Fort Hanson was a

blockhouse A blockhouse is a small fortification, usually consisting of one or more rooms with loopholes, allowing its defenders to fire in various directions. It is usually an isolated fort in the form of a single building, serving as a defensive stro ...

fortification A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Lati ...

built in 1838 by the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

as one of a chain of

military outpost In military terminology, an outpost is a location where detachments of military personnel are stationed at a distance from the main armed force or formation in a region. Outposts are usually located in remote or sparsely populated areas, posi ...

s created during the

Second Seminole War The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between the United States and groups of people collectively known as Seminoles, consisting of Muscogee, Creek and Black Seminoles as well as oth ...

. These fortifications were located near vital road and waterway routes, or were built within a

day’s journey A day's journey in pre-modern literature, including the Bible and ancient geographers and ethnographers such as Herodotus, is a measurement of distance. In the Bible, it is not as precisely defined as other Biblical measurements of distance; the ...

of one another. Fort Hanson was primarily built for the protection of the

St. Augustine Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced the development of Western philosop ...

area in the

Florida Territory The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it was admitted to the Union as the state of Florida. Originally the major portion of the Spanish ...

. St. Augustine had become refuge for many white

settlers A settler or a colonist is a person who establishes or joins a permanent presence that is separate to existing communities. The entity that a settler establishes is a Human settlement, settlement. A settler is called a pioneer if they are among ...

and their

slaves Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...

that had fled from nearby settlements and plantations for safety in the city. In addition to St. Augustine being an important shipping port and supply center for the war effort the additional civilians made the city a key

stronghold A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...

requiring a substantial military presence for its defense. The fort originally stood about thirteen miles southwest of St. Augustine.Jaye, Randy. Second Seminole War (1835-1842) Fortifications in the Present-day Volusia and Flagler County Area. Halifax Herald, Volume 35, Number 2, Fall 2017.Waterbury, Jean Parker (editor). The Oldest City – St. Augustine Saga of Survival (1983). St. Augustine Historical Society. pp. 164-171.

Brief History

Fort Hanson was established in 1838 by R.H.K. Whiteley, 1st Lt., 2d Artillery Regiment, and was garrisoned by regular U.S. Army troops. It was also tasked with providing reconnaissance and communications to warn U.S. Army troops stationed in St. Augustine of any Seminole Indian activity in its general vicinity. After only two years of service Fort Hanson was ordered abandoned on May 13, 1840, by the United States

Secretary of War The secretary of war was a member of the U.S. president's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War", had been appointed to serve the Congress of the ...

Joel Roberts Poinsett Joel Roberts Poinsett (March 2, 1779December 12, 1851) was an American physician, botanist, politician, and diplomat. He was the first U.S. agent in South America, a member of the South Carolina Legislature, and later a United States Representat ...

(1779-1851). Poinstett sent a correspondence to General

Walker Keith Armistead Walker Keith Armistead (March 25, 1773 – October 13, 1845) was a military officer who served as Chief of Engineers of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Armistead was born in Upperville, Fauquier County, Virginia, and served as an ord ...

(1773–1845), commander of the U.S. Army from 1840 to 1841, with orders to abandon two St. Augustine area forts: Fort Hanson and

Fort Peyton Fort Peyton was a stockaded fort built in August 1837 by the United States Army, one of a chain of Outpost (military), military outposts created during the Second Seminole War for the protection of the St. Augustine, Florida, St. Augustine area ...

. Fort Hanson was abandoned in 1840 and later burned to the ground by the

Seminoles The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...

. No known attacks or skirmishes were recorded at Fort Hanson during the Second Seminole War.Andrews, Mark. Forts Played Role in Florida History. Orlando Sentinel. August 11, 1991. pp. K1, K4.

Fort Hanson’s Name

The fort is most likely named after Colonel John Hanson, a plantation owner of St. Augustine. The first post return shows up as March 1838, being garrisoned by the 2d Artillery Regiment. It is named after 1st Lieutenant Weightman Kay Hanson of the 7th Infantry Regiment because W.K. Hanson was recruiting in New York in 1838 and did not arrive in Florida or participate in the war until 1839 with his regiment.Cullum, George W. Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy. Class of 1835. #807.

Site of Fort Hanson

Today, the actual site of Fort Hanson is unmarked. Its approximate location is known from historical records and maps, but no professional archaeological survey has been conducted to pinpoint its original location. Historical records show the fort on the south side of Deep Creek on the west side of the St. Johns River, protecting the road that goes between Picolata and Palatka. Word, Ron. Historic Osceola sites vanishing. The Tampa Tribune. May 11, 2001, p. 31.

References

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External links

2nd Seminole War Fort Diagram (Ft. Micanopy).

Florida Seminole Wars Heritage Trail.

Florida Frontiers: Search on for fort.

Find a Grave - Weightman Kay Hanson (1816-1844).

Hanson Hanson or Hansson may refer to: People * Hanson (surname) * Hansson (surname) * Hanson (wrestler) or Ivar (born 1984), American professional wrestler Musical groups * Hanson (band), an American pop rock band * Hanson (UK band), an English ...

Pre-statehood history of Florida Seminole Wars Second Seminole War fortifications