Posted on 07/30/2019 4:51:24 PM PDT by Perseverando
In the decades prior to the Revolutionary War, tensions arose between the two largest global powers: BRITAIN, led by King George II, and FRANCE, led by King Louis XV.
Because of their alliances with other nations, fighting escalated into the first global war -- the Seven Years War, or as it was called in America, the French and Indian War.
The conflict included every major power in Europe as well as their colonies from the Caribbean, to India, to the Philippines, and to Africa.
Over a million died.
It was sparked by the ambush in 1754 of a French detachment in the Ohio Valley by British militia led by 22-year-old Virginia Colonel George Washington.
During this crisis, people turned to Christ.
The Great Awakening Revival swept through the American colonies.
A notable dissenting preacher, Samuel Davies, spread revival across racial lines and was heard by many in Virginia, including Patrick Henry, who credited Davies with "teaching me what an orator should be."
Rev. Davies regularly invited hundreds of slaves to his home for a Bible study on Saturday evenings, their only free time, and taught them hymns and how to read.
Realizing the importance of education, Davies helped found Princeton University, and was chosen its president after Jonathan Edward's sudden death.
In 1755, 1,400 British troops marched over the Appalachian Mountains to seize French Fort Duquesne, near present day Pittsburgh.
One of the wagon drivers for the British was 21-year-old Daniel Boone.
On July 9, 1755, they passed through a deep wooded ravine along the Monongahela River eight miles south of the fort.
Suddenly, they were ambushed by French regulars and Canadians accompanied by Potawatomi and Ottawa Indians.
Not accustomed to fighting unless in an open field,
(Excerpt) Read more at myemail.constantcontact.com ...
It also showed people that one can grow and mature as a leader. George Washington pretty much blundered in his first major mission, became a good leader during the course of the French-Indian War, made a TON of mistakes leading the Colonials against the British, but learned from these mistakes and by the time the Americans and British signed the 1783 Peace Treaty, he was one of the great men of the 18th Century.
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I just read Pioneers by David McCollough. Not about the French and Indian war but about the settling of the Ohio River Valley. Really fascinating.
A good article about a great man. Thanks for posting.
My 6th great grandfather Capt Timothy McGinnis of the Provincial Army was killed at Lake George, NY in the Battle of Bloody Pond Sept 8, 1755...one of the buckskinned “Yankee Doodle Dandies” of the song...
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It’s on Netflix ( yeah I know, I’m going to cancel) but such a great portrait of Washington’s spy network in New York.
I’m going to have to read that.
Another great book is Westward of ye Laural Hills by Helen Vogt.
Great show, indeed. I’m especially fascinated with the Robert Rogers character. I’ve begun reading a fantastic book about him titled: “War on the Run”, a very detailed biography of the man himself.
I’ll have to check that out. I like the history of that area and time period.
A wonderful book about Mary Draper, Follow the River, was read by most of my family, several times.
I’ll get that. I love any stories/history about the pioneers. McCullough’s book is really good and not too long.
It’s really good. You will like it!
I’m going to get that book.
I love these stories of our ancestors. One of mine was entertaining the British generals at his home on the night Washington crossed the Delaware. An errand boy came to deliver a note to the British officers as to what was happening but alas, it never got delivered. My ancestor was a merchant in Trenton NJ. Don’t know why he was entertaining them that night.
Thanks for the book suggestion. Will definitely check it out as Robert Rogers as portrayed is indeed a scene stealer in the series.
Rogers ended up on the side of the British in the Revolutionary War.
It's a good thing the Brit generals didn't know how to utilize his services, otherwise the outcome may have been different.
Theres a large stone at the bottom end of Lake George with a plaque about the battle and it mentions my Capt McGinnis... The area is so overgrown now though that I haven’t been able to actually find it...
http://www.historiclakes.org/wm_henry/bloody.html
“My ancestor was a merchant in Trenton NJ. Don’t know why he was entertaining them that night.”
It was a fairly common practice for “undercover” patriots (spies) to entertain British officers and loosen their tongues with strong drink and praise. Depending on the information gathered it could reach General Washington’s desk in two or three days.
Slaves were often in use in the spy game.
I forget the particulars but one slave, “appropriated” by British officers, heard them going over a plan of action. He communicated the information to a local patriot who gave the information to one of his slaves who then delivered the information to General Lafayette who delivered it to Washington.
General Washington developed a spy ring any modern dictator would be proud of.
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