Great General or Fortunate Figurehead - Part 4

The remainder of the Virginia regiment, previously commanded by Colonel Fry, arrived at the Great Meadows on June 9. And Washington was reinforced again several days later by Captain James Mackay's independent company of about 100 regular British troops from South Carolina. This proved to be a mixed blessing since British regular officers held little regard for militia officers of any rank. Only under the most reluctant terms would they submit to militia officers of a higher rank. Washington's command now numbered just under 400 officers and men.

Most ominous, however, were Washington's unsuccessful efforts to retain his Indian allies in the aftermath of his encounter with the French. Believing that the English treated the Indians as "slaves," Half-King and his cohorts departed, with Half-King warning the young officer that his hastily erected fort would be useless to a strong counterattack. Washington was forced to dispatch his inexperienced soldiers, who were completely unfamiliar with the region, as patrols and sentries. Yet despite this glaring disadvantage, Washington remained at Fort Necessity, waiting for the French.

On the morning of July 3, the waiting ended. A force of over 700 French and Indian men-at-arms approached the fort. The French took up positions in the woods and opened fire on Washington's men. Rain fell throughout the day, flooding the marshy ground. The fighting was intense at times, sporadic at others. It lasted most of the day, until Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, commander of the French force and brother of Jumonville, requested a truce to discuss Washington's surrender. By now, Washington realized the hopelessness of his situation. Dead and wounded littered the area, which was soaked by both blood and rain. Washington rejected the first two offers, but accepted the third, which provided for his men retiring with full military honor. Unfortunately for Washington, the surrender document also contained a full admission of guilt, on his part, for murdering an ambassador.

Washington's and MacKay's troops left Fort Necessity for Wills Creek on the morning of July 4. From there, they returned unmolested to Virginia. The French burned Fort Necessity and afterwards returned to Fort Duquesne.

After suffering the humiliating defeat of Fort Necessity, Washington was roundly criticized in Royal circles for his failure. In fact, Washington's Fort Necessity campaign made him an international figure, for it was Washington's attack on the diplomatic expedition that triggered the French assault on Fort Necessity and subsequently the Seven Years' War between Britain and France.

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