Fort Donnally, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Donnally, West Virginia
|
|
|---|---|
 Fort Donnally, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Fort Donnally, West Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Greenbrier |
| Elevation | 2,205 ft (672 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 304 & 681 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1556430 |
Fort Donnally is a small, historic place in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and buildings without its own local government.
You can find Fort Donnally along Rader Run Road in Rader Valley. It's close to US 60. It's about 8 miles (13 km) west of Lewisburg. It's also about 7.5 miles (12 km) southwest of Falling Spring.
The Story of Fort Donnally
Fort Donnally has an interesting past. It started as a frontier fort. A frontier fort was a strong building or group of buildings. People built them to protect themselves in new, unsettled lands.
Building the Fort
The fort was first built in 1767. A man named Andrew Donnally Sr was responsible for building it. This was a time when settlers were moving into new areas. They needed protection from dangers in the wilderness.
A Brave Warning
In May 1778, Fort Donnally faced a big challenge. A large group of Native Americans planned an attack. But the settlers got a warning thanks to two brave scouts. Their names were John Pryor and Philip Hammond.
These scouts came from Point Pleasant. They walked all the way to Fort Donnally. They even dressed to look like Native Americans. This disguise was given to them by Nonhelema. She was the sister of a famous leader, Chief Cornstalk. Their warning gave the settlers time to prepare.
The Attack and Rescue
The attack on Fort Donnally began as expected. But the settlers were ready. News of the attack quickly reached Lewisburg. Lewisburg was known as Fort Savannah back then.
A messenger brought the urgent news. The very next day, help arrived. Colonel John Stuart led a group of people to help defend the fort. Their arrival helped the settlers protect Fort Donnally. This event is an important part of the fort's history.
