Fort Pickering

[archieclement]

Was reading about this fort and guess it would qualify as a forgotten fort. Best I can tell around 1739 the French built Fort Assumption in the area, then around 1800 Zebulan Pike established a fort called Fort Pickering near the Memphis-Arkansas bridge, it remained as trading post till end of war of 1812. At start of CW confederate forces started building a fort near this site, after occupation Union continued until it was a massive fort stretching 2 miles down along the bluff. The fort started being destroyed in 1866, till there is few if any traces of it left today.

 

[archieclement]

This pic is supposed to be of contraband camp at Fort Pickering. Is the ghost images in foreground just from movement?......its strange they are so blurred/ghosted while the rest are so clear.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

It's always a chore for young boys to stay still for any length of time.

 

[ErnieMac]

Fort Pickering was constructed on the site of a Chickasaw Indian village. As noted in the OP the post was dismantled after the War and pretty much forgotten. During planned interchange improvements on I-55 in 2007 archaeologists discovered the remains of the fort. The site is now included in the Chickasaw Heritage Park in south Memphis.
http://www.weaverassociatesllc.com/experience/fort_pickering.html

 

[A. Roy]

At start of CW confederate forces started building a fort near this site, after occupation Union continued until it was a massive fort stretching 2 miles down along the bluff. The fort started being destroyed in 1866, till there is few if any traces of it left today.

Interesting to hear about this fort -- that's a great drawing! Is it true that this fort was never involved in any engagements?

Roy B.

 

[A. Roy]

The site is now included in the Chickasaw Heritage Park in south Memphis.
http://www.weaverassociatesllc.com/experience/fort_pickering.html

That page has some great photos from the digs that were done, and an interesting narrative about the project. Emphasizes, I think, that a great deal can be learned from a "forgotten" site.

Roy B.

 

[roberts]

Here is an excellent website on Fort Pickering.

https://historic-memphis.com/memphis-historic/pickering/pickering.html