On March 4, 1758, Brigadier General John Forbes was awarded command of the next campaign to take Fort Duquesne. Forbes would prove a pragmatic and adept executive officer, particularly well-suited to lead this complex mission. The new road had to be wide enough and stable enough to carry columns of thousands of troops, cannons, and supplies. Forbes was careful of an ambush, moving slowly and building a series of support bases 50 miles apart heading west from Philadelphia. His orchestrated construction sent an advance party with Indian guides ahead of the main army to trace trails through the woods and plan for their widening into the actual road. The road itself was then built backwards - east - towards the advancing army.
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