Fort Pitt Museum
Fort Pitt was built in 1758 during the French and Indian War, near the site of the abandoned and destroyed Fort Duquesne. The French built Fort Duquesne at the beginning of that war, and it became a focal point due to its strategic location on the Allegheny River, Monongahela River, and Ohio River. In 1755, General Braddock’s expedition attempted to take Fort Duquesne, but was repulsed at the Monongahela River. The French garrison ferociously attacked a British regiment in September 1758, but later destroyed and abandoned the fort with the approach of General John Forbes’ expedition in November. General Forbes’ expedition was successful because of the Treaty of Easton, when area American Indians agreed to abandon their alliance with the French. American Indians (primarily Delawares and Shawnees) made this agreement with the understanding that the British military would create a Trading Post, but the military would leave the area after the war. Of course instead, being strategically important, the British built a new fort on the site. They named it Fort Pitt, after William Pitt the Elder. This resulted in the 1763 rebellion of the local Delawares and Shawnees, called Pontiac's Rebellion. The Indians' siege of Fort Pitt began on June 22, 1763, but the fort was too fortified to be taken. During negotiation while under siege, the commander of Fort Pitt gave two Delaware emissaries blankets that had been exposed to smallpox. He hoped to infect the surrounding Indians, and end the siege. It is not sure if the attempt was successful, as the Native Americans broke the siege to attack Colonel Henry Bouquet’s relief force. Colonel Bouquet relieved the Fort on August 10th.
Fort Pitt Museum
Fort Pitt was built in 1758 during the French and Indian War, near the site of the abandoned and destroyed Fort Duquesne. The French built Fort Duquesne at the beginning of that war, and it became a focal point due to its strategic location on the Allegheny River, Monongahela River, and Ohio River. In 1755, General Braddock’s expedition attempted to take Fort Duquesne, but was repulsed at the Monongahela River. The French garrison ferociously attacked a British regiment in September 1758, but later destroyed and abandoned the fort with the approach of General John Forbes’ expedition in November. General Forbes’ expedition was successful because of the Treaty of Easton, when area American Indians agreed to abandon their alliance with the French. American Indians (primarily Delawares and Shawnees) made this agreement with the understanding that the British military would create a Trading Post, but the military would leave the area after the war. Of course instead, being strategically important, the British built a new fort on the site. They named it Fort Pitt, after William Pitt the Elder. This resulted in the 1763 rebellion of the local Delawares and Shawnees, called Pontiac's Rebellion. The Indians' siege of Fort Pitt began on June 22, 1763, but the fort was too fortified to be taken. During negotiation while under siege, the commander of Fort Pitt gave two Delaware emissaries blankets that had been exposed to smallpox. He hoped to infect the surrounding Indians, and end the siege. It is not sure if the attempt was successful, as the Native Americans broke the siege to attack Colonel Henry Bouquet’s relief force. Colonel Bouquet relieved the Fort on August 10th.