Gillespie's Fort

Gillespie's Fort (1785-1788) - A settlers Fort established in 1785 near present day Rockford, Blount County, Tennessee. Named Gillespies Fort after James Gillespie. Abandoned in 1788. Sometime spelled as Gillespy Fort also known as James Gillespie's Fort and Burnt Station.

History of Gillespies Fort

Established in 1785 as a settler fort by James Gillespie. Attacked by hostile Cherokee Indians led by John Watts on 17 Oct 1788. The settlers fought until they ran out of ammunition and then they were overrun. Seventeen were killed and twenty eight were taken prisoner by the attackers. The fort was burned to the ground and the site became known as Burnt Station.

Current Status

Unknown status.

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USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 1646812

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Location: Near Rockford, Blount County, Tennessee. Maps & Images Lat: 35.82306 Long: -83.96528 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 873'

See Also:

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 740.

Links:

• North American Forts - Gillespies Fort

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