The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-12-31

direct contest between the British and French
in the West was closed, the hostility OF the
Indians was abated, peace was restored TO the
border OF the English colonies, and settlers be-
gan slowly 10 push further in,o the Indian
country.
HISTORY OF FORT riTy.
General Forbes died al Philadelphia on the
1lh OF march, 1859, and he was immediately
succeeded bv Gen, Stanwix, who, in July of
the ne year, proceedrd TO theh cad Of the Ohio,
10 carry out the orders Of William Pitt, then al
The head Of The British government. Pitt
was strongly Impressed with the importance OF
speedily restoring, if possible, the ruined Fort
Duqapsne, and in case it could not be re-
paired, be favored The erection Of an adequate
defence upon the site Of the old fort. According
y Gen. Stanwix Immediately iFerhaPs in Au-
gust, 1857 commenced the building Of Fort
Pitt, s. named in honor Of the then Prime
minister of England. The fort was OF FIVE
sides--the tWo facing The country were suPP9r-
ted BY a revetnent OF brick work, nearly
perpendicular, supporting the rampant on The
outside. The other three were protected by
a line Of pickels, fixed on the outside OF the
slope Of the rampant Around The whole work
was wide ditch, which would be filled with
water when the river was al a moderate sag'.
The draft of the wolk was made by X. Rutzer,
and to show the antcipa'ions OF security
entertained at the time, We quote the following
from a letter written al the fort, under date
Of September -, 1853
SIT is now near month since the army has
been employed in The erection Of most iormldl-
bic iortifcation, such a one as will 10 the latest
posteriIy secure The British empire on the Ohio.
There is no need to enumerate the abilities Of
the chief engineer, nor the spirit shown by
the troops, 10 executing this important task
the fort will soon be lastiug monument OF
both"
The siege of Fort Pit, ia 1863, was the most
prominent one in its history. On the 9th OF
May, Of that year, bands of Indians appeared
UrI0Ir tue-Iott, NY, --~--'!
stragglers, and firing on the garrison, d"irga-
ton of chiefs appeared and demanded the sur
render OF the fort T hey refused friendship TO
the English. and gave them TO understand that
If they did moi abandon the fort they would all
be scalped BY overwhelming numbers, then on
their way for that purpose. Capt. Ecuyrr
could not be caught in this trap, bat he effect
ually frightened The Indians BY telling them
that he had men enough 70 defend the fort, and
that thousands Of men were coming 10 his assis-
tancr. The Indians were thus beaten at their
own game and fed down the river.
In July of the same year the Indians agein
appeared near the fort, in considerable numbers
and again attempted to get possession by strata
gem. They stated that they had message
from the great Pontiac, who was coming with
his bands to strike the English at the forks OF The
Ohio. Ecuyer told them that he could defend
himself for three years against all the Indians in
the woods and that if they came about his
home be would fire bagfnls OF bullets at them.
Disappointed N getting possession OF the Fol by
stratagcm, they commenced an attack in he
night, firing nnter cover Of the Tiyer bank
a constant FIR, for many days, was poured u
pom the Fort, and it was often on fire from THEN
arrows. The Indians lay SO closely along the
bank, that they could not be wounded from the
garrison, and any one who appeared on the
rampant was sure 10 be mark for an arrow OF
bullet The garrison of Fort Pitt consisted O
three hundred and thirty men, besides moer thar
two hundred women and children who had ta-
ken refuge therein. The supply Of provisions wa
too small TO hold oul long against 'he terrible sIeg
and Col Boquet, at Philadelphia was ordered
to march to lis relief He collected small
force. Of about FIVE hundred men, and entered
upon his most perilous undertaking, and witt
the most painful forebodings of the people
The route lay through an unbroken forest, for
two hundred miles, infested with sa wages ia
more numerous and more determined tn an thost
hich destroyed the fated army OF Broddock
: Col. Boquet pursued the route opened by Gen
Forbes five years before, and on the march they
, relieved Forts Bedford and Ligonier. both be
leagnred by the Indians. Less than day
/ march west of Lgonier by the dangerous dehlt
= OF Turtle creek, Boquet determined TO march t
Bushy run, rest until night, and pass Turtle cree
i, under cever Of darkness When within hal
: mile of Rushy -un, the army was attacked II
D the front ard rear, anda determined battle en-
J sued. Again and again were the Indians drlv
E en- back, and again was the attack renewed. =
: The troops were exposed The the fire OF an al
most invisible foe, and there the contest rage
for seven hours, until darkness suspended hos
1 tihies. They lay upon their arms all nigh
q and at daybreak the attack upon them was re