Washington's Mission

English fort English Virginia Pennsylvania

surveying the site for a future future a for site the surveying Pennsylvania Williamsburg, from village near today's Harmony, Harmony, today's near village

confluence of three rivers, rivers, three of confluence Southwestern of forests departs Washington Town, a Deleware Indian Indian Deleware a Town,

Washington arrives at the the at arrives Washington the enters Expedition George Young Party visits Murthering Murthering visits Party

0-1 3 3 2 5 1 1 3

ovember/December N ovember N ovember N ctober O

Timeline: October 31 – December 1, 1753 1, December – 31 October Timeline:

severity in his journal. his in severity location of the French fort. French the of location

repeated references to its its to references repeated

north to Harrisville, then beyond Butler County to Venango, the the Venango, to County Butler beyond then Harrisville, to north

LeBoeuf. Washington made made Washington LeBoeuf.

timing of the trip to Fort Fort to trip the of timing have traveled through present-day Portersville, West Liberty, Liberty, West Portersville, present-day through traveled have

influencing the route and and route the influencing

As their trek continued through Butler County, the group may may group the County, Butler through continued trek their As

snowy and rainy, often often rainy, and snowy

54 was exceptionally cold, cold, exceptionally was 54 miles northeast of Logstown. Logstown. of northeast miles

The winter of 1753- of winter The

30th, they reached Murthering Town, approximately 15 15 approximately Town, Murthering reached they 30th, Weather: Weather:

Town" Town"

conditions. It was difficult to cross streams, and the snow made travel more perilous. perilous. more travel made snow the and streams, cross to difficult was It conditions. Indians (Natives allied with the French). By November November By French). the with allied (Natives Indians

"Murdering "Murdering

through were quite marshy and wet—the weather contributed greatly to the the to greatly contributed weather wet—the and marshy quite were through

provisions and help in safeguarding against French French against safeguarding in help and provisions

referred to as as to referred much underbrush. Some parts of Western Pennsylvania that George traveled traveled George that Pennsylvania Western of parts Some underbrush. much

figure. figure. day Ambridge, to ask “advice and assistance,” procure procure assistance,” and “advice ask to Ambridge, day

canopy that cut out the light low to the ground. As a result, there was not not was there result, a As ground. the to low light the out cut that canopy Town was also also was Town

Landscape: Landscape:

Wilderness included large trees with a dense forest forest dense a with trees large included Wilderness

commanding commanding Murthering Murthering The group continued on to Logstown, near present present near Logstown, to on continued group The Gulf of Mexico. Mexico. of Gulf

have made a a made have an inland route to the the to route inland an November 30 - December 1 December - 30 November

Machault (Franklin). (Franklin). Machault

plates as he determined determined he as plates salt and coffee. and salt period and would would and period

meat, cornmeal, barley, barley, cornmeal, meat,

Pennsylvania with lead lead with Pennsylvania New France: Presque Isle (Erie), LeBoeuf (Waterford) and and (Waterford) LeBoeuf (Erie), Isle Presque France: New two rivers converge as “The Point.”) “The as converge rivers two

was tall for that time time that for tall was

for the horses, jerked jerked horses, the for

marked Western Western marked

three forts to reinforce their claim to the region as part of of part as region the to claim their reinforce to forts three we refer to the triangle of land where the the where land of triangle the to refer we

with red-ish hair. He He hair. red-ish with

pack saddles, food food saddles, pack

de Blainville had had Blainville de

included horses with with horses included George was 6’ 3” 3” 6’ was George

By this time in history, the French had already erected erected already had French the history, in time this By of both Rivers.” (Today, (Today, Rivers.” both of

France’s Celeron Celeron France’s

the trip might have have might trip the

Appearance:

absolute Command Command absolute

Necessaries Necessaries Britain.” Britain.” for for

George’s George’s a Fort, as it has the the has it as Fort, a m Great of Crown the of Property the be to known notoriously

.c r for suited well “extremely was Rivers e so are Virginia of Colony the of Parts Western the in Ohio River the upon

e e s Monongahela and Allegheny the of o Lands “the because Country Ohio the from depart French the demanding t

y confluence the that journal his in

s LeBoeuf Fort at officer commanding the to letter a carry would He

r reference. reference.

River northbound, Washington noted noted Washington northbound, River

c region. the of occupation

industry) as a a as industry)

e As they followed the Monongahela Monongahela the followed they As T

h a

in the fur fur the in

I assignment was to demand the French end their their end French the demand to was assignment

November 23 November

involved involved h n

t g

i n u Virginia’s governor, Robert Dinwiddie, Washington’s Washington’s Dinwiddie, Robert governor, Virginia’s

s i t t Christopher Gist to guide him. guide to Gist Christopher furs and was was and furs

winter was just days away. Chosen for the journey by by journey the for Chosen away. days just was winter which exported exported which of November. There he engaged four “servitors” and and “servitors” four engaged he There November. of

Company, Company, Cumberland, Maryland) where they arrived the 14th 14th the arrived they where Maryland) Cumberland,

were merely paths, the weather was unpredictable, and and unpredictable, was weather the paths, merely were

in the Ohio Ohio the in to Wills Creek (today (today Creek Wills to

wilderness where the only villages were Indian, the roads roads the Indian, were villages only the where wilderness

(shareholders (shareholders

the rivers with lead plates. lead with rivers the

the trip. He traveled on on traveled He trip. the

New France south along along south France New

and Lord Fairfax Fairfax Lord and

was chosen to undertake a dangerous expedition into the the into expedition dangerous a undertake to chosen was the “necessaries” for for “necessaries” the

French territory from from territory French

Fairfax family family Fairfax

de Blainville marked marked Blainville de then proceeded to get get to proceeded then

American territory. Twenty-one-year old George Washington Washington George old Twenty-one-year territory. American

with the influential influential the with

French Ensign Celeron Celeron Ensign French

guages for him, and and him, for guages

control of the sea. In 1749, 1749, In sea. the of control and his contacts contacts his and

eastern Ohio), all of which was wilderness and had been Native Native been had and wilderness was which of all Ohio), eastern

- lan Indian interpret

Rivers) because the British had had British the because Rivers)

surveying experience experience surveying

(via the Allegheny and Ohio Ohio and Allegheny the (via

to the Ohio Country (present-day Western Pennsylvania and and Pennsylvania Western (present-day Country Ohio the to

Jacob Vanbraam to to Vanbraam Jacob

the mission. He used his his used He mission. the

route down the Mississippi River River Mississippi the down route

Virginia. He engaged engaged He Virginia.

and volunteered for for volunteered and was important, as was the inland inland the was as important, was

In 1753, the English, French and Native Americans laid claim claim laid Americans Native and French English, the 1753, In

area (today New Orleans). The fur trade trade fur The Orleans). New (today area

began in Williamsburg, Williamsburg, in began was young, ambitious, ambitious, young, was

Washington’s Mission: Washington’s

investments in the Mississippi River delta delta River Mississippi the in investments

Qualifications:

Washington’s journey journey Washington’s He

in connecting New France with their their with France New connecting in

October 31, 1753 31, October George’s The Canadian French were interested interested were French Canadian The Why were the French here? here? French the were Why

GTON’S IN T H R S A A I

Welcome to Butler County, PA! Through George Washington and Christopher Gist’s 1753 ® journals, we can trace the path likely taken in 1753 from Williamsburg, Virginia to Fort LeBoeuf, and then back to Virginia. Please note that the blue signs mark a commemorative trail, as sections of the actual path are open to debate. We hope you find it historically interesting and worth a drive via today’s roads, highways and sights. The The French & Indian War is an route will give you an interesting trip not only through history, but Butler County, PA as well. important part of our nation’s history Stop by the Harmony Museum where you will find a and in keeping with that significance, permanent exhibit on Washington's 1753 mission. 218 Mercer St., Harmony, PA 16037, 724-452-7341 Butler County’s Washington 1753 www.harmonymuseum.org Commemoration Committee works to Also visit: www.washingtonstrail.org raise public awareness of the mission. Brochure References They have erected circular blue markers Indian Paths of Pennsylvania, Paul A.W. Wallace with Washington’s profile, visible in many The Journals of George Washington and Christopher Gist: Mission to Fort LeBoeuf 1753-1754 places, and along several likely routes of Edited and Annotated by Kevin Patrick Kopper

his famous trip. We hope you will follow Butler County is easily accessible via the PA Turnpike, I-79, one of the path options of Washington’s I-80 and Routes 422, 19 and 8. first military expedition by hiking, biking Create your Experience! or driving through beautiful Butler Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau County, PA. We feature a multitude of 310 East Grandview Ave. Zelienople, PA 16063 places for shopping, dining, historical 866.856.8444

reference and overnight stays. Stop in www.VisitButlerCounty.com "Washington at the Point" Courtesy John Buxton. www.buxtonart.com to see what Washington commemorative specials might be offered.

082013

English fort English Virginia Pennsylvania

surveying the site for a future future a for site the surveying Pennsylvania Williamsburg, from village near today's Harmony, Harmony, today's near village

confluence of three rivers, rivers, three of confluence Southwestern of forests departs Washington Town, a Deleware Indian Indian Deleware a Town,

Washington arrives at the the at arrives Washington the enters Expedition George Young Party visits Murthering Murthering visits Party

0-1 3 3 2 5 1 1 3

ovember/December N ovember N ovember N ctober O

Timeline: October 31 – December 1, 1753 1, December – 31 October Timeline:

severity in his journal. his in severity location of the French fort. French the of location

repeated references to its its to references repeated

north to Harrisville, then beyond Butler County to Venango, the the Venango, to County Butler beyond then Harrisville, to north

LeBoeuf. Washington made made Washington LeBoeuf.

timing of the trip to Fort Fort to trip the of timing have traveled through present-day Portersville, West Liberty, Liberty, West Portersville, present-day through traveled have

influencing the route and and route the influencing

As their trek continued through Butler County, the group may may group the County, Butler through continued trek their As

snowy and rainy, often often rainy, and snowy

54 was exceptionally cold, cold, exceptionally was 54 miles northeast of Logstown. Logstown. of northeast miles

The winter of 1753- of winter The

30th, they reached Murthering Town, approximately 15 15 approximately Town, Murthering reached they 30th, Weather: Weather:

Town" Town"

"Murdering "Murdering

through were quite marshy and wet—the weather contributed greatly to the the to greatly contributed weather wet—the and marshy quite were through

provisions and help in safeguarding against French French against safeguarding in help and provisions

referred to as as to referred much underbrush. Some parts of Western Pennsylvania that George traveled traveled George that Pennsylvania Western of parts Some underbrush. much

figure. figure. day Ambridge, to ask “advice and assistance,” procure procure assistance,” and “advice ask to Ambridge, day

canopy that cut out the light low to the ground. As a result, there was not not was there result, a As ground. the to low light the out cut that canopy Town was also also was Town

Landscape: Landscape:

Wilderness included large trees with a dense forest forest dense a with trees large included Wilderness

commanding commanding Murthering Murthering The group continued on to Logstown, near present present near Logstown, to on continued group The Gulf of Mexico. Mexico. of Gulf

have made a a made have an inland route to the the to route inland an November 30 - December 1 December - 30 November

Machault (Franklin). (Franklin). Machault

plates as he determined determined he as plates salt and coffee. and salt period and would would and period

meat, cornmeal, barley, barley, cornmeal, meat,

was tall for that time time that for tall was

for the horses, jerked jerked horses, the for

marked Western Western marked

with red-ish hair. He He hair. red-ish with

pack saddles, food food saddles, pack

de Blainville had had Blainville de

included horses with with horses included George was 6’ 3” 3” 6’ was George

By this time in history, the French had already erected erected already had French the history, in time this By of both Rivers.” (Today, (Today, Rivers.” both of

France’s Celeron Celeron France’s

the trip might have have might trip the

Appearance:

absolute Command Command absolute

Necessaries Necessaries Britain.” Britain.” for for

George’s George’s a Fort, as it has the the has it as Fort, a m Great of Crown the of Property the be to known notoriously

.c r for suited well “extremely was Rivers e so are Virginia of Colony the of Parts Western the in Ohio River the upon

e e s Monongahela and Allegheny the of o Lands “the because Country Ohio the from depart French the demanding t

y confluence the that journal his in

s LeBoeuf Fort at officer commanding the to letter a carry would He

r reference. reference.

River northbound, Washington noted noted Washington northbound, River

c region. the of occupation

industry) as a a as industry)

e As they followed the Monongahela Monongahela the followed they As T

h a

in the fur fur the in

I assignment was to demand the French end their their end French the demand to was assignment

November 23 November

involved involved h n

t g

i n u Virginia’s governor, Robert Dinwiddie, Washington’s Washington’s Dinwiddie, Robert governor, Virginia’s

s i t t Christopher Gist to guide him. guide to Gist Christopher furs and was was and furs

Company, Company, Cumberland, Maryland) where they arrived the 14th 14th the arrived they where Maryland) Cumberland,

were merely paths, the weather was unpredictable, and and unpredictable, was weather the paths, merely were

in the Ohio Ohio the in to Wills Creek (today (today Creek Wills to

wilderness where the only villages were Indian, the roads roads the Indian, were villages only the where wilderness

(shareholders (shareholders

the rivers with lead plates. lead with rivers the

the trip. He traveled on on traveled He trip. the

New France south along along south France New

and Lord Fairfax Fairfax Lord and

was chosen to undertake a dangerous expedition into the the into expedition dangerous a undertake to chosen was the “necessaries” for for “necessaries” the

French territory from from territory French

Fairfax family family Fairfax

de Blainville marked marked Blainville de then proceeded to get get to proceeded then

American territory. Twenty-one-year old George Washington Washington George old Twenty-one-year territory. American

with the influential influential the with

French Ensign Celeron Celeron Ensign French

guages for him, and and him, for guages

control of the sea. In 1749, 1749, In sea. the of control and his contacts contacts his and

eastern Ohio), all of which was wilderness and had been Native Native been had and wilderness was which of all Ohio), eastern

- lan Indian interpret

Rivers) because the British had had British the because Rivers)

surveying experience experience surveying

(via the Allegheny and Ohio Ohio and Allegheny the (via

to the Ohio Country (present-day Western Pennsylvania and and Pennsylvania Western (present-day Country Ohio the to

Jacob Vanbraam to to Vanbraam Jacob

the mission. He used his his used He mission. the

route down the Mississippi River River Mississippi the down route

Virginia. He engaged engaged He Virginia.

and volunteered for for volunteered and was important, as was the inland inland the was as important, was

In 1753, the English, French and Native Americans laid claim claim laid Americans Native and French English, the 1753, In

area (today New Orleans). The fur trade trade fur The Orleans). New (today area

began in Williamsburg, Williamsburg, in began was young, ambitious, ambitious, young, was

Washington’s Mission: Washington’s

investments in the Mississippi River delta delta River Mississippi the in investments

Qualifications:

Washington’s journey journey Washington’s He

in connecting New France with their their with France New connecting in

October 31, 1753 31, October George’s The Canadian French were interested interested were French Canadian The Why were the French here? here? French the were Why

GTON’S IN T H R S A A I

reference and overnight stays. Stop in www.VisitButlerCounty.com "Washington at the Point" Courtesy John Buxton. www.buxtonart.com to see what Washington commemorative specials might be offered.

082013 Pemmican Clothing for this Trip May Have Been: Ingredients: eat• Dried m • Breeches (pants extending to just below the knee, probably woolen for winter wear) (jerky) such ruit• Dried as deer, bison, • Trade shirt (long sleeved, often linen, with a collar and coming down to about the thighs) f such squirrel or as grapes, c beef • High woolen stockings (extending up to the thighs) nd• Pepper herries, cranberries, a herbs blueberries • Waistcoat (vest) uet• Lard, s or tallow • Capote (winter coat made from a woolen blanket) (animal fat) • Leggings (extending from the top of the shoe to the thighs, Preparation: used to protect the socks and held up with leg ties or garters) oundachFor e p of m • Boots • eat: ablespoonsnMix i 2 T • Tricorn hat (made of beaver fur felt, worn by most all men, • riedz2 o of Sugar, of D and developed by the military) Fruit or Herbs. • zAdd 5 • A strip of wool similar to a scarf to wrap around their heads and o of melted • olidntoForm suet and stir cover their ears i s well. blocks and • akeut,While o store in glass • Woven or fur mittens might also be worn t a good-sized jars, or o ater,boiling piece ther containers. w add of pemican urvivalwilderness a good teaspoon and place s or so it in a pot "Swim the meal. of chili powder of December 5-10 and you Horses" is when the have an excellent It took about five days to travel rider stays on the horse from Venango to Fort LeBoeuf. and the horse swims The group was unable to ford across the river, its feet Eating/Sleeping: With the weather as cold and snowy as it was, it would Sugar Creek and had to “swim our not touching the have been wise for Washington and Gist to carry food with them, as they would not horses” and “carry all our baggage ground. have been inclined to hunt and shoot their flintlocks, thereby drawing attention to over on trees” (belongings were tied themselves. Jerky, barley, oats, dried fruit, dried corn and pemmican (see recipe above) might be staples. Water along the trail was clean and drinkable. At night, Washington to downed trees and floated across). and Gist might have rolled up in a woolen blanket on a bed of pine branches as a base Excessive rains, snows and bad traveling through or found shelter underneath a pine tree or rock overhang. Carrying a canvas tent was many mires and swamps made the remainder not practical; tents were heavy and other forms of shelter could be found or constructed and needn’t be carried by a traveler. of the trip to Fort LeBoeuf difficult. They arrived around sunset on December 10th, throughout the night 1753, and waited… along the Venango Trail (Route 528 and Franklin Road). They were certain the Indian would follow their tracks as soon as it was light and wanted to get a head start. How different our history would have been if this shot "Washington's Crossing, 1753" Courtesy John Buxton. www.buxtonart.com had been accurate! Traveling until the next evening at dark, they approached the Allegheny River, expecting it to be completely frozen. It was not. They felt a raft was the only means of crossing Etiquette: In the 18th and a “poor hatchet” was their means of building it. century, Europeans followed Following a whole day’s work, they were able the etiquette of the aristocracy, and this carried over into the to launch the raft, but hit ice about halfway frontier. The French treated across, in such a manner that they expected Washington in the most polite to sink. Washington was thrown into about manner. ten feet of water and managed to pull himself back onto the raft. Not being able to make it to either shore, "Domain of Three Nations" the men landed on a small island with no inhabitants. They Courtesy John Buxton. www.buxtonart.com spent a cold, wet night huddled around a fire. December 12 December 30 On December 12th, Washington The following morning, the cold being so extreme as to freeze attempted to meet with the highest the Allegheny, they were able to walk across the remainder French official, Legardeur de St. Pierre, in of the river on the ice, proceeding on to John Frazier’s cabin, order to present him with the governor’s letter. located about ten miles away on the Monongahela River at He was forced to wait until Monsieur Reparti, Turtle Creek. Frazier was a blacksmith and trader. the captain of the next fort (in Erie) was From the first day of December until the 15th, it rained or sent for and arrived (in order to translate snowed incessantly. The trip continued to be difficult and filled George’s letter). During the wait, he with hazards. took note of the size of the fort, number of structures, munitions January 16 and the number of canoes. (That Washington finally arrived back in Williamsburg where he information gave him a good idea reported to the governor that the French intended to remain of the strength of the French and how entrenched in the Ohio Country. At Governor Dinwiddie’s many natives were at the fort.) Upon the arrival request, Washington published the journal he had kept through- of the captain, the meeting finally took place out the trip. Dinwiddie felt that it might influence the legislature. and the French politely declined to leave the What happened next... territory. It was essential that Washington get By April of 1754, the French had control of the point of land at back to Governor Dinwiddie with their refusal Weapons: Their guns were flintlock muskets with a smooth Indian bore, possibly a 60-75 caliber, using ball and powder. The guns shot the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers and commenced as soon as possible. Walking Dress— up to about 50 yards, but they were not very accurate. to build Fort Duquesne. In late May, as Washington and 400 breechclout, The French delayed the Indians accompany- Hunting Pouch or Possibles Bag likely contained leggings, moccasins Virginia and South Carolina troops were camped at the Great ing Washington, but as he was anxious to tow (linen), spare flints, strips of greased cloth to wrap around and "watch coat" musket balls when the flintlock is loaded, ball bag for musket balls, Meadows (near today’s Farmington, Pennsylvania), he received begin the return trip, he and Gist set out on and the items to make more musket balls: a mold, ladle and lead. a report that a group of Frenchmen was camped nearby. their journey from Fort LeBoeuf on December Musket tools, such as turn screws (screwdriver), a pick and brush, and Upon investigation, they found the French in a secluded spot. tow worms for repair and care of the gun might also be carried. 16th, arriving in Venango on the 22nd. Although The English attacked, had the advantage and took a heavy toll, the group had ridden horses on the first leg of the expedi- including the death of the French leader, Ensign Joseph de tion, bad weather, bitter temperatures and lack of food had Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville. made the horses weak and feeble and they were left behind. Washington then retreated to the Great Meadows and con- Washington put himself “in Indian walking dress” for the structed a makeshift shelter called Fort Necessity. The French return trip to Virginia. attacked during a rainstorm that turned the British trenches December 27 into a quagmire. Washington was forced to surrender, sign- On December 27th, just beyond Murthering Town, an Indian ing a document in which he took responsibility for the death allied with the French (also called a French Indian) joined of Jumonville. His admission would haunt him the rest of his Washington and Gist as a guide. As the men grew more and life and gave the French another reason to start a war against more uneasy at his behavior, they came to a clear meadow. the British. The Indian stopped, turned and shot at Washington and Gist Want to know more? The story continues at other French from just 15 steps away, missing both. They took him into and Indian War sites and museums throughout Western custody, but released him around nine o’clock that Pennsylvania. night. After building a fire, as though they were "The First Shot" By Deac Mong. staying, Washington and Gist continued walking Commissioned by retired Butler County Judge Martin J. O'Brien.

Timeline: December 10, 1753 – January 16, 1754 Think About It! December December December December January Our history would be different if George Washington had been shot or drowned 0 1 16-26 27 29 16 on his return trip from Fort LeBoeuf. His influence was monumental in our country. He had a hand in the start of Washington Washington A "French Indian" Washington Washington the French & Indian War, an important arrives at Fort departs from Fort role in the Revolutionary War, and the attempts to shoot nearly drowns reports to establishment of our government. As LeBoeuf and LeBoeuf on return Washington east of crossing the Governer well as being our first president, his delivers message journey Murthering Town Allegheny River Dinwiddie at presence directed many aspects of our to French Williamsburg nation’s growth. commander