In early 1750s, Britain and France were at peace. But the French military had begun to occupy lots of the Ohio Valley. The boarders between the France part of the Ohio Valley and the British were unclear and both sides got into arguments about this matter. George was a natural leader and very soon after Lawrence's death, Virginia's Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie made George adjutant (officer who assists a more senior officer) as a major in the Virginia militia. in October Dinwiddie sent Washington to Fort LeBeouf (Now Waterford Pennsylvania) to tell the French that they should remove themselves form the British land. The French refused and Washington quickly rode back to Williamsburg. Dinwiddie sent Washington back with troops. They set up a post at Great Meadows. The small troop attacked the French at Fort Duquesne killing 10 including the commander and taking the rest as prisoners. The French and Indian War had begun.
The French attacked Washington and drove his troop to his post at Great Meadows. Washington surrendered after a full day of siege and was eventually released to go back to Williamsburg, having promised not to build another fort on the Ohio River. Washington was promoted to the rank of colonel and joined the British General's army in Virginia in 1755. The British had devised a plan to make attacks on the French, attacking Fort Duquesne, Fort Niagara and Crown point. During this, the French and their allies, the Indians, ambushed the the General's army, wounding the General, Edward Braddock. Washington escaped, 4 bullet holes in his cloak and 2 horses shot out from underneath him. He turned his army back to safety. At the age of 23, Washington was made commander over all the Virginia troops. In August 1755, he was sent to the frontier to protect almost 400 miles of boarder with 700 ill trained troops and a Virginia legislature not willing to support him. His health failed him in late 1757 and was sent home with dysentery. A year later Washington again was on another expedition to capture Fort Duquesne. A fire incident killed and wounded 40 men. however, the British won victory, finally capturing Fort Duquesne and they gained control of the Ohio Valley. Washington resigned from the Virginia regiment in 1758. He applied for a commission in the British Army, but was turned down. Washington then went back to Mount Vernon disappointed.
A month later, Washington married Martha Custis, a widow. Martha had a 18,000 acre estate Washington owned 6,000. All of this and the land which the military granted him for his service, Washington was one of the more wealthy landowners. Martha had 2 children already, John and Martha, 2 years apart. Martha died before the Revolution and John died during it. This left Wahington heartbroken.
