Near this site on July 30, 1758, Colonels Bouquet and Washington discussed proposed routes for General Forbes’ army to attack French Fort Duquesne. Bouquet preferred the route due west from Bedford, while Washington advocated Braddock’s 1755 road to the south. Forbes chose the route from Bedford and, as a result, occupied the ruins of Fort Duquesne on November 25, 1758. Forbes Road encouraged subsequent westward expansion through Pennsylvania.