<P> Washington's party left Fort Le Boeuf early on December 16 and arrived in Williamsburg on January 16, 1754 . He stated in his report, "The French had swept south", detailing the steps which they had taken to fortify the area, and their intention to fortify the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers . </P> <P> Even before Washington returned, Dinwiddie had sent a company of 40 men under William Trent to that point where they began construction of a small stockaded fort in the early months of 1754 . Governor Duquesne sent additional French forces under Claude - Pierre Pecaudy de Contrecœur to relieve Saint - Pierre during the same period, and Contrecœur led 500 men south from Fort Venango on April 5, 1754 . These forces arrived at the fort on April 16, but Contrecœur generously allowed Trent's small company to withdraw . He purchased their construction tools to continue building what became Fort Duquesne . </P> <P> Dinwiddie had ordered Washington to lead a larger force to assist Trent in his work, and Washington learned of Trent's retreat while he was en route . Mingo sachem Tanaghrisson had promised support to the British, so Washington continued toward Fort Duquesne and met with him . He then learned of a French scouting party in the area, so he combined Tanaghrisson's force with his own and surprised the Canadians on May 28 in what became known as the Battle of Jumonville Glen . They killed many of the Canadians, including their commanding officer Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, whose head was reportedly split open by Tanaghrisson with a tomahawk . Historian Fred Anderson suggests that Tanaghrisson was acting to gain the support of the British and to regain authority over his own people . They had been inclined to support the French, with whom they had long trading relationships . One of Tanaghrisson's men told Contrecoeur that Jumonville had been killed by British musket fire . </P> <P> Historians generally consider the Battle of Jumonville Glen as the opening battle of the French and Indian War in North America, and the start of hostilities in the Ohio valley . </P>

How did the french and indian war have an influence on the beginning of hostilities