Forbes Road - The Clear Fields

Part of the reason General Forbes chose to make his own road from Carlisle to Fort Duquesne instead of using Braddock's road was because Braddock's did not have open spaces along the route. Forbes' army included not just soldiers but also cattle, horses, and pigs that helped transport and feed the army. However, the animals needed their own food, in the form of grazing in open meadows.

The Clear Fields was a spot between Fort Bedford and Fort Ligonier that became an encampment for troops thanks to its easy access to meadows. A small fort, named Fort Dudgeon, was built on the site. The remnants of the fort have since been destroyed by strip mining.

The Clear Fields marker was dedicated on Wednesday, January 30, 1952. It reads: "Good forage found at open camps such as this on the Raystown Path led General Forbes to prefer this route to Braddock’s Road. Site of Fort Dudgeon (Tomahawk Camp) is a short distance to the north."