Northern Alabama

Last Update: 25/AUGUST/2007

Fort Tombécbe
(1735 - 1799), Epes
Built as a supply depot and trading post by the French. Ceded to the British in 1761 and renamed Fort York. Abandoned in 1768. The Spanish took control in 1783 and renamed it Fort Confederación. The Americans took control in 1795 and renamed it Fort Tombigbee (1), a corruption of the original French name, and held it until 1799 when the international boundary was moved south to the 31st parallel (see Fort Stephens on page 1). The site was used as a CSA lookout post during the Civil War. Earthworks still exist on White Bluff.

Gainesville CSA Arsenal and Ordnance Depot
(1862), Gainesville
A CSA Arsenal and/or Ordnance Depot was located in the city. Undetermined location. It may have moved to Tuscalooosa in 1862 or 1863.

Moundville
(Mound State Monument)
(1250 - 1500), Moundville
A Late Mississippian Period palisaded Indian town and mound center. This was the largest Native American city south of the Ohio River, with several satellite towns under its influence. This may be the site of Zabusta which was visited by Hernando DeSoto in December 1540. DeSoto did not note the existence of a palisade at that time. The 320-acre park has 20 platform mounds, a replica temple, extensive earthworks, and a museum. Admission fee.

Fort Jonesborough
(1813), Bessemer
A settlers' stockaded fort at the old town of Jonesborough. The town was later incorporated into the city of Bessemer. A steel foundry is now on the site.

Camp Winn
(1862 - 1865), near Shelby
A CSA training camp was established at the Shelby Springs Hotel and Spa (1839). The hotel itself was taken over as a military hospital in 1865. The resort reopened in 1869, but was closed in 1915. The site is now a cattle ranch off of AL 25.

Fort Williams
(1814), near Talladega Springs
A Federal supply post and hospital. Located on the Coosa River at Cedar Creek. Site is now under the waters of the Coosa River created by the Mitchell Dam.

Indian Palisade (b)
(1400 - 1539 ?), near Talladega ?
A Late Mississippian Period palisaded Indian village located on or near the Coosa River. Exact site undetermined. Visited by Hernando DeSoto in September 1540, who noted that it was abandoned by the Indians and overgrown with tall weeds, but that the palisade wall was still standing.

Fort (Alexander) Leslie
(1813), Talladega
A Lower Creek Indian fortified house, also called Leslie's Station, Leslie's Post, Fort Lashley, and Lashley's Fort (mis-spellings, but pronounced that way). These Indians were opposed to the Red Sticks, the Creek faction that was causing trouble with the white settlers and General Andrew Jackson's troops. Site located at Fort Lashley Ave. and South Street. General Jackson defeated the Red Stick Creeks at the "Battle of Talladega" in November 1813.
(thanks to Marshall Sitrin for additional info)

Fort Chinnabee
(1813), near Oxford
A Lower Creek Indian fort six miles east of town on the north-side of Big Shoal Creek near Wolfskull Creek. Also known as Chief Chinnaby's Fort.

Camp Anniston (1)
(1862), Anniston
A CSA camp and supply base.

Camp Shipp
(1898 - 1899), Blue Mountain
A Spanish-American War winter training camp. The General Hospital from Camp Chickamauga, GA was relocated here after the war. Located just west of the present-day Fort McClellan reservation.

Camp Anniston (2)
(1912, 1915), Blue Mountain
An Alabama National Guard summer encampment and artillery firing range. Known as Camp Morgan in 1915.

Fort McClellan (State Military Reservation)
(1917 - 1999/present), Anniston
A Federalized National Guard training encampment for the 29th Division. Placed in care-taker status after 1919. Site then used for annual summer training by the Army Reserve and National Guard. Originally named Camp McClellan until renamed in 1929 as a permanent post. New construction took place soon after, and again in 1940 when the camp was re-activated for WWII as a Regular Army infantry replacement center. A German POW camp was built here in 1943. The U.S. Army Chemical School was located here 1951 - 1973, and 1979 - 1998 until moved to Fort Leonard Wood, MO. The Army Chemical Corps Museum also moved. The Women's Army Corps School was located here 1952 - 1978. The Women's Army Corps Museum moved to Fort Lee, VA. The U.S. Army Military Police School was located here 1975 - 1998 until also moved to Fort Leonard Wood, MO. The Military Police Corps Museum also moved. The post was closed in 1999 as an active installation, and is now undergoing redevelopment. Portions still in use by the National Guard and Army Reserve.

Fort Strother
(1813 - 1814), near Ohatchee
General Andrew Jackson's base of operations during the Creek War. Located four miles west of town on the Coosa River opposite Charchee Creek. The palisaded fort was 100 yards square enclosing eight hospital huts, a supply house, and 25 tents, as well as a large hog pen. Built after the Battle of Tallassahatchee, and before the Battle of Talladega.

Fort Armstrong ?
(1814), near Cedar Bluff
A temporary Federal post built during the Creek War, probably located on what is now Williamson Island in Weiss Lake. Garrisoned mostly by Cherokee Indians.
According to local tradition, this site was used by the British as a supply base during the American Revolution.

Fort Payne
(1835 - 1836, 1864), Fort Payne
A Federal stockade used for the Cherokee Removals on the "Trail of Tears". Located at "Willstown Mission". The CSA later built a small fort here to guard saltpeter works.
(thanks to Marshall Sitrin for additional info)

Indian Fort
(DeSoto State Park)
(unknown dates), near Fort Payne
Ancient Indian fortifications protected rock "rooms" in a cliffside near DeSoto Falls.

Civil War Defenses of Bridgeport
(1862 - 1865), Bridgeport
Three unnamed Union forts; one on a hill overlooking the steamboat landing on the Tennessee River; another just to the west covering the railroad spur; and a third on a hill downriver (south) from the railroad bridge.

Civil War Defenses of Stevenson
(1861 - 1865), Stevenson
CSA Fort Stevenson (1861) was the original town defense.

Union works in 1862 included:
Fort (Redoubt) Harker, a rectangular 50-yard square earthwork (seven guns) with a powder magazine and a bombproof. The earthworks and four gun platforms are well-preserved, located south of the railroad depot. Excavated in 1976. Now a town park.
Redoubt Mitchel, on the railroad north of the depot.
Two unfinished redoubts, southeast and northeast of town.
There were seven numbered blockhouses surrounding the town on all sides.

Fort Deposit (b)
(1813 - 1814), Guntersville
A TN militia supply base during General Andrew Jackson's Creek War campaign. Located on the Tennessee River at Honey (Thompson's) Creek.

Gunter's Landing Cantonment
(1863), Guntersville
A CSA encampment.

Fort Bluff
(1861), near Hulaco
An earthwork constructed by the local residents for their own defense, it had no official recognition by the CSA government. No action is known to have taken place here.

Huntsville Fort
(1862 - 1865), Huntsville
An unnamed Union fort on the high elevation within town.

Camp Monte Sano
(1888), Huntsville
A state National Guard summer encampment east of town.

Camp Wheeler
(1898 - 1899), Huntsville
A Spanish-American War training and winter camp, later renamed Camp Albert G. Forse. Troops were encamped in various locations throughout the city: "Oaklawn" on the Meridian Pike, the Sullivan home on Greene and Randolph Streets, at Brahan Spring, the Moore home (location ?), the Chapman farm (location ?), the Steele home (location ?), Moore's Grove, College Grove near Randolph Street, Calhoun Grove, McCalley Grove, and in West Huntsville.

Camp Taylor
(unknown dates), Huntsville
An unknown and undated post. Possibly from the Spanish-American War.

Decatur Fort
(1862 - 1865), Decatur
An unnamed Union redoubt with several supporting batteries and earthworks was located along the railroad to the bridge over the Tennessee River. Confederates attacked the town in 1864. Union defense line markers are located at the Old State Bank Building on Bank Street, at Bank and Vine Streets, and at Railroad and Lafayette Streets. A Union advanced lunette was located at Moulton Street and 6th Ave. (no marker). A CSA advanced battery was located at Moulton Street and 10th Ave. (no marker).

Athens Fort
(1862 - 1865), Athens
An unnamed Union star-shaped fort was located just outside the town.

Sulphur Branch Trestle Fort
(1864), Elkmont
A Union earthwork with two blockhouses protecting a major railroad bridge over Sulphur Springs Creek. Attacked and destroyed by Confederates.

Fort Hawkins
(1812 - 1813), Limestone County
A settlers' stockaded fort on the Elk River.

Fort Hampton
(1809 - 1817), near Coxey
A Federal fort located on the Elk River near the Tennessee River, built to protect the Chickasaw Indian reservation from white squatters. Also known as Fort at Muscle Shoals. Site is now the Harmony Church.

Florence Earthworks
(1863), Florence
Site of Confederate breastworks in Monumental Park at South Chestnut and Parkway. At "Bounds Place" on Cypress Mill Road, there is a secret basement with loopholes in the walls, used by Confederate troops.

Camp Gravelly Springs
(1865), near Oakland
A Union camp on the Waterloo Road used as a base for raids into the state.

Sand Fort (2)
(1860's), Colbert Heights
A CSA earthwork battery.

Chickasaw Battery
(1861 - 1862 or 1863), near Riverton
A CSA five-gun battery on the Tennessee River. Located at the old townsite of Chickasaw, now submerged under Pickwick Lake.

NEED MORE INFO: Camp Coffee (date ?) at Laceys Spring, Morgan County; Fort Likens (date ?) in "Brown's Lower Valley" (location ?)
Towns: Camp Hill in Tallapoosa County.

Southern Alabama - page 1 | Mobile Bay area - page 2