A blockhouse stood on the northwest corner of the fort, where such structures, often used on the American frontier, could serve as stand-alone buildings or as parts of larger defensive works like the stockade at Fort Mims. During the attack, Red Stick Creek warriors fought the fort's defenders for control of the blockhouse, which was empty at the time, because they believed gunpowder was stored inside. Blockhouses were important parts of forts because their overhanging top floors allowed better viewing along the stockade walls, and loopholes in the walls let guards use their weapons from the safety of the structure. The present blockhouse and stockade walls are replicas placed slightly west and north of the original locations to protect the archaeological remains of the original fort.