Forbes Road facts for kids
The Forbes Road was an important historic military road built in 1758. It stretched about 220 miles through what was then British America, from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, all the way to the French Fort Duquesne. This fort was located where the Allegheny River and Monongahela River meet, which is now downtown Pittsburgh. Along the way, the road passed through several forts like Fort Loudon, Fort Littleton, Fort Bedford, and Fort Ligonier.
The road was named after Brigadier General John Forbes. He was the commander of the British expedition that built the road during the French and Indian War (also known as the Seven Years' War). The Forbes Road and Braddock's Road were the two main routes the British cut through the wild lands to the west during the war. Building these roads was very difficult because of the steep Appalachian Mountains, rough ground, thick forests, and many swamps and rivers. Even though it might not seem like much compared to later roads, the Forbes Road was a huge challenge to build. It was like climbing a single mountain over 8,000 feet high!
Even though it's called "Forbes' Road," many others helped build it. Colonel James Burd did much of the early work in 1755, building a route from Fort Loudon to Raystown (now Bedford). Colonel Henry Bouquet improved Burd's road in 1758 and extended it to Ligonier, where he built the last major fort before the Ohio River forks. From Ligonier, a rough trail was made to Fort Duquesne. General Forbes, who was often sick, directed most of the work from behind the lines, but he was there when Fort Duquesne was captured in 1758.
Contents
History of the Road
Building the Forbes Road
Like General Edward Braddock before him, General Forbes faced a huge challenge. He needed to build a road strong enough for thousands of soldiers, supply wagons, and heavy cannons through untouched wilderness. The first paths in south-central Pennsylvania were made by Native Americans, who probably followed animal trails. Later, European trappers and traders used these paths, making small improvements. As mentioned, Colonel James Burd had already done much of the early work in 1755. He built a road from Fort Loudon to Raystown (now Bedford, Pennsylvania) to supply Braddock's army.
Unlike Braddock's unlucky expedition, Forbes moved very carefully. He built forts and smaller defenses (called redoubts) about every 40 miles. He also ordered smaller side-paths to be built next to the main road when possible. This helped troops and wagons pass each other more easily. When crossing swamps, they laid logs side-by-side to create "bridges." Rivers were usually crossed by wading through them (called fording) instead of building bridges. Forbes explained that having these posts along the route was "absolutely necessary" for safety.
Forbes' army took control of Fort Duquesne from the French army on November 25, 1758. The French had mostly destroyed the fort before leaving. Forbes then built a much larger fort nearby, naming it Fort Pitt. He also named the small village that grew around it "Pittsborough."
Building the Forbes Road made it much easier to move supplies, soldiers, messages, and trade goods. It connected the farms and cities in eastern Pennsylvania with the western parts. For many years after the war, it was a vital route for settlers moving west. The road was also very important for the success of the colonists in Pontiac's War and the American Revolutionary War. Later, the Forbes Road offered a more direct path from Philadelphia and northern cities to the Ohio Country through Pennsylvania. This was a better route than Braddock's Road, which started further south in Cumberland, Maryland.
After the War: A Busy Highway
After 1758, the Forbes Road became a very busy route. It was especially important between the Revolutionary War and when railroads became common. It was a much better way for travelers from New England to reach the west compared to Braddock's Road.
Travel on the road was still tough. People described it as having "deep gullies" from rain and being filled with "blocks of sand stone." Wagons often needed a large log tied to the back to help slow them down on steep hills. In some places, the road was so slanted that men had to pull on ropes attached to the wagons to keep them from tipping over.
Many people used the road to move west. One traveler in 1817 noted that "Old America seems to be breaking up, and moving westward." He saw many families traveling along this "grand track" towards the Ohio. He also observed a huge amount of business on the road. About 12,000 wagons, each pulled by four to six horses and carrying heavy loads, traveled between Baltimore and Philadelphia in one year. The cost to move goods from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh was very high, showing how much traffic and trade happened on this road. This shows how important the Forbes Road was for connecting the eastern and western parts of the young United States.
Following the Forbes Road Today
Finding the exact path of the "original" Forbes Road today can be tricky. Like many old wilderness roads, there were often several paths running side-by-side. New paths were made when old ones became too muddy or a better route was found. So, it's often impossible to know the exact original track. Old maps of the Forbes Road can also be confusing or even wrong.
Today, the National Road (US 40) generally follows Braddock's Road. The Pennsylvania Turnpike generally follows the path of Forbes' Road from Carlisle to near Monroeville, just east of Pittsburgh. In some places, the turnpike was built right over the historic road. A closer idea of the Forbes Road can be found by following US 30 from Chambersburg to near Greensburg, then SR 66 north to US 22. US 22 then connects to Penn Avenue, which leads to the sites of Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt in Pittsburgh. You can find many historical markers along these modern routes that point out places where the old road once ran.
The section of Forbes' Road first built by Burd in 1755 started at Fort Loudon. The road then went north through Path Valley to Cowans Gap. Fort Littleton stands just west of the summit. The Pennsylvania Turnpike likely covered up much of the original trail across the valley south of Hustontown, including the winding paths up Sideling Hill.
Heading west, US 30 often runs next to the turnpike. Near Breezewood, US 30 seems to be the closest path to Forbes' Road. Further west, the road crossed the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River and went through two narrow passes to Bedford, Pennsylvania.
The road continued west, sometimes splitting into different paths. One important spot is Rohr's Gap, where US 30 sharply bends. Forbes' Road followed this gap to the top of the ridge. The small Fort Dewart, the last remaining structure from the original Forbes' Road, is located there.
West of Ligonier, US 30 follows Loyalhanna Creek through Chestnut Ridge. Forbes' Road then unexpectedly turned south on Four Mile Run and went over a 700-foot hill. This detour might have been to avoid ambushes or because the main gap was too muddy.
As the road got closer to Pittsburgh, modern development has likely covered much of the original trail. However, some sections of Old William Penn Highway might still follow the early path. As mentioned, US 22 eventually meets Penn Avenue, which leads to Point Park and the remains of Forts Duquesne and Pitt. Near the point, Penn Avenue passes near Grant Avenue, where Maj. James Grant made a disastrous attack on the French Fort.
A few miles south of Export, Pennsylvania, is the Bushy Run battlefield. This is where Colonel Bouquet won an important battle during Pontiac's War in 1763.
Markers
Many historical markers show locations along the original route where Forbes and his army traveled. In Westmoreland County, a Forbes Road marker is located along US 22, about 1.2 miles east of Murrysville. In Cumberland County, there are markers along US 11 southwest of Carlisle and one mile northeast of Shippensburg. In Fulton County, there is a marker along US 522, about 0.2 miles southwest of Burnt Cabins. Forbes Road markers have also been put up in Allegheny, Bedford, and Somerset counties.
