Fort De La Presqui'le was to be constructed on the shore of Lake Erie, to secure French interests in the region and secure trading from the British who had a interest in the area. A series of
forts were to be constructed for this purpose from Lake Erie to the forks of the Ohio River(now Pittsburgh, Pa). Since the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapella in 1748, the territory of North
America was in despite since the treaty put no clear borders on the land in the New World. As early of June of 1749 with the Celoron expedition, was a clear and outward sign of French interest in the Ohio Valley region. To strengthen their claim and influence on the region the French constructed a fort on the Niagara portage. In 1752 with the bloody and gruesome attack at Pickawillany, the main trading post in the Ohio Valley,(now Piqua, Ohio) by the french trader Charles Michel de Langlade against the pro-British Miami chief,. the stakes where being raised.
Under the orders of Governer-General Duquesne a string of forts was constructed to secure and promote French interests in the Ohio Valley region. On February 1, 1753 Charles Deschamps de Boishebert with a force of 250 men set out from Montreal to start work on the forts to be constructed for this reason. The store house to built in the Chautauqa portage (now Westfield, NY) was moved some 30 miles west to the site of present day Erie, Pa. because of the better portage facilities.In mid-May under the command of Captain Francois le Mericer from Montreal the construction of Fort de la Presqui'le was started on the land prepared by Boishebert. On June 3, Paul Marin de la Malgue, sieur de Marian arrived with the bulk of the forces to completed the forts leading to the Ohio Valley. With him came a large force largely consisting of militia and a small number of Troupes de la Marines. With construction well under way he pushed out in June to start construction of the sister fort at French Creek(now Waterford, Pa), the fort was named Fort Le Boeuf. Its construction began on July 12.
On August 14, Michel-Jean-Hughes Pean arrived August 14, with more men and supplies, after a meeting with Marin and Le Mercier it was clear that things weren't going well. The Portage road leading from Fort de la Presqui'le to Fort Le Bouef was breaking up from the heavy traffic being thrusted upon it. It was decided to augment the road(an old Indian trail) with fallen timbers. To add to the problems, the Iroquois Indians held a council at the fort to show their displeasure, about permanent structures on the land. Leading the council was the chief Half-King. Overwork and illness soon started to take a toll on the French forces. Upwards of 500 men of the original 2200 from the expedition died from overwork, fever, or inadequate diet. In fact, Marin died at the fort in October of 1753.
While descriptions of the Fort De La Presqui'le vary, from a composite of accounts, we can say the fort was 120 feet square with four bastions in the corners. Two gates to the south and the other to the north. The high of the walls where 12 feet in in height, built of chestnut logs. With 4 huts or buildings inside the walls. Also by 1759 a stone magazine existed at the fort.
The main purpose of the fort was a flow point of supplies between Ft. Niagara and Fort Duquesne(now Pittsburgh, Pa) at the the forks of the Ohio River. With that as its main task Fort De La Presqu'ile saw a great deal of main and supplies flow thru it.
While the typical garrison of the fort never exceeded more than 150 men, most of garrison main concern was the up keep of the Portage Road to Fort Le Bouef, which required constant attention due to swampy land and the heavy traffic placed on the road.
With the surrender of Ft. Niagara to the British, and the defeat of French Forces in the
French & Indian war in 1759, the purpose for the fort was now sealed. The fort was
burned to the ground sometime in August of 1759. Later the British would built a fort on
the very site, only to be defeated by the Indians just a year later. It wouldn't be till 1790's
when a permanent white settlers would come back to the site and later the City of Erie
would grow from such humble beginnings.An American fort would be located roughly 200 yards north west, a replica blockhouse now stand there. A Plaque at the foot of Parade Street now commemorates the French fort that once stood.