Fort Gadsden - Sumatra, Florida

We visited Fort Gadsden which was a British Fort on the Apalachicola River near Sumatra, Florida. The fort was originally called Prospect Bluff and was also known as "The Negro Fort".  It was constructed in 1814 by the British to establish a foothold in the area and to disrupt US shipments of supplies up and down the Apalachicola River during the War of 1812.  The fort was captured and destroyed by the US in 1816. In 1818 Andrew Jackson had the fort rebuilt to serve as a supply depot during the Seminole/Creek Wars.  Jackson instructed Lt. James Gadsden (of the later Gadsden Purchase fame) to build the fort.  The fort was in use until 1821 when Spain ceded Florida to the US. It was used briefly again in 1862 by the Confederates during the Civil War.  All that remains are the earthworks of the outline of the fort.  

Map Of Footprint Of Fort

Remains of earthworks

Remains of earthworks

These were not identified but I think they were steam boilers probably from an old paddlewheeler riverboat

Earthworks and Apalachicola River

Reproduction  of old hand drawn drawing of the fort

 Earthworks that follow the outline of the fort in the drawing above - the flagpole in image below is roughly in the same place as shown on the drawing above

Earthworks from the back of the fort