GW was marching throughout the Ohio Valley, leaving Little Meadows, Md. for the Great Crossing of the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania.  He did not arrive there at until 18 May. GW consistently received reports from Ohio traders on the location of French troops around Redstone Creek, Pennsylvania. In his 18 May letter to Va. Lt. Gov. Robert Dinwiddie, GW recorded that the French “are daily sending Scouts out, some of which, . . . was seen within 6 or 7 Miles of our Camp."   

Additionally, Dinwiddie left for Winchester, Va. on this day to plan and attended a conference with chiefs of both northern and southern Indian tribes. He desired to settle the long-enduring differences and disputes between these enemies, but he also wanted to keep them aligned with the British interest.