The Capture of Fort Duquesne

Throughout the fall, the British had been preparing for an assault on Fort Duquesne. Brigadier General John Forbes had assembled five thousand colonials and fifteen hundred Highlanders at Fort Cumberland, Virginia. Forbes, a dying man with only months to live, was so weak that he had to be carried in a litter slung between two horses. Yet his mind was sharp, and he had two assistants able to carry out his plans or act on their own when necessary. Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bouquet, his second-in-command, was a Swiss mercenary, a professional soldier serving in the Royal Americans. He would soon be recognized as one of the finest Indian fighters in America. Colonel George Washington led the Virginia regiment. On this, his third visit to the Ohio country, he hoped to see the end of the French fort.

Forbes struck northward from Fort Cumberland into Pennsylvania, then westward across the Alleghenies. The Pennsylvania route was longer than Braddock's, but easier, with more places to get fresh horses along the way. As the army advanced, a series of blockhouses and forts were built along the route as strong points and supply depots. These bases, the strongest of which was Fort Ligonier, allowed the army to leapfrog ahead or fall back to prepared positions. Forbes was also generous with gifts to the local tribes.

As the army neared Duquesne, Forbes sent Major James Grant ahead of the main force. Grant was to take 800 men, half Virginians and half Highlanders, to scout near Fort Duquesne and bring in prisoners for questioning. He must not attack under any circumstances.

Grant, unfortunately, had other ideas. A mile from the fort, he split his detachment into thirds and advanced with bagpipes skirling, as if he meant to take the place on his own. Frenchmen and Indians swarmed out of the gate and routed the invaders who lost a third of their men, including Grant. Although they suffered 300 casualties, the survivors managed to fall back to Ligonier, which Bouquet successfully held.

Despite this setback, Forbes pushed ahead confidently. So it was on the night of November 24, 1758, Forbes was in camped near Braddock's old battleground. Memories must have haunted some of the men as they settled down for a few hour's rest. Suddenly, a distant explosion shook the ground and a flash lit the sky.

Next morning, an advance party found the smoking ruins of Fort Duquesne. Lignery had burned and blown it up, sent his arms and most of the garrison down river to the Illinois country and retreated upriver to Fort Venango. Amid the ruins of mighty Fort Duquesne Forbes held a Thanksgiving service, it was November 25th.

Forbes then left Bouquet to begin work on another fort, one so large that the whole of Fort Duquesne could have fit into it's parade ground. The fort was named Fort Pitt, in honor of the Prime Minister. Forbes returned to Philadelphia, where he died soon after due to his illness.

To 1758 The Battles