George Washington – General Braddock’s Horse

George Washington was a military man before he was the nation’s first President, and fought on the side of the British against the French armies in the French-Indian war. During part of the war Washington was an aide to British General Edward Braddock, who ironically held a title that Washington himself would hold in the future – Commander-in-Chief.

General Braddock is best remembered for his last expedition, the one which would ultimately fail and claim his life. Called “Braddock’s Expedition” (or more pointedly, “Braddock’s Defeat) the campaign was meant to capture Fort Duquesne, a fort held by the French in what is today downtown Pittsburgh. During the battle, Braddock was shot from his horse and mortally wounded. In the ensuing fracas, although he had no official command, Washington came forward to attempt to restore some order. Seeing this, Braddock offered his own horse to Washington.

General Braddock would never need his horse again, as 3 days later he died of his wounds. Washington came through miraculously without a scratch, although it was certainly a close thing. In a letter to his mother dated July 18th, 1755, Washington said: “I luckily escaped without a wound, though I had four bullets through my coat and 2 horses shot under me.”

What became of the horse is lost to history. It is likely the horse continued to serve in the British Army, as he would have been considered their property, not Washington’s. Washington himself of course would go on to become Commander-in-Chief himself, of a newly formed country – America.