Underground Railroad: Fort Gadsen

This area is temporarily closed due to impacts from Hurricane Michael. Stories of resistance to slavery on today’s National Forests existed before the abolitionist movement gained momentum around the 1820s. Located about 15 miles north of the mouth of the Apalachicola River in today’s Apalachicola National Forest, A fort once stood and served as a precursor to the abolitionist movement and Underground Railroad. The fort exemplified resistance to slavery and oppression. British Fort – Prospect Bluff National Historic Landmark – originally served as a British base for troops during the War of 1812. During that time, it also served as a place of recruitment for escaped slaves and Seminoles to join the Corps of Colonial Marines – former slaves and born free Blacks working in military service to the British on the North American continent. In 1814, the British left the fort to the allies of the Corps of Colonial Marines. Freedom seekers who escaped south found the prospect of a promised land at the fort. Around 800 escaped slaves settled around the area Apalachicola. The settlement of free Blacks and Native Americans within the Spanish Florida territory alarmed the United States and prompted U.S. troops to build Fort Scott in nearby Georgia in anticipation of dealing with the Prospect Bluff settlement.  On 1816, then Major General Andrew Jackson ordered the destruction of the fort. On July 27, 1816, the horrific destruction occurred. Inexperienced escaped slaves attempted, and failed, to fight back with cannons left by the British. The violent attack left about 30 Seminoles and 300 free Blacks dead. The surviving African-Americans were brought back to Georgia and returned to slavery. After the 1816 attack, Americans built a second fort in the same location and named it Fort Gadsden during the onset of Seminole Wars – around 1817. During the Civil War, Confederate soldiers manned the fort. However, a malaria outbreak in July, 1863 forced the abandonment of the fort all together. Visitors can explore what little is left of the fort today as well as an interpretive scaled model. Sources: Teresa Gallagher, “Spotlight: Fort Gadsden and Apalachicola National Forest, Florida [http://www.recreation.gov/marketing.do?goto=acm/Explore_And_More/exploreArticles/Spotlight__Fort_Gadsden_and_Apalachicola_National_Forest__Florida.htm]." National Park Service. “Aboard the Underground Railroad: British Fort [https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/fl1.htm].” Tidewater-Florida.com, “Fort Gadsden National Historic Site Apalachicola National Forest [http://www.tidewater-florida.com/national-forests/apalachicola/fort-gadsden.htm].” ExploreSouthernHistory.com, “Fort Gadsden Historic Site [http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortgadsden.html],” “Prospect Bluff Campaign Began 200 Years Ago [http://exploresouthernhistory.com/mobile/2016/07/10/gunboats/].”  This information about the Underground Railroad is part of a geo-located multi-forest interpretive program. Please contact the U.S. Forest Service Washington Office Recreation, Heritage, and Volunteer Resources program leadership with any questions or to make changes.