Fort Loudoun Winchester Virginia
Designed & built by Colonel George Washington
1756-1758
Also related events 1752-1764 before and after French & Indian War
Fort Loudoun Site
To LIEUTENANT COLONEL ADAM STEPHEN Winchester, May 18, 1756.
"Sir: ... I am also detained here 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. ]
January 12, 1757 - letter from Col George Washington to Gov Dinwiddie from Fort Cumberland:
"When I left Winchester, I gave directions about carrying on the works at Fort Loudoun with all possible dispatch. But a letter from Captain Mercer ... informs me that they are at a loss in respect to the manner of making the ambrasures thro the parapet; although I gave directions in person before I came away on this head; they propose a method that will spoil the whole work. And as I could not make them sensible of my plan by instruction only when present, I have little hope of accomplishing it by writing, consequently I am reduced to a disagreeable dilemmma."
From Garland R Quarles' "George Washington and Winchester Virginia 1748-1758, page 26" of Volume III Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society Papers
Keys to this aerial picture.
1. Fort Loudoun Apartments.
2. Ditch surrounding Fort. But because of the hard stone, this may have never been fully accomplished all the way around the Fort.
3. Baker-Hardy House, 419 N Loudoun Street. This house and lot currently owned by the French and Indian War Foundation is rented out. One room is reserved for Board of Director meetings. Tours of the outline of the Fort are conducted. The houses on the east side of North Loudoun sit on earth moved and filled by George Washington's troops. Their backyards still show the slope of those earthworks.
4. Peyton Street
5. North Loudoun Street. When this fort was built, Loudoun Street actually went around the east side of the Fort, labelled Potowmack Road. Notice the barracks sits on the eastern portion of North Loudoun Street.
6. Water Well. Blasted with blackpowder by Washington's men to cut through the rock. It is believed from the writings by Washington and his men that many got sick from this water. Water can still be pumped out of this well to this day, but not recommended for drinking. See more on Well here.
7. Barracks. Washington moved into Fort Loudoun December 1756, as his headquarters. There is some dispute if there was even a building at Cork Street known as "Washington's Headquarters" ,shown in slide show below, according to Garland R Quarles, local historian and educator b. January 27, 1901 d. August 20 1986.
On the aerial photo above, this is key 3.
On the aerial photo above, this is key 6. Well drilled by George Washington's men in backyard of the Baker-Hardy House.
Long alleged as Washington's Office or Headquarters, this building several blocks away from Fort Loudoun might not have existed during the building of Fort Loudoun.
On the aerial photo above, this is key 3.