Fort Likens was a temporary stockade fort built in 1838 in present-day Cherokee County, Alabama. The fort was used to house soldiers who participated in the

Cherokee removal Cherokee removal, part of the Trail of Tears, refers to the forced relocation between 1836 and 1839 of an estimated 16,000 members of the Cherokee Nation and 1,000–2,000 of their slaves; from their lands in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carol ...

. After the Treaty of New Echota, the

Cherokee The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

were given two years to voluntarily relocate from their traditional homeland in the southeastern United States to

Indian Territory The Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States Government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United St ...

. In 1838, the remaining Cherokees became subject to forcible removal. To assist in the removal process, the United States Army constructed thirty-three military posts. Five forts were established to house soldiers who participated in the removal, including Fort Payne (now modern

Fort Payne Fort Payne is a city in and county seat of DeKalb County, Alabama, DeKalb County, in northeastern Alabama, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 14,877. European-American settlers gradually developed th ...

), Fort Morrow (at

Guntersville Guntersville (previously known as Gunter's Ferry and later Gunter's Landing) is a city and the county seat of Marshall County, Alabama, Marshall County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the ...

), Fort Lovell (at Cedar Bluff), and Fort Likens. Bellefonte, located in

Jackson County, Alabama Jackson County is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 52,579. The county seat is Scottsboro. The county was named for Andrew Jackson, general in the United States Army and afterw ...

, became a mustering and supply depot. Soldiers were mustered into service in April 1838 by Major John Payne in New Echota. Captain Thomas Likens commanded one company of Mounted Alabama Volunteers. In April 1838, construction began on Fort Likens. The fort was located in Broomtown Valley, near Barry Springs, and was named for Captain Likens. The fort was constructed of

chestnut The chestnuts are the deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus ''Castanea'', in the beech family Fagaceae. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce. The unrelat ...

logs made into a circular stockade with twenty-foot high walls. Soldiers who were stationed at Fort Likens were mustered at

Jacksonville, Alabama Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 12,548, which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is home to Jacks ...

and sent to Bellefonte before arriving at Fort Likens. Cherokee in the surrounding area were rounded up by soldiers from Fort Likens and forced into an internment camp located at nearby Barry Springs. After being held at Barry Springs, the Cherokee were moved to Fort Payne and eventually Indian Territory. On July 4, 1838, soldiers from Fort Likens went to Cedar Bluff to participate in the town's

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or more rarely after the end of a military occupation. Man ...

celebration. By late July 1838, the Cherokee removal was essentially completed, and Fort Likens was no longer needed. The fort was dismantled, and the logs were purchased by a local family and used to build two barns, a house, and fence posts. The site of Fort Likens has been identified but was disturbed by farming after the fort was dismantled. The area is now covered in pine trees. Archaeological investigations have been carried out at the site, and some military objects have been recovered. A model of Fort Likens is on display at the Cherokee County Historical Museum.

References

Buildings and structures in Cherokee County, Alabama Likens Likens Likens Native American history of Alabama Trail of Tears {{fort-stub