Braddock Expedition
The Braddock Expedition was a failed British attempt to capture the French Fort Duquesne in the summer of 1755 diring the French and Indian War. The Expedition takes its name from General Edward Braddock, who led the British forces and died in the effort.
Braddock commanded a force composed of two regiments of the British Army and including about 250 Virginia militia, led by Lt. Colonel George Washington. The expedition traveled through the wilderness from Virginia into western Pennsylvania. They progressed slowly, in some cases moving as few as two miles a day. Due to the size and equipment of the expedition, they constructed their own road, which later became known as the Wilderness Road. The French garrison at the Fort contained only about 200 regulars and Canadian militia accompanied by about 900 Indians. The Indians had camped outside the fort.
Battle of the Wilderness
On July 9 1755 the advance unit under Lt. Colonel Thomas Gage crossed the Monongahela River about nine miles south of the fort. As they climbed the hills across the ford, about 600 Indians and a few regulars ambushed them. After an initial defense, Gage's group concluded that they couldn't close with the enemy and retreated. In the narrow confines of the road, they ran into the main body, which had advanced rapdly to their support. The entire column dissolved in disorder as the Indians continued to fire from the woods and ravines.
The militia, more familiar with frontier warfare, spread out, took cover, and returned fire. The regulars kept trying vainly to reform units into regular order within the confines of the road. Still trying to regain order in his units, General Braddock was seriously wounded. Colonel Dunbar, with the rear supply unit, now took over command. He ordered the destruction of supplies and cannon before withdrawing. The Expedition burned about 150 wagons on the spot. By sunset, the surviving British and American forces were fleeing back down the road they had built. The final casualty figures for the British force of 1460 men amounted to 456 dead and 421 wounded. This included 63 of the 87 officers accompanying the expedition.
Edward Braddock died of his wounds on July 13, 1755. He lies buried at Great Meadows (near Uniontown, Pennsylvania).