Stewarts - Part 1 - Introduction

Stewarts, Washington, and General Braddock’s Defeat

(A historical story in 7 little parts)

By David L. Green

 Introduction 

Our history books call it the “French and Indian War” or “The Seven Years War” and some (Bowen, 1998) have called it the “first World War”.

All the major powers in the world (mostly in Europe) were splitting up the rest of the world and vying for property around the globe. But basically here in North America, it was a war between the French and Spanish (who had a big chunk of Canada and central parts of what is now the United States) and the British (who were very keen on keeping and growing their fledgling colonies).

The British colonies were expanding westward and the French were expanding eastward and the inevitable result was a war on the western frontier. The colonies organized and sent their militias to confront the French and their allies – the Canadians and various tribes of Native American Indians. 

Virginia’s Lieutenant- Governor, Robert Dinwiddie, learned that the French were building forts that threatened the colonies interests in the Ohio Valley. He sent a young George Washington with a stern note for the French to withdraw or face the consequences… After the laughter died down, the small group of Virginians were dismissed and sent packing.

When Washington delivered the message to the Governor, he, the Governor, sent a small group of militia to build a fort at the forks of the Ohio River where Pittsburg is today. 

The French thought this was great fun. They attacked the fort, killed the majority of the defenders, and forced the surrender of the remaining brave lads. They were again sent back to the Governor and the French immediately built a bigger, better fort and called it Fort Duquesne (Fort Duquesne) (pron. Dew-kane) named for the new governor of “New France”.