FORT NECESSITY
Washington's Defeat
Courtesy of Estoric.com
Click Here for the Actual 1754 Printing of
Washington's Articles of Capitulation
Courtesy of Estoric.com
On May 24, 1754, a young Lieutenant Colonel George Washington arrived at the Great Meadows, a wet, marshy area that he believed would serve as “a charming field for an encounter.” This site, later known as Fort Necessity, was strategically located near the western frontier, providing Washington with a base to contest French influence in the Ohio Valley. Despite the meadow’s marshy conditions, Washington ordered his men to establish an encampment, marking the beginning of a significant, yet challenging, chapter in his military career.
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| Picture of uncovered Fort Necessity's log foundation. |
Just days after their arrival, Washington received reports that a contingent of French soldiers had been seen approximately seven miles away on Chestnut Ridge. Acting on this intelligence, Washington and a group of 40 men set out on May 27 to locate the French forces. By dawn on May 28, Washington’s forces had reached the camp of Tanacharison, a Seneca chief and ally known as the Half King, whose scouts soon led them to a ravine where the French soldiers, commanded by Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville, were camped.
In a sudden and surprising attack, Washington and his men surrounded the French, catching them off guard. Ten French soldiers were killed in the skirmish, including Jumonville, whose death would later become a point of intense controversy between French and British forces. Twenty-one soldiers were taken prisoner, and only one Frenchman escaped to carry news of the encounter back to Fort Duquesne. Washington’s side suffered minimal casualties, with just one soldier killed and two wounded. This initial skirmish, although a tactical success, would have profound consequences for Washington, his men, and the tense colonial relationships at play.
Realizing that a swift response from the French was likely, Washington ordered his men to fortify their position at the Great Meadows. Over the final days of May and into early June, they constructed a circular wooden stockade, which Washington named Fort Necessity. The fortifications were basic but provided a degree of protection against the anticipated French retaliation. Reinforcements soon arrived on June 9, bringing Washington’s command to 293 officers and men, bolstered by supplies and nine swivel guns. Washington’s ranks were further strengthened when about 100 British Regulars from South Carolina, under Captain James Mackay, joined the Virginia militia. However, despite Washington’s best efforts, he could not persuade his Native American allies to stay.
While Captain Mackay and the South Carolina Regulars remained at Fort Necessity, Washington’s Virginians spent much of June carving a rough road from Fort Necessity to Gist’s Plantation, a frontier settlement near the Ohio River’s forks. This effort was cut short when scouts brought word that a large force of French soldiers and their Native allies were advancing from Fort Duquesne. Washington made the decision to fall back to Fort Necessity, where his forces regrouped on July 1, preparing to face the approaching French.
On July 2, Washington’s men fortified their position by deepening trenches around the fort. Early the next morning, a formidable force of 600 French troops, led by Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, brother of the late Jumonville, approached Fort Necessity with 100 Native allies. The French took strategic positions in the woods surrounding the fort, creating a natural advantage. Washington withdrew his men into the entrenchments, but torrential rain began to fall, turning the marshy ground into mud and flooding the fort. The rain-soaked British soldiers struggled to maintain their positions, and the constant downpour rendered much of their gunpowder and ammunition unusable.
Throughout the day on July 3, skirmishes broke out intermittently between the two sides. Although casualties mounted on both sides, the British suffered more heavily, owing to their exposed position and lack of shelter from the rain. By evening, Captain de Villiers, whose forces had succeeded in wearing down Washington’s defenses, proposed a truce to negotiate Washington’s surrender. After several hours of tense discussions, terms were written and signed around midnight by Washington and Mackay. The Capitulation document permitted the British to withdraw from Fort Necessity with the "honors of war," allowing them to retain their personal belongings and weapons but requiring the surrender of their swivel guns.
On the morning of July 4, 1754, Washington’s men began their march back to Virginia, departing Fort Necessity under less-than-ideal conditions. The French, upon taking control of the site, promptly burned Fort Necessity to the ground, leaving no trace of the British encampment before returning to Fort Duquesne. Washington’s first significant military campaign had ended in defeat, and he returned to Virginia with the lessons learned from the experience: the need for better defenses, communication, and preparedness in frontier warfare.
The encounter at Fort Necessity would resonate for years to come, setting the stage for the French and Indian War and shaping Washington’s understanding of military command. The controversial death of Jumonville, referred to as an “assassination” in the French records of the Capitulation, would haunt Washington’s reputation and become a symbol of the fraught diplomatic relations between the British and French. Washington, for his part, asserted that his translator had misinterpreted the French word as “loss” or “death” rather than “assassination,” casting the incident in a more honorable light.
The Battle of Fort Necessity, although a defeat, marked the beginning of George Washington’s military journey. Through this experience, he gained invaluable insights into the complexities of command, fortifications, and diplomacy—skills he would later call upon in the American Revolutionary War. Fort Necessity stands as a reminder of the early conflicts that would eventually propel the colonies toward independence and shape Washington’s path to becoming one of America’s most revered leaders.
- Title of paper roster:
- A Listing of the Officers, Noncommissioned Officers, and Privates serving with G. W. at the Battle of the Great Meadows at Fort Necessity in the Summer of 1754.
- Title of the framed pay and muster rolls:
- A Roll of the Officers and Soldiers in the Service of the Colony Before the Battle of the Meadows the 3rd day of July, 1754 as Taken From the Pay and Muster Rolls of These Times.
Normal - paper roster
Bold - framed pay and muster rolls
Bold and Italics - both
Joshua Fry, Colonel
George Muse, Lieut. Colonel (Major)
Robert Stobo, Major (Captain), hostage
Peter Hog, Captain
Andrew Lewis, Captain
George Mercer, Captain (Lieut.)
William Polson, Captain (Lieut.)
Jacob Van Braam, Captain (Lieut.), hostage
Thomas Waggoner, Captain
Thomas Wagener, Lieutenant
William Bronaugh, Lieutenant (Ensign)
John Mercer, Lieutenant (Ensign)
John Savage, Lieutenant
Adam Stephen, Lieutenant (Captain)
James Towers, Lieutenant
James Toners, Ensign
John West, Lieutenant
James Craik, Ensign and Surgeon
William Peyrouney, Ensign, wounded
William Pey, Ensign
Carolus Spittdolph, Ensign
Walter Stuart, Ensign
Thomas Bullett, Cadet
William M. Wright, Cadet
John Carlysle, Deputy Commissa.
SOLDIERS
*A*
John Allan, Sergeant
Charles Allbury
Charles Alberry
Jacob Arrens, taken prisoner (Deserted)
Samuel Arsdale
*B*
Henry Bailey
William Bailey, killed
Josias Baker, Corporal
Jasias Baker
Jno. Chr's Banlie
Robert Bale
Nathaniel Barrett
Thomas Barrey
Solomon Batson, wounded and deserted
Solomon Bobson, deserted
James Batty
James Battie
Joseph Baxter
Edward Bayley
Edw'd Bailey
Jacob Beil, deserted
John Beil, deserted
Robert Bell
Robert Bennett
John Biddlecom
Jno. Biddlecomb
Daniel Billot
Dan'l Belott
Thomas Bird, wounded
John Bishop, missing
James Black, absent
Richard D. Bolton
Charles Bomgardner
Godfrey Bomgardner, absent
Henry Bowman
John Boyd, Corporal (Sergeant)
Chas. Boyle, deserted
Rudolph Brickner
Henry Bristowe
Henry Bristol
Bibby Brooks
William Broughton
William Braughton
John Brown
John Brown, absent
John Bryan
John Bryant, deserted
John Bryans
Rudolph Brickner, Sergeant
Thomas Buckner, Sergeant, wounded
Christopher Bumbgardner
John Burk
Thomas Burk
Thomas Burke
Thomas Burney
Bartholomew Burnes
Barth'w Barnes
Robert Burns
Thomas Burris
Thomas Bhurras
Robert Busses
Joshua Burton, wounded
Christopher Byerly
*C*
William Cairns
William Carnes
James Cammack
James Cammock
George Campbell, deserted
John Campbell
John Capshaw
John Carroll
James Carson, Drummer
Thomas Carter, Sergeant
William Carter
Joseph Casterson
Jacob Catt, deserted
Edward Caygile, wounded
Thomas Cehass
Thomas Chaddock
Matthew Chape
William Chaplain
John Chapman, wounded
Nathan Chapman, wounded
Paris Chapman
Andrew Clark
And'w Clerk
John Clements
Garrett Clerk, killed
Gerrard Clerk
John Coin
William Coleman
Phillip Connelly, wounded
Bryan Conner
Bryan Connor
Timothy Conway, wounded
William Copland
Joseph Costerton
John Cox
Matthew Cox
Patrick Coyl
Patrick Coyle
Will'm Crowach
*D*
James Dayley
Claud Dallowe
Claud Dalone
John Davis
Nath'l Deadman
William Dean
William Devenney
James Devoy
James Dewey
John Dixon, discharged
Thomas Donahaugh
Matthew Doran
Bernard Draxter
Baron Draxilla, deserted
Stephen Driscale
Bernard Droxeller
Charles Dunn
John Durham
Matthew Durham, wounded
Patrick Durphey, wounded
*E*
Peter Efflock
Robert Elliot, wounded
Robert Elliott
Peter Essleet
Edward Evans, Corporal
Edward Evart
*F*
John Farroll
John Featon
Duncan Ferguson
James Ferguson
John Ferguson
John Ferguson
John Field
John Fields
William Field
Thomas Fisher, killed
James Ford, wounded
James Ford
Nicho's Foster
Thomas Foster
Thomas Foser
Andrew Fowler
John Franklin, deserted
Michael Franks
James Fullam, wounded
James Fulham
Jacob Funkhauser, deserted
Wm. Fyann
*G*
John Gallahann
Patrick Gallaway
William Gardner, wounded
Joseph Gatewood
Phil Gatewood
Benjamin Gause
Benjn. Gauze
Jacob Gauze
Benjamin Gaven
William Gerrard
George Gibbons
Joseph Gibbs
George Gobell
George Gobley
John Goldson
John Gholson
James Good, wounded
Edward Goodwin, wounded
David Gorman, wounded
David Gosman
Jacob Gowin
Jacob Going
Robert Graham
Edward Graves
Robert Grymes, Sergeant
Edward Gwin
James Gwin
*H*
Benjamin Hamilton
John Hamilton, Sergeant
Thomas Hamilton, Sergeant, wounded
William Harbinson
Thomas Harris
John Harwood John Hart
Southy Haslip
Southy Haslon
Abner Hazlap
Abner Haslon
Jacob Helsley, deserted
Chris'n Helsley
James Hawes
Chris Henly
Thomas Hennesey
Thomas Henacy
Carnel's Hesley
James Heyler
James Heyton
Jacob Hiffley, deserted
Ant'ony Hill
Dennis Hintin
William Hogan
William Holland, missing
Mark Hollis, Sergeant (Corporal)
Will'm Hollis
Argyle House, wounded
Arthur Howard
Arthur Howard
Matthew Howard, missing
George Hussh, deserted
John Huston
John Honston
Samuel Hyden, wounded
Saml. Heydon
*I*
Sauel Isdel
*J*
Will'm Jenkins
Henry Johnston
John Johnston
Wile Johnston
Wise Johnston, Corporal
William Johnston
Adam Jones
Ignatius Jones, deserted
James Jones
John Jones
Matthias Jones
Robert Jones, wounded
Joshua Jordan, wounded (discharged)
*K*
Arthur Kennedy
Dennis Kenting
Jacob Kiblar
Edward King
Dennis Kinton
John Kitson, killed
Thomas Kitson
Thomas Knap
William Knowles, absent
*L*
John Larden
Adam Leonard
John Lee
Henry Leonard, deserted
James Letort
Mathew Levinson
Mathew Levingston
Nathan Lewis, Corporal
Thomas Lockard, deserted
Thos. Longder, Sergeant
Thomas Longdon, Sergeant
Will'm Lorry
William Lowry
John Lowe
James Ludlow
James Luvon
*M*
Nicholas Major, Corporal, absent
Daniel Mallatt
George Marcum
George Malcomb
John Martin
Abraham Mashaw
John Maston
John Manston
Jesse May
John May
James McBride
George McCan
Michael McCannon
Daniel McClaren, killed
James McCommac
James McCommack
Hugh McCoy, Corporal
John McCulley, wounded
John McCutty, Sergeant
Robert McCulroy, wounded
Angus McDonald
Traverse McDonald
John McGrager
John McGregory
Michael McGrath
Michael McGraw, wounded
Jno. McGuire (Als. Clinck)
John McIntire
William McIntire
John McIntosh, deserted
Robery McKay
Rob't McKay
Barnaby McKan, killed
Barnaby McCan, killed
James McLaughlan, deserted
Patrick McPyke
John McQuire
George McSwine
George McSnair
John Mears
John Mean
James Meggs
Joseph Mellon
Edward Mercer
John Miller
James Milton
Joseph Milton
Edward Minor
Edward Miner
William Mitchell
Dominick Monan
David Montgomery
David Montgomerie
Isaac Moore
Isaac Moon, killed
Jasper Moorhead
Jasper Mosean
Nicholas Morgan, Corporal
Nich's Mongar
Jesse Morris
Richard Morris
Thomas Moss
John Mulholland
Robert Murphey
Rich'd Murray, deserted
Abr'm Mushaw, Drummer
Jacob Myar
Jacob Myer
*N*
Henry Neal
Matthew Nevison
Thomas Nicholson, wounded
*O*
Jas. Obrian
Thomas Ogdon
John Ogilby
Jno. Oglesby
*P*
James Parson
Will'm Patten, killed
Hugh Paul
Thomas Pearce (Als. Pearson)
Peter Pezenlagar, deserted
Jacob Perkley, deserted
Alexander Perry
John Poner
James Poor
John Poor
William Poor
John Potter, wounded
Joseph Pouch
Joseph Powell, wounded
John Power
Masshab Pratt
Martial Pratt
James Price
Robert Pritchard
Rich'd Pritchard
William Pullen, killed
*R*
John Ramsay, killed
John Ramsay
Hugh Ratchford
Hugh Rockford
Michael Reilly, wounded
Mich'l Ryley, Sergeant
Will'm Rice
Ezediel Richardson, Drummer
Ezekiel Richardson, Drummer
John Robinson, killed
Ware Rocket
Wise Rocket
John Roe
John Row
Francis Rogers
John Rogers, wounded
John Rogers, Sergeant
James Rowe
James Row
Frederick Rupart
Barnaby Ryley
*S*
Joseph Scott
Thomas Scott, killed
Michael Scully
Francis Self
Francis Selt
Thomas Sellars
Mathias Shampe
William Shoad, deserted
David Shond
James Short
Demsey Simmons, wounded
Dempsey Simond
William Simmons
William Simond, killed
Dudley Skinner, wounded
Thomas Slaughter
Thom's Sloughter
Benj'n Smith, deserted
Charles Smith
James Smith
John Smith, Corporal
John Smith
Patrick Smith
Richard Smith, Corporal
Zachariah Smith
William Snallon
John Soans
Charles Soant
Benj'n Spicer
Benjamin Spicer
William Stallons
Mathew Stanard
Daniel Staple
Dan'l Staples
Thomas Stedman
Thomas Shedman
John Stephens
Alexander Stewart, wounded
Alexander Steward
John Stewart
John Steward
Robert Stewart
Hugh Stone
McLee Swimmer
George Swiney
Torence Swiney
*T*
Christain Taylor
George Taylor, wounded
Thomas Tedman
Nehemiah Tendell, wounded
Nehemiah Tendah
James Terrek, Sergeant
James Thomas, Corporal
John Thomas
John Thompson
John Thornton
John Tranton, killed
John Trantum, Corporal
John Triston
Richard Trotter, Sergeant
John Truston
Will'm Turnar, deserted
Dr. Edw'd Turner
Robert Turnstall, Sergeant
William Tyan
James Tyrell, Sergeant
James Tytus
James Titus
*U*
William Underwood
*W*
Edward Wagener, Sergeant
Michael Walker
Michael Waken
William Wallors
Elijha Ward
Philimon Waters
Arthur Watt, wounded
Thomas Wedman
Dan'l Welsh
James Welsh
James Welch
Edward Whitehead
John Whitman
John Whiteman, Sergeant
Jn'o David Wilken
Daniel Wilkinson
David Wilkenson, Drummer
Peregsise Williams, wounded
John Willis, Sergeant
John Wilson, deserted
John Wilson
John Wise, Corporal
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