The Braddock Campaign and Carlyle House

From March 26 through April 20, 1755, Alexandria served as the center of operations for Major General Edward Braddock, commander-in-chief for British forces in North America, who chose John Carlyle's house as his headquarters. There Braddock assembled the governors of Virginia, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania on April 14-15, 1755 to discuss campaign strategy and seek their assistance; John Carlyle called it "the Grandest Congress held at My home ever known on This Continent." Braddock's objectives included driving the French from North America, improving British-Native American relations, and creating a common defense fund for the American colonies. He also appointed Major Carlyle storekeeper of all the provisions, arms, and ammunition in Alexandria. Carlyle, however, resented Braddock's stay, writing that the British called the colonists "Spawn of Convicts the Sweepings of the Gaols &cc." and that Braddock "took everything he wanted [,] abused my home, & furniture, & made me little or No Satisfaction…." On April 20, 1755, Braddock and his 2,500-man army left Alexandria for Fort Duquesne, at present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a strategic French fort controlling the forks of the Ohio River and the gateway to the west. The army hauled four howitzers, four 12-pounder cannons, and four 6-pounder cannons over barely passable roads, through forests, over mountains, and across streams. On July 9, French and Native American allies attacked the British, mortally wounding Braddock and killing or wounding two thirds of his troops in the Battle of the Monongahela, which ended the expedition. Braddock's volunteer aide-de-camp, the young George Washington, survived despite having two horses shot from under him, and his heroism in the battle saved the British army from total annihilation and elevated his reputation as a renowned military leader.

Alexandria, Virginia · United States