He utterly despised the colonial troops, and regarded all methods of fighting, save those pursued by regular armies in the field, with absolute contempt.

To send such a man to command troops destined to fight in thick forests, against an enemy skilled in warfare of that kind, was to court defeat.
As might be expected, Braddock was very soon on the worst possible terms with the whole of the colonial authorities, and the delays caused by the indecision or obstinacy of the colonial assemblies chafed him to madness.

At last, however, his force was assembled at Wills Creek.

The two English regiments had been raised, by enlistment in Virginia, to 700 men each.

There were nine Virginian companies of fifty men, and the thirty sailors lent by Commodore Keppel.