Utilization of Iron at Fort Mitchell 1RU102: a Functional Analysis

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Utilization of Iron at Fort Mitchell 1RU102: a Functional Analysis Utilization of Iron at Fort Mitchell 1RU102: A Functional Analysis by William Jason Lowe A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Auburn, Alabama May 5, 2013 Keywords: iron, fort, historical archaeology, Creek War, frontier, Russell County, Alabama Copyright 2013 by William Jason Lowe Approved by John W. Cottier, Chair, Associate Professor of Anthropology Philip L. Chaney, Associate Professor of Geology and Geography Kristrina Shuler, Assistant Professor of Anthropology Abstract From 1813 until 1840, the Fort Mitchell site, 1RU102, was a significant character in the history of the United States. It served as a fortification during both Creeks wars and as a focal point of trade between the United States government and Native Americans in the surrounding area between those wars. Despite the significance of this site, little is known about the interior of the forts and how the people who lived and worked in the forts made do with limited resources on the American Frontier. Iron in the 19th century was not as readily available as it is today. In fact, it could be said that it was actually scarce. This study looks at how the people who lived and worked in and around the Fort Mitchell site used iron. ii Acknowledgments There are many people I wish to thank for their help in completing this thesis. First, I would like to thank my committee members Dr. John Cottier, Dr. Kristrina Shuler, and Dr. Philip Chaney for their suggestions and encouragement. I am especially grateful to my committee chair Dr. Cottier for his guidance and for permitting me to use the material recovered from Fort Mitchell for this project. I would also like to thank him for all the editorial suggestions he has made and for all the times he has read this paper. He has been my boss, friend, and most importantly, my mentor for many years. I would like to thank John W. Moore Sr., Carol Moore, and Sue Pritchard for their help with all the various tasks involving Microsoft Excel. I would like to thank Cain E. Pressley and John W. Moore Jr. for lending me their expertise with a computer. I would like to thank my father, William P. Lowe for his support. Without him, I would not be where I am today. Finally, I would like to express my extreme gratitude to my wife Shannon P. Lowe. Her suggestions, support, patience, and confidence in me made this thesis possible. iii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. xiv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 Fort Mitchell Overview ................................................................................................... 1 Iron at Fort Mitchell ........................................................................................................ 2 Overview of the Chapters ............................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2: REGIONAL HISTORY .............................................................................. 6 The Federal Road ............................................................................................................ 6 The War of 1812 ............................................................................................................. 9 The Treaty of Ghent .................................................................................................. 10 Results of the War ..................................................................................................... 10 The Creek War of 1813-1814 ....................................................................................... 11 The Creek War of 1836 ................................................................................................. 20 Southern Indian Removal ............................................................................................. 26 iv CHAPTER 3: HISTORY OF THE FORT MITCHELL SITE ......................................... 28 The First Fort ................................................................................................................ 28 The Factory System ...................................................................................................... 29 The Georgia Factory ..................................................................................................... 30 Operation of the Factory at Fort Mitchell ................................................................. 31 Goods Traded ............................................................................................................ 32 Nails .......................................................................................................................... 33 Trade Guns ................................................................................................................ 35 Panton, Leslie, and Company ....................................................................................... 36 The Second Fort ............................................................................................................ 38 Iron in Early Alabama and Georgia .............................................................................. 39 Forts in Nineteenth Century America ........................................................................... 39 CHAPTER 4: SITE DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION OF THE FORTS .................... 42 Geographic Location ..................................................................................................... 42 Site Description ............................................................................................................. 42 CHAPTER 5: METHODOLOGY .................................................................................... 45 Field Methods ............................................................................................................... 45 Laboratory Methods ...................................................................................................... 49 Limitations .................................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER 6: DESCRIPTION OF THE FEATURES AND THE IRON ARTIFACTS THEY CONTAINED ........................................................................................................ 52 v Unused Feature Numbers .............................................................................................. 52 Temporal Placement ..................................................................................................... 52 Features Associated with the First Fort ........................................................................ 53 Features Associated with the Indian Factory ................................................................ 58 Features Associated with the Second Fort .................................................................... 61 Feature Associated with Both the First Fort and the Second fort ................................. 67 Features with an Undetermined Temporal Association ................................................ 67 Feature Associated with Neither the Forts Nor the Indian Factory .............................. 72 Features Associated with the Indian Factory and the Second Fort ............................... 72 Modern Features ........................................................................................................... 73 CHAPTER 7: DATA DESCRIPTION ............................................................................. 74 Kitchen Group ............................................................................................................... 74 Architecture Group ....................................................................................................... 75 Furniture Group ............................................................................................................ 78 Arms Group .................................................................................................................. 79 Clothing Group ............................................................................................................. 79 Personal Group.............................................................................................................. 81 Activities Group ............................................................................................................ 82 Miscellaneous Group .................................................................................................... 87 CHAPTER 8: DATA ANALYSIS ................................................................................... 89 vi CHAPTER 9: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ..................................................... 95 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 100 Appendix 1.1: First Fort Artifact Tables by Feature ......................................................
Recommended publications
  • PETITION Ror,RECOGNITION of the FLORIDA TRIBE Or EASTERN CREEK INDIANS
    'l PETITION rOR,RECOGNITION OF THE FLORIDA TRIBE or EASTERN CREEK INDIANS TH;: FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS and the Administra­ tive Council, THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA CREEK INDIAN COUNCIL brings this, thew petition to the DEPARTMENT Or THE INTERIOR OF THE FEDERAL GOVERN- MENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and prays this honorable nation will honor their petition, which is a petition for recognition by this great nation that THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS is an Indian Tribe. In support of this plea for recognition THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS herewith avers: (1) THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS nor any of its members, is the subject of Congressional legislation which has expressly terminated or forbidden the Federal relationship sought. (2) The membership of THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS is composed principally of persons who are not members of any other North American Indian tribe. (3) A list of all known current members of THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEK INDIANS, based on the tribes acceptance of these members and the tribes own defined membership criteria is attached to this petition and made a part of it. SEE APPENDIX----- A The membership consists of individuals who are descendants of the CREEK NATION which existed in aboriginal times, using and occuping this present georgraphical location alone, and in conjunction with other people since that time. - l - MNF-PFD-V001-D0002 Page 1of4 (4) Attached herewith and made a part of this petition is the present governing Constitution of THE FLORIDA TRIBE OF EASTERN CREEKS INDIANS.
    [Show full text]
  • Alabama Historical Association Is the Oldest Statewide Historical Society in Alabama
    VOLUME 28 ISSUE 1 Alabama SPRING 2013 Historical Association 66th Annual Meeting April 11-13, 2013, Eufaula, Alabama TABLE OF CONTENTS AHA Executive Committee PRESIDENT Marty Olliff, Troy University Dothan Campus 3-4 President’s Message, Marty Olliff VICE PRESIDENT Gayle Thomas, Abbeville 5-8 Eufaula to Host Annual Meeting SECRETARY Mark Wilson, Auburn University 9 “Making History Public” Workshop MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Debbie Pendleton, Alabama Department of Archives and History 10-11 Schedule of Events TREASURER John Hardin, Alabama Department of Archives and History 12 Meeting Sites and Accommodations IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Steve Murray, Alabama Department of Archives and History 13 Map AT-LARGE MEMBERS Valerie Burnes, Dorothy Walker 14-15 Pre-Meeting Tours: Chattahoochee AHA Editors Indian Heritage Center, Fort Mitchell, THE ALABAMA REVIEW Eufaula Barbour Chamber of R. Volney Riser, University of West Alabama AHA Newsletter Commerce, Fairview Cemetery, Carey Cauthen, University of Alabama at Birmingham Shorter Cemetery AHA Board of Directors 2012-2013 Jim Baggett, Birmingham Public Library 16-17 Reception: Fendall Hall Ramona Beck, Fort Payne Valerie Pope Burnes, The University of West Alabama 18-21 Tour Previews Lonnie Burnett, University of Mobile Nicholas Cobbs, Greensboro 22 Dothan’s Understudy Theater presents James Cox, Grove Hill Brad Creed, Samford University “Grits on the Side” at Annual Banquet; Harriet Amos Doss, University of Alabama at Birmingham Bertis English, Alabama State University John Hall Presents Breakfast Program April Folden, Florence James E. Foshee, Huntsville 23-27 2012 Historical Markers Kari Frederickson, University of Alabama John C. Hall, Tuscaloosa T. R. Henderson, Headland Martha Houston, Montgomery John Kvach, University of Alabama in Huntsville William Melton, Evergreen Chris McIlwain, Tuscaloosa Gwen Patton, Trenholm State Technical College Paul Pruitt, Tuscaloosa Doug Purcell, Eufaula David Robb, Huntsville J.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating Second Seminole War Sites in Florida: Identification Through Limited Testing Christine Bell University of South Florida
    University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 11-19-2004 Investigating Second Seminole War Sites in Florida: Identification Through Limited Testing Christine Bell University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Scholar Commons Citation Bell, Christine, "Investigating Second Seminole War Sites in Florida: Identification Through Limited Testing" (2004). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/952 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Investigating Second Seminole War Sites in Florida: Identification Through Limited Testing by Christine Bell A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Department of Anthropology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Brent R. Weisman, Ph.D. Robert H. Tykot, Ph.D. E. Christian Wells, Ph.D. Date of Approval: November 19, 2004 Keywords: Historical archaeology, artifact dating, military forts, correspondence analysis, homesteads © Copyright 2004, Christine Bell i Acknowledgements None of this work would be possible without the support of family, friends, and the wonderful volunteers who helped at our sites. Thank you to Debbie Roberson, Lori Collins, and my committee members Dr. Weisman, Dr. Wells, and Dr. Tykot. I couldn’t have made it through grad school without Toni, and Belle, and even Mel. A special thanks to Walter for inspiring me from the start.
    [Show full text]
  • Fort King National Historic Landmark Education Guide 1 Fig5
    Ai-'; ~,,111m11l111nO FORTKINO NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK Fig1 EDUCATION GUIDE This guide was made possible by the City of Ocala Florida and the Florida Department of State/Division of Historic Resources WELCOME TO Micanopy WE ARE EXCITED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN Fort King National Historic Fig2 Landmark as an education destination to shed light on the importance of this site and its place within the Seminole War. This Education Guide will give you some tools to further educate before and after your visit to the park. The guide gives an overview of the history associated with Fort King, provides comprehension questions, and delivers activities to Gen. Thomas Jesup incorporate into the classroom. We hope that this resource will further Fig3 enrich your educational experience. To make your experience more enjoyable we have included a list of items: • Check in with our Park Staff prior to your scheduled visit to confrm your arrival time and participation numbers. • The experience at Fort King includes outside activities. Please remember the following: » Prior to coming make staff aware of any mobility issues or special needs that your group may have. » Be prepared for the elements. Sunscreen, rain gear, insect repellent and water are recommended. » Wear appropriate footwear. Flip fops or open toed shoes are not recommended. » Please bring lunch or snacks if you would like to picnic at the park before or after your visit. • Be respectful of our park staff, volunteers, and other visitors by being on time. Abraham • Visitors will be exposed to different cultures and subject matter Fig4 that may be diffcult at times.
    [Show full text]
  • WEB Warof1812booklet.Pdf
    1. Blount Mansion War of 1812 in Tennessee: 200 W. Hill Avenue, Knoxville A Driving Tour Governor Willie Blount, who served from 1809 to 1815, led Tennessee during the War of 1812. He lived in this sponsored and developed by the Center for Historic historic structure, originally the home of U.S. territorial Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University, Mur- freesboro Two hundred years ago, an international war raged across the United States of America. Thousands of American soldiers died in the conflict; the nation’s capital city was invaded, leaving both the White House and the U.S. Capitol in near ruins. An American invasion of Canada ended in failure. Defeat appeared to be certain—leaving the nation’s future in doubt—but down on the southern frontier Tennesseans fought and won major battles that turned the tide and made the reputation of a future U.S. president, Andrew Jackson. This conflict between the United States, Great Britain, governor William Blount (Willie’s older half-brother), Canada, and a score of sovereign Indian nations was called throughout the war. In 1813, Governor Blount raised the War of 1812 because the United States declared war over $37,000 and 2,000 volunteer soldiers to fight the on England in June of that year. Thousands of Tennesseans Creeks. Blount Mansion, built between 1792 and c.1830, fought with distinction in three southern campaigns: the is Knoxville’s only National Historic Landmark. 1813 Natchez campaign, the 1813–14 Creek War, and the campaign against the British in New Orleans in 1814–15. There were additional companies of Tennesseans and others 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Challenge Bowl 2020
    Notice: study guide will be updated after the December general election. Sponsored by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Challenge Bowl 2020 High School Study Guide Sponsored by the Challenge Bowl 2020 Muscogee (Creek) Nation Table of Contents A Struggle To Survive ................................................................................................................................ 3-4 1. Muscogee History ......................................................................................................... 5-30 2. Muscogee Forced Removal ........................................................................................... 31-50 3. Muscogee Customs & Traditions .................................................................................. 51-62 4. Branches of Government .............................................................................................. 63-76 5. Muscogee Royalty ........................................................................................................ 77-79 6. Muscogee (Creek) Nation Seal ...................................................................................... 80-81 7. Belvin Hill Scholarship .................................................................................................. 82-83 8. Wilbur Chebon Gouge Honors Team ............................................................................. 84-85 9. Chronicles of Oklahoma ............................................................................................... 86-97 10. Legends & Stories ......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix I War of 1812 Chronology
    THE WAR OF 1812 MAGAZINE ISSUE 26 December 2016 Appendix I War of 1812 Chronology Compiled by Ralph Eshelman and Donald Hickey Introduction This War of 1812 Chronology includes all the major events related to the conflict beginning with the 1797 Jay Treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation between the United Kingdom and the United States of America and ending with the United States, Weas and Kickapoos signing of a peace treaty at Fort Harrison, Indiana, June 4, 1816. While the chronology includes items such as treaties, embargos and political events, the focus is on military engagements, both land and sea. It is believed this chronology is the most holistic inventory of War of 1812 military engagements ever assembled into a chronological listing. Don Hickey, in his War of 1812 Chronology, comments that chronologies are marred by errors partly because they draw on faulty sources and because secondary and even primary sources are not always dependable.1 For example, opposing commanders might give different dates for a military action, and occasionally the same commander might even present conflicting data. Jerry Roberts in his book on the British raid on Essex, Connecticut, points out that in a copy of Captain Coot’s report in the Admiralty and Secretariat Papers the date given for the raid is off by one day.2 Similarly, during the bombardment of Fort McHenry a British bomb vessel's log entry date is off by one day.3 Hickey points out that reports compiled by officers at sea or in remote parts of the theaters of war seem to be especially prone to ambiguity and error.
    [Show full text]
  • THE WAR of 1812 in CLAY COUNTY, ALABAMA by Don C. East
    THE WAR OF 1812 IN CLAY COUNTY, ALABAMA By Don C. East BACKGROUND The War of 1812 is often referred to as the “Forgotten War.” This conflict was overshadowed by the grand scale of the American Revolutionary War before it and the American Civil War afterwards. We Americans fought two wars with England: the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Put simply, the first of these was a war for our political freedom, while the second was a war for our economic freedom. However, it was a bit more complex than that. In 1812, the British were still smarting from the defeat of their forces and the loss of their colonies to the upstart Americans. Beyond that, the major causes of the war of 1812 were the illegal impressments of our ships’ crewmen on the high seas by the British Navy, Great Britain’s interference with our trade and other trade issues, and the British incitement of the Native Americans to hostilities against the Americans along the western and southeast American frontiers. Another, often overlooked cause of this war was it provided America a timely excuse to eliminate American Indian tribes on their frontiers so that further westward expansion could occur. This was especially true in the case of the Creek Nation in Alabama so that expansion of the American colonies/states could move westward into the Mississippi Territories in the wake of the elimination of the French influence there with the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, and the Spanish influence, with the Pinckney Treaty of 1796. Now the British and the Creek Nation were the only ones standing in the way of America’s destiny of moving the country westward into the Mississippi Territories.
    [Show full text]
  • The African American Experience and the Creek
    The African American Experience and the Creek War, 1813-14: An Annotated Bibliography Task Agreement NumberP16AC01696 Under Cooperative Agreement Number P13AC00443 Between The United States Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service Horseshoe Bend National Military Park and Auburn University August 8, 2017 Report Prepared By Kathryn H. Braund Hollifield Professor of Southern History Auburn University Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................... 3 Essay on Sources .............................................................................. 4 Annotated Bibliography ............................................................. 38 Manuscript Primary Sources ..................................... 39 Published Primary Sources ........................................ 56 Primary Sources: Internet Databases .................... 78 Newspapers and Periodicals ..................................... 83 Illustrations, Maps, and Photographs .................... 86 Secondary Sources ......................................................... 89 Tertiary Sources .......................................................... 113 Note on Accompanying Documents ................................... 115 2 INTRODUCTION This project sought to identify primary, secondary, and tertiary sources related to the experience of African-Americans prior to, during, and after the Creek War (1813-1814) and the War of 1812. For the period immediately following the Creek War, the project also sought information
    [Show full text]
  • Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Administrative History
    NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Administrative History Keith S. Hébert and Kathryn H. Braund Auburn University July 2019 Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Administrative History July 2019 Keith S. Hébert and Kathryn H. Braund Auburn University Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Daviston, Alabama Administrative History Approved by: Superintendent, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Date Recommended by: Chief, Cultural Resources, Partnerships and Science Division, Southeast Region Date Recommended by: Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region Date Approved by: Regional Director, Southeast Region Date ii CONTENTS Executive Summary ................................................................................................................xiii Introduction .............................................................................................................................xv Horseshoe Bend National Military Park .....................................................................................xvi Chapter One: Horseshoe Bend in the Nineteenth Century .................................................... 1 The Creek War of 1813–1814 .................................................................................................. 1 Creek Indian Land Cessions: 1814–1832 ................................................................................... 6 Horseshoe Bend Battlefield: 1832–1900 ..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Project for a State Park System for Alabama Sam Findley Brewster University of Massachusetts Amherst
    University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 1932 Project for a state park system for Alabama Sam Findley Brewster University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Brewster, Sam Findley, "Project for a state park system for Alabama" (1932). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 1353. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/1353 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. D UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS D LIBRARY M D 1932 B%8 O Archives Thesis — ——^^^^^^^===== L D ! This thesis is not to be loaned outside the library building. For this purpose, use the copy in the department where the work of the thesis was done. PROJECT FOB A STATE PARK SYSTEM FOR ALABAMA by SAM FINDLEY BREWSTER THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DECREE OF MASTER IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MASSAG1DBITTS STATE COLLEGE AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS MAT, 1932 Graduate Committee PROJECT FOR A STATE PARK SYSTEM FOR ALABAMA A. introduction. B. History of State Park Development. C. Purposes, Functions, and Value of State Parks. D. Legislation for and Administration of State Parks. 1. Methods of acquiring state parks. 2. Methods of administering state parks. E. Location of State Parks. F. Financing State Park Systems. G. The Situation in Alabama. 1. Why the work has not gone forward. 2. Reasons irhy park work should go forward. H.
    [Show full text]
  • The Removal of the Creek Indians from the Southeast, 1825-1838
    THE REMOVAL OF THE CREEK INDIANS FROM THE SOUTHEAST, 1825-1838 Except where reference is made to the work of others, the work described in this dissertation is my own or was done in collaboration with my advisory committee. This dissertation does not include proprietary or classified information. ____________________________ Christopher D. Haveman Certificate of Approval: ____________________________ ____________________________ Kenneth W. Noe Kathryn E. Holland Braund, Chair Professor Professor History History ____________________________ ____________________________ David C. Carter John Saye Professor Professor History Education ____________________________ George T. Flowers Dean Graduate School THE REMOVAL OF THE CREEK INDIANS FROM THE SOUTHEAST, 1825-1838 Christopher D. Haveman A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Auburn University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Auburn, Alabama August 10, 2009 THE REMOVAL OF THE CREEK INDIANS FROM THE SOUTHEAST, 1825-1838 Christopher D. Haveman Permission is granted to Auburn University to make copies of this dissertation at its discretion, upon request of individuals or institutions and at their expense. The author reserves all publication rights. ________________________________ Signature of Author ________________________________ Date of Graduation iii DISSERTATION ABSTRACT THE REMOVAL OF THE CREEK INDIANS FROM THE SOUTHEAST, 1825-1838 Christopher D. Haveman Doctor of Philosophy, August 10, 2009 (M.A. Auburn University, 2006) (M.A. Marquette University, 2001) (B.A. Western Washington University, 1998) 407 Typed Pages Directed by Kathryn E. Holland Braund This dissertation examines the removal of approximately twenty-three thousand Creek Indians from Alabama and Georgia to present-day Oklahoma between 1825 and 1838. At its height, the Creek Nation encompassed most of the present-day states of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
    [Show full text]