Fort Defiance (Augusta County, Virginia)
Augusta County · Virginia · French and Indian War
History & Significance
Augusta Stone Church was established in the area now known as Fort Defiance in 1740. The Old Stone Church was constructed in 1747 to 1749 for the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian congregation led by the Reverend John Craig from its beginnings in 1740 until his death in 1774.
When news of the losses of 26 officers killed and 37 wounded, while 430 soldiers were killed and 385 wounded from Braddock's defeat reached the Shenandoah Valley, settlers took defensive action. Churchgoers fortified the Old Stone Presbyterian Church, in late July of 1755, and they came to church services heavily armed.
Pastor John Craig and members of the church fortified the structure with log palisades and watchtowers to defend against Indian attack. This defensive position inspired the name Fort Defiance adopted by the community that grew around the church.
Although the Indians never actually attacked the church, the small congregation frequently fled to Stone Church for protection when the alarm was spread that the Indians were on the warpath. The name Fort Defiance was not put on the community until the late 19th century.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Original 1755 stone church building still standing and in active use
- French and Indian War–era fortifications from the western frontier
- Historic refuge established after General Braddock's 1755 defeat
- Stone architecture reflecting 18th-century colonial defensive construction
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Defiance,_Virginia
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=155473
- https://www.loc.gov/item/va0257/
- https://thechaplainkit.com/history/chapels/pre-revolutionary-war/old-stone-church-at-fort-defiance-va/
- https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/vanorwest.html
- https://www.augustacountyhs.org/our-history