Fort Tombecbe
Encyclopedia
Fort Tombecbe also spelled Tombecbee and Tombeché, was a stockade
fort located on the Tombigbee River
near the border of French Louisiana
, in what is now Sumter County
, Alabama
. It was constructed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville
in 1736-37 as trading post about 270 miles (434.5 km) upriver from Mobile
, on an 80 feet (24.4 m) limestone bluff. Fort Tombecbe was built in Choctaw
lands and would play a major role in colonial France's efforts to stop English
intrusions into the area. Bienville claimed that the new fort was to protect the Choctaw from the Chickasaw
. Tombecbe was a major French outpost and trade depot among the Choctaw, the largest Native American
group in the colony. Control passed to the British
in 1763, who renamed it Fort York. In 1793 Spain
acquired the site—by then the fort had been abandoned—from the Choctaw via the Treaty of Boukfouka and built a new fort, which was named Fort Confederacion. It is also known as Fort Confederation. After the United States
took possession, via the 1802 Treaty of Fort Confederation
, it continued to be used as a trading post with the Choctaws until its eventual abandonment in the 19th century.
The Fort Tombecbe site is currently owned by the University of West Alabama
and the Archaeological Conservancy, and operated by the staff of the Black Belt Museum.
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
fort located on the Tombigbee River
Tombigbee River
The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 200 mi long, in the U.S. states of Mississippi and Alabama. It is one of two major rivers, along with the Alabama River, that unite to form the short Mobile River before it empties into Mobile Bay on the Gulf of Mexico...
near the border of French Louisiana
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
, in what is now Sumter County
Sumter County, Alabama
Sumter County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.Its name is in honor of General Thomas Sumter of South Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 13,763. Its county seat is Livingston.-History:...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It was constructed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville
Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville
Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienvillepronounce] was a colonizer, born in Montreal, Quebec and an early, repeated governor of French Louisiana, appointed 4 separate times during 1701-1743. He was a younger brother of explorer Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville...
in 1736-37 as trading post about 270 miles (434.5 km) upriver from Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, on an 80 feet (24.4 m) limestone bluff. Fort Tombecbe was built in Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
lands and would play a major role in colonial France's efforts to stop English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
intrusions into the area. Bienville claimed that the new fort was to protect the Choctaw from the Chickasaw
Chickasaw
The Chickasaw are Native American people originally from the region that would become the Southeastern United States...
. Tombecbe was a major French outpost and trade depot among the Choctaw, the largest Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
group in the colony. Control passed to the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
in 1763, who renamed it Fort York. In 1793 Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
acquired the site—by then the fort had been abandoned—from the Choctaw via the Treaty of Boukfouka and built a new fort, which was named Fort Confederacion. It is also known as Fort Confederation. After the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
took possession, via the 1802 Treaty of Fort Confederation
Treaty of Fort Confederation
The Treaty of Fort Confederation was signed on October 17, 1802 between the Choctaw and the United States Government. The treaty ceded about of Choctaw land, including the site of Fort Tombecbe, also known as Fort Confederation....
, it continued to be used as a trading post with the Choctaws until its eventual abandonment in the 19th century.
The Fort Tombecbe site is currently owned by the University of West Alabama
University of West Alabama
The University of West Alabama is a public university located in Livingston, Alabama, United States. It is currently on probation with its regional accrediting body....
and the Archaeological Conservancy, and operated by the staff of the Black Belt Museum.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Sumter County, Alabama
- Chickasaw WarsChickasaw WarsThe Chickasaw Wars were fought in the 18th century between the Chickasaw allied with the British against the French and their allies the Choctaws and Illini. The Province of Louisiana extended from Illinois to New Orleans, and the French fought to secure their communications along the Mississippi...
- History of AlabamaHistory of AlabamaAlabama became a state of the United States of America on December 14, 1819. After the Indian Wars and removals of the early 19th century forced most Native Americans out of the state, white settlers arrived in large numbers....