Forbes Road

{"selectable":false,"height":"300","width":"800"} History of Forbes Road Forbes Road (1758) - A military road established in 1758 under the Direction of British Brigadier General John Forbes during the French & Indian War. The road connected Carlisle Barracks in central Pennsylvania with Forbes military objective, the French Fort Duquesne, in present day Pittsburgh. British Major General Edward Braddock had previously attempted to capture Fort Duquesne cutting a road along a different path. Braddock was defeated by the French 10 miles east of Fort Duquesne with heavy losses and Braddock himself was mortally wounded and died four days after the battle. The new Forbes Road followed some existing trading routes known as the Raystown Path, or Old Trading Path, widened to accomodate wagons. At strategic points Forbes placed Forts to protect the supply lines and hold stores of equipment and men. The primary obstacle along the road was the Appalachian Mountain range which formed a series of steep ridges in the path of the road. The British engineers completed the road in November 1758 and General Forbes marshaled troops and supplies at his base of operations at Fort Ligonier for the attack on Fort Duquesne. The French tested the defenses along the road and at Fort Ligonier and found them too strong for their forces. They then decided to abandon Fort Duquesne and burned it to the ground. Forbes Road Forts Fort Start End County State Notes Carlisle Barracks 1757 1871 Cumberland PA Fort Loudoun (2) 1756 1760 Vonore PA Fort Lyttelton 1755 176? Fulton PA Fort Bedford (1) 1758 1766 Bedford PA Fort Ligonier 1758 1895 Westmoreland PA Fort Duquesne (1) 1754 1758 Allegheny PA French Fort Pitt (1) 1761 1792 Allegheny PA British See Also: French & Indian War Sources: Wikipedia - Forbes Road Historic Marker Database - Forbes Road Marker Series War For Empire -Forbes Trail