Battle of The Monongahela
Pennsylvania, British america, 9 July 1755
The Seven Years’ War, one of numerous coalition conflicts that erupted in Europe during the 18th century, may be considered as the first global war. Its North American theatre, where Britain vied with France for control of the expansive Ohio Country, was the scene of bloody conflict years before the conflict erupted in Europe in 1756.
As the French sought to dominate the continental interior and isolate Britain’s colonies between the mountains and the Atlantic coast, they constructed Fort Duquesne on the site of present-day Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania. By the spring of 1755, Major General Edward Braddock, British commander-inchief in North America, was determined to remove the threat. Braddock underestimated the rigours of wilderness campaigning, doubted his adversaries’ capabilities and believed the French would abandon Fort Duquesne.
Despite the misgivings of observers, the Braddock Expedition, including the 44th and 48th Regiments of Foot and militia from Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas, began to depart Fort Cumberland, Maryland, in stages. Braddock’s main force set out on 10 June, the entire expedition totalling about 1,850 men. The advance was glacial; forward elements hacked a road through the forest.
En route, Braddock divided his force in two. A “flying column” might advance more rapidly while wagons proceeded as able. However, the expedition was plagued by supply shortages.
Meanwhile, the French commander at Fort Duquesne, Claude-pierre Pécaudy de Contrecoeur, learned of Braddock’s approach, ordering Captain Daniel Liénard de Beaujeu to organise a force of 637 Native Americans, including the Huron, Delaware, Shawnee, Odawa and Miami tribes, along with 150 French-canadian militia and 108 troupes de la Marine, naval forces trained to serve on land or sea, to stop Braddock.
By the morning of 9 July, the gruelling, roughly 180-kilometre march had eroded British combat efficiency. Nevertheless, spirits were high and as the expedition neared Fort Duquesne, colours were uncased and the band struck up the The British Grenadiers, their marching tune.
The route of march required two crossings of the Monongahela River, and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage led forward an advance party of three companies of foot in the early afternoon. No skirmishers were deployed. Within an hour, the opposing forces clashed. Although Beaujeu had intended to ambush Braddock’s column, the encounter actually began by chance. Taking cover behind rocks and trees, the Native Americans fired into the massed British ranks and enveloped Gage on both flanks. In response, British troops loaded and returned fire and their third volley killed Beaujeu but the attackers were undeterred.
As Gage was forced to fall back, Braddock’s advancing main body became entangled with it on the narrow road. The British remained in the open and took heavy casualties, some from friendly fire. Braddock was mortally wounded by a ball that punctured his lung and sent him flying from his horse. The shrill war cry of the Native American forces unnerved the British, who panicked and fled.
In a twist of fate, the British were saved by none other than George Washington. At this time, the future leader of the American Revolution was a loyal colonel in the Virginia Militia who had been attached as an aide to Braddock’s expedition because he was familiar with the terrain. However, the overconfident Braddock had set off without him because Washington had been seriously ill. Fortunately, the colonel hadn’t taken no for an answer and had managed to catch up with the column that morning.
Washington — despite having no official position in the chain of command — organised a rearguard that provided cover fire and distracted the attackers, allowing many of the Redcoats to make their escape.
The Battle of the Monongahela was a costly and embarrassing defeat for the British Army, with approximately 456 killed and 422 wounded. French and Native Americans losses amounted to 30 dead and a few wounded. Braddock died on 13 July, and was buried along the route of retreat.
For a time after the stunning defeat, Native American raids became common along the British colonies’ western frontier. France retained control of the Ohio Country — but only for now.