Battle of Bushy Run

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Bushy Run
Part of Pontiac's Rebellion
Charge of the Highlanders at the Battle of Bushy Run . Oil on canvas.
Date August 4 – August 5, 1763 Location present Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Result British victory
Belligerents
Ohio Country natives	Great Britain
Commanders
Guyasuta Keekyuscung †	Henry Bouquet
Strength
Unknown	500
Casualties and losses
~60 killed	50 killed, 60 wounded, 5 missing

The Battle of Bushy Run was fought during Pontiac's Rebellion between a British relief column under the command of Colonel Henry Bouquet and a combined force of Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Huron warriors.

In July 1763, a British relief column of consisting of 500 British soldiers, including the 42nd Highlanders, 60th Royal Americans, and 77th Highlanders, was sent to relieve Fort Pitt, then under siege. Under the command of Bouquet, the column left Carlisle, Pennsylvania. On August 5 at about 1PM ^[1], while passing through present-day Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, the column was ambushed by a large force of Native Americans 25 miles east of Fort Pitt . The British managed to hold their ground and, after the natives withdrew after sunset, Bouquet ordered a redoubt constructed on Edge Hill placing their wounded and livestock in the center of the perimeter.

The Battle of Bushy Run Monument marks the site of the "flour bag fort" on Edge Hill.

The following morning, after the evening sentries were being relieved, the allied tribes attacked only to be ambushed themselves by relieved sentries. As the tribal forces were flanked, the warriors fled in a disorganized retreat. With troops under Bouquet, the column dispersed the attackers before heading to Bushy Run, where there was badly needed water, about a mile from Edge Hill. The battle has since been attributed to this location despite the main fighting taking place in Edge Hill. Bouquet then marched to the relief of Fort Pitt. The battle had been costly with 50 British soldiers killed 42nd Highlanders 29 dead, 1/60th Royal Americans 7 dead, 77th Highlanders 6 dead, Civilains and volunteers 8 dead) ^[2] . The confederacy of the Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Huron also suffered an unknown number of casualties including two prominent Delaware chieftains (though one total offered was around 60 dead) ^[3].

The site of the battle is now Bushy Run Battlefield Park.

[edit] References

• Nester, William R. "Haughty Conquerors": Amherst and the Great Indian Uprising of 1763. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 2000. ISBN 0-275-96770-0.

[edit] External links

• "Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: North America's Forgotten Conflict at Bushy Run Battlefield" (article originally from Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine)
• "Battle of Bushy Run" from mohicanpress.com