Alabama Civil War Site: Fort Harker – Stevenson Alabama

Fort Harker, located near Stevenson, Alabama, was a military fortification built by the Union Army during the American Civil War, constructed in the summer of 1862.

William Starke Rosecrans was an American inventor, coal-oil company executive, diplomat, politician, and U.S. Army officer. He gained fame for his role as a Union general during the American Civil War.

Union General William Rosecrans established his headquarters at Fort Harker in July, 1863.

The design of the fort is typical of many built during the American Civil War. The fort was constructed as a square earthen redoubt, 45 meters (148 feet) on a side. The walls were constructed of rammed earth 4.3 meters (14 feet) high, surrounded by a 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) deep dry moat. The fort was armed with seven barbettes for heavy cannon, and a bomb-proof powder magazine. Access to the fort was by draw bridge across the moat. An eight-sided wooden blockhouse was situated at the center of the redoubt.

The fort would be abandoned after the war and fall into disrepair. After restoration, the site became a city park in 1985.
Fort Harker is managed as a city park by the City of Stevenson, Alabama. In addition to the historic redoubt, a wildlife observation platform has been built providing scenic views of nearby Crow Creek. The fort is on the National Register of Historic Places. An historical marker has been placed at the fort by the Alabama Historical Commission.

ALABAMA CIVIL WAR MAIN PAGE

Embedded map - show in fullscreen mode

The post Fort Harker appeared first on Digital Alabama.

Bellefonte is a ghost town in Jackson County, Alabama near the site of the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station. It is located roughly two miles southeast of Hollywood, Alabama.

Bellefonte Alabama History

Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant

Bellefonte was settled in the early 19th century and incorporated on December 15, 1821, when it had nearly 200 residents. Its name was a subjective description consisting of the French words “belle”, meaning “beautiful,” and “fonte”, meaning “fount.” It was the Jackson County seat from 1821 to 1859. During the following decade, a post office, courthouse, and church were constructed. A post office was established in 1830. By 1844, the population had grown to 400. The town suffered severe damage by Union forces during the Civil War. The post office was closed in 1859, and the entire town was abandoned by the 1920s. All that remains of Bellefonte today are the cemetery, the chimney of the local inn, and piles of scattered bricks.

Report On Old Bellefonte: An Historical Site in Northern Alabama

ALABAMA CIVIL WAR MAIN PAGE

Alabama Ghost Towns Index

Alabama Cities Index

_{Wikipedia contributors, “Bellefonte, Alabama,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bellefonte,_Alabama&oldid=619606510 (accessed December 25, 2014).}

The post Bellefonte Alabama appeared first on Digital Alabama.

More Alabama Gold Legends

Alabama Treasure Legends

Paintrock Alabama early 20th Century

Paint Rock Alabama was first inhabited by Indians, then the white settlers came.

One of Alabama’s most famous lost gold stories is the Yuchi Gold of Paint Rock Valley.

The story says that somewhere just southeast of Huntsville, Alabama may lie a fortune in gold hidden in a cave. According to the local legend there is a cave loaded with gold ingots placed there by Spanish soldiers who were killed near Tuscaloosa Alabama by the Yuchi tribe around 1699.

While transporting the gold to Florida the Spaniards were killed near Tuscaloosa Alabama. The Yuchi Indians took their gold and hid it in a cave in Paint Rock Valley where the Yuchi tribe called home.

Paint Rock Alabama Civil War Battles

There were four Civil War battles in Paint Rock. The first battle took place at the rail bridge on April 28, 1862. A 27-man detachment from the 10th Wisconsin Infantry was attacked by what they claimed were “250 rebels” aided by the citizens. Six union soldiers wounded and one Confederate was found dead and one wounded.

A second battle took place near the bridge on April 8, 1864, when 15 men from Company D, 73rd Indiana Infantry, fought a Confederate detachment they estimated at 40 men. One Union solider was killed and one wounded. While the Union claimed to have killed two Confederates and wounded three.

Confederate Major Albert J. Russell

Russell’s 4th Alabama Calvary and Mead’s

John Bell Hood

Partisan Battalion clashed with the Federal rearguard near the bridge on December 7, 1864 in the Union retreat during Hood’s march on Nashville. Thirty-nine Union soldiers were reported missing in action.

The best-known engagement took place on the morning of December 31, 1864. Col. L. G. Mead surprised and captured Company G, 13th Wisconsin Veterans Infantry, by burning the bridge down and rolling cannon into the river.

More treasure stories can be found at Alabama Treasure Legends Main Page and the ALABAMA CIVIL WAR MAIN PAGE

The post Yuchi Gold Of Paint Rock Alabama appeared first on Digital Alabama.