Two hundred years ago a more relentless united effort by some of the colonies and British troops was made to bring the French and Indian War to a final and successful conclusion by subduing the powerful Cherokee Indians, entrenched in and behind the big fountains where Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina come together. South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia were called on for volunteers and General Jeffrey Amherst, the commander-in-chief of English forces in America, sent contingents of British regulars from the north, through the streets of Charleston, SC. Virginia contributed the regiment that was formerly commanded by George Washington, but at this time by Colonel William Byrd III, with provisions for bringing up its strength to one thousand men.
This was the starting point for Colonel Byrd's expedition. Colonel Byrd's regiment was moved to it from Winchester and new enlistees were brought there for enrollment and training. It was built on land owned and occupied by James Campbell since 1742. Alexander Boyd, paymaster in Byrd's regiment, bought the place from Campbell, and, in addition to the fort, built and operated a store that served not only the military personnel but all the upper Roanoke Valley settlements.
Andrew Lewis at that time was a man of mark on the frontier and in political and military affairs of Virginia. He had a great natural bent for the business, and he got the contract for the first store erected at Fort Chiswell. In 1754 he raised a company and joined Washington's expedition. In 1770 he moved from near Staunton to a farm near Salem, where he lived until his death near the close of the Revolutionary War. He was twice wounded at Fort Duquesne.
The other forts that Colonel Byrd built were named in honor of his partners in the lead mining enterprise they had started in 1756, John Chiswell and John Robinson.
The first fort erected was commanded by Major Andrew Lewis and was named Fort Lewis in his honor. This was the starting point for the expedition. Colonel Byrd's regiment was moved to it from Winchester and new enlistees were brought there for enrollment and training. It was built on land owned and occupied by James Campbell since 1742. Alexander Boyd, paymaster in Byrd's regiment, bought the place from Campbell, and, in addition to the fort, built and operated a store that served not only the military personnel but all the upper Roanoke Valley settlements.
The troops remained at Fort Lewis until sometime in August 1760 when they started moving southwestwardly. They crossed New River at Dunkards Bottom and went on to Reed Creek, where they halted in September and stayed for nearly a year. Here Colonel Byrd caused a fort to be built on the main trail, well located for protection of the Lead Mines, and named it Fort Chiswell. While his troops were encamped in that vicinity word reached him at the Sayer place that Fort Loudon had fallen, when Chief Attakullakulla came in with the few survivors he succeeded in rescuing. Byrd went into winter quarters there and did not move on from Fort Chiswell until late in 1761.
John Chiswell was a man of mark in the ruling aristocratic coterie at Williamsburg. He was a mining prospector. He discovered lead along New River and induced William Byrd and John Robinson to finance him in a partnership to mine it. The operation they started is still a going and profitable one.
Prodded by the Governor of Virginia in the summer of 1761, Byrd moved on and reached Chilhowee in the early fall. Then he went to the Long Island of Holston River, where he built another fort that he named for his other partner.
John Robinson, treasurer of the colony and speaker of the House of Burgesses, was reputed to be the wealthiest and most powerful man in Virginia.
At Chilhowee he established a camp that was named Camp Robinson. The troops remained at Fort Lewis until sometime in August 1760 when they started moving southwestwardly. They crossed New River at Dunkards Bottom and went on to Reed Creek, where they halted in September and stayed for nearly a year. Here Colonel Byrd caused a fort to be built on the main trail, well located for protection of the Lead Mines, and named it Fort Chiswell. While his troops were encamped in that vicinity word reached him at the Sayer place that Fort Loudon had fallen, when Chief Attakullakulla came in with the few survivors he succeeded in rescuing. Byrd went into winter quarters there and did not move on from Fort Chiswell until late in 1761.
John Chiswell was a man of mark in the ruling aristocratic coterie at Williamsburg. He was a mining prospector. He discovered lead along New River and induced William Byrd and John Robinson to finance him in a partnership to mine it. The operation they started is still a going and profitable one.
Prodded by the Governor of Virginia in the summer of 1761, Byrd moved on and reached Chilhowee in the early fall. Then he went to the Long Island of Holston River, where he built another fort that he named for his other partner.
John Robinson, treasurer of the colony and speaker of the House of Burgesses, was reputed to be the wealthiest and most powerful man in Virginia.
At Chilhowee he established a camp that was named Camp Robinson.
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