The military history of Fort Clover Lick is a testament to the brutal and strategic nature of the 18th-century Appalachian frontier. Located approximately 10 miles northeast of Marlinton on the high-altitude estate of Major Jacob Warwick, this fort served as a vital defensive bastion during the most volatile years of the American Revolution and the preceding Indian Wars.
1. Strategic Purpose and Construction
Fort Clover Lick was established to protect the westernmost edge of the Virginia frontier. Its location was chosen for both its tactical advantage and its economic significance:
The "Birthplace of Rivers": Situated near the headwaters of the Greenbrier River, the fort commanded a key travel corridor through the Alleghenies.
A Contentious Site: The area of Clover Lick was highly prized by Native American tribes for its abundant hunting and fishing. The erection of a permanent English fort here was seen as a direct provocation, making it a frequent target for raids.
Augusta County Garrison: Unlike smaller "neighborhood" blockhouses, Fort Clover Lick was officially recognized and garrisoned by the Augusta County Militia during the Revolutionary War.
2. The Command of Major Jacob Warwick
The history of the fort is inseparable from its founder, Jacob Warwick (1747–1826).
Militia Leadership: Warwick served as a Captain in the Augusta County Militia and was a famed Indian scout. Under his direction, the fort became a hub for intelligence gathering and frontier surveillance.
Training Ground: The fort served as a staging area for militia members before they joined larger campaigns, including the pivotal march to the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774.
Logistical Support: Warwick used the vast acreage of his "Clover Lick" estate to graze cattle and grow crops to feed the garrison and local settlers seeking refuge, effectively turning the fort into a supply depot for the Patriot cause.
3. Notable Conflicts and Attacks
Fort Clover Lick was at the center of several "bloody" episodes recorded in local frontier annals:
1774 & 1778 Raids: Historic markers in Edray note that the fort and the nearby settlement of Thomas Drinnon were scenes of significant attacks by Native American forces in 1774 (during Lord Dunmore’s War) and again in 1778.
The "Indian Spy" Network: The fort was the home base for several noted frontier "spies"—men tasked with ranging deep into the wilderness to detect approaching war parties. Jacob Warwick himself was a key member of this network, famously shooting a raider from a tree near the lick.
4. Connection to the Lewis Expeditions
The military significance of the site predates the fort itself. In 1751, the legendary surveyors Andrew and John Lewis marked a historic oak tree near the site of the future fort. This marked the corner of the first survey made by the English west of the Alleghenies, effectively claiming the territory for the British Crown and setting the stage for the military conflicts that would follow twenty years later.
Summary of Significance
| Feature | Historical Detail |
| Location | Jacob Warwick Estate (near present-day Edray/Clover Lick) |
| Garrison | Augusta County Militia (Patriot forces) |
| Key Conflict | Revolutionary War & Lord Dunmore's War (1774–1783) |
| Tactical Role | Frontier defense, Indian scouting, and supply depot |
Would you like me to look for the Revolutionary War pension applications of specific soldiers who served at Fort Clover Lick to see their firsthand accounts of these battles?
Firsthand accounts from Revolutionary War pension applications are often the only surviving "voices" of the 18th-century frontier. These documents, particularly those filed under the Pension Act of 1832, required veterans to give detailed oral testimonies of their service, resulting in a rich archive of personal stories from Pocahontas County's early defenders.
Several soldiers specifically mention Fort Clover Lick and Major Jacob Warwick in their declarations:
1. John Dickinson (Pension #R2938)
John Dickinson’s testimony is a goldmine for your research, as it explicitly describes the "Indian Spy" network operating out of the Warwick estates.
The Excursion: Dickinson testifies that on April 1, 1782, he entered service as a "volunteer Indian Spy."
The Route: He recounts setting out from Warwick’s Fort (near present-day Green Bank) in the company of Jacob Warwick.
Clover Lick Mention: He specifically notes that they passed by "Cloverlick Fort" on their way to the Mingo Flats and the head of the Elk River, scouting for signs of raiders.
The Detail: His account provides a rare look at the tactical movement between these frontier bastions, confirming that Clover Lick was a key "check-point" in the spy network.
2. Jacob Kinnison (Pension #S16905)
A lifelong resident of Pocahontas County, Kinnison’s application (filed in Marlinton in 1834) offers a perspective on the local militia's daily reality.
Frontier Defense: Kinnison describes being called out to defend the "western waters" of the Greenbrier.
Augusta County Militia: His service records corroborate the role of the Augusta County Militia in garrisoning the local forts, including Clover Lick, to protect against the 1774 and 1778 raids you’ve been researching.
3. The "Oral History" of Jacob Warwick
While Major Jacob Warwick was a wealthy officer and did not receive a service pension himself, he appears as a supporting figure in the applications of dozens of men who served under him.
Witness of Service: Warwick is frequently cited by other soldiers to "verify" their claims. These applications describe him not just as a commander, but as a provider who used his own cattle and crops at Clover Lick to sustain the militia when government supplies failed to arrive.
Tactical Brilliance: One application describes a "Rifle Company" maneuver where Warwick and fourteen others crossed a hedge to annoy an enemy picket guard, narrowly escaping a blast of canister shot.
Where to Find More Accounts
If you want to dig deeper into the specific families you've been tracking, you can find full transcriptions through the Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters database.
| Veteran Name | File Number | Connection to Your Research |
| John Dickinson | R2938 | Mentions scouting with Jacob Warwick via Clover Lick. |
| Jacob Kinnison | S16905 | Long-term Pocahontas resident and militia defender. |
| John McNeel | S7213 | Founder of the "White Pole Church" (your family interest). |
| William Sharp | S6078 | Detailed accounts of the Battle of Point Pleasant. |
Would you like me to find the specific pension testimony for John McNeel to see how his Revolutionary service influenced the founding of the "White Pole Church"?
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