Ambush

Ambush. Bushy Run Battlefield. , Col. Bouquet’s army left Ligonier on August 4th, 1763, and made twelve miles progress before stopping to camp along the road. On August 5th, Bouquet resumed his march and proceeded to within one mile of Bushy Run Station when Native Americans attacked the front of his column. , Using their traditional fighting tactics, described by contemporaries as “a kind of running fight,” the Natives darted through the woods attacking the British. The British attempted to charge the Native positions only to have the Natives slip away to another position. By late afternoon Bouquet and his soldiers had retreated to the high ground of Edge Hill to create a defensive position. The fighting continued until nightfall when the battlefield fell silent. Having lost more than 60 men, Bouquet knew he only had until morning to change his desperate situation. , (Time line at the bottom of the marker) , 1763-May 9-Siege of Fort Detroit; , May 16-Fort Sandusky falls; , May 25-Fort St. Joseph falls; , May 27-Fort Miami falls; , May 29-Seige of Fort Pitt; , June 1-Fort Ouiatenon falls; , June 2-Fort Michitimackinac falls; , June 2-Fort Ligonier attacked; , June 4-Fort Pitt’s help request reaches Col. Bouquet; , June 12-Amhearst orders the 42nd and 77th to Bouquet; , June 16-Fort Venango falls; , June 18-Fort Le Boeuf falls; , June 22-Fort Presque Isle falls; , July 15-Bouquet leaves Carlisle; , July 25-Bouquet arrives at Fort Bedford; , August 2-Bouquet arrives at Fort Ligonier; August 4-Bouquet leaves Fort Ligonier; , August 5-Natives attack Bouquet relief forces; , August 6-British defeat the Natives at Bushy Run; , August 10-British arrive at Fort Pitt.