Sumatra Travel Guide

the fort gadsden historic site is an interesting place to visit when in northwest florida. prior to the construction of fort gadsden this area was the site of the negro fort. the battle of the negro fort is a strange but interesting page in u.s. history. during the war of 1812 british lieutenant colonel edward nicholls came to the appalachicola river region in order to recruit and train local indians to fight the united states. he built a fort on prospect bluff on the appalachicola river. in 1815 the british left the area and turned the fort over to about 300 african runaway slaves and 30 choctaw and seminole indians. the fort was commanded by an african named garson and a choctaw chief. the inhabitants of the negro fort launched numerous raids on plantations in nearby south georgia. these raids were brought to the attention of major general andrew jackson who was the southern u.s military commander at the time. on july 17th 1816 two supply boats going from the town of appalachicola to fort scott in georgia were fired upon by the negro fort and four american seamen were killed. ten days later general jackson ordered edmond p. gaines, the commander of fort scott, to destroy the negro fort.

the family coastal restaurant is a very good seafood restaurant in the tiny town of sumatra. they offer southern style food and local seafood. a nice casual restaurant to visit when traveling on SR65 in sumatra.