Fort San Fernando de las Barrancas

 (1795-1797) - A Spanish colonial Fort first established in 1795 in present day Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee. Abandoned by the Spanish in 1797 as the result of the Treaty of San Lorenzo, turned over to the Americans and renamed Fort Adams and later Fort Pike. Also known as Fort Barrancas and probably on or close to the same site as Fort Assumption.

Fort San Fernando de las Barrancas
Established in the spring 1795 by Spanish troops under Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos. Built on the Fourth Chickasaw Bluff in present day Memphis, Tennessee. Abandoned, dismantled and burned by the Spanish in the spring of 1797 as a result of the Treaty of San Lorenzo (26 Apr 1796). The Spanish withdrew back across the Mississippi River to Fort Esperanza and the fort site was returned to U.S. ownership.

Fort Adams/Fort Pike
The site was next occupied by Captain Isaac Guion and two companies of the 3rd U.S. Infantry on 20 Jul 1797. The troops began building what would become Fort Adams. The fort was completed 22 Oct 1797 and dedicated to President John Adams. The Fort Adams name was later transferred to a larger post and this post was renamed Fort Pike (3).

In 1801 Captain Zebulon Pike arrived under orders to move Fort Pike to a more healthy location. The site he selected was on a bluff about two miles down the Mississippi River at the end of the bluffs. The new fort was constructed and, for a while kept the Fort Pike Name. It was later renamed Fort Pickering after Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State under President George Washington.

Current Status
Markers only in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.

See Also:
 * Fort Assumption

Sources:
 * , page 745-746.

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort San Fernando de las Barrancas
 * Fernando de las Barrancas Wikipedia - Fort San Fernando de las Barrancas
 * HMDB - Fort Adams/Fort Pike Marker