Braddock's Grave

USA / Pennsylvania / Hopwood /
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Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock—commander-in-chief of British forces in North America—traveled over the road trace below on June 25, 1755. Marching north with his 2,400-man army, the 60-year-old Braddock was under orders to capture Fort Duquesne and force the French from the Upper Ohio Valley.

However, disaster struck a few miles from Fort Duquesne on July 9. There they collided with about 200 French and 600 Indians. Disorganization and fear seized the British as they suffered about 900 casualties—more than half killed—out of 1,400 engaged. Braddock himself was mortally wounded.

On July 13, the British camped near here and Braddock died that night. He was buried under the road, in an unmarked grave to keep it from being disturbed by Indians. In 1804, workmen repairing this section of the Braddock Road discovered what is believed to be Braddock's original gravesite just downhill to the left. His remains were then reinterred on this hill, and the granite monument was added in 1913 to mark the grave.

www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=339
www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=310
www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=304
www.watsonschoice.com/GuideBook/DayTrips/Attractions/Br...
www.nps.gov/fone/braddock.htm
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Coordinates:   39°49'56"N   79°36'0"W
This article was last modified 16 years ago