Forts & Battlefields

Fort Necessity:

On May 28, 1754 a shot was fired as George Washington and his small force of militiamen surrounded a French scouting party at Jumonville Glen to confront them about their intensions. A skirmish which lasted about 15 minutes ensued. The result was 10 dead and 21 captured on the French side. One of the Frenchmen escaped to Fort Duquesne and reported the attack. Washington's casualties were one man dead and two wounded. The French claimed the attack was made without cause. The incident began the French and Indian War.

Fearing attack by the considerable French forces, George Washington began fortification of the Great Meadows with the building of a circular picket fort which he called Fort Necessity. On July 3, 1754 a force of 600 French and 100 Indians, led by Captain Coulon de Villiers, brother of Jumonville, took up positions in the woods surrounding Fort Necessity, George Washington and his 390 men and officers. On a rainy day, fighting continued sporadically until approximately 8 pm. With nearly half of his men dead or wounded, and after several hours of negotiation, Washington signed his surrender close to midnight. This would be Washington's only surrender to a foreign power. On July 4, the remnant of Washington's army marched out of the fort.

Fort Ligonier:

General John Forbes ordered the construction of a new road across Pennsylvania guarded by a chain of fortifications in his quest to complete his assignment of seizing Fort Duquesne. "Post at Loyalhanna" was constructed in September, 1758,  fifty miles from Fort Duquesne to serve as the supply depot and as a staging area and place of refuge for the British-American army.

During the eight years of its existence as a stronghold, Fort Ligonier was never taken by enemy forces. It was attacked twice and besieged by the native Americans prior to the decisive victory at Bushy Run.

General John Forbes changed the name of the post to Fort Ligonier in honor of Sir John Ligonier, commander-in-chief of the British Army.

Either of these forts as well as many more historical sights are within a short driving distance of Four Seasons Guest Farm.

Four Seasons Guest Farm

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