General Edwards Braddock tells his story and the disasterous campaign on Fort Duquesne

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I am General Edward Braddock, and my story is one of ambition, military tradition, and, yes, a tragic end that you may find both instructive and cautionary. Born in 1695 to a British military family, I was destined for a life of service to the Crown. My early years were spent honing the skills of a soldier, following in the footsteps of my father, Major General Edward Braddock Sr. I climbed the ranks steadily, proving myself in various campaigns across Europe, and by the mid-18th century, I was appointed as a major general in His Majesty's army.

But my most notable, and indeed fateful, assignment came in 1754 when I was chosen to lead British forces in North America during the conflict that you now know as the French and Indian War. The British colonies were threatened by French expansion into the Ohio Valley, and it was my task to secure British dominance in the region.

In 1755, I embarked on what was to become the most significant, and ultimately disastrous, campaign of my career—the expedition to capture Fort Duquesne, a French stronghold located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, in what is now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I had under my command a force of approximately 2,000 men, including British regulars and colonial militia, one of whom was a young officer named George Washington. Yes, that same Washington who would later lead your country to independence.

Our journey through the dense forests of Pennsylvania was slow and arduous, but I was confident in the superiority of British arms and discipline. I had little regard for the unconventional tactics of the French and their Native American allies. I believed that traditional European methods of warfare—linear formations, strict discipline, and heavy artillery—would carry the day, as they had so many times before on the battlefields of Europe.

On July 9, 1755, as we approached Fort Duquesne, our column was ambushed by a force of French soldiers and Native American warriors. They fought from behind trees and rocks, employing guerilla tactics that were alien to the formalities of European warfare. My men, unused to this style of combat, were thrown into disarray. Despite my best efforts to rally them, the ambush turned into a rout. I, too, was struck down, mortally wounded by a bullet to the chest.

As I lay dying on the battlefield, I could not help but reflect on the hubris that had led me here. My refusal to adapt to the conditions of this new world, my underestimation of the enemy, and my rigid adherence to the old ways had cost me my life—and the lives of many brave men under my command. The defeat was a devastating blow to British hopes in North America and marked the beginning of a long and bloody conflict.

Before I passed, I entrusted young George Washington with the task of organizing the retreat. Though my life ended that day, the lessons of my failure lived on. Washington, who had been at my side throughout the campaign, would go on to become one of history’s most famous generals, applying the hard-won knowledge of that day to his future victories.

I am General Edward Braddock, and my story is a reminder that even the most experienced leaders can falter if they do not adapt to new challenges. My end was tragic, but from it, important lessons were learned—lessons that would shape the future of this continent.

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