Mt. Vernon in Mobile County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Mt. Vernon Federal Highway
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 4, 2013
1. Mt. Vernon Federal Highway Marker
Inscription.
Mt. Vernon Federal Highway. . In 1811, the Mount Vernon Cantonment, located on a hill about three miles west of the Mobile River, was laid out by Col. Thomas H. Cushing. The cantonment was on the site of a spring called Mount Vernon Springs. In 1814, the garrison at Mt. Vernon was visited by Andrew Jackson. Construction of the Old Federal Road from Milledgeville, Georgia to Fort Stoddert, Alabama began in 1818. 1828, President Andrew Jackson authorized for Mt. Vernon to become a military arsenal. By 1830 the construction of a wall ten feet high and two feet thick began to encompass the arsenal. In 1861 Captain Jesse Reno surrendered Mt. Vernon arsenal to four Confederate companies from Mobile. In 1866, the arsenal was returned to the Federal Government. In 1870, Mt. Vernon post ceased to be an arsenal. In 1873, Secretary of War William Belknap recommended the arsenal property become Mt. Vernon Barracks. In 1887, 450 Apaches came to Mt. Vernon from Fort Pickens, Florida. Among them were Indian Chiefs Geronimo, Chihuahua, and Natchez (Son of Cochise). In 1895, Mt. Vernon barracks was given to the State of Alabama.
In 1811, the Mount Vernon Cantonment, located on a hill about three miles west of the Mobile River, was laid out by Col. Thomas H. Cushing. The cantonment was on the site of a spring called Mount Vernon Springs. In 1814, the garrison at Mt. Vernon was visited by Andrew Jackson. Construction of the Old Federal Road from Milledgeville, Georgia to Fort Stoddert, Alabama began in 1818. 1828, President Andrew Jackson authorized for Mt. Vernon to become a military arsenal. By 1830 the construction of a wall ten feet high and two feet thick began to encompass the arsenal. In 1861 Captain Jesse Reno surrendered Mt. Vernon arsenal to four Confederate companies from Mobile. In 1866, the arsenal was returned to the Federal Government. In 1870, Mt. Vernon post ceased to be an arsenal. In 1873, Secretary of War William Belknap recommended the arsenal property become Mt. Vernon Barracks. In 1887, 450 Apaches came to Mt. Vernon from Fort Pickens, Florida. Among them were Indian Chiefs Geronimo, Chihuahua, and Natchez (Son of Cochise). In 1895, Mt. Vernon barracks was given to the State of Alabama.
Erected 2010 by Alabama Tourism Department and the Town of Mt. Vernon.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles
Location. 31° 5.132′ N, 88° 0.995′ W. Marker is in Mt. Vernon, Alabama, in Mobile County. Marker is at the intersection of Old Highway 43 and Military Road (County Road 96), on the left when traveling south on Old Highway 43. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1020 Old Military Road, Mount Vernon AL 36560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 11, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,134 times since then and 48 times this year. Last updated on July 21, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 5, 2013, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
