Nestled in the picturesque Patterson Creek Valley, Fort Ashby stands as a testament to the turbulent frontier life during the French and Indian War. This historic outpost in West Virginia played a crucial role in defending the fledgling colonies, ordered into existence by none other than Colonel George Washington himself. The story of Fort Ashby is one of strategic importance, military challenges, and enduring legacy, reflecting the fierce struggles that shaped early America.
Built in response to escalating attacks by hostile Native American bands in the late summer and early fall of 1755, the establishment of Fort Ashby was part of a broader defensive strategy. On October 26, 1755, Colonel George Washington commanded the construction of three vital forts—Ashby, Sellers, and Cocke—to fortify the Western Virginia frontier. This immediate need arose from the terror experienced by settlers in the Patterson Creek Valley, prompting a rapid military response to protect isolated communities.
Construction and Early Command
The construction of Fort Ashby was swift and efficient. Lieutenant John Bacon and his contingent of men, dispatched from Fort Cumberland in Maryland, were tasked with its creation. Within approximately six weeks, the fort was completed—a square stockade measuring 90 feet on each side, fortified with bastions at each corner for enhanced defense. Inside the robust walls, barracks provided shelter for soldiers, while a powder magazine ensured ammunition was readily available.
Upon its completion, Captain John “O.C.” Ashby, from whom the fort derived its name, assumed command with a garrison of about 30 men. His orders were clear: maintain a low profile, hold the fort for as long as possible, and, if absolutely necessary, burn it rather than allow it to fall into enemy hands. Although initially conceived to protect local residents, by the time Fort Ashby became operational, the valley had been largely abandoned. Consequently, its primary role shifted to safeguarding the critical supply line stretching between Fort Loudoun in Winchester, Virginia, and Fort Cumberland in Maryland, a vital artery for military operations.
Challenges in Command: Discipline and Domestic Discord
From the outset, Captain Ashby faced significant personnel and disciplinary issues, suggesting a pervasive failure to enforce military rigor. On December 20, 1755, a mere two months after the fort’s establishment, ten of his soldiers openly defied orders, declared their intention to return home, and summarily abandoned their posts. This alarming news quickly reached Fort Cumberland, prompting Captain Charles Lewis to investigate with 22 men on December 27.
Lewis’s findings painted a grim picture: Fort Ashby was in a deplorable state of defense, its soldiers surly and utterly undisciplined. He also uncovered that Joseph Coombs was illicitly selling rum to the troops, a venture that appeared to be secretly backed by Captain Ashby himself. However, the most severe complaint revolved around the disruptive behavior of Ashby’s wife. George Washington, deeply concerned by the reports, penned a stern letter to Ashby, asserting that his wife was a purveyor of sedition and the instigator of every mutiny. Washington explicitly ordered Ashby to remove her from the fort immediately, threatening to personally expel her if his directive was not heeded.
In the interim, Captain Charles Lewis temporarily assumed control, and the Articles of War were read aloud to the troops, a stark reminder of their military obligations. After several weeks, Ashby managed to regain command, seemingly having curtailed his wife’s contentious activities, as no record exists of Washington enforcing his forceful threat. Despite this, Ashby’s command continued to be plagued by unruly soldiers. On March 29, 1756, ten of his 40 men deserted to join Colonel Stephen’s command at Fort Cumberland, further highlighting the ongoing disciplinary struggles.
Indian Encounters and the Chain of Forts
April 1756 brought direct confrontation when a substantial band of Native Americans descended upon Patterson’s Creek, surrounding Fort Ashby. They requested a parlay, during which they demanded the fort’s surrender. However, Captain Ashby resolutely refused to offer them even a drop of whiskey, and the frustrated Indians eventually departed. It is plausible that these were the same forces who, just days later, inflicted a devastating defeat upon the Virginia Regiment stationed at Fort Edwards, underscoring the constant threat faced by frontier outposts.
By May 1756, the persistent and brutal Indian attacks across the region spurred the Virginia House of Burgesses to approve critical funding for the construction of a “chain of forts.” This ambitious defensive line was intended to span nearly 500 miles, from the Potomac River to the Mayo River. Fort Ashby was strategically incorporated into this expansive defensive network. At this juncture, Washington explicitly ordered Colonel Adam Stephen at Fort Cumberland to ensure that Forts Ashby and Sellers were consistently well-supplied with provisions and ammunition, recognizing their pivotal role in the frontier’s security.
Protecting Supply Lines and Initial Abandonment
The dangers inherent in maintaining communication and supply routes were starkly illustrated in late July 1756. A courier from Winchester, carrying urgent dispatches for Colonel Washington at Fort Cumberland, arrived at Fort Ashby. Given the treacherous nature of the area due to hostile Native American activity, an escort was requested. Ashby dispatched Lieutenant Robert Rutherford with approximately 16 rangers and militiamen, along with the messenger, for the 12-mile journey to Fort Cumberland. En route, they were ambushed by a hidden band of Indians. Tragically, the militiamen panicked and fled back to Fort Ashby without firing a single shot. Severely outnumbered, Rutherford and the remaining rangers had no recourse but to follow the retreating militia.
George Washington, who harbored a long-standing disdain for the perceived unreliability of militiamen, was utterly disgusted by the incident. He famously remarked that they were “obstinate, self-willed, perverse, of little or no service to the people, and very burdensome to the country.” However, in this particular instance, Washington’s sharpest criticism was reserved for Captain Ashby and his officers, for their conspicuous failure to adequately control their troops. This incident was not Ashby’s only close call; on another occasion, while outside the fort without his rifle, he unexpectedly encountered three Native Americans. He narrowly escaped, fleeing back to the fort’s safety as shots were fired in his pursuit.
Ultimately, in April 1757, Washington ordered the Virginia militia to abandon both Fort Ashby and Fort Cocke, as he could no longer spare sufficient troops to maintain their garrisons. By this time, the surrounding area had been largely deserted by settlers, diminishing the immediate need for these outposts.
Regarrisoning and the Forbes Expedition
Despite its initial abandonment, Fort Ashby was regarrisoned in 1758, playing a renewed role in a critical phase of the French and Indian War. This reoccupation coincided with the assembly of a formidable force of 6,000 soldiers, led by British General John Forbes. This diverse army, comprising troops from Virginia’s frontier forts and other colonies, was tasked with the ambitious objective of capturing Fort Duquesne in Pennsylvania, a key French stronghold. During this crucial campaign, Fort Ashby was once again charged with the vital responsibility of protecting the flow of supplies and dispatches along the military road that connected Fort Loudoun at Winchester with Fort Cumberland, and onward to other strategic points.
With the successful conclusion of the Forbes Expedition and the capture of Fort Duquesne, the region experienced a period of stabilization. Consequently, Fort Ashby was again closed. It saw intermittent use thereafter until the formal cessation of hostilities in 1763, marking the end of the French and Indian War.
A Fort’s Imperfections and a Commander’s Enduring Service
In hindsight, Fort Ashby was considered to be poorly sited from a defensive perspective. Its nearest water source, a stream, was located 200 yards to the west, and a dominating hill to the south presented a vulnerability from which enemy forces could easily fire into the stockade. Washington himself later stated that the fort’s sole value lay in its function as an escort point for convoys and messengers traversing the critical military road network. This network linked Fort Loudoun, Fort Cumberland, Will’s Creek to the north, and Fort Cocke to the south.
Despite documented instances of Captain John Ashby’s command being perceived as inept, he continued to serve as a military leader throughout the French and Indian War, maintaining a cordial relationship with George Washington. After the war concluded in 1763, Ashby returned to his home in the Shenandoah Valley, where he established and operated a ferry service across the Shenandoah River for many years, transitioning from military command to civilian enterprise.
From Rebellion to Restoration: The Fort Ashby Legacy
Even after its official abandonment as a primary military outpost, Fort Ashby was periodically manned by local militia, demonstrating its ongoing importance to regional security. In October 1794, the venerable structure once again became a focal point of military activity during the Whiskey Rebellion, a significant tax-related protest. Major General Daniel Morgan, commanding a force of 500 or more troops, encamped around the old fort, awaiting orders to advance. Over the next few days, more than 1,200 additional troops converged at Fort Ashby, swelling the ranks to over 1,700 men before they moved on to western Pennsylvania. This assembly represented the largest concentration of military personnel in the area until the outbreak of the Civil War 67 years later, highlighting the fort’s continued strategic relevance.
In the intervening years, a civilian settlement began to flourish around the fort, initially named Frankfort. The town’s name underwent subsequent changes, first to Alaska, and eventually, the community fittingly adopted the name of the historic military post, becoming Fort Ashby, West Virginia.
Remarkably, a section of the original log barracks was repurposed into a dwelling and served as a residence for over 130 years. In 1927, the Potomac Valley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution purchased the building, demonstrating a commitment to preserving this piece of American history. By 1935, ownership was transferred to Mineral County for comprehensive restoration. With invaluable assistance from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the fort was meticulously restored in 1938 and triumphantly reopened as a museum to visitors the following year. Its historical significance was formally recognized in 1970 when Fort Ashby was proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring its preservation for future generations to explore and appreciate.
Conclusion
Fort Ashby stands as a powerful symbol of American resilience and the enduring challenges faced on the colonial frontier. From its tumultuous beginnings under George Washington’s command, through periods of conflict and neglect, to its modern-day role as a cherished museum, the fort encapsulates a crucial chapter of West Virginia’s and the nation’s past. Its story is a vivid reminder of the sacrifices and strategic complexities that forged the United States, offering visitors a tangible link to a pivotal era in American history.
