Historical Background
Pontiac’s Rebellion had spread east and the Delaware, Shawnee, and Western Seneca attacked and destroyed Pennsylvania’s Fort LeBoeuf, Fort Venango, and Fort Presque Isle, and had begun a siege at Fort Pitt in June 1763.
General Amherst issued orders for troops to be sent to Colonel Henry Bouquet, a Swiss officer commissioned by the British in 1756 to help organize and command the first Royal British Regiment recruited from the American colonies – the 60th Royal Americans. Bouquet planned to march nearly early 350 miles through rugged mountains and dense forests from Carlisle to Fort Pitt with a convoy of flour, sheep, and powder, then escort back the horses and drivers, clear all posts of “useless people,” and provide for sufficient garrisons along the line of communication to keep the route open for future supplies. After gathering wagons and drivers, packhorsemen and horse masters, cattle, sheep, and flour, Bouquet was finally able to lead his small relief force out of Carlisle on July 10.
The troops under Bouquet’s command consisted of regulars from three regiments. These were the Forty-second, the Seventy-seventh, and the Sixtieth, and included companies of light infantry, along with some artillery. Upon reaching Fort Bedford Bouquet recruited backwoodsmen rangers as scouts, as the the Highlanders of the Forty-second and Seventy-seventh used in the woods as flankers were found to be less than satisfactory in that capacity.
Bouquet’s column left Fort Bedford on July 28 and arrived at Fort Ligonier on August 2. Some thirty men were left at each post.
Sincemany of the Highlanders of the Seventy-seventh were sick, it is probable that most of these convalescents were left behind.
Unaware that the Indians had quit the siege of Fort Pitt to launch a surprise attack on his column, he departed on August 4 to begin the last leg of his march. To make haste, Bouquet left behind his artillery and wagons, and transferred the flour and other supplies onto 350 pack horses. His exhausted expedition numbered fewer than 500 men.
The next day, at one o’clock in the afternoon, the Indians ambushed his advanced guard. Two light infantry companies joined in support and repelled the attackers, but the Indians spread out along the flanks of the column. As soon as the regulars routed them from one position, “they appeared on another, till by continual reinforcements, they were at last able to surround us.” Then they attacked the supply train forcing Bouquet to turn the column to the rear. The Indians relentlessly harassed the British lines until nightfall.
By day’s end, Bouquet found his command in desperate straits.
Indians encircled his army and had killed or driven off many of the packhorses. He had lost 60 men dead or wounded, and fatigue and thirst afflicted his remaining troops. But he occupied high ground.
He ordered his men to place the flour sacks in a circle atop the hill to shield the wounded and the soldiers formed a concentric ring of defense around them. Once the encampment was set up to his greatest advantage, he contemplated how he reflected on the day’s action. In his account of the battle, he praised the conduct of the officers, the assistance of Major Allan Campbell, and the steady behavior of the troops, indicating that they did not fire except upon orders and that they carried out successful attacks with the bayonet.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history?
Battle Notes
Shawnee Army
• Commander: Guyasuta
• 5 Command cards & 2 Combat cards
• Opening Volley: Prior to the first turn, Indians may fire on any opposing units within range. Firing units may not move before firing but may after.
British Army
• Commander: Bouquet
• 4 Command cards & 2 Combat cards
• Move First
Victory
5 Victory Banners
Special Rules
- Opening Volley is in effect for the Indians only.
- Indian War Cry is in effect.
- Indian Deception is in effect.
- British gain a temporary victory banner when the Supply wagon is on their base line at the start of their turn. Indians do not gain a VB when the Supply wagon is eliminated.
- The first two road hexes starting at the British baseline are on hills.