Near Belfast Mills in Russell County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Smith’s Fort

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 18, 2015

1. Smith’s Fort Marker

Inscription. Near here, in 1774, stood Daniel Smith’s fort, also known as Fort Christian. The fort was named for Smith, who was a surveyor and captain of the military company on Upper Clinch River.

Erected 1929 by Conservation and Development Commission. (Marker Number XY-17.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR), and the Virginia, Clinch River Forts Circa 1774 series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1774.

Location. 36° 59.491′ N, 81° 50.456′ W. Marker is near Belfast Mills, Virginia, in Russell County. Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 19 and Crossover A, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 19. This marker can only be seen from the northbound lanes of Route 19. The southbound lanes are at an elevation above the northbound lanes and a long s-shaped crossover signed “Crossover A” climbs the wide rocky median to allow for U-turns. If you are traveling southbound, use Crossover A to reach the marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24078 Route 19, Cedar Bluff VA 24609, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

the crow flies. Richlands (approx. 7.2 miles away); N&W Railroad Section Foreman's House (approx. 7.4 miles away); Site of the First Bank in Richlands (approx. 7.4 miles away); Dr. Williams' Operating Room (approx. 7.4 miles away); Becky's Jewel Box (approx. 7.4 miles away); Dixie Hotel Building (approx. 7½ miles away); First Christian Church (approx. 7½ miles away); T. Shea Cook Family Home (approx. 7½ miles away).

Regarding Smith’s Fort. Emory L. Hamilton, in his article “Frontier Forts of Southwest Virginia” published in the publication Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia, Number 4, 1968, states emphatically that this marker is wrong, and makes a very detailed case for his conclusion. There may have been a “family” fort on Smith property near here, but it was not Fort Christian, and a fort at this location was never mentioned in the military correspondence of 1774. Fort Christian is Glade Hollow Fort, he says, and provides proof.

Also see . . . Frontier Forts of Southwest Virginia. 1968 article by Emory L. Hamilton in Historical Sketches of Southwest Virginia. Scroll down to the section titled Daniel Smith’s Fort. Excerpt:

“To prove that this marker has an error, I herewith quote two letters written at the very time these forts were being built on the

Smith’s Fort Marker on Northbound U.S. 19 at Crossover A image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, October 18, 2015

2. Smith’s Fort Marker on Northbound U.S. 19 at Crossover A

Clinch frontier. . . . It is approximately 40 miles from Russell’s Fort in Castlewood to [this] site of Smith’s Fort on Indian Creek, north of Lebanon, and this certainly does not agree with the distance [10 and 12 miles] given by both Russell and Christian from the Castlewood Fort to Fort Christian.”
(Submitted on October 23, 2015.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2017. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 711 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 23, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.