A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
OF
FORT CRAWFORD
By: Mrs. Annie C. Waters
There are many grammatical errors in this documentary. Mrs. Waters copied the quotes verycarefully from the original sources, errors included. Now the history begins!
On a high bluff overlooking the waters of the Aloochahatcha (Murder)
Creek (1) was erected in 1816 the U.S. military post named Ft. Crawford, located within the present day city limits of East Brewton, Alabama. It was
situated 3 miles from the Conaka (Conicu, Conecuh) River and about one mile
east of Neyatonchee (Burnt Corn) Creek. (2) Few historical sites evoked more
controversy over a century and a half among history buffs than has this fort.
Such questions as, when was it built and by whom, what was its exact loca-
tion, for whom was it named, how long was it manned by the American forces,
what relation did it bear to Andrew Jackson and his men, who were its
commanders, what unit or units of the army served there, and for what
purpose was it erected, have been answered by facts mingled with traditions
over the years, so that hardly any two persons seem to accept the same
answers. It is the purpose of this narrative to factually answer as many of
these questions as authoratative sources will permit and to renew local
interest in the old fort.
When the Creek War ended with the Treaty of Fort Jackson in 1814 the land area which today comprises Escambia County was a part of the Mississippi
Territory as was all the land in present Alabama that was ceded to the United
States by the Creek Nation. As such, it was under the jurisdiction of the
Territorial governor. Major General Andrew Jackson was in command of the
Division of the U.S. Army of the South and at the end of the Creek War
returned to Tennessee and Maj. Gen. Edmund P. Gaines was left in charge of
the military affairs of what is now central and southern Alabama with
headquarters at Ft. Montgomery in north Baldwin County. From 1813
through 1814 no less than thirty-two forts had been erected and from 1816
through 1818 at least 7 more were built; of these, some were built by the
troops, others by the settlers. (3)
The year 1815 was one of peace between the Indians and the settlers but by
January 1816 hostile natives were again on the war path, encouraged by the
British and Spanish particularly in West Florida. Hostile Creeks and Seminoles brought death and pillage to the southern frontiers of Georgia and
Alabama, thereby necessitating the building of the second group of forts
mentioned above.
1816
On March 12th Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson ordered Gen. Gaines to examine
the country near where the Escambia River crossed the West Florida line and
select a suitable site for a permanent fort. (4)
May 6 -From the Camp Alabama River Gen. Gaines wrote the following to Maj. Twiggs of the 7th U.S. Infantry:
"Upon your arrival at Ft. Montgomery you will add to your Command one of the companies now at that post, and as soon as you shall obtain such supply of rations, tools and ammunition as in your judgement may be proper,
together with the necessary transport for the same, you will march to the point
at which the line of demarkation between the United States and Spain crosses
the Escambia river; near which you will select a site, combining as much as "
practicable the advantages of health and strength of position,--where you will
encamp and secure yourself by a temporary stockade or breast work, made of
light materials, for present defense against small arms. "Being thus secured, you will reconnoitre the adjacent country for ten miles above the line and three or four miles on each side the river and report to me the topography of the same, and your opinion as to the most eligible position for a permanent post--where it is intended to construct a strong work.
"At Ft. Montgomery you will ascertain how far the arrangement of the
contractor to comply with my requisition may be likely to insure a regular
supply of rations, which should not be less than two or three months always in
advance. P .S. Capt. Robinson will accompany and assist you in selecting a
position for the new work." (5)
David E. Twiggs, a native of Georgia was appointed Capt. 8th Inf.
(Probably Georgia Militia) on March 12, 1812; on Dec. 2. 1815 was aptd. Capt
7th Inf. He served at Ft. Crawford in 1816 and in 1817 became commandant of
Ft. Scott. Ga. He advanced to Brig. Gen. in 1846 and served with the U.S.
Army until March I, 1861.
Jeoffrey Robertson was aptd. from Tenn. 2nd Lt. 7th Inf. Dec. 12, 1808:
Capt. 7th Inf. Feb. 21, 1814 and died Aug. 31, 1817. (6)
May 27 --Gen. Gaines wrote to Gen. Jackson the following:
"The Battalion of the 7th under Maj. Twiggs arrived at Escambia on the
21 st inst. He is directed to cross this river, and take a high healthy position
near the Conaka" (Conecuh) "about four or five miles beyond the Escambia.
The Conaka is much larger than the Escambia and is navigable for large
boats,for many miles above the line." (7)
July 16 --Capt. James McDonald wrote from Ft. Montgomery to General
Jackson reporting:
"In conformity with your order of the 12th March addressed to Maj. Gen.
Gaines, I have examined the Country adjacent to where the Escambia crosses
the line of demarkation between the United States and Florida, and can find
no position suitable for the establishment of a Fort: the country is generally
low and no doubt willl be unhealthy. --The only suitable position that can be
found near the 1ine, is on the Aloochahatcha (Murder) Creek three miles
north of the Conecca river, and seven north of the line of demarkation
between the United States and Florida, the position is high and I presume will
be healthy, with the advantage of several fine springs under the bluff. Six
companies of the 7th are in camp within a quarter of a mile of the place at this
time preparing materials for the work.
The Creek is navigable for small boats the greater part of the season, should this position meet your approbation, will commence the work immediately, I must request in the meantime to be instructed whether the Fort must be a regular work, capable of defence against heavy cannon, if so the labour will be amence in this sandy soil, Maj. Gen. Gaines directs that a work similar to Ft. Jackson, with two bastions only, instead of four will combine strength, with cheapness of materials; Four bastions to a work so small as will be requisite for four or five companies, are altogether useless, two, placed at opposit diagonal angles, are quite sufficient. I am sorry to differ in opinion with the General, however in this
case I must contend that two bastions cannot defend a work similar to Ft.
Jackson; under a belief that Maj. Gen. Gaines is mistaken in the plan of Fort
Jackson. I must request to be particularly instructed whether I shall be
permited to change the plan, or procede as ordered.
"The hostile Indians in the neighborhood of Conecca and the Escambia,
have generally surrendered and are very desireous of being received again as
a part of the Nation, they are destitute of everything and have applied for
relief; I do not feel myself authorized to furnish them with provision, having
received no instructions, the Awtessee Foster is the Chief of the principle
town of the red sticks, (so called because their war clubs were painted red)
"twenty miles east of our camp." (This location would place this Indian
village within present day Escambia county, probably on Blackwater Creek.)
"I have granted him, and his people leave to remain at their village, to raise
there corn and hunt in the neighborhood of our Fort, a great number of them
fled to Pensacola on the approach of the troops, but have since returned and
surrendered, they all appear disposed to be peacable, should they be
otherwise we will take ample satisfaction for the many crimes they have
commited." (8)
James McDonald was appointed from Ohio May 3, 1808 as Capt. Rifle Reg., transferred to 7th Inf. May 17, 1815, resigned April 30, 1817. (9)
July 21 --Gen. Gaines at Ft. Hawkins wrote the following report to Gen.
Jackson:
"Col, McDonald with six companies of the 7th is established near the Conaka, about ten or twelve miles east of the escambia and seven miles above
the national boundary, where the water is good and the site high and airy, and
the troops healthy. I examined the country in the immediate vicinity of the Escambia, near the line, but could find no suitable site --the escambia being
entirely unfit for boating, and the Conaka, on the contrary, affording good
boat navigation rendered the latter in every way preferable to the escambia.
Still as the escambia was particularly pointed out in your order, I did not feel
authorised to commence a permanent work upon the Conaka without your
futher order--Besides the present state of the weather forbids the heavy labor
which the construction of a permanent work would demand, unless the
necessity was great. I have directed Col. McDonald and Lt. Col. Clinch to
throw up works sufficient to secure them against small arms, --and on the
approach of cool weather to construct strong works, to defend against artillery."(10)
Joseph J. Clinch, born in S.C., aptd.from N.C. 2nd. Lt. 10th Info Apr. 22,
1812, transferred to 7th. Inf. May 17,1815. Capt. May 31,1817, resigned Oct.
31, 1820. (II)
The temporary works built in the summer of 1816 to secure the troops
against small arms appear to answer to the earthen fortification that tradition
called "First Fort" and the tradition that it was built by the Spanish would
seem to be in error. According to eye witnesses of the remains of Ft. Crawford
the square logs of the permanent fort were embedded in the razed earthen
defense.
From this military correspondence there can be no doubt that the fort was
built by orders of Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson and constructed by the troops
under his command as Commander of the Division of the Army of the South.
Thus these troops might have been referred to as, "Jackson's men" even
though they were not of Jackson's Tennessee Volunteers.
The location near the Escambia where Maj. Twiggs and his command first
encamped appears from the records to have been used on other and later
occasions and the name "Camp near Connecca" appears several times but
from the context this term did not denote Ft. Crawford. This camp was in the
area of present day Flomaton and in June 1816 the following officers were
there: Captains Richard Whartenby, August L. Langham, David E. Twiggs,
Richard R. Bell, George Vashon and John S. Allison. A month later all these
names appear on the Fort Crawford roll. (12)
Capt. Richard Whartenby was commander of Fort Crawford from the latter
part of June 1816 to June 1817. A native of Pennsylvania, he received his
appointment to the 5th Inf., May 3, 1808, as 1st It., May 17, 1815 became Capt.
in 7th Inf.
August L. Langham, aptd. from Ohio, Ensign Rifles, May 3, 1808; Capt. 7th
Inf. Dec. 2, 1815.
Richard R. (H ?)Bell, aptd. Va. 2nd Lt. 5th Inf. May 3, 1808; promoted to
Capt. Aug. I5, 1813; Transf. 7th Inf. May 17, 1815, resigned May 31,1817.
John S. Allison, born Va. aptd. Va., 2nd Lt. 5th Inf. Jan. 3, 1812, Capt. on
June 25, 1814; Transf. 7th Inf. May 17, 1815, resigned Dec. 31, 1822. (13)
Ft. Crawford, undoubtedly, was considered by Gen. Jackson and Gen.
Gaines as a very important link in the chain of our southern frontier defense to
have had so many officers and troops assigned to its construction. In the
military correspondence of Surgeon's Mate R.M.G. Walmsley who was
serving at the fort in 1817 he designated the chain of forts as "peace
establishments;" (14) however there is evidence that Gen. Jackson had the
intention of conquering Florida as early as June 1814, when he wrote to the
Sec. of War and stated: "Will the government say to me---proeeed to Florida
and reduce it? If so I promise the war in the south a speedy termination and
the British influence forever cut off from the Indians in that quarter."(l5)
Thus it appears that Ft. Crawford and the other forts on the southern frontier were built to keep the peace for the Americans against any unfriendly Indians, the British, and the Spaniards, but also to serve as a bulwark in case of war with Spain.
Many Americans no doubt wished to have Florida annexed to the
United States and if negotiations failed, Ft. Crawford would occupy a strategic
position in time of war. This seems to have been in Gen. Jackson's unrecorded
plans.
August through December -The monthly Returns from Ft. Crawford show
that the officers and troops were busy with the building preparations on the
fort with the exception of twenty men who were reported to be busy cutting
roads. (16)
1817
February -Captains Whartenby and Vashon with fifty noncommissioned
officers were continuing the building of the Fort.
Up until this time the provisions for Ft. Crawford had been transported
from New Orleans to Ft. Montgomery by way of the Tensaw River which
meant that every supply was conveyed by wagon road from Ft. Montgomery
to the fort over a distance of about 70 miles which was tedious and at times led
to a short supply of rations. (17)
Gen. Gaines determined to remedy the situation by transporting the
supplies by the way of Pensacola and up the Escambia-Conecuh waterway.
March 3 --The Alabama Territory was created and Ft. Crawford was in this
territory with William Wyatt Bibb as governor.
March 18 --Edmund P. Gaines wrote to His Excellency The Governor of his
Catholic Majesty's Province of West Florida, Jose Masot, saying:
"Sir, I have the honor to notify your excellency that in consequence of the
scarcity of Forrage, and provision, in this section of the U.S. Territory; and
the inconvenience and delay attending the transportation of those articles by
land to Ft. Crawford, upon the Conaka river. I have ordered supplies for the
U.S. Troops Stationed at that Post to be sent by water.
"Lieut. F.S. Gray of the Army, who will have the honor to hand you this
letter, is authorised to superintend the transit of the provision wanted for
immediate use, by the way of Pensacola and Escambia; and to make an
arrangement for the future supply of Fort Crawford by the same channel.
"The peculiar circumstances of the case, the perfectly inoffensive nature of
the arrangement desired; and moreover, the spirit of harmony which
well-disposed neighbors ought to evince towards each other, and which I have
much reason to believe characterizes the views of your Excellency, justify me
in the persuasion that no objection will be made on the part of the Spanish
Government to the measure." (18)
French S. Gray, who was assigned to this task received his apt, from Ky, as
Ensign 7 lnf., May 1814, became 1 Lt, Sept. 1816, Capt. June 1, 1817, died
June 15, 1819. (19)
March 18 continued -Gaines' order to Gray:
"You will proceed to the town of Pensacola and deliver to the Gov. of his
catholic Majesty's Province of West Florida the letter committed to your charge.
The object of which is to enable you to make arrangements for the
conveyance of provision, forage and other supplies through the Bay of
Pensacola, up the Escambia river to Ft. Crawford on the Conaka.
"The Contractor's Agent has been instructed to send thither a Three
months supply of rations for Two hundred men; and I have reason to expect
the arrival of it at Pensacola in the course of the present week --In the
meantime you will adopt the most effectual measures in your power to
expedite this supply up the river, if possible without having it landed at
Pensacola; and you will moreover endeavor to secure a communication for
regular supplies in future by the same route. For this purpose you are
authorized to employ a suitable person, with a boat, upon such terms as you
may deem just and proper, to send the supplies up the river--Should there be
no objection to have them stored in Town, or at any convenient point upon the Bay, this mode may be found to be most convenient. In this case the boat and men belonging to Fort Crawford may be employed alone to take the supplies up the river...It is not expected that a friendly neighbor will object to the transit of public vessels and stores, by his port from one of our own ports to
another, through a channel formed by nature." (20)
March 20 -The following report was sent by Gen. Gaines to the Secretary of
War:
"I have ordered the supplies for Fort Crawford to be sent, in future, by
water, by the way of Pensacola. With the first cargo I have sent an officer,
who is instructed to obtain, on reasonable terms, upon the Pensacola Bay,