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Grenouille
Colonial Settler
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
Status: offline
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 Posted - April 27 2003 : 1:57:55 PM
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This article was in the Erie,PA Sunday newspaper. Maybe they'll find Braddock's gold, or Jimmy Hoffa buried there....lol...just kidding, but it will be interesting to see what they do find. There was a nice picture with the article, but it wasn't included in the web edition of the story. Here's the article:
Blockhouse survives as time capsule
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PITTSBURGH — A shelter for 18th century soldiers being sniped or overrun by warring tribes, Bouquet's Blockhouse survived Pontiac's War and two revolutions — American and Industrial. It stands today much as it did 240 years ago, only now with a backdrop of skyscrapers and sports stadiums.
Archaeologists will soon begin to sift through soil under the floor of the brick and stone redoubt with hopes of filling in some unwritten chapters of history.
The Daughters of the American Revolution, which has owned and administered the small structure since 1894, planned to tear up and replace a deteriorating floor. Before any work was done, however, the group allowed archaeologists from California University of Pennsylvania to do a limited excavation last month.
"We were quite surprised by the amount of artifacts that were found," said Carol Downey Fuller, project manager for the DAR.
Within two shallow, one-square-meter digs, archaeologists found conical beads used as jewelry by Native Americans and tinkling cones that were sewn in to their clothes; a child's necklace; tools; weights used to sink fishing nets; shards of Iroquois pottery; musket and pistol balls; and colonial-era flints from English firearms.
Next month, archaeologists plan to dig further and excavate the entire 100-square-foot floor.
No one is sure what will be found or if anything of historical significance remains. What is known is that a fierce struggle to control the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers was waged between superpowers France and England in the mid-1700s in the French and Indian War — considered by many to be the first world war.
Much of the 36 acres of land where the victorious British built massive Fort Pitt was later developed as an area of heavy industry.
Yet the soil under Bouquet's Blockhouse was untouched, piquing the interest of university researchers and at Michael Baker Jr. Inc., a firm that does archaeological digs for the government before major projects begin.
The company is undertaking the excavation at cost, with archaeologists and engineers volunteering their time, said David Anderson, manager of the Cultural Resources Section.
"The Blockhouse is a time capsule that dates back to at least the 1760s," Anderson said. "The world kind of turned on that spot for years. Whether you can definitely say there are intact materials below that area, no one is sure."
The redoubt was built on the orders of Col. Henry Bouquet, who led the British troops to victory over American Indian forces in the Battle of Bushy Run.
His victory ended the siege of Fort Pitt, but he built five redoubts outside the fort as scouting points and as defensive fall-back positions for added security.
Some of the masonry walls and ramparts of Fort Pitt have been excavated, but Bouquet's Blockhouse is the only remaining structure.
Archaeologists will be looking at items that point to a history that has never been recorded.
"You get a lot of material from historic records but it's surprising what was never written," Anderson said. "You tend to get a one-sided view ... a lot of things someone wanted someone else to think was happening."
Excavations will be taking place on May 10-11 and May 17-18, weekend days that will allow the public to watch archaeologists work, Anderson said.
ONTHENET: Fort Pitt Museum: www.fortpittmuseum.com.Michael Baker Jr. Inc.: www.mbakercorp.com/cultural.
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Highlander
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 04 2003
Status: offline
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 Posted - April 28 2003 : 4:32:11 PM
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When I spoke with the Curator of "The Blockhouse"the other day,he told me that California Univ.of Pa.unearthed a few items(1860's half dollar,.32cal musket ball)but when the next company dug deeper,it found native american pottery & flints).Pretty remarkable considering that squatters moved into the blockhouse until it was taken over by the D.A.R around the turn of the century.It was still the only "undisturbed"piece of ground at the point. If you look at the beginning of the movie "The UnConquered",you will see that this part of Pittsburgh was a maze of factories,warehouses and railroad tracks in 1947. |
Highlander |
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Sgt.Reynolds
Pathfinder
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
April 24 2003
Status: offline
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Posted - April 29 2003 : 12:58:01 AM
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It is good to see that some organizations still have an interest in preserving history.I heard that the P.H.M.C tried to make a grab for the blockhouse,but the D.A.R fought them off |
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Grenouille
Colonial Settler
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
May 17 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - April 30 2003 : 12:37:08 PM
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Hello Highlander,
Out of curiosity, was that a wooden floor they are replacing in the blockhouse or a stone one? I hope to make it down for the Fort Pitt muster in May -- I've never been there.
Jim |
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
October 14 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - April 30 2003 : 2:41:33 PM
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I find it interesting there have were so many Native artifacts found (beads, tinkling cones, pottery). These are probably from a previous Native occupation of the site (at least the pottery), or perhaps trade goods (beads, tinkling cones) were stored there. It's interesting because one doesn't usually think of many Native artifacts being associated with British military sites, as one would with a French site. Not knowing the exact provenance of the artifacts I would guess there was previous Native occupation which the blockhouse was built upon. Just some thoughts of an archaeology student.
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YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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Highlander
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 04 2003
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Posted - May 01 2003 : 12:40:00 AM
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It was a concrete floor that was dug up.There was a rumor that there was once a tunnel that connected the blockhouse to the fort,but so far,it has been unsubstantiated.With the amount of flooding that the point has received over the years,it is unlikely that it could have remained.The Colonial Fair will probably be a bust this year,so come at your own risk.There will not be a battle because the organizers don't believe that there ever was one     I guess that they never heard of "The Battle of Grant's Hill"in 1758 or the siege during Pontiac's Uprising in 1763.So if you're looking to burn some black powder,this is not the place.You would do better to come to our movie premiere for "George Washington's First War:The Battle for Fort Duquesne"on May 21st.Details can be found at www.paladincom.com There will be many "living historians" on hand,such as ourselves.All are welcome wether you choose to be in kit or not.To answer CT Ranger's question,Ft.Duquesne was on the site first until it was scuttled in 1758.Fort Pitt was built nearby in 1761.Various native tribes were encamped in or around Ft.Duquesne,especially during Braddock's Defeat in 1755 and Grant's Defeat in 1758.Major Grant had originally ordered his Virginians,then Highlanders to "kill all of the indians that they could find who were encamped around the fort."So take it from there. |
Highlander |
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ccorner
Pathfinder
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 05 2003
Status: offline
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Posted - May 01 2003 : 8:58:56 PM
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Highlander,
I found this article very interesting. I visited this very site in May of 2001. I am writing an historical fiction novel and Ft. Duquesne is part of it as well Fort William Henry in Lake George, NY. Keep posting and thanks for sharing the exciting news. |
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Highlander
Colonial Militia
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
February 04 2003
Status: offline
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Posted - May 01 2003 : 11:15:41 PM
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Good luck in your endeavors If I can be of any assistance,please let me know |
Highlander |
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60thGrenadier
Pathfinder
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
April 30 2003
Status: offline
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Posted - May 08 2003 : 02:03:11 AM
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Just this past week when I was down there,a 1737 Spanish Reale was recovered. Apparently,there was a lot of Spanish currency used in the thirteen colonies as there was no mint here(but there was in Colonial Mexico City).The British Regulars were paid in English Pounds,Shillings & Pence however.A lot of bartering also took place to make up for the shortage of hard currency.So if GW ever did throw a dollar across the Potomac River,it was more than likely a Spanish one,since the advent of the U.S. Dollar was many years away.
The head archeologist of the dig is Bryan Cunning who plays George Washington in our new movie:"George Washington's First War:The Battles for Fort Duquesne".www.paladincom.com He is also a "living historian" with the First Virginia Regiment.So,if you have any questions concerning what else was found in the blockhouse excavation,or what it is like to be a famous movie star, feel free to contact him at: cunning1754@yahoo.com |
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SgtMunro
Soldier of the King
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
September 23 2002
Status: offline
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Posted - May 08 2003 : 03:44:01 AM
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A 1737 Spanish Reale, you say. One possibility is that it was part of the hard specie prize money paid to the 42nd Royal Highlanders, for their part in the taking of Havana in 1762. What do you think, Grenadier?
Your Most Humble Servant,
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Serjeant-Major Duncan Munro
Capt. Thos. Graham's Coy.
42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foote
(The Black Sheep of the Black Watch)
"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit"
-Or-
"Recruit locally, fight globally." |
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60thGrenadier
Pathfinder
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
April 30 2003
Status: offline
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Posted - May 08 2003 : 3:16:31 PM
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That could very well be.It may even have been some of the prize money that Col.Bouquet gave out as prize money for marksmanship contests.It might have"slipped through the cracks"by some sentries who were shooting dice in the blockhouse
God Save The King |
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Gunner Wilson
Lost in the Wilderness
USA
Bumppo's Patron since [at least]:
April 29 2003
Status: offline
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Posted - May 12 2003 : 10:19:31 AM
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Highlander, I have read that the actual prize monies paid to the soldiers of the Cuba Campaign, was paid in the Spanish Currency which was seized.
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YH&OS,
Gunner Alex Wilson RA |
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Fort Pitt Blockhouse Excavation
