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Terms of Capitulation of Fort Necessity, 1754

CONTENT WARNING

Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation. 

Context

In January 1754, Virginia's lieutenant governor (acting in place of the absent royal governor), Robert Dinwiddie, sent a small force of Virginia soldiers to build a fort at the forks of the Ohio River, where present-day Pittsburgh now stands. In April, Lieutenant Colonel George Washington led a detachment of Virginia militia to the Ohio River. He learned that French forces had already driven off a small English garrison and built a stockade, known as Fort Duquesne. After engaging with a French detachment that later described itself as an embassy delivering a message, Washington's men erected Fort Necessity at nearby Great Meadows.

A French military detachment left Fort Duquesne and attacked Washington’s militia on July 3rd. At midnight the French commander, Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, requested a truce to discuss surrender terms for Fort Necessity. After some negotiations, Washington agreed to the terms and retreated to Virginia with his militia, surrendering Fort Necessity to the French. They were allowed to withdraw with the honors of war, retaining their baggage and weapons, but they had to allow the French to keep their swivel guns.

There was one point of contention which would have some lasting impact on Washington. A clause in French version of the surrender agreement stated that Washington was guilty of assassinating the French officer leading the embassy mission. Washington denied this, describing the officer as a spy who was using the excuse of an ambassadorial mission to cover his activities. The French used their version as propaganda to discredit the British.

On July 4, 1754, the British troops left Fort Necessity and the French burned Fort Necessity before returning to Fort Duquesne. The battle helped to spark the French and Indian War, which was part of the imperial conflict between Great Britain and France known as the Seven Years’ War. 


Citation: Virginia (Colony), Colonial Papers, Articles of capitulation of Capt. Louis Coulon de Villiers, 1754 July 3. Accession 36138. State government records collection, Library of Virginia.

Standards

VS.1, VS.5, USI.1, USI.6, VUS.1

Suggested Questions

Preview Activity

Scan It: Scan the transcription of the document. What phrases or words stand out?

Post Activity

Up for Debate: Write a statement discussing whether you think the terms of surrender were fair to the British. Include relevant information to support your statement.

Social Media Spin: Create two social media posts or tweets describing the events at Fort Necessity from perspective of the French and the British.