Fort Adams, Mississippi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

June 1864 sketch map of Fort Adams, Mississippi

Fort Adams, Mississippi is a small, abandoned riverport in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, about 40 leagues south of Natchez. It is notable for being the United States' port of entry on the Mississippi River before the acquisition of New Orleans. It was the site of an early fort by that name.

[edit] History

The town was called Wilkinburg and was incorporated in 1798. Prior to that time, the community was known as Loftus Heights and formerly had been a Jesuit mission called The Rock Of Davion , first settled as such around 1689-1700.

In 1799, Fort Adams was built on the bluff above the Mississippi River at Loftus Heights. The fort consisted of earthworks, a magazine, and barracks. The 2000-man fort was the port of entry on the Mississippi for the United States, and the main western defense against the Spanish who had recently departed Natchez under the terms of Pinckney's Treaty.

After the accession of Louisiana Territory in 1803, Fort Adams was no longer deemed necessary for defense, and the post was abandoned. During its brief existence, the fort served as the site of several important negotiations. In December 1801, Gen. James Wilkinson signed a treaty with the Choctaws for resurveying the old British line, and for a road through Choctaw territory toward Natchez. This road became the legendary Natchez Trace.^[1]