Whilst Washington was a Lieutenant Colonel on a campaign to rid the Ohio region of French, they were stalking his men one night. Washington had allied with Tanaghrisson, a Mingo Indian who had agreed to scout for him, and it was this night he forewarned Washington of his being stalked.
Washington ambushed them with a surprise attack and one of Frances’ commanders was killed during combat. Naturally, Washington expected retaliation so they retreated the Great Meadows, PA, where they built what is now known as Fort Necessity.
Unfortunately, the French did come looking for them, outnumbered them and took the Fort not even a month later. After such a humiliating defeat and having to explain his errors to the Virginia council, Washington resigned from his post and then went on to join Braddock.
Fort William Henry
This Fort is unfortunately a site of sadness, where a massacre took place. The British had hold of the Fort with 2,300 men but were outnumbered by the French and Indian invaders with 7,000 men. As the British were marched out, as per the agreement of surrender, the Indians began to slaughter them.
Their reason for doing this? When the French negotiated on the British surrender, no Indians were present. The French agreed to let the British go with their personal possessions. However the Indians had a different idea and were planning on salvaging supplies left behind.
When the British were marching out, the Indians believed they were being cheated and in their rage, massacred the departing. Unfortunately, it was this occasion that British and colonials used in the future when describing the Indian’s ‘brutality’ and their reasoning for capturing their lands.