 soldiers were waking up and making breakfast.

Suddenly, shots rang out. In a flash, all was chaos. By some accounts, Washington fired first—or ordered his men to shoot. In others, the French did it. Either way, after a quick volley of bullets, almost half of the French were wounded or killed. 

Their leader, Ensign Coulon de Jumonville, called for a cease-fire. He tried to explain his own mission: to demand that the British colonists leave the land claimed by France.

Before he could finish, accounts say, Tanaghrisson killed Jumonville with a hatchet. Then Tanaghrisson’s warriors killed most of the wounded. 

A diplomatic mission had turned into a massacre. And there was worse to come. Washington didn’t know it yet, but his attack on the French camp would help spark a conflict that would soon spread around the world: the French and Indian War.

Suddenly, shots rang out. In a flash, all was chaos. By some accounts, Washington fired first. Or he ordered his men to shoot. In others, the French did it. Either way, there was a quick volley of bullets. Almost half of the French were wounded or killed.

The French leader was Ensign Coulon de Jumonville. He called for a cease-fire. He tried to explain his own mission. It was to demand that the British colonists leave the land claimed by France.

Accounts say that before Jumonville could finish, Tanaghrisson killed him with a hatchet. Then Tanaghrisson’s warriors killed most of the wounded.

A diplomatic mission had turned into a massacre. And there was worse to come. Washington did not know it yet, but his attack on the French camp would help spark a conflict that would spread around the world. That conflict is called the French and Indian War.

Britain and France had been competing in North America long before Washington’s accidental battle. France claimed much of what is now Canada, the Great Lakes area, and territory along the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, Britain’s settlers were outgrowing the 13 colonies they had established on the east coast. 

Many Native peoples—then called Indians by Europeans—were caught in the middle, trying to hold on to their land. Some, such as the Abenaki, sided with the French, thinking they would be easier to live with (see “Analyzing a Primary Source,” below). Others, including the Cherokee, allied with the British.  

The powerful six nations of the Haudenosaunee (hoe-dee-no-SHOW-nee) in upper New York had their own ambitions: to claim the Ohio Country for themselves. Also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, the Haudenosaunee tried to use the British and French against each other as war erupted.

Britain and France had been competing in North America long before Washington’s accidental battle. France claimed much of what is now Canada, the Great Lakes area, and territory along the Mississippi River. Meanwhile, Britain’s settlers were outgrowing the 13 colonies they had established on the east coast.

Many Native peoples, then called Indians by Europeans, were caught in the middle. They were trying to keep their land. Some, such as the Abenaki, sided with the French. They thought the French would be easier to live with (see “Analyzing a Primary Source,” below). Others, including the Cherokee, allied with the British.

Meanwhile, six powerful nations of the Haudenosaunee (hoe-dee-no-SHOW-nee) in upper New York had their own plans. They wanted to claim the Ohio Country for themselves. The Haudenosaunee were also known as the Iroquois Confederacy. They tried to use the British and French against each other as war erupted.

After Jumonville’s death, Washington fled to Fort Necessity, a small encampment about 6 miles away. There, he braced for a counterattack. Six weeks later, it came with a fury. Badly outmaneuvered by French and Native forces, Washington had to surrender. The date: July 4, 1754. 

Britain soon came to realize the colonial forces couldn’t handle the French on their own. It sent Major General Edward Braddock across the Atlantic along with two regiments of British soldiers. In May 1755, Braddock’s troops along with colonial fighters set out to take Fort Duquesne. Washington signed on as the general’s aide.

After Jumonville’s death, Washington fled to Fort Necessity. That was a small encampment about 6 miles away. There, he prepared for a counterattack. Six weeks later, it came with a fury. Washington was badly outmaneuvered by French and Native forces. He surrendered. The date was July 4, 1754.

Britain soon came to realize the colonial forces could not handle the French on their own. It sent Major General Edward Braddock across the Atlantic with two regiments of British soldiers. In May 1755, Braddock’s troops along with colonial fighters set out to take Fort Duquesne. Washington signed on as the general’s aide.

The mission, like the one before it, was a bust. In part, this was because Braddock rejected help from some Native people of the Ohio Country who had offered to fight with him if the British would agree to live among them peacefully. 

On July 9, Native and French fighters ambushed Braddock’s troops as they crossed the Monongahela River. Lined up in their red uniforms, the British were sitting ducks for their enemies, who picked them off from behind rocks and trees. More than two-thirds of the British and colonial troops were wounded or killed, including General Braddock. 

But Washington proved his worth as a soldier. Even as two horses were shot from under him, he stayed coolheaded. He bravely led the survivors to safety. 

Like the one before it, the mission was a bust. In part, this was because Braddock refused help from some Native people of the Ohio Country. They had offered to fight with him if the British would agree to live among them peacefully.

On July 9, Braddock’s troops crossed the Monongahela River. Native and French fighters ambushed them. The British were lined up in their red uniforms. That made them sitting ducks for their enemies, who picked them off from behind rocks and trees. More than two-thirds of the British and colonial troops were wounded or killed. That included General Braddock.

But Washington proved his worth as a soldier. Even as two horses were shot from under him, he stayed coolheaded. He bravely led the survivors to safety.

Soon, the conflict had spread far beyond the Ohio Country—including to Europe, where it would be called the Seven Years’ War. In North America, battles raged on from New York into Canada. For the next few years, the French forces and their Native allies dominated. Meanwhile, the British struggled to recruit enough soldiers from the colonies to fight in the war.

But then, the British came up with a new strategy. In late 1757, they offered to pay back the colonies for their war expenses. Almost overnight, the colonial forces multiplied in size. 

Soon, the conflict had spread far beyond the Ohio Country—including to Europe. There, it would be called the Seven Years’ War. In North America, battles raged on from New York into Canada. For the next few years, the French forces and their Native allies dominated. Meanwhile, the British struggled to get enough soldiers from the colonies to fight in the war.

But then, the British came up with a new tactic. In late 1757, they offered to pay back the colonies for their war expenses. Almost overnight, the colonial forces multiplied in size.

Also, Native support for the war began to dwindle as a mounting death toll increased the hardships on their people. Then, in October 1758, France suffered a major blow. British officials and leaders of 13 Native nations signed the Treaty of Easton in Pennsylvania. The pact protected Native land in Ohio Country from further colonial settlement. In exchange, those Native nations agreed to quit the French cause.

Washington was already leading a Virginia regiment in yet another effort to take Fort Duquesne. This time, however, the French were without Native allies. Seeing that he was outgunned, the French commander set fire to the fort and escaped. 

On November 25, 1758, British forces seized the stronghold without firing a single shot.

Also, Native support for the war began to shrink. A mounting death toll increased the hardships on their people. Then, in October 1758, France suffered a major blow. British officials and leaders of 13 Native nations signed the Treaty of Easton in Pennsylvania. The agreement protected Native land in Ohio Country from further colonial settlement. In exchange, those Native nations agreed to quit the French cause.

Washington was already leading a Virginia regiment in yet another effort to take Fort Duquesne. But this time, the French did not have Native allies. The French commander saw that he was outgunned. So he set fire to the fort and escaped.

On November 25, 1758, British forces seized the stronghold without firing a single shot.

The withdrawal of France’s Native allies proved to be the turning point of the war. Then, after the fall of Fort Duquesne, the Iroquois Confederacy agreed to fight alongside the British. 

“The Iroquois shifted the whole balance of power in North America,” says historian Fred Anderson. In sum, he says, it was the cooperation of Native people—or their absence—that made all the difference. 

The combined British and Iroquois forces successfully pushed up into Canada. In time, with losses growing heavy, the French sought to negotiate peace. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris gave most of France’s North American territory to Britain. 

That same year, Britain’s King George III honored the Treaty of Easton. He issued the Proclamation of 1763, prohibiting colonists from settling in Native-occupied land west of the Appalachian Mountains. 

The withdrawal of France’s Native allies proved to be the turning point of the war. Then, after the fall of Fort Duquesne, the Iroquois Confederacy agreed to fight alongside the British.

“The Iroquois shifted the whole balance of power in North America,” says historian Fred Anderson. In sum, he says, it was the cooperation of Native people—or their absence—that made all the difference.

The combined British and Iroquois forces successfully pushed up into Canada. In time, losses grew heavy. So the French sought to negotiate peace. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris gave most of France’s North American territory to Britain.

That same year, Britain’s King George III honored the Treaty of Easton. He issued the Proclamation of 1763. It banned colonists from settling in Native-occupied land west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Peace did not last long. Colonists ignored the proclamation and headed west anyway. The movement to force the Indigenous peoples of North America off their homelands was again underway.

At the same time, the war had left Britain with a huge debt. The government sought to pay it off by heavily taxing the American colonies. Resentment among the colonists grew. More and more, they spoke of independence from Britain.

Washington, who had fought for the British for years, had to make a fateful decision. In 1775, he readied himself for a new role, this time as the commander in chief of the Continental Army against the British. Having learned how to inspire soldiers and fight in the woods of North America, he was ready to lead the colonies in the American Revolution—and in the founding of a new nation.

Peace did not last long. Colonists ignored the proclamation. They headed west anyway. The movement to force the Indigenous peoples of North America off their homelands was again underway.

At the same time, the war had left Britain with a huge debt. The government tried to pay it off by heavily taxing the American colonies. Resentment among the colonists grew. More and more, they spoke of independence from Britain.

Washington had fought for the British for years. But he had to make a fateful decision. In 1775, he readied himself for a new role, this time as the commander in chief of the Continental Army against the British. He had learned how to inspire soldiers and fight in the woods of North America. So he was ready to lead the colonies in the American Revolution—and in the founding of a new nation.