Fort Dickinson stood about one-half mile north of the river as one of a chain of frontier forts ordered erected by the Virginia legislature early in 1756. The chain extended from Hampshire County, now West Virginia, to Patrick County on the North Carolina border. The forts were established under the supervision of Colonel George Washington, who made an inspection tour of the chain. Fort Dickinson was attacked by Indians at least once in 1756 and again the next year.