Fort Smith (2)
Fort Smith (1817-1834)(1838-1871) - built to keep the peace between the Osage and the Cherokee.
First Fort Smith
The first fort was a simple log and stone stockade with two blockhouses established on 25 Dec 1817 by Maj William Bradford and Company A, Rifle Regiment. It was also known as Belle Point Fort and the ruins still exist. The troops were moved to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma in 1824. The fort was then intermittently used until 1834, with the last garrison transferring to Fort Coffee, Oklahoma. The site was excavated in 1958 - 1963.
Second Fort Smith
The second fort, originally planned as a large pentagonal masonry work with five bastions, was built in 1839 due to settler demands over the Indian Removals from the southeast. Camp Thomas, later renamed Camp Belknap (1838 - 1846), was built adjacent to the first fort site while the second fort was being constructed. Construction was halted in 1841, and the fort was then modified as a supply depot for other western forts. Seized by Confederates in 1861, captured by the Union in 1863. Abandoned in 1871.
Federal Court
The Barracks (1849) then served as the US District Court from 1872 - 1890. The district had federal jurisdiction over half of the state of Arkansas and all of the Indian Territory. After the closure of Fort Smith in 1871, the federal court was relocated to Fort Smith. During the summer of 1872, the jail was moved into the old barracks building inside the second fort. That fall, court operations were moved into the upper floor of the barracks.
For twenty-five years, Fort Smith served as a base of operations for the federal court. In 1875, Isaac Parker, former congressman from Missouri was appointed to the bench at Fort Smith. For twenty-one years Judge Parker served as Judge, later earning the nickname of "Hanging Judge" for the number of death sentences he handed down.
The jurisdiction of the federal court over the Indian Territory came to an end on September 1, 1896 with the coming of federal courts in the Indian Territory. Judge Parker died two months later.
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Location: Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas Maps & Images Lat: 35.38806 Long: -94.43 |
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