Background The Creek War began as a civil war between factions of the
Creek tribe. The
Red Sticks were angered over the consolidation of tribal government and selling of traditional tribal lands. After the start of the
War of 1812, the United States feared that
Great Britain might ally with and supply the Red Sticks. In response to attacks on settlers, the United States began a military campaign against the Red Sticks in 1813. After the
Fort Mims massacre, the United States planned a three-pronged attack on the Creek heartland. The initial plan called for troops to march south from Tennessee under the command of
Andrew Jackson, east from Georgia under the command of
John Floyd, and up from the southwest under
Ferdinand Claiborne. Along with allied Creeks under the command of
William McIntosh, Floyd set out from Georgia in the latter part of 1813. After crossing the
Chattahoochee River, his troops constructed
Fort Mitchell. Floyd's forces continued marching westward, culminating in the
Battle of Autossee. Floyd was injured in the battle and his forces retreated back to Fort Mitchell. No drawing or description of Fort Hull exists, but it is likely it was built in a similar style to other forts built on the Federal Road (such as
Fort Bainbridge), with an earth work surrounded by a
palisade. The fort likely had at least one blockhouse, officers quarters, and a
magazine. Nearby the fort site was a church and school that were named Fort Hull Church and Fort Hull School. As late as 1952 a historical marker for the fort was located south of Tuskegee on
U.S. Route 80, but no historical marker exists today.
Present The original site of Fort Hull is unmarked and on private land. The site has been damaged by relic collecting. ==References==