.gif)
Fort Jackson (Alabama)
Encyclopedia
Fort Toulouse
and Fort Jackson are two forts that shared the same site at the fork of the Coosa River
and the Tallapoosa River
, near Wetumpka, Alabama
.
Fort Toulouse was a stockade built by the French in 1717. It was replaced by a better-built fort of the same name in 1735, a bit further back from river erosion. Fort Toulouse served as a trading post with the Creek Indians until the end of the French & Indian War in 1763. With the French loss of that conflict, the French garrison spiked their cannons and left for both New Orleans and a return to France. The British victors chose not to occupy the Fort, and it eventually collapsed into decay.
During the War of 1812
, "Red Stick" Creek Indians of northern Alabama and Georgia attacked white settlements and killed over 400 settlers at Fort Mims. In the resulting Creek War
, General Andrew Jackson
commanded the combined American forces of Tennessee militia, U.S. regulars, and Cherokee and Southern Creek “White Stick” Indians. Jackson defeated the Red Stick Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814, and afterwards initiated construction of a Fort atop the site of the old French Fort at the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers. The fort was intentionally built near the sacred Creek site known as the Hickory Ground. Jackson then temporarily traveled to Washington and in his absence, the Fort was named “Jackson” in his honor. After Jackson’s return, he imposed the Treaty of Fort Jackson
upon both the Northern Creek enemies and the Southern Creek allies, wresting 20 million acres (81,000 km²) from all Creeks for white settlement.
The site was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1960.
During the American Bicentennial in the mid-1970s an attempt was made to reconstruct Ft. Toulouse, however the replica was incorrectly built upon the outline of the much larger Fort Jackson.
and the incorrectly built Fort was dismantled and recycled to partially construct a "correct" replica of Ft. Toulouse adjacent to the original site, - allowing for a future reconstruction of Ft. Jackson on the actual site once occupied by both forts.
The Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson State Historic Site has active “Living History” programs depicting the original Creek Indian inhabitants, the French Colonial Military presence, and the War of 1812 era US Military presence.
It is located southwest of Wetumpka off U.S. Highway 231 (Alabama).
Fort Toulouse
Fort Toulouse is a historic fort near the city of Wetumpka, Alabama, United States, that is now maintained by the Alabama Historical Commission. The French founded the fort in 1717, naming it for Louis-Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse...
and Fort Jackson are two forts that shared the same site at the fork of the Coosa River
Coosa River
The Coosa River is a tributary of the Alabama River in the U.S. states of Alabama and Georgia. The river is about long altogether.The Coosa River is one of Alabama's most developed rivers...
and the Tallapoosa River
Tallapoosa River
The Tallapoosa River runs from the southern end of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia, in the United States, southward and westward into Alabama. It is formed by the confluence of McClendon Creek and Mud Creek in Paulding County, Georgia. Lake Martin at Alexander City, Alabama is a large and...
, near Wetumpka, Alabama
Wetumpka, Alabama
Wetumpka is a city in Elmore County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 5,726.The city is the county seat of Elmore County, one of the fastest growing counties in the state....
.
Fort Toulouse was a stockade built by the French in 1717. It was replaced by a better-built fort of the same name in 1735, a bit further back from river erosion. Fort Toulouse served as a trading post with the Creek Indians until the end of the French & Indian War in 1763. With the French loss of that conflict, the French garrison spiked their cannons and left for both New Orleans and a return to France. The British victors chose not to occupy the Fort, and it eventually collapsed into decay.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, "Red Stick" Creek Indians of northern Alabama and Georgia attacked white settlements and killed over 400 settlers at Fort Mims. In the resulting Creek War
Creek War
The Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
, General Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
commanded the combined American forces of Tennessee militia, U.S. regulars, and Cherokee and Southern Creek “White Stick” Indians. Jackson defeated the Red Stick Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814, and afterwards initiated construction of a Fort atop the site of the old French Fort at the confluence of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers. The fort was intentionally built near the sacred Creek site known as the Hickory Ground. Jackson then temporarily traveled to Washington and in his absence, the Fort was named “Jackson” in his honor. After Jackson’s return, he imposed the Treaty of Fort Jackson
Treaty of Fort Jackson
The Treaty of Fort Jackson was signed on August 9, 1814 at Fort Jackson near Wetumpka, Alabama following the defeat of the Red Stick resistance by United States allied forces at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. It occurred on the banks of the Tallapoosa River near the present city of Alexander City,...
upon both the Northern Creek enemies and the Southern Creek allies, wresting 20 million acres (81,000 km²) from all Creeks for white settlement.
The site was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1960.
During the American Bicentennial in the mid-1970s an attempt was made to reconstruct Ft. Toulouse, however the replica was incorrectly built upon the outline of the much larger Fort Jackson.
Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson State Historic Site
In the 1980s the park became a property of the Alabama Historical CommissionAlabama Historical Commission
The Alabama Historical Commission is the historic preservation agency for the U. S. state of Alabama. The agency was created by an act of the state legislature in 1966 with a mission of safeguarding Alabama’s historic buildings and sites. It consists of twenty members appointed by the state...
and the incorrectly built Fort was dismantled and recycled to partially construct a "correct" replica of Ft. Toulouse adjacent to the original site, - allowing for a future reconstruction of Ft. Jackson on the actual site once occupied by both forts.
The Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson State Historic Site has active “Living History” programs depicting the original Creek Indian inhabitants, the French Colonial Military presence, and the War of 1812 era US Military presence.
It is located southwest of Wetumpka off U.S. Highway 231 (Alabama).
External links
- Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson State Historic Site - official site
- Fort Toulouse/Fort Jackson] - Alabama Historical Commission
- Fort Toulouse website