Fort Smith (2)
Fort Smith (1817-1834, 1838-1871) - A U.S. Army post established 25 Dec 1817 by Major William Bradford, Company A, Rifle Regiment, in Sebastian County, Arkansas. Named for Colonel Thomas A. Smith then Commander of U.S. forces west of the Mississippi. First abandoned in 1834 but reactivated in 1838 and finally abandoned by the U.S. Army in 1871.
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First Fort Smith
The location for the first Fort Smith was selected by topographical engineer Bvt. Major Steven H. Long on a rocky bluff above the junction of the Arkansas River and the Poteau River. This location was known as Belle Point was and was an ideal location for a fort and a strategic point along the Arkansas River.
The first fort was a simple 132' square log and stone stockade with two blockhouses on opposing corners. It was also known as Belle Point Fort and some of the the foundations can be seen today. The troops were moved to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma in 1824. The fort was then intermittently used until 1834, with the last garrison transferring to nearby 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.
Current Status
Part of Fort Smith National Historic Site. The National Park Service operates the park and the Visitor Center. Inside the visitor center is a museum that interprets the fort years and the federal Court years. Both the first fort and the second fort are interpreted. The first fort site has only foundations remaining while the second fort site has the commissary building restored and the barracks/courtroom building restored along with a reconstructed gallows from the court period. The parade has a 100' period flag pole flying a 36' by 20' garrison flag with 37 stars. The second fort walls are outlined in stone so the size of the fort can be appreciated.
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Location: Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas Maps & Images Lat: 35.38806 Long: -94.43 |
Sources:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 56-57
- Commanding Officers of Fort Smith 1817-1871
Links:
Visited: 23 Oct 2011
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