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History
Sunday April 13, 2008
Old Fort Bedford was a British stockade built in
1758 as part of the French and Indian War campaign against the French at
Fort Duquesne. After several failed attempts in the early 1750s, the British
launched a major offensive against Fort Duquesne in 1758. Facing the
formidable task of crossing the Allegheny Mountains and the threat of
attack, numerous stockades were built along the way west. Fort Bedford was
constructed as a key fortification along the military path -- Forbes Road --
and served as the staging area for their successful campaign against the
French.
The site was admirable. Bouquet and his engineer, Captain Gordon,
constructed one of the best of the frontier forts at Bedford. Embracing an
area of 7000 square yards, it had five bastions, places for the use of
swivel guns, which guarded the corners of the irregularly shaped stockade.
The main gate was on the south side of the fort. Parallel with the southern
rampart ran Forbes Road, now known as Pitt Street. There was also a smaller
gate on the west side, and a postern gate opening northward.
In order to secure the water and secure the banks of the
stream, a gallery with loopholes extended from the central bastion on its
north front down to the water's edge. A ladder-like arrangement of steps led
down the riveršs bluff-like south bank. This enclosed gallery was a real
military curiosity.
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