Fort Smith National Historic Site - Fort Smith AR - People-Named Places on Waymarking.com

THE PLACE:
In 1817, General Thomas Smith tasked Major William Bradford with keeping the peace in western Arkansas, from lawlessness of the area and particularly between the Cherokee and Osage tribes. Tensions between the two tribes were growing as they were being pushed westward. In order to combat these problems, Fort Smith was located on the Arkansas River.

With the onset of the American Civil War in 1861, Union troops abandoned the post and Confederate troops the garrison. A major battle was missed as Union troops slipped out under the cover of darkness just hours prior to a planned attack by Arkansas state militia. The fort remained in the hands of Confederate troops until September 1, 1863, when Federal troops returned to reclaim the garrison.

The Federal Court, located in Van Buren was relocated in 1871 to Fort Smith. The old fort made perfect location for the court over the Indian Territory. Outlaws had taken to hiding in the Indian Territory, believing they were above the law and out of touch. The history Fort Smith would prove this wrong.

Today, the former fort, former court, and former jail is overseen by the National Parks Service. The site was established as the Fort Smith National Historic Site on September 13, 1961. In 1966, it was added as a District to the National Register of Historic Places.

THE PERSON:
Thomas Adams Smith was an American military officer and, later, a government official, in the first half of the 19th century. He commanded troops in the "Patriot War" in Spanish East Florida. He commanded the Regiment of Riflemen and then the Ninth Military Department. He was a slave owner. The city of Fort Smith, Arkansas, is named for Smith, although he never went to its location.

From Wikipedia
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Year it was dedicated: 1817 Location of Coordinates: Entrance to the Fort Related Web address (if available): [Web Link] Type of place/structure you are waymarking: Fort

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Date Logged Log User Rating   02/17/2023 Don.Morfe visited it