The Seven Years' War Begins

On May 18, 1756, Britain finally declared war on France, beginning the Seven Years' War. The war had been raging for two years in the New World before the official beginning. A Virginia colonel named George Washington had fired on Ensign Jumonville at the Fork of the Ohio, and the French had sent him reeling back to Virginia after a battle at Fort Necessity. Regular troops from both countries were sent to bolster the colonies, but British Admiral Boscawen captured two French troopships, Alcide and Lys, bound for Canada. General Braddock had marched on Fort Dusquene--and met disaster. The French fort Beausejour in Acadia was captured by the British, while Boisehebert had led the Acadians against the British. Sir William Johnson defeated Baron von Dieskau's French/Canadian/Indian army along the Lake Champlain-Lake George corridor, and captured the Baron. Quite a set of battles and campaigns for a time of peace!

"General, war has been declared!" Photograph from the author's collection, using Frontline Figures for the soldiers, and a Colonial Williamsburg postcard for the background.