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Exemplary WeRelate page with a well-written narrative, or comprehensive information.
Forts of Southwest Virginia
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| From a genealogists perspective, a knowledge of the location of these forts is important because of their significance in protecting the lives of our pioneer ancestors in southwest Virginia. These forts come up repeatedly in the stories that have been passed down to us today, and knowing where they were located helps condition our understanding of the personal history of our families. Return to Pioneer Forts, Cabin's, and Mills. See also Forts of Southwest Virginia 1774-1794 for a summary of the principle forts.
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The following summarizes information about various forts in Southwest Virginia during the period of Indian hostilities. This list is based on Hamilton, 1968, with additional information added as noted. Little is known about some of these forts, and there are likely to have been other fortifications about which no information has survived. Some forts appear in the records under a variety of names. The most commonly used/significant/important name for referencing purposes is shown here, along with known alternatives. The forts shown here are organized by watershed. A map showing the approximate locations of the forts in the Powell, Clinch, and Lower Holston watersheds is provided. A map showing the location of forts in the Upper Holston will follow.
Map Key | Name(s) by which known | Approximate Location | Source if Different from Hamilton
| Powell River Watershed
| 1 | Martin's New Station | two miles from Cumberland Gap |
| 2 | Gibson's Station | 4 miles from Cumberland Gap; at modern "Gibson's Station" |
| 3 | Owen's Station | Ten miles below Martin's Old Station, near Ewing; 10 miles from Cumberland Gap |
| 4 | Martin's Old Station | north side of Martin's Creek; 20 miles from Cumberland Gap, |
| 5 | Priest's Fort | 5-6 miles above Martin's Station, on no water course, between Rose Hill and Jonesville; 25-26 miles from Cumberland Gap |
| 6 | Mump's Fort | Sinking Springs, west of Jonesville, 20 miles from Martin's Station; 30 miles from Cumberland Gap |
| 7 | Rocky Station, Rocky Springs Station, Cocke’s Station | Kentucky Trace. Hamilton says it was between Woodway and Dryden, but other's suggest it was on Station Creek, on US 58, about halfway between Jonesville and Stickleyville; This later location makes more sense since that location places it clearly on the Kentucky Trace, while Hamilton's location places it well to the north. |
| 8 | Yokum's Station | On Powell River, between Dryden and Woodway per Hamilton, on Powell River "near the highway bridge" in Turkey Cove per others. |
| 9 | Scott's Fort | headwaters of Wallen's Creek, Kentucky Trace |
| 24 | Chadwell's Station | Wilderness Road, about 1 miles west of Ewing |
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| Clinch River Watershed
| 22 | Rye Cove Fort, Rye Cove Station, Crissman's Fort, Fort Lee, Carter's Fort | Rye Cove, 8 miles from North Fork of the Clinch, a half mile off from west side Cove Creek |
| 23 | Blackmore's Fort | Mouth of Stoney Creek, Clinch |
| 10 | Duncan's Fort | between Dungannon and Gray’s Island |
| ? | Nicholson's Fort. | home of Benjamain Nicholson, on Clinch River near Gray's Island |
| 11 | Porter's Fort | Falling Creek near Dungannon |
| 12 | Kilgore's Fort House | |
| | Dorton's Fort | Hamilton has it as about one mile southeast of Nickelsville. Others place it 12 miles east of Nickelsville; Penley gives its location as "about one mile southeast of Nickelsville, Virginia on what is known as the Combs farm. This was the home of William Dorton, Sr., who was killed by the Indians in July 1780. it was probably built in the 1770s. The Court records at the 1780s refer to it as Dorton's old fort." |
| 13 | Moore's Fort, Fort Byrd, Snoddy's Fort. | Castle's Wood |
| 14 | Cowan's Fort, Fort Preston, Bush’s Fort, Russells Fort , Bickley's Fort | Castle's Wood |
| 15 | Glade Hollow Fort Christian | near Lebanon |
| 16 | Elk Garden Fort | just south of State Route 19, near Elk Garden Methodist Church |
| 21 | Guest's Station, Guesses Station | at Coeburn, Wise Co. |
| 25 | Osborne's Fort, Osman’s Fort, Ritchie’s Fort | On Clinch River |
| Lower Holston Watershed
| 17 | Fort Patrick Henry | Long Island of the Holston, Kingsport |
| 18 | Anderson's Blockhouse | Start of Wilderness Road |
| 19 | Houston's Fort | near Snowflake on Moccasin Creek |
| 20 | Black's Fort | Abingdon; stockaded, blockhouse |
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| Upper Holston Watershed (some of these are actually in the Upper Clinch)
| | Benham's Fort | Located on the North Fork of the Holston River near Mendota, VA |
| | Daniel Smith's Fort | 16 miles north of Lebanon on Highway 19, on Indian Creek in Russell Co |
| | Davidson's Garrison | AKA Davidson-Bailey Fort Bluestone River, Tazewell, Cove Creek, 3 miles from mouth |
| | Dump's Creek Station | Dumps Creek |
| | Jeremiah Harrison's Fort | North Fork Holston, on the main path to the Clinch opposite the Town House |
| | Maiden Springs Station | Maiden Spring Branch of the Clinch River |
| | New Garden Station New Garden Fort | New Garden, south side of Clinch, on Thompson's Creek, Washington Co, about 300 yards up the ridge from Robert Green's |
| | Nicholson's Fort | Near Gray's Island |
| | Richlands Station perhaps same as Fowlers Station, Brown’s or Fugate’s | North Fork of the Clinch, in the Richlands |
| | Shallow Ford Of Clinch (No Data) | |
| | Stock Creek (No Data) | |
| | Tate's Fort | Moccasin Creek, Russell County, |
| | Vance's Station | 5 miles from Jeremiah Harrison's Fort, north Fork of the Holston |
| | William Wynn's Fort | Locust Hill, North Fork of Clinch, 1.5 miles from Tazewell |
| | Witten's Fort Witten's Crab Orchard, Crab Orchard, The Upper Station | Tazewell Va, |
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| Uncertain
| | Thompson's Fort | | Source:Summers, 1903:235
| | Edmiston's Fort | Lodi, VA | Source:Summers, 1903:235
| | Eaton's Fort | See Hamilton KBI article on Matthew Rowbottom 7 miles east of Long Island of Holston. | Source:Summers, 1929:103
| | Shelby's Fort | Bristol | Source:Summers, 1929:103
| | Gillespie's Fort | | Source:Summers, 1929:103
| | Womack's Fort | Bluff City TN | Source:Summers, 1929:103
| | Fort Bowent | Maiden Springs | Source:Summers, 1929:103
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| | Bryans Fort | near Moab, VA | Source:Summers, 1929:103
| | Cocke's Fort | Spring Creek. erected by William Cocke | Source:Summers, 1929:103
| | Bledsoe's Fort | settled by Robert Bledsoe, about 30 miles east of Long Island on Fort Chiswell Road |
Source:Summers, 1929:103
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