Fort Ligonier Battle - Saturday 2024

Oct 12, 1758

On this date 266 years ago, a combined force of French and Native American Allies attempted to disrupt General Forbes’ Army by attacking the Post at Loyalhanna. The British forces, commanded by Colonel Burd, repelled the attackers by retreating to their constructed entrenchments and using the artillery to push their enemy back.

Several accounts in different degrees of detail refer to this important moment in Fort Ligonier’s history. Three are listed below (there are several more) to give us a few perspectives on this attack.

Burd (commanding at Loyal Hannah) informed Colonel Bouquet that the post had been attacked on October 12th.

“This day at 11 A:M the enemy fired 12 guns to the South west of us upon which I sent out two partys to surround them but instantly the firing increased, upon which I sent out a large party of 500 men they were forced to the Camp and Immediately a regular Attack Insued which lasted a long time I think above two hours, but we had the pleasure to the that Honr. to His Majesties Arms to keep his Camp at Loyal Hennon.”
(The Papers of Henry Bouquet, Volume 2 pg. 552)

Forbes also wrote to several officials informing them of the attack and the reports he had received from Loyal Hannah.
In a letter to Secretary Peters on October 16 he wrote the following from Raystown Camp:

“Upon the 12th in the morning the French from Fort Duquesne having a mind to repay Major Grants visit came to drive us away from our advanced post at Loyall Hannon destroy our Magazin, bullocks, carriages, &ce. They consisted of a body of 900 French and Candians and two Hundred of those Friends, you are now treating with, they had got within five miles of the post, and proposed attacking all the out post and Guards next morning, but being discovered they resolutely attempted to storm the Breast work thrown up about the Camp- accordingly fell a firing and Hallooing in order to bring out detachments, by which they proposed entering the Brestwork pell mell with them routed. The 60 Maryland Volunteers went out and attacked them with vigour and Courage, but overpowered, Col. Burd who commanded sent a strong detachment of the 1st Pennsylvania Regt to sustain them, but they likewise repulsed a third detachment of the Virginians &c, went out to bring the other off, which they did by retreating to the Breastwork. The Enemy followed closs to the edge of the Wood where they were stopt by Grape shot from our Cannon and the shells of the Coehorns and Howbitzers, however they continued fireing upon the breastwork from eleven to three in the afternoon without any Considerable loss on our side, they retreated a little, and carried away their dead and wounded in which they were favoured by the lying of the Ground, and then marched five miles off. Wee saved all our live Cattle, but the officers horses are either carried away or missing.”
(The Writings of General Forbes, pg. 236)


Another account comes from the French side of the attack. Ligneris, the commander of Fort Duquesne, wrote to M. Le M De Vaudreuil on October 18, 1758.

“I sent off on the ninth of this month M. Aubry at the head of his detachment. On the twelfth at eleven o’clock in the morning, having arrived in sight of the intrenchment, he promptly made his dispositions for the attack and advanced with such intrepidity on the camp of the enemy with one party of his men, while the other killed the horses and cattle, that terror spread in the camp in such a manner that the enemy left their tents and took refuge in the retrenchment with a considerable loss. M. Aubry continued to fire on all who appeared in sight. The combat lasted four hours and ceased only because the enemy did not dare make any sortie, which fact obliged that officer to retire with his men, being too much exposed to the fire of cannon.”
(Extract of Three Letters Written to M. Le M De Vaudreuil by M. Ligneris, Commandant at Fort Duquesne. Alfred P. James)

Join us this weekend to commemorate this event and remember the crucial history of Fort Ligonier!

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