#602-603 The French and Indian War
Fun Fact #602
A Fork in the Road
As the years went by in the North American Colonies, the French fur trappers continued exploring the American wilderness seeking fur to earn riches back home. As they traveled south sections of the Iroquois Confederacy which did not side with the trappers were driven out of the area into what is now Allegheny County becoming known as “The Mingos”.
Then in 1747, Tanacharison emerged as a Chieftain (called “The Half-King”)over The Mingos and traded Wampum (Ceremonial beads) with French Captain Joncaire to make peace and allow fur trappers into their lands to hunt trap beaver without pushing the Mingo further south. However they never forgot who pushed them there resulting in Chief Tanacharison and the Mingo preferring to do business with The British trappers who had recently started venturing into their land. To combat this the French built forts across the territory in 1754. The Governor of Virginia then sent Special Envoy George Washington to discuss a peace and convince the French to leave the area.
Seeing the potential for violence if not handled carefully, Washington sought out Tanacharsion to get him to formally end the French fur trade in the area by giving back The Wampum. However he learned that Tanahrsion had already tried this, only for Captain Joncaire to throw a “Welcoming Party for The Half-King” after the Wampum was presented resulting in Tanacharsion getting so drunk he forgot to return the Wampum before leaving. Apparently he had tried this a few times. Washington suggested that they go together this time and that The British would supply Brandy (Tanachrision’s Favorite) upon their successful return.
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Things did not go as planned, as Captain Joncaire kept dodging the subject of the Wampum, insisting how they had more supplies coming as a promise to continue friendship with the Mingo. He also tried to convince The Half-King to join them against the British –much to Washington's displeasure. Tanacharison’s hatred of the French won true, and he stuck with The British, but The Wampum was never successfully returned. The Half-King officially requested that The Governor of Virginia build a “Strong House” on the Forks of the Ohio. Less than a year later construction began on Fort Prince George in what is now Pittsburg. For their combined failure and seeing the likelihood for the slaughter of many of his people, Chief Tanacharsion gave George Washington the name Washington’s Father once held: “Conotocarius” meaning “Devourer of Villages" to which he was from then on known by both the Mingos and the Iroquois Confederacy
Washington’s Map of the Ohio River Forks, containing Notes on French activity in the area.
Bonus Fun Fact: In 1961, Baseball Player Yogi Berra said “When you come to the fork in the road, Take it!” after hitting his 61st home run of the season.
Fun Fact #603
The Jumonville Affair
In 1752, “The Half-King” Chief Tanacharsion sought out The Commander of the French-Canadian Construction force, Malgue, and tried to make peace bringing Wampum to seal that peace. Malgue lost his temper breaking the Wampum and trampling it before telling The Half-King “I tell you, down the river I will go. . . . I have the forces to burst it open and tread under my feet all that oppose me. I despise all the stupid things you have said." Yet “The Half-King had the last laugh, killing Malgue in 1753. Now in 1754 Chief Tanacharsion found himself once again at odds with The French when he spotted a group of 35 French soldiers headed to Fort Prince George. Knowing that construction had started less than a week before when The Half-King himself placed the first log for supplies there, Chief Tanacharsion left to alert his allies.
Moncheau was a former Mingo Indian who was recruited to the French Military by Ensign Jumonville to help protect the frontier in exchange for housing and steady pay. Overall it was a good gig, only having to leave Fort Duquesne on rare occasions such as today when Jumonville and 31 men left to inform the British they were trespassing on French land at The Forks of Ohio, and to abandon Fort Prince George. Yet Moncheau had gotten lost while relieving himself during a heavy rainstorm enroute. Now at Green Meadows he had finally caught back up, only to be horrified by what he found. The entire convoy lay dead across the field. Moncheau then turned and ran back to Fort Duquesne.
Chief Tanacharsion learned that George Washington was already aware of the French coming (Thanks to Christopher Gist) and had gathered 75men for the defense. They then gathered at Half-King Rock where it was decided that 9 of Tanacharsion’s warriors would launch the attack at Green Meadows backed up shortly after by the rest of the assembled Mingo/British force. While there is a lot of debate of how the battle went down (5 separate accounts), what is agreed is that the Mingo Warriors (9) were highly effective, quickly getting the French (31) to surrender within 15 minutes. After the battle, Washington’s forces gathered the 21 French survivors and found that Ensign Jumonville was among them. Reportedly, The Half-King then approached him and uttered the French words, "Tu n'es pas encore mort, mon père! " (Thou art not yet dead, my father) and sunk a tomahawk into Jumonville’s skull. It is thought the act was in response to Chief Tanacharsion that the majority of the “French killed” were Mingo traitors, and he then ordered his men to kill and scalp the rest of the survivors. Washington would be later horrified by this act when he learned of it.
Thus began the conflict known as: The French and Indian War.
Painting of George Washington in the Uniform he wore during the French and Indian War. (By Charles Wilson Peale 1772)
As always thank you for reading and please have a wonderful day!
