Major Washington's Pittsburgh and the Mission to Fort Le Boeuf

by Brady J. Crytzer

During the winter of 1753, George Washington accepted the first, and potentially most dangerous, mission of his life, he was twenty-one. The resulting tale is one of international intrigue and heartbreaking disappointment that set the stage for the French and Indian War and forever changed Washington's destiny. The untried major faced a daunting task and was twice nearly killed, first by a treacherous guide and later as he tried to cross the icy Allegheny River. Using firsthand accounts, including the journals of George Washington himself, historian Brady Crytzer reconstructs the complex world of eighteenth-century Pittsburgh, the native peoples who inhabited it and the empires desperate to control it. Through trial and triumph, a man was defined, and a legend was born.

Genres: History

130 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2011

Reviews

[John Noll · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are two take-aways from this book. First, it makes me admire and appreciate authors who are excellent researchers and write well. The intention of the author to, "...attempt to inform the reader of what steps he (Washington) took to become the man he will always be remembered as" (p. 12) was grossly missed and poorly attempted. This is obvious throughout the book but the reader is witness to it immediately following the purpose statement paragraph; the author dives into the city of Pittsburgh, it's modern sporting prowess, and it's current culture. Regardless of the author's contrived justification on how this is relevant, it feels like a pathetic attempt to fill the pages of the book, as do the numerous pictures (especially the Franco Harris one) and it makes me wonder why the author decided to write this book.

Second, the lack of sources, especially first-hand, is apparent even without going to the bibliography. The author changes subjects often and the direction/flow of the book is off-putting. The bibliography shows the author used 7 sources, one of which being an exceptional book written by Joseph Ellis called His Excellency. I highly recommend readers who seek to know how Washington's character developed read Joseph Ellis' book and avoid this one at all costs.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One more book about young George Washington, with the setting of this story being just south of my home town of Erie, Pennsylvania. While I knew long ago that Washington had ridden his horse from Williamsburg, Virginia to Fort Le Boeuf—now Waterford—this enthusiastically written book contains many new-to-me interesting details about the warning that Washington carried to the French from Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia. The details of two of his near-death experiences are also now in my mind more memorably.

An added bonus is the inclusion of facts about Pittsburgh, the biggest city near Erie, which I still have actually visited only twice in my life, and in which Brady Crytzer, the author, clearly delights. Written with the enthusiasm of a young teacher (Crytzer is that, at Robert Morris University) about a subject he loves, this short book is well worth the read.

[Jeff Bobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of George Washington's trip to what today is Pittsburgh and Fort LeBoeuf to warn the French to leave. Good detail and perspective in a time when Western PA was undeveloped territory.

Good local history and a look at a young George Washington.

[Whitney O'Halek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, the History Press has put out a book with an unacceptable amount of typos and errors; quite discouraging to read, actually. Publisher aside, this was a very interesting read. The author went off-topic a few times, delving into Pittsburgh's history up through the 20th century without a solid tie back into the topic at hand, but I enjoyed learning about GW's path during this time period. It's a time about which we learn too little in school, but was so instrumental in shaping our country's history and landscape. The last two chapters were particularly compelling, so I would recommend this to history buffs, those interested in the early life of GW, and Pittsburghers. My husband is from Pittsburgh, and he said they learned very little about this part of their history when he was in school.