Fort Dearborn
Governor Claiborne's main effort, during his administration, was exerted to
place the Natchez district in a condition of military preparedness in case of
war with France or Spain, the relations of those countries with the United
States being such that some fortuitous circumstance was at any time likely to
precipitate hostilities. He was anxious also, at the time when it was reported
that Gen. Victor and 10,000 French soldiers were on their way to New Orleans, to
occupy that city with his Natchez militia. But before that, as a military
center, for the storing of arms and ammunition, for the militia as well as for
the United States army, and for wholesome effect upon the Indians, he urged upon
the general government the erection of a blockhouse and barracks in the central
part of the district. In April, 1802, he was informed that President Jefferson
favored the suggestion, and would order a detachment of troops to occupy such a
position as might be desired. The governor replied that he would arrange at once
for the building of a small blockhouse for temporary use about 400 yards from
his house and about the same distance from the town of Washington. In July, he
reported that a lieutenant and 36 men from Fort Adams, were stationed near
Washington. The site for a blockhouse was selected on the land of Joseph Calvit,
who proposed to give enough for the purpose. But as the project ripened, the
governor decided to create a larger military reservation, and bought from Mr.
Calvit, early in 1803, at $15 per acre, 43 acres on a beautiful high ground,
abundantly supplied with timber and spring water. By March 1 the work of
building was begun according to plans furnished by the secretary of war, Henry
Dearborn, afterward a general in the War of 1812, and in his honor the name Fort
Dearborn was given.
In August, 1807, Gov. Williams asked Col. Jacob Kingsbury, in command at
Fort Adams, to station a detachment at Fort
Dearborn, because there were strong grounds to suspect an attempt at
insurrection by the blacks at Washington and vicinity. Kingsbury sent a guard
under the command of Lieut. John Bowie. In March, 1808, he asked Kingsbury to
put a permanent garrison at Fort Dearborn, because it was a desirable location,
because a garrison there would be in the public interest, and because the works
must go to ruin in a few years if not occupied. When the army at New Orleans,
stricken with fever, was ordered to the town of Washington in 1809, Fort
Dearborn came into greater prominence than ever. Gen. Wade Hampton was then in
command, with his headquarters there, and Maj. Zebulon Pike was ordered there
with all the infantry. Wilkinson returned to command of the Mississippi military
district after he had been acquitted by the court martial, and made his
headquarters at Baton Rouge or New Orleans. The military at Cantonment
Washington were discussing the court martial of Col. Gushing at Baton Rouge in
December, 1811, when Col. Simonds received orders (Dec. 20) to move to that
place, to receive further orders. A hundred men were sent to Natchez to prepare
transports.
Afterward Cantonment Washington was the scene of organization of the Mississippi
regiment, in 1812, under Col. F. L. Claiborne, and thence they marched to Baton
Rouge. Here also, other commands of militia were organized for the Creek war, in
1813 and 1814, and the prisoners captured at New Orleans by Jackson were here
for a few weeks under guard in 1815.
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Mississippi Forts
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Source: Encyclopedia of Mississippi History, by Dunbar Rowland.
