Frontier Forts of Southwest Virginia

By Emory L. Hamilton
From Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia
Number 4, 1968, pages 1 to 26

The 7 Original Forts

The actual military defense of Virginia's extreme western frontier did not begin, on a large scale, until the spring prior to the outbreak on Dunmore's War in the fall of 1774, more commonly referred to by historians as the Point Pleasant Campaign.

It has been stated by some writers that not a single palisaded fort existed along the Clinch frontier until after the circulation of Lord Dunmore's order requesting that such be built. Those making these statements used the argument that after the end of the French and Indian War that peace existed and there was no need of palisaded forts. It is probably quite true that prior to 1774 there were no real palisaded forts, the inhabitants depending on strongly built fort houses with port holes for warding off surprise Indian attacks. Some of these still stand today, such as the old Osborne house in lower Castlewood and the Dickenson house on Clinch River north of Castlewood. However, those who aver that prior to 1774 peace existed between the Indians and whites need to review their frontier history.

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Note: From the standpoint of Melungeon history and genealogy, special attention should be paid to Blackmore's Fort and the nearby settlement of Fort Blackmore at the mouth of Stony Creek.