fossis
Gold Member
- Jan 5, 2007
- 7,837
- 96
- Detector(s) used
- Whites Prizm 11 & White's XLT
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Remains of 'Old Fort Smith'
The first Ft. Smith was a small log & stone stockade built on a rocky bluff at the confluence of the 'Poteau & Arkansas' rivers.
It was established by Major William Bradford & a company of the U.S. Rifle regiment in Dec 1817.
It was built to keep the peace between the Osage & Cherokee, (the latter came west on their own), they were tired of being 'pushed around' in their Eastern homeland, (this was before the forced removal).
At one time A large force of Osage's threatened to attack the fort, but it never happened, & the treaty of 1822 negotiated by Col Mathew Arbuckle kept most of the 'hostilities down, & kept 'non indians' from settling on their lands.
(The Arbuckle mts in OK were named for the Colonel).
The Ft. is in AR, just across the AR river from the (then Indian Territory).
In 1824 the Ft. was abandoned & Ft. Gibson was established 80 miles up the AR river.
I will have more on the building of the 'new Ft.' later.
The area is maintained by the National Park service.
Pic's are foundation stones of part of the 'quarters', metal bolts used to tie the Steamboats to the shore, (rock bluff), cannon, Old commisary bldg, (oldest bldg in Ft. Smith) city, AR river.
Fossis..............
The first Ft. Smith was a small log & stone stockade built on a rocky bluff at the confluence of the 'Poteau & Arkansas' rivers.
It was established by Major William Bradford & a company of the U.S. Rifle regiment in Dec 1817.
It was built to keep the peace between the Osage & Cherokee, (the latter came west on their own), they were tired of being 'pushed around' in their Eastern homeland, (this was before the forced removal).
At one time A large force of Osage's threatened to attack the fort, but it never happened, & the treaty of 1822 negotiated by Col Mathew Arbuckle kept most of the 'hostilities down, & kept 'non indians' from settling on their lands.
(The Arbuckle mts in OK were named for the Colonel).
The Ft. is in AR, just across the AR river from the (then Indian Territory).
In 1824 the Ft. was abandoned & Ft. Gibson was established 80 miles up the AR river.
I will have more on the building of the 'new Ft.' later.
The area is maintained by the National Park service.
Pic's are foundation stones of part of the 'quarters', metal bolts used to tie the Steamboats to the shore, (rock bluff), cannon, Old commisary bldg, (oldest bldg in Ft. Smith) city, AR river.
Fossis..............
What awesome history! I'll help you get permision, if you'd let me help you hunt it? Nice place!
