Fort Dobbs (North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Dobbs
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Detail of a 1770 map of North Carolina by John Collett depicting the locations of Fort Dobbs, the Yadkin and Catawba Rivers, and Salisbury.
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Statesville, North Carolina |
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| Area | 9.5 acres (3.8 ha; 0.0148 sq mi) |
| Built | 1755–1756 |
| Architect | Arthur Dobbs, Hugh Waddell |
| Architectural style | Log blockhouse |
| MPS | Iredell County MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000458 |
| Added to NRHP | September 15, 1970 |
Fort Dobbs was an important fort built in the 1700s in the North Carolina colony. It was located near what is now Statesville, North Carolina in Iredell County. The fort helped protect the American settlers living on the western edge of the colony.
It was a key spot for soldiers, traders, and government officials. The main part of Fort Dobbs was a blockhouse made of logs. It had a shallow ditch around it and, later, a tall fence called a palisade. The fort was built to keep settlers safe from attacks by French soldiers and their Native American allies, like the Shawnee and Delaware tribes.
The fort was named after Arthur Dobbs, who was the Royal Governor of North Carolina from 1755 to 1765. Governor Dobbs even helped design the fort and gave permission for it to be built.
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Why Was Fort Dobbs Built?
Fort Dobbs was built during the French and Indian War (1754–1763). This war was fought between Great Britain and France, with many Native American tribes allied with both sides. The fort's main job was to protect the British colonists who were moving into the western parts of North Carolina.
From 1756 to 1761, soldiers lived at Fort Dobbs. Many of these soldiers were also sent to fight in other areas, like Pennsylvania and the Ohio River Valley. This was all part of the larger French and Indian War.
The Battle at Fort Dobbs
On February 27, 1760, an important battle happened at Fort Dobbs. Cherokee warriors attacked the fort. However, the soldiers defending the fort, known as Provincials, fought back and won the battle.
After this fight and other attacks by Cherokee warriors on North Carolina settlements, the Provincials launched several successful counter-attacks. These actions largely helped stop the Cherokee attacks in the area.
Finding and Rebuilding Fort Dobbs
After 1761, Fort Dobbs was no longer used and eventually disappeared. For many years, its exact location was unknown. However, through careful archaeological digs and historical research, scientists and historians found where the fort once stood. They also learned what it probably looked like.
Today, the land where Fort Dobbs was located is a historic site. It is managed by North Carolina's Division of State Historic Sites and Properties. A full reconstruction of the fort was finished on September 21, 2019. Now, visitors can see what this important 18th-century fort looked like.
Images for kids
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Arthur Dobbs, the governor the fort was named after.
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Hugh Waddell, one of the fort's commanders.
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The Fort Dobbs site, looking towards the visitor's center. The white rope shows where the original fort was.
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The Fort Dobbs site, looking towards Fort Dobbs Road. The dip in the ground is where the "cellar" or storage area was.
