Bushy Run Battlefield
Also known as: Bushy Run State Park
Why it's listed
The Bushy Run battlefield lies about 25 miles east of Fort Pitt, in the hills of what is now Westmoreland County, and is now part of a 162-acre state park. In August 1763, British forces under Colonel Henry Bouquet, marching from Carlisle with about 500 soldiers and a long train of supply wagons, were attacked by Native forces seeking to end the siege of Fort Pitt. After heavy fighting on August 5, Bouquet's men built a redoubt from flour bags on a hilltop. The following day the attackers launched several assaults on this makeshift fort. Bouquet then ordered a feigned retreat, and when the attackers rushed the camp, his troops turned and struck their flank, forcing them to flee. The battle lifted the siege of Fort Pitt. Bouquet's 1764 expedition into central Ohio followed, and the battlefield is valued for showing how the frontier was made safer for settlers.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the 1763 Battle of Bushy Run was a decisive English victory in the most determined Indian attack on the colonial frontier during Pontiac's Conspiracy. Colonel Henry Bouquet's feigned retreat and flank attack relieved the besieged Fort Pitt and demonstrated his mastery of wilderness warfare, which helped pacify the Ohio frontier.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000696, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. E of Harrison City on PA 993, Harrison City |
|---|---|
| County | Westmoreland County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000696 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | August 5-6, 1763 |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated October 9, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The battlefield is contained within a recreational state park, with the woodland setting altered slightly by landscaping, driveways, paths, and picnic facilities. |
| Acreage | 162 |
| Coordinates | 40.35480, -79.62334 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000696.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5001618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.