battle battle known affair opening battle french indian war fought near present day pennsylvania company colonial militia virginia command lieutenant colonel george_washington small number warriors led known half king ambushed force command british colonial force sent protect fort construction auspices location present day pittsburgh pennsylvania larger force driven small construction crew sent warn washington french claimed territory washington alerted presence joined forces surround canadian camp canadians killed ambush captured slain exact circumstances death subject historical controversy debate britain france war event international repercussions contributing factor start seven years war action washington retreated canadian forces compelled surrender terms washington surrender included statement written french language washington read admitting assassinated document french level accusations washington ordered background early british canadian traders increasingly come contact including upper watershed western pennsylvania authorities new france aggressive efforts expel british traders colonists area began construction series fortifications area french action drew attention british indian tribes area despite good franco indian relations british traders highly successful convincing indians trade preference planned large scale advance received particular chief known half king decidedly anti french consequence meeting commander french construction force reportedly lost temper shouted indian chief tell river river blocked forces burst open feet oppose stupid things said threw offered good gesture died long command operations turned governor sent militia major george_washington territory claimed british colonies including virginia december tell french leave informed washington orders washington letter addressed commanding officer canada intention leaving washington returned informed governor french refused leave commissioned washington lieutenant colonel ordered begin raising militia regiment hold ohio site washington identified fine location fortress governor issued captain commission employee instructions raise small force immediately begin construction fort issued instructions authority asking funding fact trent company arrived site february began construction assistance month force french marine departed montreal valley command took command learned trent activity led force men marine militia indians drive rumors reaching trent men size april force arrived day trent force men led ensign edward ward trent absence agreed leave site french began construction fort called fort prelude march governor ordered washington frontier instructions act defensive case attempts works settlements persons whatsoever case resistance prisoners kill destroy historian describes instructions issued knowledge direction british government london invitation start war washington ordered gather supplies paid volunteers way time left frontier april recruited fewer men march forests frontier washington joined men winchester point learned captain trent french advance trent brought message promised warriors assist british support washington decided turn choosing instead advance reached place known great meadows pennsylvania miles south began construction small fort awaited news instructions operated orders forbade attacks force provoked sent soldiers principally canadian recruits including french recruits officers washington entered french territory summons order washington troops summons similar nature washington delivered months earlier washington informed accompanied expedition canadian party numbering area response washington sent men find evening washington received message informing found camp meet despite fact sent group pursuit canadians washington went detachment men meet leader warriors boys discussing matter leaders agreed attack canadians attackers took positions rocks canadian camp counting battle exactly happened subject controversy debate primary accounts affair agree number facts disagree agree battle lasted minutes killed party killed taken prisoner according canadian records dead paris martin washington accounts battle exist versions consistent short details wrote diary advanced pretty near discovered ordered company fire received fire french greatest action lasted quarter hour enemy routed killed commander wounded prisoners prepared official report action based sources came named escaped action apparently witness party saw surrounded english indians english gave indians fire interpreter told tell ceased firing ordered summons sent retire read saw coming close whilst reading summons time said best way second source indian camp reported killed head whilst reading summons indian claimed indians rushed prevent account private named washington regiment present affair account based detailed accounts present sworn statement august details role affair confirmed newspaper account printed june account french surrounded slept alerted noise fired gun col washington gave word men fire killed rest flight indians gone round french fled english delivered arms time indians came half king took split head french captain asked englishman told french man took brains washed hands heard heard contradicted knows knowledge narrative substantially correct number details including size composition forces claimed seen counted dead numbering historian documents fourth account british indian camp named anderson speculates followers report french commanders echoed notwithstanding discharge musket fire washington washington intended read summons withdrawn people previously ordered fire french hat savage came wounded said thou dead father struck blows killed anderson notes apparently understood said understood ritual reported men taken prisoner killed british colonists suffered killed wounded aftermath washington wrote letter brother battle said truth assure heard bullets whistle believe charming sound following battle washington returned great meadows pushed onward construction fort called fort necessity dead left field buried shallow graves later found french june combined force french indian soldiers command brother left july captured battle great meadows forcing washington negotiate withdrawal arms capitulation document washington signed written french language washington know read poorly translated included language claiming men assassinated news battles reached england august government duke newcastle months negotiations decided send army expedition following year french major general chosen lead expedition defeated battle french remained control expedition general finally succeeded taking fort word british military plans leaked france departure north_america king dispatched larger body troops canada arrived late participate defeat french troop presence led string french victories following years second british act aggression admiral fired french ship naval action june capturing troop ships carrying troops military matters escalated north american soil sea france britain declared war spring marking formal start seven years war propaganda analysis inconsistent nature record action contemporary historical coverage easily colored preferences account example accepted washington account highly dismissive accounts indian french authorities assembled documents counter british accounts affair entitled des pour observations par les les europe copy intercepted translated published memorial containing summary view facts authorities answer observations sent english ministry courts europe washington capitulation statement documents including extracts washington journal taken suggest washington actually ordered assassination agreed story called pretended assassination french story contrasted british account based washington report british suggested engaged diplomatic mission orders included specific instructions summons read additional forces sent needed historian reasons action killing provides possible explanation men reports event british killing lost influence local tribes specifically thought conflict british french bring influence allies british according indians french sent essence offering opportunity british french legacy portion battlefield great meadows located preserved given christian retreat center near site non profit named road general constructed reach sponsors research promotes french indian war history area
Battle of Jumonville Glen