Re: Braddock's Cannon & Mortars
Here you go guys. This is a paper I wrote for one of my college classes some time ago. If you want the references (as marked in the document) I will be happy to e-mail them to you. It is a pretty basic paper, but it might help.
“Braddock’s Disaster”
by C.K. McArdle, American Military University
The Battle of the Monongahela turned out to be one of the biggest blunders by the British military during the French and Indian War. Poor planning, poor leadership, and a lack of supplies compounded by a false sense of dominance lead to a terrible British defeat just nine miles from a major strategic objective, Fort Duquesne. Fort Duquesne, during the mid 18th century, was a major French staging point supporting the Ohio Valley, messenger routes from Louisiana to Quebec, and access to the west. Located at the mouth of the Allegany and Monongahela Rivers, this fort offered the French an advantage in the world fur trade and control over the western wilderness . The British stood much to gain by seiging Fort Duquesne. Three situations lead to the British decision to mount an offensive on the river fort. The first was the lobby action by Robert Dinwiddie, Depute Governor of Virginia, for military action to push the French away from the Ohio. The second was the looming irritation as a result of the colonial surrender of Fort Necessity in July 1754 (which was under the command of Lt. Col. George Washington). The third contribution to the decision of attack was all of the skirmishes between the British and the French in the region over the previous two years . This battle was to be one of three coordinated offensives against the French strong hold of the west.
The expedition to Fort Duquesne was lead by General (Gen.) Edward Braddock, a sixty year old British officer who was rather arrogant and did not have any experience in new world warfare. Gen. Braddock’s expedition began from Will’s Creek Virginia –Fort Cumberland- where the troubles began. The only planning at hand was to take two regiments accompanied by approximately 500 colonial regulars and remove the French from the fort. The supply levels were bleak from the onset. If it were not for the aid of Benjamin Franklin in obtaining supplies by way of Pennsylvania , the expedition may have never made it off. Adding insult to injury, Gen. Braddock ordered all colonial brigade commanders to be absolved of rank. George Washington and men like him, served as aid-de-camp . The march to Duquesne would lead a force of approximately 1600 soldiers across some very vigorous terrain. The march proved to be very slow, as Gen. Braddock (at the request of Dinwiddie) insisted a road be laid as the army moved toward their objective . This action hurt the British forces in two ways: it gave the French time to plan and prepare for the siege, and it depleting food supplies which lead to illness and fatigue.
George Washington proved to be one of Gen. Braddock’s greatest assets; however, Braddock rarely ever acted on his advice. Washington was quiet familiar with the region as a result of an expedition he lead the previous year that included the construction and command of Fort Necessity from June 9th to July 4th 1754. Washington new first hand of the French resistance the Braddock Expedition would encounter, as they would face the same French units that took Necessity. At Little Meadows -just 20 miles into the march- Washington urged Braddock to split the force in two in order to hasty the advance toward Duquesne. Braddock obliged this advice and allowed the main supply force and artillery to lag behind the infantry. This move did not have the outcome Washington and the other aid-de-camps had hoped. The advance was still very slow. Illness took its toll on Washington around Bear Camp , or 22 days into the advance. He was forced to remain in the rears until his recovery a day or so before the battle.
On July 9, 1755 Braddock’s force made it to the Monongahela River. Up to this point resistance and acts of ambush were unexpectedly light. A false sense of security influenced Braddock to maintain proper rank and file and abandon the idea of sending a formal scouting party ahead after the second river crossing. This negligence proved fatal later that afternoon, as the French forces were well informed that Braddock’s army was closing in on the fort. The British assumed an ambush at two different river crossings, and if it had not been for French delays, they would have been correct. Instead, to the surprise of both sides, the French and the advancing British party -lead by Lt. Col Gage- meet on the path just north of Frasier’s Cabin, or seven miles from the fort. The French defensive force was made up of primarily Indians, who intelligently mounted a devastating attack on the British power undercover of wood line. This forced Gage’s men to fall back to the main force where congested forces made easy targets for the French defense force now deep on both flanks. Confusion and shock paralyzed Braddock’s army. Making matters worse, Braddock would not allow his military to pursue their attackers through the woods. He ordered them to fight in formation from the path. Between the cross fire from the now surrounding French force and the cross fire of the British lines, Braddock’s army sustained heavy casualties in a short time. Braddock himself was critically wounded during the fight. Most of Braddock’s officers were wounded or killed during the lead rain resulting in many of the soldiers to default to retreat for lack of command and control. George Washington-after Braddock’s incapacitation-heroically did what he could to maintain some order and regroup the slaughtered army. Washington stayed to the front until the very end with a group of colonials to cover the retreat . Amidst the heavy volleys, Gage and Washington rescued General Braddock from the ground and escorted him to the rear, thus preventing French capture. A short time later the formal retreat was marked. Fortunately for the British, the French forces did not pursue their aggressors. Braddock’s army was able to regroup and march east towards English territory. The long journey to Philadelphia was lead by Col. Dunbar –originally the commander of Braddock’s rear force-. As the ranks approached the remains of Fort Necessity, General Braddock fell victim to his wounds and perished. Fearing Indian pursuit and consequence, Braddock’s body was buried under the road just one mile from the stocks of Necessity in order to avoid defile .
Braddock’s defeat at Monongahela was a terrible atrocity. Poor planning, inadequate leadership, and a lack of supplies (compounded by an unacceptable ego), lead to the devastation of his army on July 9, 1755. The goal of removing the French from the Ohio was not met and many British soldiers lost their lives at the hand of incompetence. The concurrent plans for the coordinated attack against New France were aborted. Fort Duquesne remained under French control for many years after Braddock’s day of infamy with virtually no physical British threat.
Braddock’s and Forbe’s Road 1755-1758 (the map... to big to upload... do a search, it'll come up)
References cited in the original document in Chicago Manuscript format. This program does not support the format of the original document. This document is on file with American Public University System, and thereby protected under copyright laws.
even if you could get over the fence and get permission to hunt. 
