1749 - Claiming The Forks of the Ohio for France

After resting at Chautauqua Lake we carried our canoes a bit further to the Allegheny River. The Allegheny River was a welcome sight as we were finally able to again ride in our canoes instead of carrying them. And as a further bonus, at this point we were actually travelling with the flow of the river. Going with the current, FTW!

We floated down the Allegheny River

The Allegheny River in the 21st century

We took the Allegheny River down to where it meets the Ohio River. At the point in which the Allegheny River, Monongahela River and Ohio meet is referred to as The Forks of the Ohio. Eventually this would become the site of the city of Pittsburgh. But in 1749, there was just a simple Indian trading post.

In 1749 there was only an Indian trading post at this site

At The Forks of the Ohio we met some British fur traders. Seeing these traders pissed off Céloron. Céloron told them in no uncertain terms that they need to get the fuck out of French territory. It was a tense situation, but the British traders decided that discretion was the better part of valor after seeing 200 armed French marines with Céloron.

The Forks of the Ohio in the 21st Century

Even at this time (1749) it was obvious that controlling the The Forks of the Ohio was of key strategic importance. As roads did not yet exist in the wilderness of Ohio Country, rivers were the primary means of transportation. So whoever controlled the Forks pretty much would be able to control the Indian trade.



Céloron placed a sign (a lead plate) that claimed this area for France. In a sense this was no different than a dog pissing to mark his territory.

Lead Plate Claiming Territory for France

(it looked better new)