Essay/Term paper: The french and indian war

Essay, term paper, research paper:  American History

The French and Indian War


The French and Indian War was fought on July 9, 1755. This battle took
place at Fort Duquesne, in western Pennsylvania, which was one of the many
French forts in the Ohio Valley. The fight was between the English army, which
was led by General Edward Braddock and the French army, which was led by Captain
Beaujeau. The English army included 1,750 British regulars and 450 colonial
militia. The French army, which included Indians, included less than 1,000 men.
The English army and General Edward Braddock marched through the wilderness
towards the French fort, Fort Duquesne. The uniforms that the British wore were
easy to see through the forest. They were red and very bright. Some soldiers
carried flags, some just marched and carried their guns, some were on horses,
and others played music to which the army marched. General Braddock and his
British soldiers believed that the right way to fight a battle was to position
themselves in an open area. The French and Indians hid behind trees and rocks
which was smart because more British bullets hit trees than French and Indian
soldiers when the two armies fought. Ten miles from Fort Duquesne, Captain
Beaujeau and his French army made a surprise attack on the English. Most of the
British soldiers were killed and injured. While riding horses, General Braddock
had four of them shot from under him before he himself was killed. When George
Washington was 23 years old, he led the colonial militia on a retreat to safety.
Two horses were shot from under him and four bullet holes were found in his coat,
but Washington himself was not killed.