Fort
Foster
established
1836
Photos
supplied by Matt Overton
Fort
Foster, replaced an earlier fort that was named Fort Alabama. It stands
to guard the bridge that crosses the Hillsborough River on the Fort King
Military Rd.
The
Fort King Military Rd is an important artery connecting Fort Brooke at
Tampa Bay to Fort King ( at present day Ocala).
Fort
Foster's front gate
The
Seminoles have tried many times to burn this bridge and generally harass
the poor hard working soldiers of this fort. The soldiers are trying to
keep the Seminoles south of the Hillsborough River as they agreed to do.
Bridge
crossing the Hillsborough River on the Fort King Military Rd.
The
fort is way to small for the amount of soldiers present.
Most
of them have to sleep in tents outside the fort walls.
Life
is very hard for these soldiers. They are harassed by the Seminoles and
have to live in cramped quarters, a very damp environment, hot weather,
and hoards of mosquitoes and flies, all add to their misery. It is generally
a very unhealthy place. Lots of them are overcome by sickness and disease.
The
soldiers bunk in the Blockhouse
Most
of the soldiers sleep in tents outside the fort walls.
The
enlisted men's blockhouse
Crossing
the bridge on the Fort King Military Rd.
The
sallyport faces the cannon toward the bridge.
View
of the bridge from the fort
The
Big gun
The
Powder Magazine
It
is said that when Fort Alabama was abandoned in April 1836 that before
leaving the Alabama volunteers booby-trapped the powder magazine. They
rigged a riffle to go off when the door was opened which in turn would
set off a keg of powder. They say the soldiers had hardly gone two miles
when they heard the explosion. They later learned that at least three Seminoles
were killed by the blast.
The
Quatermasters supply house
After
much research Fort Foster and the bridge it protected have been authentically
reconstructed by Florida's division of Recreation and Parks. It sits on
the original site.
On
special weekends the fort is garrisoned by soldiers performing their duties
at the fort. Wearing authentic uniforms the soldiers will gladly share
their personal views of the second Seminole War and their life as a soldier
in a frontier Florida Fort. One such event is the Fort Foster Rendezvous,
held each February, it is open to the public.
The
Fort is part of the Hillsborough River State Park
For
more information you can contact
Hillsborough
River State Park
15402
US 301 North
Thonotosassa,
FL 33592
(813)
987-6771
For
more information about the Florida Frontier and the Seminole Wars check
out these LINKS
Fort
Foster Living History Garrison
Fort
Foster Second Seminole War (1835-1842)Seminole
War Reenacting Forum
Tour
of the Florida Territory during the Seminole Wars
The
Florida Frontiersmen's Scouts at Ft. Foster