Major Grant Meets Defeat at Fort Duquesne, September 14, 1758

The destruction of the Indian town at Kittanning September 8, 1755, was a severe blow to the Indians. The English had never before that time assailed them in their own towns, and they were led to believe they would not venture to approach them. While they desired to retaliate the blow, they feared another such attack upon their home, when they were absent on war parties. Such of them as had belonged to Kittanning and made their escape, refused to settle again east of Fort Duquesne.

Nothing was done to annoy the French or check the Indians, until a change occurred in the English Ministry, and the master mind of William Pitt assumed the control of the mother country. He seemed to fully realize the situation of the English subjects in the colonies and immediately determined to send troops in sufficient strength to maintain her power.

636Pennsylvania, as usual, led the way and equipped 2700 men. The other colonies contributed large quotas.

Three expeditions were determined upon, and the most active measures taken to bring them to the field. The one in which Pennsylvanians are more properly interested was known as the Western expedition. It was placed under the command of Major General John Forbes, an officer of great skill, energy and resolution. His army consisted of nearly 9000 men, embracing British regulars and provincials from Pennsylvania, and the Lower Counties, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.

The troops from the other Governments rendezvoused at Winchester, while the Pennsylvanians, under Colonel Henry Bouquet, assembled at Raystown, now Bedford.

General Forbes, with his regulars, marched from Philadelphia to effect a junction with the provincials at Raystown, but the serious illness of the general compelled him to stop at Carlisle, where he remained until the middle of September, when he reached Bedford and the provincial troops under Colonel George Washington.

At the suggestion of Colonel Bouquet and the Pennsylvania officers, a new road was cut direct from Raystown to Loyalhanna, a distance of forty-five miles, where Colonel Bouquet erected Fort Ligonier.

Before the arrival of General Forbes at Loyalhanna, Colonel Bouquet had dispatched Major William Grant, of the Highland Regiment, with thirty-seven officers and 800 troops, to reconnoitre the fort and adjacent country. His instructions were to approach not too near the fort, and in no event to take the risk of an attack.

Grant camped the first day on the banks of the Nine Mile Run, ten miles west of the camp on the Loyalhanna. The second day he proceeded farther, and on the third reached to within about twelve miles of Fort Duquesne.

Although the French and Indians were constantly watching the movements of the army, yet Grant succeeded in coming within sight of the fort, after marching fifty miles without being discovered.

The detachment halted here until 3 o’clock in the afternoon, when the troops quietly marched to about two miles from the fort, where they left their baggage under charge of Captain Bullitt, two subalterns and fifty men. It was already dark, and later in the night Major Grant appeared with his troops at the brow of the fatal hill, which still bears his name, between the two rivers, about a quarter of a mile from the fort.

From the apparent stillness of the enemy’s camp and not having met with either French or Indians on the march, Major Grant supposed that the forces in the fort must be comparatively small, and at once determined to make an attack.

637Two officers and fifty men were dispatched to approach the fort and fall upon the French and Indians that might be lying out, if not in too great number. They saw none, nor were they challenged by the sentinels, and as they returned they set fire to a large store house, but the fire was discovered and extinguished.

At break of day, Major Lewis was sent with 200 men, principally American regulars and Virginia volunteers, to take post about half a mile back, and lie in ambush in the road on which they had left their baggage, under the pretensionpretension of fears that the enemy would make a bold attempt to capture it.

But Major Grant, who was jealous of Major Lewis, wished to have the glory of capturing the enemy who had so signally repulsed General Braddock with his army.

Four hundred men were posted along the hill facing the fort, to cover the retreat of Captain McDonald’s company, who marched with drums beating toward the enemy, in order to draw a party out of the fort, as Major Grant believed there were not more than 200 men, including Indians, in the fortress.

The garrison was aroused from its slumber by the music of the invaders, and French and Indians sallied out in great numbers to the attack. Their whole force was divided into three divisions. The first two were sent directly under cover of the banks of the river to surround the main body under Major Grant. The remaining division was delayed while the others maneuvred, and then displayed themselves before the fort, as if exhibiting their whole strength.

The attack then commenced, and Captain McDonald was immediately obliged to fall back upon the main body and was a moment later killed.

Major Grant received and returned a most destructive fire. At this moment he suddenly found himself flanked on all sides by the detachments from the banks of the river. The struggle became desperate.

The provincials put up a good defense while concealing themselves behind trees, but the Highlanders who stood exposed to the enemy’s fire without cover, fell in great numbers, and at last gave way and fled. Soon the provincials, having lost all their support, and being overpowered by numbers, were compelled to follow.

Major Grant retreated to the baggage where Captain Bullitt was posted, where he again endeavored to rally his flying soldiers. His earnest appeals for support were unavailing, as the French and Indians were too close at their heels.

As soon as the enemy came up Captain Bullitt attacked them with great fury for awhile, but not being supported, and most of his men having been killed, he was obliged to give way.

The resistance shown by Captain Bullitt’s detail afforded many of 638the retreating and a few of the wounded to escape. Major Grant and Captain Bullitt were the last to leave the field, but when they separated Major Grant was taken prisoner.

In this conflict, which took place September 14, 1758, 270 men were killed, forty-two wounded and several taken prisoners.

“It was,” says Colonel Washington, in a letter to the Governor of Virginia, “a very ill-concerted, or a very ill-executed plan, perhaps both; but it seems to be generally acknowledged that Major Grant exceeded his orders and that no disposition was made for engaging.”