<P> Washington 's party reached Fort LeBoeuf on December 11 , in the middle of a raging snowstorm . The French commander , Captain Jacques Legardeur de Saint - Pierre , received them with hospitality ; however , in response to Dinwiddie 's demands , he pointed out that the letter was more properly addressed to his superior , New France 's governor the Marquis Duquesne . The letter Legardeur drafted in response to Dinwiddie 's was clear and to the point : `` as to the summons you send me to retire , I do not think myself obliged to obey it . '' Washington took careful notes of the military arrangements at both forts before departing on December 16 . He was somewhat concerned by the fact that Tanacharison and his men remained behind for further discussions with the French ; he wrote , `` I saw that every strategem which the most fruitful brain could invent , was practiced to win Half King to their interest '' . He returned to Williamsburg after a month of difficult travel . Dinwiddie had Washington 's account of the expedition widely distributed to emphasize the French threat . It was printed on both sides of the Atlantic , giving Washington an international reputation . </P>
<P> Washington 's party reached Fort LeBoeuf on December 11 , in the middle of a raging snowstorm . The French commander , Captain Jacques Legardeur de Saint - Pierre , received them with hospitality ; however , in response to Dinwiddie 's demands , he pointed out that the letter was more properly addressed to his superior , New France 's governor the Marquis Duquesne . The letter Legardeur drafted in response to Dinwiddie 's was clear and to the point : `` as to the summons you send me to retire , I do not think myself obliged to obey it . '' Washington took careful notes of the military arrangements at both forts before departing on December 16 . He was somewhat concerned by the fact that Tanacharison and his men remained behind for further discussions with the French ; he wrote , `` I saw that every strategem which the most fruitful brain could invent , was practiced to win Half King to their interest '' . He returned to Williamsburg after a month of difficult travel . Dinwiddie had Washington 's account of the expedition widely distributed to emphasize the French threat . It was printed on both sides of the Atlantic , giving Washington an international reputation . </P>
who was the leader of the french in the french and indian war
who was the leader of the french in the french and indian war
Jacques Legardeur de Saint - Pierre
Jacques Legardeur de Saint - Pierre