Fort Randolph

Fort Randolph was built to provide protection for the Virginia frontier. In April 1778, Shawnee warriors sought revenge for the garrison’s killing of Chief Cornstalk the previous spring, and ambushed a group of skirmishers from the fort. In May 1778, Shawnee warriors returned to Fort Randolph demanding it surrender, leading to a week long siege.  With the Americans showing no sign of surrendering, the Shawnee withdrew.

Fort Randolph was sited to protect local settlements and deter Native American and British incursions up the Kanawha River into western Virginia. The success of the garrison in holding the fort during the sieges and sporadic fighting of April-May 1778, delayed and diverted Native American war parties from their attempts to depopulate and push back the frontier. The defense of Fort Randolph enabled the state of Virginia to maintain a credible military presence on the Ohio River throughout the war.