the fort remained active as a key outpost till its abandonment was ordered by the governor in 1756. montgomery writes: "we see thus that fort shirley during the times of braddock's disastrous venture was an important post to and from which bodies of armed men under provincial authority were being constantly directed…" (1916, 573). due to its advanced location, colonel armstrong and his troops set off from fort shirley on august 29, 1756 during the kittanning expedition in reprisal for the destruction of fort granville.