Wednesday, September 11 (7:30pm)-Saturday, September 14 (5pm)
Led by Douglas Cubbison
Tour Registration: $495.00
The astute observer of 18th century events and British Whig politician, Horace Walpole observed, “The volley fired by a young Virginian in the backwoods of America set the world on fire.” Walpole’s words ring true. The Virginian he was referring to was, of course, a 22-year old militia major named George Washington. Washington’s actions in western Pennsylvania are credited with starting the French and Indian War in America. Besides George Washington, Braddock’s Campaign of 1755 will introduce many personalities who became famous during the American Revolution: Daniel Morgan, Daniel Boone, Thomas Gage, Charles Lee, Adam Stephen and Horatio Gates.
On Thursday morning our tour will start at Jumonville Glen, a seldom visited site where Washington’s militia and his “ally,” a Seneca chief named “Half King” ambushed a sleepy French force under Ensign Joseph Coulon de Jumonville. This site is truly pristine and the story of Washington’s first military action will unfold at this off-the-beaten track locale. Our next stop will be the reconstructed palisades of Fort Necessity which Washington built after defeating the French. It was in the “Great Meadows” that the young Virginian met his first defeat as a military commander. Fort Necessity has a very fine museum and book store. In the afternoon we will visit the ruins of Fort Cumberland located at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church where the fort’s walls are visible within the church’s basement. After leaving Cumberland, Maryland we’ll drive along Braddock’s route and see some of his army’s campsites. Our last stop of the day will be the Great Crossings of the Youghiogheny River.
On Friday we’ll visit Braddock’s Grave and another Braddock campsite called Orchard Camp. Next we’ll see Rock Camp and a segment of the Braddock Road with a visit to the Braddock Road Preservation Association Museum. We’ll stop at Stewart’s Crossing of the Youghiogheny. After lunch we’ll visit the reconstructed Fort Ligonier built during General John Forbes’ campaign to take Fort Duquesne. The Fort Ligonier site will be used to explain the construction of Fort Duquesne since it is a reasonable example of what the latter fort looked like in 1755. Fort Ligonier also has a premier 18th century artillery train on display for educational purposes.
On Saturday we will again follow parts of Braddock’s route and visit the site of Braddock’s defeat, although the battlefield has been largely obliterated by urban growth. We will stop at the Braddock’s Field Historical Society and Museum in Braddock, Pennsylvania and the newly opened Braddock’s Battlefield History Center which has been a seven-year effort by local historian Bob Messner. It has excellent exhibits and a long-range goal to educate future generations about the importance of the key players in the Battle of the Monongahela. After lunch we’ll go into Pittsburg where we’ll take a walking tour of Point Park at the Forks of the Ohio and the site of Fort Duquesne and later Fort Pitt. We’ll visit the Fort Pitt Blockhouse, the only original remaining structure associated with the French and Indian War at the Forks. A short walk will put us at the Fort Pitt Museum.
Registration Fee: $495.00
What’s included: Motor coach transportation, three lunches, beverage and snack breaks, a map and materials package, all admissions and gratuities, and the services of an experienced tour leader and historian. Our hotel will provide a breakfast buffet each day for $3.95. Tour participants are responsible for transportation to the headquarters hotel, and securing a room reservation, if necessary. Dinner is on your own. Tour goes out rain or shine. Please see our policy page for information about cancellations.
Hotel:
We have arranged with the headquarters hotel for a group rate of $109.00 per night plus tax (double or single occupancy.) Please call the Holiday Inn and Conference Center, 700 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401 at 724-437-2816 and ask for the America’s History LLC group rate. This rate is guaranteed until August 12, 2013. If you need a first floor room, please let the reservation clerk know because this hotel does not have an elevator to the second floor. Please make your reservations soon.
Our Tour Leader and Historian:
Douglas R. Cubbison, a native of western Pennsylvania, is the author of four books on 18th century military history, including The British Defeat of the French in Pennsylvania in 1758, A Military History of the Forbes Campaign against Fort Duquesne. This will be his third tour for America’s History. Doug is a former U.S. Army field artillery officer, was a historian with the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York and the U.S. Army Combat Studies Institute, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He is a popular speaker at Fort Ticonderoga’s War College and an experienced leader of staff rides. His most recent book is Burgoyne and the Saratoga Campaign: His Papers (2012.)
Register Online:
Register by phone, e-mail or postal mail:
- Toll-free: 1-855-OUR-HISTORY (687-4478)
- Email us at: info@AmericasHistoryLLC.com
- Postal mail: America’s History LLC, P. O. Box 1076, Goochland, VA 23063
Visa, Master Card and Discover accepted. We take checks too!
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