Archaeological Survey of the Old Federal Road in Alabama

located on the Tallapoosa River in the northwest corner of Macon County. After Colonel Milton’sdeparture, only a small number of Carolina militia remained at Fort Hull. Most of the militia servicecontracts expired on July 31, 1814 and after their departure the fort was left under the command of ahospital steward and a quartermaster sergeant. The lack of a garrison made the fort vulnerable to attacksby Redstick Creeks still in the area. On August 10, 1814, the hospital steward wrote to General Jackson,who was at Fort Jackson, to explain that the fort had, “five to ten wagon loads of ammunition, forty orfifty muskets, two brass pieces, seventy barrels of flour and everything which is wanted for any fort – butmen.” Another letter, dated the same day from General Jackson to Colonel Hawkins, assigned 200 alliedCreek warriors to both Fort Hull and Fort Bainbridge. No fighting ever occurred at Fort Hull and by 1815,after the close of the War of 1812 and the Redstick War of 1813-1814, the post was abandoned. 19Given the fort’s favorable location, it is likely a stage stop was established onHowever, documentation regarding a stage stop at the fort is very scant.Traveler’s often referred to other forts, like Bainbridge and Mitchell, as they made their way through theCreek Nation, but no mention of Fort Hull is known in published travel accounts. The land the fort wassituated on was deeded to “Anny Cornelle” (most likely the daughter of Alex Cornells) by the treaty of1832. 20 The land was later purchased by James J. Bryan on May 18, 1841.Warrior Stand and Creek Stand. The 1805 Treaty with the Creeks outlined the boundaries forthe Creek Nation. The treaty also allowed the cutting the Old Federal Road through their land for use bythe United States. The Creeks were given authority to operate “houses of entertainment” along the road.Big Warrior, speaker of the Creek Nation and a prominent chief of the Upper Creeks, was proprietor orco-proprietor to the stage stops in Macon and Russell counties prior to his death in 1825. Big Warrior wassole owner of Warrior Stand and also operated a well-known race track near Fort Hull. 22 Big Warrior’sson, Little Prince, owned a stand between Warrior Stand and Fort Bainbridge known as Creek Stand. Big209