Early Days Pittsburgh

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Early Days Pittsburgh

• 1682 French laid claim to all the tributaries of
  the Mississippi and the territory through which
  they flowed.
• (result of LaSalles discovery)

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• John Frazier, a fur trader and blacksmith, was
  one of the earliest settlers. He operated a
  trading post in the area (near the Monongahela
  River by what we know as the Edgar Thompson
  Plant) and met George Washington while Washington
  was on a surveying trip

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Dinwiddie

• As governor, Robert Dinwiddie saw the beginnings
  of the conflict on Virginia's frontiers that
  would lead to the French and Indian War. He was a
  firm advocate of British expansion into the west.
  He sought the help of the Indians and the other
  British colonies in the struggle against the
  French, pressed the legislature for defense
  funds, and favored the use of regular armed
  forces in place of the less reliable militia.
  Dinwiddie made George Washington a lieutenant
  colonel.

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The Iroquois

• The people of the Six Nations, also known by the
  French term, Iroquois Confederacy, call
  themselves the Hau de no sau nee (ho dee noe sho
  nee) meaning People Building a Long House.
  Located in the northeastern region of North
  America, originally the Six Nations was five and
  included the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas,
  Cayugas, and Senecas. The sixth nation, the
  Tuscaroras, migrated into Iroquois country in the
  early eighteenth century.

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1744 Representatives of PA, VA, MD, met with the
six nations and arranged the Treaty of Lancaster
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1749 Captain Celoron claims the Ohio valley for
France

• The French saw westward push of British as a
  threat. The French built a chain of forts
  Presque Isle (Erie), Fort LeBoeuf ( at Waterford
  between Lake Erie and French Creek), Venango (
  Franklin) Forks of the Ohio ( where the Allegheny
  and Monongahela Rivers form the Ohio). This was
  considered the ideal place for the the capital
  city of New France.

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Dec. 11, 1753

• Major George Washington with Christopher Gist (a
  guide) and Abraham Jacob Van Braam (an
  interpreter) and several woodsman and Indians
  present letter from Dinwiddie to French
  Commander of Fort Leboeuf (St. Pierre).
• Letter expressed astonishment French built on
  Great Britain property and demanded that they
  leave

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George spent his early years on the family
estate on Pope'Creek along the Potomac River.
Although Washington had little or no formal
schooling, his early notebooks indicate that he
read in geography, military history, agriculture,
deportment and composition. He showed an
aptitude for surveying and simple
mathematics.His father died in 1743, and soon
thereafter George went to live with his half
brother Lawrence at Mount Vernon Lawrence
became something of a substitute father for his
brother. Upon the death of Lawrence in 1752,
George inherited the Mount Vernon estate
Washington Born the
eldest son of Augustine Washington and his second
wife Mary Ball Washington, in Va., on Feb. 22,
1732
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St. Pierre said he would forward his letter to
the Marquis de Duquesne

• On hiss return Washington twice escapes death (
  Gist saves him)
• Indian
• - Crossing the Allegheny

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Gist
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Washington recommends to Dinwiddie to build a
fort at the forks of the Ohio

• 1200 men from PA
• 400 men from NC
• 2 companies from NY
• 1 company from SC
• Recruits from Va
• Capt William Trent ( 2nd in command) and Joshua
  Fry (1st in command) began the fort then left to
  join Washington.
• Left Ensign Wood in command with 6 troops under
  his command

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April 17th 1754 Ward surprised by 1000 Frenchmen

• They built a larger, better fort called Fort
  Duquesne named after the governor of Canada
• Washingtons detachment of ragged recruits 140
  miles away at Wills creek. No tents, scarcely
  armed

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Washington ordered to advance but had to cut the
road for the wagons and cannons( forest dense ,
mountain range, streams etc.

• Reach Great Meadows 150 men by the end of May
• While encamped there, Half King tells Washington
  French on their way to attack him.
• Fight ensued Coulon de Jumonville the Commander
  was killed. All French taken Prisoner or Killed (
  except one Canadian) l Beginning of the French
  and Indian War (7 years war)

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Washington advance 12 miles past the Laurel
Ridge, strong French reinforcement on the way

• French Leader Capt. Louis Coulon de Villiers.
  (1/2 brother of Jumonville).
• Had 1 day to strengthen fortification at Great
  Meadows ( Fort Necessity)

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Fighting began at 11AM and lasted 9 hours

• French contacted Washington twice offering terms
  for his surrender. 2 French interpreters 1
  wounded the Capt. Van Braam. Rain, weak, bad
  interpreter, Washington young.
• Articles signed by Midnight. Bad translation
  Washington signs so the English can leave, Van
  Braam and Major Stobe kept as prisoners. (Didnt
  know he signed a statement saying he assassinated
  Jumonville).

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(No Transcript)
17
Washington sick, carried back over the Allegheny
Mountains This occurred July 4, 1754
18
Note Major Stobe escaped found Wolfe who was
fighting the French in Quebec. His help will
guide Wolfes troops to victory.
Strange that one prisoner in a far distance
province, in a skirmish that began the war,
should guide Wolfe to Victory at Quebec which
virtually closed the War in America.