Battle of Bushy Run

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=Charge of the Highlanders at the "Battle of Bushy Run" . Oil on canvas.
conflict=Battle of Bushy Run
partof=Pontiac's Rebellion
date=August 4 – August 5, 1763
place=in present as Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
result=British victory
combatant1=Ohio Country natives
combatant2=Great Britain
commander1=Guyasuta Keekyuscung †
commander2=Henry Bouquet
strength1=Unknown
strength2=500
casualties1=~60 killed
casualties2=50 killed, 60 wounded, 5 missing|

The Battle of Bushy Run which happened during Pontiac's Rebellion 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 consisting of 500 British soldiers, including the 42nd Highlanders, 60th Royal Americans, and 77th Highlanders, was sent to relieve Fort Pitt, then under siege. Under the command of Bouquet, the column left Carlisle, Pennsylvania. On August 5 at about 1PM [ "Colonel Henrry Bouquet a biographical sketch": Lieut-General Sir Edward Hutton Warren and son 1911 Page 22 ] , while passing through present-day Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, the column was ambushed by a large force of Native Americans 25 miles east of Fort Pitt . The British managed to hold their ground until after sunset when the natives withdrew, and then Bouquet ordered a redoubt constructed on Edge Hill placing their wounded and livestock in the center of the perimeter.

The following morning, the evening sentries were relieved, and when the allied tribes attacked, they found themselves ambushed 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, about a mile from Edge Hill. The battle has since been attributed to this location despite the main fighting taking place in Edge Hill. Bouquet then marched to the relief of Fort Pitt. The battle had been costly with 50 British soldiers killed, 29 of the 42nd Highlanders dead, 7 of the 1/60th Royal Americans dead, 6 of the 77th Highlanders dead, and 8 Civilians and volunteers dead) ["Colonel Henrry Bouquet a biographical sketch": Lieut-General Sir Edward Hutton Warren and son 1911 Page 24] . The confederacy of the Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Huron also suffered an unknown number of casualties including two prominent Delaware chieftains (though one total offered was around 60 dead) ["Colonel Henrry Bouquet a biographical sketch": Lieut-General Sir Edward Hutton Warren and son 1911, Page 24 ] .

The site of the battle is now Bushy Run Battlefield Park.

References

*Nester, William R. "Haughty Conquerors": Amherst and the Great Indian Uprising of 1763". Westport, Connecticut: Praeger, 2000. ISBN 0-275-96770-0.

External links

* [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/ppet/bushyrun/page1.asp?secid=31 "Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: North America's Forgotten Conflict at Bushy Run Battlefield"] (article originally from Pennsylvania Heritage Magazine)
* [http://www.mohicanpress.com/bushy_run.html "Battle of Bushy Run" from mohicanpress.com]