 There he began construction of a small fort and awaited further news or instructions.On May 23, Contrecœur, now in command at Fort Duquesne, sent Joseph Coulon de Villiers de Jumonville with 35 Canadiens to see if Washington had entered French territory, and with a summons to order Washington's troops out; this summons was similar in nature to the one Washington had delivered to them in 1753.On May 27, Washington was told by Christopher Gist that a French party numbering about 50 was in the area.