Fort Loudoun Winchester Virginia
Designed & built by Colonel George Washington
1756-1758
Also related events 1752-1764 before and after French & Indian War
See past Fort Loudoun days on
French and Indian War Foundation site
See Event Page
For current calendar
Fort Loudoun Day
Saturday 15 May 2021
10am
Muster of the Virginia Regiment, Captain George Mercer company. They will assemble at the site of Col. Washington’s Fort Loudoun, 419 N Loudoun Street.
1 pm
Flag Raising,
then Volleys then the March down the walking mall of Loudoun Street.
2pm at the Union Jack
Fort Loudoun Day commemorates the start of construction of this fort.
FORT LOUDOUN DAY 2016
14 MAY 2016
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
419 N Loudoun St Winchester VA
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Speaker: Tony Elar – 11:30am
Topic: "Soldiers of the Virginia Regiment"
Captain George Mercer’s Co. of the Virginia Regiment.
will make its first appearance at Fort Loudoun Day
Steve Resan, French and Indian War Board member,
will walk about as James Wood (Senior).
By the way, James Wood died in 1759,
but here James Wood will be — walking about,
occasionally clearing his throat,
and establishing firm footing with his cane,
can inform all comers of the details of his life.
See story on James Wood's only election.
Col. Wood’s Color Guard will appear
Left to Right
Picture 1 - VA Regiment Uniform. See uniform of Col Washington
Picture 2 - Steven Kerry our tailor, Tony Elar
Picture 3 - Our Recruiter Tony Elar Jr
Picture 4 - Jim Moyer on far right
Raleigh Boaze – Interprets life on the frontier as a backwoodsman
Our speaker last year , Raleigh Boaze, on Fort Loudoun Day, after his speech on the Fated Braddock Campaign, showed us his rifle, the source of daily modern metaphors:
flash in the pan, half cocked, cock sure, cocky, lock stock and barrel, keep your powder dry, buck = 1 dollar for a male deerskin.
Raleigh Boaze spoke of the clothing he made and how he made the rifle he carried.
Dept. of Geographers – colonial era surveyors
And two engineers were there under a tent, using ink from lamp oil, the other drawing the outlines of a fort with 4 corner bastions.
See their website – http://armygeographer.org/
And their Facebook Page.
On picture The Geographers – Left to Right
Michael Wood and Robert ‘Kass’ Kassebaum
Fort Loudoun Day , May 16, 2015, 10am to 1pm
commemorates the start of building Fort Loudoun in May 1756.
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We are delighted to announce a speaker, Raleigh Boaze
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Subject of talk by Raleigh Boaze:
“General Braddock’s Failed Attempt to
Capture Fort Duquesne and the Colonies Involvement “
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Raleigh Boaze is a living history interpreter of the 18th century colonial frontier. Mr. Boaze presents a first person account of life on the ‘American’ frontier in the years 1754 to 1775. Dressed in backwoodsman attire and accoutrements, he describes the settlers’ strife at the hands of the Native Americans aligned with the French opposing encroachment of the British colonists beyond the Appalachians and underscores the importance of this period in the eventual founding of our country.
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Mr. Boaze presents his interpretation of the 18th century frontier life in schools and before civic groups in the Mid-Atlantic region and has been instrumental in bringing about changes to history texts used in the public schools to ensure that they accurately portray life on the frontier during this period.
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For the source of celebrating Fort Loudoun Day,
see letter from George Washington to Adam Stephen May 18, 1756.
Another site to check for that same letter is here.
FORT LOUDOUN DAY 2015
FORT LOUDOUN DAY 2014
309 photographs
were made into a collage
to show you
a little bit of what happened on
Fort Loudoun Day, May 17, 2014.
See more info below
FORT LOUDOUN DAY MAY 17, 2014
10am to 1pm
419 N Loudoun St Winchester VA
Cell Phone Tour 703-574-6110
Everyone is Welcome
All free
Light Refreshments
Rain or Shine
10am to 1pm
Tours of the grounds every half hour
by Historian and Author Norman Baker
18th Century Painting demonstrations
by re-enactor Kevin O’Malley of New York
Larry Johnston, “Liberty Man” will be present
Steve Resan will portray James Wood
11:30am Speaker: Bill Hunt -
Portraying a Lt. in the F&I War
12 Noon Raise the British Flag
with re-enactors and Bagpiper Bryant Lafollette
From Col. George Washington To LIEUTENANT COLONEL ADAM STEPHEN Winchester, May 18, 1756.
Sir: When I wrote to you last, I expected to have been at Fort Cumberland ere this; but the multiplicity of business in which I am engaged, will prevent me now until my return from Williamsburgh; which may be sometime hence: as I wait, at this place, the arrival of an association of Gentlemen; who are, I am told by the Governor, to point out the places for Forts to be built on our Frontiers. I am also detained here [Winchester VA] to construct and erect a fort, which the Governor has ordered to be done with expedition. As it will be necessary to have a number of Carpenters, &c. to carry on the work with spirit, and vigour; you are desired to send down all the men of Captain George Mercers Company; those that are there of Captain Bells. All the men that are really skilled in masonry: and if all these do not make up fifty; you are to complete the party to that number, out of the best Carpenters in other Companies.
[Note:Washington's plan for this fort, which was called Fort Loudoun, is in the Washington Papers , Library of Congress. An extract of the act of the Virginia Legislature, dated May 12, 1756, authorizing the building of the fort, is also in the Washington Papers. ]
See below what happened on
Fort Loudoun Day in 2013
