The British Post on the Apalachicola
British Post on the Apalachicola
These earthen mounds on the
river face of old Fort Gadsden are
believed to be part of the original
British artillery emplacement.
British Moat at Fort Gadsden
The shallow traces of moats
constructed by the British during
the War of 1812 can still be
followed on the grounds of Fort
Gadsden Historic Site.
Fort Gadsden and the "Negro Fort" - Florida
During the final year of the War of
1812, the British decided to attempt a
"Southern strategy" that would include
attacks from the Gulf Coast against
New Orleans, Mobile and Georgia.
The plan called for the enlistment of
Creek and Seminole warriors, along
with free blacks and liberated slaves.
To help accomplish this goal, a fort
was established here at Prospect
Bluff on the Apalachicola River.
Constructed during the summer of
1814, the works consisted of a
central magazine and surrounding
fortifications.
The Apalachicola River at Fort Gadsden
Apalachicola National Forest, Florida
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Native American warriors came here to receive arms, ammunition and other
supplies, while the British also used the fort as a base for a large force of auxiliary
Royal Marines under Lt. Col. Edward Nicolls (sometimes spelled Nicholls) and
Captain George Woodbine.
The British Post on the Apalachicola, sometimes called Fort Blunt or Fort Nicolls,
became a major supply point and training installation This, of course, quickly
attracted the attention of U.S. military leaders, including Andrew Jackson.
Campaigns against the fort were discussed and two actually launched. The first
failed to reach its target due to supply problems, but the second came as far south
as today's Lake Seminole before its commander, Col. Benjamin Hawkins, learned
the war was over.
Col. Nicolls and his associates continued to occupy the fort, despite the ending of
the war, until May of 1815. During this time he engaged in a spirited exchange of
letters with American officials demanding that Indian lands seized between
1812-1815 be returned to their original owners as required by the Treaty of Ghent.
The Americans ignored these demands and Nicolls returned home to plead his
case in London, but met with no success. England was not willing to re-open the
War of 1812 to force the issue.
When Nicolls left Prospect Bluff, he turned the fort along with its artillery and massive
stocks of ammunition and weaponry to his Native American and black allies. He
ordered them to defend themselves against any and all threats. They continued to fly
the British flag over the fort and soon established a large colony with farms
extending up the river for a considerable distance.
When American officials learned of this, they began using the term "Negro Fort" to
describe the post. Their concern soon turned to a determination to act, opening a
new and bloody chapter in the history of this site on the lower Apalachicola.
Copyright 2006 by Dale A. Cox
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