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May 24, 1841
Dale county in Alabama is named for him.
10. Death and Burial .- General Dale died on May 24, 1841, calm and self-possessed, and was buried near Daleville, Mississippi. Shortly after his burial it is said that a Choctaw chief, standing by his grave, said, "You sleep here, Big Sam, but your spirit is a chieftain and a brave in the hunting-ground of the sky."
In peace the Creeks respected and loved him.
1825 1831 1832
57
SAMUEL DALE
Weatherford admired him and had him as grooms- man at his marriage. The hungry Indians lived on his fields, "but in battle the name of Big Sam fell on the ears of the Seminole like that of Marius on the hordes of the Cimbri."
SUMMARY
General Samuel Dale was among the greatest men of pioneer history. His young life battled against poverty and met all the hardships and dangers of border civilization. His daring made him in demand for protection of travellers. He was pres- ent at the Tookabatcha grand council when Tecumseh spoke; shared the mortification of defeat at Burnt Corn; bravely stood with Captain Austill for the defense of Fort Madison; was chief hero in the Canoe Fight; and brave and true in all things. He was a courier to Jackson with an express from the secretary of war, and saw the engagement between the English and Ameri- can forces in the battle of New Orleans. He was generous to his own loss, but his devotion to the public good gave him a seat in the general assemblies of Alabama and Mississippi. He died in Daleville, Miss.
QUESTIONS
1. Give an account of Dale's early life. 2. What service did he render to movers? 3. Describe Tecumseh's actions and talk at the Tookabatcha grand council. 4. Describe the battle of Burnt Corn. 5. What was Dale's conduct at Fort Madison? 6. Relate the incidents of the Canoe Fight. 7. What caused Dale to fail as a farmer? 8. Describe his trip to New Orleans and his report of the battle there. 9. What public services did he render? 10. Give an account of his visit to Washington. 11. What great men met and admired him? 12. Relate the incidents of his death and burial.
Andrew Jackson
CHAPTER VI
ANDREW JACKSON IN ALABAMA (1813-1814)
1813
1. Jackson Takes Command in Creek War .- When Mr. George S. Gaines reported the massacre of Fort Mims to Governor Blount, of Tennessee, Andrew Jackson was suffering from an arm wounded in a difficulty with the Bentons. He was so excited by the news that he arose from his bed, and took command of the Tennessee troops for the Creek War. 2. General Coffee Sent to Huntsville .- General John Coffee, with five hundred cavalrymen and such other mounted troops as he might gather on the way, was sent ahead to Huntsville to quiet the people in
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ANDREW JACKSON IN ALABAMA
that region where there was much excitement on. account of Indian butcheries and rumors of Indian attacks.
When Jackson reached Fayetteville, Tennessee, a dispatch from General Coffee reported that the Indians were approaching. So anxious were Jack- son's soldiers to meet the Indians that they marched on foot thirty-two miles in five hours that they might take part in the expected battle. Coffee was miss- informed, but the speed with which the western frontiersmen moved and the way that they held
out on the march showed that much could be expected of them.
3. Lack of Supplies .- General Cocke and Gen- eral White were to bring troops and sup- plies from East Tennes- see and join with Jack- son in north Alabama. The troops and provi- sions were collected, but the Tennessee river was John Coffee too low for boats at this time, and the provisions could not be shipped. The seanty supplies at Huntsville were soon exhausted, and what could be procured from the surrounding country was not enough to sustain the troops. Jackson waited in vain at Camp Coffee for the promised supplies. Cutting through the mountains, he moved up to Thompson's creek, and established
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ALABAMA HISTORY
Oct. 25, 1813
Fort Deposite. He did not know the shallow state of the upper Tennessee river, and he bitterly blamed General Cocke for his lack of supplies. On October, 25, 1813, he moved southward from Fort Deposite.
Nov. 3, 1813
4. Battle of Tallasehatche .- On November 3, Gen- eral Coffee, with a thousand mounted men and a body of friendly Creeks, struck Tal la se hat'che, an Indian town fifteen miles east of Jackson's camp. In the hottest of the battle a frantic prophet leaped upon a house-top and shouted, "The Great Spirit is on the side of the red men, and his spirits will catch the bullets of the Americans. Look at me on the top of the house in full view of the Americans, and I am still unharmed." An American soldier soon discov- ered the prophet and killed him with a rifle ball.
Not one of the Indian warriors was alive after the battle. One hundred and eighty, all they could mus- ter, were killed. Eighty-four women and children were captured. Five Americans were killed and eighteen were wounded. "We have retaliated for the destruction of Fort Mims," wrote Jackson to Governor Blount.
After the battle a slain mother was found embrac- ing her living son. None of the women prisoners could be persuaded to take the child and rear it. "No," they said, "all his relations are dead; kill him too." Jackson sent the boy to the Hermitage, and Mrs. Jackson reared him. The boy was named Lin co' yer. He was devoted to his foster-parents. He died of consumption just as he became grown.
5. Relief of Talladega .- The hostile Creeks com- pletely surrounded Tal la de' gå, a town of friendly
ANDREW JACKSON IN ALABAMA 61
Creeks. They guarded it so thoroughly that no messenger could slip through to report to Jackson. General Thomas S. Woodward denies the story of the friendly chief and the hog's skin. Some his- torians say that the chief put on a hog's skin, with head and feet attached. Stooping down, he went along rooting and grunting until he passed the picket lines of the enemy, when, throwing off the skin, he fled to Jackson and reported. However this may be, Jackson rushed to the relief of his besieged friends. On November 9, his troops charged at sun- rise, and when the battle was over Talladega was relieved. Nearly three hundred hostile Indians were killed, and doubtless many more died of wounds.
6. Lack of Supplies Causes Mutiny .- Jackson re- turned to Fort Strother, happy over victory and hopeful of supplies. No grain nor meat had been re- ceived. Jackson wrote to Governor Blount and others begging for supplies for his starving army.
The militia mutinied, but with the volunteers Jackson forced them to return to duty. The next day the volunteers mutinied, but with the militia Jackson forced them back to duty. On another occasion Jackson ordered the artillery to oppose the mutineers. On still another, he rode to the front and with his well arm he aimed a musket at the column of mutineers and vowed to kill the first man that dared to move forward. He thus mastered out- breaks, but his short-term troops would not enlist again, and his army was at one time so reduced in numbers that he had only about one hundred men.
Nov. 151:
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ALABAMA HISTORY
7. Attack on the Hillabee Indians .- Robert Grai- son (grā' son), a Scotchman, who had lived a long time among the Indians, bore offers of peace from the Hil' la bee Indians. Jackson accepted them. In the meantime General Cocke, who knew nothing of messages to Jackson and the terms of peace that had been made, ordered General White to attack the Hillabees. General White made the attack, killing sixty of their warriors and capturing two hundred and fifty of their women and children. The Indians regarded this as treachery, and in future battles they refused to surrender, believing they would be killed no matter what promises of safety were made.
8. Red Sticks Defeated by Floyd .- General Floyd, with Georgia troops and a few hundred friendly Creeks, defeated the Red Sticks at Au tos' se and burned the town. He returned to Fort Mitchell. Two months later, when he advanced a second time into their country, the savages attacked him fiercely at Ca le' bee creek, and they were again repulsed; but the Georgians suffered so much in this battle that they retreated to the Chattahoochee. These campaigns of General Floyd served to draw large bodies from the front of Jackson and to prepare the way for the victories of that lion-hearted chieftain.
9. Jackson in the Creek Country .- Jackson, reen- forced by fresh troops, moved boldly into the coun- try of the Creeks, defeated them at E muck' fau and at E nit a chop' co; but the battle at Enitachopco was attended in the outset with such advantages to the Indians that Jackson did not want another bout with them at that time and hurried on to Fort
ANDREW JACKSON IN ALABAMA 63
Strother. Several chiefs and warriors of the battle afterward reported that they "whipped Captain Jackson and ran him to the Coosa."
/ REFERENCES.'
A-Hill from which the cannon played.
B B B B-High broke ridge. C C-Indian hutg.
D D D D pppppp p- Men formed in battle.
Rear Guard
linea reserve
B
Gen! Jackson's track with the mam army
27"h March 181-4 1
The 2d
rost
High Ground
B
Gen! Coffe's return, march in the evening of the 27th March.
-centCoffees track or
Tallapoosa
D
D
Rcari Guard
Ruter
on the morning of the 274 March 1514.
Battlefield of Horseshoe Bend
10. Horseshoe Bend Fortified by Indians .- The larger bodies of Indians were fortifying To hope' ka on the Tallapoosa river. This is the celebrated Horseshoe Bend, admirably located for defense, but a very dangerous position if not carefully guarded. About one hundred acres of land were in the Bend. Across its neck the Indians built breastworks of logs.
Now Youka Village
Emuchfan Creek
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ALABAMA HISTORY
Here had gathered the warriors of many tribes; here was to be fought the battle that brought the Creek War to a close.
Mar. 27, 1814
11. Battle of Horseshoe Bend .- From Fort Strother Jackson marched against this stronghold. On the morning of March 27, 1814, he dispatched General Coffee, with a large body of cavalry and friendly Indians, to ford the river two miles below the breastworks and to encircle the Bend with soldiers so that the Indians could not escape. He himself moved with his main army against the breastworks. At ten o'clock the firing began, at first with cannon and then with rifles and muskets.
A brave detachment of Coffee's command under Colonel Morgan and Captain Russell swam their horses across the river and secured the Indian canoes. In these canoes the main body of Coffee's men passed over the river into the rear of the Bend. Flames within the town gave signal to Jackson that Coffee was attacking in the rear. Jackson at once ordered the storming of the breastworks. These had been so constructed as to expose soldiers making the attack to both a direct and a flanking fire. The Americans carried the works, but not until fearful slaughter had dyed the logs with the life-blood of the Indians and the Americans.
The Red Sticks, though attacked in front and rear, fought long and desperately. The torch was ap- plied to their retreats, and as they fled they refused mercy. Some wounded and lying on the ground fought those who would have saved them. Remem- bering the Hillabee slaughter, they expected painful
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ANDREW JACKSON IN ALABAMA
death if they surrendered. One warrior, over- powered and captured, remarked to the surgeon dressing his wounds, "Cure him; kill him again."
Eight hundred Indians were killed. Among the American dead was Major Lemuel Purnell Mont- gomery, after whom Montgomery county is named. Sam Houston, afterward the hero of Texas, was among the wounded.
12. Treaty of Peace Signed .- Jackson now built Fort Jackson on the site of Fort Toulouse. Turning his command over to General Thomas Pinckney, he and his troopers returned to their Tennessee homes. Soon afterwards Jackson was made a major-general, and returned to the command of Fort Jackson. Here he received the surrender of Weatherford and other chiefs. Here also was signed the Treaty of Peace by which the Indians were compelled to cede lands that "opened up half the present area of the State to the whites." This cession was demanded as pay- ment and punishment for the expenses and losses of the war. It completely separated the Creek terri- tory from Florida.
13. Jackson in Florida .- Some of the Indians refused to sign the treaty and fled to Florida. British and Spanish agents in Pensacola continued to tamper with them. Jackson marched into Florida, captured Pensacola, and forced the British agents to leave.
As border raids and cruelties continued, JJackson, four years later, was ordered to Fort Scott on the Appalachicola river to "put an end to the Seminole War." He acted with usual quickness and decision. He marched into Florida, then Spanish territory,
Aug. 9, 1814
1818
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ALABAMA HISTORY
paid no attention to the protests of the Spanish gov- ernor, garrisoned Spanish forts with American sol- diers, and in true Jacksonian style ended the war. He scoured the country wherever the Seminoles were to be found, and gave them to understand that neither the British nor the Spaniards could shield them from his vengeance. He captured two English- men, Ar' buth not and Am' bris ter, charged with exciting the Indians to war against the United States. He had Arbuthnot hanged and Ambrister shot, and that, too, in a Spanish province.
Several hundred hostile Indians, supported in Pen- sacola by the Spanish governor, marched out in open day and killed Mr. Stokes and family, who were American citizens. This caused Jackson's advance upon Pensacola and Fort Barrancas. Both places yielded promptly, and in his report to his friend, George W. Campbell, Jackson regretted that he had not stormed the works and hung the governor for the murder of Stokes and his family.
14. Jackson's Military Conduct Approved .- These high-handed acts of Jackson gave the national government a great deal of trouble, but they created dread of American arms, which Indians and others have ever since regarded. A majority of the people approved of his conduct as an army officer, and later they elected him President of the United States.
Jackson was a true patriot, but he would submit to no opposition when he was carrying on war. He did what he thought right and needful for the success of military plans, regardless of law and con- sequences. Hle did so many things contrary to law
ANDREW JACKSON IN ALABAMA
67 that one historian asks whether he could have done more "if he had been Andrew I, by the grace of God Emperor of the United States?"
SUMMARY
The massacre of Fort Mims was reported to Governor Blount of Tennessee, and Generals Jackson and Coffee collected troops and marched rapidly to the territory of the Creek War. The low stage of the Tennessee river cut off the means of transport- ing supplies for the soldiers, and much suffering resulted. Jack- son blamed General Cocke and General White for the lack of provisions for his men. Coffee defeated the Indians at Tallase- hatche, and here was found the child, Lincoyer, whom Jackson adopted. At Talladega, Enitachopco, Emuckfau, and Horseshoe Bend, Jackson had desperate battles with the Indians. General Floyd, with Georgia troops, fought the battles of Autosse and Calebee. General Claiborne had overpowered Weatherford at Holy Ground. These battles broke the power of the Creeks, and they surrendered at Fort Jackson.
Jackson, in 1818, entered Florida, quartered American troops in Spanish forts, and conquered the Seminoles. He made the nations respect American rights and fighting qualities.
QUESTIONS
1. Describe the action of General Jackson and General Coffee when they received the report of the massacre at Fort Mims. 2. What duties were assigned to General Cocke and General White? 3. Describe the battle of Tallasehatche. 4. How was Talladega relieved? 5. Give an account of the mutinies of sol- diers. 6. What mistake led to an attack on the Hillabecs? 7. Give the results of General Floyd's battles with the In- dians. 8. What battles occurred when Jackson entered the Creek country ? 9. Describe the fortifications and battle of Horseshoe Bend. 10. When, and where, and by whom was the Treaty of Peace signed? 11. What were its terms? 12. What did Jackson do in Florida? 13. What do you understand by "Jacksonian style"? 14. How was his conduct regarded by the people ?
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George Strother Gaines
CHAPTER VIT
GEORGE STROTHER GAINES (1784-1873)
1. Parentage and Early Life .- Captain James Gaines, the father of George Strother Gaines, was a colonial officer in the Revolutionary War and a mem- ber of the North Carolina convention that ratified the constitution of the United States. His home rested on the dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina, and was said to be half in one State and half in the other. His large family of children were about equally divided between the two States, being Virginians or North Carolinians, as they were
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GEORGE STROTHER GAINES
born in one side or the other of the house. George Strother was born in the North Carolina side. The Gaineses were related to some of the most distin- guished families* of this country.
1784
Captain Gaines removed to Găl' la tin, Tennessee, and there George Strother grew to manhood and entered into business as clerk in the store of Jolin and Robert Allen.
1794
2. United States Agent at St. Stephens .- In 1804, George Strother accepted an invitation from Joseph Chambers to take charge of the United States trad- ing-house at St. Stephens, on the Tombigbee river in Alabama. In his passage down the Cumberland, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers he saw much of the country and became acquainted with many influen- tial men of Mississippi Territory.
1804
At Natchez he met the learned and cultivated Silas Dinsmore, the United States agent to the Choc- taws. Colonel Dinsmore was preparing to meet the Indians at St. Stephens in order to make a treaty for the purchase of the lands between the widely separated Tombigbee and Natchez settlements, and thereby make it easier for these settlements to pro- tect themselves and their business interests. A long delay at New Orleans enabled Colonel Dinsmore to
*Mr. Gaines's family was kin to the Prestons, Pendletons, and Strothers. His mother, Elizabeth Strother, was first cousin to Sarah Strother, the wife of Richard Taylor and mother of Presi- dent Zachary Taylor. The two children of President Taylor were General Richard Taylor, of Confederate fame, and Sarah Knox, the first wife of President Jefferson Davis.
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ALABAMA HISTORY
purchase many presents for the chiefs with whom he had to deal in making the treaty.
When St. Stephens was reached the Indians were there, according to agreement. They said, however, that they did not have authority to sell the lands . desired by the United States.
3. Indian Chiefs Entertained .- At St. Stephens the big table in the house of the United States agent to the Indians was weighted down with good things to eat and drink. The American officers and the Indian Chiefs, with their captains, sat around the table every day for dinner. This was one of the ways by which the commissioners and agents culti- vated the friendship of the Indians. All guests on those occasions did their best to create good will. There were present at the meeting three great Choe- taw chiefs-Min' go Ho mo stub' bee of the north- western tribes, Mingo Puck shen nub' bee of the western, and Pushmataha of the southeastern.
The Indians are a sober-looking people, but they love fun. The sparkle of wines, the cheer of feasts, and the wit and wisdom of good company delighted them, and they always did their best to make it pleasant for everybody. A young lieutenant of the United States army annoyed the old chief Mingo Homostubbee by numerous questions. His last ques- tion was:
"Who is considered the greatest warrior among you?"
According to Mr. George S. Gaines, who was pres- ent, the old chief answered:
"I was considered the greatest warrior, but found
1805
71-
GEORGE STROTHER GAINES
it was not the case when returning from a visit we paid President Washington in Philadelphia."
"How did you make the discovery?" inquired the lieutenant.
"The President sent us in a ship to New Orleans," said the chief, "and when we were at sea, entirely out of sight of land, a storm came upon us. The waves were so high they seemed almost to kiss the clouds, and the ship rolled about among them until I thought that we would never again see the beauti- ful hills and valleys, forests and streams of our beloved country, and our bones would lie scattered on the bottom of the strange waters instead of rest- ing peacefully with our departed relations. All this · alarmed me. I found that I had not the firmness in danger and the utter fearlessness of death of a great warrior, and concluded to go down into the cabin to see how my friend Puckshennubbee was affected by this new and strange danger to our party. And what do you think he was doing?"
The description of the storm attracted the atten- tion of every one at the table. The lieutenant eagerly asked,
"What was he doing?"
"Why," said the old chief, with a very grave face, but a humorous twinkle of the eyes, "Why, he was making love to an old squaw we took along to cook for us, and he seemed to be as umconcerned about the danger as if he were at home in his own cabin, sitting by the fire and listening to the songs of the wind among the trees."
The roars of laughter that followed this conversa-
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ALABAMA HISTORY
tion drowned Mingo Puckshennubbee's angry denial of it. Mr. Gaines said that Mingo Puckshenmbbee was as remarkable for his modesty and simplicity as Mingo Homostubbee was for his wit and jollity.
4. Treaty of Mount Dexter .- When the American commissioners and the Indian chiefs separated after the meeting at St. Stephens, it was agreed that they should meet again the following year at Mount Dexter. This plan was carried out, and a treaty was made whereby the Indians sold a narrow strip of land between the "settlements"-a strip much nar- rower than was expected by the United States com- missioners.
When Colonel Dinsmore tried to run the northern boundary-line of the Mount Dexter cession, he was checked by the captain of the Tus ka ho'ma Indian village, nor could he advance until Mr. Gaines and his brother, Captain Edmund Pendleton Gaines, vis- ited the captain and got 's consent.
5. Mr. Gaines's Faithful Werk at St. Stephens .- The country developed so rapidly that one man could not attend to the land sales and the other business, and the duties of Mr. Chambers were assigned to three men. Mr. Gaines succeeded to the trading-house, with Thomas Malone as assistant; Thomas W. Maury, of Virginia, was appointed reg- ister of the land office, and Lemuel Henry was made receiver of public moneys.
Mr. Gaines was proud of his position and nsed every means to become helpful in civilizing the Indians. He kept out of polities, not because he felt
73
GEORGE STROTHER GAINES
indifferent, but because he thought his mission as a business man to be above other interests.
Hunters poured into St. Stephens, and the busi- ness of the trading-house increased. The Creeks from the Black Warrior river and from beyond the Alabama river, the Choctaws, and even the Chicka- saws came there to trade. Mr. Gaines was careful to deal fairly with them all. If an article was dam- aged, he would point out the defect and reduce the price. The Indians respected him highly, trusted him fully, and learned from him lessons of business honesty.
6. Major Pitchlyn's Assistance .- Major John Pitch' lyn, when a boy, lost his English father in the Indian country. Reaching manhood, he married into an influential Indian family among the Choctaws of the northeastern district, and dwelt near the month of the Ok tib' be ha river. He was an intelligent, firm, and handsome man. Mr. Gaines met him, liked him, consulted him, and secured his help in many ways. Pitchlyn was appointed United States inter- preter to the Indians; his influence among them was very strong and the United States government often used his services when making treaties or in paying annual dues.
To avoid the high Spanish duties on goods pass- ing by New Orleans and Mobile, the United States shipped merchandise by way of Pittsburg down the Ohio river and up the Tennessee to Colbert's Ferry. Mr. Gaines contracted with the Chickasaws to pro- tect and to carry the goods on pack horses to Cotton (lin Port on the Tombigbee, whence Major Pitchlyn
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ALABAMA HISTORY
shipped them on to St. Stephens. Everything arrived in due time, without the loss or damage of an article. This was proof of the honor and good faith of the Chocktaws and Chickasaws, through whose territories the goods had been carried. These tribes were milder and more civil than the Creeks, but none the less warlike when aroused to battle.
7. Marriage .- About 1812, Mr. Gaines married Ann, the daughter of Young Gaines, of St. Stephens. His brother, General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, was married three times: first to Frances, the daughter of Judge Harry Touhnin; second to Barbara, the daughter of Governor William Blount, of Tennessee; and last to Mrs. Myra Clark Whitney, whose long lawsuits for property in New Orleans are so cele- brated in history.
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