Fort Dobbs State Historic Site
Fort Dobbs Gazette
December 2015
Volume XII Issue 4
2016 Event Schedule
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
p. 1
-2016 Events
p. 2
-Membership Renewal
-Living History Update
-Receipt from the Past
p. 3
-Photos from the Frontier
p. 4-5
-Southern Rangers
p.6
-Musket Raffle
-New Gift Shop Items
p. 7
-Friends of Fort Dobbs
Roll Call
Department of Natural and
Cultural Resources
Susan W. Kluttz, Secretary
Office of Archives and History
Dr. Kevin Cherry, Deputy Secretary
Division of State Historic Sites
Keith Hardison, Director
Western Region Supervisor
Jennifer Farley
Fort Dobbs Historic Site
Scott Douglas, Site Manager
Frank McMahon, Historic Interpreter
Wayne Steelman, Maint. Mechanic
Michael Lampart, Site Interpreter
Tom Nicastro, Site Interpreter
February 27-28: 256th Anniversary of the
Attack on Fort Dobbs
Re-enactors representing the provincial
garrison and Cherokee warriors will offer
on-going interpretation of 18th Century
camp life, as well as featured musket and
cannon firing demonstrations.
9am-5pm Saturday and 10am-3pm Sunday.
A Saturday evening firing demonstration
will be held at 6:30pm.
Free ($2 donation suggested.)
civilians would gather at appointed times
during the year to practice military drill and
could be used to quickly form an army for
defense in case of invasion. Historic
interpreters representing the Rowan County
militia will offer on-going displays of
military camp life, as well as featured
musket and cannon firing demonstrations.
9am-5pm Saturday and 10am-3pm Sunday.
Free ($2 donation suggested.)
November 12-13: Military Timeline
April 16-17: W ar for Em pire
A living history program honoring veterans
During Fort Dobbs’ largest event of the
and telling the story of hundreds of years of
year, join the soldiers, settlers, and
military service in North Carolina. The
American Indians who inhabited North
experiences of soldiers of the Revolution,
Carolina’s colonial frontier and learn about Civil War, World Wars and other conflicts
their lives and struggles through
will be shared through displays and weapons
encampments, trades demonstrations, and firing demonstrations.
battle re-enactments.
9am-5pm Saturday and 10am-3pm Sunday.
9am-5pm Saturday and 10am-3pm Sunday. Free ($2 donation suggested.)
Admission is $3 per person including tax
(children under 5 free.)
December 9: Hom eschool Day
Homeschooling families are invited to Fort
July 12-15: Life on the Carolina Frontier Dobbs on Friday the 28th to interact with
Summer Camp
interpreters in hands-on activities which will
At Fort Dobbs we combine history with
bring the 18th century to life.
th
fun! Kids will learn about 18 century
10am-3pm. Fee and pre-registration
frontier life through hands-on activities like required. Please contact staff for details.
gardening, hiking, period cooking and
authentic military drill. The four morning December 10-11: Winter Living History
summer camp culminates with an awesome and Foodways Workshop
18th century inspired water balloon “battle” Historic interpreters will discuss winter life
as an opportunity to put into practice newly in a French and Indian War camp through
acquired soldiering skills.
living history demonstrations. Historic
Space is limited. Please contact staff for
foodways and beer brewing will be
details. Fee and pre-registration required. highlighted.
Details on the workshop to follow.
July 23-24: Militia Muster
9am-5pm Saturday and 10am-3pm Sunday.
All males ages 16-60 were required by law Free ($2 donation suggested.)
to serve in North Carolina’s militia during
the French and Indian War. These
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FORT DOBBS GAZETTE
Volume XII Issue 4
New Membership Renewal System
The Friends of Fort Dobbs, the non-profit organization which supports educational programming at the site as
well as the effort to reconstruct the fort, has just announced that there will be a new system of membership renewals
moving forward.
Beginning in 2016, all members will be contacted either in March or September of each year, depending on
which month is closest to the date on which they originally joined. This will be the time when they receive a notice that
it is time for them to renew. This process should eliminate any question for individual members as to when they need to
renew and will also streamline record-keeping and mailings for the organization.
If you are not already a member, please consider joining the
Friends today. Contributions are tax deductible, and every membership
gets us closer to the goal of re-building Fort Dobbs while also supporting
the special events and programs which bring the site to life for thousands of
visitors each year. Information and a sign-up form may be found on the
back of this newsletter.
Living History Update
It is hard to believe that winter will
soon be here. Despite the rain the Colonial
Fair event was greatly enhanced by Patrick
Morton’s 18th century sutler impression.
Thank you for making available to our
modest frontier outpost a few of the items
not included in out daily rations.
Mark your calendars for the
upcoming February 27th through 28th
Battle Anniversary at Fort Dobbs. This
event commemorates the February 27th,
1760 Cherokee attack on the fort. We will
be offering an immersive garrison event
for reenactors complete with ration issue,
patrols and sentry duty.
Fortunately, we had great weather
during the recent Military Timeline event.
The Military Timeline is our opportunity to
tell the story of 300 years of military
service in North Carolina. We had
reenactors representing time periods from
the late 17th century to the present. Thank
you to every one that participated in this
great event!
To our volunteers: Interested in
doing some living history between events?
Saturdays are a great opportunity to
improve your soldier or settler skills.
Talk to the site’s Historical Interpreter
Frank McMahon for more information.
[email protected]
A Receipt From The Past
Hard Dumplings:
One pound of bread and one pound of meat was a typical daily ration issued to 18th century soldiers. Commonly, when
bread was not available flour would be substituted. The following recipe from the 1758 edition of The A rt of Cookery
Made Plain and Easy describes one way you could cook your ration of flour.
“Mix flour and water with a little salt, like a paste roll them in balls, as big as a turkey’s eggs, roll them in a little flour,
have the water boiling, throw them in the water, and half an hour will boil them. They are best boiled with a good piece
of beef. You may add, for change, a few currants. Have melted butter in a cup.”
Page 3
FORT DOBBS GAZETTE
Photos From the Frontier
Colonial Fair
and
Military Timeline
Photos courtesy of David Gillespie,
Lee P., Andy Verostko, SPH
Photographic Art, Chris Gibbs
December 2015
Page 4
FORT DOBBS GAZETTE
Volume XII Issue 4
Southern Rangers
Frank McMahon
Few groups of fighting men have
Strangely, in Braddock's June 8th of 1755
been more celebrated by popular culture
return he has the provincial foot soldiers
than rangers during the French and Indian
listed as rangers but the mounted
War. However, the role of rangers in the
provincials as “troop of light horse” further
American south tends to be poorly
demonstrating the arbitrary use of the term
understood. This romanticism of frontier
ranger during the French and Indian War.
rangers dates all of the way back to their
In keeping with Braddock’s use of
first use during the war itself. In the
the
term
ranger to refer to provincial
period, ranging companies were perceived
soldiers,
Governor Robert Dinwiddie of
by many military and civilian leaders as an
Virginia wrote a letter to Governor Arthur
important adaptation to North American
Dobbs of North Carolina advising him on
combat. Others saw rangers much more as
how to best protect the frontier of North
a liability than an asset. No one did more
Carolina in February of 1755 .
to popularize rangers in the public
consciousness than Robert Rogers. A
I am of Opin'n y't the Com'n for Capt.
Stuart Lilie as a Virginia
shameless self promoter, Rogers was a
Waddal
may be establish'd at 40 Men,
“Horse Ranger” c. 1755
celebrity in his own lifetime. The
under the Denominat'n of Rangers, on Y'r
notoriety of Rogers’ Rangers has done
frontier Settlem'ts.
much to shape the public consciousness on this subject.
Traveling by bateaux and fighting on snow shoes, Rogers’ Dinwiddie’s 1755 suggestion that the western company of
Rangers adapted to warfare in the far north. Likewise, the North Carolina provincials be designated as “rangers” has
caused a great deal of confusion regarding the historical
less well known southern ranger was also a product of his
interpretation of Fort Dobbs. Popular culture has done
environment. With few navigable rivers, the economy of
the southern frontier developed around roads and as a result much to paint frontier rangers as being a rowdy band of
backwoodsmen and rugged individualists. Matthew
the rangers of the south were generally mounted soldiers.
Keagle’s work on North Carolina Provincials “One of the
As the name suggests, rangers are soldiers that
least in Trade and Riches” has done much to dispel this
range. That is, they are typically sent on extended patrols
assumption at Fort Dobbs. Keagle points out that Captain
away from the army’s supply line. In the 18th century they Waddell was a recent immigrant from Ireland and that
were primarily used as scouts, skirmishers, and for
most of his men were recruited in the eastern part of
defending the flanks of the army’s main column. For the
North Carolina. Additionally, Waddell's frontier “ranger
British Army, ranging companies were typically composed company” was issued drums and halberds. The soldiers
of provincial and militia forces. There was a good deal of
were most likely equipped from the store of “1000 Dutch
overlap between the roll of light infantry, light horse, and
made muskets and bayonets” acquired by the colony
ranger companies during the French and Indian War period, during the beginning of the war. Additionally, the
at times these terms would be used interchangeably by
western company was also issued regimental clothing in
commanding officers. For example, in a letter to Napier
the same uniform as Virginia and North Carolina forces
dated March 17th of 1755, General Braddock refers to the
serving on the Braddock campaign. In the summer of
provincial soldiers under his command as rangers:
1755, Dinwiddie wrote to Dobbs to inform him that “Mr.
"I purpose to form the others to the following Establishmt Hunter had fifty Suits of Cloths for Y’r Rangers.” The
equipment supplied to Waddell’s company of North
which has been agreed to by Govr Dinwiddie; vizt Two
Companies of Carpenters, consisting each of one Captain, Carolina “rangers s”uggested they were being used as
two Subalterns, three Serjeants, three Corporals, and fifty regular foot soldiers.
Men; Four Companies of Foot Rangers or six, if I can get
them, upon the same Establishment; One Troop of Horse
Rangers, consisting each of one Captain, two Subalterns,
two Serjeants and thirty Men: These Companies are to
receive from the Province the same nominal pay in
Currency of the Country..."
With the defeat and death of Braddock during the
summer of 1755, “ranger” was no longer used as a catchall for provincial forces. Generally from Pennsylvania
south, the term is used to refer to mounted militia or light
cavalry. Often time these are soldiers utilizing horses
Page 5
FORT DOBBS GAZETTE
December 2015
primarily as a means of transportation and then fighting on between North Carolina militia on a ranging patrol, and the
foot, although there are accounts of rangers being issued
Cherokee:
tack and swords for mounted combat.
About the Middle of last Month a Party of the Inhabitants
The colonies of Virginia and South Carolina
near Catawba River, that were out on a Scout, came up
essentially raised companies of mounted militia called
with some Indians, about 30 in Number, who were at that
rangers. Generally, these troops were not issued uniforms
Time skinning a Bullock near a deserted House; after
and were responsible for supplying there own horses and
exchanging a few Shot the Indians took to the House, and
weapons but did receive rations and payment from the
Firing by both Sides was continued for several Hours; at
government. Some men were armed with civilian hunting
last one John Perkins, who had lost some of his Family by
rifles. After being captured, Sergeant Peter Luney of
the Savages formerly, being much exasperated, proposed to
Virginia lists “a rifle gun of the value of Four Pounds ten
set the House on Fire; another of the Party joined him, and
Shillings” as one of his lost possessions. In Virginia,
those two Men bravely effected it, exposed at the same
rangers were used to patrol between the chain of forts
Time to the Fire of all the Indians, who soon were obliged
along the frontier. At times an extra bounty was offered
to scamper, but not without the Loss of seven Indians shot,
for enemy scalps.
as they attempted to get out of the House, and one burnt in
it; Mr. Perkins Dog followed one of the wounded Indians
The colony of South Carolina had been raising
into the River, where the Dog seized him, and held him fast
mounted ranger companies since the 1730’s and continued
till he was drowned.
to field rangers through the French and Indian War. There
were also several “troops of horse”- gentlemen's clubs
Like many 18th century words, the term “Ranger”
whose membership exempted participants from regular
can have different meanings depending on time and place.
militia duty. Typically these mounted rangers supplied
Often over shadowed by Robert Rogers and his famous
there own food, equipment and horses but in return were
exploits, southern rangers tend to be more poorly
paid better than the foot soldiers in colonial service.
understood. Unlike the north, where the commerce was
Colonel James Grant, during the 1761 campaign against
based around waterways, much of the southern economy
the Cherokee, had less then good things to say of the
developed around roads. The south was a horse-based
South Carolina rangers under his command. In March of
society and as a result, highly mobile rangers primarily
1761 Grant writes to Amherst
utilized the horse as their means of transportation. The
lessons learned by mounted rangers during the French and
The Rangers upon this late occasion have out done
Indian War would set the stage for much of the warfare in
themselves they did not see a single Indian going to the
the south during the American War For Independence.
fort (Prince George), or in returning not with standing of
which they contrived to lose 129 horses.
Grant’s dissatisfaction with his rangers eventually led to
his decision to relegate them to watching the army’s cattle.
As he describes in April in a letter to Amherst.
Special thanks to Jim Mullins, Billy Jack
and Jason Melius.
the rangers are good for nothing the officers rather worse
than the men, if possible. I wish we may get as many of
them kept together as will be able to take care of our
cattle, I expect no other service from them, and even that
they did ill last year.
For Further Reading
North Carolina also used mounted militia rangers
to patrol the frontier. Their are accounts of militia
captains petitioning the assembly for compensation. To
further encourage ranging, a bounty of 10 pounds was put
on the scalps of enemy Indians. Fort Dobbs’ commanding
officer Hugh Waddell is known to have collected scalps
for payment. Much of this backcountry ranging took more
the form of vigilante justice than as an organized military
operation. The following, taken from the May 1st 1760
issue of the Pennsylvania gazette describes an engagement

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Amherst Papers 1756-1753
The Papers of Henry Bouquet Volume II
Maass, John R., The French and Indian War in North
Carolina
Keagle, Mathew, One of the least in Trade and Riches
Mullins Jim, Of Sorts For Provincials
Pagellis, Stanley, Military Affairs in North America
1748- 1765
The Washington Papers
Page 6
FORT DOBBS GAZETTE
Volume XII Issue 4
Musket Raffle
Tickets are now on sale for Fort Dobbs’ annual musket raffle!
The top prize this year is a fully functioning replica of a 1728 pattern Long Land musket: one of the main weapons used
by British troops in North America during the French and Indian War.
The drawing will be on Sunday, April 17, 2016 during the annual “War for Empire” event. You do NOT need
to be present to win.
Tickets are $10 each, while $40 will purchase five tickets. Don’t miss out on your chance to win a $700 musket
and to support the educational programming and events at Fort Dobbs!
To purchase tickets, visit the site, or order by phone (704-873-5882) or via e-mail ([email protected].)
New Gift Shop Item
The Petit Sutler gift shop at Fort Dobbs is pleased to have
a new book in the inventory, “A Brief Treatise on Tomb & Grave
Stones of the Eighteenth Century” by David Gillespie.
If you have visited during one of the site’s larger reenactments over the past few years, odds are you have met David
and his wife Renee who run a period sutler business known as
Pumpkintown Primitives. Offering a wide variety of reproduction
items, the Gillespies also showcase their personal talent through
demonstrations for the public. One of David’s unique and popular
demonstrations is about slate tombstone carving, which he as been
doing since 2002.
This newly published book serves as an introductory guide
and study resource for understanding the process of Eighteenth
Century Gravestone carving, as well as a primer on identifying
carvers of the stones. David has taken signed original stones and
used identifying features of those stones to help attribute works of
unsigned markers to their makers. The first book of its kind on the
subject, the layout and easy reference numbers make this an
interesting and valuable tool on a fascinating and overlooked
subject.
Page 7
FORT DOBBS GAZETTE
December 2015
FRIENDS OF FORT DOBBS ROLL CALL
The Friends of Fort Dobbs supports the mission of Fort Dobbs State Historic Site:
“To preserve and interpret North Carolina’s only French and Indian War fort.”
THANK YOU NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS!
Lieutenant
Charles Pemberton
Education Fund
Curtis and Pat Abell
Hillsville, VA
Phil Hazel
Statesville, NC
Robert Rhame
Statesville, NC
Troutman, NC
Sergeant
Betty Jo Litaker
Recruit and Senior
Statesville, NC
George Beilke
Jerry and Archie Lundy
Tulsa, OK
Statesville, NC
C. Wayne Dodson
Michael and Kathy White
Clemmons, NC
Statesville, NC
Robert and Laura Johnson
Cletis and Janet Wooten
Statesville, NC
Statesville, NC
Ben Karriker
Mooresville, NC
Corporal
Justin Killian
David and Cheryl Childress
Taylorsville, NC
Crozier, VA
Stephen and Judith Reber
Vernon Dearduff
Statesville, NC
Daleville, IN
James and Pat Reilly
Sissie Dobbs
Mocksville, NC
Statesville, NC
Chad French
Statesville, NC
To Our 2015
Sponsors—
Alarm South
Benfield Sanitation
Courtyard Marriott
Country Legends WAME
Design Detail
Hampton Inn
Iredell County Sheriff’s
Department
Maymead Materials, Inc.
Statesville Record &
Landmark
—and to the
Many Other
Friends of the Fort:
THANK YOU!
Capital Campaign Contributions
The Estate of Dr. Jerry Cashion
Julia Beard Garrett
Houston, TX
Norman and Nancy Harris
Statesville, NC
Fort Dobbs Chapter, Daughters of
the American Revolution
JOIN OR RENEW
David and Susan Harrison
Mooresville, NC
On-Line at
WWW.FortDobbs.Org!
Robert and June Kopper
Jerry and Archie Lundy
Statesville, NC
Statesville, NC
John Owens
Visit Fort Dobbs
on Face Book!
Mae Jackson
Mooresville, NC
Charlotte, NC
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site
438 Fort Dobbs Rd.
Statesville, NC 28625
704/873-5882
The Struggle for America
Thank you to the Friends of Fort
Dobbs for providing funding for
the printing of the Fort Dobbs
Gazette
Support Fort Dobbs through your Friends membership!
Please mail application with your check or credit card information to:
Application Please Print
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Friends of Fort Dobbs
PO Box 241
Statesville, NC 28687
The Friends of Fort Dobbs welcomes additional tax-deductible
contributions. For giving memorials, honoraria or matching
gifts from employers, call the Friends of Fort Dobbs, at
704-873-5882 or e-mail at [email protected]
Your membership benefits include:
10% discount in store
□ Recruit (Students and Seniors) $10
Advance notice of events
□ Corporal $50
Quarterly newsletter
□ Sergeant $100
□ Lieutenant $250
And more…...