If you’re looking for information about Bushy Run Battlefield in Westmoreland County, you’re in the right place!
The Battle of Bushy Run took place during Pontiac’s War on August 5-6, 1763, pitting British and American colonial forces against members of several Native American tribes.
The outcome of the battle was a decisive victory for the British forces, and a turning point in Pontiac’s War.
Today, Bushy Run Battlefield Park is the only historic site in PA that deals exclusively with Pontiac’s War.
What Was Pontiac’s War?
Occurring after the French and Indian War and before the Revolutionary War, Pontiac’s War was an effort by a loose confederation of Native American tribes to drive English settlers out of the Great Lakes region and back across the Allegheny Mountains.
During the French and Indian War, Britain had promised the Native Americans that it would abandoned its forts in the region and prevent settlement of those lands, if the Native Americans would agree to stop supporting the French.
After the British emerged victorious from the war, neither promise was kept, causing many Native American tribes, including the Odawa lead by Pontiac, to take up arms against the British.
By the end of July 1763, nine British forts had been captured by Native Americans, a tenth fort had been abandoned, and Fort Detroit and Fort Pitt (at what is now Point State Park in Pittsburgh) were under siege.
The March to Bushy Run
In response to the Native American attacks, a British relief column commanded by Colonel Henry Bouquet and consisting of 500 British soldiers marched west from Carlisle on July 18th in an attempt to rescue Fort Pitt.
By August 1, Colonel Bouquet and his troops had marched 130 miles in the summer heat to reach Fort Ligonier in Westmoreland County.
After resting for two days, Bouquet and his troops set out for Bushy Run Station, a supply depot halfway between Fort Ligonier and Fort Pitt.
Just one mile east of Bushy Run Station, Bouquet’s troops were ambushed by Native American forces on August 5th.
The fighting on August 5th resulted in 60 of Bouquet’s men being killed or wounded, and he was forced to take up a defensive position on what is known as Edge Hill.
Creating a makeshift fort out of flour bags they had been transporting with them to resupply Fort Pitt, Bouquet and his men knew the odds of surviving a second day of battle against an unknown number of Native Americans were slim.
So as day broke on August 6th, Bouquet had some of his men pretend to retreat towards Fort Ligonier, when in fact they were secretly lying in wait, preparing to mount an ambush of their own.
As the Native Americans rushed in to seal what they though was their victory, Bouquet’s forces sprung their trap, forcing the warriors to flee in a disorganized retreat.
For his role in putting an end to Pontiac’s War, Bouquet was promoted to Brigadier General in 1764.
Visiting the Bushy Run Battlefield
The 213-acre Bushy Run Battlefield Park is located along Pennsylvania Route 993 near Harrison City and Jeannette in Westmoreland County.
Park grounds are open from 8 a.m. until dusk 365 days a year.
The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm, from April–October.
The museum inside the Visitor Center at Bushy Run Battlefield offers a variety of interpretive exhibits and displays related to the battle and time period.
Admission prices are very reasonable, with the most expensive ticket costing only $5.00 and discounts available for seniors, AAA members, children, and active duty military.
The Road to Bushy Run is a short film that plays throughout the day in the Visitor Center at Bushy Run Battlefield, explaining both the battle and the circumstances that lead up to it.
The Edge Hill Gift Shop inside the Visitor Center sells a variety of Bushy Run Battlefield-related merchandise.
Roughly 90 acres of the 213 acre park are wooded, providing a more realistic idea of what the battlefield would have looked like in 1763.
Golf cart tours of the battlefield are available one hour after opening each day, with the last tour leaving at 3:00 p.m.
When I took the golf cart tour of the battlefield, the guide pointed out several “witness trees” that were standing at the time of the battle 260 years ago.
While it may not be as famous as the French and Indian War that preceded it or the American Revolution that followed it, Pontiac’s War was an important chapter in American history, and the Battle of Bushy Run was the critical turning point in that war.
That makes the Battlefield at Bushy Run in Westmoreland County a must-see for history buffs of all ages!
Nearby Attractions
Fort Ligonier in Westmoreland County is a historically accurate reproduction of a British fort originally constructed in 1758 during what would become known as the French and Indian War.
The museum at Fort Ligonier contains one of the most complete collections of French and Indian War artifacts in existence, many excavated from the ruins of the original Fort Ligonier itself.
The Fort Pitt Museum at Point State Park is housed in a recreated bastion of Fort Pitt, the original having been built in 1758 by the British.
The primary focus of the Fort Pitt Museum is explaining the role that the fort played during the French and Indian War.
20 Must-See Attractions in Westmoreland County is your guide to even more great things to see and do near Bushy Run Battlefield.
Did you enjoy this article?
If so, be sure to like and follow PA Bucket List on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Pinterest to learn more about the best things to see and do in Pennsylvania!
Click on any of the icons below to get connected to PA Bucket List on social media.
