Fort Dobbs State Historic Site
The Fort Dobbs State Historic Site in Statesville, North Carolina is the venue of many historical living history events each year, such as the Fort Dobbs Cherokee Attack Anniversary Reenactment (February), War for Empire (April), Militia Muster (June), Fall Living History (September) and Winter on the Western Frontier (December).
Fort Dobbs was the only permanent frontier provincial fort in the colony of North Carolina. Construction began in late 1755 and was completed one year later. It served as the military headquarters for the frontier company (approximately fifty men) as well as a safe-haven for settlers. The fort was attacked on the night of February 27, 1760 when more than 70 Cherokees were repelled. The garrison suffered two men wounded, as well as having one colonial boy killed. The Cherokee were reported to have lost 10-12 men killed and wounded. By the end of 1761, the British had essentially won the war and only thirty troops remained at the fort. Colonial leaders disbanded the troops and removed all the supplies of the garrison as settlement moved far west of the fort. The neglected fort was in ruins by 1766.