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Fort Loudoun State
Historic Area Information
Fort Loudoun played a significant
role in helping Great Britain secure the trans-Appalachian region
from France during the Seven Years War, otherwise known as the
French and Indian War. As the first planned British fort, Fort
Loudoun helped ally the powerful Cherokee Nation to the English
cause and block further French penetration of the area from the
west.
Named after John Campbell, the fourth Earl of
Loudoun, Fort Loudoun had its inception from Governor James Glen
of South Carolina who saw the need for a fort among the Cherokee
as early as 1746. It was not until October 1756 until actual construction
of the fort began.
Tragedy was to befall the fort in less than
two years. A breakdown in relations between the British and the
Cherokee contributed to the surrender of Fort Loudoun. The Cherokee
laid siege to the fort beginning in March of 1760. The Indians
effectively cut the fort's supply line through the mountains to
Fort Prince George. As a result, by June, rations were reduced
to one quart of corn per day divided among three persons. Although
both South Carolina and Virginia mounted efforts to relieve the
seige, neither effort succeeded.
On August 6th, with their situation hopeless,
Paul Demere asked the Cherokee for terms of surrender. On the
morning of August 9th, the garrison left the fort with a party
of 180 men and 60 women and children. The next morning at sunrise,
the Cherokee attacked the garrison's camp, killing all the officers
except one. The remainder were taken as slaves, and most were
eventually ransomed by South Carolina and Virginia.
Click to see
Fort Loudoun Maps
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