Fort Southerland Ouachita County, Arkansas

Fort Southerland was one of five forts established in the Camden area in 1861 and occupied by Confederate Troops under General Sterling Price in 1862. This fortification served to protect the Bradley Perry River Crossing and the approach to Camden from the El Dorado area. Fort Southerland was the only fortification in the Camden area to be fired upon by Confederate Troops. Federal Troops commanded by General Frederick Steele occupied Camden and Fort from April 15, 1864 until April 25, 1864 after luring the Confederate command from the area in a series of skirmishes to the west. It was during the occupation by Federal Troops that Confederate forces under the command of General Sterling Price fired on Fort Southerland from the Two Bayou area south of the Fort. This was a short engagement and served only to harass Federal Troops. Ultimately, the Federal campaign failed from breakdown in supply and Federal Troops withdrew and on April 26, 1864 Confederate Forces reoccupied Camden and Fort Southerland.

From: Bob Dodson Camden, Arkansas Camden Historical Advisory Commission Date: 17 Nov 2006 Comments Sir-The marker located southeast of the City of Camden marked as Ft. Southerland is incorrect. This Redoubt E a Civil War fortification was marked by a local historian that marked it Ft. Southerland but the correct name for this redoubt was Ft. Diamond. The correct location for this redoubt D (Southerland) was placed on California Street near the intersection of Center Street and California Avenue near the USA Drug Store. In 2006, I placed plaques at all five redoubts within the confines of Camden, Arkansas so that future generation would know the correct location of each redoubt. Robert Dodson rdodson1932@sbcglobal.net

Photographed September 2, 2006 by Pris Weathers

Ouachita County