Fort Necessity was a hastily built stronghold established by British Lieutenant Colonel George Washington during the spring of 1754 in present-day Pennsylvania. Tensions between the British and French had been escalating due to competing territorial claims in North America, particularly in the lucrative Ohio Valley, which was viewed as critical for both nations. Washington, leading a small contingent of Virginia militia, aimed to assert British claims over the region. On July 3, Washington's forces encountered French troops led by Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, who had come to reclaim the territory. Despite Washington’s defensive preparations, the French had numerical superiority and utilized their knowledge of local terrain to their advantage.

Fully aware of the precarious situation, Washington and his men fought bravely for several hours. However, the French assault proved relentless, forcing Washington to surrender after a day of intense conflict. The terms of surrender allowed Washington and his men to return home unharmed, yet this defeat was shadowed by the humiliation of being forced to capitulate. This encounter would ignite widespread conflict, leading to the further escalation of the French and Indian War, which would become a pivotal struggle for dominance in North America between Britain and France.