Fort Southerland

Fort Southerland is an oval-shaped earthwork in Camden designed to hold artillery in three separate firing positions. The structure spans an area roughly the size of a city block and shows the layout of its defensive design.

Confederate forces built the fort in early 1864 as part of Camden's defensive network following the Union capture of Little Rock. The site changed hands between Confederate and Union forces in April 1864, with both sides making structural improvements.

The fort held meaning for local residents as a reminder of the region's struggle during wartime. Walking around today, you can sense how this place marked the landscape and shaped memories for generations afterward.

The site is open to the public through Fort Southerland Park with walking paths that guide you around the earthworks. Interpretive signs along the route explain what you are seeing and why each part of the fort mattered.

The fort was built quickly under wartime pressure, with soldiers working fast to complete the earthworks before attack. You can still see evidence of this rushed construction in how the soil is layered and shaped along the walls.

Location: Camden

GPS coordinates: 33.57389,-92.81806

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:46