Page:Historic highways of America (Volume 5).djvu/163

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
THE NEW ROAD
159

gheny and Monongahela was known in Kentucky as "the Pitt country."

The generous Bouquet expressed the sentiment of the army when he affirmed: "After God, the success of this expedition is entirely due to the General." When Forbes's physical condition is understood, his last campaign must be considered one of the most heroic in the annals of America. "Its solid value was above price. It opened the Great West to English enterprise, took from France half her savage allies, and relieved the western borders from the scourge of Indian war. From southern New York to North Carolina, the frontier populations had cause to bless the memory of the steadfast and all-enduring soldier."[1]

Forbes soon became unable to write or dictate a letter. On the terrible return journey over his freshly-hewn road he suffered intensely, sometimes losing consciousness. He was carried the entire distance to Philadelphia on his litter, and in March he died. His body, at last free from pain, was laid with befitting honors in the chancel of Christ Church.

  1. Parkman: Montcalm and Wolfe, vol. ii, p. 162.