Fort Necessity National Battlefield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Necessity National Battlefield |
|
|---|---|
|
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
|
|
The reconstructed Fort Necessity
|
|
 Fort Necessity National Battlefield
Location in Pennsylvania
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Wharton Township, Fayette, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | 902.8 acres (365.4 ha) |
| Elevation | 1,955 ft (596 m) |
| Established | 1931-03-04 |
| Website | Fort Necessity National Battlefield |
|
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
|
|
| Nearest city | Uniontown |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000664 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
Fort Necessity National Battlefield is a special place in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. It protects the spot where the Battle of Fort Necessity happened. This battle took place on July 3, 1754. It was one of the first battles of the French and Indian War. During this fight, British colonial forces, led by Colonel George Washington, had to surrender to the French and their Native American allies.
The site also includes the Mount Washington Tavern. This was once a popular inn along the old National Road. In two separate areas, you can find the grave of British General Edward Braddock, who died in 1755, and the site of the Battle of Jumonville Glen.
Contents
The Battle of Fort Necessity (1754)
After returning to a place called the Great Meadows in what is now Fayette County, Pennsylvania, George Washington decided to make his position stronger. He supposedly named the new structure Fort Necessity. This fort was built to protect important supplies like gunpowder and flour. The simple wooden fence, called a palisade, was put up to keep Washington's own men from taking supplies, as he called them "loose and idle." It was also meant to defend against enemies.
By June 13, 1754, Washington had about 295 colonial soldiers. He also had about 100 regular British army troops from South Carolina under his command. Washington spent the rest of June making the wilderness road longer. He wanted to reach a river crossing point about 41 km (25 mi) away, near Redstone Creek.
This area was once home to a Native American earthwork mound overlooking the river. Five years later, during the war, a fort called Fort Burd was built there. This area eventually became an important starting point for travelers crossing the Allegheny Mountains.
Washington chose to follow Nemacolin's Path, an old Native American trail. This trail had been improved a bit by colonists. He wanted to reach the Ohio River's navigable waters on the Monongahela River as quickly as possible. The Redstone destination was a good choice for a base. It was one of the few places where both sides of the wide river had low, easy-to-reach banks.
Late in the day on July 3, Washington did not know how the French were doing. He felt his situation was hopeless. He accepted surrender terms that allowed his forces to leave peacefully. They completed their withdrawal on July 4, 1754. The French then took over the fort and burned it down. Washington did not speak French. He later said that if he had known he was admitting to the death of Joseph Coulon de Jumonville, he would not have signed the surrender paper.
Creating the Park
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, people worked to save the Fort Necessity site. On March 4, 1931, the United States Congress declared it a National Battlefield Site. The War Department managed it at first. Then, in 1933, it was given to the National Park Service. In 1961, it was officially named a National Battlefield. Like all historic sites managed by the National Park Service, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
Later, scientists studied the area to find out where the original fort was. They also learned about its shape and design. A copy of the fort was built on the site in the 1970s. A new visitor center opened on October 8, 2005. This center also has information about the National Road. The battlefield and fort are still being improved today.
Mount Washington Tavern
On a hill next to the battlefield, inside the park, is the Mount Washington Tavern. This building is a great example of the many inns that used to be along the National Road. The National Road was the first highway in the United States built with federal money.
The land where the tavern stands was first owned by George Washington. In 1770, he bought the spot where he had fought his first battle. Around the 1830s, Judge Nathanial Ewing built the tavern. James Sampey bought the tavern in 1840. His family ran it until railroads became popular. When more people used trains, the National Road was used less, and the inn stopped making money.
In 1855, the Fazenbaker family bought it. They lived there as a private home for 75 years. In 1932, the state of Pennsylvania bought the property. Then, in 1961, the National Park Service bought it from the state. This made the building part of Fort Necessity. The Mount Washington Tavern shows what an early American inn was like. It had a simple barroom for gathering, a nicer parlor for relaxing, and bedrooms where many people would sleep.
General Braddock's Grave Site
In a separate part of the park, about 1.6 km (1 mi) northwest of the battlefield, is the grave of General Edward Braddock. He was a British commander who led a big expedition to the area in 1755. His group built Braddock Road, a useful but rough wilderness road through western Pennsylvania. Braddock was badly hurt in the Battle of the Monongahela as the British moved toward Fort Duquesne.
He and his soldiers ran away along the wilderness road to a spot near Great Meadows. Braddock died on July 13, 1755. George Washington led an important ceremony for his burial. Braddock was buried under the road. This was done to hide his grave from the French and Native American enemies. In 1804, Braddock's remains were found by men repairing the road. A marker was put up in 1913 to show where he was buried.
