Fort Assumption facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Assumption |
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| Memphis, Tennessee | |
 Fort Assumption
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| Coordinates | 35°07′19″N 90°04′26″W / 35.122°N 90.074°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1739 |
| Built by | French Army |
| In use | 1739–1740 |
| Events | Abortive Campaign of 1739 |
| Garrison information | |
| Past commanders |
Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville |
| Garrison | 1,200 |
Fort Assumption (also known as Fort De L'Assomption) was a French fort built in 1739. It was located on the fourth Chickasaw Bluff along the Mississippi River in what is now Memphis, Tennessee. The French army used this fort as a base during a military campaign against the Chickasaw people. This campaign, part of the Chickasaw Wars, was not successful.
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Why Was Fort Assumption Built?
In 1739, a French leader named Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville led a large army into the area of modern-day Shelby County, Tennessee. His goal was to remove the native Chickasaw people from the land. This was to make the area ready for French settlers. His army included about 1,200 French soldiers and roughly 2,400 Native American and African soldiers.
Bienville chose the fourth Chickasaw Bluff for his base. This spot was perfect because it was high ground overlooking the Mississippi River. He ordered his men to build a strong fort there.
Building the Fort: A Quick Construction
The fort was finished on August 15, 1739. This day was special because it was the Feast of the Assumption, a religious holiday. So, the fort was named Fort Assumption to remember this day.
The French fort was well-designed for defense. It had three strong points, called bastions, facing the land. Two more bastions faced the Mississippi River. The slope leading from the river up to the bluff had seven wide terraces. These terraces helped protect the fort from attacks.
Life at the Fort and Its Challenges
During the winter of 1739 and 1740, the soldiers at Fort Assumption faced many difficulties. They struggled with harsh weather and illnesses. Some soldiers left without permission, and there were also problems with discipline.
The Chickasaw people had taken some French hostages during the campaign. After talks, these hostages were set free on March 20, 1740.
Why Was Fort Assumption Abandoned?
By March 31, 1740, the French troops were tired and discouraged. The campaign had not gone as planned. Because of this, the French army left Fort Assumption. Even though the French were only there for a few months, France claimed this area for eighty more years.
Some historians believe that Fort Assumption might have been built near an older French fort. This earlier fort was called Fort Prudhomme. It was built in 1682 by René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle during his trip down the Mississippi River.
Where Was Fort Assumption Located?
Fort Assumption was built on the banks of the Mississippi River. Today, this spot is in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee. You can find its historical location around 35.122°N 90.074°W.
What Was the Fort's Importance?
Fort Assumption was destroyed in the spring of 1740 after the French campaign failed. However, Bienville's presence there was very important. It was the first time Europeans were recorded in the area that is now Memphis. Fort Assumption was also the first European building in Shelby County. It was only the third European building ever constructed in all of Tennessee.
Bienville's failure to defeat the Chickasaw had bigger consequences. It contributed to French King Louis XV signing the Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1762. In this treaty, France gave up its territory in Louisiana to Spain. The king was frustrated that France could not remove the native people from the area.
