Fort Ashby

This article is about the historic fort. For the populated place, see Fort Ashby, West Virginia.
Fort Ashby
Location South St., Fort Ashby, West Virginia
Coordinates 39°30′18.77″N 78°45′56.64″W / 39.5052139°N 78.7657333°W / 39.5052139; -78.7657333Coordinates: 39°30′18.77″N 78°45′56.64″W / 39.5052139°N 78.7657333°W / 39.5052139; -78.7657333
Built 1755
NRHP Reference # 70000657 [1]
Added to NRHP December 18, 1970

Fort Ashby is a historic stockade fort located in Fort Ashby, West Virginia, USA. A military installation constructed during the French and Indian War, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1755, Colonel George Washington gave orders to build a stockade and fort on the East Side of Pattersons Creek. On Christmas Day, 1755, Captain Charles Lewis of Fredericksburg took command of the fort and a garrison of twenty-one men. He had orders from Colonel Washington to remain quiet as long as he could and to hold the fort as long as possible, but if necessary rather than surrender, he should burn it and try to escape to Fort Sellers on the east side of mouth of Patterson’s Creek. The only major battle at Fort Ashby occurred in 1756 when Lieutenant Robert Rutherford and his rangers were defeated by a band of French and Indians. During the siege, Colonel John Ashby, who was out of the fort, was attacked by Indians and made a remarkable escape to the fort. It is from this incident that the name was applied.[2]

The Daughters of the American Revolution own Fort Ashby. The museum is open for special events and by appointment only.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.[1]

Notable people

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Clifford M. Lewis (September 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Fort Ashby" (PDF). State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2011-08-18.

External links

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