FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
The first premonition of this struggle in the West was given in 1698, when two English vessels entered the mouth of the Mississippi, to take possession of the French Territory of Louisiana, which then included what afterward became the State of Illinois.
This expedition, however, returned without result. Great Britain was anxious to have a colorable pretext for attempting to evict the French and began negotiation of treaties with the Indian tribes as early as 1724, expecting thereby to fortify her original claim which was based on the right of prior discovery. The numerous shifting of the political kaleidoscope in Europe prevented any further steps in this direction on the part of England until 1748-49, when the Ohio Land Company received a royal grant of 500,000 acres along the Ohio River, with exclusive trading privileges. The Company proceeded to explore and survey and about 1752 established a trading post on Loramie Creek, 47 miles north of Dayton.
The French foresaw that hostilities were probable and advanced their posts as far east as the Allegheny River. Complaints by the Ohio Company induced an ineffectual remonstrance on the part of Virginia. Among the Ambassadors sent to the French by the Governor of Virginia was George Washington, who thus, in early manhood became identified with Illinois history.
His report was of such a nature as to induce the erection of counter fortifications by the British, one of which (at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers) was seized and occupied by the French before its completion. Then ensued a series of engagements which while not involving large forces of men, were fraught with grave consequences, and in which the French were generally successful.
In 1755 Occurred "Braddock's defeat" in an expedition to recover Fort Duquesne (where Pittsburgh now stands), which had been captured by the French the previous year and the Government of Great Britain determined to redouble its efforts. The final result was the termination of French domination in the Ohio Valley. Later came the downfall of French ascendancy in Canada as the result of the battle of Quebec but the vanquished yet hoped to be able to retain Louisiana and Illinois. But France was forced to indemnify Spain for the loss of Florida, which it did by the cession of all of Louisiana lying west of the Mississippi (including the city of New Orleans), and this virtually ended French hopes in Illinois.
The last military post in North America to be garrisoned by French troops was Fort Chartres, in Illinois Territory, where St. Ange remained in command until its evacuation was demanded by the English.