On July 9, 1755, British regulars and American colonial troops under the command of General Edward Braddock, commander in chief of the British Army in North America, were attacked by French and Native American forces shortly after crossing the Monongahela River and while making their way to besiege Fort Duquesne in the Ohio Valley, a few miles from what is now Pittsburgh. Within hours, a powerful British army was routed, its commander mortally wounded, and two-thirds of its forces were casualties in one the worst disasters in military history.
This Fall, the Army Historical Foundation will host Dr. David Preston on a French and Indian War Battle Ride that will take participants from Alexandria, Virginia to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and back following Braddock’s route, campsites, and battlefields.
In addition to learning about Braddock, participants will receive an overview of the French and Indian War (which was considered to be the first world war), George Washington’s early military career, the lasting effects from Braddock’s defeat, and how the French and Indian War that led to the American Revolution.
This Battle Ride will serve as a launching point for the Foundation's programming for the 250th anniversary of the United States Army and American Revolution.