Fort Necessity and World War

#vanlife .

Most Americans think of George Washington as our brilliant general who led us to victory in our War  for Independence.  Few remember one of his early failures.

On his march into the disputed area of Pennsylvania in May of 1754, he learned of a French detachment headed his way.  They captured that force but as part of that victory a French officer by the name of Jumonville was killed.

Washington knew there would be a counterattack from French forces in Pittsburgh and ordered the construction of Fort Necessity.  It was built in 5 days.

When the French did attack on July 3, Washington and his forces were overwhelmed by the French and the pouring rain.  He surrendered and accidentally admitted to assassinating that French officer because the surrender documents were in French and not legible due to rain.

Looking at the size and quality of the "fort" it surprising they even lasted that one day.

This is the often forgotten start of not only the French and Indian war but the global war know as the 7 Years War.

Fort Necessity was also an answer to a trivia question at a bar we go to which is how it ended up as a stop on our journey.

 

 

 

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