Posted on 05/28/2023 5:49:10 AM PDT by CheshireTheCat
On the 28th of May in 1754, a wilderness skirmish in colonial Pennsylvania set spark to the Seven Years’ War — thanks to a battlefield execution under the auspices of the future United States founding father George Washington.
The backdrop to what pro-French partisans would call the “Jumonville Affair” was the rivalrous jockeying of French and British flags in contested North American territory. Looking to check French raiding in Ohio that was feared prelude to an attempt to effect control of that valuable and disputed tract, Washington — here a 22-year-old British lieutenant colonel, many years away yet from his future glory as the American Revolution’s great general — had engaged the French 11 miles from present-day Uniontown, Pa..
It was a short fight: Washington got the drop on the French encampment and efficiently flanked them with his Iroquois allies. Fifteen minutes, and about 10 to 14 French killed, told the tale.
It’s remembered now as the Battle of Jumonville Glen, but its namesake wasn’t around to enjoy the distinction. Instead, that defeated French commander, one Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville, was allegedly taken prisoner by his opposite number but then killed out of hand by the Iroquois leader Tanacharison or Tanaghrisson (known as “Half-King” to Europeans).......
(Excerpt) Read more at executedtoday.com ...
Always been fascinated about this. I’m familiar with the Uniontown, PA area.
At that time, the Iroquois were not inclined to formally ask permission of white men (especially those in a minority gathered around a French captive) to just about anything, up to and including burying a tomahawk deep into the skull of “opposing” captive who also happened to be a white person.
My read of that situation is that Washington and his men were outnumbered by their “allies” the Iroquois, and were not 100% sure the Iroquois would turn unexpectedly on them for any reason...or no reason at all, and bury tomahawks in their heads.
And I take issue with the characterization of this as “The first Washington Atrocity” implying there are many more.
To the British, Washington committed atrocities whether it was having a biscuit for breakfast or whether he executed British soldiers in reprisal of the British executions of Americans.
War is war, and terrible things happen. Washington was not in command of the Iroquois Indians and did not give approval to the actions of the Iroquois chief. It was done on the spur of the moment, and to the surprise of everyone, at least that is how the account went.
Personally, I have no reason to disbelieve Washington’s telling of it, because they seemed pretty nervous that it next could be them the get a tomahawk abruptly buried in the crown of their head from their “friends” the Iroquois.
They saw what the Indians did to their captives.
True dat.
That, and the green behind the ears experience of a certain Virginian surveyor...
On the Executed Today or the Wikipedia sites, there is an account of Washington ordering the summary execution of somevof the most active people involved in mutinies...
What, no Constitutional protections and Geneva Convention in wartime pre-Rev war colonial America?
That is quite a different thing. People who are involved in active mutinies in wartime can, by standing law, and almost always should pay that price in a time of war.
It is known and understood by all. Washington was known to have ordered deserters and mutineers to be shot, and by all accounts, it was not something he relished. Furthermore, he made it a specific point to be fully present when it was done so that there was no question about his involvement. He apparently viewed that as his duty, as untasteful as it was.
That is one thing.
It is another to murder unarmed captives, and while the British and Hessians were known to do that in well documented incidents, if if was done by the colonial troops, it was not done with the sanction of the upper leadership including Washington.
Uniontown ping
He of the assembling of 13,000 troops to put down a bunch of farmers (Whiskey Rebellion, 1791 - 1794).
Purer than the driven snow, he is.
The National Park Service just recently announced based on findings of musket balls and terrain they have identified the actual skirmish site. Keeping it unidentified till field work is complete.
Yeah, I don’t know where that characterization came from. Wasn’t expecting it from this site.
Washington was easily the best man ever. He certainly was the most adulated ever.
Purer than most. I would hesitate.To inject my 21st century standards on a man wo understood the necessity of maintaining law in a newly founded 18fh century Republic based on law.
Europeans had “rules of war”. Indians did not. Or they were very few.
That was his duty. He believed in stability and law and order. They were insurrectionists.
Would that we would shoot the bastard rioters who are clearly insurrectionists today.
upon learning of Washington’s resignation from public life, King George III reportedly told the American-born artist Benjamin West:
"If Washington does that, he will be the greatest man in the world."
Few people really believed he would do it. But he did, and that says volumes about him.
I personally think he is one of the greatest men to have ever lived on this earth, and to this day, I have a copy of a short book (he assembled at the age of 14) called "Rules of Civility" on my desk at work.
It is hilariously outdated, and it seems very little of it (that I can tell) has original thoughts of his, but...the fact that he put it together at that young age shows these things meant something to him.
You can read the PDF at: "Rules of Civility" by George Washington
Some of them are still so spot on you could not possibly give better advice today, these are some of my favorites:
"Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad Company."
"In visiting the Sick, do not Presently play the Physicion if you be not Knowing therein."
"When you see a Crime punished, you may be inwardly Pleased; but always shew Pity to the Suffering Offender."
"Let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave."
"Read no Letters, Books, or Papers in Company but when there is a Necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave: come not near the Books or Writings of Another so as to read them unless desired or give your opinion of them unask'd also look not nigh when another is writing a Letter."
The last one is interesting in the context of what people commonly do today in the presence of others with their cell phones!
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