Pennsylvania archaeologists have uncovered the site where George Washington saved lives by stopping a friendly fire incident, blocking musket fire with his sword, writes Aurora Martínez for Smithsonian Magazine.

The incident occurred in 1758 during the French and Indian War, thirty years before Washington became the nation’s first president.

In his biography, Colonel David Humphreys described how Washington stopped the clash by rushing “between [the] two fires, knocking up with his sword the presented pieces,” noting that he “never was in more imminent danger” than at that moment.

For the last four years, a team led by Juniata College archaeologist Jonathan Burns has been excavating private land near Fort Ligonier, a French and Indian War fortification, in search of physical evidence from the battle.

Using drones, metal detectors and computer-aided mapping, the team has uncovered hundreds of artifacts, such as musket balls, buttons, ammunition and a French watch key.

“This is extremely nationally significant,” said Burns. “It’s not only got a historic event [but also] a historic individual. It doesn’t get any more significant than George Washington here in this county.”

Some of the artifacts are now displayed at Fort Ligonier, where Washington’s “Remarks” manuscript is also showcased.

Read more about the archeological site and one of George Washington’s most heroic moments in Smithsonian Magazine.

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