4 Chapter 3 A Young Soldier

Chapter 3 A Young Soldier It was the early 1750s. For some time, France and England had been fighting over land in the Ohio River Valley. The problem was simple: Both countries wanted to control it.

The French built many forts in the area. They wanted to keep British colonists hemmed in on the east coast. George Washington was sent to deliver a warning to the French: Abandon the forts at once. The French ignored the message. Still, the trip was an important one for George. Along with a small band of men, he traveled through a thousand miles of wilderness. He crossed two ranges of mountains. He got thrown off a crude raft into an icy river. The water was so cold, his clothes froze solid. Yet he made it home safely and was promoted for his bravery. He wrote a journal about his travels that appeared in newspapers. The Journal of Major George Washington made him famous.

A few months later, he was sent back to the Ohio River Valley. This time there were more than a hundred and fifty men with him. They were to build a fort. The British and French were not openly at war. But when Washington's men came upon French soldiers, a shot rang out. Which side began the attack? To this day, no one is sure who started it. But while Washington lost none of his men, ten French soldiers ended up dead. Among them was their leader. That was all it took to spark a real war between the French and British. Soon eight hundred French soldiers along with four hundred Indians attacked Washington's much smaller army. A hundred of his men died. What choice did he have except to surrender? He and his men were not taken prisoner. Instead, they had to abandon their fort and return home. For George, the defeat was a big blow. All his life, he was concerned about his image. He wanted to appear brave, honorable. To surrender was

embarrassing. Yet once again he was praised for his leadership. His career as a soldier was taking off. Next he became the aide of the British general in charge of chasing out the French from the Ohio Valley. Up to now, Washington had led American soldiers. Now he was to serve alongside the tough, fearsome "redcoats." (This was the nickname for soldiers in the British army because of the bright red coats they wore.) The general assembled a mighty force of two thousand men to attack one of the largest French forts.

In Europe, enemy armies met face-to-face, in open fields. Line after line of troops would march straight toward one another, firing cannons and muskets.

Washington warned the British general that fighting was done differently in America. The enemy would come at the redcoats from all sides. The French and Indians would attack from the woods. They would stay hidden behind trees and rocks.