Young George Washington and the French and Indian War, 1753-1758

The Father of His Country was not always that stellar commander and stern first president who gazes serenely from the famous portraits we have of him. George Washington was once, in fact, a proud, ambitious, and sometimes foolhardy young man whose brashness triggered a major war between the superpowers of his time.

Using Washington's diaries as a source, Robert McClung tells the story of George's uneven beginning steps into greatness. With French and British facing off for control of North America, the 21-year-old Virginian took on military responsibilities far beyond his ability. Sent to warn the French out of the Ohio Valley, he wound up ambushing them in peacetime, being nearly wiped out in return, and being branded as an "assassin." He was with Braddock when that British general's force was nearly annihilated; later, he struggled to maintain discipline over his militia, while he argued with his superiors to the point of insubordination both about battle tactics and the preferments of rank. When the British defeated the French at Fort Duquesne, Washington resigned and retired to a gentleman's life at Mt. Vernon.

George Washington always had courage and great ambition. What he learned as a young man was how to deal with the Indian allies; fight in the woods; keep control of troops; provision his men; and - most of all - curb his fiery temper. These were the things that would pave his way to greatness seventeen years later when he was called to lead the Continental Army into battle against their mother country.