Forts of Dunmore's War in Southwest Virginia

''This list is based on information given in Hamilton, 1968. Hamilton's information was derived from documents in the Draper Manuscript Collection. These forts were established during Dunmore's War of 1774, and were located along what came to be known as the Kentucky Trace, or Kentucky Road. That road roughly followed State Route 19 from Tazewell to Castle's Woods and further south along the Clinch River to Blackmore's Fort in Rye Cove. In 1773 Boone guided a party from Castle's Woods with the intent of going through the Cumberland Gap to Kentucky. The party followed what would later become known as the Kentucky Trace or Boone's Road, but were stopped well short of their goal when attacked by Indians. This event marked the beginning of hostilities in this portion of SW Virginia that would continue through 1792 with the death of Benge, an Indian leader. In 1774 Lord Dunmore took action to curb attacks on the settlers; his efforts culminated with the defeat of the Indians at the Battle of Point Pleasant. The construction of the Forts on what came to be known as the Kentucky Trace was part of Dunmore's War. These two lists, which summarize information about the Forts, date from October of 1774, and were taken immediately before and after the Battle of Point Pleasant on 10 October 2006.''

(1) Distance between consecutive forts. Distances are as listed originally, but appear to be slightly exaggerated. (2) Draper Mss 3 QQ 116. List dated 6 October 177<4BR> (3) Draper Mss 5 XX 2 List dated end of October, 1774

Source: FRONTIER FORTS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA Original Source, Emory Hamilton, 1968, in Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia, Number 4, 1968, pages 1 to 26