Fort Lane on southwest Lake Harney was another of the chain of forts established in 1837 during the Second Seminole War, going upriver on the St. Johns River.

It is worth mentioning of Colonel John F. Lane, who Fort Lane was named after. Lane was born in 1810 in Kentucky. He was considered an outspoken frontiersman, similar to another outspoken frontiersman, President andrew jackson.  He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1828 and was a bright engineer and mathematician. He is remembered as the inventor of the pontoon boat by making boats and structures with inflatable bladders of canvas and rubber. Captain John F. Lane was in the 2d Dragoon Regiment in the Army when he was appointed Colonel of the Creek Indian Regiment, with 750 Creek Indians for duty with the Army in Florida on March 14, 1836.  Famous Creek warriors Jim Boy and Paddy Carr served under Lane in the Creek Regiment.  He was a young, brilliant officer (only 26 years old) who would have had an interesting career if he had lived long.

Colonel Lane arrived in Florida with his Creek Indian Regiment in October 1836. After arriving at Fort Drane, northwest of present day Ocala, Col. Lane came down with the fever, went insane, and committed suicide by driving his sword into his head. The cause of death is listed as, "brain fever."

On November 20, 1837 a command under Lieutenant Colonel Bankhead, 3rd Artillery Regiment, left Fort Mellon (Sanford) to establish Fort Lane as a supply depot during the campaign of General Thomas S. Jesup.  Lake Harney was reached on the 22nd, and the area was extensively explored and mapped.

An area on the southwest side of Lake Harney was chosen as the site for Fort Lane. Because of the swampy terrain, opinions differed among the officers on what type of post it should be. One idea was a '"floating barge depot." Jesup liked the plan of a fixed post on land, so that was chosen.

A large Indian village was searched on the eastern shore of the lake, and found abandoned. Many utensils and food supplies were left behind, possibly indicating a quick departure.

Jesup reached Fort Lane by December 20th and ordered his men south to continue the campaign. Fort Christmas was established further down the military road on December 25th.

Fort Lane ordered abandoned on March 3, 1838. The fort was never reoccupied, but still present on maps when Florida became a state in 1845.

To find Fort Lane Park, go east on highway 46 from Sanford. After you pass the small town of Geneva, and a few miles before you cross the St. Johns River, turn north on Jungle Road. About a mile further is a dirt road identified as Fort Lane Road on the right. Go down this road until you see the small park.

Fort Lane is mentioned briefly in the book, "Fort Mellon 1837-42, A Microcosm of the Second Seminole War," by Arthur S Francke, Jr., 1977, Banyan Books, Inc., Miami.

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(c) 1997, 2002 Chris Kimball
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