Did anyone watch the War that Made America last night on PBS? I did and was
surprised that they made Washington appear so important during Braddock's
defeat. As I understand it, Washington was stripped of his command for
surrenduring and admitting to murdering a French officer (although, he
didn't know French and signed a French document only to save his men). None
the less, he was only a Provincial "volunteer" at Fort Cumberland and asked
to be Aide de Camp to Braddock. But the movie shows him sitting side by side
with Braddock reviewing the troups as if he were his equal. I doubt this
would have ever happened. From what I've read about Braddock, he didn't
think the Colonials were soldiers at all. Finally, at the end of this part
of the movie it does say GW volunteered. But it gives the indication at the
beginning that Braddock had selected him. And wasn't there a second Aide de
Camp? One which was an elisted man and not a volunteer? Where was he in the
movie? And where was Fry? Wasn't he there? It seemed like the only two
important characters where GW and Braddock. I was dissappointed. And they
are saying you can use this in the schools as a teaching aid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What say ye, my wise, history instructors?

Lonny Watro

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