Fort Ashby, West Virginia – Legends of America
Nestled within the picturesque Patterson Creek Valley of West Virginia stands Fort Ashby, a historical landmark with a rich and complex past. Erected during the tumultuous French and Indian War, this fort played a crucial role in defending the Western Virginia frontier. Its story is one of strategic importance, military challenges, and the resilience of early settlers.
The Genesis of Fort Ashby: A Response to Conflict
The late summer and early fall of 1755 were marked by escalating tensions and violence in the Patterson Creek Valley. Marauding bands of hostile Native Americans launched attacks on the unsuspecting settlers, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. In response to this growing threat, Colonel George Washington, a prominent figure in early American history, issued a directive on October 26, 1755. His order called for the construction of three forts – Ashby, Sellers, and Cocke – to serve as defensive bastions for the vulnerable Western Virginia frontier.
Construction and Design: A Fortified Outpost
The task of constructing Fort Ashby fell to Lieutenant John Bacon and his men, who were dispatched from Fort Cumberland, Maryland. Within approximately six weeks, they transformed the landscape into a fortified outpost. The fort was designed as a square stockade, each side measuring 90 feet in length. Bastions, projecting structures that allowed for enhanced defensive capabilities, were strategically positioned at each corner. Inside the fort’s protective perimeter, barracks provided shelter for the soldiers, and a powder magazine served as a secure storage space for ammunition.
Command and Purpose: Defending the Supply Line
Upon completion, Captain John "O.C." Ashby assumed command of the fort, leading a garrison of approximately 30 men. Ashby’s orders were clear: maintain a low profile, hold the fort for as long as possible, and, if necessary, burn it to the ground rather than allow it to fall into enemy hands.
Although initially intended to safeguard the area’s residents, the Patterson Creek Valley had been largely abandoned by the time Fort Ashby was occupied. Consequently, the fort’s primary function shifted to protecting the vital supply line that connected Fort Loudoun in Winchester, Virginia, with Fort Cumberland in Maryland. This supply line was essential for maintaining the flow of resources and reinforcements to the frontier.
Challenges and Turmoil: Discipline and Discord
Captain Ashby’s tenure at Fort Ashby was far from smooth. From the outset, he faced a series of personnel problems that seemed to stem from a lack of discipline within the ranks. On December 20th, ten of his troops brazenly declared their intention to desert and promptly left the fort.
News of this insubordination reached Fort Cumberland, prompting Captain Charles Lewis to investigate. On December 27th, Lewis arrived at Fort Ashby with 22 men and discovered a fort in a state of disrepair, with soldiers who were both surly and undisciplined. Further investigation revealed that rum was being sold to the soldiers by a man named Joseph Coombs, and it appeared that the liquor actually belonged to Captain Ashby himself.
However, the troops’ most significant complaint centered on the alleged misbehavior of Ashby’s wife. According to their accounts, she was sowing sedition among the men and was the instigator of every mutiny. This accusation reached the ears of George Washington, who promptly wrote a stern letter to Ashby, instructing him to remove his wife from the fort immediately. Washington threatened to personally drive her out if Ashby failed to comply.
In the interim, Captain Charles Lewis took control of the post, and the Articles of War were read to the troops in an effort to restore order. After several weeks, Ashby resumed command and, seemingly, gained control over his wife’s activities, as there is no record of Washington having to carry out his threat.
Despite this apparent resolution, Ashby continued to be plagued by problems caused by unruly soldiers. On March 29, 1756, ten of the 40 men under his command deserted to join Colonel Stephen’s command at Fort Cumberland.
Indian Encounters and Defensive Measures
In April 1756, a large band of Native Americans descended upon Patterson’s Creek and surrounded Fort Ashby. They demanded a parley, during which they requested the fort’s surrender. However, Captain Ashby refused to grant them even a dram of whiskey, and the Indians soon departed. It is speculated that these same Indians may have been responsible for inflicting a disastrous defeat on the Virginia Regiment forces stationed at Fort Edwards just a few days later.
The escalating Indian attacks in the area prompted the Virginia House of Burgesses to approve funding in May 1756 for the construction of a "chain of forts" that would stretch from the Potomac River to the Mayo River, a distance of nearly 500 miles. Fort Ashby was incorporated into this defensive network. At that time, Washington ordered Colonel Adam Stephen at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, to ensure that Forts Ashby and Sellers were adequately supplied with food and ammunition.
Escorting Messengers and Military Misconduct
In late July 1756, a courier arrived at Fort Ashby from Winchester, carrying dispatches for Colonel Washington, who was then at Fort Cumberland. Due to the perilous conditions in the area, the courier requested a soldier escort. Ashby dispatched Lieutenant Robert Rutherford with approximately 16 rangers and militiamen to accompany the messenger to Fort Cumberland, about 12 miles distant.
As the group traveled, they were ambushed by a band of Indians. The militiamen, seized by panic, turned and fled back to Fort Ashby without firing a single shot. Outnumbered and with little support, Rutherford and the remaining rangers had no choice but to follow the retreating militia.
George Washington, who already held a low opinion of militiamen, was deeply disgusted by this display of cowardice. He once described them as "obstinate, self-willed, perverse, of little or no service to the people, and very burdensome to the country." However, in this instance, Washington’s primary criticism was directed at Ashby and his officers, whom he believed had failed to properly control their men.
On another occasion, Captain Ashby found himself outside the fort without his rifle when he unexpectedly encountered three Indians. He quickly fled, narrowly escaping as shots were fired upon him.
Abandonment and Reoccupation
In April 1757, George Washington, unable to provide sufficient troops to maintain all the forts, ordered the Virginia militia to abandon Fort Ashby and Fort Cocke. By this time, the area had been largely deserted by settlers.
However, Fort Ashby’s story did not end there. In 1758, a force of 6,000 soldiers, led by British General John Forbes, including troops from Virginia’s frontier forts and other colonies, gathered to launch an expedition against Fort Duquesne, Pennsylvania. Fort Ashby was reoccupied and once again tasked with protecting the supplies and dispatches that moved along the road between Winchester and Fort Cumberland.
Following the successful conclusion of this campaign, the region stabilized, and Fort Ashby was once again closed. It was used intermittently until the end of hostilities in 1763.
Strategic Assessment and Legacy
In retrospect, Fort Ashby’s location was not ideal. The nearest stream was 200 yards to the west and was overlooked by a hill to the south, from where the enemy could have fired into the stockade. Its primary value lay in escorting convoys and messengers along the military road connecting Fort Loudoun at Winchester to Fort Cumberland, as well as roads leading north to Will’s Creek and south to Fort Cocke, twelve miles away. Washington himself would later acknowledge that this was the fort’s only true value.
Despite his apparent shortcomings in leadership, Captain John Ashby continued to serve as a military leader until the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. He also maintained a friendly relationship with George Washington. After the war, Ashby returned to his home in the Shenandoah Valley, where he operated a ferry across the Shenandoah River for many years.
Post-War Use and the Whiskey Rebellion
After its official abandonment, Fort Ashby was periodically manned by local militia.
In October 1794, the old Fort Ashby once again became a scene of military activity. Major General Daniel Morgan, with 500 or more troops, encamped around the fort while awaiting orders to proceed during the Whiskey Rebellion, a tax-related protest. Over the next few days, more than 1,200 additional troops joined the others at Fort Ashby before moving on to western Pennsylvania. This army of more than 1,700 men was the largest number of military personnel ever to assemble in the area, and the settlers would not witness such a large gathering of armed troops again until the outbreak of the Civil War 67 years later.
From Frankfort to Fort Ashby: The Growth of a Community
In the years following the fort’s military use, a settlement gradually developed around it. The settlement was initially named Frankfort, but later its name was changed to Alaska. Eventually, the community adopted the name of the old military post and became Fort Ashby.
Preservation and Remembrance: Fort Ashby Today
A portion of the log barracks was converted into a dwelling and remained in use for more than 130 years. In 1927, the building was acquired by the Potomac Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1935, it was conveyed to Mineral County for restoration purposes. With the assistance of the Works Progress Administration, the fort was restored in 1938 and opened as a museum to visitors the following year. In 1970, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, Fort Ashby stands as a testament to the struggles and triumphs of early American settlers. It serves as a reminder of the strategic importance of the region during the French and Indian War and the Whiskey Rebellion. Visitors can explore the restored fort, learn about its history, and gain a deeper appreciation for the lives of those who shaped the destiny of this nation.
Visiting Fort Ashby:
Fort Ashby
227 Dan’s Run Road
Fort Ashby, West Virginia 26719
The fort is open to visitors and offers a glimpse into the past.
See Also:
- Forts & Presidios Across America
- Forts Photo Gallery
- The French & Indian War
- West Virginia Main Page
Sources:
- Ansel, William H., Jr.; Frontier Forts Along the Potomac and its Tributaries; McClain Print. Co., 1984
- Fort Ashby
- Terry Gruber
- West Virginia Public Broadcasting