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DAR Headquarters, including the DAR Museum and DAR Library, will be closed to the public on Saturday, June 13 
due to street closures and access restrictions connected with an area event. Additionally, street traffic and parking 
in the area will be significantly restricted in the days leading up to and following the weekend events.

Historic Site

Ashby Fort Site

Ashby Fort Site - Quick Facts
HSP Category Building/Fort
Period 1755
Architect George Washington
HSP Style Fort
Builder British Army under the command of Capt. John Ashby by the order of Lt. Col. George Washington
Construction Wood frame
No. Stories 2
Original Use Fort
Present Use Museum

Historical Significance:

Hostilities between the French and British culminated in removable of the British from Fort Duquense and subsequent defeat and surrender by Col. Washington at Fort Necessity. To counter the encroachment by the French, Gen. Braddock and two British regiments were summoned to expel the French from Ft. Duquesne. On May 9th, Braddock arrived at Ft. Cumberland. He began his march to Ft. Duquesne on June 7, 1755 and was defeated by a much smaller force of French and Indians on July 9th, 1755.

Immediately after Gen. Braddock’s defeat, the French and Indians began their reign of terror on the western frontier. Among the first to experience the death and destruction were the settlers located in the lower Patterson Creek Valley.

On October 27, 1755, Colonel George Washington directed Lt. John Bacon of the Maryland Independent Company to erect two forts in the Valley to protect the residents and form the first line of defense against the marauding Indians. As directed by Col. Washington, the site for one of these forts was to be on the plantation of either Charles Keller (Lot 16) or James McCracken, (Lot 17) of the land grants issued by Lord Fairfax in 1748.

The site chosen was Lot #16 (Keller), which was adjacent to the main road leading to the mouth of Patterson Creek. A ninety by ninety stockade with bastions, a barracks and storehouses was built. Construction of the fort was completed in late November 1755.

Capt. John Ashby of the Virginia 2nd Company of Rangers was initially placed in charge of the Fort. The fort was initially manned by Ashby’s Rangers which consisted of two officers and 32 enlisted men. Among the enlisted men was Daniel Morgan, who would achieve fame during the Revolutionary War.

The soldiers of the Fort engaged in numerous skirmishes with the Indians. By late 1756 most of the settlers in the Valley had either been killed or had fled east to a safer location. The Fort served primarily as a transit point for supplies destined for Fort Cumberland as there was no one remaining in the Valley to protect.

Ashby’s Rangers was composed of mostly farmers, not professional soldiers. As a result, desertion and disciplinary problems continually plagued the operation of the Fort. By Fall 1757, the Fort was abandoned and served in a reduced capacity during the remainder of military operations. The French and Indian War ended in 1763 and settlers began returning to the Valley.

Located at the junction of the main road from Fort Pleasant (Moorefield) to the mouth of Patterson Creek and the main road from Winchester to the North Branch (Short Gap), the area around Ashby’s Fort was the site of considerable economic activity. The citizens of the area petitioned the state of Virginia to form the town of Frankfort. In December 1787, the town of Frankfort, was chartered by Virginia. Later the name would be changed from Frankfort to Alaska then to Fort Ashby.

In 1794, Ashby’s Fort was utilized by General Washington during the Whiskey Rebellion. More than 1,500 Soldiers commanded by Gen. Morgan, camped here while en-route to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania."

In 1927, the Potomac Valley Chapter of the DAR purchased the Fort from Mr. Tom Pyles for $200. The fort had been used as a school as well as a residence. Through the assistance of the WPA the Fort was restored in 1938. The Fort was officially opened for visitors on July 4th, 1939. The Potomac Valley Chapter NSDAR dissolved in 1988 and the full ownership of the museum went to the Fort Ashby Chapter NSDAR which was formed in 1968 and became a co-owner of the fort museum. Fort Ashby Chapter NSDAR disbanded November 2016 and no longer owns or maintains Ashby Fort and the deed was transferred to the museum. 

One of the striking features of the building is the double fireplace that is fourteen feet wide and four feet thick. Numerous other woodwork and wrought-iron materials date to the eighteenth century.

On Dec 12th, 1970, Ashby’s Fort was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1998, a archaeological dig was done on the adjacent property. Numerous objects relating to the period were found and the results of this project are still being evaluated." (Wording from: http://www.ashbysfort.com/history.html) In 2017, an archaeological dig in conjunction with the previous digs has revealed over one half of the footprint of the original fort.

   

Because of the history with DAR, this officer decided to keep the information on this database. - updated Dec 21, 2017 Peggy Vanyo, National Vice Chair, HP Sites and Property Database

 

Designations:

  • National Register of Historical Places
  • State Historical Commission
  • City Landmark

Historic Marker:

  • Marker Organization: West Virginia Historic Marker
  • Marker Text: Fort Ashby, only standing unit in chain of Indian forts that Col. George Washington built along Virginia frontier in 1755. Sharp fighting here in 1756. In 1794, troops under General Daniel Morgan camped here on way to suppress Whiskey Rebellion.

Information for the Visitors:

What you need to know if interested in visiting this destination:

  • Condition of Property: Preserve
  • Open to the Public? Yes at certain times by appointment.
  • Public Fee: Donations
  • Public Hours: By appointment
  • Is it Family Friendly? Yes
  • Lodging? No
  • Brochure available? No
  • Catalog available? No
  • DVD available? No

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Units Overseas

Directions and application forms can be found on this page or in the Forms section of the DAR members' website.

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