Virginia Memory, Library of Virginia
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THIS DAY IN VIRGINIA HISTORY

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July 03, 1754

The Surrender of Fort Necessity, 3 July 1754, Manuscript Translation from the French Document, Colonial Papers, Folder 44, No. 14, Record Group 1, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. The Surrender of Fort Necessity, 3 July 1754, Manuscript Translation from the French Document, Colonial Papers, Folder 44, No. 14, Record Group 1, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

George Washington Surrendered Fort Necessity

At the beginning of the French and Indian War, Lieutenant Colonel George Washington (1732–1799) surrendered Fort Necessity (near modern Farmington, Pennsylvania) to French troops. Without a proper French translator and because of the poor condition of the document, Washington misunderstood the capitulation. He unknowingly confessed to the assassination of a French commander, killed in an earlier skirmish. Washington's mistaken admission caused humiliation to the inexperienced officer and to the colonial army. This document is an English transcription of Washington's surrender and was made shortly after completion of the original instrument of capitulation.