Nicolls' Outpost facts for kids
Nicolls' Outpost was a small fort built by the British during the War of 1812. It was one of two forts built by British Lieutenant Colonel Edward Nicolls. The Americans called it Fort Apalachicola.
This fort was built in late 1814. It was the most northern British fort during their campaign in the Gulf Coast area. Nicolls' Outpost was located in what is now River Landing Park in Chattahoochee, Florida. This spot is just south of the border between Spanish Florida and Georgia. It's where the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers join to form the Apalachicola.
Even though it was smaller than another British base nearby, Nicolls' Outpost was meant to be a main base. The British planned to invade the United States from here. The larger base down the Apalachicola River was supposed to be its supply center. However, the War of 1812 ended in 1815. This stopped the British plans.
The fort was built on top of a large ancient mound. This mound was made by the prehistoric Fort Walton culture. The fort was high enough to be safe from winter floods. Its cannons could reach both branches of the river. It was built in 1814 and left early in 1815 when the war ended. The fort had a 5+1⁄2-inch howitzer cannon. It also had a coehorn and a mortar that could fire heavy shells.
According to a report, there were "200 troops white and black" at the fort. There were also "500 [Creek] Warriors" who had plenty of clothes and weapons. The plan was to move up the Flint River with the cannons. American forces, including Georgia militia and their Creek allies, were getting ready for a battle. But news of the Treaty of Ghent arrived in February 1815. This treaty ended the war and stopped the battle. The British left both their forts on the Apalachicola River. They left them to the black Corps of Colonial Marines and Red Stick Creek warriors.
Important Meeting at the Fort
Before leaving the fort, an important meeting happened there on March 10, 1815. This meeting was between Red Stick Creek leaders. These included Neamathla, Francis the Prophet, and Peter McQueen. More than 30 other Native Americans were also there.
British Lieutenant Colonel Nicolls and four other British officers attended. They were on their way to British ships to return to other British colonies. These colonies included the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Some officers were going back to England.
The meeting included representatives from many groups. These were Lower Creeks, Red Sticks, Miccosukee, Alachua, Yuchi, and Choctaw. Different languages were spoken, like Hitchiti, Yuchi, and Choctaw. This meeting brought together many cultures. These groups later formed what we know today as the Seminoles.
The Seminoles were a loose group of Native American refugees in Spanish Florida. They did not have one central leader. This made it very hard for the United States military to understand them. American settlers and officials found their political and social setup confusing.
Treaty of Nicolls' Outpost
A very important result of this meeting was the Treaty of Nicolls' Outpost. In this treaty, the Creeks promised to be loyal to Great Britain. In return, Britain accepted them as subjects of the British Empire. The Creeks hoped Britain would protect them from the United States. They wanted to get back the land taken from them since 1811. This included land taken in the Treaty of Fort Jackson. The Red Stick Creeks had not signed this treaty. They believed it did not apply to them.
Lieutenant Colonel Nicolls strongly supported Native American rights. He created this treaty on his own. He did not have permission from the British government.
After this, Francis the Prophet traveled to London with Nicolls. They wanted Britain to recognize and help the Creeks. However, the British government did not want more conflict with the United States. They rejected the treaty right away. They sent Francis home and criticized Nicolls for his actions.
Historical Marker at the Site
Today, a historical marker stands at the site of Nicolls' Outpost. It tells visitors about the fort's history.
Atop this large prehistoric mound stood Nicolls' Outpost, a British fort of the War of 1812. Built in the fall of 1814, it was a rectangular earthen redoubt with a surrounding stockade and was armed with two small cannons. Garrisoned by 180 white and black Royal Colonial Marines, the outpost was named for Bvt. Lt. Col. Edward Nicolls, a noted British officer of the early 19th century. Nicolls was assigned the task of forming a battalion of Royal Colonial Marines by enlisting and training both free blacks and liberated slaves from Spanish Florida and the United States. He was also ordered to supply a large fighting force of Red Stick Creek and Seminole Indians. The outpost provided protection for Nicolls' main base at today's Fort Gadsden Historic Site in the Apalachicola National Forest. It was to serve as a launching point for a planned invasion of Georgia and more than 500 Creek and Seminole Indians gathered here in February 1815. They were preparing to attack when news arrived of the end of the War of 1812. A major council of chiefs met here in March to appeal for continued British support, but Nicolls' Outpost was abandoned soon after.
