Battle of the Monongahela, 9 July 1755
Battle during French and Indian Wars. A British column, 1,500 men strong, led by General Braddock, the commander in chief in North America, aided by George Washington, was advancing towards the French Fort Duquesne (modern Pittsburg). Having crossed the River Monongahela, only seven miles from the Fort, the British column was ambushed by the much smaller French and Indian force of 1,200 men. The French and Indians, firing from the woods, were able to inflict high casualties without exposing themselves even to view, in particular amongst the officers. Braddock himself was fatally wounded after ordering a retreat, which was in effect commanded by Washington. Only one third of the force returned to safety. Braddock has received much blame for the disaster, although Washington himself blamed the ineptness of the regular British troops at frontier warfare.
How to cite this article: Rickard, J. (17 November 2000), Battle of the Monongahela, 9 July 1755, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_monongahela.html