Larry A. Smail's Blog

Area of French encampment. This would be the view Washington would have seen upon his approach.

Western Pennsylvania is rich with history. This fact is especially accurate when one considers some eighteenth century events. Much was happening and changing beginning within the 1740 time span. A British statesman named Horace Walpole would describe an event of the time as “The volley fired by a young Virginian in the backwoods of America set the world on fire.”  That young Virginian was a man named, George Washington.

My story will be brief, but I urge anyone interested in learning all aspects of these times to further their minds. There is a treasure of information available for details.

The French began descending the Allegheny River Watershed coming south out of Canada. Their goal was to establish claim to the valuable lands west of the Allegheny Mountain range of Pennsylvania. Their secondary goal was to obtain as many Indian tribes as allies as they could. They wanted their trade with them to outgrow English trade. French officer Celeron placed messages of ownership in lead plates at various locations in 1749. (Indians would remove many of these to melt down the lead for musket balls.) Soon French forts were built at strategic locations including a fort at the forks of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers.  The fort’s name was Fort Duquesne. Today this site is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Indians wanted the trade with the whites, but they did not want any established settlements. The Pennsylvania Colony believed these lands to be their lands as did Virginia. The English wanted these lands for their lands, as well.  Any potential problems here?

The French tried to escape between these rocks only to met the warriors.

Out of Virginia the Governor Robert Dinwiddie sent a twenty-one year old named George Washington  to ascend the Allegheny River area to deliver a letter to the French. The letter’s intent was to convince the French to abandon their plans. This was so important that this mission was in the winter of 1753….not the best time to be maneuvering the wilds of western Pennsylvania.

The plan failed as the French politely rejected the orders and Washington returned to Williamsburg, Virginia with their reply.

Lieutenant Colonel George Washington returned  to the area in 1754 to evict the French out of Fort Duquesne. He had a force of men with him as he established a site at what was the Great Meadows. This site had the grasses needed to help feed the livestock.

Indians reported to Washington of a French force nearby. Washington and some men along with some allied Seneca Indians under their leadership of the Half-King, Chief Tanacharison moved in to encounter the French. The French were at a location with a huge rocky outcrop that would be known as Jumonville Glen.  There was no war at this time only some friction so the French officer named Jumonville didn’t place any sentries as Washington moved in on the morning of May 28, 1754. He came to the encampment from the south. Another officer, Captain Stephen moved into position above the rock outcrop and the ten or so Indians moved in from the north.

Suddenly a shot rang out. Nobody knows who fired that first shot, but an exchange of musketry exploded. The entire skirmish lasted for about fifteen minutes in total. The French tried to escape to the north and met up with the Seneca. Jumonville shouted for a cease-fire which happened. He, while reading in French, began to convey their orders were simply to deliver a diplomacy letter to the English demanding they leave the area. However, Tanacharison who understood French stopped the reading with a tomahawk to the officers head killing him instantly.  A report states he washed his hands in the officer’s brain. The Indians began killing and scalping the wounded and prisoners. Washington had a rough time stopping the Indians from killing the surviving troops. One French soldier escaped to Fort Duquesne. The Seneca chief was getting the war he so desired.

The shot, whomever fired it, would be the one responsible for the beginning of the French and Indian war in America. There would be no turning the tides of war at this point.

The site was named after the French leader who died on site.

The French view towards Washington’s approach.

The next entry here will be of Fort Necessity and Washington’s first defeat.