You
can help celebrate a piece of American history this Saturday at the
Fort Gadsden National Historic Landmark in northern Franklin County.
The
U.S. campaign against the fort at Prospect Bluff, occurred 200 years
ago this year and lasted seventeen days ending with the deadliest
cannon shot in American history.
On
July 27th, 1816, U.S. Navy forces fired on what was then called "The
Negro Fort."
One
of the early shots from the ship's guns ignited powder stored inside
the fort, resulting in a massive explosion, which killed as many as
270 men, women, and children; leaving only 33 survivors.
On
Saturday the U.S. Forest Service will commemorate the 200-year
anniversary of the British Fort and Fort Gadsden with a free event
featuring 19th century music, local historians and re-enactors and a
formal ceremony.
The
ceremony will feature the Seminole Color Guard, a traditional
invocation in Miccosukee language by medicine man Bobby Henry,
Descendants of Prospect Bluff Maroon Community, a Peace Belt
Ceremony, and Keynote Address from James Edward Billie, Chairman of
the Seminole Tribe in Florida.
This
event will begin at 10:00 a.m.; the ceremony will be held at 1130.
Fort
Gadsden is on Brickyard Road about 4 and a half miles south of
Sumatra.
http://live.oysterradio.com/
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