Fort Southerland facts for kids
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Fort Southerland
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | Camden, Arkansas |
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1864 |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001184 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 19, 1994 |
| Designated NHL | April 19, 1994 |
Fort Southerland, also known as Redoubt E, is an old military fort. It was built during the American Civil War near Camden, Arkansas. Today, the fort's oval-shaped earthworks are part of a city park. You can find it off Bradley Ferry Road on the east side of Camden.
Fort Southerland was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is also part of the Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark. This landmark includes several important places from the Civil War.
What is Fort Southerland?
Fort Southerland was one of five forts built by the Confederate army in 1864. These forts helped protect Camden from Union forces. Enslaved people were forced to help build these defenses.
The fort is shaped like an oval. It measures about 2,000 feet (610 m) long and 1,000 feet (305 m) wide. It was big enough to hold three cannons. The fort helped guard Bradley Ferry Road. This road was important for connecting Camden to other Confederate areas. It also protected against any Union attacks from the Ouachita River.
Back in 1864, Camden was much smaller. Fort Southerland was built far outside the city center. Of the five forts built, Fort Southerland is the best preserved. Only one other fort, Fort Lookout (or Redoubt A), still exists in a major way. Both are part of the National Historic Landmark.
Why Was Fort Southerland Built?
General Alexander T. Hawthorn was from Camden. He was in charge of setting up the city's defenses. From January to March 1864, Confederate soldiers and enslaved people worked hard. They built five forts to protect the city. These forts mostly guarded the southern and western land routes into Camden.
Union Major General Frederick Steele led forces in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was ordered to move southwest. His goal was to join with Major General Nathaniel P. Banks's Red River campaign. This campaign aimed to capture Shreveport, Louisiana. The Union also hoped to gain control in Texas.
General Steele's army left Little Rock on March 23, 1864. They marched through areas of Arkansas with few people. Their advance was slowed down at the Battle of Prairie D'Ane in April. Steele's army needed supplies. So, he ordered his troops to march to Camden. They took over the city on April 15 after the small number of Confederate defenders left.
The Union army stayed in Camden for ten days. During this time, they added more trenches and earthworks to the city's defenses. General Steele decided to leave Camden after losing supplies in two battles. These were the Battle of Poison Spring (April 18) and the Battle of Marks' Mills (April 25). He pulled his troops out of Camden on April 26 and headed back to Little Rock.
After the Confederate forces returned, Camden's defenses grew even stronger. The waterfront area was a weak spot. It was fortified in October 1864. By the end of that year, a complete line of trenches surrounded the entire city.
