George Washington struck the war’s first blow

The French pushed into what is now western Pennsylvania in the fall of 1753. George Washington, a youthful 21-year-old militia captain, was chosen by Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie to warn the French that they would have to leave or face the consequences since he believed this area to be colonial territory.

Fort Le Boeuf, which is located just south of Lake Erie, Washington was politely rejected by the French commander. Dinwiddie, incensed, gave Washington the rank of lieutenant colonel, and in the spring of 1754, he dispatched Washington and a group of troops to engage the French in a show of force. On May 28, early in the morning, Washington came into a small French reconnaissance party. After a shot was fired, 14 French soldiers—including their commander Joseph Coulon de Jumonville—were found dead within 15 minutes. He was killed, and the French were horrified and believed it was an assassination.

The fighting between the French and the British intensified after this. Many people believe that in this battle, George Washington struck the war’s first blow.