The Battle of Fort Necessity (French and Indian War Begins) |
Fort Necessity-
This fort is located in the Ohio River Valley near present day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This small wooden fort was built by British colonists under the orders of George Washington in 1754. It's location on low lying land and being surrounded by the hills you can see in the background, made the fort difficult to defend.
This fort is located in the Ohio River Valley near present day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This small wooden fort was built by British colonists under the orders of George Washington in 1754. It's location on low lying land and being surrounded by the hills you can see in the background, made the fort difficult to defend.
Background on the Battle of Fort Necessity-
In 1754 the French began to build a series of forts in the Ohio Valley to defend their land claims in the region. Since the British also claimed this land, the governor of Virginia ordered George Washington to build two forts that would stake claim to the Ohio Valley for Britain. By June of 1754, Washington's men had completed a small wooden fort in a clearing known as "Great Meadows". Washington names this structure Fort Necessity and mans the position with 150 men and officers. On July 3, 1754 the French attack from the hills surrounding Fort Necessity. The British charged across the field but were driven back forcing the force of Virginians to surrender the for to the French. This battle essentially starts the French and Indian War in America which develops into the Seven Years War overseas.
Geographic Analysis of the Battle of Fort Necessity-
Although George Washington believed locating the fort in a large flat meadow would allow him to see and target his enemy as they approached the fort, this location turned out to increase difficulties that his men would face. His men had the foresight to dig defensive trenches around the fort to fight advancing French troops. Although this was a good thought, the surrounding hills caused rain water to run into the trenches, filling them up with water making them useless to the Virginians. With heavy rains and a fort positioned in a low lying area much of the ammunition the British brought was too wet to fire. George Washington also miscalculated the distance French guns could fire from the hills. With the benefit high elevation, the French could easily hit the colonists' fort with musket and cannon fire from the hills overlooking Fort Necessity. Washington's men also had a great deal of difficulty hitting the French and Native American troops hiding positioned on the hills. When the Virginians would fire up at the French forces their shots would often carry over the French soldiers heads because of the grade of the landscape. The geographic conditions at the Battle of Fort Necessity gave the French many advantages in the Battle of Fort Necessity.
In 1754 the French began to build a series of forts in the Ohio Valley to defend their land claims in the region. Since the British also claimed this land, the governor of Virginia ordered George Washington to build two forts that would stake claim to the Ohio Valley for Britain. By June of 1754, Washington's men had completed a small wooden fort in a clearing known as "Great Meadows". Washington names this structure Fort Necessity and mans the position with 150 men and officers. On July 3, 1754 the French attack from the hills surrounding Fort Necessity. The British charged across the field but were driven back forcing the force of Virginians to surrender the for to the French. This battle essentially starts the French and Indian War in America which develops into the Seven Years War overseas.
Geographic Analysis of the Battle of Fort Necessity-
Although George Washington believed locating the fort in a large flat meadow would allow him to see and target his enemy as they approached the fort, this location turned out to increase difficulties that his men would face. His men had the foresight to dig defensive trenches around the fort to fight advancing French troops. Although this was a good thought, the surrounding hills caused rain water to run into the trenches, filling them up with water making them useless to the Virginians. With heavy rains and a fort positioned in a low lying area much of the ammunition the British brought was too wet to fire. George Washington also miscalculated the distance French guns could fire from the hills. With the benefit high elevation, the French could easily hit the colonists' fort with musket and cannon fire from the hills overlooking Fort Necessity. Washington's men also had a great deal of difficulty hitting the French and Native American troops hiding positioned on the hills. When the Virginians would fire up at the French forces their shots would often carry over the French soldiers heads because of the grade of the landscape. The geographic conditions at the Battle of Fort Necessity gave the French many advantages in the Battle of Fort Necessity.