Fort Ashby Explained

Fort Ashby
Location:Fort Ashby, West Virginia
Map Label:Fort Ashby
Built:1755
Added:December 18, 1970
Refnum:70000657

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

Origin

On October 26, 1755, Colonel George Washington gave orders to build a stockade and fort on the east side of Pattersons Creek. The fort was completed about six weeks later, commanded by Captain John Ashby and his 2nd Company of Rangers. He had orders from 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 the 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.[1]

Ownership

The Friends of Ashby's Fort own Fort Ashby. The museum is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, March - November, and for special events. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Fort Ashby. September 1970. 2011-08-18 . Clifford M. Lewis. State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation.