The Siege of Pittsborough lasted eighty-six days from May to August 1763.

When the French and Indian War ended in February 1763, the British assumed control of vast territories in the Great Lakes region and the Ohio territory. British policies towards the Native Americans in these areas were very strict. This caused much dissent among the various tribes. Soon, the tribal leaders rallied around the Ottawa Chief Pontiac and began an open rebellion against the British.

Pontiac's War began in May 1763 when the Native Americans attacked a number of British forts and settlements. Eight forts were destroyed, including the large bastions of Fort Detroit and Fort Niagara. Hundreds of colonists were killed or captured, and many more fled the region.

Native American tribesmen gaze down upon Fort Pitt in May 1763.

From May 27 to August 20, 1763, as the conflict swept across the Old Northwest, 600 frightened settlers and a garrison of 150 determined British soldiers were under siege at Fort Pitt. The garrison had withstood several attacks, but their strength was weakening and they were running desperately low on ammunition.

The capture of Fort Pitt would be a devastating blow to the already reeling British. The Indians occupying the banks of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers were primarily of the Delaware and Shawnee tribes, including elements of the Mingo and Huron. Intent on overcoming the stubborn opposition, they pressed their attacks.

Information about the war filtered slowly east to the British High Command. Once the scope of the situation was realized, the British acted swiftly. The only hope for rescuing the trapped settlers and soldiers was a relief column, consisting of elements of the 77th and 42nd Highland Regiments, along with the 60th Royal Americans. This force was led by the redoubtable Colonel Henry Bouquet, a Swiss-born professional soldier. His orders were to march west to Fort Pitt, then proceed north and west to re-estabish the fallen forts.

The expedition left Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on July 18, 1763. The Indians were aware of Bouquet's force marching west along the Forbes Road and dispatched a strong contingent of warriors to intercept them. On August 5, the advancing column was ambushed near Bushy Run Station, a small stronghold just southeast of Pittsborough. The location where the British put up their defense was known as Edge Hill.

The Battle of Bushy Run lasted for two days. Despite suffering heavy casualties, including fifty dead, the British drove off the attackers. The Indian confederacy suffered nearly 100 dead, including two prominent Delaware chiefs.

The Siege of Pittsborough was lifted shortly after the Battle of Bushy Run on August 5-6, 1763.

When Colonel Bouquet and his troops entered Fort Pitt on August 20, 1763, the Siege of Pittsborough was officially lifted. The victory was celebrated throughout the British colonies. Church bells rang all through the night in Philadelphia, and the occasion was praised by King George III.

Hostilities in the Northwest continued until October, 1764 when a force of 1150 Pennsylvania militiamen under Colonel Bouquet, now the commander of Fort Pitt, cornered the remaining rebellious tribes in the Ohio Country. After meeting with leaders of the Delaware, Seneca and Shawnee tribes, a peace treaty was signed.

Peace negotiations between Colonel Bouquet and tribal leaders in October 1764.

Further west, in the Illinois country, the rebellion continued to a lesser degree. Not until July 25, 1766, when Chief Pontiac traveled to New York, was a formal treaty signed to officially end the war.

Chief Pontiac's rebellion and the Native American's attempt to take their country back from the British had failed. The uprising did, however, lead to better relations between the occupying nation and the Northwestern tribes.

         
Ottawa Chief Pontiac and British Colonel Henry Bouquet.

To learn more about the Battle of Bushy Run,
visit the Bushy Run Battlefield Museum.