Tellico Blockhouse

Tellico Blockhouse (1794-1807) - A Federal Fort established in 1794 by William Blount near present day Vonore, Monroe County, Tennessee. Built to provide protection for the Overhill Cherokee Indians and became a part of the Indian factory system. Probably named after the nearby Tellco Plain. Abandoned in 1807 but used sporadically until 1811. History of Tellico Blockhouse Established in 1794 at the request of the local Cherokee to provide a check against white settlement of Cherokee lands and to keep the peace between both cultures. The post was situated on high ground overlooking the Cherokee village of Tuskegee between Nine Mile Creek and the Little Tennessee River. The remains of the post are now at the edge of the lake created by dams along the Little Tennessee River and directly across the river from the site of Fort Loudon. The Tellico Blockhouse became a part of the Federal system of Indian factories in 1796. The Factory system was designed to teach the local tribes western methods of agriculture and trades. The blockhouse also served as a trading post, Indian agency and was the scene of several treaty signings. The term blockhouse is misleading because the Tellico Blockhouse was actually a large palisaded compound containing several large buildings and at least two structures that might fit the definition of a blockhouse by themselves. The sketch and the model of the Tellico Blockhouse at the Fort Loudoun Visitor Center indicate that this was much more than a small outpost. By 1807 the Cherokee population in the Tennessee Valley had dwindled and the U.S. Army relocated the garrison to the Hiwassee River. A few soldiers remained at the blockhouse through December 1811 but as an outpost not a primary fortification. Current Status A part of the Fort Loudoun State Historic Site. Marker and extensive stabilized ruins that outline most of the major structures. Located just across the lake from Fort Loudoun. The visitor center at Fort Loudoun has information and a model of what the blockhouse looked like. {"selectable":false,"width":"500"} Location: Vonore, Monroe County, Tennessee. Maps & Images Lat: 35.59995 Long: -84.20299 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 813' See Also: Fort Loudoun Sources: Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 747. USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1308345 Links: North American Forts - Tellico Blockhouse Tennessee Encyclopedia of History & Culture - Tellico Blockhouse Fort Loudoun State Historic Area - Tellico Blockhouse Fort Loudoun State Park Wikipedia - Tellico Blockhouse Visited: 22 May 2016