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In the middle of the eighteenth century, two European powers,
Great Britain and France, began a contest for ownership of the
immense inner basin of North America. The resulting conflict for
empire became worldwide and was known in America as the French
and Indian War. French victories over George Washington and Edward
Braddock in 1754-55, wrested from Britain control of the strategic
forks of the Ohio River (modern Pittsburgh).
By 1758, General John Forbes was assigned the daunting task of
seizing Fort Duquesne, the French citadel at the forks. He ordered
construction of a new road across Pennsylvania, guarded by a chain
of fortifications, the final link being the “Post at Loyalhanna,”
fifty miles from his objective, to serve as a supply depot and
staging area for a British-American army of 5000 troops. The fort
was constructed in September 1758. By late October, Washington
had arrived at Loyalhanna, but not before the defeat of a British
force at Fort Duquesne on September 14, and the successful defense
of Loyalhanna from a French attack on October 12. Heavily outnumbered,
the French abandoned Fort Duquesne, which Forbes occupied on November
25. He designated the site “Pittsburgh” in honor of
Secretary of State William Pitt. Forbes also named Loyalhanna
“Fort Ligonier” after his superior, Sir John Ligonier,
commander in chief in Great Britain.
During the eight years of its existence as a garrison, Fort Ligonier
was never taken by an enemy. It served as a post of passage to
the new Fort Pitt, and during Pontiac´s War of 1763, was
a vital link in the British communication and supply lines. It
was attacked twice and besieged by the native Americans, prior
to the decisive victory at Bushy Run in August of that year. In
March 1766, Arthur St. Clair was appointed civil caretaker, and
Fort Ligonier was decommissioned from active service.
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