East Brewton, Alabama



A DOCUMENTARY HISTORYOFFORT CRAWFORDBy: Mrs. Annie C. Waters There are many grammatical errors in this documentary. Mrs. Waters copied the quotes very carefully 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 wassituated 3 miles from the Conaka (Conicu, Conecuh) River and about one mileeast of Neyatonchee (Burnt Corn) Creek. (2) Few historical sites evoked morecontroversy 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 itscommanders, what unit or units of the army served there, and for whatpurpose was it erected, have been answered by facts mingled with traditionsover the years, so that hardly any two persons seem to accept the sameanswers. It is the purpose of this narrative to factually answer as many ofthese questions as authoratative sources will permit and to renew localinterest 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 MississippiTerritory as was all the land in present Alabama that was ceded to the UnitedStates by the Creek Nation. As such, it was under the jurisdiction of theTerritorial governor. Major General Andrew Jackson was in command of theDivision of the U.S. Army of the South and at the end of the Creek Warreturned to Tennessee and Maj. Gen. Edmund P. Gaines was left in charge ofthe military affairs of what is now central and southern Alabama withheadquarters at Ft. Montgomery in north Baldwin County. From 1813through 1814 no less than thirty-two forts had been erected and from 1816through 1818 at least 7 more were built; of these, some were built by thetroops, others by the settlers. (3) The year 1815 was one of peace between the Indians and the settlers but byJanuary 1816 hostile natives were again on the war path, encouraged by theBritish and Spanish particularly in West Florida. Hostile Creeks and Seminoles brought death and pillage to the southern frontiers of Georgia andAlabama, thereby necessitating the building of the second group of fortsmentioned above.1816On March 12th Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson ordered Gen. Gaines to examinethe country near where the Escambia River crossed the West Florida line andselect 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 pointat which the line of demarkation between the United States and Spain crossesthe Escambia river; near which you will select a site, combining as much as "practicable the advantages of health and strength of position,--where you willencamp and secure yourself by a temporary stockade or breast work, made oflight 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 thecontractor to comply with my requisition may be likely to insure a regularsupply of rations, which should not be less than two or three months always inadvance. P .S. Capt. Robinson will accompany and assist you in selecting aposition 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. Capt7th Inf. He served at Ft. Crawford in 1816 and in 1817 became commandant ofFt. 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 the21 st inst. He is directed to cross this river, and take a high healthy positionnear the Conaka" (Conecuh) "about four or five miles beyond the Escambia.The Conaka is much larger than the Escambia and is navigable for largeboats,for many miles above the line." (7) July 16 --Capt. James McDonald wrote from Ft. Montgomery to GeneralJackson 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 crossesthe line of demarkation between the United States and Florida, and can findno position suitable for the establishment of a Fort: the country is generallylow and no doubt willl be unhealthy. --The only suitable position that can befound near the 1ine, is on the Aloochahatcha (Murder) Creek three milesnorth of the Conecca river, and seven north of the line of demarkationbetween the United States and Florida, the position is high and I presume willbe healthy, with the advantage of several fine springs under the bluff. Sixcompanies of the 7th are in camp within a quarter of a mile of the place at thistime 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 thiscase 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 FortJackson. I must request to be particularly instructed whether I shall bepermited 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 forrelief; I do not feel myself authorized to furnish them with provision, havingreceived no instructions, the Awtessee Foster is the Chief of the principletown of the red sticks, (so called because their war clubs were painted red)"twenty miles east of our camp." (This location would place this Indianvillage within present day Escambia county, probably on Blackwater Creek.)"I have granted him, and his people leave to remain at their village, to raisethere corn and hunt in the neighborhood of our Fort, a great number of themfled to Pensacola on the approach of the troops, but have since returned andsurrendered, they all appear disposed to be peacable, should they beotherwise we will take ample satisfaction for the many crimes they havecommited." (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 abovethe national boundary, where the water is good and the site high and airy, andthe troops healthy. I examined the country in the immediate vicinity of the Escambia, near the line, but could find no suitable site --the escambia beingentirely unfit for boating, and the Conaka, on the contrary, affording goodboat 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 feelauthorised to commence a permanent work upon the Conaka without yourfuther order--Besides the present state of the weather forbids the heavy laborwhich the construction of a permanent work would demand, unless thenecessity was great. I have directed Col. McDonald and Lt. Col. Clinch tothrow up works sufficient to secure them against small arms, --and on theapproach 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 troopsagainst small arms appear to answer to the earthen fortification that traditioncalled "First Fort" and the tradition that it was built by the Spanish wouldseem to be in error. According to eye witnesses of the remains of Ft. Crawfordthe square logs of the permanent fort were embedded in the razed earthendefense. From this military correspondence there can be no doubt that the fort wasbuilt by orders of Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson and constructed by the troopsunder 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" eventhough they were not of Jackson's Tennessee Volunteers. The location near the Escambia where Maj. Twiggs and his command firstencamped appears from the records to have been used on other and lateroccasions and the name "Camp near Connecca" appears several times butfrom the context this term did not denote Ft. Crawford. This camp was in thearea of present day Flomaton and in June 1816 the following officers werethere: Captains Richard Whartenby, August L. Langham, David E. Twiggs,Richard R. Bell, George Vashon and John S. Allison. A month later all thesenames appear on the Fort Crawford roll. (12) Capt. Richard Whartenby was commander of Fort Crawford from the latterpart of June 1816 to June 1817. A native of Pennsylvania, he received hisappointment 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. 7thInf. Dec. 2, 1815. Richard R. (H ?) Bell, aptd. Va. 2nd Lt. 5th Inf. May 3, 1808; promoted toCapt. 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. onJune 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 tohave had so many officers and troops assigned to its construction. In themilitary correspondence of Surgeon's Mate R.M.G. Walmsley who wasserving at the fort in 1817 he designated the chain of forts as "peaceestablishments;" (14) however there is evidence that Gen. Jackson had theintention of conquering Florida as early as June 1814, when he wrote to theSec. of War and stated: "Will the government say to me---proeeed to Floridaand reduce it? If so I promise the war in the south a speedy termination andthe 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 theUnited States and if negotiations failed, Ft. Crawford would occupy a strategicposition in time of war. This seems to have been in Gen. Jackson's unrecordedplans. August through December -The monthly Returns from Ft. Crawford showthat the officers and troops were busy with the building preparations on thefort with the exception of twenty men who were reported to be busy cuttingroads. (16) 1817 February -Captains Whartenby and Vashon with fifty noncommissionedofficers were continuing the building of the Fort. Up until this time the provisions for Ft. Crawford had been transportedfrom New Orleans to Ft. Montgomery by way of the Tensaw River whichmeant that every supply was conveyed by wagon road from Ft. Montgomeryto the fort over a distance of about 70 miles which was tedious and at times ledto a short supply of rations. (17) Gen. Gaines determined to remedy the situation by transporting thesupplies by the way of Pensacola and up the Escambia-Conecuh waterway. March 3 --The Alabama Territory was created and Ft. Crawford was in thisterritory with William Wyatt Bibb as governor. March 18 --Edmund P. Gaines wrote to His Excellency The Governor of hisCatholic Majesty's Province of West Florida, Jose Masot, saying:"Sir, I have the honor to notify your excellency that in consequence of thescarcity of Forrage, and provision, in this section of the U.S. Territory; andthe inconvenience and delay attending the transportation of those articles byland to Ft. Crawford, upon the Conaka river. I have ordered supplies for theU.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 thisletter, is authorised to superintend the transit of the provision wanted forimmediate use, by the way of Pensacola and Escambia; and to make anarrangement for the future supply of Fort Crawford by the same channel. "The peculiar circumstances of the case, the perfectly inoffensive nature ofthe arrangement desired; and moreover, the spirit of harmony whichwell-disposed neighbors ought to evince towards each other, and which I havemuch reason to believe characterizes the views of your Excellency, justify mein the persuasion that no objection will be made on the part of the SpanishGovernment to the measure." (18) French S. Gray, who was assigned to this task received his apt, from Ky, asEnsign 7 lnf., May 1814, became 1 Lt, Sept. 1816, Capt. June 1, 1817, diedJune 15, 1819. (19) March 18 continued -Gaines' order to Gray:"You will proceed to the town of Pensacola and deliver to the Gov. of hiscatholic Majesty's Province of West Florida the letter committed to your charge.The object of which is to enable you to make arrangements for theconveyance of provision, forage and other supplies through the Bay ofPensacola, up the Escambia river to Ft. Crawford on the Conaka. "The Contractor's Agent has been instructed to send thither a Threemonths supply of rations for Two hundred men; and I have reason to expectthe arrival of it at Pensacola in the course of the present week --In themeantime you will adopt the most effectual measures in your power toexpedite this supply up the river, if possible without having it landed at Pensacola; and you will moreover endeavor to secure a communication forregular supplies in future by the same route. For this purpose you areauthorized 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 beno 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 toanother, through a channel formed by nature." (20) March 20 -The following report was sent by Gen. Gaines to the Secretary ofWar: "I have ordered the supplies for Fort Crawford to be sent, in future, bywater, 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,near the mouth of Escambia, a place of temporary deposit, -where thesupplies may be discharged from coasting vessels, and put on board theBarges, or Batteaux for ascending the rivers, Escambia and Conaka." (21) Thomas Mindenhall, whose name appears in the 1820 Conecuh Countycensus is credited, by tradition, with having built one of the first saw mills inthis area located at Cotton's Bluff and cut timber and made barges for theFort. Mindenhall was reported to have also manufactured cotton cards, spinning wheels and furniture. (22) Gray's negotiations with Jose Masot at Pensacola were not satisfactory aslater correspondence will show. " March 30 --Territorial Governor William W. Bibb had not at this time beenable to successfully organize the Alabama Territorial Militia but there weremilitia units serving voluntarily at the forts when circumstances forced the troops to places of greatest need, thus we find that Ft. Crawford wastemporarily evacuated by the regular troops as David B. Mitchell, IndianAgent stated in a letter to the Sec. of War, "Our forts Crawford and Gaines,having been evacuated, I believe, has been the cause of this Red Stick classbeginning again to commence hostilities. They think that our troops wereafraid to continue there. A moderate regular force stationed at CampCrawford, or any other suitible position in that quarter, will, I am confident,keep all quiet and without it some serious mischief will result." (23) Tradition relates that the soldiers at Ft. Crawford were frequently sent on spying expeditions to look for renegade Indians thus temporarily interrupting the construction on the buildings.One Indian trail often scouted by the troops ran northward by present day Kirkland and Stockade Branch. On a stream running into Stockade there was a huge rock on which the troops sharpened their swords and it still bears the name "Whetrock Branch." (24) April 30 -Evidently the evacuation of Ft. Crawford was of short duration foron this date John M. Davis reported to Arthur P. Hayne, Inspector General,that Surgeon Mat R.G.M. Walmsley was stationed at Ft. Crawford with a part-of the 7th Regt. and that "not long since the Troops at that post, had not morethan four days provision on hand, in consequence thereof two companieswere oblidged to be ordered to Camp Montgomery to prevent them fromsuffering." This same letter has left an undisputed description of the Fort. "FortCrawford is Situated about three miles west of Conaka, about fifty miles eastof Camp Montgomery, and about the same distance nearly north of the Townof Pensacola --The Fort is not yet finished, is a square log work with two Blockhouses at a diagonal angles. The buildings are erected with square logsof about eight or ten inches square. The barracks for the officers and menform three squares of the Fort, The Doctors shop, Guard house, and ArtificersShops form the fourth. The logs are laid so close as to touch with port holes cut in them, which makes Fort a complete defence against small arms. This workis sufficiently large to accommodate four companies, there is at present onlytwo of the 7th Infantry there, under the command of Brevet MajorWhartenby. In point of health Ft. Crawford is equal to any place I have everknown Troops stationed at." (25) Water was obtained from springs at theedge of the bluff but later two wells were dug in the corners opposite the blockhouses. One of these wells was still used in the 1880's by the Joshua Jordanfamily to furnish water for the stock, however drinking water was broughtfrom a spring. (26) Richard Whartenby, was replaced as commander of Ft. Crawford on JuneI, 1817 by Capt. George Vashon. (27) May -Jose Masot, Governor at Pensacola, "from a spirit of conciliation"permitted a cargo of provisions which the schooner Mabiterra had broughtfrom New Orleans to proceed up the Escambia to Ft. Crawford after payingtwenty-three or twenty-four percent duty on the provisions. This evidently was the cargo Lt. F.S. Gray had been sent to Pensacola by Gen. Gaines tonegotiate for on March 18. (28) June 1 -At this time the Seminole Indians in Florida and a group of stillhostile Creeks were causing the settlers a great deal of trouble along thesouthern border of Alabama and Georgia. After their depredations on thesettlers the Indians would escape across the Florida line where they weresecretly being aided by British and French agencies who were unwilling toabide by the treaties that their governments had made with the United States.The situation was so severe that the U.S. took measures to strengthen thedefenses of our southern frontier. Roads are of supreme importance todefense and as early as May 1816 Gen. Gaines had proposed to Gen. Jacksonthe "laying out of a road from the post near the Escambia to the Chatahochie near the (Florida) line." (29)The trouble at Ft. Negro and St. Marks in Florida greatly increased the need for better roads. Troops had previously been used in building roads but they had also been ordered to assist the Creek Agent in building storehouses and "beating skins" for the Indians which was deeply resented by the soldiers. Gen. Gaines reported to Jackson that such menial tasks totally destroyed the chain of subordination and, "I have therefore to request that if roads are to be opened by the troops, of my command, an Officer of the Army may be selected to layout such roads, as well as to direct the opening of the same Previous to the receipt of your dispatch upon this subject, I had ordered a detachment of One hundred men to be put in readiness to march to the Chattahoochie to strengthen the posts there, and have directed Major Twiggs, the Commanding Officer, to march direct from Fort Crawford, between a due East, and East North East course -to explore the intervening country and layout a road to be opened by the Troops. To fit out this detachment I have had occasion to order the purchase of twenty Packhorses." (30) A map by S. Augustus Mitchell said to have been published in 1847 shows a road from Ft. Crawford, to Brooklyn, to Montezuma, to Wellborne in Coffee County, to Newton in Dale county, to Abbeville in Henry County thence to Fort Gaines on the Chattahoochie. An 1836 map by H.S.Tanner shows the same road as far as Daleville in Dale county. The Alabama State Department Map of Historical Roads and Trails shows a road dated 1819 from Ft. Crawford to the Chattahoochie called the "Improved Road. "These roads appear to all be essentially the same one that Maj. Twiggs was ordered to layout. July 1 -George Vashon, Commander, wrote to Gen. Gaines that he hadreceived "30 barrels of flour, 25 barrels of pork, 844 soap, 358 candles, 71gallons of vinegar, 232 gallons of whiskey and 70 barrels (whiskey?) may beexpected about the 20th." He continued, "This post is without a magazineand a well, but a spring affording an abundant supply of excellent water canbe commanded from the loop holes of the pickets... The ferries are unsafe forwant of rope...the carriage unfit for service. I have 10,000 musketcartridges...The troops have always enjoyed good health at this place." (31) July 10 -The Indians in the area of Ft. Scott, Georgia had been reported to be preparing for war and Fort Scott had been put in a state of readiness,sufficient it was believed, to defend themselves against 1000 Indians. On thisoccasion Gaines reported to Gen. Jackson, who was in Tennessee. "I amhappy to have it in my power to inform you that, by the report of Maj. Twiggs,it appears that a good road may be made from Fort Crawford to theChattahoochee, by 100 pioneers in the course of a month. I have not a doubt of this being a much shorter and better way for a road from this place (Ft.Montgomery) to Georgia, then the old route by the way of Ft. Mitchell -andthis lower route will possess the advantage of passing, for the most partwithin our own limits; whereas the old route passes from Offusky or line creekto Ft. Hawkins, near 140 miles through the Indian country -Besides the newroute will open between this place (Ft. Montgomery) and Fort Crawford. Ft.Scott and the southern frontier of Georgia generally, a line of communication the most practicable and direct.I think too, it must have been your intention, in making the Treaty and obtaining a cession of country direct from this place to Georgia, to provide for an open communication and a continuous settlement within our own limits. With these impressions I shall cause the road to be completed, if not otherwise directed." (32) Whether the word "pioneers" in this missile meant settlers, troops or a combination of both has not been -ascertained; however the road was completed before December 1817. July 12 -Gaines wrote to the inhabitants of Murder Creek, "Gentlemen, Ihave received your communication of the 21st of last month, stating that theIndians residing upon the Conaka had killed cattle and hogs belonging to theinhabitants of Murder Creek; and had broke into their houses and taken fromthem some provisions, corn etc. "In reply I have to observe that all Indians within the lately acquiredterritory are amenable to our laws, and may be prosecuted for the offences ofwhich you complain in the same manner as if they were white inhabitants."And until their respective claims to their reservations have been settled"there exists no where any sort of authority to drive off such Indians, settledupon the public land." (33) Several such statements as the above concerning the Indians by Gen.Gaines were recorded and earned for him the reputation of being aconsiderate and just man. Oct. 23 -Trouble with the Seminoles was steadily increasing on the Georgiafrontier and troops from Camp Montgomery, Camp on the Escambia and FortCrawford were transferred to the troubled area. From Head Quarters near theEscambia, Alabama Territory, Gen. Gaines communicated the following toGen. Jackson, "The First Brigade is now in march for Fort Scott. Threevessels laden with ordnance stores, Baggage and provisions, with eighty menunder the command of Maj. Muhlenburg were detatched by water on the20th, and on the same day the effective force at Montgomery and Montpeliermarched under Lieut. Col Arbuckle for Fort Crawford, where he will be joined by Capt. Vashon's command and proceed without loss of time with thedetachments engaged upon the new road, to Ft. Scott, where I calculate onmeeting Maj. Muhlenburg with the transports and supplies, on the 6th of, at farthest the 10th of next month. My whole effective force will amount to notmore than 800 men." It had been rumored that as many as 500 Indians had gone to Pensacolabecause their towns were preparing for war. Gaines dispatched JamesCornels, the Interpreter to Pensacola to spy out the situation, ascertain theirnumbers and designs. Gaines continued, "I shall halt at the Conaka (Ft. Crawford) for his(Cornel's) return, because should there be 500 or even 200 hostile warriors atPensacola, I must take measures to keep them in check. This can only be doneby calling out a few companies of the neighboring militia, until a part of thesecond Brigade can be ordered hither -for my present force is too small toadmit of a detachment being left behind. I have found it necessary to leave only about 20 men with Surgeon Mate Whamsley."Should it appear that the Seminoles at Pensacola are supplyingthemselves with powder and lead, or that their towns generally are makingpreparations for war, I shall apply to the Governor of Georgia for adetachment of the Militia which he has notified me is held in readiness for thepurpose." (34) The length of time that Gen. Gaines and his troops halted at Ft. Crawfordhas not been ascertained but Aaron Jordan Booge, a minister and teacher,and a member of the U.S. Army arrived at Camp Montgomery on October22nd from Nashville and it being necessary that he report to Gaines, Boogefollowed Gaines to Ft. Crawford where he overtook him and the troops. Booge returned to Camp Montgomery on Nov. 7th, 1817 and began his duties ofconducting public worship and establishing a school with more than twentyscholars. (35) October 30 -Acting Secretary of War, George Graham informed GeneralGaines, "The President approves of the movement of the troops from FortMontgomcry to Fort Scott." (36) November 9 -Gaines had tarried at Ft. Crawford until James Cornelsreturned from Pensacola with information that the number of Indians reportedto be there had been exaggerated, then he continued on to Ft. Gaines by wayof the new road. There he received information from Maj. Twiggs,commandant of Ft. Scott at this time, that 2,700 warriors were prepared toattack Ft. Scott so Gaines requested help of the Georgia Militia and continuedhis march to Ft. Scott. (37) November 21 -From Ft. Scott, on this date, Gaines wrote to Jackson, "Thefirst brigade arrived at this place on the 19th inst." (38) Gaines attempted tohold a friendly conference with the Indian Chief but was repulsed and a battleensued. The Seminoles had allies of Red Sticks and several hundred runawayblacks. In the house of the chief was found a British uniform coat (scarlet) witha pair of gold epaulettes, and a certificate signed by a British Captain statingthat the Chief was a faithful friend of the British. Several other skirmishesfollowed and the First Seminole War had begun. (39) The trepidations of theIndians at this time within the Alabama Territory is sometimes referred to as the Second Creek War, but was in reality connected with the First SeminoleWar. Dec. 21 -Two companies of militia were ordered to Ft. Crawford for two ..months service and constituted part of Gen. Gaines' command. (40) At thistime a Capt. Wright was assigned as commander at the Fort, and he was toprove himself a very obstinate and revengeful man. After the departure of Gaines to Fts. Gaines and Scott with the majority ofthe troops of the southern area of the Alabama Territory, Ft. Crawford hadbeen poorly manned and it was at this time that the U.S. 8th Infantry wasordered to supply troops for this fort as well as Montgomery and others in thearea. With the coming of the 8th Infantry we find Maj. White Youngs who wasto become the hero of Ft. Crawford.Dec. 26, Sec. of War, J.C. Calhoun, informed Maj. Gen. Andrew Jacksonwho was in Tennesse, "You will repair, with as little delay as practicable, toFt. Scott, and assume the immediate command of the forces in that section ofthe southern division." (41) This order,no doubt, Gen. Jackson had beenwaiting anxiously to receive so that he might carry out his desire to assist inthc annexation of Florida to the United States. 1818 The year 1818 was destined to be the "golden age" of Ft. Crawford becauseof its role in its dealings with the Spanish in West Florida and its conquest of the hostile Indians taking refuge therein. Jan. 15. 1818 -On this date Lt. Col. W.A. Trimble, Commander of 8thMilitary Department wrote from Camp Montgomery: "In consequence ofunfavorable winds the detachment of the 8th regt. did not arrive here until thesixth and their baggage and stores not until the 11th inst. "Capt. Wright has been ordered to march the detachment under his command to Ft. Crawford and garrison that place -The militia who have been ordered to that post will be discharged. They are without arms. "To watch the movements of the hostile Indians and to guard this frontierwithout harrassing the militia, I have taken measures to raise a company ofChoctaws... I hope the measure will meet your approbation and receive yoursanction. "Ft. Crawford which is the only fortified place on this part of the frontier is not in a good state of defence. There is, at that post, but a small supply of ammunition and not twenty days provisions. The local situation of the Fort is unfavorable.... Should it become necessary to place a considerable number of troops on this frontier, for its defence, I beg leave to suggest the propriety of oscupying a position on the Perdido as best calculated for the defence and protection of this frontier and from which Ft. Crawford could be supplied."(42) There is no subsequent evidence that any action was taken concerning aposition on the Perdido and Ft. Crawford held its status on the frontier. March 25 -At this time Maj. Gen. Jackson was pushing for victory and anend to the Seminole War and had ordered the fortification of Ft. Gadsden.From this post on the Appalachicola River he informed Sec. of War, Calhoun, that, "Finding it very difficult to supply Ft. Crawford by land I have orderedthe supplies for that garrison by water, and written to the Gov. of Pensacolathat, if he interrupts them during the present Indian War, I shall view it asaiding our enemy, and treat it as an act of hostility.. .and that ourGovernments while negotiating, can take the subject under consideration, butin the meantime, our provisions must pass to Ft. Crawford by water withoutinterruption." (43) Gen. Gaines a year previous had attempted with little success to supply theFort through Pensacola Bay and Escambia River. March 27 -Gov. Bibb writing to Calhoun reported more murders committed in southern Alabama by the Indians on March 13th and the Governor "immediately ordered a detachment of mounted militia into service, and proceeded with them to the place" (on the Federal Road)."At the same time, apprehending the murderers might attempt to escape to Florida, the asylum for our enemies, I transmitted a communication, by express, to the commanding officer at Ft. Crawford" (Maj. White Youngs) "notifying him of my arrangements, and desiring a force to be sent from the fort, in twodetachments, along certain routes, to the place of rendezvous. The expresswas also instructed to overtake me. I accordingly recevied information from Maj. Young (s), that my request had been executed. The detcachments weremarched with a promptitude honorable to the Major; and, I trust, they will beenabled, with the aid of militia, to arrest the progress of the hostile party." (44) This is the first mention made of Maj. Youngs being in command at thefort, so evidently he had replaced Capt. Wright who had arrived with hiscommand in January. This could have been the cause of the contention thatdcveloped between Wright and Youngs of which more will be said later.Bibb also requested the Big Warrior to call his people home and issued anorder for all Indian hunting parties to depart for their nation since it wasimpossible to distinguish the hostiles from the friends. (45) Gov. Bibb continues, "Is it not probably, that when the Seminoles arepressed by Gen. Jackson, in the neighborhood of Appalachicola, they willretreat to our frontiers and take revenge on our defenceless inhabitants? I lookfor it; and am without the means of resistence. There are not more than onehundred regulars at Ft. Crawford; and two-thirds of the militia of the territoryare not yet organized... I earnestly entreat you to place funds at my disposalfor the protection of the people; and if practicable, to order a much largenumber of regular troops to our frontiers." (46) April 15 -In answer to Gen. Jackson's letter of March 26 Gov. Masot ofPensacola reminded Jackson that he had permitted a cargo of provisions to goup the Escambia to Ft. Crawford in May 1817 from a spirit of conciliation,and had also a January 1818 allowed Capt. Call of the Schooner Italiana toproceed to the same place. Subsequently he allowed Lt. Eddy, belonging to the garrison of the fort, who had been commissioned by Maj. Youngs to secure 60 barrels ofprovisions in Pensacola, but had adhered to Spanish export duties.Masot stated that he did not have the power to give free access to boats carrying supplies to Ft. Crawford and requested that Jackson apply to theproper authority in Cuba. (47) April 26 -Lt. Eddy and his detachment had unfortunately been attacked byhostile Indians and cut off from their 60 barrels of supplies which they lost. Inthis engagement several Indians including women and children were killed bythe U.S. troops. (48) Eddy and Capt. Wright had specific orders to requestreinforcements only for defense and not for agression; however on April 28 they applied directly to Gov. Bibb for one hundred additional men to avenge their loss. Both men were charged by Youngs with "disobedience of orders" and put under arrest. (49)April 27 -Maj. Youngs wrote to Masot, Gov. of Pensacola and requestedthat he (Masot) negotiate with the hostile Indians in the Pensacola area to givethemselves up to Maj. Youngs. (5O) April 30 -Gov. Masot answered, "I assembled the principal chiefs of theUpper Creek towns of Calome, Canaan, Corvalle, and Forsytche andcommunicated its (Young's letter) contents to them; they all replied that theyhad long been unhappy and miserable, without shelter or country but that at" last by the advice of a good friend, that they all cheerfully adopted it and weregrateful for the offers you had made them. These Indians amount to abouteighty-seven including women and children. I have settled that they divideinto three companies and they will set out as soon as your answer is received,which they think is prudent to keep, as you will, when informed of theiracceptance to your offer, be enabled to give proper orders for their safety ontheir journey and their avoiding any unpleasant encounter with the Choctawswho, if not duly informed of it might attack them in which case, the measurestaken for the peaceful arrangements that we both have so much at heart wouldbe defeated." (51) April 30 -On this date Gov. Bibb issued the following order (copied in part):"Major Youngs or Lt. Eddy of the United States Army will accompany theexpedition (which Bibb had ordered) from thence (place of rendezvous) withwhom the plan of operations will be concerted. The object of the expedition isto attack the hostile Indians wheresoever they may be found, except in aSpanish Fort, Town or dwelling. Should they seek shelter in either, theGovernor (Masot) should be notified of the fact, informed of the murderousincursions which have been made on our frontier, reminded of the obligationsof the treaty of 1795, and requested to refuse protection to the fugitives. "(52) The writer has been unable to ascertain the exact date upon which thisexpedition was executed however it was carried out by Maj. Youngs in openterritory near Pensacola by a combined force of militia, Choctaws and regulartroops resulting in the death of nine Indians and the wounding of many more.This battle made White Youngs a hero in the minds of the people of southAlabama and northwest Florida. He had carried out minor engagements withthe enemy on several occasions and the Indians were learning to respect hisability as a United States Army officer. A Lt. Allen was in command of the militia on the Pensacola exploit and Maj. Youngs had praise for him and all those taking part in the expedition. (53) May 13 -The Secretary of War wrote to Gov. Bibb stating in part: "I dohope that the war has ere this, terminated in the submission of the Seminoles;but if this should not be fact, you will make such arrangements and incur suchexpense as, in your judgment, the defence of the territory may require. Youare authorized to draw on the department for funds to cover suchdisbursements as you may order. Enclosed is a copy of the order, authorizingGen. Gaines to carry the War into Florida and you will consider it asfurnishing authority to the troops of the territory to pass the Florida line,should it be necessary... Gen. Jackson is vested with full powers to conductthe war, in the manner which he may judge best." (54) May 19 -Territorial Gov. Bibb was very concerned for the peace and safetyof the Americans in his territory, caused forts to be built, activated the militiaand visited the forts; thus we find him at Ft. Crawford on May 19 where hewrote the following to Jackson: "Fort Crawford,19th May 1818"Dear Sir: "Proceeding to Georgia for the purpose of bringing my family to thisTerritory and desirous to provide for the safety of the inhabitants on thefrontiers during my absence. I have sought an interview with the Officer incommand at this place. At Camp Montgomery I learnt that you wouldprobably reach this place in a few days and indulged the hope of seeing you.An interview with you would have been to me a source of much pleasure, and I regret that my arrangements will not permit me to await your arrival."The Indians commenced their murderous incursions on the frontiersettlements in January last, when two men were killed in this neighborhood.No events occurred afterwards to excite apprehension until the 14 of Marchwhen a house on the federal road near "Poplar Spring" was attacked andeight persons killed. This intelligence reached me at Claiborne from whence adetachment of mounted rifle men was immediately ordered to the place forone momths service. A few days afterwards five men while traveling the roadwere fired at, and three killed; from whom fifteen hundred or two thousanddollars were taken. The people for the most part were flying for safety in everydirection, and all communication by mail or otherwise with Georgia waswholly suspended. The Indians were known to be still in that quarter. In thisstate of things three posts, were established by my ordr, at which there are inthe whole about one hundred men stationed who have instructions to scourthe woods from day to day. A fortnight since they found a camp, but on theirapproach the enemy fled to it contiguous swamp; from whence they fired andkilled one man. The commanding officer informs me that he thinks thenumber of indians now in the neighborhood considerable. I should havementioned that in April a house within fifteen or twenty miles of Claiborne,was attacked, the husband killed, and wife and two daughters wounded.Thirty dollars, a quantity of bacon and every article which could be conveyedaway was taken and carried to Pensacola where I believe the murderers mightstill be found."I yesterday learnt that one indian was killed and another wounded nearthe Poplar Spring."This detail of events, however, was probably unnecessary as you willreceive from Maj. Youngs every intelligence upon the subject. My principalobject is to state that in my efforts to protect the people over whom I presidethe Territorial Tresury being destitute of funds has afforded me no supplieswhatsoever; nor has it been in the power of the Commanding Officer here, torender the aid which has uniformly manifested the best disposition to afford. Iam desirous that the troops should be considered as in the service of theUnited States, and the accounts adjusted when their term of service expires.One company rendezvoused at Poplar Spring for three months service on the10th day of April and a detachment of twenty five at Sepulges lately, for thesame term of service. The expenditures incurred have been necessarilyconsiderable, and altogether beyond my means of paying. You will readilypercieve how unpleasant has been my situation, without the means ofaffording the protection, necessary to keep the inhabitants at their homes.The regular force in this quarter has been insufficient for the defence of thecountry -the Militia I had not had time to organize, and above all not a dollar in the Treasury. My views of the necessity of forwarding men and money tothis section of the country has been repeatedly stated to Col. Trimble, but Iapprehend that it has not been in his power to meet them. ""Having endeavoured in vain with my limited resources to arrest theenemy after their successive murders, and being satisfied that they soughtrefuge in Florida, I determined to raise a volunteer force and order them toattack the hostile Indians without regard to our boundary. A part of the forceis now under the command of Maj. Youngs, and Capt. Steele is in possessionof my order. Had I been furnished with funds, the enemy would have beendriven from that retreat long before this time; persuaded as I am, that it is theonly effectual method of affording security to this Territory. "I have this moment received intelligence, which leaves no doubt of yourapproach to this quarter; and I shall now leave the Territory perfectly satisfiedthat the people will not suffer by my absence. Mr. Henry Hitchcock isappointed Territorial Secretary, and will act as Gov. after I set out from Ft.Jackson, which will be on the 26th or 27th of this month, I may however bedetained a few days longer in arranging with the Big Warrior the reception ofa party of Indians who have sued for peace and delivered themselves to Maj.Youngs. This they did so soon as the Major convinced them by a well timedand well executed expedition that they would no longer be permitted tomurder our citizens and find refuge in the Spanish Territory. "There are at this place forty volunteers and the same number of militia atCamp Montgomery. Should you need any additional aid from the Territory, itwould be promptly furnished, should you notify me at Ft. Jackson before mydeparture. "I enclose to you a letter I have received from the Commanding Officer ofthe Militia near the Poplar Spring which will present to you the state of thingsin that quarter. Excuse this hasty scrawl and accept the assurances of myregard and Esteem. Wm. W. Bibb" (55) This letter would seem to affirm the tradition that Gen. Jackson did indeedvisit Ft. Crawford but a succeeding document proves otherwise, at least forMay 1818. General Jackson and his men had encamped at Jackson's Lake, nearpresent day Florala, and indications are that he had planned to stop at theFort on his march to Pensacola but he writes: "With about 1200 men I determined to scour the country west of theAppalachicola River. May 10th -crossed that river at Ochesee Village andafter 12 days march misled by the ignorance of pilots, finally reached and effected a passage over the Escambia." (56) So Jackson appears to be disappointed due to the ignorance of his guides.He well may have anticipated a productive military conference with thepopular, rising Major Youngs. Lt. Eddy was under arrest at Ft. Crawford during Gov. Bibb's visit and inthe presence of the Governor used disrespectful language to Maj. Youngs andalso disobeyed orders and visited a house between three and five hundredyards from the chain of sentinels at the Fort, when he had orders to confinehimself within the cham of sentinels. (57) As has been previously stated Capt. Thos. Wright was also under arrest and he had committed some act that caused Gov. Bibb to state on April 30,1818, "You will perceive that I have concerted an expedition with the officerof the United States in command at Ft. Crawford. It is due to Col. Trimble andthe other officers (with the exception of a Captain or Lieutenant Wright) tosay, that they have manifested every disposition to exert their very limitedmeans for the protection of the frontier committed to their care." (58) In retaliation, it appears, for their arrest Lt. Eddy and Capt. Wright filedcharges against Brvt. Maj. White Youngs and eventually destroyed themilitary career of the excellent officer. So let's consider what manner of manwas Maj. Youngs. White Youngs was a young New York lawyer, who, when his countrybecame engaged with Great Britian in the War of 1812 chose to dedicate hisenergies to the U.S. (59) He was commissioned a Captain of the 15th Infantryon March 12, 1812 and served under Capt. Thomas Macdonough on LakeChamplain; was in command of a detachment of 248 infantrymen acting asmarines on the ship Saratoga in the engagements of La Cole, Little York, Ft.George and Plattsburg. (60) On September 11, 1814 Congress passed a resolution requesting thePresident of the U. S. to cause gold and silver medals to be struck with suitableemblems and devices and present them to the commissioned officers of theNavy and Army serving on board during the splendid victory on LakeChamplain. In a report of the conflict Capt. Youngs' name was among thosespecifically mentioned. (61) For his gallant conduct at Plattsburg he waspromoted to Brevet Major. On May 17.. 1815 he transferred to the 8thInfantry. (62) August 23 & 24 -Maj. Youngs reported to Maj. Glassell, Asst. Adjt.General that Capt. Boyles left Ft. Crawford on August 21 and that he had sentan express after him with orders for him and his troops to report to Ft. Dale.All the Ft. Crawford troops that could be spared were sent to Ft. Dale leavinga contingent of only seventeen men at the garrison. He reported that he hadnot more than 1,100 rations of flour, no meat, no salt, and no vinegar. Thecontacting agent at the post had no money with which to purchase. Col. Kinghad ordered Youngs to send all public property except one yoke of oxen toPensacola thus leaving the Major to hire transport for the regulars. (63) This was the last official report found that was made by Maj. Youngs whileat Ft. Crawford.Gen. Jackson having taken Pensacola on May 24, 1818 andnegotiations being in progress with Spain for the purchase of Florida by theUnited States there remained no longer a need for the garrison and Ft.Crawford was closed, but the exact date of closing was not found; howeverthere were Monthly Returns from the Fort in January, 1819 according to onedubious footnote to "Fort Crawford on the Conecuh" by Thompson andStokes. (64) 1819 March 29 -On this date we find Maj. Youngs at Ft. Charles, Louisiana,facing a court martial trial. He had travelled by boat to Baton Rouge inJanuary, 1819 and was sent from there to New Orleans. Headquarters of the8th Military Department. The order for his arrest was dated July 1, 1818 andsigned by L. Whiting, Acting Assistant Adjutant General. Charges had beenfiled by Lieut. Eddy and Capt. Thomas Wright (65) and were as follows: Charge 1 -Conduct unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman. Specification 1 -That Maj. W. Youngs between the first of Dec. 1818 and31st of Jan. 1819, in the City of New Orleans visited Ball Rooms, Gamblinghouses, and other public places in a state of intoxication. Specification 2 -That Youngs repeatedly visited the Lalla Conde Ball Roomnotoriously drunk. Specification 3 -That Youngs suffered himself to be led from the LalleConde Ball Room by two gentlemen. Charge 2 -Drunkeness Specification 1 -That Youngs was in the habit of visiting houses of notorietydrunk and had his eye blackened and bruised. Specification 2 -That Youngs attempted to walk the street and staggered.The prisoner being a lawyer, conducted his own defense. He pleaded "NotGuilty" to all the charges.(The writer has been at a loss to clear up the fact that the order for Youngs'arrest was dated July 1818 and his unlawful acts charged in the court martialwere alleged to have been committed in December 1818 and January 1819.)At the opening of the trial Maj. Youngs objected to two of the witnesses, alleging that they were prejudiced. The court ruled that the challenge was notvalid. He next objected to the jurisdiction of the court on the grounds that hehad previously have tried by a court martial that had not been promulgated.(This had been at Baton Rouge and it appears that the court had beendismissed.) The court decided to proceed. Youngs then objected to theindefinite nature of the charges, which was over-ruled. Court was adjourneduntil the next day. March 30 -The witnesses, some of whom had never met Maj. Youngs usedthe phrases, "It was my opinion, I presumed, I think I have seen himintoxicated, to the best of my recollection and I am not certain." All witnessescontended that Youngs was disgracing the United States Army, even though they testified he had not been dressed in uniform during the time of any of the allegations.When asked how they knew he was a member of the ArmedForces they replied that someone had informed them to that effect, Two of thewitnesses after the second day left for Philadelphia making it impossible forYoungs to continue his examination of them. The court adjourned until April19. April 19 -One member of the court retired from his seat and left town, April 20 -Court met and adjourned until April 22. It appears that Capt. Wright saw that his evidence was insufficient for aconviction and he contrived to add to the charges. April 22 -The Judge Advocate exhibited additional charges preferred byThomas Wright but objected to their being received. The court over-ruled theJudge. The prisoner objected to the additional charges of quarrellin at agaming table and lying to the court, inasmuch as the Prosecutor was underarrest at the time he preferred them, The court over-ruled the objection to theadditional charges. The Judge objected to the "opinion" of the witness to theadditional charges but was over-ruled,The Trial continued on April 23, 24, 26, 27 and met again on May 3, 5, and6. On May 7, Maj. Youngs penned a letter to the court in which he contendedthat he considered the court was not duly consituted, therefore he hadsummoned no witnesses in his defense. (Gov. W. W. Bibb would have beenone of the witnesses,) He quoted numerous writers on martial and civil Iaw,such as McArthur, McComb, Blackstone and others who expressly declaredthat "the time and place shall be particularized" and the time had beenspecified only as sometime between December 1,1818 and January 31,1819.He asked his opponent if he had not been within the walls of a gambling houseand if he had not drank wine, where he was when the-person he accused wasin the victorious fields of lake Champlain and Pensacola. For lake Champlainhe referred to the court to the records of Congress. He stated that he lookedfor an acquittal but if not he would ask for a legal investigation. The Court found Maj. Youngs guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer byvisiting public places in a state of intoxication and of the added charge of lyingto the court. Of the other charges he was acquitted. (66) May 18 -At New Orleans, Maj. Youngs wrote his resignation to J.C.Calhoun giving as the reason for this action his extreme desire to leave thearmy that he might take advantage of an offer to establish himself in business,"which if not immediately embraced might be lost forever." He expressedhis reluctance at parting with his seven years companions in arms, "thosewho shared the toils and hardships of a three years campaign in the coldregions of the North as well as the sultry climes of the South for a likepcriod."(67) The business offer of which he wrote probably had some connection with aletter of C. Davies, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Albany, New York,which was in Maj. Youngs' file. (68)The history of the courageous Maj. White Youngs, the beloved hero of OldFort Crawford, who was so popular in the area that John W. Mayo, one of theearliest pioneer settlers named his son, Charles Young Mayo, Sr. (Nov. 28,1819-Apri1 19, 1898) in his honor, came to an untimely end. His resignationbeing accepted Youngs returned to his native state of New York and diedthree years later on December 8, 1822. (69) Fort Crawford was located in Southwest Quarter of Section 27, Township 2North, Range 10 East, It was of considerable size, being in excess of 500 yardslong according to the charge of Maj. Youngs against Lt. Farley Eddy that he(Eddy) "did between the dates 18th and 31st, May 1818 visit a certain housefour hundred paces (yards) from the chain of Sentinels at Ft. Crawford, knownproperly by the name Old Hospital, when he, the said Lieut. Eddy had beenpositively ordered by the letter of arrest to confine himself to the chain ofSentinels at Ft. Crawford." (70) It would seem certain that the Old Hospitalwould have been within the walls of the fort and that at least one hundredyards would have been guarded by the chain of sentinels. The United States Postal Department established an office in the old fortand John Jerrison (Jarrison), Jr. was the first postmaster in 1823. Hepurchased the E 1/2 of SW I/4 of Sec. 27-2-10 on November 15, 1823, certificateNo. 26 (in the Sparta office) for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, thusbecoming the first private owner of the old fort and the land on which itstood.(71 ) An Act was approved March 2, 1827 establishing post routes fromPensacola to Blakeley and Pensacola to Ft. Crawford. The Mail was deliveredby stage. At this time a John Jerrison, Sr. was Mayor of Pensacola andpresented a petition to the Postmaster General concerning a post routebetween Mobile and Pensacola. (72) He may have been the father or a relativeof the Ft. Crawford Postmaster. The land on which the fort stood subsequently was owned by the Brewtonfamily and later by W. W. Weaver, Sr. Through the years there has been much controversy over the person forwhom the old fort was named. Some historians have been convinced that itwas named for William H. Crawford who was Secretary of War before becoming Secretary of the Treasury. Judge Norvelle R. Leigh left tradtionalevidence that it was named for a Lt. Crawford, who, with his contigent of men,was trapped by high water on the east (?) side of Murder Creek and learnedthat the Indians planned to attack them, he ordered each of his men toconstruct a dummy lying on the ground, covered with a blanket and a hatcovering the head. The soldiers concealed themselves that night in theadjacent woods and when the Indians attacked the soliders annihilated them.(73) A descendant of the Ben Jernigan family relates the same tradition butplaces the battle on the west side of Murder Creek with Lt. Crawford beingkilled by a wounded Indian that had a rifle. This tradition states that thesoldiers were so angry at Crawford'd death that they dumped the bodies ofthe Indians into the swollen stream (74) This last tradition gives rise to an unanswerable question. Was this battle fought on Alco Hill, on the property of Mr. John David Finlay, Sr., who has found evidence of a battle, and could the lone grave that is still visible today, be that of Lt. Crawford?According to a record in the National Archives and a letter to Mrs. MarieB. Owen, Director of the State Department of Archives and History from P.O.Harris, Adjutant General, Washington, D.C. written Oct. 6, 1921, the fort wasnamed for 2nd Lieut. .Joel Crawford. (75) Joel Crawford, a Georgian, was the youngest son of Capt. CharlesCrawford, an officer in the 8th Infantry. Joel volunteered early in the War of1812, served initially as an officer in the cavalry in Capt. Sam S. Steele'sTroop of Dragoons, Georgia Militia; then he was appointed Aide de Camp toBrigadier General Floyd who commanded Floyd's Brigade of Georgia Militiaand fought the Creek Indians in Alabama under the command of GeneralAndrew Jackson. It was written that, "The Georgians on the late expeditionagainst the Creek Indians, though not spoken of so highly as theTennesseeans, were equally as brave, and entitled to as much praise. JoelCrawford, who was aide to Gen. Floyd assured me that the company could notshow more than six days rations at any time during the six months, and thatthcy marched 160 miles on a day and a half rations. Joel distinguished himselfand stands remarkable high. He is going on again in the first class of Militia."(76) Joel Crawford's salary was $53.33 per month, $8 per month for each of histwo horses, and $8 per month for one private servant.(77)In what unit Lt. Crawford was serving at the time that he attained his famethat resulted in the fort being named for him has not been ascertained;however the State of Georgia, having at one time claimed all the territory fromthe Chattahoochee to the Mississippi River that was west of her originalterritory, felt a kinship to the area which became the Alabama Territory andon several occasions sent her Troops to defend it against the Indians whenrequested to do so. That Fort Crawford was named for Joel Crawford is an established fact ofhistory. Written records of Ft. Crawford after 1819 appear to be non-existant exceptfor the initial land record and the continuing record of the Post Office until theyear 1859. The cemetery was in use in the days of the fort and there were tworows of graves of soldiers em paled by split cedar pickets. (78) Tradition reveals that the first political speeches of the area were held at thefort; that there was a large wooden block in the center of the open court fromwhich the ladies mounted their horses and on which slaves stood to beauctioned to the highest bidder; and that there was a race track on the levelstretch of land. Some of the earliest settlers in the vicinity of Ft. Crawford were BenjaminBruton (Brewton), Benjamin Journigan (Jernigan), who reportedly hadeighteen children, John W. Mayo, Thomas Mendenhall and Radford L.Cotton. Mr. Cotton served two appointments as a Justice of the Peace in 1818and 1819 and was one of the Commissioners who chose Sparta as the permanent seat for the Conecuh County Courthouse.In 1827 we find him in the position of Postmaster of a location called Escambia, Florida. (79) Gradually the logs and the buildings of the fort were torn down and some of the logs were re-rused in the buildings known as the original W. W. Weaverhouse and the John Brewton house which stood on the present lot of the FirstBaptist Church of East Brewton. Some port holes of the fort were visible inthese structures. Fort Crawford may they memory live And may the sacred and cooling spring From which the inmates drank And ne'er from duty shrank Continue to flow its liquid health. (80) The community which grew up around the fort was called Fort Crawforduntil it was absorbed into the town of Brewton; later the inhabitants on theeast side of Murder Creek withdrew and incorporated themselves into thetown of East Brewton. Au revoir to many of the uncertainties of the United States garrison thatwas once called "The Lost Fort."--Mrs. Annie C. WatersJuly 7, 1975BIBLIOGRAPHY FORA DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF FORT CRAWFORD(1) Mississippi Territorial File, Alabama Archives Military Papers Office.Letter of Capt. James McDonald to Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson dated July 16,1816. (hereafter called McDonald)(2) Escambia County File, Alabama Archives. Letter by Rev. L.M. Skelton toBrewton Standard. .(3) William H. Jenkins, Early Alabama Forts, pub. by Alabama HistoricalSociety, Tuscaloosa, Alabama.(4) McDonald. Same as No.1.(5) Miss. Territorial File, Alabama Archieves Military Papers Office.(Hereafter called MTF, AAMPO.) Letter by E.P. Gaines to Maj. Twiggs, 7thInfantry, written at Camp Alabama River, May 6, 1816.(6) F.B. Heitman, Historical Register and Dictionary of the U.S. Army1789-1903, pub. 1903 (Hereafter called Heitman.)(7) M. T.F., A.A.M.P.O., Letter of E.P. Gaines to Gen. Jackson from St.Stevens, dated May 27,1816.(8) McDonald(9) Heitman(10) M.T.F., A.A.M.P.O., Letter of Gaines to Jackson from Ft. Hawkins,dated July 21,1816.(11) Heitman(12) Records of Adjutant General's Office, Group 94, Monthly Returns forJune 1816. (Hereafter called Monthly Returns)(13) Heitman(14) First Old Military Records. National Archives. Wash. D.C.. Letter ofSurgeon's Mate, R.M.G. Walmsley to S. Gen. Dr. Lovell, dated Aug. 24,1818.(15) Brooks Thompson and Henry E. Stokes, Fort Crawford On The Conecuh,Ed Leigh McMillan File.(16) Monthly Returns, August through December, 1817.(17) Clarence E. Carter, Territorial Papers of the United States, Vol. XVIII, p.93 (Hereafter called Territorial Papers) Letter of J .M. Davis, Asst. Insp. Gen.to Col. Arthur P. Haynes, Insp. Gen.(18) Territorial Papers, Vol. XVIII, p. 76.(19) Heitman(20) M.T.F., AAMPO, Letter of Gaines to Gray dated March 18, 1817.(21) Territorial Papers, Vol. XVIII, p. 75. Letter of Gaines to Sec. War.(22) Robert L. Scribner, A Short History of Brewton, Brewton Standard. 1971.(23) Military Affaics Papers, Defeat of the Seminole Indians p.683, pub.Washington, Gales & Seaton 1832-61. (Hereafter called A.S.P., M.A. forAmerican State Papers, Military Affairs.)(24) This tradition was told to the writer by James P. Jernigan, a descendantof Ben Journigan (Jernigan) one of the earliest Ft. Crawford settlers.(25) Territorial Papers Vol. XVIII, pp. 92-93.(26) Interview with Herman Jordan, a descendant of Joshua Jordan on Jan. 4,1972. H. Jordan was 78 years of age.(27) Heitman(28) Same as No. 20, also in A.S.P.,M.A., p. 706 Letter of Masot to AndrewJackson.(29) M.T.F., AAMPO, Letter to Gaines to Jackson dated May 27, 1816.(30) Ibid, Letter of Gaines to Jackson dated June 1, 1817.(31) Letter from Geo. Vashon to Gaines dated July 1, 1817, Ed LeighMcMillan File.(32) M.T.F., AAMPO, Letter of Gaines to Jackson dated July 10, 1817.(33) Territorial Papers Vol. XVIII, pp. 139-140.(34) M.T.F., AAMPO, Letter of Gaines to Jackson dated Oct. 23, 1817.(35) Ibid. Letter of A.J. Booge to Col. Robert Butler dated Nov. 25, 1817.(36) A.S.P., M.A., Defeat of the Seminole Indians p. 685.(37) Ibid. Letter of Gaines to Jackson dated Nov. 9, 1817. Also letter of Gainesto Sec. War, on same date, same page.(38) Ibid, p. 686, Letter of Gaines to Jackson, dated Nov. 21, 1817.(39) Ibid.(40) Scribner; also M.T.F., AAMPO; also Gov. Bibb's address to theTerritorial Legislature, March 14, 1818, in Niles Register.(41) A.S.P.,M.A., p. 690, Letter of J.C. Calhoun to Gen. Jackson dated Dec. 26, 1817.(42) M.T.F., AAMPO, Letter of W.A. Trimble, dated Jan. 15, 1818.(43) A.S.P., M.A., pp. 698-699, Letter of Jackson to Calhoun, dated March 25,1818.(44) Ibid, p. 699(45) Ibid(46) Ibid(47) Annals of Congress 1818-19, Vol. 33, column 1847.(48) A.S.P.. M.A. p. 707, Letter of Masot to Youngs, dated April 27, 1818.(49) R.G. 94, Records of Adjutant General's Office 1780-1917, A.G.O.of National Archives, Letter of Youngs to Col. Wm. King, dated June 16, 1818.(50) A.S.P.M.A., p. 707, Letter of Masot to Youngs, dated April 30, 1818.(51) Ibid(52) Territorial Papers Vol. XVIII, pp. 319-320.(53) Niles Register, Indian Wars P. 270. There are conflicting dates given butBibb and Youngs give the date as the 25th of May, 1818.(54) Territorial Papers, Vol. XVIII pp. 325-326, Letter of Calhoun to Bibbdated May 13,1818.(55) Territorial Papers, Vol. XVIII, pp. 331-333.(56) Annals of Congress, Vol. 34 column 2207. (Vol. 33 appeared to be dividedinto two volumes, numbered 33 and 34.)(57) R.G. 94, Records of the Adj. General's Office 1780's-1917, A.G.O. LettersReceived Maj. Youngs, National Archives, Washington, D.C., charges andSpecifications by Brevet Maj. White Youngs against Capt. Wright and Lieut.Eddy.(58) Territorial Papers Vol. XVIII, p. 318, Letter of Gov. Bibb to Sec. of War.dated April 30, 1818.(59) Report by Youngs to President and Gentlemen of the Court written May7, 1819 in record of court martial proceedings. He specifically mentionsMcArthur, McComb, Blackstone and other writers on martial and civil law.(60) Ibid(61) American State Papers, Naval Affairs. Vol. I, p.310, and General NavyRegister, p. 709.(62) Heitman, p. 1068 (column).(63) R.G. 94, A.G.O., Navy and Old Army Branch, Military ArchivesDivision, Washington, D.C. Also two letters of Youngs to Maj. Glassellwritten at Ft. Crawford on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24, 1818.(64) Fort Crawford on the Conecuh, by Thompson and Stokes, Footnote No. 41,states there was a Monthly Return for Ft. Crawford on January 1819 but thewriter believes the date should be Jan. 1818 as no 1819 Returns were found.McWillan Files.(65) R.G. 94, A.G.O. Letters Received Maj. White Youngs.(66) Ibid. Record of Court Martial of Maj. White Youngs.(67) Ibid(68) Ibid(69) Ibid(70) Ibid. Charges and Specifications preferred by Maj. Youngs against Lt.Farly Eddy of the 8th Reg. U.S. Infantry.(71) Records of U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management,Eastern States Office, Silver Springs, Maryland.(72) Territorial Papers, Vol. XVIII pp. 788 and 420.(73) Brewton Historical Series, Brewton Standard, Nov. 25, 1971.(74) Tradition related to the writer by James P. Jernigan, a descendant of BenJournigan (Jernigan).(75) Letter to Mrs. Marie B. Owen, Director, Dept. of Archives and History,Montgomery, Alabama from P.O. Harris, Adj. Gen. written October 6, 1921.Also a letter to Mr. Ed Leigh McMillan from William Ledford reporting arecord in the Archives of the Adjutant General Office in Washington whichstates Ft. Crawford was named for a Second Lieut. Crawford.(76) Letter of Capt. Charles Crawford to his cousin, Rev. William Crawford ofLouis, Va., dated July 22, 1813. Original in Georgia Archives, Atlanta, Ga.(77) Records on Joel Crawford in Military Service Records, National Archives(G.S.A.), Washington, D.C.(78) Related to the writer by Mr. Herman Jordan, a grandson of JoshuaJordan who, in 1875, owned the land on which the Ft. Crawford Cemetery issituated.(79) Peoples and Places of Conecuh County 1816-1860. Also, Carter, FloridaTerritory, Territorial Papers, Vol. XXIII, p. 980.(80) By Rev. L.M. Skelton, published in a Brewton paper, date unknown, copyin the Alabama Archives. One of the two springs from which the solidersobtained their water supply still flows. ................
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