Shawsville in Montgomery County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Fort Vause

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 28, 2011

1. Fort Vause Marker

Inscription. Ephraim Vause was appointed Captain of Horse in 1753 and was considered a man of considerable influence. For the protection of his family and his neighbors he built a simple palisaded fort nearby on his farm. In June 1756, during the French and Indian War, Indians attacked and burned the fort; a relief party led by Maj. Andrew Lewis arrived too late to save most of the occupants. Capt. Peter Hogg quickly rebuilt the fort, as a composite earth-and-palisade structure. George Washington inspected Fort Vause in October 1756 during his tour of Virginia's frontier defenses.

Erected 1998 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-73.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Forts and Castles • War, French and Indian. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1756.

Location. 37° 10.312′ N, 80° 15.83′ W. Marker is in Shawsville, Virginia, in Montgomery County. It is on Oldtown Road (Virginia Route 753) east of Basham Hollow Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shawsville VA 24162, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia,

in the Blue Ridge Highlands,

and in the New River Gorge.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

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

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

, measured as the crow flies: American Revolution on the Frontier (approx. 1.2 miles away); Fotheringay (approx. 2 miles away); Montgomery White Sulphur Springs (approx. 5.1 miles away); Bow String Arch Truss (approx. 5.1 miles away); The “Bowstring” Truss Bridge (approx. 5.1 miles away); Montgomery County / Roanoke County (approx. 5.8 miles away); Christiansburg (approx. 7.3 miles away); Floyd County / Roanoke County (approx. 8.1 miles away).

Also see . . . Fort Vause. National Register of Historic Places (Submitted on May 30, 2011.)

Oldtown Road (facing west) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 28, 2011

2. Oldtown Road (facing west)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,941 times since then and 149 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 30, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.