Battle of Bushy Run

THE BATTLE OF BUSHY RUN 1763

The Battle of Bushy Run was fought on August 5-6, 1763, in western Pennsylvania, between a British column under the command of Colonel Henry Bouquet and a combined force of Delaware, Shawnee, Mingo, and Huron warriors. This action occurred during Pontiac's Rebellion. Though the British suffered serious losses, they routed the Native American Tribesmen and successfully relieved the garrison of Fort Pitt.

It was to become a situation that closely resembled the predicament of Braddock years earlier at the Battle on the Monongahela. An advance guard ran into hostiles, then support was sent forward, musket fire broke out, from the woods on both flanks and the rear of the main British force.

It seemed it was Braddock's Defeat all over again. The difference it seems was the maintenance of order and the troops' confidence in their commander.

Colonel Henry Bouquet formed up in a near-hollow square on a hillside.

During the second day of fighting, Bouquet decided upon trickery. He feigned a retreat, lured the woodland Indian tribesmen in, then hit them on the flanks with his light infantry companies. The maneuver was successful.

Though Indian casualties were lighter than that of the British, the Battle of Bushy Run, August 5 & 6, 1763, was over, and broke the back of Indian resistance in these parts. Fort Pitt was relieved. The settlements came and a great city would one day stand at this fork in a wilderness river.