army at Chickamauga was soundly defeated and all but routed, forcing Rosecrans and his men to retreat back to Chattanooga. Besieged by Confederate troops, Rosecrans was relieved of his command by General Ulysses S. Grant, who placed General George H. Thomas in command. The Battle of Chattanooga began on November 24, 1863, and the Union victory would secure southeastern Tennessee and northeastern Alabama, including Fort Harker, for the duration of the war. Fort Harker was abandoned at the end of the American Civil War. It fell into disrepair, and was used by local residents for agricultural purposes, including gardens and hog farming. Excavation of the site for historical preservation began in 1976. Restoration of the site for public access began in 1985. Repairs to the fort addressed damage cause by mountain bike riders and the use of the fort walls for target practice by the Stevenson Police Department. Trailer Park Fort Harker is managed as a trailer park by the City of Stevenson, Alabama. In addition to the historic redoubt, a wildlife observation platform has been built providing scenic views of nearby Crow Creek. The fort is on the National Register of Historic Places. A historical marker has been placed at the fort by the Alabama Historical Commission. Gallery References External links Fort Harker Historical Marker - Alabama Historical Commission Image of Fort Harker National Register of Historic Places in Jackson County, Alabama Harker Parks in Alabama Alabama in the American Civil War Protected areas of Jackson County, Alabama Harker Harker 1862 establishments in Alabama American Civil War on the National Register of Historic Places