A Guide to the Henry Gaither Day Book

Biographical Note

Lt. Col. Henry Gaither was a Revolutionary War veteran and became the second commander of Fort Adams, Mississippi Territory.

Scope and Contents

Manuscript day book of Lt. Col. Henry Gaither, who commanded Fort Adams in Mississippi Territory, 1801. The fort was built in 1799 and served as the United States port of entry along the Mississippi River and a line of defense against the Spanish. It also hosted the signing of the treaty with the Choctaw Indians for the building of a road that would later become known as the Natchez Trace. Among the prominent names mentioned in the daybook is Major Zebulon Pike. Pike's troops were active nearby.

The day book chronicles Gaither's orders and everyday life in this important frontier outpost between March 1 and July 31, 1801.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Henry Gaither Day Book, 1801, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Detailed Description of the Collection