Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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WASHINGTON IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. I. His Expeditions Between 1748-1770 Olive Bernard. THIS year which marks the bicentennial of the birth of George Washington is of particular interest to Western Pennsylvania. Even though Washington was a native of Virginia, some of the most important and the most historic events of his life occurred in our state; and those which belong to Western Pennsylvania are highly significant. Washington’s experiences in this part of the state cover eight periods during his life, beginning in 1748 when he made a trip as a surveyor; and ending in 1784 when he made a trip in interest of his lands, and in interest of developing waterways between the East and the West. The real foundation of Washington’s military career was made in Western Pennsylvania. His first acquaintance with the West came in 1748, when, under George William Fairfax, he set out on a surveying expedition into western Virginia, part of which is now western Pennsylvania. This expedition gave him a knowledge of Indian and frontier life that was of value to him in his subsequent expeditions. In 1749, the British crown chartered the Ohio Company which was granted 200,(XX) acres by the Virginia Council. At the head of the company was Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia. Three years later, members of the Ohio Company complained to Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia that the French were extending their fortifica- tions from Canada into the Ohio Valley, basing their claims on the explorations of La Salle sixty years before. Dinwiddie, realizing the gravity of the situation, chose George Washington, then a youth of twenty-one, as his messenger to warn the French that they were encroaching upon private property granted by the English king. Washington was instructed also to note the condition of the French forts, and to select a site for the Ohio Company’s fort. On this expedition Washington was accompanied by seven men. Two of these were Jacob Van Braam, his old fencing master, who acted as an interpreter; and Christopher Gist, a hardy pioneer who was an agent for the Ohio Company. This journey to Fort Le Boeuf was full of hardship but was attended by no me- morable happening. Washington delivered his message to the French commander, whose reply was to the effect that he was there by order of his king to hold the land which belonged to France. The return trip of the party was attended by dangers as well as by hard- ships. Washington sent all the men except Gist ahead with the horses and baggage while Gist and he undertook a shorter route. Escaping from a treacherous Indian guide, they attempted to cross the Allegheny River on a rudely constructed raft. Washington was thrown into the water, and saved himself only by holding to one of the raft logs till Gist and he reached an island where they were obliged to spend [9]

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 WILLS CRCCK 0« CVWTJCRLANO MAP SHOWING PLACES IMPORTANT IN WASHINGTON'S EARLY EXPEDITIONS INTO PENNSYLVANIA (From A Towng Colonel from Virginia, used by courtesy of the Fort Necessity Memorial Association}

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PECEA10R the night. Fortunately, the river froze over before morning, and they were able to push on toward Virginia. The following year the Ohio Company made preparations to build a fort at the junction of the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers. To complete and defend this fort, Dinwiddie raised a troop under Colonel Fry to whom Washington became second in command. In April Washington, with less than four hundred men left Alexandria. Two months later he arrived at Great Meadows, nine miles east of the present city of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. At this place, he started to build a fort, meanwhile being on tbe lookout for French scouts. On May 28, with the aid of friendly Indians, Washington surprised a scouting party of French under Jumonville. Jumonville was shot at the first firing, and a letter of instructions found on him betrayed the real errand of the French. Shortly after this, the death of Colonel Fry placed Washington in command of the expedition. He advanced towards Fort Duquesne, but his scouts warned him that the French had been re-enforced. Feeling that the expedition would result in failure, Washington retreated to Great Meadows, and strengthened Fort Necessity. On July 3, the French attacked his forces. The French had the advantage during the whole battle. For nine hours in pouring rain, Washington withstood forces numbering twice those which defended Fort Necessity. The French finally requested a parley which Washington refused because he feared it might be strategy to gain admittance to the fort. The request was repeated with the additional sug- gestion that an officer might be sent to treat with them. At midnight, it was agreed that both sides should leave the battlefield in the morning with all the honors of war. Washington immediately set out for Williamsburg, Virginia, to make his military report to Dinwiddie. He succeeded in having his men fully commended for their services, but much to bis surprise. Governor Dinwiddie reduced his rank from major to that of captain. Washington immediately resigned his command. Historians have regarded this campaign as a defeat, but in the light of sub- sequent events, it proved both a military and a moral victory. Moreover it marked the beginning of the French and Indian War. The British government immediately prepared for military operations in America. General Edward Braddoek, appointed generalissimo of all the forces in the colonies, invited Washington to join his staff as aide-de-camp for a campaign against Fort Duquesne. On April 20, 1754, Brad- dock started from Alexandria and advanced to Cumberland. At Great Meadows, Washington became ill but Braddoek pushed on till he was within fifteen miles of Fort Duquesne. Here Washington joined him just in time for an attack by the French and Indians. Braddoek would not take advice in regard to methods of Indian warfare. As a consequence his army fell into an ambush and was overwhelmingly defeated. Braddoek himself was mortally wounded; and only the action of Washington and the Virginia riflemen saved the entire army from being cut to pieces by the French [10]