July 4th, 1754: Recovering from Mistakes with George Washington

Leave a Comment / History Comics / By

July 4th is the day we celebrate the United States’ anniversary. George Washington’s name is synonymous with our country, considering all his great achievements that led to the founding of the United States of America. But the country that we know today wasn’t founded until 1776. So, what happened in 1754? A little something that the historians refer to as George Washington’s first July 4th. In this history comic, you will meet a young twenty-two-year-old version of the man who would someday become a legend. But before he could become a legend, he had to learn from his mistakes. I hope that this story inspires you in some way. If nothing else, a reminder that if George Washington could recover and grow from the mistakes he made at age twenty-two, then we can recover from our mistakes too.

As always, captions are included for each picture so that those of whom English is not their first language can follow along with the translator available on this site.

Daily Devotionals Brought to You by American History

Errors once discovered are more than half amended. Some men (and women) will gain as much experience in the course of 3 or 4 years as some will in ten or a dozen.
 I’m George Washington. History remembers me as the first USA president and founding father. But here’s something you might not know…
When I was 22 years old I made a series of catastrophic mistakes. It led to the most humiliating event of my life. That date was July 4th, 1754, long before we declared our independence and became the United States of America.
That date was July 4th, 1754, long before we declared our independence and became the United States of America.
Our country is approaching its 246th birthday. We know it as the 4th of July and it’s a time of celebration.
But believe me, I had nothing to celebrate in 1754. I was too busy suffering the ripple effect of what I caused and working hard to make amends.
Let’s use your earliest portrait for this story. How much younger did you look then compared to this one?
Well, I was leaner of course and slightly more handsome. I still had all my teeth.
Age 22 and I was hungry to prove myself. I wanted a career in the military, and I wanted to be paid fairly.
But being a colonist meant there were major obstacles, especially where promotions and fair pay was concerned.

American Colonists: “You’re all a bunch of bumpkins!”

Pre-1776, Americans were known as colonists. Long story short. A few territorial wars between Great Britain (AKA: England) and France happened, and Britain won the jackpot: us.
So, by my time, all the American colonists were considered British subjects.
Except for how Britain didn’t really see the colonists as equals. Britain considered them low-born, simpletons, and just a bunch of bumpkins in general.
We saw ourselves as bumpkins and we looked up to the British. We saw them as fashionable, eloquent, and well educated. We wanted to be more like them, and they knew it.
Unfortunately, this view wasn’t just cultural. It was also financial. The British thought the colonists were too incompetent to move up in the military.
Even if we did move up, the pay was poor compared to what the British officers made.
Yes, even in 1753, you were sent on an expedition, and you almost lost your life. Not once, but twice. Yet, when they paid you, it barely covered your expenses!
True, that was a nasty shock to me. But I took comfort in the amount of respect I earned and was hoping I could build on that.
You see, while Britain won us as British subjects, there was still lots of unclaimed American land. So, Britain and France were fighting over that, and that’s where I saw my opportunity.
If I could lead people into battle and win, then the British would have to see me as someone important. Someone worthy of better pay.
With a young and eager plan like that, what could possibly go wrong?

Setting up the July 4th Mission: The (not so) Genius Plan

I was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and my first job was to raise and train 160 troops for an upcoming military campaign. Not bad for a young man who had just turned 22. Except for my pay, of course. That was still terrible.
Joshua Fry was named colonel. He was a retired mathematics professor in his mid-fifties. I never learned if he had any prior military experience. But he was born and educated in Britain, and I wasn’t. So, he was in charge.
Our mission was to go into the Ohio Country and confront the French. Ohio wasn’t a state at that time, just a vast wilderness territory. That’s why we called it the Ohio Country.
France was trying to claim it and Britain was all like, “Oh no you didn’t!” So, Britain wanted them gone.
That’s why they sent 160 green recruits on this important mission. Led by a retired math professor and a 22-year-old.
George Washington: An ambitious 22-year-old with a thirst to prove himself.
Jaena: Yeah, even better.
Our mission began on April 2nd and would culminate on July 4th.

The July 4th Mission Begins: April 2-May 24, 1754

The whole mission was in the wilderness. Not just the Ohio Country, and it was heavily wooded, at that.
It made our progress diabolically slow because we had to keep clearing as we went. We had to create roads for our heavy equipment to make it through.
So, in other words, you had to do a bunch of construction work just to get to the Ohio Country.
George Washington: A soldier’s job is far more than mere combat.
Jaena: Respect!
Just three weeks into our mission, we received our first report from the Forks of the Ohio. 34 British soldiers had been building a fort when they were overwhelmed by French troops.

The Report

The Forks: Your Official Scorecard
(left column) France: Troops: 1000; Boats & Canoes: 360; Heavy Artillery: 18
(right column) Britain: Troops: 34; Boats & Canoes: 11; Heavy Artillery: This game sucks! We’re going home.
The British surrendered, of course, and now the fort belonged to the French.
News circulated around camp and the morale was crushed. Whenever the morale is low, the risk of deserters rises.
I got busy writing letters to the governors of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. I explained the situation and rallied for them to send reinforcements.
What was the retired math teacher doing while you were writing all these letters?
George Washington: Colonel Fry?
Jaena: Yeah, that guy.
Well, he was bringing up the rear while I was leading and…
Now that I think about it, he may have been in the process of dying. None of us would know that yet. Not sure if even he knew he was dying.
Okay, fair enough. What did all the governors say when you wrote to them?
It was a success. All three states were sending in reinforcements.
Yay! Now all you had to do was wait for them to join you and then proceed with your mission.
Wait?? We proceeded immediately. In fact, I wrote those letters while we were moving.
160 green recruits moving towards 1000 seasoned French troops?
Oh, I assembled a phantom force of about 100. I proceeded with them.
My chance to prove myself had arrived. So, I wrote a few more letters to the Virginia governor, just to remind him that I deserved better pay. He got a little annoyed with me by this time.

Reports on the French: May 24-May 28th

I got a new report on a French detachment nearby. Then I had a reunion with two old friends, one of whom had a cabin nearby. They supplied me with more information.
Christopher Gist and the Half King. Christopher Gist was his partner in their 1753 expedition. He almost lost his life, too. The Half King was a Native American who had guided them both in that expedition.
Reports from May 24-28, 1754
Washington’s Scout: “They’re 18 miles away!”
Christopher Gist: “50 of them invaded my cabin. They threatened to destroy everything I own!”
Half King: “I found their camp. They’re 7 miles away from you. Let’s get them!”
(Washington decides that they will in fact, get them.)
Paranoia swamped the camp during this time. They were keeping by their guns every night and firing at every rustling noise they heard. By the morning of May 28th, 13 of my troops has deserted us.
So, we’re getting to that pivotal moment that’s going to lead to July 4th. First, we have the Half King in charge of one band of warriors. It’s important to note that the Half King absolutely despises the French.
Oh yes, he made it clear to me and Christopher in 1753 that he wanted their blood…or scalps.
Then we have you leading inexperienced recruits who are increasingly paranoid of the French closing in. It’s already a terrible night, made worse by the knowledge that they’re getting closer to the enemy.
The adrenaline would have been through the roof, both in your band of warriors and the Half King’s. One for bloodthirst and the other for defending their lives. All it will take is one person acting out to set off a chain reaction.
As it turns out, that person was me.

May 28th: Starting a Global War

Early morning, the Half King led us to their camp. There were 35 Frenchmen and we surrounded them at once.
As I stepped forward, I noticed that a Frenchman was reaching for something. So, I ordered my men to fire.
Then it exploded into pure chaos. I only meant to stop the French from reaching for their weapons, but it escalated into a skirmish. Very few Frenchmen survived once it was finally over.
That’s when I learned from our prisoners that the Frenchman who was reaching for something was an ambassador. He was reaching for the message he was supposed to read to us when he was killed.
What was the message?
George Washington: It was an ultimatum for the British to leave the Ohio Country.
Jaena: Ha! That wasn’t going to happen.
Of course, not. It was a formality of war. The French could show their allies that they gave Britain a chance to avoid more fighting.
Like our Declaration of Independence on the famous July 4th in 1776? We declared ourselves no longer British subjects so that we could get some allies in the Revolutionary War.
Precisely. It was an important diplomatic message, delivered post-houmous to a 22-year-old British-Colonial soldier.
When I gave the orders to fire, it became known as the first shot that started a global war. In Europe, it was known as The Seven Year War. In America, we know it as the French and Indian War.
So, you started a global war and accidently massacred the French diplomats in a single day. What did you do next?

May 29th-30th

George Washington: I had just experienced my first battle and I won.
Jaena: Silver linings…
So, I wrote to the Virginia governor. I spent the first two pages reminding him that I deserve better pay. I even told him what I had said to Colonel Fairfax. That I wanted to resign, but Colonel Fairfax talked me out of it.
Name dropping? Really? Colonel Fairfax wasn’t even a part of this expedition. In fact, he was retired.
He was an important man in the Virginia colony, and I had known him since I was a boy. It seemed a reasonable time to remind the governor of this.
Okay, so when did you get around to explaining how you started a global war?
On page 3 of my letter. I insisted that the French had spent the past four days stalking and spying on us. The proof was in how close their camp was to ours.
And I may have exaggerated how many Frenchmen I saw reaching for weapons.
George Washington: Then I wrote home to my little brother, Jack. He was 18. I wanted him to hear about my first battle.
Jaena: An opportunity to brag…
Yes! I told him, “I can with truth assure you, I heard bullets whistle and believe me there was something charming in the sound.”
Classic 18th century swagger, folks. That is all.

Building Fort Necessity: May 30th – June 14th

We were in the Great Meadows by now, which was in the Ohio Country. I knew it was only a matter of time before I experienced my second battle.
The French were coming for you. Seems reasonable considering you killed their ambassador. Go on.
So, I had my troops dig trenches and drive in stakes. We were building our own fort. I named it Fort Necessity.
Ouch! The name itself is foreshadowing July 4th.
That’s when Colonel Fry quite literally dropped dead. He was on his horse when it happened, and he just tumbled off.
That’s it? Pretty anti-climatic for a retired math teacher who wasn’t doing much of anything, anyway.
George Washington: But that’s how I came to take full command of our Virginia regiment.
Jaena: What are you talking about? You’ve been in charge this whole time.
George Washington: Well…yes, but the point is, I was officially in command.
Jaena: Okay, so your first official order as commander was the building of Fort Necessity.
Yes, and that’s when reinforcements from the other colonies arrived.
Oh yeah, all those governors you wrote to a month ago. I almost forgot about them. Did they help you with the fort?
George Washington: Yes.
Jaena: Cool! Let’s see what you made.

June 18th – June28th   

I had a three-day war council with the Half King and our Native American allies.
George Washington: They insulted my fort.
Jaena: What?? No!
The Half King called it “that little thing upon the meadow.” Then the others chimed in and said it was too flimsy to shield anyone.
The audacity! But you weren’t going to take that, were you?
George Washington: I certainly was not! I told them that they didn’t have to bunker in my fort at all if they didn’t like it.
Jaena: So there!
So, I started talking to them about strategy, where they should be positioned when the French arrive. But then they told me my strategy was terrible.
The Half King said that the French wouldn’t just pop up in the open field to get shot. But I said Yes they will because from my fort, we can see them coming, easily.
If the French will be coming from ONE direction…
The Half King pointed to the trees surrounding my fort and said that it made us easy targets for marksmen.

War of Posts: The Gentleman’s War

In Europe, soldiers would form neat little columns and shoot at each other across an open field.
They would keep doing this until one side gained enough ground to overrun the other side’s property.
Whichever side gained the property won the battle. This was known as The War of Posts.
But times were changing in the 18th century. Frontier warfare wasn’t playing by the gentleman’s rules.
And the Native Americans were introducing us to a new style of fighting that would become known as guerilla warfare.
This is what the Half King was trying to tell me, but I only knew of one style of fighting. The old method that was going extinct.
So, what did you tell them?
I reminded them that I was the one in charge. I was the one who made all the decisions that got us this far.
Nobody could tell you anything because you made your first fort and you won one whole battle against some diplomats. What did they say?
They left us and went home. They refused to help us fight. So, I called them a bunch of treacherous devils and French spies.
You were one hard-headed 22-year-old. Just saying.

June 28th – July 3rd

I received a report that an army of Frenchmen were on their way. Their leader was none other than the ambassador’s brother.
Oh! The one you killed…
He was leading an army of 800 Frenchmen and 400 Native American allies. He wanted revenge, specifically my blood.
Jaena: How many reinforcements did you get from the other colonies?
George Washington: 300
So, 300 plus the 160 you started with, minus 13 deserters, minus 1 killed in your first battle, minus every single one of your Native American allies…
George Washington versus France
(left column) George Washington: Allies: 0; Troops: total is 445
(right column) France: Allies: 400; Troops: 800
But I said we wouldn’t give up one inch of the ground we have gained.
But…the math!
George Washington: You must understand that numbers are usually exaggerated in such reports.
Jaena: Whew, thank goodness! So, how much did the report exaggerate?
In this one? Not by much. As it turns out, the report was quite accurate.

July 3rd Battle Time!

They’re here! What’s the plan?
We have had time to dig trenches all around Fort Necessity and throw up breastworks. Now more will be shielded. There are 9 cannons inside the fort.
9 cannons against an army of 1200? If you don’t mind my asking, why isn’t there a roof over the fort?
Have you forgotten what season this is? It’s summer. We need air flow, otherwise it will become a furnace.
Okay, that makes sense as long as it doesn’t rain.
By mid-afternoon, it rained, the most tremendous rain that can be conceived.
Muskets and cannons were rendered useless. We were without any defenses as the marksmen in the trees had been taking shots at us all day.
Jaena: Everything that the Half King said came true?
George Washington: Yes.
The rain mixed with the blood of my fallen troops. They transformed the fort and the trenches into ponds, and we were wading in this mixture.
For hours on end, I watched them fall. And yet, I was still standing.
By nightfall, the French finally called off the firing. I happily surrendered. What choice did I have?
The ambassador’s brother wanted to talk. Unable to speak a word of French, of course, I had an interpreter. It took us until midnight to understand he wanted me to sign my name on something.

July 4th

The paper was damp from the rain, which caused the ink to blur. Reading by candlelight is a chore, as you can’t get the paper too close to the flame.
All the while, it’s in a language you don’t understand.
I was led to believe that I was taking responsibility for the death of the ambassador. And so, I signed my name.
What did you end up signing?
The assassination of the ambassador. The moment I signed my name I was identifying myself not as a soldier but an assassin.
Oh, I see what the ambassador’s brother was doing there. He couldn’t assassinate you in battle, so he assassinated your character.
George Washington: They let us all leave instead of taking us prisoner, those who survived the battle of course.
Jaena: Hmm…
But that first morning on our march back, our humiliation was completed. Native American allies for the French harassed us and took our baggage.
Among the things taken was my diary. It was passed along the French and later, it was published in Paris.
Unfortunately, I know the pain of having your diary read by the enemy.
They made fun of me. As you know, my education was cut short at age 11 and I always felt self-conscious about it. Now that was on display for all of Europe.

European News: George Washington’s Name is Mud!

“Washington and many such may have courage and resolution, but they have no knowledge or experience in our military profession. Consequently, there can be no dependence on them!” says Lord Albemarle of Britain
“The volley fired by a young Virginian in the backwoods of America set the world on fire,” says Sir Horace Walpole of London
“There is nothing more unworthy and even blacker than the sentiments and the way of thinking of this Washington,” says Governor Duquesne of France
“These articles of surrender are the most infamous a British subject ever put his hand to,” says anonymous source

July 4th Recovery

The first two months were the most difficult for me. I was criticized everywhere I went for being an “assassin” and for the overwhelming defeat.
But there was something you pointed out in the beginning that ended up salvaging my reputation. At least locally.
About the Virginia governor sending 160 green recruits led by a 22-year-old and a retired math teacher?
The Virginia governor had to answer to Britain. He could only agree with their assessment of me so far until his decisions would be called into question.
So, he downplayed the battle as a small skirmish and then blamed all the other colonies for not helping us.
Classic politics. Minimize what has happened while blaming other people for it.
Well, yes. But he realized it was in his best interests to save my reputation and his political maneuvers did just that.
By September, a special tribute was paid to me for my bravery. The defeat became known as a heroic stance in the face of a doomed mission.
Wow, he was good. At least in politics.
My reputation was recovered but I never fully recovered. Everything that led up to July 4th left lasting scars.

No Such Thing as a Perfect Recovery

It taught me a hard lesson on listening to others, even to a fault. I learned I was too impulsive, and I never trusted my instincts again.
In war, I would make a decision and then ask for others’ thoughts before acting on it. I trusted their thoughts more than my own.
That’s how in the Revolution, I became known as indecisive. A far cry from making anyone’s list of the greatest generals in history.
As president, I never made a decision until hearing out my advisors first.
Alexander Hamilton: He’s talking about me. I was his right-hand man.
Thomas Jefferson: Oh, shut up, Alex, you little braggart. I was his advisor too.
Alexander Hamilton: Hey Ben, tell T.J. that I said that at least I didn’t backstab George Washington.
Thomas Jefferson: Hey Ben, tell Alex that I said…
Benjamin Franklin & Jaena: Why don’t the both of you just shut up?
George Washington: These two disagreed on everything. I must admit, it helped me as president, listening to such opposing views all the time. But digression aside.
For what it’s worth, you did make the top three list of greatest presidents we ever had.

Errors Once Discovered Are More Than Half Amended

It’s worth adding that most people would have responded to your July 4th debacle by giving up the dream. Settle for doing something else with their lives.
That translates into spending the rest of your life living in past mistakes. We should all look at our mistakes as learning something more valuable than we learn in the classroom.
I know, but a lot of people in your shoes would have only learned what they can’t do.
Anyone who arrives at that sort of conclusion hasn’t learned from their mistakes. Their learning is just as limited as one who keeps repeating the same mistake and wonders why they are creating the same outcome.
I learned what I couldn’t do, but I also considered what I could do. And that’s how I kept going. Have any of your mistakes started a global war?
Well, no.
Mine did. Yet I became commanding general of the Patriot Army, the Father of the United States of America, and the country’s first president.
At age 22, I was stubborn, arrogant, and impulsive. On July 4th, 1754, I was consumed with shame. I had no way of knowing what history had in store for me.
Legends are made, never born. My determination to always learn from mistakes was what built my character and turned me into a legend.
Nothing we ever do the first time will be as good as the 100th time. See your mistakes clearly enough to learn and make amends.
Pull from your inner resources, find that strength within to keep going and never give up. And always trust the path of growth. You have no way of knowing what you will become.

Tools and Resources

What I love most about extraordinary people in history is not so much that they overcame major obstacles before they became legends. It’s how they did so before there were tools for problem solving. Then again, they got creative and in a lot of cases they were using tools centuries before there was a name for them. It’s my firm belief that we have yet to discover all available tools. That’s why both Master Toolbox 1 and Master Toolbox 2 will always be ongoing and always free on this site. Do you know of a tool that hasn’t been listed? Let me know!

Finally, to those who love history, graphic novels or if you like my extremely weird “unique” way of mashing up both, this is issue 4 of my history comics. The directory, where you can find all my past comics is available here.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translate »