Tales from the French and Indian War

While thousands of men fight and die in large battles in colonial New York, all is quiet on the Acadian front, right? Not so! While no large-scale troop battles take place in Acadia during this time frame, it is by no means a peaceful place. Learn a little bit about Acadian, Mi'kmaq, and Maliseet guerilla warfare against the British. From heroic rescues to bloody raids, the story of Acadia is worth returning to.Intro & Outro music - "Drums and Guns" by Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps

August, 1757. French and Indian forces at their full might come crashing down on Fort William Henry. A decisive and impressive French victory suddenly becomes marred by a post-siege catastrophe. Learn about the tragic fate of Fort William Henry and the chaotic nature of the French-native coalition forces.Intro & Outro music - "Drums and Guns" by Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps

I know, I know, we're a couple weeks late on this one... but enjoy some levity with this whimsical French and Indian War story. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't - but the battle we're covering today is quite a unique one!Intro and outro music - Drums and Guns by Village Volunteers Drum & Fife CorpsSound effect used: Bullfrog Concerto.wav by soloan -- https://freesound.org/s/188723/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Most people who know a little about the French and Indian War have heard of the infamous Siege of Fort William Henry in the summer of 1757. But did you know about the "Siege" of Fort William Henry? Join us as we recount the fascinating tale of a French winter attack on the aforementioned fort and its questionable results. You'll also hear a bit about how French troops were equipped for cold-weather operations.Intro & outro music - "Drums and Guns" by Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps

Not to be confused with the second (or third) battle on snowshoes! Learn about Robert Rogers and his rangers - try saying that five times fast - and one of their engagements in the bitterly cold winter of 1756-1757. Rogers vs. de Langlade - a showdown for the century!Intro & outro music - "Drums and Guns" by Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps 

1756 is a busy year - not only have battles both large and small been taking place in North America, but now also Europe. A complex re-alignment of European alliances leads to a tense, dangerous situation, where old and new rivalries clash. While Britain and France continue to duel, every other major European power soon gets involved - but it is Frederick the Great of Prussia whose actions really begin the "Seven Years' War".We'll also cover the Battle of Minorca, the first Anglo-French battle in Europe. No longer will this war be contained to the American frontier!Intro & outro music - "Drums and Guns" by Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps  

French General Montcalm has arrived on the scene, and his first order of business is finally destroying that thorn in the side of New France - Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario. Join us as we discuss the largest battle thus far, and learn a bit about military logistics and siege warfare in the 18th century along the way.Intro & outro music - "Drums and Guns" by Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps 

On our way to the Battle of Fort Oswego, we're taking a brief detour to talk about some of the  board/tabletop and video games we've played that are set in the period of the French and Indian War. We discuss each game's strengths, weaknesses, and how well they capture the spirit of the setting. Please share any additional games you've played and enjoyed in the comments!Intro & outro music - "Drums and Guns" by Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps

Learn about the British colonial response to the ongoing devastating Indian raids along the Pennsylvania frontier. Colonel John Armstrong, Sr will lead 300 men into the heart of hostile territory with the goal of eliminating the threat of the Delaware village of Kittanning. You'll see the Indians and the French aren't the only ones who can perform long-distance military strikes!Intro & outro music - "Drums and Guns" by Village Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps

The bold, the brave, the bombastic... Charles-Michel de Langlade! You know him from his daring raid on Pickawillany in 1752 (at least, if you've listened to our Episode 2 ;) ), but you'll soon see why this man merits a deeper dive! Half French Canadian, half Ottawa, Langlade encompasses two worlds - both of which were at the heart of the French and Indian War.Also, I'm trying to get better at attribution where needed for some of the sounds I use. As far as I know, these are the only two that required it.Rowing2.wav by juskiddink -- https://freesound.org/s/101921/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Door_Steps_1.aif by Micronin -- https://freesound.org/s/72533/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

We're backing up a little bit to the fall of 1755, recounting the stories of two swift and deadly Indian raids on British settlements in Pennsylvania. Learn about the circumstances surrounding the massacres at Penn's Creek and the Great Cove, including discussion on native practices such as tribal adoption and running the gauntlet!Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and thanks for listening. 

A daring, midwinter raid on an isolated outpost. Crucial decisions to make in the heat of the moment. Fallout that will affect the rest of the year's campaigns. Tune in to learn about the Battle of Fort Bull in March of 1756. You'll also hear a sad story about a tragic mishap in our podcast!

Following Braddock's defeat in the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755, the British colonial frontier from eastern Pennsylvania to western and southern Virginia becomes an appetizing target for French-allied Indian raids. Join us as we learn from our special guest, author and professor of history Brady Crytzer, about the dynamic nature of the frontier, the life and times of Guyasuta and the Ohio Indians, stark differences in the nature of warfare from European and native perspectives, and more.I highly encourage our listeners to look up more of Brady's work, whether it is one of his 8 books, his Youtube channel, his podcast Dispatches: The Podcast of the Journal of the American Revolution, or his work on documentaries! 

Upstate New York will see much fierce fighting throughout the war. Join us as we discuss the first of these large-scale encounters between the French, the British, and their respective Native American allies. French general Dieskau prepares a nimble, deadly strike against the advancing British - will William Johnson's provincial troops be able to stand their ground? Tune in to find out.

We are back with another episode! This time, we cover 2 parts of the British 4-pronged assault on New France in 1755, specifically the action in Acadia (Nova Scotia/New Brunswick) and the second British attempt to seize Fort Duquesne. One goes well for the Brits, the other... not so much. Thanks for your patience with this episode, we hope you enjoy! Feel free to leave any comments or questions.

You've heard his name come up a few times on this podcast - now learn the story of one of colonial America's toughest frontiersmen, who played a key role in the opening stages of the French and Indian War.

In this episode, we examine the aftermath of the Battle of Fort Necessity. We take a look at how the British and French reacted, how the colonial conflict was being viewed in Europe,  and what daring plans Britain formed next. This episode sets the stage for several large-scale battles that we will cover in upcoming battles, so you won't want to miss it!

Join us as we go over the first true battle of the French and Indian War! George Washington makes his stand against a French expedition out for revenge after the death of Jumonville. Can his ramshackle fort hold up? How do the British and the French with their native allies approach the battle differently? Why was July 4th a bitter date to remember for Washington for a decade before the British colonies declared independence on that same day? Learn all about it in this episode of Tales from the French and Indian War!

British and French forces in the Ohio Country finally come to a violent encounter. What happened on May 28th, 1754? How did French diplomat and officer Jumonville die? Did Washington himself fire the first shots of a world war? Tune in as we cross the point of no return and what is considered the beginning of the French and Indian War.

Dive into the tense prelude to the French and Indian War in this episode, as we explore France’s bold push into the Ohio River Valley and the young George Washington’s perilous first mission to confront them. In the early 1750s, the Ohio Valley became a battleground of imperial ambitions, with French forts like Presque Isle and Le Boeuf threatening British claims and the interests of Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie, a shareholder in the Ohio Company. We unpack France’s strategy to link Canada and Louisiana, the rising Anglo-French rivalry, and Dinwiddie’s personal stake in the region. Follow 21-year-old Washington’s 500-mile trek through snowy wilderness in 1753, from Williamsburg to Logstown, where he secured Native alliances with Seneca chief Tanacharison, to Fort Le Boeuf, where he faced French commander Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre’s defiant refusal to withdraw. Hear tales of icy rivers, near-drownings, and diplomatic gambits that set the stage for a global conflict. This episode reveals how a young surveyor’s journey sparked a war that reshaped North America.

In this episode, we explore the international context of the 1740s, as well as events and conflicts in North America that led to growing tensions in the region.

This episode is an overview of the podcast, an introduction to us, and a summary of what is to come.