Sandfort, also rendered Sand Fort or Sanfort and also known as Lexington, is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...

Russell County, Alabama Russell County is a county in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alabama. As of the 2020 census, the population was 59,183. Its county seat is Phenix City. Its name is in honor of Colonel Gilbert C. Russell, who fought in the wars ...

, United States.

History

The community was named for a fort built on the Federal Road, which was constructed ten miles west of Fort Mitchell and six miles northwest of Seale. Sandfort was one of the earliest settled areas of Russell County and home to one of the earliest post offices in the county. A post office operated under the name Sandfort from 1840 to 1866, with Robert Allen serving as the first postmaster. A Mr. Royston operated Royston's Inn in Sandfort, which became a stop on the Federal Road. During the

Creek War of 1836 The Creek War of 1836, also known as the Second Creek War or Creek Alabama Uprising, was a conflict in Alabama at the time of Indian removal between the Muscogee Creek people and non-native land speculators and squatters. Although the Creek p ...

, Mr. Royston was held captive in his store by hostile Creeks for two weeks.

Sand Fort

The Sand Fort was constructed along the Federal Road and named for the sandy soil used in its construction. Sources differ on when it was constructed, with some reporting it was built by General John Floyd and the Georgia Militia he commanded in 1814 as a rendezvous and supply depot during the

Creek War The Creek War (also the Red Stick War or the Creek Civil War) was a regional conflict between opposing Native American factions, European powers, and the United States during the early 19th century. The Creek War began as a conflict within th ...

, while others conclude it was constructed during the Creek War of 1836 by General

Thomas Jesup Thomas Sidney Jesup (December 16, 1788 – June 10, 1860) was a United States Army officer known as the "Father of the Modern Quartermaster Corps". His 52-year (1808–1860) military career was one of the longest in the history of the United St ...

or General

Winfield Scott Winfield Scott (June 13, 1786May 29, 1866) was an American military commander and political candidate. He served as Commanding General of the United States Army from 1841 to 1861, and was a veteran of the War of 1812, American Indian Wars, Mexica ...

to provide protection to local settlers. The fort site was eventually destroyed by farming. No evidence of the fort exists today.

References

{{authority control Unincorporated communities in Russell County, Alabama Unincorporated communities in Alabama 1840 establishments in Alabama