Battle of Monongahel

This is not the first time that the British have claimed their rights to the Ohio Valley, even if it was in "strange hands." Both local Indian tribes and the French claimed it. The latter timely learned about the plans of the Ohio company and took measures to protect their interests. In 1753, Governor Marquez Duquesne (Ange Sieur de Menneville Marquis Duquesne) ordered the construction of a chain of log forts on the Allegheny River and in the upper reaches of the Ohio River.

Soon, the Governor of Virginia decided that it was time to show strength and expel the French from the "English" land - because they were here "illegally." He entrusted this mission to 23-year-old Major George Washington , who was to deliver a note to the French commandant of Fort Duquesne (Fort Duquesne. Now here is a suburb of Pittsburgh). Washington also had purely personal interests - its older brothers were also shareholders of the Ohio company. The major took 150 people with him and tried to drive the French out; he was refused, a skirmish occurred, and the British killed 10 people. Nevertheless, Washington soberly assessed its chances and considered it good to retreat. From Europe, General Edward Braddock arrived. His three thousand soldiers had a specific task - to capture Fort Duchenne and other French fortifications in the Ohio Valley.

In addition to regular army soldiers and local militias, Bradock’s expedition was supposed to include an auxiliary squad of Indians from the southern colonies (from the Cherokee and Katawba tribes). However, he never arrived - primarily because of the opposition of the Governor of South Carolina, James Glen (James Glen) (he refused to send "his" Indians to serve the "alien" interests). However, it was largely because of this that Braddock refused to support the Iroquois, even though they visited his camp. Neither the Cherokee nor the Katawba — their old enemies — they did not want to get involved.

It should be noted that Glen’s position was shared by the governors of other colonies. In every way advising the general to hire Indian soldiers, they refused to allocate the necessary funds for this. Translator George Croghan and Benjamin Franklin , who took over Bradock's position as supply manager, tried to find allies on his own initiative, but unexpectedly ran into opposition from Braddock himself. The commander relied only on his professional veterans. He treated “naked savages and these Canadians ... in their shirts” with a fair amount of prejudice. As a result, a detachment of only eight Indians (from the Mingo tribe) led by the leader Scarroyaddy joined the expedition.

General Braddock invited to participate in the campaign and Washington, which became one of the adjutants of the general. He knew the terrain and tactics of the enemy. The French and Indians fired from behind stones and trees, not exposing themselves to the fire of British battle formations. Washington and others tried to convince Braddock to spend time training soldiers in warfare in the forest, but the commander considered this unacceptable and "unworthy of a gentleman." Braddock insisted on walking through the woods, to Fort Duchenne, as if on a parade with drumming and fluttering banners. He was going to frighten the French and force them to a quick surrender. But cruel disappointment awaited him. ^[one]

General Braddock’s campaign was called the Braddock Expedition . Braddock's army moved slowly from Fort Cumberland, cutting through a thicket. The soldier was constantly tormented by heat, midges and impassable rain-washed path. The path they cut through then became part of the National Road. The march dragged on for 19 days.

The English column was constantly alarmed by the flying units of the enemy. On June 18, while in reconnaissance, the leader of Scaroudi was captured by the "French" Indians. However, the leader's prestige was so great (he was widely known in the Ohio Valley as a skilled diplomat and speaker) that he was not executed, but left tied to a tree. Soon Skarudi was found and freed by the people of the translator D. Krogan.

By July 3, intelligence had become such a risky business that Braddock had to constantly persuade and give gifts to the Indians. In an atmosphere of general nervousness, the English sentry shot and killed the son of Skaruda when he returned from the mission - despite the fact that the scout correctly named the password. Bradock's adjutant Robert Orme was afraid that the Indians would rebel, but this did not happen. Braddock had to pay Scaroudi a lot of compensation. The tiny Mingo squad stayed with the British until the end. Finally, on July 4, scouts went to Fort Duchenne himself. Three days later, the Indians returned, brought a French scalp and reported that there were few people in the fort.

July 9, Braddock made a stop - it was required to overcome two fords across the Monongahela River. Dangerous, he account only for the second crossing. He directed Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage with an order to overcome both crossings and gain a foothold on the far shore until the approach of the main forces. Gage’s squad came out when it was not even 3 a.m.; at 4 o'clock a team of loggers came out under the command of Major John Sinclair. They had to drive the road. At 6 am, having placed four hundred people at adjacent heights, the general himself spoke.

He crossed the first ford with the wagon train and all his luggage without hindrance. When the British approached the second ford in battle order, Gage reported that everything was calm - he saw only a "bunch of savages" who immediately ran away.

Only by one o'clock in the afternoon the whole English army gathered at the second ford. Horseback officers and cavalry units were the first to cross, followed by infantry. Then came the supply vans and artillery, and in the tail - pack horses and a herd of cows for meat. By two o'clock the crossing was over.

Braddock knew that he had already been discovered, and decided to hit the enemy with the number and strength of his troops. He led his soldiers like a parade (Washington subsequently recalled that he had never seen a spectacle more beautiful than Braddock with his people crossing the Monongachel). Each soldier put his uniform in perfect order, polished guns shone silver under the rays of the midday sun. With fluttering banners, to the sound of the march, the slender ranks of the "red uniforms" advanced on the offensive. The main forces of the British deployed in battle on the west coast of Monongachel, near the house of the German blacksmith John Frazer (John Frazer). Two hundred or three hundred yards away was the mouth of Turtle Creek (Tulpevi Sipu) (Turtle Creek). ^[2]

The commandant of Fort Duchenne, Claude Pierre Conrecourt (Pierre Claude Pécaudy sieur de Contrecoeur), had a difficult choice - to give up without a fight or still try to survive. On July 8th, infantry captain Leonard de Bujo (Daniel-Hyacinthe-Marie Liénard de Beaujeu) proposed an ambush at the second ford across Monongachel. Konrekur gave himself to persuade, but ordered to take only volunteers - he did not believe in the success of the enterprise. However, to his great surprise, the entire garrison of the fort volunteered to march with Bujo. In addition, about a thousand Indian allies gathered at the fort.

The commandant gathered a council of war. Representatives of more than a dozen Indian tribes came to it - Delaware, Shauni, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Abenaki, Konawag, Ottawa, Hurons. Forest tribes were led by the famous "forest tramp" half-breed Charles Langled (Charles Michel de Langlade). Christian Indians from Canadian missions were led by Athanase. It was he who most actively opposed participation in the battle - the French even turned to other leaders: “ Can this Huron speak for all of you? ". However, then the Atanas Indians fought in the hottest sections of the battle. An English Indian Service official, S. Raxel, called Canadian Christian Indians "the bravest of all France's allies."

The Indians listened carefully to Bujo, and then gave this answer:

“ Our father, do you want to die so much that you drag us along?” There are only eight hundred of us, and you ask us to attack four thousand British? Truly, this is unreasonable. But we will consider your words, and tomorrow you will hear our decision . "

The next morning, the council gathered again, and the Indians declared their refusal. At that moment, a messenger came running and informed that Bradock’s army was already close. Bujo knew the Indians, and they respected him for his tact and enterprise. Taking the opportunity, he shouted: “ I will go to the enemy! I am sure of victory! Will you let your father go alone? ". The French promised the Indians English scalps and rich prey.

Barrels of gunpowder, flints and bullets drove up to the fort's gate, knocked out lids, and each warrior took as much as he needed. Then, having painted in military colors and getting ready for battle, the detachment moved to the second ford. There were 637 Indians, 146 Canadian militias and 72 regular army soldiers. Under Bouguereau there were 2 captains - Dumas ( Jean Daniel Dumas ) and de Lignieri (or Ligoniere) (François-Marie le Marchand de Lignery), 4 lieutenants, 6 junior lieutenants and 20 cadets.

Luck smiled at the French. Bujuo should hurry, because the knock of the English axes, cutting through the road, was already clearly heard. The French took refuge in a deep ravine, 60 feet from the advancing English. To Braddock's credit, the inaction of the enemy did not reassure him, and he tried to avoid an ambush. The general sent several guides and six horsemen for reconnaissance, and built his soldiers in a marching column convenient for the terrain they crossed. ^[3]

The main forces of the British were already approaching the thickly forested ravine when the scouts turned and rushed back. Not far from them, a man jumped out, painted like an Indian, but with an officer badge on his chest. He waved his hat and uttered a terrible cry. A crowd of Indians and soldiers poured out from behind the trees, catching the cry of the commander. Hiding behind trees and boulders, they surrounded the English column from the flanks and opened fire. Puffs of dirty blue and white smoke rose.

For a moment, the Gage soldiers froze, “as if struck by thunder,” and then returned fire and held on until the lumberjacks of Major D. Sinclair arrived. Then Gage ordered to retreat to the road. A deadly salvo met him, and again his ranks hesitated. Gage tried to break and frighten the enemy with buckshot; from an English salvo, Captain Bugeau and another dozen people fell dead. Captain Leonard de Bujo was killed instantly by a bullet in the head and neck. Canadians faltered and ran. The Indians leaned back, not wanting to stand under the guns.

At this dramatic moment, Dumas and de Linieri took command of the battle. They managed to end the panic and inspire the Indians and soldiers. The battle broke out with renewed vigor, but for some time neither side had an advantage. Shouting " Long live the king! »In English and French, the battle cries of the Indians were heard equally distinctly.

But then the continuous and deadly accurate fire from the shelters broke the scales in favor of the French. Canadian Indians, led by the leader Atanas, occupied the hill dominating the battlefield and turned it into an ideal firing point. The main forces of the French and Indians remained invisible to the British.

When Braddock heard the shooting, he threw forward a regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Burton, leaving only 400 people to defend the supply train under Peter Halket. But at that time, Gage’s squad was completely defeated and thrown back, directly to Barton’s position. The ranks mixed up; chaos began. The officers tried to gather people and lead them platoon forward - but to no avail. The British were in a panic.

Mounted officers in their magnificent uniforms became an ideal target for enemy shooters, and soon there was no one to give orders. Lieutenant Colonel Barton, trying to throw the Atanas Indians off the hill, fell with a shot thigh, the attack drowned. On a narrow road 12 feet wide, squeezed from the sides by a dense forest, a crowd of deadly frightened soldiers hastily reloaded their guns and fired blindly, at random, into the air, as if enemies were hiding in the treetops. The terrible fire of the enemy mowed them like a scythe.

By then, Braddock was furiously rushing from one group of his soldiers to another, trying to get them to restore order. Four horses were killed under him, but he moved to the fifth and did not abandon his venture. The royal soldiers were completely demoralized; better-trained virgins tried to fight off the French by their own method. They begged Braddock to let them leave the system and find shelter, but the commander remained deaf. If he saw a man hiding behind a tree, he rushed there with curses and blows with his saber flatly drove him out into the open.

By the end of the day, the entire English army was surrounded. Ammunition ran out, guns fell silent, and wagons received severe damage. However, Braddock refused to admit defeat, in vain hoping to restore discipline. Around him, soldiers were dying, shackled in horror, but not having the right to retreat. When all the officers, except Washington, were killed or wounded, and hardly a third of the army was left unharmed, Braddock ordered a signal to withdraw. But he quickly turned into a rout and a rout. “ Without listening to the officers, they ran like sheep from dogs, and nothing could be done, ” Washington reported.

Washington itself survived only by a miracle, in a battle under it two horses were killed. Other officers, whose fame was yet to come, also managed to escape. However, the British commander did not survive the battle of Monongachel. General Braddock received a mortal wound when his soldiers had already fled. His adjutant, Captain Robert Orme, tried in vain to find someone to help carry the general to a safe place. Even the “purse with sixty guineas” did not help - life was more expensive than any money. Braddock himself begged Orme to leave him and save himself. “ Where I buried my honor, I want to bury my shame as well, ” he said. However, Orm did not obey. Together with the Virgin Stewart, captain of the light cavalry, they loaded Braddock onto a fresh horse, and Stuart led her away.

By five in the afternoon, it was all over. Braddock's soldiers threw everything - guns, belts, backpacks, even took off their uniforms to facilitate their running. The Indians chased them to the water, and many British fell under a knife and a tomahawk. However, the winners did not pursue those who managed to cross the river - there was plenty of production on this shore too.

Only about a hundred Englishmen, having run a half mile, gave themselves to persuade to stop where Braddock wanted to, and wait for Colonel Dunbar (Thomas Dunbar) with a reserve. The mortally wounded general still retained clarity of thought. He ordered the sentries to be put up, the wounded to be occupied, and all the rest gathered. However, in less than an hour, the soldiers dispersed, abandoning their commanders. Only about eighty people were able to collect the Gage - all that was left of Braddock’s army, which the Indians, French, and he considered invincible six hours ago.

Compared to the English, French losses were negligible.

The British retreated all night and the next day, July 10, until by 10 o’clock in the evening they went to the plantation of Christopher Gist. Early in the morning of the 11th, vans with supplies and medicines from Dunbar arrived. Braddock, tormented by unbearable pain, was still aware of his duty. He ordered part of the supplies to be sent back to Monongachel for the wounded and the stragglers. He ordered Dunbar to pull up the remnants of the 44th and 48th regiments and also wagons for the wounded.

The general was weakening every minute. He lost all hope of continuing the campaign. Fully aware of what had happened, Braddock told his officers that he, and only he, was responsible for the disaster. He personally, without listening to anyone, gave orders and demanded their implementation. Having decided to destroy all the warehouses so that the French would not get them, July 12, Braddock ordered to move further to Wills Creek.

Colonel Thomas Dunbar executed the order exactly. Of the artillery, only two six-pounders were saved. Mortars and shells blew up. 150 wagons were burned, and a supply of gunpowder - 50 thousand pounds - was thrown into the river. Destroyed everything that could delay the retreat. Dunbar subsequently had to answer for this, but he explained that there were no horses, and he simply could not take out the guns and ammunition.

Only on July 12, Sunday, was the army able to march to the Great Meadows. All the way, the dying general remained silent, breaking it only to give orders. Around eight in the evening of July 13, with the words: “ Next time we will know what to do with them ... ”, or according to another version: “ Who would have thought? “, Braddock passed away. ^[four]

Of the officers, three were killed, four were injured, soldiers and Canadian militias lost nine. The general ratio of losses turned out to be as follows: the French - 16, their Indian allies - a maximum of 40, the British - 977 people killed and wounded. By order of George Washington, Edward Braddock was buried in the middle of the road near Fort Necessity . On the road, carts drove on purpose to hide traces of burial from abuse by hostile Indians (In 1908, during construction, workers discovered the burial and, moving it to a new place, marked the original with a special sign).

With the defeat of Braddock, the 1755 campaign for the British did not end. Back in June, Monckton (Robert Monckton) at Acadia (Acadia) successfully coped with the task. In September, William Johnson (William Johnson), although not reach Fort St. Frederick (Fort Saint-Frédéric), but will survive in the battle at Lake George (Lake George). However, from the captured documents of Braddock, the French learned about the upcoming campaign on Fort Niagara, and the expedition of William Shirley (William Shirley) eventually failed. The French retained their main foothold.

The moral significance of the Battle of Monongachel was also great. The British seriously feared a general offensive by the enemy and a breakthrough of "huge Indian hordes" to unprotected border settlements. For the French, victory was the first in a series of successes at the early stage of the Seven Years War (1755-57). And for the Indians, participation in the defeat of Braddock was their most significant and significant contribution to the war, named in their honor. ^[5]

The debate about how Braddock, with professional soldiers, superior forces and artillery, could have failed so badly, began shortly after the battle and continues to this day. Someone accused Braddock, someone accused his officers, someone accused the British troops or the colonial police. George Washington, for his part, supported Braddock and found fault with the British regular forces. ^[6]

Braddock's tactics are still under discussion. According to one of the scientific ideas, Bradock’s reliance on time-tested European methods, when men stand shoulder to shoulder in open and fiery mass volleys in unison, is not suitable for border battles and cost Bradock battle. The skirmish tactics that the American colonists learned from border battles when people take cover and shoot individually, "in Indian style," was the best method in the American environment. ^[7]

However, in some studies, the interpretation of superiority in the "Native American style" was considered a myth by several military historians. European regular armies already used their irregular forces and had extensive knowledge of how to use and counter guerrilla warfare. Stephen Broomwell argues the exact opposite, stating that Braddock's contemporaries, such as John Forbes and Henry Bouquet, admitted that " war in the forests of America was a completely different thing from the war in Europe ." ^[8] Peter Russell claims that it was Braddock's inability to rely on time-tested European methods that cost him battle. ^[9] The British were already waging war against irregular forces in the Jacobite revolts . And Eastern European irregular forces, such as the Pandurs and the Hussars , had already influenced European military theory by the 1740s. According to proponents of this theory, Braddock failed in that he did not apply adequately the traditional military doctrine (in particular, not using distance), and not the lack of border tactics. ^[10] Russell in his study shows that several times before the battle, Braddock successfully adhered to standard European tactics against ambushes and as a result was almost immune to the early attacks of the French and Canadians.

Braddock died at about eight in the evening of July 13, 1755, from a lung injury that was incompatible with life. The debate about who killed Braddock is still ongoing. Oxford University historians, in particular P. Saip, claim that he was shot dead by “his own people”. The bullet pierced the general's right arm and entered the lung. P. Saip even calls a specific person - a certain T. Fawcett, who claimed that it was he who shot at the general, avenging his brother’s death (Fawcett’s brother, like many others, tried to hide in cover, Braddock found him and drove him out into the open , and a soldier was immediately struck by a bullet). ^[eleven]

• Abakumov A. “Who would have thought! ...” The defeat of Braddock on July 9, 1755 (Russian) . Archived May 15, 2012.