Editing Edward Braddock (section)

==North America==
{{further|Great Britain in the Seven Years War}}
{{Campaignbox French and Indian War}}

Appointed shortly afterward to command against the [[French and Indian War|French]] in [[North America|America]], Braddock landed with two regiments of British regulars on 20 February 1755 in [[Hampton, Virginia|Hampton]], in the [[colony of Virginia]].<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB |entry=Edward Braddock |first=Paul E. |last=Kopperman |year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/3170}}</ref> He met with several of the colonial governors at the [[Congress of Alexandria]] on 14 April and was persuaded to undertake vigorous actions against the French.<ref name=odnb/> The attack would proceed on four fronts: a general from Massachusetts would attack at [[Fort Niagara]], General [[William Johnson (1715-1774)|William Johnson]] would attack [[Fort Saint-Frédéric]] at [[Fort Crown Point|Crown Point]], Colonel [[Robert Monckton]] at [[Battle of Fort Beausejour|Fort Beausejour]] on the [[Bay of Fundy]], while Braddock himself would lead an [[Braddock Expedition|expedition]] against [[Fort Duquesne]] (now Pittsburgh) at the Forks of the [[Ohio River]].

After some months of preparation, in which he was hampered by administrative confusion and want of resources previously promised by the colonials, the Braddock expedition took the field with a picked column, in which [[George Washington]] served as a volunteer officer.<ref name=fort>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/fone/braddock.htm |title=The Braddock Campaign |access-date=3 April 2019 |department=[[National Park Service]] |date=22 September 2013 |publisher=[[U.S. Department of the Interior]]}}</ref> Braddock took some of his men and marched forward, leaving most of his men behind. The column crossed the [[Monongahela River]] on 9 July 1755, and shortly afterward [[Battle of the Monongahela|collided head-on]] with an Indian and French force which was rushing from Fort Duquesne to oppose the river crossing.<ref name=odnb/> Although the initial exchange of musketry favored the British, felling the French commander and causing some Canadian militia to flee, the remaining Indian/French force reacted quickly. They ran down the flanks of the column and put it under a murderous crossfire.

Braddock's troops reacted poorly and became disordered. The British attempted retreat, but ran into the rest of the British soldiers earlier left behind. Braddock rallied his men repeatedly, but fell at last, mortally wounded by a shot through the chest.<ref name=odnb/> Although the exact causes of the defeat are debated to this day, a contributing factor was likely Braddock's underestimation of how effectively the French and Indians could react in a battle situation, and how rapidly the discipline and fighting effectiveness of his own men could evaporate.

Braddock was borne off the field by Washington and Col. Nicholas Meriwether;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Col. Nicholas Meriwether |url=https://www.monticello.org/sites/library/exhibits/lucymarks/lucymarks/bios/colnicholasmeriwether.html |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=www.monticello.org}}</ref> he died on 13 July from wounds suffered in the battle. Before he died, Braddock left Washington his ceremonial sash that he wore with his battle uniform, as well as his two pistols.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Crocker|first=Thomas E.|title=Braddock's March|publisher=Westholme|year=2009|location=Yardley, PA|pages=235}}</ref> Some of his last words were, "Who would have thought?" and "we shall know better another time". Reportedly, Washington always took this sash with him for the rest of his life, both as the commander of the [[Continental Army]] and for his presidential duties. It is still on display today at Washington's home on the [[Potomac River]], [[Mount Vernon]].

[[Image:Braddocksgrave.jpg|thumb|250px|19th-century engraving of General Braddock's burial near Great Meadows, Pennsylvania]]

Braddock was buried just west of [[Battle of Fort Necessity|Great Meadows]], where the remnants of the column halted on its retreat to reorganize.<ref name=odnb/> He was buried in the middle of the road that his men had just cut through and wagons were rolled over top of the grave site to prevent his body from being discovered and desecrated by the Indians.<ref name=fort/> George Washington presided at the burial service,<ref name=fort/> as the chaplain had been severely wounded.