Prelude to War
After the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, the British and French agreed to establish a joint-commission to settle the boundary disputes in North America. However, negotiations made little headway, as both sides refused to give up what they perceived as their rightful territory. The British appointed William Shirley, former governor of Massachusetts and William Mildway as joint commissioners. In 1752 they were sent to Paris to resolve the border disputes once and for all. However, Shirley took a hard approach, claiming that the British territory went far west of the Appalachians in the South and far into Acadia in the North. In the end the negotiations came to naught and he returned Massachusetts in 1753 to take up the governorship once more.
Skeptical of the British, the French government began to take matters into its own hands. In 1749 the Viceroy of New France, the Marquis de la Galissonière sent a party of 250 men to inspect the country along the Appalachian Mountains and to take possession of this territory in the name of the King Louis XV of France. To that end, in late July they began burying lead plates and posting stone border posts along what they considered to be New France's eastern border (the Allegheny Ridge).
The French had settled the Ohio River Valley half a century earlier, however they had left the Appalachians largely to their Indian allies such as the Shawnee. However, fearful of British encroachment, they began to realize the need to establish a presence in the area, not just to protect French interests, but also those of France's allies, the Shawnee.
As early as 1745 the métis Shawnee trader Pierre Chartier complained to Pennsylvania governor Patrick Gordon about British settlers encroaching on Shawnee lands and selling alcohol to the Shawnee. The British paid little heed to these complaints and as a result the Shawnee began moving west. By 1751, they sent messages to those in the Shenandoah Valley to leave Virginia and cross into French territory, approximately 1,200 would move by 1753.
In July of 1752 the Marquis de Duquesne arrives in Québec as the new Viceroy and follows the direction of his predecessor in establishing a French military presence in the disputed regions. To that end an expedition of 3,000 men sets out from Montréal to build a chain of French forts the eastern frontier region. Fort de la Presque'îsle (Erie, PA) is the first fort to be built, with construction beginning in May of 1753. This is followed by Fort de la Rivère au Bœuf (Waterford, PA), construction there begins in July.
Meanwhile, the government of Virginia becomes uneasy about the French movements in the region. Governor Dinwiddie assigns George Washington, a major in the Virginia militia with the task of establishing a British presence in what they call "Ohio Country". In late October of 1753, Washington sets out from Williamsburg for Fort le Bœuf as an emissary of the British Crown. In December, Washington arrives at the fort and meets with French commanding officer Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, who politely receives Washington, but informs him that he does not have the authority to leave the area and has no intention of doing so. In January 16 of 1754, Washington returns to Williamsburg with the French reply. The following month, the British begin constructing a small fort, named Fort Prince George (Pittsburgh, PA), which is completed by April.
The French are informed of the British actions by the Shawnee and a force of 2,800 French troops arrives at Fort Prince George on April 15. The small British garrison of 51 Virginia militiamen quickly surrenders the fort and the next day depart the area. The French destroy Fort Prince George and begin construction of a large stone fort, Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh, PA). When Governor Dinwiddie hears of this, he instructs Washington to build up defenses and recruit new men. However, only 160 new men are enlisted and many of these are not fit to be soldiers. On May 28, 1754 the first Anglo-French skirmish occurs when Major Washington engages a unit of 40 Canadien militia who had been setting up a small fort. Ten French were left dead and 21 captured. However, one survivor made it back to Fort Duquesne to inform the commanding officer. The British had only lost one man in the skirmish, however, Washington retreats from the area and a few days later begins building Fort Necessity (Farmington, PA). A small 50-foot diameter circular wooden circular stockade, this becaomes Britain's westernmost outpost in North America. Fort Necessity was in the words of one contemporary "little more than a few logs lashed together to surround Washington's hapless army". However, on June 9, Washington is promoted to Colonel in command of the Virginia regiment.
On June 28, 1754 a detachment of 600 French soldiers arrives at Fort Necessity and destroys the small wooden fort. The French force Washington to sign a document agreeing that the British would not build anymore forts in the region within the next year. During that time a border commission would establish a formal boundary. The Canadien officer Louis Coulon de Villiers affirmed that the French were on a diplomatic mission, not a military one. On July 17, 1754 Washington arrives in Williamsburg where although he is not publicly chastized, Dinwiddie has the Virginia Regiment reorganised with no ranks above captain. Washington resigns rather than accept a demotion.
Earlier in the year, the British colonies been sensing that another war between Britain and France was about to come to fruition. From June 19 to July 11, 1754 twenty-one representatives from Connecticut, Maryland Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island meet in Albany to discuss a political union. The town of Albany is chosen as it represents the northern frontier of British settlement in New York. However, a great more deal of energy was wasted in friction between the various colonies than directed in strength at a common enemy.
In late August, Indians backed by the French began attacking small settlements in New York, including Hoosick and San Coick. The situation in North America grows ever more tense in frontier regions, and London must respond. In August word had reached London of the events in Virginia and the the government of the Duke of Newcastle decides to send an army to America to dislodge the French. However, with the exception of their navy, the British and colonial governments had neglected preparation for war. In September Major General Edward Braddock is appointed Commander-in-Chief of forces in British America and a war plan is discussed.
In November, two Irish regiments arrive in Virginia and three more in New England, also Two British regiments in New England are prepared for war. However, in December the French learn of Braddock's expedition to America and begin making their own preparations. Louis XV immediately sends six battalions of 5,000 troops to New France. Four go to to Acadia and two more to Louisiana, sailing from Brest in late March and arriving by May. The Royal Navy had been ordered to intercept the French squadrons, however a detachment of 11 French ships of the line sailed to Cadiz in Spain. However, this proved to be a diversionary tactic which led the British to believe the French were about to attack Gibraltar. This led the British squadrons to following pursuing the French ships to the Mediterranean, letting the French convoys to America slip past them. However, the French ships in Cadiz simply continued onward to Toulon afterwards.
In New France, the French are able to raise an Army of 30,000 regulars and 27,000 militia by May. Ironically, neither France nor Great Britain are technically at war with one another as no formal declarations have been made. The British however, hastily begin defensive preparations. After the destruction of Fort Necessity, they begin the construction of Fort Lyttleton in Pennsylvania to defend Eastern Pennsylvania from attack.
French troops during the Seven Years War in North America