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This hopefully will be the beginning of my first official TL. It relates back to my previous question made some time ago about a British King in America and after a bit of searching and reading up on a subject, I've decided to make a TL on the premise. Hopefully, it’s not too bad but first a teaser of the POD before I make a full update.

Enjoy!


War in North America

Braddock's Expedition - Battle of the Monongahela

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A painting of Major General Edward Braddock with his two aides-de-camp; Lieutenant Colonel George Washington in his colonial blues and Captain Robert Ormes as they cross one of the many rivers along Braddock's Road.


On the 9th of July, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage crosses the Monongahela River with a force of 300 regulars and grenadiers with two cannons and is promptly ambushed. Captain de Beaujeu commands a French and Indian war party of over 800 soldiers - approximately 108 Troupes de la Marine, 146 Canadien militia and 600 Indians; they have taken positions on the higher slopes and fire down upon the British force. [1]

Gage, seeing the enemy in the trees, orders his men to return fire. Despite the ineffectiveness of the opening volleys and the very long range for a smooth-bored musket, Captain de Beaujeu is hit in the chest and dies amongst the brush. However, few in the French and Indian party realise Beaujeu’s death or, in the case of the Indians, are unconcerned and they hide amongst the trees and fight in Indian style, shooting at will instead of platoon firing, which the British countered with. Gage quickly realises that his position is untenable and issues the British advanced guard to retreat. As he is crossing the river again, he is shot in the leg and is dragged back across the river by his men.

At the sound of the muskets firing, the main force rapidly moves forward to assist Gage. Braddock notes this in his journal, ‘At the sound of tremendous gunfire coming from ahead, that could only have come from Gage and his men, and I order the advance for the rest of my force. The glorious redcoats of my expedition marched in perfect formation’. The British remained out of range of the French and Indians and tried to fire the cannons but the thick trunks of the densely-wooded forest block almost all of the shots.

A trio of young Indians seeking glory and scalps crosses further up the river and aim for the British general. Braddock has his horse shot from underneath him; he hits the ground knocking him unconscious. In the confusion the young colonial colonel, Washington, notices the Indians and with a party of militia, he chases after them, sword drawn. They kill one Indian before he gets back to a river; another is killed in the river itself while the last is killed as he tries to scramble back up the opposite bank. Seeing an opportunity, Washington rallies the colonial militia and leads them to the opposite side and flanks the French and Indians firing upon the British regulars below.

As the dead Indian floats pass the crossing point of the Monongahela, Washington and the militia attack the exposed rear of the French and Indian war party. Washington and the militia shoot a large number of them in the back before almost 100 Canadien militiamen abandon their positions and flee back to the Fort. At roughly the same time, the main British force, the majority of which are unaware of Braddock’s condition, take advantage of the reduced fire upon on them and cross the river. With the fighting turning against them, the remaining French fled back to the Fort, leaving the Indians to be slaughtered. With the French and Indian war party broken, the British main force join up with Washington and the militia and take the field.

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[1] This is the POD. In OTL, the French and Indians under de Beaujeu were late and never made it to their positions. ITTL, they made it but the fates were reversed.


Authors Note: I wanted to get an opinion from the rest of you AH-ers before I continue, to see if this is a viable TL or not? I'll make a more in depth update if all is considered good. All comments are appreciated. :D

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