Denaud in Hendry County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Fort Denaud
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, October 1, 2018
1. Fort Denaud Marker
Inscription.
Fort Denaud. . The combined pressure of growing white settlement in Florida and federal policy of relocating Indian tribes west of the Mississippi sparked the outbreak of the 2nd Seminole War in 1835. Controlling the coasts and campaigning in the heart of Seminole lands were the objectives of Major General Thomas Jesup in 1837. Captain B.L.E. Bonneville established Fort Denaud in 1838 as one of a series of posts linking American operations south of Tampa to the east coast. It was constructed on the south bank of the Caloosahatchee River 27 miles from Fort Myers on land owned by Pierre Danaud, a French Indian trader. The fort consisted of tents with a blockhouse in their midst. It served as a supply depot for troops in the Lake Okeechobee area and was utilized intermittently until the war ended in 1842. Fort Denaud was reopened in 1855, soon after the outbreak of the 3rd Seminole War. Additions included company quarters, hospital, guardhouse, sutler's store and stables. A few months after a fire ravaged the post in June 1856, another site on the north bank of the river one mile west was chosen. The fort, which was abandoned in May 1858, gave its name to the nearby community of Fort Denaud.
The combined pressure of growing white settlement in Florida and federal policy of relocating Indian tribes west of the Mississippi sparked the outbreak of the 2nd Seminole War in 1835. Controlling the coasts and campaigning in the heart of Seminole lands were the objectives of Major General Thomas Jesup in 1837. Captain B.L.E. Bonneville established Fort Denaud in 1838 as one of a series of posts linking American operations south of Tampa to the east coast. It was constructed on the south bank of the Caloosahatchee River 27 miles from Fort Myers on land owned by Pierre Danaud, a French Indian trader. The fort consisted of tents with a blockhouse in their midst. It served as a supply depot for troops in the Lake Okeechobee area and was utilized intermittently until the war ended in 1842. Fort Denaud was reopened in 1855, soon after the outbreak of the 3rd Seminole War. Additions included company quarters, hospital, guardhouse, sutler's store and stables. A few months after a fire ravaged the post in June 1856, another site on the north bank of the river one mile west was chosen. The fort, which was abandoned in May 1858, gave its name to the nearby community of Fort Denaud.
Erected 1977 by Calusa Valley Historical Society in coopearation with Department of State. (Marker Number F-282.)
Location. 26° 44.613′ N, 81° 30.62′ W. Marker is in Denaud, Florida, in Hendry County. Marker is on Ft. Denaud Bridgeway, 0.1 miles north of Ft. Denaud Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located at the bridge over the Caloosahatchee River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Labelle FL 33935, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. Note: This marker was damaged and replaced with the new Florida design. The text remains the same.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, October 1, 2018
2. Fort Denaud Marker looking north with river in background.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 31, 2003
3. Fort Denaud Marker (original)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 610 times since then and 136 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on January 17, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on January 18, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.