World of Fort

  Fort Jackson in Alabama refers to the historic site located at the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers near Wetumpka. It holds significance as the location of both a French colonial fort, Fort Toulouse, and a later American fort, also named Fort Jackson.     Fort Toulouse (1717-1763) Established by the French in 1717, Fort Toulouse served as the easternmost outpost of the Louisiana colony. Its primary purpose was to foster positive relations with the Creek Confederacy, a powerful Native American alliance, and to counter the expansion of British influence in the region. The Alibamu tribe, part of the Creek Confederacy, invited the French to build the fort.   Due to the humid climate and river erosion, the French constructed three successive forts on the same site between 1717 and 1763. The fort became a center for trade and diplomacy between the French and the Creek people. French soldiers and their families settled near the fort, establishing some of t...

  Fort Hull was an earthen fort constructed in 1814 in present-day Macon County, Alabama, during the Creek War. Following the outbreak of hostilities, the United States launched a three-pronged attack on Creek territory. The column advancing westward from Georgia erected Fort Mitchell and subsequently clashed with the Creek warriors.     After a temporary halt in operations, the Georgia column resumed its westward march and built Fort Hull. Situated near the junction of Persimmon Creek and Calebee Creek, the fort served as a crucial supply depot for the American forces. However, its use was short-lived, as it was abandoned soon after the conclusion of the Creek War.   Today, the site of Fort Hull is privately owned, and no visible remnants of the original structure remain. However, its historical significance is acknowledged, marking a chapter in the Creek War and the westward expansion of the United States. Historical maps from the period indicate its approximate ...

  Fort Harker, located near Stevenson in northeastern Alabama, holds historical significance as a military fortification built by the Union Army during the American Civil War.     Strategic Importance: Constructed in the summer of 1862 by Union soldiers and formerly enslaved people of the Army of the Cumberland, Fort Harker was strategically positioned to control vital railroad lines. Stevenson sat at the junction of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad and the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. By securing this location, the Union aimed to ensure the uninterrupted movement of their troops and supplies throughout southeastern Tennessee and northeastern Alabama. The fort's placement on a hill east of Stevenson allowed it to oversee the town, the crucial railroads, supply depots, and warehouses.   In addition to the fort, the Union Army established a hospital and a refugee camp in Stevenson, further solidifying their presence and control of the area. This Union s...

  Fort Hampton was a frontier fort established in 1809 in what is today Limestone County, Alabama. Its primary purpose was unique for its time: to protect the land of the Chickasaw Nation from encroaching American settlers. Here's a look at its history and significance: Establishment and Purpose: The fort was built on a hill near the Elk River, southeast of present-day Athens. It was named in honor of Brigadier General Wade Hampton, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. The construction was initiated by Colonel Reuben J. Meigs and later overseen by Colonel Alexander Smyth. Unlike most forts of the era that served to advance settler expansion, Fort Hampton was intended to enforce the boundary between U.S. territory and Chickasaw lands. This area became a point of contention after the Cherokee ceded their claims north of the Tennessee River in 1806, while the Chickasaw still held their rights to the land. The U.S. government aimed to prevent conflicts between settlers, known as ...

  Fort Glass was a stockade fort constructed in July 1813 in present-day Clarke County, Alabama, during the Creek War, which was part of the larger War of 1812. It was located near Suggsville.     History: The Creek War began as a civil war within the Creek Nation but escalated, drawing in American settlers and the United States military. As tensions rose and attacks by the Red Stick faction of the Creek Nation increased, settlers in the Mississippi Territory (which included present-day Alabama) built temporary stockades for protection. Fort Glass was one of these forts, built by and named for Zachariah Glass.   Constructed as a rectangular wooden stockade measuring 180 feet by 120 feet (approximately 60 yards by 40 yards), Fort Glass was made of hewn pine logs. In August 1813, Colonel Joseph Carson and his regiment of 200 mounted men were sent to reinforce the settlers in the area and garrisoned Fort Glass.

  Fort Gaines is a historic fort located on the eastern tip of Dauphin Island, Alabama, guarding the entrance to Mobile Bay. Construction of the fort began in 1821 and continued through the Civil War, with later additions during the Spanish-American War. It's named after Edmund Pendleton Gaines, a brigadier general in the War of 1812.     Historical Significance: Fort Gaines is best known for its crucial role in the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864 during the American Civil War. It was here, within sight of Fort Gaines, that Union Admiral David G. Farragut famously exclaimed, "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!" as his fleet advanced into the bay despite Confederate defenses, including underwater mines (then called torpedoes) and fire from Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan across the channel.   The fort was garrisoned by Confederate troops who eventually surrendered to Union forces after the Union fleet successfully entered the bay and Union troops landed on Da...