The attack on Negro Fort had begun. The two gunboats opened fire and got the fort's range in four shots. The fifth shot was a "Hot Shot" one that had been heated and was fired from Gunboat #154 and scored a direct hit on the entrance to the gunpowder magazine and Negro Fort was blown to pieces. It is regarded as perhaps the single deadliest cannon shot in American history.
An estimated 270-320 men, women and children were instantly killed. Bodies and parts of bodies were found in the tall pine trees surrounding the fort..
The fort was abandoned for two years after that.
Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
Showing posts with label Gunboat #154. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gunboat #154. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Monday, August 10, 2015
Fort Gadsden-- Part 9: The Attack Begins
Slavery was legal in the United States and the existence of a fort manned by blacks so close to the U.S. border was viewed with alarm.
The United States demanded Spain to do something about it, but it was not done fast enough and Major General Edmund P. Gaines was authorized to take care of the fort. He placed Lt. Col. Duncan L. Church in command of the operation who moved down from Fort Gaines in Georgia to a site near the Florida border where he built a new stockade called Camp Crawford, whose name was later changed to Fort Scott.
He left there in July 1816 with a force of 112 soldiers from the 4th U.S. Infantry which was reinforced by several hundred Creek Indians led by Major William McIntosh, a Coueta chief who had fought alongside Andrew Jackson in the Creek War.
Upon arrival at Negro Fort, surrender was demanded and promptly refused. The attack began July 27, 1816. Clinch was assisted by U.S. navy Gunboats #149 and #154.
--Brock-Perry
The United States demanded Spain to do something about it, but it was not done fast enough and Major General Edmund P. Gaines was authorized to take care of the fort. He placed Lt. Col. Duncan L. Church in command of the operation who moved down from Fort Gaines in Georgia to a site near the Florida border where he built a new stockade called Camp Crawford, whose name was later changed to Fort Scott.
He left there in July 1816 with a force of 112 soldiers from the 4th U.S. Infantry which was reinforced by several hundred Creek Indians led by Major William McIntosh, a Coueta chief who had fought alongside Andrew Jackson in the Creek War.
Upon arrival at Negro Fort, surrender was demanded and promptly refused. The attack began July 27, 1816. Clinch was assisted by U.S. navy Gunboats #149 and #154.
--Brock-Perry
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