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and France had been enemies for centuries before either claimed
parts of the New World. In North America, the conflict involved
settlers, soldiers and native peoples. The climax was the
French and Indian War (1754-1763).
As a result of France's growing attempt in early 1754 to
connect her extensive dominions in North America by uniting
Canada with Louisiana, she took possession claimed by England
to be within the Province of Virginia and began a line of
military posts from the Great Lakes to the Ohio Valley. North
Carolina was the first colony to respond to Virginia Governor
Dinwiddie's call for military assistance and marked the first
time a British colony voted to support troops outside of its
own borders in behalf of a common cause and defense.
 North
Carolina's Colonel James Innes (1700-1759) was commissioned
commanding officer of all provincial forces in the first Ohio
expedition by Governor Dinwiddie from June 4, 1754 to October
24, 1754. Under Innes, North Carolina's provincial soldiers
consisted of approximately 750 men, including Lieutenant Hugh
Waddell.
Disbanded in the fall of 1754, North Carolina provincials
returned to service under Major Edward Brice Dobbs in 1755,
during Braddock's march, and later during the New York Expedition
in 1756. North Carolina continued to send troops throughout
the war to the aid of the other colonies and participated
in 1758 in Forbes Expedition. In 1759, under Colonel Hugh
Waddell, North Carolina provincials were recalled from South
Carolina following the fall of Fort Loudoun. North Carolina
was again at the aid of Virginia in 1761 during the Cherokee
War, where the Cherokees were soundly defeated.
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