William H. answered • 08/30/19
I am currently one class short of a History teaching endorsement
Washington played many roles during the French and Indian War. He was a commissioned major for the the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1753. Remember Virginia was not a state during this period of history. It was one of England's colonies. Washington interesting was sent to with an expedition to Pennsylvania to lend assistance in the construction of a fort at present day Pittsburgh. On his way this force encountered an French led Indian force. The circumstance are unclear as to what exactly happened but a French officer was killed. At the time England and France were at peace, but this was seen as perhaps the first act of aggression that lead to further escalation to what would become the French and Indian war which was part of an escalation of warfare in Europe known as the Seven Years War.
After the encounter Washington and his men work attacked at a simple fortification called " Fort Necessity" they quickly erected. He and his men were forced to surrender and later Washington and they were paroled.
In 1755 he was an aide for English General Braddock, who lead an ill fated expedition to take the fort ( Fort Duquene) in Pennsylvania. Braddock's forces were defeated in the wilderness on the way to Fort Duquesne ( later Fort Pit and now Pittsburgh), but Washington distinguished himself in the armies retreat.
He later would in 1758 lead as a a regiment of Virginians in driving the French out of Pennsylvania as part of a British attack on Fort Duquesne. The highest rank he received during this time was Colonel. he would later retire as an officer, settle in to married life and as a plantation owner present day Mount Vernon.
These experiences not only gave him valuable experience as an officer later in the Revolutionary War but the respect on many colonists and as a leader.
