General John Forbes Tells His Story of Taking Fort Duquesne and the Ohio Valley During the French...

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My name is General John Forbes, and my story is one of strategy, determination, and service to the British Crown. Born in 1707 in Scotland, I was raised in a military family. It was no surprise that I followed my father’s footsteps and pursued a career in the army. Early on, I gained valuable experience in the War of Austrian Succession, which honed my understanding of military tactics and leadership.

But perhaps what I am most known for is my campaign during the French and Indian War, particularly my expedition to capture Fort Duquesne from the French in 1758. Now, Fort Duquesne was a critical French stronghold located at the forks of the Ohio River—where the city of Pittsburgh stands today. Taking it was vital to British control of the region and to cutting off French influence in the North American interior.

When I was appointed to lead the expedition, I knew it wouldn't be easy. In fact, I inherited a campaign from my predecessor, General Edward Braddock, whose previous attempt to capture Fort Duquesne had ended in disaster. You may have heard of that ill-fated venture—Braddock's forces were ambushed by the French and their Native allies in 1755, and Braddock himself was killed. The army was routed, and morale was low.

But I had a different plan. I believed in a cautious, deliberate approach—one that would ensure the safety of my men and give us the upper hand in the long term. Some criticized me for moving too slowly, but my method was deliberate: I had my engineers cut a road through the wilderness—a road that came to be known as Forbes Road, which remains one of my lasting legacies. This road allowed us to move supplies and troops efficiently through the rugged terrain.

Along the way, I sought to improve relations with local Native American tribes. While the French relied on their alliances with Native tribes, I worked to persuade the Ohio Valley tribes to switch their allegiance to the British. In fact, many of the Natives had grown disillusioned with the French and agreed to side with us, weakening French support.

As we neared Fort Duquesne, the French, realizing they were outnumbered and with their supply lines cut off, made the decision to abandon and destroy the fort before we could arrive. In November 1758, my forces entered the charred remains of Fort Duquesne without a fight. We immediately began construction on a new fort, which I named Fort Pitt, in honor of the British Prime Minister, William Pitt the Elder. That site would later become the city of Pittsburgh, a testament to the success of our campaign.

Unfortunately, my own story doesn’t end with triumph. The campaign took a heavy toll on my health. I was already suffering from illness when we began, and the grueling march through the wilderness only worsened my condition. I barely made it back to Philadelphia, where I succumbed to my illness in March of 1759. Though I did not live to see the end of the war, I take pride in knowing that my efforts helped secure a British victory in North America.

So, students, remember that sometimes in life, success comes not from speed, but from careful planning, patience, and the will to see a difficult task through to the end. Fort Duquesne fell not by a single heroic charge, but through the steady and relentless march of an army that refused to give up.

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