Fort Mitchell, an important post of the Creek War of 1813-1814, was built in what is now Russell County, Alabama, by troops under the command of General John Floyd. Floyd's army, marching west from Georgia, was one of three forces sent by the United States to subdue the Red Stick movement in the Creek Nation. An internal civil war in the nation had spilled over to involve the whites following battles at Burnt Corn Creek and Fort Mims, Alabama, during the summer of 1813. Named for Governor David B. Mitchell of Georgia, the original fort was a large rectangular stockade thrown up by Floyd's men as they advanced on Autossee, an important Creek village on the Tallapoosa River. Built on a high hill overlooking the Chattahoochee River, Fort Mitchell served as base for Floyd's movements and he returned there to allow his wounded men to recover and bury the dead following his successful attack on Autossee. The original fort was replaced by a second, smaller stockade during the 1820s. This second Fort Mitchell was an important base during the Creek War of 1836 and became the starting point of the Creek Trail of Tears.

Fort Mitchell Military Cemetery, was established soon after Fort Mitchell was built by General John Floyd of the Georgia Militia. Located just south of the stockade, the cemetery was used between 1813 and 1840 during the fort's occupation by Georgia and United States soldiers. The first burial was that of John Ward, an interpreter on the staff of General Floyd. Ward died of pneumonia in November 1813. A line of approximately 25 soldiers' graves is known and located adjacent to the site of the fort's dispensary. The Yuchi leader, Timpoochee Barnard and many Yuchi, Creek, and area residents were buried here over those 17 years.



NO BURIALS HERE AFTER 1840.