Fort Randolph (West Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Randolph |
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| Point Pleasant, West Virginia | |
Modern replica of Fort Randolph
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| Coordinates | 38°50′16″N 82°07′19″W / 38.83765°N 82.12202°W |
| Type | stockade |
| Site history | |
| Built | original construction in 1776, rebuilt in 1785, modern reconstruction in 1974 |
| In use | 1776–1779; 1785–1790s |
| Battles/wars | Western theater of the American Revolutionary War |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Matthew Arbuckle, Sr. William McKee |
| Garrison | 100 men at full strength |
Fort Randolph was an important fort built during the American Revolutionary War. It stood where the Ohio River and Kanawha River meet, in what is now Point Pleasant, West Virginia.
The fort was first built in 1776. It is famous as the place where the respected Shawnee leader, Chief Cornstalk, was killed in 1777. Native American groups attacked the fort in 1778, but it held strong. However, the fort was left empty the next year. It was rebuilt in the 1780s when fighting started again, but it wasn't used much and was later abandoned. Today, a copy of the fort stands about a mile from the original spot.
Contents
Fort Randolph: A Frontier Story
Why This Spot Was Important
The area where Fort Randolph was built became a very important spot before the American Revolution. In 1768, the British government claimed ownership of land in what is now West Virginia from the Iroquois people. After this, American settlers and mapmakers began to explore the region.
One of the first explorers was George Washington, who later became the first president of the United States. In 1770, he traveled down the Ohio River to look at the land around Point Pleasant. Many other American settlers and surveyors also explored the area in the following years.
Before the Fort: Dunmore's War
The Native American groups of the Ohio Country, who hunted on the land south of the Ohio River, were not part of the 1768 treaty. This led to a conflict called Dunmore's War in 1774. This war was mainly between citizen soldiers from Virginia and Shawnee and Mingo people from the Ohio Country. Chief Cornstalk led the Native American forces.
The Battle of Point Pleasant, the only big battle of this war, happened right where Fort Randolph would later be built. After the battle, a small fort called Fort Blair was constructed nearby. But when the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, the British governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, ordered the fort to be abandoned. This was one of his last acts before American rebels removed him from office.
Fort Randolph During the Revolution
In 1776, Virginia's government was worried that its western border was unprotected. So, they ordered a new fort to be built on the same spot. Virginia citizen soldiers, led by Captain Matthew Arbuckle, Sr., built Fort Randolph in May 1776. It was named after Peyton Randolph, who was the first president of the Continental Congress and had passed away the year before.
Fort Randolph, along with Fort Pitt and Fort Henry, was meant to stop Native American attacks into western Virginia and Pennsylvania.
A Tragic Event: Chief Cornstalk
Even with the forts, attacks continued. In November 1776, people in charge of supplies for Fort Randolph, Andrew Donnally and Archer Mathews, explained how hard it was to get food and other items to the fort because of constant threats.
In 1777, Americans planned a military attack into the Ohio Country. In November, Chief Cornstalk visited Fort Randolph to talk about this plan. Many Shawnee people wanted to stay out of the war. Cornstalk warned the Americans that he might not be able to keep all of his tribe neutral. Even though the planned attack was canceled, Captain Arbuckle decided to hold Cornstalk and several other Shawnee leaders at the fort to try and keep peace.
On November 10, an American soldier was killed outside the fort by Native Americans. In response, angry soldiers rushed into the fort and killed Chief Cornstalk and the three other Shawnee prisoners. Virginia's governor, Patrick Henry, tried to bring the killers to trial. However, they were found not guilty because no one would speak against them in court.
The Fort Under Attack
On May 20, 1778, about 200 Shawnee warriors, led by Chief Blackfish, along with Wyandot and Mingo warriors, surrounded Fort Randolph. They began a week-long siege, trying to force the fort's defenders to give up. But the fort held strong.
After failing to capture Fort Randolph, the Native American forces moved up the Kanawha River to attack Fort Donnally. That fort also managed to defend itself. It seems that soldiers and supplies were needed for other battles, so Fort Randolph was abandoned by the Americans in 1779. After it was left empty, Native Americans burned the fort.
The Fort's Later Years
The fort was rebuilt nearby in 1785. This was during a time of more fighting that led to another war with Native Americans. However, this new fort saw little action.
A Modern Replica
In 1973 and 1974, a copy of Fort Randolph was built. It was officially opened on October 10, 1974, which was the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Point Pleasant. The town of Point Pleasant had grown over the original fort site. So, the rebuilt fort was placed in Krodel Park, about one mile from where the first fort stood.
