How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

The Maryland Gazette
Annapolis: Printed by Jonas Green, Tuesday, June 27, 1754. Numb. 477. Printed newspaper. Folio. (4) pp. Disbound; dampstaining along spine and in lower half of each leaf; singe mark in upper fore-edge of first leaf, short closed tear in lower fore-edge of same; scattered spotting.

An early report of a 22-year-old George Washington, printed following the skirmish between Washington's men and French soldiers at Jumonville Glen, Pennsylvania, that ignited the French and Indian War.

Printed on the second page, third column, reports, "We have certain Information, that Nine of the French Soldiers, from the Fort which was delivered up by Ensign Ward...have Deserted, and come over to Major Washington. Upwards of 300 Soldiers are now at Alexandria, and more expected every Day, who are to march in a few Days, to join and reinforce Major Washington, so that it is hoped his Army will soon be able to withstand and repel any Attacks that may be offered him by the French." 

On May 28, 1754, Washington and Mingo Chief Tanacharison, known as “Half-King", led a party of 40 men in an ambush against 29 French soldiers at current-day Jumonville Glen in Western Pennsylvania. Following an earlier three-month expedition into the Ohio Valley, Washington had reported to Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie about French intentions to establish a military presence in the region. Dinwiddie ordered Washington to proceed to the frontier and establish a fort at the fork of the Ohio River to prevent the French from taking root. By April, Washington had learned that French forces had overtaken a small British contingent already in that area, and he ordered his men to build a defensive position nearby. On May 27, Washington spotted a small contingent of French forces close to his position, and ordered the resulting ambush the next day against French leader Joseph Coulons de Villiers de Jumonville, which led to the death of ten French, and the capture of numerous others. A month later, in retaliation, 600 French soldiers overtook Washington's position at Fort Necessity, forcing his surrender. It was the beginning of the French and Indian War, which would eventually force the French from North America.