In 1754, Governor Dinwiddie promoted Washington to the position of lieutenant colonel and sent him out to defend Virginia’s land interests in the Ohio region in a conflict that became known as the French and Indian War. Early in the conflict, he defeated French and Indian forces in Pennsylvania and built a refuge called Fort Necessity. However, he later had to surrender the area to the French and Indians. Even worse, he had to sign a terms of surrender in French.

The next year he was promoted to colonel and continued leading troops in the French and Indian War. In 1758, Washington led Virginia’s forces, which joined British forces to a great victory at Fort Duquesne. However, he could not obtain a commission from the British army. He then turned his attention to politics.