Woodville in Wilkinson County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
Fort Adams
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, March 25, 2016
1. Fort Adams Marker
Erected 1978 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1798.
Location. 31° 6.24′ N, 91° 17.89′ W. Marker is in Woodville, Mississippi, in Wilkinson County. Marker is on Main Street (State Highway 24) west of Boston Row, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Woodville MS 39669, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Polk's Meat Market (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Woodville Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Jacob Cohen Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Cumbo Variety Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Cohen House (within shouting distance of this marker); Schloss-Rothschild Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wilkinson County War Memorial
this page online
Additional commentary.
1. Major Amos Stoddard, Commanding Officer, Fort Adams, November 9, 1807 - June 18, 1808
According to entries in the Orderly Book of the Company of Captain Amos Stoddard, November 1807 - June 1808, Major Amos Stoddard (he was promoted to Major on June 30, 1807) was in command at Fort Adams (40 miles south of Natchez, Wilkerson County, Mississippi) from November 1807 until about June 18, 1808. Prior to that he had been in command at Newport Barracks, Kentucky from approximately January until November 1807. And prior to that, he served as the First Civil Commandant of Upper Louisiana at St. Louis from January 1804 until October 1, 1804. While serving as governor at St. Louis (after transferring the Louisiana territory from Spain to France and from France to the United States over March 9-10, 1804), he assisted the Lewis & Clark expedition and saw the Corp of Discovery off at St. Charles on May 21, 1804. In the fall of 1805, he led a deputation of Indian chiefs to Washington to meet with President Jefferson. Being ill at the time,
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, March 25, 2016
2. Fort Adams Marker
The following first entry in Orderly Book at Fort Adams, Garrison Orders, is dated November 9, 1807, and reads: “For the future, Sergeant David Evans of Captain Stoddard’s Company will perform the duty of Sergeant Major and consolidate the Provision Returns. (Signed) Amos Stoddard, Capt. Commanding.”
Another significant entry is made under the heading, “Orders, 16th November 1807:”
Captain Stoddard will parade Two Subalterns, Two Sergeants, Two Corporals, and all the Music of Fort Adams, with fifty privates of the first Regiment, to attend the funeral of Capt. [John] McClary, who made his exit, last night at nine Oclock; This Detachment will pay the Funeral Honors due the Deceased. The funeral will take place this day at such an hour as the Commanding Officer of Fort Adams may think proper to direct; Captain Stoddard will give the necessary directions with respect to the Effects of the deceased, agreeably to the ninety fourth article of the first Section of the rules and Articles of War. (Signed), Jacob Kingsbury, Lt. Col., 1st Regiment of Infantry, Commanding Camp Columbian Spring.On or about June 17, 1808, Major Stoddard apparently received orders to move to Fort Dearborn (present day Chicago). He issued orders to be prepared to move for Fort Dearborn “at a moments warning” on June 17, 1808. He and his men arrived at Fort Dearborn on or before June 30, 1808.
On or about September 28, 1808, Major Amos Stoddard departed Fort Dearborn and took an extended leave. Col. Thomas H. Cushing then took command at Fort Dearborn. Major Stoddard descended the Mississippi River to the Red River region and the Mississippi territory for the purpose of conducting research for his book, Sketches, Historical and Descriptive, of Louisiana, which was written while he was in command at Fort Columbus (Governor’s Island, New York) between December 1809 and early 1812. It was published in 1812.
Major Amos Stoddard died on May 11, 1813 from tetanus that developed from a shrapnel wound during the siege of Fort Meigs, Ohio during the War of 1812. He did not receive the same military honors due the deceased: his commanding officer, General William Henry Harrison, did not bother to make any special arrangements for his deceased, second-highest ranking officer as Stoddard did for Capt. McClary at Fort Adams. He left camp on the very day and prior to the funeral honors bestowed on Major Stoddard by Capt. Daniel Cushing’s Company of the 2nd U.S. Regiment of Artillerists.
Sources:
The Autobiography Manuscript of Major Amos Stoddard, 2016
National Archives, Records of the U.S. Army, War Department, 1st Artillery Regiment 1802-1814, GR-98, E.94, Orderly Book of the Company of Captain Amos Stoddard, November 1807-June 1808
— Submitted March 18, 2021, by Robert Stoddard of Idyllwild, California.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2016. This page has been viewed 839 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2016. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
