10. Heroes and Villains of French and Indian War: The Battle of Fort Duquesne and the Fall of the Ohio Valley

My Name is General John Forbes: British Commander (1707–1759)

I was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1707, the son of a Scottish officer. From a young age, I was drawn to discipline and the military life that surrounded my family. My homeland taught me the values of perseverance, duty, and resilience. These lessons shaped the man I would become and carried me through the challenges of commanding men in distant lands.

Entering the British Army

I began my career as a soldier in the early 18th century, serving first in the Royal Regiment of Dragoons. The life of a soldier was not easy, but I quickly proved myself through loyalty and competence. I fought in Europe during the War of the Austrian Succession, gaining valuable experience in leadership, logistics, and the cruel realities of war.

Rise Through the Ranks

My steady service earned me advancement, and I became a trusted officer under Britain’s growing empire. I developed a reputation for organization and careful planning. While others were eager for glory, I often thought first of preparation and supply, knowing that an army cannot fight without bread, wagons, and medicine.

Sent to America

In 1757, during the French and Indian War, I was sent to North America and eventually given command of the expedition to capture Fort Duquesne. The French controlled the Ohio Valley, and their presence threatened Britain’s colonies. I knew this mission would be difficult, for the land was rough, the distances long, and the enemy well-fortified with Native allies.

Building the Road to Victory

Rather than rush blindly into the wilderness, I chose a different strategy than my predecessor, General Braddock. We cut a new road through Pennsylvania, mile by mile, carrying our supplies forward. It was slow, grueling work, and my health was failing, but I pressed on. I believed careful progress was the key to success.

The Capture of Fort Duquesne

In November 1758, our efforts bore fruit. With the support of Native allies and thousands of colonial soldiers, we advanced on Fort Duquesne. The French, weakened by disease, desertion, and loss of Native support, destroyed their own fort and fled. On that ground, we built Fort Pitt, securing the Ohio Valley for Britain. It was my greatest triumph, though my body was breaking.

Decline in Health and Final Days

Throughout the campaign, I battled a wasting illness that confined me to a litter carried by soldiers. Though I could not ride at the head of my men, I remained determined to lead. Soon after Fort Duquesne fell, I returned east, my strength gone. I died in March 1759, never to see the end of the war I helped shape.

Legacy

My work at Fort Duquesne shifted the balance of power in North America. By securing the Ohio Valley, we paved the way for the eventual British victory in the French and Indian War. Though I did not live to witness it, my efforts left a mark on history, remembered in the roads I built and the stronghold at Fort Pitt.

The Strategic Importance of the Ohio Valley – Told by General John Forbes

The Ohio Valley is more than just a river and its banks. It is the meeting place of great waterways, where the Allegheny and Monongahela join to form the mighty Ohio. Whoever controls this fork of rivers holds the key to the interior of North America. From here, one may move troops, trade goods, and influence the nations who dwell in the surrounding forests. It is, in truth, the heart of the continent.

A Gateway to the West

To the British colonies, the Ohio Valley represented opportunity. Beyond the mountains lay fertile lands, rich soil for farming, and space for growing families. The rivers were highways for trade, promising prosperity to merchants and settlers. To open this gateway meant securing the future of Britain’s colonies and pushing its influence far into the west.

The French Position

Yet we were not the only ones who saw its value. The French built Fort Duquesne at the rivers’ meeting point, claiming the land for their king. With this post, they blocked British expansion and tied their influence to powerful Native allies. The fort was more than timber and stone—it was a statement of dominion over the Ohio, a warning to Britain to stay east of the mountains.

The Role of Native Nations

No strategy in the Ohio could ignore the Native nations who lived there. The Seneca, Shawnee, Delaware, and many others called these lands home. Their choice of allies could tilt the balance of power. To them, the valley was not just a prize to be claimed but a homeland to be defended. Both French and British courted their support, knowing no army could succeed without their guidance.

Why the Valley Meant War

Control of the Ohio Valley meant control of the fur trade, access to the Mississippi, and the future shape of empires in North America. The British saw it as a path to expansion, the French as a lifeline to connect Canada and Louisiana. This rivalry could not be settled with words alone. It was the reason our armies marched, our forts rose, and our blood was spilled. The Ohio was not simply land—it was destiny.

My Name is François-Marie Le Marchand de Lignery: French Commander

I was born in Cherbourg, France, in 1703, into a family tied to the sea and the service of the king. My upbringing instilled in me a sense of loyalty to my country and to the Crown. From an early age, I desired a life of action, one that would take me beyond France’s borders and into lands where honor could be earned in the service of New France.

Arrival in New France

I crossed the Atlantic and began my career in New France as a young officer. The frontier was a world unlike Europe—vast forests, powerful rivers, and Native nations with whom diplomacy was as important as musket fire. I learned to respect these allies, for our survival depended on their knowledge and their support.

Service in the French and Indian Conflicts

By the 1730s and 1740s, I had become a trusted officer in the French colonial forces. I fought in various campaigns across the frontier, where every decision mattered and every misstep could mean disaster in the wilderness. Through these years, I gained a reputation for resilience and for my ability to hold ground in difficult circumstances.

The Struggle for the Ohio Valley

When war erupted again in the 1750s, I was placed in command of French forces in the Ohio Valley. Fort Duquesne became the symbol of our claim to the region, a bastion of French strength built at the forks of the Ohio. My task was to defend it against growing British pressure and to maintain the loyalty of our Native allies who were vital to our presence there.

Defending Fort Duquesne

I faced the formidable challenge of British expeditions and their colonial militias. At first, our position was strong, and we were able to repel attacks, even defeating General Braddock in 1755. Yet as the years passed, the balance shifted. The British pressed harder, their numbers greater, and their resources seemingly endless. Still, I held Fort Duquesne as best I could, leading raids, organizing defenses, and relying on the courage of my men and our Native partners.

The Fall of Fort Duquesne

In 1758, General John Forbes advanced methodically toward us. The road his men cut through Pennsylvania brought thousands of troops closer each day. Meanwhile, disease, hunger, and desertion weakened my garrison. Native allies began to turn away, uncertain of French strength. When Forbes approached, I had no choice but to abandon the fort. We destroyed it ourselves to deny it to the British. It was a bitter decision, but survival required it.

Final Years and Death

After the loss of Fort Duquesne, I returned to other duties, continuing to serve New France. Yet the tide of war had turned, and one by one our strongholds fell. In 1759, I was captured by the British near Fort Niagara and taken prisoner. That same year, I died, far from the glory of France, a commander who had given everything for his king and colony.

Legacy

Though I did not live to see the end, my story is tied forever to the struggle for the Ohio Valley. Fort Duquesne was both my greatest responsibility and my deepest sorrow. History remembers me as a man who fought against overwhelming odds, who defended New France’s frontier with determination, and who witnessed the beginning of its fall.

French Control and the Building of Fort Duquesne – Told by François-Marie Le Marchand de Lignery

When the French crown looked upon the Ohio Valley, it saw a land that connected our territories from Canada to Louisiana. Control of this region meant uniting our empire with a chain of forts and trade routes. To leave the Ohio open was to invite British settlers to pour over the mountains and cut our empire in two. My orders were clear: we must secure this land before it was lost forever.

The Decision to Build

After Captain Pierre de Contrecœur’s men drove out the Virginians from their small fort at the forks of the Ohio, we saw the need to establish a stronghold of our own. The site was well chosen, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio. Whoever commanded that fork commanded the gateway to the west. Thus began the construction of Fort Duquesne in 1754.

Construction of the Fort

Fort Duquesne was not a grand stone citadel like those in Europe. Instead, it was built of earth and timber, using the resources of the wilderness. Its bastions guarded the rivers, its palisades enclosed barracks, storehouses, and magazines. Though modest in appearance, its position gave us strength, for it allowed our soldiers and Native allies to strike quickly along the river valleys.

The Fort as a Symbol

More than a military post, Fort Duquesne was a symbol of French power. Traders and warriors from Native nations came to its gates, drawn by alliances, gifts, and promises of friendship. To them, the fort was proof that France intended to stay, to resist British encroachment, and to protect the shared lands of the Ohio from being swallowed by settlers.

The Challenge of Defense

Yet from the day its timbers were raised, Fort Duquesne was threatened. The British would not accept French control so close to their frontier. I and other commanders were tasked with holding this outpost against a rising tide of enemies. Though we were far from the cities of Quebec and Montreal, Fort Duquesne stood as the spearhead of France’s claim to the Ohio Valley, a claim we defended with every resource at our command.

My Name is Guyasuta: Seneca Leader (c. 1725–c. 1790)

I was born around 1725 among the Seneca people, one of the nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. My homeland was the Ohio Country, a land of forests, rivers, and hunting trails. From childhood I was trained in the ways of the warrior and the diplomat, for both skills were needed to protect our people and guide them through times of change.

First Encounters with the British

As a young man, I met British colonists, including a young George Washington. I served as a guide for him in 1753 when he traveled through our lands to deliver a message to the French. At that time, our people weighed carefully who would be the better partner for the Seneca and the Iroquois—the French with their fur trade or the British with their growing settlements.

Alliance with the French

When war came, I sided with the French, for they seemed less of a threat to our hunting grounds and way of life. I fought alongside them at Fort Duquesne and joined their warriors in raids against the British and their colonies. The French treated us as allies rather than subjects, and I valued the respect they showed.

The Fall of Fort Duquesne

In 1758, General Forbes advanced with thousands of men, cutting a road through the wilderness. By then, disease and desertion weakened the French garrison, and many of our Native allies questioned the wisdom of continuing the fight. When the French burned Fort Duquesne and fled, I watched as the balance of power in the Ohio shifted. It was a turning point not just for the French, but for all Native nations caught between empires.

A Changing World

After the war, the British expanded deeper into our lands, building forts and sending more settlers. I became a leader and diplomat for the Seneca, working to protect our people’s interests. I was present during Pontiac’s Rebellion, when many tribes rose against the British. Though we fought fiercely, we could not drive them out completely.

Later Years and Diplomacy

In my later years, I worked as a negotiator between Native nations and the new American settlers after their revolution. I sat across the council fire from men like George Washington, the same man I had once guided as a youth. I argued for the rights of my people, though I often knew my words fell on ears eager for land.

Legacy

I lived through the fall of the French, the rise of the British, and the birth of the United States. My life was spent in struggle, both on the battlefield and in the council house. I am remembered as a warrior and a statesman, one who tried to secure a future for the Seneca and for the Native peoples of the Ohio Valley in a world that was changing beyond our control.

The Role of Native Alliances in the Ohio Country – Told by Guyasuta

The Ohio Country was not empty land waiting for empires to claim it. It was home to my people, the Seneca, and to many others—the Shawnee, Delaware, Miami, and more. Each nation had its own villages, hunting grounds, and traditions. To us, the land was life itself, and any foreign power that wished to control it had to reckon with those who already lived there.

Balance Between Empires

When the French and British arrived, both sought our friendship. They offered trade goods, weapons, and promises of protection. For us, alliances were not just about war; they were about survival. To side with one empire meant gaining access to powder and steel, but it also meant making enemies of the other. We weighed our choices carefully, always seeking balance so that neither side could dominate our people.

French Friendship and Trade

The French were among the first to build lasting relationships in the Ohio. They traded furs, gave gifts, and often treated us as allies rather than subjects. At places like Fort Duquesne, we found partners who would listen to our voices in council. Many tribes, including my own warriors, chose to fight beside them because their presence did not bring swarms of settlers into our hunting grounds.

British Pressure and Expansion

The British, however, came in greater numbers, building farms and towns beyond the mountains. To some nations, their goods were cheaper and more plentiful, and this drew them closer to the British. Yet their endless hunger for land made many wary. Our alliances with them were often uneasy, for we feared they sought not just trade but our lands themselves.

Deciding the Fate of the Valley

In truth, the struggle for the Ohio was as much in our hands as it was in those of the French and British commanders. Without our warriors, no fort could stand, and no army could march safely through the forests. Our alliances shaped the course of the war. When tribes shifted their support, forts fell and campaigns collapsed. The Ohio Valley was not only a battleground of empires—it was a place where Native nations determined the balance of power.

British Defeats at Fort Necessity & Braddock’s Expedition – By General Forbes

Before my own arrival in America, the British had already tested their strength in the Ohio Valley. In 1754, a young officer named George Washington led colonial troops to confront the French. Lacking supplies and experience, he hastily built a small stockade called Fort Necessity. There, he faced overwhelming French and Native forces. Surrounded and outnumbered, Washington was forced to surrender. This humiliation showed how unprepared Britain was for war in the wilderness.

The Ambitions of General Braddock

The following year, Britain resolved to strike with greater force. General Edward Braddock, a seasoned European officer, was sent to lead an expedition against Fort Duquesne. With him marched thousands of British regulars and colonial troops, determined to drive the French from the forks of the Ohio. Braddock believed his disciplined redcoats could sweep aside opposition as they did in European fields, but the forests of America were no ordinary battlefield.

The Disaster on the Monongahela

In July of 1755, Braddock’s army advanced toward Fort Duquesne. Near the Monongahela River, they were ambushed by French soldiers and Native warriors hidden among the trees. British lines crumbled in confusion, their rigid formations useless in the thick woods. Muskets cracked from every side, and panic spread. General Braddock himself was mortally wounded, and his army retreated in chaos. The expedition ended in disaster, with heavy losses and shattered morale.

Lessons for the Future

These defeats carried hard lessons. They proved that the Ohio Valley could not be won with pride or numbers alone. Success required adaptation—roads built with care, supplies secured, and alliances strengthened with Native nations. I would carry these lessons forward in my own campaign years later. Fort Necessity and Braddock’s Expedition were failures, but they revealed what must change if Britain was to prevail.

French Diplomacy with Native Tribes – Told by François-Marie Lignery

From the earliest days in New France, we French understood that our survival depended not only on forts and soldiers but on friendship with the Native nations. The Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, and many others knew these lands far better than we ever could. Without their guidance, no Frenchman could hope to move safely through the forests or command respect in the Ohio Valley.

Gifts and Councils

Diplomacy was not carried out with pen and paper alone. It was built through councils, where words were spoken carefully and gifts were exchanged. Wampum belts, weapons, and trade goods sealed promises more strongly than signatures. When I commanded in the Ohio, I made certain that our allies received what they needed, for to keep their trust was to keep our position secure.

Respect for Traditions

What set us apart from the British was not only the trade we offered but the respect we showed. We joined our allies in ceremony, smoked the calumet, and listened to their grievances. Many tribes saw in us partners who came to trade furs and build alliances, not endless towns. This was why they often chose to fight beside us, for they believed France sought cooperation, not conquest.

Military Brotherhood

In battle, our Native allies were not auxiliaries but brothers-in-arms. At Fort Duquesne, their warriors struck fear into British troops with swift raids and ambushes. Their ways of fighting, drawn from the forests themselves, taught us much about the kind of war that must be waged in this land. Their loyalty gave us victories that our small numbers alone could never have achieved.

The Fragility of Alliances

Yet alliances are not eternal. When our strength faltered, and supplies ran thin, some tribes began to turn toward the British, who promised greater goods and a more secure future. I could not fault them, for they acted in the interest of their people. Still, during my time at Fort Duquesne, I held fast to the belief that diplomacy with Native nations was the lifeblood of French power in the Ohio.

Shifting Iroquois and Native Allegiances – Told by Guyasuta

The Ohio Valley was a land of many nations, each with its own voice, its own councils, and its own needs. The Iroquois Confederacy, to which my Seneca people belonged, often spoke with one tongue, yet even within our league there were debates. Some saw profit with the French, others saw opportunity with the British. Among the Delaware, Shawnee, and Miami, decisions were just as divided. No single path was ever certain.

Promises from Both Sides

The French offered us friendship and trade, along with respect for our hunting grounds. Their forts were few, and their numbers small. This made them easier to live alongside, for they seemed to desire allies more than land. The British, however, came with cheaper goods and a steady supply of powder and cloth. Yet behind their wagons often followed settlers who built farms and claimed fields, leaving less for our people.

The Turning of Allegiances

At first, many of us fought with the French, for they listened to our councils and joined us in battle. But as the years passed, and French strength grew thin, tribes began to question their future. When the British advanced with thousands of soldiers and more resources than we had ever seen, some nations shifted their allegiance. They believed survival would come through siding with the stronger power.

The Iroquois Balance

Among the Iroquois, we often sought to keep balance between the two empires. By not fully committing to one side, we kept both eager for our friendship. Yet balance was fragile. Each battle, each broken promise, forced us to reconsider. When Fort Duquesne fell, many saw that the French could no longer hold the Ohio, and the tide of allegiance flowed toward the British.

The Cost of Change

For us, shifting allegiance was not betrayal—it was survival. We acted for the good of our people, seeking the path that offered the best chance of protecting our villages and lands. Still, these choices carried heavy costs. With each change, trust was broken, and unity among Native nations weakened. In the end, the shifting of alliances shaped the fate of the Ohio as much as the armies of France and Britain ever did.

Planning Forbes’ Expedition (1758) – Told by General John Forbes

In 1758, I was given the responsibility of leading Britain’s effort to capture Fort Duquesne. The task was no small one. Twice before, our armies had been humbled in the Ohio Country—at Fort Necessity and on the Monongahela. I knew that another failure could cripple Britain’s hold on the frontier. To succeed, I needed to plan with patience, not pride.

Choosing the Route

The first question was how to reach Fort Duquesne. General Braddock had cut a road from Virginia, but it was long, exposed, and offered little security. I decided instead to carve a new road through Pennsylvania. This route would not only bring us closer to the fort but also tie our supply lines to friendly colonial settlements. It was slower, but it gave us a stronger foundation for the campaign.

Logistics and Supply

I understood that battles are not won by soldiers alone but by the bread they eat, the powder they fire, and the wagons that carry them. My planning focused heavily on securing wagons, packhorses, and provisions. I demanded that colonies provide what was needed, and I pressed hard for cooperation among them. Without this, the campaign could not even begin.

The Role of Allies

I also sought the support of Native allies and colonial militias. I knew well that the forests of the Ohio were not friendly to men who marched in rigid European lines. We needed scouts, guides, and warriors who could move swiftly through the wilderness. Securing their trust was as much a part of my plan as drilling the redcoats.

Balancing Caution and Resolve

Though my health was failing, I was determined to see the expedition through. I planned each stage carefully, advancing only when supplies were secure and forts were built to guard our progress. Some called me slow, but I knew that haste had already cost Britain dearly in this country. My plan was not for quick glory but for lasting victory.

My Name is Colonel Henry Bouquet: Swiss-born British Officer (1719–1765)

I was born in 1719 in Rolle, a small town in Switzerland along the shores of Lake Geneva. My family was of modest standing, and from an early age I was drawn to the discipline and order of military life. Switzerland, though neutral, had a long tradition of its sons serving as mercenaries across Europe. I too would follow this path, seeking honor and opportunity beyond my homeland.

Military Training in Europe

My youth was spent studying the art of war. I trained in the armies of the Dutch Republic, learning the importance of discipline, fortifications, and logistics. I also served with distinction in the Sardinian and Venetian armies. These years taught me that battles are not won by courage alone but by preparation, strategy, and steady resolve under fire.

Service with the British Army

By the 1750s, I entered service with Britain, which sought skilled officers to fight in its many wars. When the French and Indian War began in North America, I was chosen to command colonial and regular forces on the frontier. It was a new world for me—untamed forests, long rivers, and constant danger from enemies who fought in ways unlike the set-piece battles of Europe.

The Forbes Expedition

In 1758, I was second-in-command to General John Forbes during the expedition to seize Fort Duquesne. While Forbes, stricken by illness, was carried on a litter, I led men in the field. I oversaw the construction of forts, organized supplies, and directed skirmishes against the French and their Native allies. It was grueling work, but step by step we advanced. When the French abandoned Fort Duquesne, I helped establish Fort Pitt, securing the Ohio Valley for Britain.

Frontier Command

After Forbes’s death, I became one of the key British commanders in the interior. I was responsible for protecting settlements, commanding forts, and negotiating with Native nations. The frontier was always restless, and I often had to balance diplomacy with decisive military action. My experience in both European strategy and wilderness campaigning made me well-suited to this task.

Pontiac’s War and the Battle of Bushy Run

In 1763, Native nations rose against British forts and settlements in what came to be called Pontiac’s Rebellion. As commander, I marched to relieve Fort Pitt, besieged by warriors. At the Battle of Bushy Run in 1763, my troops fought fiercely for survival. Using disciplined tactics and a clever ambush, we secured a hard-won victory. It was one of my proudest achievements, though it came at the cost of many lives.

Later Years and Death

After years of service, I returned to the eastern colonies. In 1765, I was promoted to brigadier general and prepared to return to Europe. Yet fate was not kind. While sailing back across the Atlantic, I fell ill with yellow fever. I died that year in Florida, far from the forests where I had made my name.

LegacyI am remembered as a soldier who brought European discipline to the wilds of America. At Fort Duquesne and Bushy Run, I showed that order and resolve could overcome even the most difficult conditions. My roads, forts, and victories helped secure Britain’s hold on the Ohio Valley, though I knew even then that the struggle for this land was far from over.

The Road-Building Campaign through Pennsylvania – Told by Colonel Bouquet

When General Forbes resolved to strike at Fort Duquesne, he chose a path that differed from Braddock’s ill-fated march. Rather than follow the Virginia route, we would cut a new road through Pennsylvania. This choice secured supply lines from friendly colonies and placed us in closer reach of provisions. Yet it also meant months of grueling work before we could even think of facing the enemy.

Labor in the Wilderness

The forests of Pennsylvania were thick and unyielding. Each mile had to be won with axe and spade. Trees fell, stumps were dug, and the land was leveled to allow wagons and artillery to pass. Soldiers who had come to fight found themselves laboring as woodcutters and engineers. The road became as much a battle as any clash of arms, with exhaustion and weather testing the men’s endurance.

Forts as Anchors

To protect our progress, we built small forts along the line of march. These posts served as supply depots, resting places, and defenses against sudden attack. They anchored the road and ensured that we would never be cut off from our base. Each fort was a sign of our determination to hold every step we gained, no matter the cost.

The Threat of Attack

The French and their Native allies did not sit idle. Skirmishes and raids struck our working parties, forcing us to march with muskets close at hand even while cutting timber. Every bend in the forest path might hide an ambush. Still, the men pressed forward, knowing that without this road, no army could reach Fort Duquesne with its strength intact.

A Path to Victory

By autumn, the road stretched across the mountains, linking settlements in the east with our advance in the wilderness. Though slow, this steady progress gave us the advantage. It allowed General Forbes to move an army of thousands through country where before only hunters and warriors had passed. The road became the backbone of the expedition, the very path that carried us to Fort Duquesne and, at last, to victory.

French Resistance and Raids against the Road Crews – Told by Lignery

When word reached us that General Forbes was carving a new road through Pennsylvania, we knew what it meant. This was not a mere march but a deliberate conquest, a way to carry thousands of men and supplies across the wilderness to the gates of Fort Duquesne. We could not allow such progress to go unchallenged, for each mile of road built tightened the noose around us.

Striking at the Workers

We lacked the numbers to meet the British in open battle, but we did not need to. Their road crews were exposed, laboring with axe and shovel. With our Native allies, we launched sudden raids, striking quickly from the cover of the forest. Men fell, tools were abandoned, and wagons were burned. Then, before the enemy could respond, we melted back into the trees. These attacks slowed their progress and spread fear through their ranks.

The Use of Native Allies

Our greatest strength lay in our alliance with Native warriors. They knew the land better than any soldier and could move unseen where European troops could not. They guided us to weak points along the road and carried out ambushes that struck terror in the hearts of our foes. Without their skill, our small garrison could never have resisted for so long.

The Strain on Fort Duquesne

Yet even as we struck, our own strength waned. Supplies were scarce, reinforcements uncertain, and desertions grew more common. Each raid we launched came at a cost, draining what little we had left. Still, we fought on, for every day we delayed the British was another day that Fort Duquesne remained in French hands.

Resistance with Purpose

Though our raids could not stop the road from reaching us, they proved that the French and their allies would not yield without a fight. These attacks bought time, tested the enemy’s resolve, and reminded them that the forests of the Ohio were not easily tamed. In the end, resistance was not about victory in the field but about holding the valley as long as we could for France.

Role of Disease, Attrition, and Desertion among the French – Told by Lignery

At Fort Duquesne, we were far from the strongholds of Canada. Every musket, every ration, every man had to be carried over long distances through forests and rivers. The further the war dragged on, the harder it became to maintain our garrison. Our numbers dwindled not only from battle but from sickness, hunger, and the loss of men who simply could endure no more.

The Grip of Disease

The wilderness was as cruel an enemy as the British. Fever and dysentery spread quickly in cramped quarters, felling men faster than musket balls. Medicine was scarce, and many of our sick could not be treated. Entire companies were weakened, and the spirit of the healthy grew dim as they watched comrades suffer. Disease sapped our strength in silence, even when no enemy was near.

The Weight of Attrition

Each raid, each skirmish cost us dearly. Though we struck with courage, we could rarely replace the men we lost. Slowly, the garrison at Fort Duquesne thinned. Our supplies of food and powder grew lighter, while the enemy’s road inched closer every day. Attrition wore us down, not in one great blow, but in a steady erosion that left us weaker with each passing week.

The Shadow of Desertion

Despair is a powerful foe. Some men, seeing no hope of relief from Canada, abandoned their posts. They fled into the forests, seeking safety among Native villages or vanishing altogether. Others deserted to the enemy, trading loyalty for survival. Each desertion cut deeper than a lost battle, for it spread doubt among those who remained.

The Unseen Battle

While the world remembers the clash of armies, I remember the unseen battle that was fought inside our walls. Disease, attrition, and desertion hollowed out Fort Duquesne long before the British arrived in force. By the time General Forbes marched upon us, our numbers were too few, our health too poor, and our hope too frail to hold the fort. It was not just the enemy’s strength that doomed us, but the wearing down of our own.

Bouquet’s Skirmishes and Frontier Fighting – Told by Colonel Henry Bouquet

The Ohio campaign was not decided only by great armies but by the countless small clashes that marked the wilderness. Skirmishes on the frontier became a way of life for my men. Every patrol, every supply convoy, every scouting mission risked sudden attack. In these fights, victory depended not on numbers but on alertness, discipline, and the will to endure.

Learning from the Enemy

Our opponents—French soldiers and their Native allies—were masters of the woods. They struck without warning, fired from behind trees, and vanished into the forest before we could mount a proper defense. I knew that to survive, our men must adapt. We drilled them in new tactics, teaching them to fight in open order, to use the ground for cover, and to move swiftly through the terrain rather than stand rigid in lines.

Defending the Road

As we pushed Forbes’ road deeper into Pennsylvania, the enemy sought constantly to disrupt us. They fell upon our working parties, harassed our wagons, and ambushed stragglers. It fell to me to guard these vulnerable columns. I organized light infantry and rangers to patrol the woods, keeping the French and their allies at bay. Each successful defense was a small victory, keeping the road alive.

Clashes in the Wilderness

I recall many sharp engagements—moments when our troops held their ground against sudden fury. At times we lost men, at times we drove the enemy back. Though none of these battles were large enough to decide the war, together they wore down French resolve and kept our advance moving forward. Each skirmish proved to the men that we could face the enemy in his own style of fighting.

The Value of Persistence

In the end, it was not one battle but countless struggles on the frontier that carried us to Fort Duquesne. By learning to meet the enemy on his own terms and by refusing to let raids halt our progress, we broke the pattern of British defeat in the Ohio Country. Skirmishes and frontier fighting tested us daily, but they forged an army capable of victory.

Native Tribes Divided: Support for British vs. French – Told by Guyasuta

In the Ohio Country, our people stood between two mighty empires. The French came with their forts and traders, offering friendship and gifts. The British came with their endless goods and promises of wealth. To some, the French seemed the safer ally, for they did not send settlers in great numbers. To others, the British seemed the stronger, for their armies were many and their supplies constant. This pull divided villages, councils, and even families.

Voices for the French

Many warriors chose to side with the French, for they had long treated us as partners. At Fort Duquesne, they gave us gifts, listened to our speeches, and fought beside us in battle. They asked for our friendship, not our land. To those who feared the spread of British farms and towns, the French were the better choice.

Voices for the British

Yet others argued that the British could not be ignored. Their numbers were overwhelming, their weapons plentiful, and their trade goods cheaper. Some believed that to resist them was to invite destruction, while alliance might at least offer survival. These voices grew louder as British armies pressed closer, cutting roads and building forts in our lands.

The Pain of Division

Such choices tore at the unity of Native nations. Where once we gathered in council as one, now we quarreled. Brothers disagreed, and old allies turned against each other. This division weakened our strength. Instead of standing as a single force, we were scattered between two empires, each using our warriors to fight its battles.

The Consequence of Division

In the end, the division among our people shaped the war as much as any general’s plan. The French could not hold the Ohio without strong Native support, and the British could not advance without allies of their own. We were not pawns, but neither were we fully free. The struggle between France and Britain became our struggle too, and in that contest, no choice was without loss.

French Abandonment and Destruction of Fort Duquesne – Told by Forbes

By late autumn of 1758, our army had endured months of hardship—cutting roads, building forts, and skirmishing through the wilderness. Each step brought us closer to Fort Duquesne, the French stronghold at the forks of the Ohio. Though my body was failing, I pressed the men onward, determined that Britain would not suffer another defeat in this country.

The State of the French

Our scouts reported what we had long hoped: the French were weakened. Disease had ravaged their garrison, supplies had grown scarce, and desertions left their numbers thin. Even their Native allies, once their greatest strength, began to drift away, doubting whether the French could still protect them. Fort Duquesne, though fierce in reputation, was but a shadow of its former power.

The Approach to the Forks

As our columns advanced, I expected a desperate defense. Yet the resistance we met was scattered and uncertain. It became clear that the French commander, seeing no hope of holding against thousands of British and colonial troops, had chosen another course. They would not fight to the death within their walls—they would deny us their fort by fire.

The Burning of the Fort

On the night of November 24th, flames lit the sky above the forks of the Ohio. The French had set their fort ablaze, destroying powder, provisions, and timbers so that nothing of use would fall into our hands. By the time our men arrived, Fort Duquesne was a smoldering ruin, its defenders fled down the rivers. We claimed the ground, but not the fort itself.

The Meaning of Abandonment

Though the French denied us a final battle, their retreat was the clearest sign of victory. Their empire in the Ohio Valley was broken. On those ashes, we raised the beginnings of a new stronghold—Fort Pitt. The French abandonment was not merely the loss of a fort; it was the loss of their claim to the heart of the continent.

British Occupation and Building of Fort Pitt – Told by Colonel Henry Bouquet

When the French fled and left Fort Duquesne in flames, we advanced cautiously into the ruins. What we found was little more than charred timbers and smoking earth. Yet the ground itself was the true prize. At the meeting of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, we now held the key to the Ohio. To secure this victory, it was my duty to see a new fort rise where the French stronghold once stood.

The First Steps of Occupation

Our men set to work clearing the ashes and building temporary defenses. We constructed makeshift shelters and stockades to guard against sudden attack. The French might have retreated, but the threat of raids from their Native allies remained. The soldiers knew their task was not only to occupy the ground but to hold it against every attempt to drive us back.

Designing a Stronger Fort

It soon became clear that only a permanent fortress could secure this place. Plans were drawn for a larger, more formidable structure—one that could house a garrison, store ample provisions, and serve as a center of trade and diplomacy. Unlike the French post, this would not be a modest outpost but a symbol of British permanence in the Ohio Country. We named it Fort Pitt, in honor of William Pitt, the statesman whose vision guided the war effort.

Challenges of Construction

Building Fort Pitt was no simple task. The wilderness offered little comfort, and supplies had to be carried over long distances along the very road we had carved. Weather slowed us, and disease struck the men, yet we pressed on. Every wall raised and every bastion completed was a declaration that we were here to stay. The fort grew into one of the strongest posts in North America.

The Meaning of Fort Pitt

With Fort Pitt, Britain did more than replace Fort Duquesne—it established control over the Ohio Valley. From its walls, we could project power, secure alliances, and guard against both French return and Native hostility. The fort was not only a military base but also a beacon of Britain’s intent to settle and shape the frontier. In those stone walls lay the foundation of empire in the west.

The Decline of French Power in the Ohio Valley – Told by Lignery

When we first established Fort Duquesne, France seemed strong in the Ohio Valley. Our alliances were firm, our trade prosperous, and our position unchallenged. Yet with each passing year, Britain grew bolder. Their colonies swelled with people, their armies increased, and their resources dwarfed ours. What began as strength slowly shifted toward weakness, a tide we could not hold back.

The Loss of Native Support

Our greatest advantage had always been the loyalty of Native nations. They fought beside us because we respected them, and because we stood as a barrier against British expansion. But as the war dragged on and our supplies dwindled, some began to question our strength. The British offered greater goods, steady trade, and the promise of survival under their protection. The loss of Native support struck at the very heart of our presence in the valley.

The Fall of Fort Duquesne

The retreat from Fort Duquesne in 1758 was more than the loss of a fort—it was the collapse of our claim to the Ohio. By burning it and withdrawing, we signaled to both allies and enemies that France could no longer hold the line. The British quickly built Fort Pitt, a symbol of their permanence. From that moment forward, our influence in the region dwindled rapidly.

Defeats Beyond the Ohio

Even as we struggled in the valley, defeats elsewhere sealed our fate. The fall of Fort Niagara and the capture of Quebec weakened our supply lines and cut us off from reinforcements. Without these lifelines, our scattered posts could not survive. The Ohio Valley, once a proud extension of New France, became a frontier we could no longer defend.

The End of French Power

By 1760, with Montreal surrendered and French armies defeated, our empire in North America crumbled. In the Ohio Valley, our forts were gone, our allies divided, and our presence erased. What remained was memory—the memory of France’s attempt to hold the heart of the continent. The decline was not sudden but steady, a slow erosion until nothing remained to resist Britain’s rise.

Native Diplomacy After Fort Duquesne’s Fall – Told by Guyasuta

When the French set fire to Fort Duquesne and fled, the world we knew in the Ohio Country shifted. For years, they had been our partners, giving us gifts, trade, and military support. With their departure, the British stood unchallenged at the forks of the Ohio. Yet their victory did not mean peace for us. It meant we had to find new ways to survive in a world where only one empire remained.

Seeking New Agreements

After Fort Duquesne’s fall, councils were called among our nations. We debated whether to continue resistance or to make terms with the British. Some believed the time had come to strike again, to drive them out before their numbers grew. Others argued that war would only bring destruction upon our villages. In the end, many chose to open talks, hoping to secure trade and avoid ruin.

Diplomacy with the British

The British were eager for our friendship, but their way of alliance was not like the French. They gave fewer gifts, and their words often carried the weight of command rather than partnership. Still, we met them in council, seeking to preserve what influence we could. At Fort Pitt, I and other leaders tried to ensure our people would not be cast aside in the new order.

Divisions Among the Nations

Not all tribes agreed on the path forward. Some, like the Seneca, sought to maintain a cautious peace. Others distrusted British promises and continued to resist. These divisions weakened us, for we no longer spoke with one voice. Diplomacy became a tool for survival, but it could not heal the rifts that the war had opened between us.

The Road Ahead

The fall of Fort Duquesne did not end the struggle for the Ohio Country—it merely began a new chapter. With the French gone, we stood face to face with the British, who looked at our lands with hunger. Diplomacy bought us time, but I knew that the true test was yet to come. The choices we made in those years would shape not only our future but the fate of all Native nations in the Ohio.

The Capture of Fort Niagara (1759) and Its Impact – Told by General John Forbes

Fort Niagara was no ordinary outpost. It stood at the meeting of Lake Ontario and the Niagara River, controlling the vital passage between Canada and the Ohio Valley. As long as the French held it, they could move men and supplies to support their forts in the west. To capture Niagara was to sever the artery that kept French power alive in the interior.

The British Assault

In the summer of 1759, General John Prideaux and Sir William Johnson led the British expedition against Niagara. They gathered a force of regulars, colonial troops, and Native allies, laying siege to the fort. The French sent reinforcements to relieve the garrison, but these were met in battle and defeated. Cut off and surrounded, the defenders could hold no longer, and the fort was surrendered to British hands.

The Effect on the French

The fall of Niagara struck a heavy blow to France. It cut off their Ohio Valley forts from Canada, leaving them isolated and starved of supplies. Without Niagara, Fort Machault, Venango, and other posts became vulnerable. For the French soldiers I had faced at Fort Duquesne, it was another sign that their empire in the west was collapsing, one stronghold at a time.

The Impact on Native Nations

For the Native nations, Niagara had long been a place of trade and alliance. Its capture forced many tribes to reconsider their loyalties. Some turned toward the British, believing they would now dominate the Great Lakes. Others grieved the loss of a trusted French partner. The shifting alliances that followed made the frontier even more uncertain, but it was clear that France’s influence had weakened beyond repair.

The Road to Victory

The capture of Fort Niagara was part of a greater turning of the war. With Louisbourg taken, Duquesne abandoned, and now Niagara fallen, France was losing its grip on North America. For Britain, it was proof that our strategy of steady pressure and careful advance was working. Each victory carried us closer to the final triumph that would decide the fate of the continent.

Fall of Montreal & Final Collapse of French Ohio Strategy – Told by Ligneryz

By 1760, Montreal stood as the final bastion of French power in North America. Quebec had fallen the year before, and the Ohio Valley was already slipping from our grasp. Montreal was not only a city but a symbol—if it fell, the dream of holding Canada and the interior would end. Every officer, soldier, and ally knew the weight of what was to come.

Three Armies Converge

The British struck with overwhelming strength. From the west came Colonel Amherst, advancing along the St. Lawrence. From the south, General Murray marched from Quebec. From the east, Colonel Haviland pressed through Lake Champlain. Their plan was merciless and simple: converge upon Montreal and crush us with numbers we could not match. Against three armies, our defenses were stretched thin and our fate nearly sealed before the first shot was fired.

The Ohio Connection Severed

For years, our Ohio forts had depended upon supply lines flowing from Montreal and Quebec. With Montreal under siege, those connections were broken. The garrisons in the Ohio Country were abandoned or destroyed, for they could no longer be supported. The strategy of linking Louisiana to Canada through the Ohio was shattered. Without Montreal, the French presence in the valley ceased to exist.

The Surrender of 1760

When the British armies closed in, resistance was futile. On September 8, 1760, Governor Vaudreuil surrendered Montreal. With that act, all of New France passed into British hands. I, like many officers, felt the sting of defeat not only for myself but for the men who had fought so long to defend this land. The surrender was not just the loss of a city but the end of an empire.

The Collapse of a Vision

The fall of Montreal meant the final collapse of French strategy in the Ohio Valley. Our alliances dissolved, our forts were gone, and our people were forced to depart. What we had fought to preserve—a chain of French power stretching from Canada to Louisiana—was reduced to ashes. The Ohio, once the lifeblood of our ambitions, became instead the symbol of what we could not hold.

The Shift of Balance of Power for Native Nations – Told by Guyasuta

When the French were driven from the Ohio Country and Montreal surrendered, our people faced a new reality. For years, we balanced between two empires, playing one against the other to protect our lands and traditions. With the French gone, that balance was broken. No longer could we choose our allies carefully; the British now stood alone as the power in the valley.

Dealing with the British

The British victory did not bring us peace. At first, many of us hoped that they would honor their promises and treat us as partners. Yet their leaders gave fewer gifts and spoke less as equals. Their forts rose stronger, their numbers grew larger, and their settlers pressed harder into our hunting grounds. What we once feared about the British became truth, for they saw the Ohio not as shared land but as territory to claim.

Divisions Among the Nation

This change deepened divisions between tribes. Some, weary of war, sought peace with the British in hopes of survival. Others, distrustful of their intentions, prepared for resistance. Within the Iroquois Confederacy and among the Delaware, Shawnee, and others, councils were filled with argument. Without the French to counterbalance Britain, unity became harder to preserve.

The Rise of Resistanc

As British power grew heavier, the seeds of resistance began to take root. Many of us, myself included, began to question whether diplomacy alone could protect our people. We saw that without strength, our voices would not be heard. These thoughts would later ignite struggles like Pontiac’s War, when Native nations rose to remind the British that the Ohio was not theirs to take without cost.

A New and Uncertain World

The shift of power after the French defeat reshaped our world. No longer could we guide our fate by weighing two rivals against one another. Now we faced one empire whose hunger for land seemed endless. The fall of the French was not a victory for us—it was the beginning of a new struggle, one in which survival itself became uncertain.

Legacy of the Ohio Valley Struggle in Later  Conflicts – Told by Colonel Bouquet

The capture of Fort Duquesne and the building of Fort Pitt marked a triumph for Britain, yet triumph often casts long shadows. The war for the Ohio Valley did not end with the fall of the French. Instead, it left behind resentments, divisions, and a deep sense of unease among Native nations who had lost their French allies and now faced the full weight of British expansion.

Pontiac’s Rebellion

Not long after the French departed, the anger of the Native tribes boiled over. In 1763, a confederation of warriors led by Pontiac rose against us, striking forts and settlements across the frontier. Their fury came not from love of France but from fear of British arrogance and hunger for land. At Bushy Run, I commanded the troops who relieved Fort Pitt, winning a hard-fought battle that blunted the rebellion. Yet the uprising proved that the Ohio Valley remained contested ground, even without the French.

Seeds of the Revolution

The lessons of the Ohio also reached the colonies themselves. The cost of securing and defending this frontier drove Britain to demand more revenue from its American subjects. Taxes and restrictions, born of this very war, sparked anger in the colonies. When the American Revolution began, the struggle for the Ohio returned, this time as a contest between Britain and its former subjects, with Native nations again caught in between.

Native Nations in a Shifting World

The tribes of the Ohio never ceased to play a vital role. Some sided with Britain in the Revolution, believing it would restrain American settlers. Others fought alongside the rebels, hoping to preserve their place in a new order. Their choices echoed the same divisions we had seen during the French and Indian War, proving that the legacy of those earlier alliances and betrayals endured.

A Lasting Legacy

The Ohio Valley was more than a battlefield of the 1750s; it was a proving ground for the future of North America. The road we cut, the forts we built, and the alliances we struggled to maintain all shaped the conflicts that followed. Pontiac’s Rebellion and the American Revolution both grew from the soil of that earlier struggle. The Ohio Valley was never truly won—it was only the beginning of battles yet to come.