Forbes Expedition facts for kids
The Forbes Expedition was a big military trip by the British army in 1758. It happened during the French and Indian War. Brigadier-General John Forbes led this expedition. Their main goal was to capture Fort Duquesne, a French fort.
As they moved towards the fort, the soldiers built a new path. This path is now known as the Forbes Road. Before the British even arrived, the French destroyed their own fort. This happened because the Treaty of Easton made many Native American tribes stop supporting the French. The Forbes Expedition reached the fort's remains on November 24, 1758.
Contents
Why the Expedition Happened
Capturing Fort Duquesne
The main reason for the Forbes Expedition was to take over Fort Duquesne. This fort was very important because it was built where the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River meet. Today, this spot is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Earlier in the war, another British attempt to capture this fort, called the Braddock Expedition, had failed. So, the Forbes Expedition was a second try to gain control of this key location.
Who Was Part of the Expedition
General Forbes commanded about 6,000 soldiers. This included troops from Britain and American colonists. A famous leader, George Washington, led some of the soldiers from Virginia.
General Forbes was very sick during the expedition. So, he trusted his second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bouquet, to lead the army's advance. Colonel Bouquet was a Swiss officer who commanded a group of soldiers called the Royal American Regiment.
The army was made up of different groups. These included:
- Soldiers from the Royal Americans
- Highland soldiers (also known as the 62nd Foot)
- Troops from Virginia
- Soldiers from North Carolina and Maryland
- Many regiments from Pennsylvania
- Troops from the Lower Counties (now Delaware)
Building the Forbes Road
A New Path to the West
The expedition carefully built the Forbes Road. This road stretched across what is now southern Pennsylvania. They started from Carlisle. The road helped them climb through the mountains, using one of the few natural openings called the gaps of the Allegheny.
This path led them into the Ohio Country. This area was a disputed territory. It was also a place where many Amerindian tribes, like the Iroquois, lived. Building this road was a very organized effort. This was different from the earlier Braddock Expedition in 1755, which had a terrible defeat.
The Army's Journey Forward
Moving Towards Fort Duquesne
The soldiers spent most of the summer of 1758 building the road. They also built strong supply posts along the way. Because of this careful work, the expedition did not get close to Fort Duquesne until September 1758.
In mid-September, a small group of British soldiers tried to scout ahead. Their leader, Major James Grant, tried to capture the fort instead of just gathering information. This led to a big defeat for the British in the Battle of Fort Duquesne.
Later, the French attacked one of the British supply posts, Fort Ligonier. The French wanted to drive the British away or get more supplies. But the British fought them off in the Battle of Fort Ligonier.
Why the French Lost Fort Duquesne
Native American Support Changes Sides
A very important event happened on October 26, 1758. This was the signing of the Treaty of Easton. This treaty caused many Native American tribes, like the Lenape (Delaware), Mingo, and Shawnee, to stop supporting the French. These tribes lived in the Ohio Valley.
Without the help of their Native American allies, the French could not hold onto Fort Duquesne. They also could not control the Ohio Valley anymore.
French Abandon the Fort
When the Forbes Expedition got very close to Fort Duquesne in mid-November, the French decided to leave. They blew up the fort themselves so the British could not use it.
On November 24, three groups of scouts, led by Captain Hugh Waddell, entered the smoking ruins of the fort. They were following orders from Colonel George Washington. General Forbes, who had been very sick during the whole trip, only visited the ruins for a short time. He was taken back to Philadelphia and passed away soon after.
The French leaving the Ohio Country, along with other British victories, helped make 1759 a "year of wonders" for the British. This is also known by the Latin phrase Annus Mirabilis, meaning "miraculous year."
