This book examines the first military encounters of the Seven Years' War. When the French built forts along the Ohio River valley to support their claims to the area, a clash with the British became inevitable, and when in 1753 they refused to evacuate the region, British thoughts turned to eviction. Tensions rose further when a party of French negotiators were killed by Washington, and in retaliation, French troops besieged Washington at Fort Necessity. Despite Washington's eventual release, an uproar ensued, leading to the battle at Monongahela River where the French and Indians ambushed Braddock's army. This book focuses on battle tactics, causes and consequences of these events.