Amererican History: Fort Necessity

Fort Necessity is located in an area of Pennsylvania refered to as "The Great Meadow". It is where the first battle of "French and Indian War" began. This is also where George Washington started his military career.

In 1752 at the age of 22, George Washington was appointed as Major and Commander of the Virginia militia when his half brother Lawrence died from Tuberculosis. Lawrence was previously Adjutant General (militia leader) of the Virginia militia. Lawrences position was divided into 4 positions, one of which was give to George Washington.

Events during 1753 started what became the French and Indian War (1754-62). It all started when the French started encroching on the Ohio territory claimed by the British. Governer Dinwiddie (Virginia's Liutenant Governer) was given orders by the British goverment to warn to the French of thier encroching on land that was claimed by Brittain. George Washington was the chosen to be the courier because of his knowledge of the land. George Washington had had previous experience with surveying much of the new terrirories. He was to inform the French at Fort LeBeouf of British claim and that they must evacuate British territory. The French refused to leave. Washington reported back to Governer Dinwiddie in Williamsburg of the refusal.

George Washington was sent back to the Ohio territory to protect Captain William Trents company who was sent to bulid a new fort to be build where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers turn into the Ohio River, now know as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately the fort was never finished. The French, led by Claude-Pierre Pécaudy de Contrecœur and being manned with over 500 Canadian, French, and Indian troops, overran the small group of 36, led by Ensign Edward Ward who was in charge while Captain William Trent was absent. The French then proceeded to build Fort Duquesne. Captain Trent met up with Washington.

Here is a qoute from a letter to Governer Dinwiddie on 9 March 1754 from Washington refering to the contition of the troops:

"We daily experience the great necessity for cloathing the men, as we find the generallity of those who are to be Enlisted, are of the loose, idle persons that are quite destitute of house, and home, and I may truely say many of them of cloaths;"

During that time, George Washington had met with an Indian called "Half King", otherwise known as Tanacharison. He came to Washington for help to rid the area of the French. Half King had located a small detatchment of 35 French troops led by a French Canadian, Ensign Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville. Jumonville and his troops were located in an area that is now called Jumonville Glen. It is located just east of present-day Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

On 28 May 1754, George Washington led 40 of his colonial miltia along with 12 Indians to a successfully ambush on the French troops. This is Washingtons first skermish in his military career. It is agreed that the battle lasted only about 15 minutes.

After the battle at Jumonville Glen, Washington was concerned of retaliation from the French, so He began to construct "Fort Necessity". It comprised of a circular stockaid with 7 foot high logs covered by bark and skins. Inside was built a hut which stored provisions and ammunition. Of course it was all surrounded by earthworks. Fort Necessity was completed on 3 June 1754.

On 9 June 1754 Washington recieved the rest of the Virginia Regiment minus Colonol Joshua Fry who had succumed to his injuries, which gave Washington about 300 troop.

During the rest of the month of June Washington continued extending the wilderness road (Braddocks Road) to Fort Duquesne. The road is now called "National Road". On 18 June 1754 while working on extending to road, Washington met with Half King. He learned that the other Indian Chiefs would not assist Washington. With the intel that he had recieve, informing him that the French had 500 badly supplied troops he continued working on the road toward Red Stone Creek.

On 28 June 1754 Washington ordered a retreat to Fort Necessity. On the same day 600 Frenchmen and 100 Indians left Fort Duquesne led by Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, half-brother of Ensign Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville. Because of the ensuing French troops Washingtons men had to leave many of the supplies and leave in haste. They arrived at Fort Necessity on 1 July 1754.

On 3 July 1754 as the Washingtons troops scramble to reemforce thiet breastworks, Captain Villiers marched into Jumonville Glen to find the horror that was left behind from the battle that happened there. By 1100 AM cam in sight of Fort Necessity.

Washington was under manned and under armed. Within the first few minutes of the battle, his two swivel cannons were taken out, leaving him with just his muskets. What made it worse is that it started raining making the powder wet.

Not Knowing when British reinforcements might arrive, Captain Villiers sent an officer with a white flag to negotiate a treaty. Both Washington and Captain James Mackay of the British Army (Co-commander of Fort Necessity) signed the treaty, agreeing to leave the fort and to go back to Virginia. They were not allowed to return to Fort Necessity for 1 year from that day. They returned one year to the day. Unfortunately Washington did not speak French. If he had, he would have realized that the treaty said he assasinated French troops. They departed Fort Necessity 4 July 1754 with the full honors of war.

The battle at Fort Necessity lasted for about 10 hours. The war would continue until 1762.

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