Braddock's men cross the Monongahela on July…

July 1755 CE

Braddock's men cross the Monongahela on July 9, 1755, without opposition, about ten miles (sixteen kilometers) south of Fort Duquesne.

The advance guard of three hundred grenadiers and colonials with two cannon under Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage begins to move ahead.

George Washington tries to warn him of the flaws in his plan—for example, the French and the natives fight differently than the open-field style used by the British—but his efforts are ignored; Braddock insists on fighting as "gentlemen".

Then, unexpectedly, Gage's advance guard comes upon the French and natives, who are hurrying to the river, behind schedule and too late to set an ambush.

In the skirmish that follows between Gage's soldiers and the French, the French commander, Beaujeu, is killed by the first volley of musket fire by the grenadiers.

Although some one hundred French Canadians flee back to the fort and the noise of the cannon holds the natives off, Beaujeu's death does not have a negative effect on French morale; his patronage of native customs has helped raise the morale and fighting tenacity of the warriors under his command.

Dumas rallies the rest of the French and their native allies.

The battle, known as the Battle of the Monongahela, or the Battle of the Wilderness, or just Braddock's Defeat, is officially begun.

Braddock's force is approximately fourteen hundred men.

The British face a French and native force estimated to number between three hundred and nine hundred.

The battle, frequently describes as an ambush, is actually a meeting engagement, where two forces clash at an unexpected time and place.

The quick and effective response of the French and natives—despite the early loss of their commander—lead many of Braddock's men to believe they had been ambushed.

However, French documents reveal that the French and native force had been too late to prepare an ambush, and had been just as surprised as the British.

After an exchange of fire, Gage's advance group falls back.

In the narrow confines of the road, they collide with the main body of Braddock's force, which had advanced rapidly when the shots were heard.

The entire column dissolves in disorder as the Canadian militiamen and natives envelop them and continue to snipe at the British flanks from the woods on the sides of the road.

At this time, the French regulars begin advancing from the road and begin to push the British back.

Following Braddock's example, the officers keep trying to reform units into regular show order within the confines of the road, mostly in vain and simply providing targets for their concealed enemy.

Cannon are used, but in such confines of the forest road, they are ineffective.

The colonial militia accompanying the British takes cover and returns fire.

In the confusion, some of the militiamen who are fighting from the woods are mistaken for the enemy and fired upon by the British regulars.

After several hours of intense combat, Braddock is shot off his horse, and effective resistance collapses.

Colonel Washington, although he has no official position in the chain of command, is able to impose and maintain some order and form a rear guard, which allows the remnants of the force to disengage.

This earns him the sobriquet Hero of the Monongahela, by which he will be toasted, and establishes his fame for some time to come.