Fort Carney was a stockade fort constructed in 1813 in present-day Clarke County, Alabama, during the Creek War, which was part of the larger War of 1812. It was situated approximately six miles south of Jackson, Alabama, along the road leading to Mount Vernon.
Josiah Carney, who had moved to Clarke County from North Carolina in 1809, began building the stockade in 1813. This was in response to attacks by Red Stick warriors on settlers in the area, prompting many families to band together and create protective fortifications.
Historical accounts vary regarding the number of occupants at Fort Carney. Albert J. Pickett reported that around 390 individuals sought refuge there, while Timothy H. Ball suggested a smaller number.
Prior to the Fort Mims massacre, it was noted that Red Stick warriors scouted Fort Carney but ultimately chose Fort Mims as their target. Following the Fort Mims attack, settlers from nearby Fort Powell moved to Fort Carney before eventually relocating to Mount Vernon.
During the American Civil War, the site of Fort Carney was used by the Confederacy to build Fort Gullett in 1862. This fort was established to safeguard nearby salt wells and to prevent Federal gunboats from navigating up the Tombigbee River. However, Fort Gullett was abandoned in the later years of the Civil War.
The site of Fort Carney is currently privately owned and is not open to the public. Its coordinates are approximately 31°24′18″N 87°54′16″W.
The Creek War and Fort Carney's Role
The Creek War (1813-1814) erupted from rising tensions between the Creek people, divided into the traditionalist "Red Sticks" and those favoring assimilation, and the encroaching American settlers. The Red Sticks, influenced by pan-Indian leaders like Tecumseh, resisted American expansion and cultural assimilation.
Fort Carney, like other hastily constructed stockades in the region, became a vital refuge for settlers fearing attacks. Its strategic location near the Tombigbee River offered some access to transportation and communication, though it was still a vulnerable outpost on the frontier.
The fact that Red Stick warriors scouted Fort Carney before choosing Fort Mims as their target highlights its significance in the defensive network of the area. The tragedy at Fort Mims, where hundreds of settlers were killed, underscores the very real danger faced by those living on the frontier and the importance of these fortified places for survival.
Following the Fort Mims massacre, the movement of settlers from Fort Powell to Fort Carney demonstrates the fluid and fearful environment of the time. These forts weren't permanent military installations but rather community-driven efforts to protect lives. The eventual move to the more established Mount Vernon further illustrates the search for greater security in the face of ongoing conflict.
Jeremiah Austill's stop at Fort Carney on his perilous ride to Fort Stoddert for reinforcements after the attack on Fort Madison also connects Fort Carney to the broader narrative of the Creek War and the desperate pleas for aid that characterized the conflict.
Fort Gullett and the Civil War
The reuse of the Fort Carney site as Fort Gullett during the Civil War nearly half a century later speaks to the enduring strategic importance of this location on the Tombigbee River. The Confederacy recognized its value in protecting vital salt wells and hindering Union navigation.
While Fort Gullett was a formal Confederate fortification, its abandonment in the later years of the war suggests it may not have seen significant military action. However, its existence underscores the continued importance of the river and the echoes of past conflicts in shaping the landscape.
The Site Today
The fact that the land is privately owned and not accessible to the public means that the physical remnants of both Fort Carney and Fort Gullett are not readily viewable. This makes historical accounts and archaeological findings all the more important in understanding their past.
The coordinates provided offer a precise location for those interested in historical geography, placing it within the broader context of other Creek War and Civil War sites in the region.
In summary, Fort Carney, later the site of Fort Gullett, represents a crucial chapter in Alabama's history, embodying the challenges and conflicts of frontier settlement and the Civil War. While no longer visible to the public, its story continues to be a valuable part of the state's past.
The Significance of the Tombigbee River
The location of Fort Carney on the Tombigbee River was no accident. Rivers were the highways of the early 19th century, providing crucial routes for transportation, trade, and communication. Control of waterways was often a strategic objective during conflicts.
- Transportation and Supply: The Tombigbee would have allowed settlers at Fort Carney some means of receiving supplies and potentially evacuating if necessary. During the Civil War, the Confederacy's concern about Union gunboats navigating the river highlights its continued strategic importance for controlling the movement of goods and troops.
- Natural Barrier and Observation Point: The bluff overlooking the river would have provided a natural defensive advantage and a vantage point to observe any approaching threats.
Life in a Frontier Fort
Imagine the daily life within the stockade walls of Fort Carney in 1813. It would have been a crowded and likely uncomfortable existence, driven by the constant fear of attack.
- Close Quarters: With potentially hundreds of people seeking refuge, space would have been limited. Families would have lived in close proximity, sharing resources and anxieties.
- Defense Preparations: Men would have been responsible for maintaining the fortifications, standing guard, and preparing for potential attacks. Women would have likely been involved in essential tasks like cooking, tending to the sick, and caring for children under stressful conditions.
- Limited Resources: Food, water, and medical supplies would have been scarce and carefully managed. The reliance on the surrounding land for sustenance would have been significant, even within the confines of the fort.
- Psychological Impact: The constant threat of violence and the memory of attacks like Fort Mims would have created a climate of fear and uncertainty.
The Broader Context of the Creek War in Alabama
Fort Carney was just one of many such fortifications that sprang up across the Mississippi Territory (which included present-day Alabama and Mississippi) during the Creek War. Others included Fort Stoddert, Fort Madison, and Fort Sinquefield. These forts played a crucial role in the defense of American settlements and served as rallying points for militia forces.
The Creek War itself had profound consequences for the region:
- Loss of Creek Lands: The defeat of the Red Sticks led to the Treaty of Fort Jackson in 1814, where the Creek Nation was forced to cede millions of acres of their ancestral lands to the United States. This opened up vast territories for American expansion.
- Andrew Jackson's Rise: The war brought Andrew Jackson to national prominence as a military leader, paving the way for his future political career, including the presidency.
- Shifting Power Dynamics: The war significantly altered the power dynamics between Native American tribes and the United States government in the Southeast.
Connecting the Past to the Present
While the physical structures of Fort Carney and Fort Gullett may be gone, their stories remain a part of the local and regional history. Understanding these sites helps us to appreciate the challenges and sacrifices of early settlers, the complexities of Native American-American relations, and the strategic importance of the land throughout different periods of history.
Perhaps local historical societies or archives in Clarke County might hold further information, such as personal accounts or archaeological surveys, that could shed even more light on the story of Fort Carney.
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