Bushy Run Battlefield

Bushy Run Battlefield
The Battle of Bushy Run Monument marks the site of the "flour bag fort" on Edge Hill
Location Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA
Nearest city Harrison City, Pennsylvania
Coordinates 40°21′19″N 79°37′12″W / 40.35528°N 79.62000°WCoordinates: 40°21′19″N 79°37′12″W / 40.35528°N 79.62000°W
Area 162 acres (66 ha)
Governing body Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
NRHP Reference # 66000696[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP October 15, 1966[1]
Designated NHL October 9, 1960[2]
Designated PHMC September 14, 1964[3]

Bushy Run Battlefield Park is a historical park that was operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, on 218 acres (0.88 km2), in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It was the site of the Battle of Bushy Run fought on August 5–6, 1763 during the Pontiac's Rebellion. The battle was a major victory for the British and enabled them to secure their control of the Ohio River Valley and what was to become the Northwest Territory. Bushy Run Battlefield Park was established as a Pennsylvania State Park in the 1920s and became a National Historic Landmark in 1960. The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm and hosts a museum exhibit entitled, "The March to Bushy Run", a theater, a gift shop and battlefield tours. Bushy Run Battlefield Park is only the historic site or museum that deals exclusively with Pontiac's Rebellion. Battle reenactments are held annually on the first full weekend of August.[4] The park is on Pennsylvania Route 993 near Harrison City and Jeannette.

In August 2009, the state closed several PHMC museums indefinitely due to a lack of funding as part of an ongoing budget crisis. Bushy Run Battlefield was one of the sites set to be closed.[5] With the help of the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society, the site's volunteer organization, the museum has stayed open despite budget cuts.[6] On May 5, 2010 the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society came to an agreement with the PHMC to allow the volunteers to staff and operate the museum.[7][8]

The Battle of Bushy Run was fought 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 was sent to relieve Fort Pitt, then under siege. Under the command of Bouquet, the column left Carlisle, Pennsylvania. On August 5, while passing through present-day Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, the column was ambushed by a large force of Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Huron 25 miles (40 km) east of Fort Pitt. The British managed to hold their ground and, after the natives withdrew after sunset, Bouquet ordered a redoubt, made of sacks of flour, constructed on Edge Hill placing their wounded and livestock in the center of the redoubt.

The following morning, after the evening sentries were being relieved, the allied tribes attacked only to be ambushed themselves by the 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. The battle has since been attributed to Bushy Run despite the main fighting taking place in Edge Hill. Bouquet then marched to the relief of Fort Pitt. The battle was costly with 50 British soldiers killed. The confederacy of the Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Huron also suffered an unknown number of casualties including two prominent Delaware chieftains.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
  2. ↑ "Bushy Run Battlefield". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-11-04.
  3. ↑ "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  4. ↑ http://bushyrunbattlefield.com/news-events/
  5. ↑ Rujumba, Karamagi "Fort Pitt Museum, Bushy Run close due to state budget crisis". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (14 August 2009.)
  6. ↑ Pickels, Mary "Bushy Run volunteers keep battlefield traditions alive, including hay-ride". Tribune-Review (12 October 2009.)
  7. ↑ Reeger, Jennifer "Volunteers to operate Bushy Run Museum". Tribune-Review (06 May 2010.)
  8. ↑ Barcousky, Len "Tours to continue at Bushy Run Battlefield". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (06 May 2010).

External links