Temporary Huts

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site is the only state preserved site from the French & Indian War. The fort is located only about 5 minutes off I-40 outside of Statesville. It is a small site that, as it exists right now, is probably only of interest to students of early American history. I have had my eye on visiting it for quite some time but wasn't sure it would be worth the time. Luckily, my job took me nearby to the fort and I finally had an excuse to stop by...

Constructed in 1756, Fort Dobbs was situated on the edge of the frontier at the time and was meant to defend the edge of the colony from expected attacks by neighboring tribes. For much of the war there was little threat to the fort but by 1760 the sympathies of the nearby Cherokee had turned against the colonists and the fort was attacked on February 27th of that year. The battle lasted less than a day and there were no casualties amongst the forts defenders (though around a dozen Cherokee were killed). Upon the conclusion of the war the fort was almost immediately abandoned. For nearly 200 years the site was all but forgotten until early in the 20th Century when interest was finally aroused in preserving the site. Excavations of the site were begun in the 1960's and today the site houses a nice visitor center containing period artifacts and the marked site of the fort. Recently money and plans have been gathered toward reconstructing the old fort. In the near future Fort Dobbs may rise again...

5-3-2013

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site (NC)

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site Entrance
The entrance to Fort Dobbs is quite unassuming, tucked into a modern subdivision. The clouds weren't gonna allow for real flashy pictures...
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site Entrance
From the parking area it's a short walk to the visitor center alongside a row of tall cedars...
Visitor Center
The visitor center is housed in this faux-log cabin. It looks authentic but doesn't have any historic relation to the site as it was built in the 1940's...
Visitor Center
Inside are a number of displays containing artifacts found at the site. Here is a replica swivel gun. The fort contained a number of these small cannon which were utilized more for their shock value against the local Native Americans than their ability to do any major damage...
Visitor Center
This scale replica of Fort Dobbs is located inside the visitor center. The fort was three stories high with oak walls 16" thick and housed anywhere from 30-100 men (typically around 50)...
1775 Map
Fort Dobbs was located on the very edge of the wilderness frontier to protect nearby settlers from attacks by tribes to the west. After the conclusion of the French and Indian War the fort was soon abandoned. Though depicted on this map from 1775, Fort Dobbs had not been occupied in nearly 15 years...
Temporary Huts
Fort Dobbs was constructed in 1756. While construction was ongoing, soldiers lived in temporary log huts like this one...
Temporary Huts
Inside the log hut, looking at the bunks which would have held five men...
Temporary Huts
Looking at the other amenities inside the log hut which included a fireplace and rudimentary table (I'm not sure about the authenticity of the log checker board)...
Temporary Huts
The huts provided very basic shelter for those building the fort. They were constructed with rough hewn logs, cedar shakes, and a straw/mud mortar...
Fort Dobbs
Fort Dobbs as it looks today. The string marks the outline of the original structure. Inside the fort was a well, cellar, and powder magazine the excavated remains of which are all visible. To the left is the excavated remains of the shallow ditch which surrounded the fort that was filled with abatis...
Fort Dobbs
Another look at the Fort Dobbs site...
Fort Dobbs - Cellar & Powder Magazine
The depressions left by the cellar (foreground) and powder magazine (back)...
Fort Dobbs - Stone Chimney
The location which the massive stone chimney stood in the center of the fort is marked by these rocks...
Fort Dobbs
Fort Dobbs - Interior Well
Though there were numerous springs nearby it was important to have a well within the walls of the fort in the event of a siege. The remains of the well have been excavated and are covered by this historic looking but highly inaccurate structure...
Cherokee Attack
On February 27, 1760 Cherokee's were spotted in the surrounding forest. A small force left the fort to investigate, making it to about the point where you see the tree line in the distance. At that point they were attacked and retreated to the fort. After a brief but bloody fight which left an estimated 10-12 Cherokee dead the attackers were driven back. This was the most serious attack upon Fort Dobbs of the entire French and Indian War...
Fort Dobbs - Abatis
The shallow trench surrounding the fort was filled with a tangle of brush and sharpened branches, known as abatis...
Fort Dobbs
Nearby are huge pieces of oak like what would have been used in the construction of the fort...
Former Hand-hewing Reenactor
Even as someone who formerly reenacted hand-hewing of wooden beams, I have a hard time envisioning the type of men who would have been able to shape oak logs of this size...
Fort Dobbs
A small example of the size beams used in the construction of the fort...
Fort Dobbs
The week before I visited there had been reenactments at the fort and some of the displays were still set up...
Fort Dobbs - Kiln
A simple kiln...I'm not sure if they had one in or near the fort, most likely it's just for period demonstrations...
Fort Dobbs Monument
All but forgotten, Fort Dobbs may never have been saved but for the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution in the early 20th Century. This simple stone monument was erected at the site in 1910, promoting awareness and leading to its eventual protection as a State Historic Site...