Primary sourceLetter18 July 1755
To John Augustine Washington, 18 July 1755
George Washington · 18 July 1755
A letter in which George Washington tells his brother he survived Braddock's defeat, having had four bullets pass through his coat and two horses shot under him.
Washington's own account of surviving battle shows his early reputation-building and family ties.
About this source
What it is
This is a letter written by George Washington to his brother John Augustine Washington on 18 July 1755, shortly after the disastrous Braddock expedition. It was written at Fort Cumberland and survives as part of his collected writings.
Why it matters
At 23, Washington had just lived through a crushing British defeat during the French and Indian War. The letter shows him correcting rumors of his own death, describing the danger he faced, and reassuring his family. It is an early example of Washington shaping how others saw him, even as a young officer.
Look closer
- Why might Washington want to correct the story of his own death so quickly?
- What does his tone tell you about how he wanted to be seen by his family and others?
- What does the letter leave out about the battle itself?
This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of George Washington on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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