By sunset, the surviving British and colonial …

Years: 1755 - 1755
July

By sunset, the surviving British and colonial forces are fleeing back down the road they had built.

Braddock dies of his wounds during the long retreat, on July 13, and is buried within the Fort Necessity parklands.

Of the approximately thirteen hundred men Braddock had led into battle, four hundred and fifty-six have been killed and four hundred and twenty-two wounded.

Commissioned officers are prime targets and suffered greatly: out of eighty-six officers, twenty-six were killed and thirty-seven wounded.

Of the fifty or so women that have accompanied the British column as maids and cooks, only four survive.

The French and Canadians report eight killed and four wounded; their native allies lose fifteen killed and twelve wounded.

Colonel Dunbar, with the reserves and rear supply units, takes command when the survivors reach his position.

He orders the destruction of supplies and cannon before withdrawing, burning about one hundred and fifty wagons on the spot.

Ironically, at this point the defeated, demoralized and disorganized British forces still outnumber their opponents.

The French and natives do not pursue and are engaged with looting and scalping.

The French commander Dumas realizes the British are utterly defeated, but he does not have enough of a force to continue organized pursuit.

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