Battles & Campaigns · 1758
Battle of Fort Duquesne
Fort Duquesne site, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
What happened
Grant's group was scouting ahead of John Forbes's army, which was marching to take the French fort. Grant split up his men, and the French and their allies, who were stronger than expected, defeated them. Grant was captured.
Why it matters
The British wanted to push the French out of the Ohio Country. The French kept the fort for now, but the Forbes Expedition kept coming.
What came next
In November 1758 the French destroyed the fort and left before the main British army arrived. The British rebuilt it as Fort Pitt, on the site of present-day Pittsburgh.
Did you know?
The hill where the fighting happened is now Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh.
Timeline
- 14 Sep 1758Grant's force is defeated near Fort Duquesne.
- 26 Oct 1758Treaty of Easton; several Ohio Valley nations leave the French side.
- Nov 1758The French destroy Fort Duquesne and withdraw.
- 1901A plaque marks the battle site on the Allegheny County Courthouse.