Having reached the mouth of the Monongahela, they heard that the French had an important military fort on French Creek, called also Rivière aux Bœufs, about fifteen miles south of Lake Erie.[15] The French were in possession of a strong station at Presque Isle, on the southern coast of Lake Erie. From this point they had constructed a good wagon road to the head of boat navigation on French Creek. Here they reared another fort, as is supposed, about the year 1752.[16] “Through rivers and creeks, snow, rain and cold,” Washington and his little party, toiling through the dreary wilderness, reached French Creek on the 11th of November. Washington had for his companion, Mr. Christopher Gist (who was a frontiersman of great energy and experience), beside his Indian guides, with four other white men and two Indians.[17] Forty-one days were spent in this arduous journey. They found a small French outpost at Venango, where the French commandant, Captain Joncaire, received them cordially, and guided them to the head-quarters. On this journey, Washington very carefully examined the Forks of the Ohio, as a suitable place for the erection of a fort. He descended the Ohio about twenty miles to an Indian village called Logstown. Here, in a council with the chief, he endeavored to draw the tribe away from the French and into a friendly alliance with the English;[18] and also to obtain an escort of warriors to conduct him across the country, through the wilderness, to the French post, which was distant one hundred and twenty miles. In this he was but partially successful. Four Indians only accompanied him. This made his party amount to twelve. There were six white men and six Indians. Tanachanson, the chief sachem, and representative of the Six Nations, accompanied Washington’s party. CHAPTER II. _The First Military Expedition._ The Visit to Fort Le Bœuf--The Return Journey--Incidents by the way--The Night Journey--The Wreck upon the Raft--Night on the island--Romantic scene--Reception at Williamsburg--The Conflicting Claims--Governor Dinwiddie--His rash and reckless order--The First Military Expedition--The site for a fortress--The plans of Washington--Fort Duquesne--The March through the Wilderness--Appalling tidings--The great mistake, and the utter discomfiture--Apologies for Washington. A French officer, by the name of St. Pierre, was in command at Fort Le Bœuf. Though fully aware of the object of the commissioner’s expedition, he received Washington with the courtesy characteristic of the French nation. Respectfully he received the remonstrance which was presented to him, and gave Washington a written reply, couched in dignified terms, in which he stated that he was placed at that post by the command of his government, and that he could not abandon it until officially instructed so to do.[19]