Fort Hawkins
Built in 1806, the old fort was
an important defensive point
on the Georgia frontier.
Built in 1806, the old fort was
an important defensive point
on the Georgia frontier.
Site of Fort Hawkins
The location of the old fort is
now in public hands and an
effort is underway to better
interpret and preserve the site.
The location of the old fort is
now in public hands and an
effort is underway to better
interpret and preserve the site.
Fort Hawkins - Macon, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Fort Hawkins, Georgia
| Fort Hawkins A reconstructed blockhouse stands on the site of the historic fort in Macon, Georgia. |
Macon's Historic Frontier Fort
Established by order of President Thomas
Jefferson in 1806, historic Fort Hawkins was
the predecessor of the modern city of Macon,
Georgia.
Located atop a high hill overlooking the noted
mounds of the Ocmulgee Old Fields (today's
Ocmulgee National Monument), the fort was
named for Colonel Benjamin Hawkins. An
officer of the American Revolution, Hawkins
had been appointed U.S. Agent to the Creek
Indians by President George Washington.
The construction of Fort Hawkins resulted
from a treaty between the United States and
the Creeks that opened a large area of
former Creek territory to settlement by white
pioneers. The Ocmulgee River became the
southwest border of the United States as a
result of the treaty and the fort was built to
guard the border against intrusions by either
side.
An extremely substantial structure for a
frontier fort of its type, Fort Hawkins covered
about 1.4 acres. Strong blockhouses were
built at the southeast and northwest corners
of the fort. These buildings projected from the
log walls of the fort, allowing soldiers to
sweep all four walls with musket fire in the
event of attack.
Long log buildings were built along each of
the fort's four walls and an officers' quarters
structure was constructed in the center of the
fort.
Fort Hawkins served as an important base
for operations during the Creek War of 1813-
1814 and the War of 1812. It also played a
role in Andrew Jackson's invasion of Spanish
Florida during the First Seminole War of
1817-1818. Jackson himself visited the fort
in February of 1818 while on his way to the
scene of the fighting on the Georgia frontier.
It appears that the fort was not garrisoned
after 1819, although some of the buildings
remained standing for decades. One of the
blockhouses, in fact, could still be seen at
the site as late as 1879.
Jefferson in 1806, historic Fort Hawkins was
the predecessor of the modern city of Macon,
Georgia.
Located atop a high hill overlooking the noted
mounds of the Ocmulgee Old Fields (today's
Ocmulgee National Monument), the fort was
named for Colonel Benjamin Hawkins. An
officer of the American Revolution, Hawkins
had been appointed U.S. Agent to the Creek
Indians by President George Washington.
The construction of Fort Hawkins resulted
from a treaty between the United States and
the Creeks that opened a large area of
former Creek territory to settlement by white
pioneers. The Ocmulgee River became the
southwest border of the United States as a
result of the treaty and the fort was built to
guard the border against intrusions by either
side.
An extremely substantial structure for a
frontier fort of its type, Fort Hawkins covered
about 1.4 acres. Strong blockhouses were
built at the southeast and northwest corners
of the fort. These buildings projected from the
log walls of the fort, allowing soldiers to
sweep all four walls with musket fire in the
event of attack.
Long log buildings were built along each of
the fort's four walls and an officers' quarters
structure was constructed in the center of the
fort.
Fort Hawkins served as an important base
for operations during the Creek War of 1813-
1814 and the War of 1812. It also played a
role in Andrew Jackson's invasion of Spanish
Florida during the First Seminole War of
1817-1818. Jackson himself visited the fort
in February of 1818 while on his way to the
scene of the fighting on the Georgia frontier.
It appears that the fort was not garrisoned
after 1819, although some of the buildings
remained standing for decades. One of the
blockhouses, in fact, could still be seen at
the site as late as 1879.
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| Copyright 2009 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
Blockhouse of Fort Hawkins
The original blockhouse on
this site still stood as late as
1879.
The original blockhouse on
this site still stood as late as
1879.
lor.
Ocmulgee Mounds
Fort Hawkins stood on a high
hill overlooking the ancient
mounds of today's Ocmulgee
National Monument.
Fort Hawkins stood on a high
hill overlooking the ancient
mounds of today's Ocmulgee
National Monument.
Fort Hawkins played a role in the Civil War
when a Confederate battery was positioned
near the old fort during the fighting that took
place in the vicinity in 1864.
The site of Fort Hawkins is located near the
entrance to Ocmulgee National Monument
on U.S. 80 East in Macon. The reconstructed
blockhouse at the site was build through the
joint efforts of the Daughters of the American
Revolution and the W.P.A. (Works Progress
Administration) during the Great Depression.
The site is now owned by the City of Macon.
when a Confederate battery was positioned
near the old fort during the fighting that took
place in the vicinity in 1864.
The site of Fort Hawkins is located near the
entrance to Ocmulgee National Monument
on U.S. 80 East in Macon. The reconstructed
blockhouse at the site was build through the
joint efforts of the Daughters of the American
Revolution and the W.P.A. (Works Progress
Administration) during the Great Depression.
The site is now owned by the City of Macon.
| Photos by Ashley Pollette |
