The Clever British Ruse That Turned Pontiac’s Warriors Into Sitting Ducks at Pennsylvania’s Bushy Run, 1763

Bushy Run Battlefield, Pennsylvania

In August 1763, a British supply convoy got more than they bargained for when Native warriors struck at Bushy Run.

What started as a routine march to Fort Pitt turned into two days of brutal fighting that helped shape the frontier.

Here’s what went down at this turning point, now a park you can walk through.

Pontiac’s Rebellion Spreads East

In May 1763, Native Americans across the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley began attacking British forts. Ottawa leader Pontiac besieged Fort Detroit while other tribes attacked outposts across the frontier.

By July, they had captured nine British forts and surrounded Fort Pitt. Their uprising grew from the teachings of Neolin, a Delaware religious leader who urged tribes to reject British influence and return to traditional ways.

After the French lost the war, Native tribes fought to protect their lands from British settlers.

Colonel Bouquet Organizes Relief Force

Colonel Henry Bouquet, a Swiss-born officer in the British Army, got orders to save Fort Pitt. In late June 1763, as news of frontier attacks reached Philadelphia, British leaders knew they needed to act fast.

Bouquet gathered 500 soldiers who left Carlisle, Pennsylvania on July 18, 1763. His force included men from the 42nd Highlanders, 60th Royal Americans, and 77th Highlanders regiments.

They marched along Forbes Road, a path Bouquet helped build during the earlier French and Indian War.

The March Toward Fort Pitt

Bouquet’s column left Fort Ligonier on August 4 with 340 horses carrying flour for the starving people at Fort Pitt. His force also included Rangers, 60 drivers, and cattle for food.

On August 5, they marched 18 miles through brutal summer heat. Many soldiers were already sick with malaria and yellow fever from fighting in the Caribbean.

Native scouts watched from hiding spots and reported back to warriors who had stopped attacking Fort Pitt to deal with this new threat.

Native Warriors Prepare Ambush

Native leaders chose to attack Bouquet’s column instead of continuing the siege at Fort Pitt. Warriors from six tribes—Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, Huron, Miami, and Ottawa—joined forces.

About 200-300 fighters prepared for battle. They carried tomahawks, lances, and scalping knives along with muskets they had traded for or captured.

They planned their attack using hunting tactics where groups could quickly form circles, lines or other shapes to surround enemies, just like they did when hunting large game.

First Day of Battle Begins

The attack began around 1:00 PM on August 5, as British troops neared Bushy Run Creek. Gunfire erupted from all sides as soldiers tried to reach water.

Shots and war cries broke the forest quiet. British troops fired back at enemies who hid among the trees.

Bouquet quickly formed his men into a circle on Edge Hill. He moved horses, supplies, and wounded men to the center for safety as the fighting intensified.

British Establish Defensive Position

By noon, Native warriors repeatedly tried to overrun the British position. Soldiers pushed them back with bayonets each time they charged.

Bouquet had his men build a small fort using bags of flour. This makeshift wall helped protect them as the battle raged on.

The British held their ground until sunset when the Native forces pulled back into the woods. After the first day, many British soldiers lay wounded and desperately thirsty in the summer heat.

Night Between the Battles

After dark, British troops strengthened their position and set up guards to listen for movement. All night they heard alarming sounds of Native Americans moving through the woods around them.

Volunteers sneaked through enemy lines to bring water to the wounded. They returned with canteens of muddy water that saved many lives.

The British had lost 60 men with 5 drivers missing. Bouquet knew morning would bring another attack and prepared his tired men to fight again.

Dawn Attack on August 6th

As the sun rose on August 6, Native Americans attacked again with war cries coming from every direction. The pink dawn light filtered through trees as warriors renewed their assault.

The second day brought both scorching heat and fierce attacks. Native fighters pushed harder to break through the British lines.

The battle reached a turning point as attackers grew bolder, nearly overwhelming the exhausted British troops who had fought for hours without enough water.

Bouquet’s Strategic Deception

Bouquet created a plan that would win the battle. He purposely weakened one part of his defensive line to make it look vulnerable.

Native warriors saw this apparent gap and rushed forward to break through, leaving their safe positions in the forest.

Hidden British soldiers waited until the warriors were exposed, then fired all at once. The surprise attack caught the charging warriors with nowhere to hide.

British Victory Secured

The British counterattack sent the Native warriors into a scattered retreat. Major Campbell led four companies to chase the fleeing fighters.

The main British force hurried to Bushy Run Creek where they finally drank water after two days of fighting in the summer heat.

The battle killed 50 British soldiers, including 29 from the 42nd Highlanders. The Native forces lost an unknown number, including two important Delaware chiefs whose deaths weakened tribal leadership.

Visiting Bushy Run Battlefield

Bushy Run Battlefield is located at 1253 Bushy Run Road, Jeannette, PA 15644. The site is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from noon to 5:00 PM from April through October. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children ages 6-17.

You can explore the visitor center museum, walk the 1.5-mile battlefield trail, or join guided tours offered weekends at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The annual reenactment happens the first weekend of August. From Pittsburgh, take Route 376 East to Route 22, then follow Route 993 to the battlefield.

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