Southern West Virginia

Last Update: 01/MARCH/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2008 American Forts Network

Briscoe's Station
(1773 - 1774), Boaz
A settlers' station. The inhabitants fled in 1774 after several incidents with the local Indians. It is unclear if they returned to rebuild.

Fort Boreman
(1863 - 1865), Parkersburg
A Union fort built on Mt. Logan (Boreman Hill) at Nemesis Park (Fort Boreman Historic Park) on the south-side of the Little Kanahwa River. The main structure was converted into a private home after the war, and survived until it was destroyed by fire in 1916.

Capt. James Neal's Fort
(1785 - unknown), Parkersburg
A settlers' blockhouse located on the south-side of the Little Kanawha River, about one mile from the Ohio River. Also known as Neal's Station. Attacked by Indians in 1789.

Point Park Blockhouse
(1792 - unknown), Parkersburg
Built by the VA state militia. Still standing in 1803.

Capt. John James' Blockhouse
(Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park)
(1792 - 1795 ?), Blennerhassett Island
A settlers' blockhouse. The abandoned blockhouse was expanded and became the first home of Harman Blennerhassett and his wife in 1798, used until their mansion was built and completed in 1800. The blockhouse was then later demolished. Site located on the eastern end of the island near the still extant Neale House (1833). The island was known as Belpre Island from 1784 to 1799.

In 1805-06 the island was the scene of an illegal scheme by Aaron Burr, General James Wilkinson, and Blennerhassett to conquer Spanish Texas for their own empire. Virginia militia troops invaded the island in December 1806, but Burr and Blennerhassett had fled to Mississippi. The Blennerhassett Mansion burned down in 1811, but was reconstructed on the exact site from 1984 to 1991. Admission fee. Access by ferry from Parkersburg.

Flinn's Station
(1785 - unknown), Lee Creek
A settlers' stockaded fort, also known as Flinn's Fort, located on the north-side of the mouth of Lee Creek. Built by brothers Thomas and Jacob Flinn.

Fort Belleville
(1785 - 1791), Belleville
A VA state militia two-story blockhouse, enlarged in 1786 with a 100 by 300-foot square palisade with four blockhouses and several cabins to be used for town defense. Also known as Capt. Joseph Wood's Fort.

Camp McDonald
(1862), Arnoldsburg
A Union encampment. CSA forces attacked the camp in May 1862.

Fort Moore
(1864), Glenville
A Union 30-by-30-foot log fort with surviving earthworks. The fort was burned by Confederates. Located on Tank Hill behind Glenville State College.

Bulltown Fort
(Burnsville Lake Wildlife Management Area)
(1863), Bulltown
A small Union fort located at the bridge over the Little Kanawha River. Union earthworks still remain outside of town within the Burnsville Lake WMA, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A visitors center has recently been built here.

Fort Pickens
(1861 - 1864), Duffy
A Union blockhouse fort built on the land of James Pickens, burned by "bushwackers" in December 1864.

Capt. Isaac Robinson's Fort
(1794 - unknown), near York
A settlers' blockhouse on the Ohio River adjacent to Six Mile Island (location ?). Attacked by Indians in 1794.

Fort Randolph
(Tu-Endie-Wei State Park)
(1776 - 1779, 1785 - 1792), Point Pleasant
A VA state militia stockade fort that replaced the earlier colonial militia stockade Fort Blair (1774 - 1775), which had been burned by Indians just after it was abandoned by the troops. The fortified Camp Point Pleasant (1774), also of the VA colonial militia, was originally here before that. The Battle of Point Pleasant occured here in October 1774, the climax of Dunmore's War against the Shawnee Indians. In November 1777 Shawnee Chief Cornstalk and his son were detained here during a conference with militia leaders, but were killed by disgruntled soldiers. Fort Randolph was attacked by Indians in May 1778. It was abandoned and then burned in July 1779. A third fort (unnamed ?) was later built just upriver from here in 1785, consisting mainly of a cluster of cabins. A 1974/1996 reconstruction of the 1776 fort is located one mile east of town on WV 62 in Krodel Park. Also in Krodel Park is a marker noting the location of Daniel Boone's Trading Post (1790 - 1793), simply an unfortified cabin.

Capt. Leonard Cooper's Fort
(1792 - unknown), near Brighton
A settlers' blockhouse located on the north bank of the Kanawha River eight miles from Point Pleasant.

Milton Earthworks
(1860's), Milton
Union-built earthworks are located adjacent to Union Baptist Church on Fairgrounds Road.

Big Sandy Station
(1773 - unknown), Kenova
A settlers' station built at the mouth of the Big Sandy River.

Fort Gay
(1789 - unknown), Fort Gay
A settlers' log fort located at the confluence of the Tug and Levissa Forks of the Big Sandy River. Charles Vancouver and party attempted a settlement here.

Winfield Earthworks
(1864), Winfield
Union rifle pits are still visible from the October 1864 battle. A marker is at the county courthouse.

Tackett's Fort
(1787 - 1790), St. Albans
A settlers' stockaded fort also known as Coal Fort, located one-half mile north of the mouth of Coal River. Built by either Lewis or John Tackett, brothers. Attacked by Indians in 1790 and destroyed, in which all but one person were captured or killed.

Camp Tompkins (1)
(1861), St. Albans
A CSA fortified camp located at the mouth of the Coal River.

Camp Two Mile
(1861), North Charleston
A CSA camp located at the Kanawha River and Two Mile Creek.

Fort Lee
(1788 - 1815), Charleston
Originally named Col. George Clendenin's Fort or Station. Legend says it was attacked by Indians in 1789 when "Mad Ann" Bailey made the round trip to Fort Savannah in Lewisburg in three days to get relief supplies. The stockade was removed in 1815 and the blockhouse was used as a private residence. Later moved to Virginia and Brooks Streets where it burned down in 1891. Original site located at Kanawha Blvd. and Brooks Street. The city was founded in 1794.

Ruffner's Fort
(1788 - unknown), Charleston
A settlers' fort located one mile up the Kanawha River from the mouth of the Elk River.

Camp Atkinson
(1898), Charleston
A Spanish-American War muster and assembly camp for state troops. Located on the north bank of the Kanawha River across from Elk, about one-half mile below the mouth of the Elk River.

Fort Scammon (2)
(1863 - 1865), South Charleston
A Union earthworks fort located on Fort Hill on west (south) bank of the Kanawha River at the mouth of Ferry Branch. Originally named Camp White in 1863. It was restored in the 1970's as a city park.

Camp Lee
(1898), Kanawha City
A Spanish-American War muster and assembly camp for state troops.

Capt. John Morris' Fort
(1774 - unknown), near South Malden
A settlers' stockaded fort located opposite the mouth of Campbell's Creek. John was the brother to William (see below).

Camp Piatt
(1863), West Belle
A Union encampment.

Kelly's Fort (1)
(1774 - 1790 ?), Cedar Grove
A local militia fort located at the mouth of Kelly's Creek. Built by Capt. William Morris (brother to John), and named after Walter Kelly, who was killed here in 1772. Also known as Kelly's Station. and also as Capt. William Morris' Fort. Travelers were still stopping here during the 1780's.

Camp Maskell
(1862 - 1863 or 1864), near Kanawha Falls
A Union fortified camp and blockhouse located downriver from Gauley Bridge. Renamed Camp Reynolds. Gun pits and trenches still remain.

Camp Tompkins (2)
(1861 - 1862), near Gauley Bridge
A Union fortified camp located on the grounds of present-day Hawks Nest Country Club located southeast of town. Gun pits still remain. A small redoubt was built at the mouth of Sand Creek just to the north.

Fort Toland
(1862 - 1863), Fayetteville
A Union fort with earthworks on the southeast side of town. It was renamed Fort Scammon (1). Adjacent was Battery McMullan. Two other Union forts (unnamed) were located on the northeast side of town.

Wolf Creek Fort
(1772 - unknown), South Fayette
A settlers' fort on the west bank of the New River at the mouth of Wolf Creek.
(NOTE: this fort may have possibly been located at Narrows, VA, also on the New River at the mouth of Wolf Creek.)

Camp at Spy Rock
(1861), Lookout
A Union camp to oppose the CSA Big Sewell Mt. Camp.

Camp Gauley
(Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park)
(1861), Carnifex Ferry
A CSA fortified camp and bridgehead. No earthworks remain.

Camp on Big Sewell Mountain
(1861), near Rainelle
A CSA fortified camp and General Robert E. Lee's headquarters. Lee was introduced to his famous horse Traveller at this camp. A marker locates a still existing trench line.

Meadow Bluff Camp
(1861), near Crawley
About three miles of CSA infantry trenches were located on the bluff above the Meadow River. Portions still extant.

Camp Jones
(1862), near Flat Top
A Union camp located on Flat Top Mountain. Also known as Camp Flat Top.

Fort Davidson-Bailey
(1777 - unknown), Bluefield
A settlers' blockhouse built by John Davidson and Richard Bailey, located at Beaver Pond Springs.

Mare's Station
(1770's), Mercer County
A settlers' station located on the Bluestone River.

John McGuire's Station
(1774 - unknown), near Spanishburg
A settlers' station located on the Bluestone River. Used by the VA state militia in 1776.
(thanks to Joe McGuire for providing possible location and date of land grant)

Fort Culbertson
(Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area)
(1774 - unknown), Crumps Bottom
A VA colonial militia stockade built during Dunmore's War. Also known as Fort Byrd, Fort Field, and Culbertson's Bottom Fort. The area was first settled in 1753 and originally known as Culbertson's Bottom.

Thomas (or Francis) Farley's Fort
(1775 - unknown), Farley ?
A settlers' fort located at "Warford" (location ?) at or near Crump's Bottom. Possibly the same as Fort Culbertson listed above.

Capt. Michael Woods' Fort
(1773 - unknown), near Peterstown
A settlers' stockade located on Rich Creek four miles east of town. Still in use in 1781.

Capt. John Cook's Fort
(1770 - 1780's), Red Sulphur Springs
One of the largest frontier forts, the palisade covered over an acre and had four blockhouses. More than 300 settlers took refuge here in 1778. Used by the VA state militia 1776 - 1780. Located on Indian Creek three miles from its mouth.

Mann's Fort (2)
(1770 - unknown), near Greenville
A settlers' fort built by Adam and Jacob Mann, located on Indian Creek about ten miles west of Union.

Fort Burnsides
(1770's), Monroe County
A settlers' fort also used by the VA militia during the American Revolution. Exact location undetermined. Also spelled Byrnsides.

Capt. Wallace Estill's Fort
(1773 - unknown), Raines Corner
A settlers' three-story stone house on Indian Creek.

Capt. Peter Van Bebber's Fort
(1771 - unknown), Lowell
A settlers' blockhouse. Attacked by Indians in 1777. Also spelled Van Bibber.

Fort Greenbrier (2)
(1771 - unknown), near Wolf Creek Station
A settlers' fort located on Wolf Creek. Attacked by Indians in 1777. Possibly also known as Jarrett's Fort.

Henry Baughman's Fort
(1755), Glenray
A settlers' blockhouse (not palisaded) attacked and destroyed by Shawnee Indians shortly after it was built. All were killed.

(John ?) Keeney's Fort
(1770's), Summers County
A settlers' fort located near Keeney Knob northwest of Glenray.

Capt. Mathew Arbuckle's Fort
(1774 - 1778), Blaker Mills
A VA militia stockaded blockhouse located at the mouth of Mill Creek.

Capt. John Stuart's Fort
(1769 - 1780's), Fort Spring
A settlers' fort located on Muddy Creek. Attacked by Indians in 1774. This was also the first courthouse of Greenbrier County in 1780. The fort was demolished in 1789 and replaced by Stuart's manor house. The town was later named for the former fort's main source of fresh water.

Fort Savannah
(1755 - 1760's, 1774 - 1780's), Lewisburg
A VA colonial militia stockaded fort at the "Big Levels" was originally here. The site in 1774 was then known as Camp Union, and used by the VA colonial militia in preparation for the Battle of Point Pleasant (October 1774). A new state militia two-story blockhouse was built here in 1776 and probably named Fort Charles. Some sources erroneously name it Fort Union (see below). The Fort Savannah Barracks and Museum (Lewisburg Historical Society) is located at Andrew Lewis Park on North Jefferson Street.

Fort Union
(1786 - unknown), Lewisburg
A VA state militia blockhouse located near the site of Fort Savannah. It was demolished in the 1830's.

Col. Andrew Donnally's Fort
(1771 - 1780's), near Alta ¤ WVA Archives Photo ¤
A settlers' large palisaded two-story blockhouse located on Rader's Run northeast of town on Rader's Valley Road. Attacked by Shawnee Indians in 1778. A reconstruction was once built from the original logs, but it was demolished in 1925.

Fort Henrey
(1777 - unknown), Greenbrier County
A local militia fort. Location undetermined.

Fort at Fort Lick
(1770's), Webster Springs
A possible settlers' fort located at the salt spring. Fort Lick was the original name of the town.

Droop Mountain Battlefield (State Park)
(1863), Droop
Earthworks remain from the 1863 Battle of Droop Mountain. Walking trails and a museum are here.

Fort Eckley
(1772 - unknown), Mill Point
A settlers' fort located at the "Little Levels" on the Greenbrier River, also known as Day's Fort (1774) and Price's Old Fort. Also spelled in some sources as Keckley or Keekley.

Fort Green Bryer (1)
(1755), Marlington
A small stockade built by the VA colonial militia. The Pocahontas County Courthouse is now on the site.

Thomas Drennan's Fort
(1774 - unknown), near Edray
A settlers' fort. Attacked by Indians in 1774 and 1778. Also spelled Drinnon.

Camp Northwest
(1861), near Huntersville or Minnehaha Springs
A CSA encampment on Knapp Creek.

Jacob Warwick's Fort
(1770's), Clover Lick
A settlers' fort also known as Clover Lick Fort.

Fort Dunmore
(1770's), Dunmore
A settlers' blockhouse.

John Warwick's Fort
(1770's), near Green Bank
A settlers' fort located west of town at the Forks of Deer Creek.

Camp Allegheny
(1861 - 1862), Top of Allegheny
Also known as Camp Baldwin and Camp Johnson. It was the Confederate winter camp after the Battle of Greenbrier River, defended by eight guns. Located about eight miles southeast of Camp Bartow on Buffalo Ridge. The site of 35 cabins still remains, as well as extensive trenches and gun pits. At 4,400 feet elevation, this was the highest fortification in the eastern United States.

Camp Bartow
(1861), Bartow
This Confederate post was abandoned and the Union seized it during the Battle of Greenbrier River. It was to protect the river crossing of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike (now US 250). Trenches and a gun battery still exist.

Cheat Summit Fort
(1861 - 1862), Cheat Bridge
A large Union fort protecting the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike through the mountains. Also known as Fort Milroy and Camp McClellan. Two blockhouses were located on either side of the road at the summit. Cabins or huts were located within the fort. The earthworks are well preserved. Located on White Top Mountain above 4,000 feet elevation. The U.S. Forest Service visitor center at Elkins has the history of these forts in the Monongahela National Forest Civil War Tour

Hadden's Fort (1)
(1774 - unknown), near Spangler
A settlers' fort located at the mouth of Elkwater Creek. Sometimes referred to as Old Fort. Also spelled Haddan.

Camp Elkwater
(1861 - 1862), Elkwater
A Union fortified camp on the Huntersville-Huttonsville Turnpike. Earthworks were about 300 yards across the valley, with gun batteries at each end. Remnants still exist.

John Hadden's Fort ?
(1774 ?, 1780's ?), Randolph County
A settlers' fort at the mouth of Becco's (Becky ?) Creek. Also spelled Haddan. Location undetermined, possibly near Lee Bell.

James Warwick's Fort
(1770's), near Huttonsville
A settlers' fort used by the VA state militia in 1776.

William Currence's Fort
(1774 - unknown), Mill Creek
A settlers' fort that protected a gristmill. Also possibly known as Fort Cassino (2).

NEED MORE INFO: A French fort or trading post (1670's) on the Kanawha River, located either at Charleston or Gauley Bridge.

Towns: Fort Branch near Logan (Pt. Branch on AAA map)

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