Major Cooper was left with a huge task to protect five companies of the First Georgia Battalion Of Volunteers and a small artillery company for 16 days. At the time he had a fortification built to protect these companies. It was in a very secluded area surrounded by large oaks, hardwood hammocks,  a longleaf yellow pine trail, and of course the lake to the east. Because of its location it had a strategic standpoint.  

Seminole War Chief Osceola and his warriors camped across fort Cooper on the other side of the lake. Many small battles took place between the Seminoles and the volunteers at the fort but Cooper had 380 men with him so despite the fort they had a huge advantage over the Seminoles. Eventually General Scott returned with supplies and reinforcements. He also came to move his sick or injured men to another location. 

The men used the lake to gather fresh water since it was spring fed and their is rumor that a blockhouse once sat on the west wall with a 6-pounder cannon.  The fort was only a temporary piece of construction with high wood picket fences with an added feature in the center of the North & South Walls. The fort was roughly only an acre in size and was used as an observation area all the way up till 1842.  Eventually the fort was used in the Civil War I do not remember the whole story to that but I believe it was eventually burned. A palisade wall which I believe is a replica was reconstructed roughly where the fort once stood which you will see in some of the photos. Its also an area full of residual energy from the past. 

In the 1900s the Fort Cooper area which was about 700 acres was owned by private owners until the state purchased the land in 1970. By 1977 the area was opened to the public so others could enjoy the 10 miles worth of trails, bird watching, camping, swimming and learning the history of the fort.  Their is a reenactment of the Seminole War here I believe every March.

The area is full of wildlife alligators, fox, deer, lots of owls, herons, cardinals, and much more. Its a real eerie place and people did die. Before this fort was built on the same military trail only miles away Dade and his men were massacred by the Seminoles. So their is alot of history to the area as I am sure their are many ghost which wander the old military wagon trail and fort cooper site.  

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Rick-AngelOfThyNight