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What happened to General Edward Braddock’s army near the Monongahela River?

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Painting of Edward Braddock and British troops in uniform advancing through dense forest, facing Native American and French fighters during the French and Indian War near Fort Duquesne. — French and Indian War British commander Edward Braddock and his troops preparing to march on the French-held Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) during the French and Indian War.

On July 9, 1755, General Edward Braddock’s army suffered a catastrophic defeat during the Battle of the Monongahela while attempting to capture the French-held Fort Duquesne.12

As the British force of 1,459 troops approached within eight miles of the fort, they were ambushed in a ravine by a smaller contingent of 254 French soldiers and 600 Native American allies. The British regulars, who were accustomed to traditional European formation fighting, were unable to adapt to the wilderness tactics employed by their opponents. The engagement quickly devolved into a rout, resulting in nearly 1,000 British soldiers being killed or wounded.12

General Braddock was mortally wounded during the fighting and was carried from the field. He died four days later, on July 13, 1755, at a location known as Great Meadows, Pennsylvania. Following his death, Colonel Thomas Dunbar assumed command of the remaining troops and retreated to Fort Cumberland.21