Colonel  Washington  joined  the  forces
at  Ligonier  in  October,  and  was  sent  for-
ward with  a  detachment  to  cut  the  road
still  further, — to  throw  up  entrenchments
where  necessary  for  the  protection  of  supply
posts,  and  generally  to  operate  as  an  ad-
vance of  Forbes'  army.  His  letters  repre-
sent the  force  under  him  as  "encounter-
ing every  hardship  that  an  advanced  season,
want  of  clothing,  and  a  small  stock  of
provisions"  could  expose  them  to.  The
main  army  reached  Ligonier  late  in  the
same  month,  and,  acting  on  information
furnislied  by  Washington,  pushed  on  to  Fort


156


THE  PENNSYLVANIA  RAILROAD.
Du  Quesne,  which  they  found  abandoned
by  the  French  and  Indians.  The  post  was
garrisoned  by  Forbes'  men  and  named  Fort
Pitt,  in  honor  of  the  prime  minister  of
Great  Britain.
