Watch, Read, Play: French & Indian War

 “Fathers, both you and the English are white, we live in a Country between; therefore the Land belongs to neither one nor t’other.”

— Chief Tanaghrisson

French and Indian War provincial militia
re-enactors march forth at Fort Frederick.

I don’t expect many Americans to have much familiarity with the French and Indian War (1754–1763); Europeans might know it as one theater in the larger Seven Years War (1756–1763) which some historians consider the first true “world war.” It’s an interesting period in American colonial history. Major European powers continue to stake claims to lands in the New World, with the British and French clashing primarily on the frontiers in New England and the mid-Atlantic. British colonists remain subject to the crown, yet, being separated from their governing body by several months’ treacherous voyage over the ocean, have cultivated a sense of self-sufficiency bordering on entitled independence. Over my years of reading and playing games about it, I’ve come to realize it sets up many of the issues over which Americans fought for their independence from Great Britain and highlights many issues we still face. One can more easily investigate the French and Indian War through movies, books, and games to gain a greater understanding of the conflict’s many aspects and outcomes that influenced the American War of Independence...and beyond.

Watch

Cinema has occasionally turned to the literary sources romanticizing this era, primarily the work of James Fenimore Cooper and his Leatherstocking Tales series of novels, including the most famous, The Last of the Mohicans. It is perhaps the most famous work set in this oft-overlooked period. To 20th and 21st century audiences this period of American history seems glossed over, if remembered at all; at best it seems a dim precursor of the radiant glory of the American War of Independence, essential mythology in the making of a nation and one constantly invoked across society for various purposes. Fare like The Last of the Mohicans often foreshadows the ideals of the revolution and the coming conflict for those of us familiar with the course of history.

Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans hearkens back to this period for popular cinema audiences. Directors have taken great artistic license dramatizing the novel, a necessary technique porting stories from the leisurely read page to two hours viewing a screen. They achieve varying degrees of success interpreting (or re-interpreting) the characters and themes for their contemporary audiences, but provide a dramatic immersion in a historical period, however inaccurately portrayed. (And, as noted below, even the literary sources romanticize the history to appeal to their own audiences.) It is a testament to the power of the story that numerous directors have chosen to bring Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans to the screen, with 11 film versions releasing in the 20th century under a variety of titles, all drawing from similar storylines inspired by Cooper’s novel. The most recent cinematic effort from director Michael Mann (1992) provides a powerful, visceral picture of life and warfare on the American frontier.

Mann’s version tells the story of three frontier trappers, inhabiting a region between western and indigenous peoples and their conflicts, who use their expertise to guide British survivors of an ambush to the besieged Fort William Henry. It includes fierce scenes of combat, from a European-style siege to chaotic melees with Native Americans, along with dramatic intrigues exploring the concepts of liberty, loyalty, and love. One does not need much historical background to enjoy the film; an introductory paragraph sets the stage, and occasional exposition fills in the gaps enough to focus on identifying with various characters and their conflicts.

Mann’s The Last of the Mohicans offers a visual delight of period costumes, equipment, and architecture, all set against the rich background of the American Wilderness (shot in North Carolina instead of upstate New York, where the movie takes place). Watching the film intensely immerses viewers in the period like few other experiences.

Read

Delving into the historical reality of the period reveals the dramatic license the literary and cinematic fiction takes. Mann’s film is a relatively intense and concise interpretation of the eponymous novel from 1826. Cooper’s Leatherstocking Tales, consisting of five novels about America’s pre-revolution frontier, helped romanticize early American history in 19th century popular culture. Certainly Cooper’s works have a place in American literature, but may not resonate with modern readers accustomed to certain writing styles (I once tried reading The Deerslayer at the suggestion of a college writing professor, but I could not connect with the style amd set it aside). Still, it’s worth investigating The Last of the Mohicans to read for yourself, either from your local library or Project Gutenberg online.

Cooper and the filmmakers who interpreted his work took dramatic license with various details of history. One can indulge in further reading with a variety of non-fiction to gain a better sense of the historical context of the period and the French and Indian War:

Two books provide general coverage of the war in America: Walter R. Borneman’s The French and Indian War: Deciding the Fate of North America (2006) and Fred Anderson’s The War that Made America: A Short History of the French and Indian War (2005), a companion text to the eponymous PBS series released on the 250th anniversary of the conflict. (In 2000 Anderson also published Crucible of War: The Seven Years’ War and the Fate of Empire in British North America,1754-1766.) These examine the major issues, events, personalities, and campaigns, providing a solid overview and a good working knowledge of the conflict. The first half of Richard Berleth’s Bloody Mohawk: The French and Indian War & American Revolution on New York’s Frontier (2009) provides a look at the war in a specific theater, one that would erupt again in violence during the American War of Independence.

Other volumes offer closer looks at specific elements of the war. Osprey Publishing offers a host of well-illustrated books covering individual military engagements during the French and Indian War, including Monongahela 1754–55, Fort William Henry 1755–57, and Ticonderoga 1758.

Among the many notable individuals who stood out in the French and Indian War, several feature prominently in historical non-fiction. Many hold Robert Rogers as the father of the frontier rangers and indeed its later incarnation in the US Army. His memoirs, Journal of Robert Rogers of the Rangers (1765, 1883) provide a heavily biased primary source for his escapades, while John R. Cuneo’s Robert Rogers of the Rangers (1959) and John F. Ross’ War on the Run: The Epic Story of Robert Rogers and the Conquest of America’s First Frontier (2009) offer a more balanced portrait based on period documentation.

Few realize George Washington gained much of his military experience as a provincial officer during the French and Indian War, which shaped his view of colonial militia units, the British Army, and Native Americans. He also undertook an expedition before the war, traveling through French territory to deliver a message of eviction from Virginia’s governor at the time. (Some argue he caused the war during a reconnaissance that resulted in the death of a French officer.) Scott C. Patchan’s George Washington in the French & Indian War (2024) examines his involvement from his earliest expeditions to action at Fort Necessity, Monongahela, and Fort Ligonier, including his tactical blunders and an annoying persistence with British command. The first third of Colin G. Calloway’s The Indian World of George Washington (2018) looks at his involvement in the war and relations with the Native Americans as well as how his early exposure established his attitudes toward them during the revolution and early republic.

Aside: Visit

The author with artillery at Fort Ligonier.

Although it doesn’t fit into the “Watch, Read, Play” format, if you’re around the mid-Atlantic section of America’s east coast I’d heartily recommend visiting some French and Indian War sites to further investigate this history. We have, in our occasional family expeditions, toured Fort Necessity, Fort Ticonderoga/Carillon, Crown Point (site of Fort St. Frederic and Fort Amherst), Fort Frederick (a latecomer to the campaign), and Fort Ligonier (though we’ve not yet braved the tourist trap of Lake George to visit the site of Fort William Henry…).

Most host museum collections putting the period in context and highlighting some amazing artifacts. Guides and costumed interpreters offer insights into the forts and their roles in the war as well as everyday life on the American frontier; although we always enjoy the arms demonstrations (notably at Ticonderoga, where they fire both muskets and artillery), I’m always interested in a good period cooking demonstration. Many sites host living history events throughout the year; several times I’ve enjoyed Fort Frederick’s French and Indian War muster weekend, complete with camps for each participating faction and a choreographed skirmish with plenty of staged fighting and musket firing.

Play

Several games covering this period grace my shelves, though not all of them have made it to the gaming table. Some cover the broad course of the war, others focus on smaller engagements. All provide experiences connecting players to aspects of the campaigns.

Beau Beckett and Jeph Stahl’s 1754: Conquest — The French and Indian War (Academy Games, 2017) and Marc Rodrigue’s Bayonets & Tomahawks (GMT Games, 2021) are two campaign-wide games of the entire war, which, alas, I’ve not had the time or players to run. Their sheer scope covers both the vast geography of war in North America but the opponents relations with the Native Americans. Bill Molyneaux’s Wilderness Empires (Worthington Publishing, 2015) remains my favorite for covering the entire war in North America. The card-driven block wargame offers a more accessible game than other, rules-heavy wargame titles, but still instills play with elements characteristic of the war: Native American units, major European generals, and plenty of unexpected reversals with card events and dicing battle outcomes. The blocks add an uncertain “fog of war” aspect. All these games, sadly, seem out of print at the moment, but sometimes become available on the secondary market.

Several games simulate the war’s numerous battles in varying degrees of depth and complexity. Over the years Molyneaux published several easy-to-play chit-and-board wargame collections: Bloody Mohawk: The French and Indian War (Lock ’n Load Publishing LLC, 2018), Savage Wilderness: The French and Indian War (Lock ’n Load Publishing LLC, 2020) each re-released by Blue Panther Games as French & Indian War Vol. 1: Bloody Mohawk and French & Indian War Vol. 2: Savage Wilderness (Bill Molyneaux Games, 2023). The opening scenarios focus on demonstrating the rules in small engagements, but even the larger battles work well with the easy rules suitable for adults to play with kids interested in the history. Molyneaux has in the past participated in re-enacting events on the side of the French; some of his games are available at fort gift shops at the above-named historical sites, notably Fort Frederick.

The battle game Hold the Line: The American Revolution (Worthington Publishing, 2016) included a French and Indian War expansion set (Worthington Publishing, 2016) slightly more suited and visually appealing for young people (and similar but not quite the same as Richard Berg’s popular Command and Colors series of battle games). The modular nature of the board, with hex terrain to arrange according to each scenario, allows players to simulate major battles and fight out most of the campaign. Both the main game and expansion remain out of print yet occasionally available on the secondary market.

The conflict also inspired a few solitaire games (though one can find ways to play any of the above titles solitaire, often against oneself). Joseph Miranda’s mini-folio game Rogers’ Rangers: America’s First Commandos (Decision Games, 2018) puts the player in charge of recruiting and provisioning a ranger unit, then embarking on various missions against the French. It maintains a tense balance between one’s resources and capabilities and the challenges of waging war on the American frontier. Sean Cooke, Mike Wylie, and Grant Wylie’s French and Indian War Solitaire (Worthington Publishing, 2025) presents the abstracted but well-balanced campaign in a “travel game” format — small footprint, compact board, low token count, short play time — ideal for exploring the factors influencing the war in multiple play sessions. While commanding either the French or the British force, the player must balance deployment of regular units and negotiate relationships with the Native Americans in several geographical regions.

54mm rangers fend off a Native American ambush.

Over the years I’ve explored playing out French and Indian War skirmishes with various miniature wargaming rules. I’ve done so with my 54mm Armies in Plastic toy soldiers, albeit unpainted (the horror!), using various rules each with their own focus on aspects of frontier fighting and game systems to simulate those. I probably accumulated enough figures to stage some form of the Battle of Monongahela, though I’d need to explore unit-based rules for such a game. My painting pile also has a slew of 28mm figures intended for some Skirmish Kids scenarios, which may become my default system for this period (for which I include specific rules and example forces). I regret miniature wargaming seems a bit more involved for newcomers to the hobby to explore (in time, effort, and expense), but I’ve found it offers a very brutal perspective on combat at the intersection of western Europeans and Native Americans...and those inhabiting the frontier space between them.

Whatever your gaming preferences, the French and Indian War offers some solid visual media to tempt prospective players into reading more about the conflict and then exploring it through various game experiences. It highlights several historical issues that shape America’s subsequent development leading into the American War of Independence and beyond.

“I heard the bullets whistle and believe me there is something charming in the sound.”

— George Washington