GARS has embarked on a research project that has potential to add significantly to Gwinnett County, Georgia and even U.S. history.  The project revolves around a frontier fort, known as Ft. Daniel, that tradition placed on a ridge knoll on Hog Mountain. While there is an historical roadside marker at the location, there had never been any physical proof that the fort was located there... until now. 

According to 1813 Divisional Orders from by Major General Allen Daniel, commander of the 4^th Division of the Georgia Militia, to Brigadier General Frederick Beall, “for the security of the frontier settlement” Gen. Beall was to replace an already existing fort with a new one “sufficient for the reception of two hundred men.”  Construction orders include sinking “substantial timbers” that would reach ten or eleven feet above the surface, three feet into the earth.   

If the site of Fort Daniel and the earlier fort were found, what could remain?  Even though the site location had been cultivated, the plow zone would not have been deep enough to erase the postholes of the stockade walls.  It would also not erase privy holes or similar deep features within or without the stockade walls.  Invariably there would be artifacts, such as metal and ceramics (buttons, lead shot, coins, eathenware, etc), although these would have been plowed under when the site was first cultivated and delicate artifacts further broken by subsequent plowing.  But even these can tell an important story about the material culture of the men stationed there and where activity areas were located. 

GARS’ archaeologist, Jim D’Angelo, created a research design that included two forms of subsurface remote sensing: metal detection (MD) and ground penetrating radar (GPR).  The area  under investigation included approximately one acre encompassing the highest part of the ridge, which was the logical place for the fort. 

The first step involved clearing the project area of privet, thorns, fallen trees, and push piles dating to the most recent occupation of the property.  But before remote sensing could begin, the cleared area was gridded.  Using a Contractor’s Transit, compass, and Digital Elevation Map supplied by the County, a grid, 200’ x 200,’ and subdivided into 80 20'x20' grid units,  was laid out.  This grid, projected along a vertical (Z) axis as well,  became the common reference for mapping artifacts and features found through metal detection and archaeological excavation.  The grid provides the framework for locating (proveniencing) those artifacts and features which are distributed within its 3-dimenisonal (X,Y,Z) space.

The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey is a high tech remote sensing method that scans up to several meters below the surface. Used in conjunction with sophisticated software developed at UGA, this technology allows us to “see,” in 3-D, subsurface anomalies caused by such things as solid objects (walls, pipes) or changes in soil composition (post holes, pits).  This allows us not only to “see” these anomalies, but to map them.  Metal detection "hits" were also plotted and have given a good idea of the distribution of metal artifacts across the site.  Mapping of both GPR results and MD results suggested the best places to begin testing with archaeological excavation.

Initial investigations at the site began in July and continued to November 2007. The first artifact  recovered was from the bottom of a tree blow-out and was a hand-wrought iron nail of a type dated between 1735 and 1790.  This would have been from the older fort, which it is believed was constructed in the 1790's.  It may have been reused for Fort Daniel.    

Limited excavations have shown that, although somewhat displaced by plowing, artifacts dating from this period seem to be clustered in such a way as to provide an insight into the location and nature of activity  areas.   Trenches dug into the Georgia clay and later filled with more loamy soil and debris when the logs were removed or even rotted in place, are beginning to give us an idea of the fort’s shape and dimensions as well as the footprint of structures or other features that were not erased by plowing.

While some work remains on excavation units already in progress, new  areas  await the completion of the first technical report, which will take several months to complete.  In the mean time, continuing archival research includes a search for descendants of those stationed at the fort, personal diaries or letters,* archived materiale requisition documents, and early deeds that might mention the fort. 

GARS is indebted to the owner of the traditional Fort Daniel site, Mrs. Ann Grant, for her graciousness in allowing us to conduct this research in her “back yard.”

Continued from main page: Bill Field, Eric Garris, and Jim D'Angelo have been working on early land grants, deeds, and surveys related to the Fort Daniel property.  Among the "finds" is an 1854 deed reference in which the tract containing the Fort Daniel location is bounded on the north by the "Hawkins Line," which had been surveyed in 1804.  Bill has also located the original surveyor's notes and sketch maps for the 1819 survey when Gwinnett County was formed and the Hawkins Line re-established. These surveys and maps demonstrate that Fort Daniel was located less than 1200 feet southeast of, and overlooked the southern end of the Line.  The earlier fort that Fort Daniel replaced may have built in the 1790's in connect with the Hawkins Line. 

Based on an 1785 treaty with the Cherokees, a line running from the "Tugaloo" River to the "High Shoals of the Appalachee" River demarked the Western frontier and the western boundary of Georgia's ninth county, Franklin, formed in 1784.  Jackson  County was created in 1796 from the southwestern end of Franklin County.  Gwinnett County was created in 1818 and included a small part of the southwestern end of Jackson County including the area where Fort Daniel is located. The shoals, where the south end of the Hawkins line is anchored, are located about 3600 feet southwest of Fort Daniel. 

Fort Daniel Multimedia Presentations

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General Daniel's Orders to Build the 1813 Fort 

Original Text: Telamon Cuyler Collection, University of Georgia; Transcription: Shannon Coffey, GHS

Divisional Orders Madison County 

21st Nov October 1813 

Allen Daniel Major General commanding the fourth Division of the Georgia Militia deems it expedient at this momentary crisis that some portion of the militia under his command should be held in constant readiness for actual service. The brigade commanded by Brigadier Genl Beall having been [?] classed It is ordered that the first class in said Brigade, be mustered by their proper officers once in every month, by companies, at their respective Regimental mustergrounds and that each man will furnish himself with a knapsack, blanket, arms and equipments (untill [sic]arms & equipment can be furnished them by government) and hold themselves in readiness to take the field at a moments warning. 

The Major Genl (having received communications from his Excellency the Governor [David B. Mitchell 1809-1813] of the 10th instant, wherein he is authorized to take such measures as he may deem expedient for the security of the frontier settlement in virtue of which authority reallizing [sic] the defenceless situation of our frontiersand the duties which he owes his country) deems it expedient to order – that Brigadier General Beall forthwithorder out thirty of the militia of his Brigade to relieve those now stationed (by his order) at the hog mountain in Jackson County, when the term of their service shall expire, and that those now orderd out, shall be relieved by others in succession, and in like manner to be detached in every ten days, untill [sic] further orders. 

The Major Genl having also received information on which he relies that the fort at the hog mountain is not only formed of old, dry and insufficient timbers, but is also badly constructed, consequently easily destroyed by fire and inadequate for defence. With this view, He concieves [sic] (in event of an attact [sic] by the enemy) the fort would become instrumental to the destruction of its defenders, rather than a place of security. At this eventfull [sic] crisis a substancial [sic] fort must be all important. 

It is therefore orderd that Brigdr Genl Beall without delay cause to be detached such a number of the militia ofhis Brigade as is his judgement may be conceived sufficient to build a mud fort at or near the place whereon the present fort stands which shall be sufficient for the reception of two hundred men, out of substancial [sic] timbers with port holes compleatly [sic] cut at proper hight [sic], with platforms so as to raise the port holes at such hight [sic] that the enemy will be prevented from any advantage therefrom. The stockading will be at least then or eleven feet above ground & well let into the Earth three feet, all the houses which may be built within the fort, will be built with slanting roofs to drip in and to the centre of the fort, so that in case fire should be [?] on them from without it may be extinguished without danger. The walls of no house within the fort shall exceed the hight [sic] of the stockading, except block house. Brigadier Genl Beall and Major John D. Terrell are charged with the superintendance [sic], construction & completion of  this work, and whenever the fort is finished, the militia which may be in Service at the present fort will take possession of the new one. 

The Major General, by the communications aforesaid from His Excellency the Governor has desired authorities, to employ spies to range on our frontiers. In conformity thereto, it is orderd that six spies be employd men of [?] courage & veracity, whose duty it shall be vigilantly to range on the Indian land bordering our own frontier two &  two together subject to the controul [sic] of General Beall who in Co-opperation [sic] with Major John D. Terrell are charged with the employment of those spies provided Col. Russel Jones has not respected that service pursuant to the orders of the Governor.  

The Major Genl from the Executive communications aforesaid has desired adequate authorities for the purchase of ammunitions sufficient for the militia hereby called into actual service and who are to be stationed at the Hog mountain, there being none here to be procurd. Should it be within your power to secure a reasonable quantity of powder & lead for the object expressed you will please do so for which His Excellency promises payment.

The Major Genl Presents his respects to the militia & citizens of Jackson County and feels confident they will cheerfully supply [?] and afford their aid in compleating [sic] the fort. 

                                                       By the Major Generals Command

                                                       John D. Terrell

                                                       Aid DeCamp

 Brigadier Genl Frederick Beall

Divisional Orders

21st October 1813 

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