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Volume XVII Issue 1 March 2020
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
p. 1
-War for Empire -Dispatch
p. 2
-New Gift Shop Items
-Living History Update
-When It Was News
p. 3
-Photos from the Frontier
p. 4-5
- Anglo-Cherokee War Casualties
P. 6
-Raffle
-Fundraising Dinner
p. 7
-Friends of Fort Dobbs
The Fort Dobbs Gazette The Newsletter o f Fort Dobbs State
Historic Site
Department of Natural and
Cultural Resources
Susi Hamilton, Secretary
Office of Archives and History
Dr. Kevin Cherry, Deputy Secretary
Division of State Historic Sites
Michelle Lanier, Director
Charles LeCount, Deputy Director
Jennifer Farley, West Region
Fort Dobbs Historic Site
Scott Douglas, Site Manager
Jason Melius, Historic Interpreter
Andrew Shook, Maint. Tech.
War for Empire
Every Spring, Fort Dobbs’ largest re-enactment of the year
brings the site to life during War for Empire.
Join soldiers, American Indians, and civilians from the 18th
Century as we explore the French & Indian War history of North
Carolina.
This year’s event will focus on the events of the spring of
1760, as the British Army transferred soldiers to the southern
colonies and prepared to invade the homeland of the
Cherokee alongside Provincial troops from both Carolinas.
Tradesmen making and selling reproduction goods, musical
performances, and historic weapons firings will all be
featured.
$4 admission (children under 5 free.) 10am-4pm Saturday,
10am-3pm Sunday.
The completion of the reconstructed blockhouse has had a major
positive impact on operations at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site.
Visitation has increased dramatically. The Grand Opening in
September saw 1500 visitors tour the new fort on the very first day
alone. All told, the calendar year 2019 saw 7,500 MORE visitors to
the site than 2018!
Visitors now have more to do here, even on non-event days, as
guided tours of the blockhouse are offered several times each day
(9:30, 10:15, 11:00, 11:45, 1:00, 1:45, 2:30, 3:15, and 4:00.)
Knowledgeable staff members guide guests through the building,
imparting information about the fort, the lives of those who lived
and fought here, and its place in the larger French and Indian
War.
Thank you to everyone who helped us get to this point. Because
of your generosity and support, we look forward to an even more
successful 2020!
Dispatch from the Fort –By Scott Douglas, Site Manager
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Page 2 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE Volume XVII Issue 1
New Gift Shop Item
Living History Update In spite of torrents of rain, it has been
a busy and successful winter here at the fort! Our annual
Homeschool Day was held on December 13th. Even with the cold and
icy rain, we had more than a dozen volunteers helping interpret
winter life at the fort, and about 180 homeschoolers in attendance.
The following day, we hosted our annual “Winter on the Western
Frontier” event for the general public. Reenactors showed what a
typical (incredibly cold and wet) day at the fort would have been
like in the 1750’s. Now that we have a fort, however, we all stayed
cozy!
The annual “Defense of Fort Dobbs” event was held on February 29
and March 1st. This year we commemorated the 260th anniversary of
the battle with a very special evening program, during which guests
were immersed in the past as they toured the site by candlelight.
Guests were walked through stations where they encountered civilian
refugees and Provincials going out on patrol. The tour culminated
with a mock attack on the fort, with the visitors inside the lower
barracks room while soldiers defended the fort. After the attack,
the guests had a chance to talk with tribally enrolled Shawnee and
Cherokee interpreters about the American Indian experience during
the Anglo-Cherokee War of 1759-1761.
Be sure to join us for War for Empire on the weekend of April
4th and 5th!
When It Was News
“The Pay of our Officers and soldiers is as follows. The Colo.
15s. Lieut. Colo. 12s[hilling]. 6d[pence]., Maj'r 10s., Capt. 8s.,
Lieuts. 4s., Ensigns 3s., Doct'r 4s., and the Private Men 8d. per
Day. ... The pay that Mr. Ashe tells
me Your Private Men are to have, Surprizes me. I wish you c'd
prevail with the Officers and Soldiers to be at the
same Pay as our Forces, but I fear if they know the Pay, they
will be backw'd in coming, but this I must leave to Your
Prudence.”
~ Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia to Governor Rowan North
Carolina, March 23rd, [1754.] Dinwiddie Papers. Vol.
1. P. 122.
Virginia’s Governor Robert Dinwiddie was quite upset when he
learned that the soldiers raised by North Carolina in 1754 for
service in Virginia and Maryland were to be paid almost twice as
much as Virginia’s Provincials. North Carolina voted to pay its
soldiers 1 shilling and 2 pence per day (or 14 pence) versus
Virginia’s 8 pence a day. Dinwiddie was very concerned that
Virginia would have a hard time filling their ranks if their
potential recruits found out about the massive pay difference. It
was a very real possibility that men would travel to North Carolina
to enlist. In the end, there is no evidence that North Carolina
reduced the pay rate for 1754. In 1755, however, North Carolina
privates were paid 8 pence per day, just like Virginia and even
British regular army soldiers.
We are always working on expanding the range of products
available in the site’s gift shop, which is run by the Friends of
Fort Dobbs. Whenever possible, we especially try to find or create
items which directly tie to the history of the fort itself. Our
latest addition certainly falls into that category.
“From the Ground Up” is a short film available for purchase on
DVD. Produced by GL Wilson Building Company, the film tells the
story of the reconstruction of Fort Dobbs.
Background history is included, featuring an interview with site
manager Scott Douglas and footage of the site’s living history
volunteers, before the story shifts to describing the research,
plan-ning, and physical work that came together in a finished
three-story high replica fort.
Pick up a copy on your next visit!
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Page 3 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE March 2020
Photos From the Frontier
“Defense of Fort Dobbs” photos courtesy Amanda Brantley, Kris
Houpt, Robert Crum
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Page 4 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE Volume XVII Issue 1
Archibald Montgomery, invaded Cherokee lands in the
summer of 1760. They succeeded in destroying at least 5
of the Cherokee Lower Towns, but were soundly de-
feated just south of Nikwasi, modern Franklin, NC.
Montgomery lost 32 killed and 132 wounded. The
British claimed to have killed approximately 50
Cherokee warriors.
In 1761, another British and Provincial Army
returned under Colonel James Grant. This time they were
bolstered by Catawba, Chickasaw, Mohawk, and
Stockbridge warriors. On June 10, Cherokee warriors
attempted to stop the British at the second Battle of
Echtoee Pass. While the British claimed the six-hour
battle a victory, the Cherokee managed to kill a large
enough number of the Army’s packhorses they were
prevented from pushing much further beyond Nikwasi.
After taking Nikwasi, the Army burned 18
Cherokee towns and destroyed over 1500 acres of crops.
Women and children were frequent victims in the
attacks. The destruction caused over 4000 Cherokee men,
women, and children to become homeless, and the crop
losses ensured they would not have enough food to last
the winter. Facing a second army composed of North
Carolina and Virginia troops to their north, the Cherokee
were forced to sue for peace.
When the war finally ended, over 284 white
settlers and soldiers had died, 324 were wounded, and at
least 126 had been taken captive. The Cherokee lost
approximately 221 killed and 77 captured. The numbers
for both the Cherokee and whites are likely considerably
higher. The numbers in the table are based on official
military reports, newspaper accounts, colonial records,
and oral histories. They are imperfect; especially where
the Cherokee are concerned. No one accounted for
Cherokee losses, so we have no way of knowing how
many were really lost or wounded. These numbers also
do not account for those who perished due to starvation
and exposure following the British and Provincial
Army’s devastation of Cherokee lands. That number
could be in the thousands.
Casualties of the Anglo-Cherokee War By Jason Melius, Historic
Interpreter
Histories of wars and battles are never complete
without a tally of casualties. This is one way of gauging
successes and failures in human terms. The Anglo-Cherokee
war of 1759-1761 is no different. However, outside of
estimates of losses during the two Battles of Echoee Pass,
no
compiled approximation of losses for the Anglo-Cherokee
War have been found to date. This article seeks to rectify
that by examining primary source material such as official
military correspondence, colonial newspapers, and oral
histories, and hopes to paint a picture of the human cost of
this war.
Between April 1759 and July 1761, the frontiers of
North and South Carolina were ablaze. When the attacks that
ushered in the Cherokee War began, people fled their
frontier homes and sought refuge in the few forts along the
frontier. In North Carolina, refugees flocked to the
Moravian
settlement of Bethabara (modern Winston-Salem), William
Johnson’s fort along the Yadkin River in modern
Tanglewood Park, and Fort Dobbs. Settlers who chose to
remain in their homes risked becoming targets of Cherokee
seeking revenge for murders at the hands of white settlers
in
Virginia in 1758. The initial round of attacks between April
and May saw 52 North Carolinians murdered, roughly the
same number of Cherokee as had been murdered in 1758.
After a five-month lull, attacks resumed and
escalated in the two Carolinas following a series of
blunders
by the government of South Carolina. These missteps
included taking hostage and murdering Cherokee delegates
who attempted to prevent further bloodshed.
The February 27th, 1760 attack on Fort Dobbs
resulted in the deaths of a soldier and an unidentified
young
boy, the wounding of another soldier, and the deaths or
wounding of 10 to 12 Cherokee Warriors. Despite the failed
attack on the fort, the Cherokee continued to brazenly
attack
within a mile of Fort Dobbs through the end of June, killing
several militiamen, Provincial soldiers, and civilians.
Militia
ranging companies sometimes were victorious and on one
occasion killed and scalped at least 10 Cherokee. The scalps
were turned in to Colonel Waddell for a bounty of £10 each.
A British and Provincial Army, under Lt. Colonel
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Page 5 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE March 2020
Date Cherokee Whites
1759 Colony Killed Wounded Captured Killed Wounded Captured
April 22-26 NC 21
May 3 NC 13
May 5 NC 18
July 3 Ft Loudoun 1 rape
September 7 Ft Loudoun 1 1 3
September 11 Ft Loudoun 1
November 10 SC 1 24 3
1760 NC
January SC 14
January 22 NC 27
January 22 SC 2
February 1 SC 50
February 2 SC 2 2
February 3 SC
February 16 SC 21 1 1
February 21 NC 2
February 27 NC 10-12 2 1
March 3 SC 10 2
March 8 NC 2 1
March 9 NC 2 1
March 10 NC 9 1
March 13 NC 5 2
March 15 NC 18
March 20 NC 1 1 1
April 2 NC 1
April 3 Ft Loudoun 2
May 7 SC 9
June 1 SC 5
June 2 NC 80 40 4
June 27 NC 50 34 132
August 10 Ft Loudoun 26 120
September NC 1
1761
April SC 1 1
May SC 19 52
June 10 NC 30 1 12 76
June 12 NC 1 1
July 3 NC 1
August NC 1
August 10 GA 2
Totals NC 165 1 35 197 268 1
SC 56 1 42 87 56 3
Grand Total 221 2 77 284 324 126
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Page 6 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE Volume XVII Issue 1
Please join the Friends of Fort Dobbs for our Spring Celebration
on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 5:30 pm at
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site.
The meal will be catered by J.D.’s Market and Deli, with
bluegrass music from the Jim Tarman Band and art by local students.
You will also be able to take a tour of the fort.
To get your tickets for this event, please contact Katherine
Smith at 919-612-0606.
Tickets are $25 per person and reservation deadline is April
17th.
Fort Dobbs in Bloom Fundraiser
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Page 7 FORT DOBBS GAZETTE March 2020
FRIENDS OF FORT DOBBS ROLL CALL
The Friends of Fort Dobbs supports the mission of Fort Dobbs
State Historic Site:
“To preserve and interpret the history of Fort Dobbs and North
Carolina's role in the French and Indian War.”
Mike and Betsy Yarborough
Statesville, NC
William Young, Harmony, NC
Corporal
Pat and Curtis Abell
Statesville, NC
Don and Marilyn Armlin
Statesville, NC
David and Cheryl Childress
Crozier, VA
John B. Cross, Statesville, NC
Donna Dailey, Hickory, NC
Dan Mitchell, Statesville, NC
Tip Nicholson and Nancy Davis
Statesville, NC
James and Patricia Reilly
Mocksville, NC
Andrea and James Shipley
Denver NC
Joe H. Troutman, Statesville, NC
Ray Wise, Statesville, NC
Recruit
Dr. James and Gail Benson
Davidson, NC
Sierra Hayes, Taylorsville, NC
Mary Alice Mayberry,
Taylorsville, NC
David M. Chisholm, Seagrove, NC
Rick T. Cockerham, Elkin, NC
Lieutenant Rosie G. Adams, Statesville, NC
Milton and Cindy Bland,,
Statesville, NC
Don Cline, Greensboro, NC
Zach and Anna Gordon
Statesville, NC
Rona Gordon, Statesville, NC
Pam and Phil Hazel, Statesville, NC
Mo and Dee Lunsford, Union Grove, NC
William R. Mayes Jr., Charlotte, NC
Bill and Becky Pope, Statesville, NC
Ann Tharpe, Vero Beach, FL
Michael and Kathy White,
Statesville, NC
Tom and Parksie Wilson,
Statesville, NC
Sergeant
Jeff and Nancy Bailey, Statesville, NC
Ralph and Caroline Bentley
Statesville, NC
Peggy and Chandler Bryan,
Statesville, NC
Bill and Frances Coffey, Statesville, NC
Robb Collier and Julia Wilson
Statesville, NC
Kenneth Conger, Statesville, NC
Dr. Laurel Eason, Statesville, NC
Norman and Nancy Harris
Statesville, NC
Brad Henderson, Mooresville, NC
John and Sue Hoover,
Statesville, NC
THANK YOU NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS!
Adelaide Horton and John Fraley
Mooresville, NC
Edwin and Louise Hunter,
Statesville, NC
Abigail Jennings and Randolph
Lewis
Cornelius, NC
Lori Lawrence, Statesville, NC
Bill and Carol Leach,
Statesville, NC
Betty Jo H. Litaker,
Statesville, NC
Will Long, Statesville, NC
Jerry Lundy, Statesville, NC
Jane and Charlie Onsrud,
Mooresville, NC
Tammy and David Pressly
Statesville, NC
Ken and Retha Reece,
Fairview, NC
Bob and Tammi Remsburg
Locust, NC
Jim and Anne Rhyne,
Statesville, NC
Carolyn and Grant Sharp
Statesville, NC
Bob and Pam Stamey
Statesville, NC
Thomas and Rosemary Stephens Statesville, NC
Hank and Simons Welter
Brevard, NC
Rick Whitener, Indianapolis IN
Ken and Brenda Wilson, Olin, NC
Find us on Facebook or at
Www.fortdobbs.org
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Fort Dobbs State Historic Site 438 Fort Dobbs Rd.
Statesville, NC 28625 704/873-5882
PO Box 241
Statesville, NC 28687
The Friends of Fort Dobbs welcomes additional tax-deductible
contributions. For giving memorials, honoraria or matching gifts
from employers, call the Friends of Fort Dobbs, at 704-873-5882 or
e-mail at [email protected]
Your membership benefits include:
10% discount in store
Advance notice of events
Quarterly newsletter
And more…...
Application Please Print
____________________________________________________ Name(s)
____________________________________________________ Address
____________________________________________________ City State Zip
____________________________________________________ Day Phone
Evening Phone E-Mail My Check is Enclosed:___________ Please debit
my Credit Card: Visa/MC (Circle One) My Credit Card Number
is_______________________ Security Code:__________
Exp.__________
□ Recruit (Students and Seniors) $10
□ Corporal $50
□ Sergeant $100
□ Lieutenant $250
Please mail application with your check or credit card
information to:
Friends of Fort Dobbs
Support Fort Dobbs through your Friends membership!
Thank you to the Friends of Fort
Dobbs for funding the printing of
The Fort Dobbs Gazette
