Fort le Boeuf
Fort le Boeuf (1753-1814) - A French fortification established in 1753 by Captain Francois Le Mercier just prior to the start of the French & Indian War. The fort was established by French troops in present day Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Named after the nearby le Boeuf Creek. Rebuilt by the British in 1760 and occupied by them until 1763. Rebuilt by American forces in 1794 and occupied until abandoned in 1814.
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French & Indian War (1754-1763)

In 1753-54, the French sought to gain control of the Ohio River Valley by building forts along a route from Lake Erie to the forks of the Ohio. The forts were strategically placed along the water route from Lake Erie to the Ohio River beginning at Fort Presque Isle and the some 12 miles of overland portage to Fort le Boeuf. The route then goes down French Creek to Fort Machault where French Creek meets the Allegheny River and from there to Fort Duquesne (1) at the head of the Ohio River. When the French started this line of forts the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie, sent 21 year old George Washington all the way to Fort le Boeuf to demand the French leave. The French declined and the stage was set for the French & Indian War. The French completed the four forts and held the territory until the advance of British General John Forbes in November 1758 caused the French to abandon and destroy Fort Duquesne (1) and fall back along the line of remaining forts. In July 1759 the three remaining forts were destroyed and the French left.
The British took over the abandoned and destroyed Fort Duquesne (1) and began building Mercer's Fort and Fort Pitt (1) over the ruins. The departure of the French forces in July 1759 allowed the British to occupy the three remaining French fort sites in 1760 and rebuild the destroyed fortifications. The British occupied all four of the fort sites until Pontiac's War in 1763. The hostile Indians manage to take and destroy all three of the upper forts in 1763 and they laid siege to Fort Pitt (1) but were unable to take it.
Name | Location | Established | Abandoned | Nationality | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fort Presque Isle (1) | Erie, PA | 1753 | 1759 | French | |
Fort Presque Isle (1) | Erie, PA | 1760 | 1763 | British | |
Fort Presque Isle (2) | Erie, PA | 1795 | 1814 | American | |
Fort le Boeuf | Waterford, PA | 1753 | 1759 | French | |
Fort le Boeuf | Waterford, PA | 1760 | 1763 | British | |
Fort le Boeuf | Waterford, PA | 1794 | 1814 | American | |
Fort Machault | Franklin, PA | 1755 | 1759 | French | |
Fort Venango | Franklin, PA | 1760 | 1763 | British | |
Fort Franklin (2) | Franklin, PA | 1787 | 1794 | American | |
Old Garrison | Franklin, PA | 1796 | 1799 | American | |
Fort Duquesne (1) | Pittsburgh, PA | 1754 | 1758 | French | |
Mercer's Fort | Pittsburgh, PA | 1758 | 1761 | British | |
Fort Pitt (1) | Pittsburgh, PA | 1761 | 1772 | British | |
Fort Pitt (1) | Pittsburgh, PA | 1772 | 1792 | American |
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Fort le Boeuf Interpretive Marker
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Fort le Boeuf Site Marker
Current Status

Roadside and site markers in present day Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania
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Location: Waterford, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Maps & Images Lat: 41.940150 Long: -79.982617 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 684
Links:
Visited: 16 Aug 2012
Fort le Boeuf Picture Gallery
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