Battle of the Monongahela Braddock Expedition

19th-century engraving of wounding of major-general braddock @ battle of monongahela.

by july 8, 1755, braddock force on land owned chief scout, lieutenant john fraser. evening, indians sent delegation british request conference. braddock sent washington , fraser. indians asked british halt advance attempt negotiate peaceful withdrawal french fort duquesne. both washington , fraser recommended braddock demurred.

on july 9, 1755, braddock s men crossed monongahela without opposition, 10 miles (16 km) south of fort duquesne. advance guard of 300 grenadiers , colonials 2 cannon under lieutenant colonel thomas gage began move ahead. george washington tried warn him of flaws in plan -- example, french , indians fought differently open-field style used british -- efforts ignored, braddock insisted on fighting gentlemen . then, unexpectedly, gage s advance guard came upon french , indians, hurrying river, behind schedule , late set ambush.

in skirmish followed between gage s soldiers , french, french commander, beaujeu, killed first volley of musket fire grenadiers. although 100 french canadians fled fort , noise of cannon held indians off, beaujeu s death did not have negative effect on french morale; dumas rallied rest of french , indian allies. battle, known battle of monongahela, or battle of wilderness, or braddock s defeat, officially begun. braddock s force approximately 1,400 men. british faced french , indian force estimated number between 300 , 900. battle, described ambush, meeting engagement, 2 forces clash @ unexpected time , place. quick , effective response of french , indians — despite loss of commander — led many of braddock s men believe had been ambushed. however, french documents reveal french , indian force late prepare ambush, , had been surprised british.

plan of battle @ beginning of action on july 9, 1755 (1830 engraving)

after exchange of fire, gage s advance group fell back. in narrow confines of road, collided main body of braddock s force, had advanced rapidly when shots heard. entire column dissolved in disorder canadian militamen , indians enveloped them , continued snipe @ british flanks woods on sides of road. @ time, french regulars began advancing road , began push british back.

following braddock s example, officers kept trying reform units regular show order within confines of road, in vain , providing targets concealed enemy. cannon used, in such confines of forest road, ineffective. colonial militia accompanying british took cover , returned fire. in confusion, of militiamen fighting woods mistaken enemy , fired upon british regulars.

after several hours of intense combat, braddock shot off horse, , effective resistance collapsed. colonel washington, although had no official position in chain of command, able impose , maintain order , formed rear guard, allowed remants of force disengage. earned him sobriquet hero of monongahela, toasted, , established fame time come.

marched place, without considerable loss, having , straggler picked french , scouting indians. when came there, attacked party of french , indians, number, persuaded, did not exceed 3 hundred men; while ours consisted of 1 thousand 3 hundred well-armed troops, chiefly regular soldiers, struck such panic behaved more cowardice possible conceive. officers behaved gallantly, in order encourage men, suffered greatly, there being near sixty killed , wounded; large proportion of number had.

the mortally wounded braddock retreating troops.

by sunset, surviving british , colonial forces fleeing down road had built. braddock died of wounds during long retreat, on july 13, , buried within fort necessity parklands.

of approximately 1,300 men braddock had led battle, 456 killed , 422 wounded. commissioned officers prime targets , suffered greatly: out of 86 officers, 26 killed , 37 wounded. of 50 or women accompanied british column maids , cooks, 4 survived. french , canadians reported 8 killed , 4 wounded; indian allies lost 15 killed , 12 wounded.

colonel dunbar, reserves , rear supply units, took command when survivors reached position. ordered destruction of supplies , cannon before withdrawing, burning 150 wagons on spot. ironically, @ point defeated, demoralized , disorganised british forces still outnumbered opponents. french , indians did not pursue , engaged looting , scalping. french commander dumas realized british utterly defeated, did not have enough of force continue organized pursuit.