1755-The French and Indian War: History #1
A Brief History of the French and Indian War
Historians will usually note that the French and Indian War was
actually a small portion of what is known as the Seven Years War.
This is not entirely correct. While the Seven Years War, and the
French and Indian War were related, in fact the French
and Indian War being the beginning of the Seven Years War, the
conflict in America was more closely tied to the unsettled feelings
left over from King George's War (1744-1748).
After the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle finished that earlier war, the
hatred between the French and the English in the Americas never
quite waned. It must be understood, that in 1755 France held most
of America. The French land claims covered Canada (close to what we
know know as Canada), as well as New France (that is, the stretch of
land following the Mississippi River all the way to Louisiana).
The English, wanting to expand their land, often moved into the
land claimed by the French. This encroachment forced the French to
build several forts along the frontier. Some of these forts were
Fort Duquesne (Near present day Pittsburgh), and Fort Miamis. The
French, never lovers of the English due to hundreds of years of
fighting, sent the Indians who allied themselves with the French
in raiding parties in retaliation for raids conducted by the Indians
on the English side, who claimed that thier raids were in retaliation
for those made by the French. It didn't matter which side was correct,
the main object wasn't to retaliate, but rather for the French to
keep the English in their place, and for the English to iritate the
French as much as possible until they moved out.
With the tensions already riding high, the French began to build
litle Fort Le Boeuf downriver from Fort Duquesne, near Lake Erie. The
English at this time claimed this land as their own. After some debate,
the English decided to send a certain Major George Washington to
the region of Fort Duquesne and evict the French. Washington, then
22 years old, headed a small party through the woods. While advancing,
he came upon a party of French who were probably scouts. Washington
gave the order to fire, and in the battle that ensued 10 French were
killed, and some 22 captured. This, of course, was at a time of
official peace. Washington was accused by the French of coldly
leading an assasination of those men who were killed, and in fact
even tricked Washington into signing a document that was translated
into saying that he had attacked the party. In fact, the document
he signed stated that he had Assasinated, rather than Attacked the
party.
The world suddenly took note. England, in early 1755 sent two
of their regiments to the colonies "to protect the colonies from
the Indian invasions". The King of France, still hoping that the
peace could be retained, nevertheless sent several regiments of
his own to New France: "To defend their frontiers". With this
detachement was the Baron de Dieskau, commander, who was under
direct orders to only defend the country, and not to instigate
an attack.
However, while this was going on, the English sent General Braddock
with a larger force than Washington had to attack Duquesne. The
English army marched in their columns towards Duquesne in the typical
European manner. In long rows of men, three abreast, they marched
down the road to battle. They didn't see the Canadians and Indians
hiding in the surrounding woods until it was too late. For the
French side it was as good as target practice. For the English it was
a massacre. Each time the English soldiers tried to break ranks and
join in the same brand of warfare that the French side was using, the
English officers beat their men back into their columns. THIS is how
battles were fought, the feeling was. (Surprisingly, the English, and
later the United States armies followed this method of fighting through
even the Civil War. Remember the pictures of men, all lined up across
a field even though there were those ominous, and all-too-acurate
cannon facing them?). The English were naturally butchered, and were
forced to retreat.
The French troops coming to America had problems of their own. While
at the Great Banks, the fleet became entangled in a heavy fog and
became seperated. While most of the ships made it to Louisbourg
safely, three ships were delayed: The Lys, the Alcide, and the Actif.
The Alice, coming to a clearing in the Fog, found itself face to face
with 11 English ships. A worrisome moment, but they were at peace,
weren't they? (Of course one was never sure. In those days, word was
passed by ship, and sometimes one would not know the most current
news for months). The flag ship of the English fleet came broadside to
the French vessel. Commander Hocquart of the Alcide called out to
the English Commander Howe, of the Dunkirk, "Are we at Peace, or War?"
Howe replied "Peace", and a short conversation began when the guns of
the Dunkirk spit fire through the side of the Alcide. Almost all hands
on that ship were lost. The Lys, seeing that the English meant no good,
attempted to flee but was eventually captured. Only the Actif was able
to disappear into the fog and escape. Clearly the peace was little
more than a figment of one's imagination.
Angered by this attack, the French King withdrew his entire staff of
negotiators from English soil. It wasn't officially war yet, but
something was definitely in the making...
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