May
31
Declaration of War – announced in Winchester VA
By
Add to Calendar
When:
August 17, 2019 all-day
2019-08-17T00:00:00-04:00
2019-08-18T00:00:00-04:00
Where:
Fort Loudoun
419 N Loudoun St
Winchester, VA 22601
USA
419 N Loudoun St
Winchester, VA 22601
USA
.
Photo of Virginia Blues meeting General Braddock at the 275th Anniversary of Fairfax County Virginia, celebrated 17 June 2017.
Details on re-enactment will be coming.
.
On 16 August 1756, 3 companies of the Virginia Regiment marched the streets of Winchester Va reading the Declaration of War against France. See Orders.
.
[ Unofficial war started with Jumonville and Fort Necessity in 1754. And then war amplified with the 1755 Braddock Expedition. This is a Photo of Virginia Blues meeting General Braddock at the 275th Anniversary of Fairfax County Virginia, celebrated 17 June 2017. ]
.
.
Declaration of War – announced in Winchester VA
.
Real war already started in 1754, but its official declaration came in 1756.
.
Mercer Co of the VA Regiment superimposed on a sketch by Jim Moyer to show the huges trees of the forest in the terrain the men had to travel
.
Sunday, August 15, 1756
Colonel George Washington
orders a
public announcement
of the Declaration of War
to his men
at Fort Loudoun
Winchester VA
after finding out
from Lt Gov Dinwiddie:
.
As His Majestys declaration of War against the French King will be proclaimed to-morrow, the Soldiers will be excused from work—and are ordered to appear in the most decent and neat manner; and to be ready to attend at the Long-roll.
.
Source:
.
.
.
DATES OF DECLARING WAR
AND WHEN WHO KNEW
,
.
May 17, 1756
King George II announces official Declaration of War against France.
.
May 18, 1756,
Virginia didn’t get word
of this official declaration
until August,
but this is the date
Colonel George Washington writes Lt Col Adam Stephen that construction of Fort Loudoun began.
.
And this is why the French and Indian War Foundation observes this event as Fort Loudoun Day every year.
.
August 7, 1756
Lt Gov Dinwiddie got word of the Declaration of War, possibly before publicly proclaiming war on this date.
.
This is part of the letter confirming that date of 7 August 1756:
.
…War was proclaim’d here
the 7th
& I order’d Mr Walthoe
to enclose You
a Copy to be
proclaimed
at the head of
Your Companies, &
to be sent to
Fort Cumberland &
in case of miscarriage
I send You a printed Copy
.
At end of this Page are listed all the Start and End dates of this war.
.
.
.
DETAILS OF
of Parade,
Volleys of Muskets,
Volley of artillery
IN WINCHESTER VA
.
This event occurred in Winchester VA
Monday 16 August 1756.
.
Mercer’s Co of the Virginia Regiment observes Presidents Day at Fort Loudoun 19 February 2018. . . . Click on photo to enlarge.
.
“On Sunday [15 August 1756]
Colonel Washington
having received his
Majesty’s
Declaration of War
against the French King,
with the Governor’s Commands
to proclaim it
in the most solemn Manner,
he ordered the
three Companies of the
Virginia Regiment
at this Place,
[Mercer Co,
Peachey Co,
Colonel Washington was also Captain of his own Company]
to appear
under Arms
of the grand Parade at
three o’Clock,
on the Evening
of the next Day
[Monday 16 August 1756];
.
“..attended by the
principal Gentlemen of this Town,
they marched in regular Order
to Fort Loudoun,
where the Soldiery
being properly drawn up,
the Declaration was read aloud;
His Majesty’s,
and many other
loyal Healths were drank.
.
Success to his Majesty’s Arms,
and a total Extirpation
of the French out of America,
under a triple Discharge of the Artillery,
and three Rounds of Musquetry,
with loud Acclamations of the People.
.
Mercer Co of the Virginia Regiment at Fort Edwards Foundation in Capon Bridge WV OCTOBER 28, 2017 . . . Click on photo to enlarge.
.
After this
they moved
in regular Order
round the Town,
proclaimed it
at the Cross Streets,
and being returned
to the grand Parade,
it was again read,
and the Men
dismissed by
Colonel Washington.”
.
The letter went on
to say that expresses
were then sent
to Fort Cumberland
and “all our other Garrisons”
with instructions
for the proclamation
at the head of the troops.”
.
.
SOURCE OF ABOVE:
Description 0f Parade
Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg),
27 Aug. 1756 reported from an
“Extract of a Letter
from Winchester,
dated August 17, 1756”:
.
.
.
.
Proclamation of War
read to the citizens of Winchester VA
.
Founders Online Footnote:
.
Dinwiddie wrote GW on 19 Aug. 1756 that he had sent him a copy of his proclamation of war made at Williamsburg on 7 August.
.
GW’s Proclamation may have been derived from Dinwiddie’s, which has not been found.
.
.
.
George Washington
announces this
to Winchester Virginia
citizen and soldier
on
Monday, 16 August 2018
sometime after 3pm:
.
Mercer Co of the Virginia Regiment superimposed on the backup the red ensign flag. We do not know if a flag flew at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. But if a flag did fly, there is dispute on which flag, the Red Ensign, the full Union Jack, or because this was a colonial fort and not a King;s Royal fort that maybe after all, no flag flew.
.
You see, Gentlemen Soldiers,
that it hath pleased
our most gracious Sovereign
to declare War in Form
against the French King
and
.
(for divers good Causes, but more particularly for their ambitious Usurpations and Encroachments on his American Dominions)
.
to pronounce all the
said French Kings Subjects
and Vassals,
.
to be Enemies to his Crown and Dignity,
and hath willed and required
all his Subjects and People,
and in a more especial Manner
commanded his
Captain General of his Forces,
his Governors,
and all other his Commanders and Officers,
.
to do and execute all Acts of Hostility
in the Prosecution
of this just and honorable War;
.
Mercer Co of the Virginia Regiment standing where the north wall of Fort Loudoun would have been. This picture is from this group observing Presidents Day 19 February 2018 at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA
.
and though our utmost Endeavours
can contribute but little
to the Advancement of his Majesty’s Honor,
and the Interest of his Governments,
.
yet, let us shew our willing Obedience
to the best of Kings,
and by a strict Attachment
to his royal Commands,
demonstrate the Love and Loyalty
we bear to his sacred Person;
.
let us by Rules of unerring Bravery
strive to merit his royal Favor,
and a better Establishment
as a Reward for our Services.
.
Source:
https://founders.archives.gov/?q=Date%3A1756-08-15&s=1111311111&r=3
.
.
.
START of the
Seven Year War
.
The actual war spanned a longer period.
.
28 May 1754 — Usually the Jummonville incident is the unofficial start date
.
Declaration of War dates:
.
17 May 1756 Britain declares war on France, almost a year after the Braddock Defeat
.
9 June 1756 France declares official war on Britain
.
August 15, 1756 Washington in Winchester VA gets word of declaration
.
4 January 1762 Britain declares war on Spain
18 January 1762 Spain declares war back on Britain
.
.
ENDING of the
French and Indian War
.
Treaties ending the war on these dates:
.
22 May 1762 — Peace of Hamburg between Prussia, Mecklenburg and Sweden.
.
10 February 1763 — Treaty of Paris signed by Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal
.
15 February 1763 — The Treaty of Hubertusburg (Frieden von Hubertusburg) signed by Prussia, Austria, Saxony
.
.
.
This is the war this phrase began:
The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire
.
George Macartney wrote in 1773, in the wake of the territorial expansion that followed Britain’s victory in the Seven Years’ War, of “this vast empire on which the sun never sets, and whose bounds nature has not yet ascertained.”.
.
Source: Macartney, George (1773). An Account of Ireland in 1773 by a Late Chief Secretary of that Kingdom. p. 55.; cited in Kenny, Kevin (2006). Ireland and the British Empire. Oxford University Press. p. 72,fn.22. ISBN 0-19-925184-3.
.
This war was the last war Native American nations had France as an ally.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
