Historical Background
In a wooded clearing overlooking an imposing rock formation, the face of North America would be irreparably altered. On May 28, 1754 this spot witnessed the first shot of the French and Indian War (or the Seven Years’ War around the world).
In January 1754, a company of the volunteer Virginia Regiment was sent to build a fort at the strategic confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers (modern-day Pittsburgh, PA) where the Ohio River began. The Virginians were driven away by French troops, who went on to construct Fort Duquesne on the site. In response, a larger expedition was dispatched in April. Lieutenant Colonel George Washington, the regiment’s deputy commander, led the advance.
On May 24, his force reached the Great Meadows, an open, marshy area about 60 miles southeast of Fort Duquesne where camp was set up. Three days later, friendly Indians informed Washington that some 50 French soldiers were camped in a hidden ravine only 15 miles away. Convinced by Mingo chief Tanacharison (Iroquoi) that the French intended to attack, Washington decided to strike first.
During the rainy night of May 27-28, Washington led a raiding party of forty Virginians and Indians to the French location. At dawn, as they moved into position around the glen, a shot was fired. The surprised French, who claimed they were a diplomatic and not a military corps, were led by Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville. They returned the musket fire for fifteen minutes before surrendering. Details of what happened next have long been debated, but the end result was that Jumonville, during his captivity and interrogation, was suddenly tomahawked to death by Washington’s ally, chief Tanacharison. The rash attack spurred the other Indians to follow suit, whereupon nine additional captive French soldiers were scalped before a stunned Washington could intervene and stop the massacre.
One of the French survivors escaped into the woods, returned to Fort Duquesne, and reported on the affair. The French pilloried Washington as a war criminal, and their outrage helped spur their July 3 attack on Washington at the Battle of Fort Necessity.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history?
Battle Notes
French Army
• Commander: Coulon de Jumonville
• 1 Command card (increases to 3, see The French are surprised special rule) & 2 Combat cards.
British Army
• Commander: Washington & Tanacharison
• 5 Command cards & 3 Combat cards
• Move First
Victory
6 Victory Banners
Special Rules
- The French are surprised: French start with 1 Command card. End of turns 1 and 2 draw an extra Command card. Start of turn 3 French will hold 3 Command cards.
- French Regular units are reduced in strength to 4, cannot gain more blocks than they start the game with and are never considered to be at full strength.
- No melee or movement across Chestnut Ridge to or from a non- terrain hex (red line). The 3 lone hills outlined in red are impassable.
- When ordered, a French unit starting on either baseline hex may exit for a victory banner.
- The stream is fordable. The shallow fords have no movement or battle restrictions
- Indian “War Cry” is in effect