USA > Alabama > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 19
USA > Georgia > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 19
USA > Mississippi > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 19
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Occasionally, the farmers were accustomed to leave Fort Madison, for a few hours, to procure from their fields provi-
CHAPTER XXXIV.
1813 September 3
September 4
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
1813 September 6
sions for immediate use. A man, named Fisher, with three of his sons, set out for that purpose, and, arriving at the farm, one of the boys was shot in the back, while shelling some peas in the yard. Instantly rising up, he made his escape to to the woods. His father, then in the cane, running out to learn the cause of the firing, was also severely wounded in the back, but likewise made his way to the forest. The other two sons, being in a different part of the field, fled to the fort, and reported the death of their brother and father. The next day, however, they came in, bleeding from their wounds, and happily recovered .*
These things, following so closely upon the fall of Fort Mims, filled the whole population of the eastern section of the Mississippi Territory with the greatest panic imaginable, and every soul went into some kind of defensive work. Fort Hawn, at Gullet's Bluff, contained a mixed population of three hundred and ninety-one souls, including sixty men under Captain James Powell, of the eighth regiment of Mis- sissippi militia. At Mount Vernon were two forts, literally packed with people. Rankin's fort contained five hund- red and thirty persons-of whom only eighty-seven were capable of bearing arms, in consequence of the sickness which everywhere prevailed in these filthy stockades. Fort Char- lotte, of Mobile, was also daily receiving families. To this place Judge Toulmin and a number of his neighbors had
* Conversations with the late Colonel Gerard W. Creagh, of Clarke county, Colonel Jere. Austill, of Mobile, and others. See, also, Clai- borne's MS. papers.
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repaired. Perhaps greater inquietude existed at St. Stephens than at any other point, if, indeed, any line of distinction can be drawn. Claiborne, all the time, was harassed by distressing messages, which hourly reached him, and his generous heart was racked, day and night, in revolving plans to assist them all ; but he was unable to do more than he had already accomplished, on account of the smallness of his army and the restrictions put upon him by the commander-in-chief.
The enemy continued to spread their depredations, distri- buting themselves in all directions, burning the abandoned houses, driving off the cattle, and herding the hogs in the corn-fields, to fatten, that their flesh might be in good order for their feastings. Colonel Carson's condition was unknown to Claiborne, and, from the continued reports which he re- ceived, that a combined attack was soon to be made upon Fort Madison, the general transmitted him an order to aban- don his post, and march to St. Stephens, which was deemed `a more important point to defend. The order was discretion- ary, however, but Carson and his officers viewed it as rather peremptory. He started, with all his force, to St. Stephens, accompanied by five hundred settlers, of all ages and sexes. This created great consternation in the Fork, and Claiborne was unjustly denounced, for having abandoned the whole population of Clarke county. But if Carson had chosen to remain, it would have fully accorded with the views of the general. The movement was unnecessary, and served to embolden the savages. When the evacuation took place, eighty citizens enrolled themselves, under Captain Evan Aus-
CHAPTER XXXIV.
1813 September 8
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till and Captain Sam Dale, (the latter still suffering from the desperate wound which he received at Burnt Corn,) all of whom determined to stay within Fort Madison, to protect a number of citizens, who preferred to remain. A despatch from Claiborne, dated the 8th of September, urging Carson " not to abandon the fort, unless it was clear that he could not maintain it," arrived too late, as that officer was already in the neighborhood of St. Stephens .*
1813
September 29
The British were hovering along the coast, to give their red friends countenance and aid. A British war schooner had anchored at Pensacola, with a large supply of munitions of war. Afterwards, Mexco Gonzales Manique, the Governor of Pensacola, addressed a letter to Weatherford and the Chiefs, congratulating them on their late victory at Fort Mims, assu- ring them of his constant aid, but dissuading them from setting fire to Mobile, as that place properly belonged to the King of Spain, which his majesty would shortly re-occupy.t
1
While ali was doubt and uncertainty as to the position which the Choctaws would assume, at this critical juncture, Pushmatahaw, the most enlightened and influential Chief of that nation, rode to St. Stephens, and proposed to Mr. George S. Gaines to enlist several companies of his warriors in the
* Claiborne's MS. papers.
t This letter was found in Weatherford's house, at the Holy Ground, several months afterwards, and is yet among the MS. papers of Gene- ral Claiborne. All these papers furnish the most indubitable evidence of the coalition between the Spaniards and English, to exterminate the population of the Mississippi Territory.
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American cause. Gratified at the proposition, the latter hastened with the Chief to Mobile, and had an interview with General Flournoy, in Fort Charlotte, who strangely declined to receive the Choctaws as United States soldiers. With deep mortification, Gaines and the Chief returned to St. Stephens, and while the citizens, who had surrounded them when they rode up, were cursing Flournoy for his folly, a horse was seen at a distance, bearing a rider with great speed. Flournoy had reconsidered the matter, and had sent a messenger, authorizing Gaines to go into the Choctaw na- tion to raise troops. The people gave a shout, and all hearts were made glad. Every one had feared that the Choctaws would join the Creeks, and now, through the influence of Pushmatahaw, it was believed they would actually assist the Americans. In company with Colonel Flood McGrew and the Chief, Gaines departed immediately for the Choctaw country, with no other provisions than some jerked beef. Colonel John McKee, agent of the Chickasaws, met them at Peachland's, where they held a consultation, while Pushma- tahaw went home, to assemble his people in council. They were living under three distinct governments : the eastern district was governed by Pushmatahaw, the western by Puck- shenubbee, and the north-western by Mushelatubba. In a few days Gaines reached the council-ground, where over tive thousand Choctaws were encamped. Pushmatahaw harangued them in a long speech, full of eloquence and ingenuity, in which he said, among many other things, " You know Tecum- seh. He is a bad man. He came through our nation, but
CHAPTER XXXIV.
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
did not turn our heads. He went among the Muscogees, and got many of them to join him. You know the Tensaw peo- ple. They were our friends. They played ball with us. They sheltered and fed us, whenever we went to Pensacola. Where are they now ? Their bodies rot at Sam Mims's place. The people at St. Stephens are also our friends. The Musco- gees intend to kill them too. They want soldiers to defend them. (He here drew out his sword, and flourishing it, added :) You can all do as you please. You are all freemen. I dictate to none of you. But I shall join the St. Stephens people. If you have a mind to follow me, I will lead you to glory and to victory !" A warrior rose up, slapped his hand upon his breast, and said : "I am a man! I am a man! I will follow you !" All of them now slapped their breasts, a gene- ral shout went up, and Gaines was filled with joy at the result.
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1813 October
In the meantime, Colonel McKee was equally successful with the Chickasaws, being greatly aided in his efforts by the influence of John Peachland. McKee, at the head of a large force of Chickasaws, marched to the Tuscaloosa Falls, to at- tack the Creek town at that place, but found it reduced to ashes. The inhabitants had fled. Returning to Peachland's, at the mouth of the Oetibaha, the force separated, one party going to their homes and the other to St. Stephens, to join General Claiborne, who had laudably exerted himself to pro- cure the aid of these powerful tribes .*
* Conversations with Mr. George S. Gaines. See Claiborne's MS. papers.
PLAN
Order of March Cavalry & Mounted Riflemen
OF THE
BATTLE OF
TALLADEGA.
Flankers.
Coll'a mmm
Co'Allcorn
Infantry
Cot Bradley
Co2 Pillow
Cd. ME Coorsney
Flankers
REFERENCES.
1 Jackson's position.
2 Friendly Indians.
3 Hostile Indians en- camped around the Spring.
4 Advance under Col. Carroll, sent forward to bring on the en- gagement.
5 Gap between the Ca- valry and Infantry, through which many Indians escaped. 1
Halls Brigade
Roberts Brigade
3
A3A
5
A
Mounted,
2
Cavalry
Riflemen
-
Advance .
1
Order of Battle.
Reseve under LtCol Dyer.
1
r.
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CHAPTER XXXV. 1 BATTLES OF TALLASEHATCHE, TALLADEGA AND AUTTOSE.
THE arrival of an express, at Nashville, with letters from CHAPTER Mr. George S. Gaines to General Jackson and the governor, XXXV. conveying the distressing intelligence of the massacre at Fort Mims, and imploring their assistance, created great excite- ment, and the Tennesseans volunteered their services to avenge the outrage. General Jackson, at the head of a large 1813 October 11 force, passed through Huntsville, crossed the Tennessee at Ditto's Landing, and joined Colonel Coffee, who had been despatched in advance, and who had encamped opposite the upper end of an island on the south side of the river, three miles above the landing. Remaining here a short time, the army advanced higher up, to Thompson's Creek, to meet sup- plies, which had been ordered down from East Tennessee. In the meantime, Colonel Coffee marched, with six hundred horse, to Black Warrior's town, upon the river of that name, a hundred miles distant, which he destroyed by fire, having found it abandoned. Collecting about three hundred bushels of corn, he rejoined the main army at Thompson's Creek,
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CHAPTER XXXV.
1813 October 28
without having seen an Indian. Establishing a defensive de- pot at this place, called Fort Deposite, Jackson, with great dif- ficulty, cut his way over the mountains to Wills' Creek, where, being out of bread, he encamped several days, to allow his foraging parties to collect provisions. The contractors had entirely failed to meet their engagements, and his army had, for some days, been in a perishing condition.
October 29
Jackson despatched Colonel Dyer, with two hundred cav- alry, to attack the village of Littefutchee, situated at the head of Canoe Creek, twenty miles distant. They arrived there at four o'clock in the morning, burned down the town, and returned with twenty-nine prisoners, consisting of men, women and children. Another detachment, sent out to bring in beeves and corn, returned with two negroes and four In- dians, of the war party. These prisoners, together with two others brought in by Old Chinnobe and his son, were sent to Huntsville.
The Creeks having assembled at the town of Tallasehatche, thirteen miles from the camp, the commander-in-chief des- patched Coffee, now promoted to the rank of brigadier-gene- ral, with one thousand men, with one-half of whom he was directed to attack the enemy, and with the other half to scour the country near the Ten Islands, for the purpose of covering his operations. Richard Brown, with a company of Creeks and Cherokees, wearing on their heads distinguishing badges of white feathers and deer's tails, accompanied the expedition. Fording the Coosa at the Fish Dam, four miles above the islands, Coffee,advanced to Tallasehatche, surrounded it at
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the rising of the sun, and was fiercely met by the savages, with whoops and the sounding of drums-the prophets being in advance. Attacking the decoy companies, they were soon surrounded by the troops, who charged them with great slaughter. After a short but terrible action, eighty-four women and children were made prisoners, while the bodies of one hundred and eighty-six warriors were counted upon the field, where, unavoidably, some women also perished. Many other bodies lay concealed in the weeds. Five Americans were killed and eighteen wounded. Late in the evening of the same day, Coffee re-crossed the Coosa, and reached head- quarters. Not a solitary warrior begged for his life, and it is believed none escaped to the woods. These prisoners were also sent to Huntsville. General Jackson, now forcing his way over the Coosa mountain, arrived at the Ten Islands, where he began to erect a second depot for supplies, which was protected by strong picketing and block-houses, and which received the name of Fort Strother.
In Lashley's fort in the Talladega town, many friendly Creeks had taken refuge. The war party, in strong force, had surround- ed them so effectually, that not a solitary warrior could escape from the fort unseen, to convey to the American camp intelli- gence of their critical condition. One night, a prominent Indian, who belonged to the Hickory Ground town, resolved to escape to the lines of Jackson, by Indian stratagem. He threw over him the skin of a large hog, with the head and legs attached, and placing himself in a stooping position, went out of the fort and crawled about before the camps of
CHAPTER XXXV.
1813 November 3
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CHAPTER the hostiles, grunting and apparently rooting, until he slowly XXXV. got beyond the reach of their arrows. Then, discarding his swinish mantle, he fled with the speed of lightning to Jack- son, who resolved immediately to relieve these people. The commander-in-chief, leaving a small guard to protect his 1813 November 8 camp and sick, put his troops in motion at the hour of mid- night, and forded the Coosa, here six hundred yards wide, with a rocky, uneven bottom. Each horseman carried be- hind him a footman, until the whole army was over. Late that evening he encamped within six miles of Talladega. At November 9 four o'clock the next morning, Jackson surrounded the enemy, making a wide circuit, with twelve hundred infantry and eight hundred cavalry. The hostiles, to the number of one thous- and and eighty, were concealed in a thick shrubbery that cov- ered the margin of a small rivulet, and at eight o'clock they received a heavy fire from the advance guard under Colonel Carroll. Screaming and yelling most horribly, the enemy rushed forth in the direction of General Roberts' brigade, a few companies of which gave way at the first fire. Jackson directed Colonel Bradley to fill the chasm with his regiment, which had not advanced in a line with the others; but that officer failing to obey the order, Colonel Dyer's reserve dis- mounted, and met the approaching enemy with great firm- ness. The retreating militia, mortified at secing their places so promptly filled, recovered their former position, and dis- played much bravery. The action now became general along the whole line, while the Indians, who had at first fought courageously, were now seen flying in all directions. But,
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owing to the halt of Bradley's regiment, and the cavalry CHAPTER under Alcorn having taken too wide a circuit, many escaped XXXV. to the mountains. A general charge was made, and the wood for miles was covered with dead savages. Their loss was very great, and could not be ascertained. However, two hun- dred and ninety-nine bodies were counted on the main field. Fifteen Americans were killed, and eighty-five wounded. The latter were conveyed to Fort Strother in litters made of raw hides. The fort contained one hundred and sixty friendly warriors, with their wives and children, who were all to have been butchered the very morning that Jackson attacked their 1813 November 9 assailants. Never was a party of poor devils more rejoiced at being relieved. General Pillow. of the infantry, Colonel Lauderdale of the cavalry, Major Boyd of the mounted rifle- men, and Lieutenant Barton, were wounded-the last named mortally. Colonel Bradley was arrested for disobedience of orders, but was released without a trial. Jackson buried his dead, and marched back to Fort Strother as rapidly as possi- ble, for he was out of provisions. Arriving there, he Was November 11 mortified to find none at that point for him .*
About the time that the Middle and West Tennessee vol- unteers flocked to the standard of Jackson, a large body of volunteers from East Tennessee rendezvoused to march to the
* A portion of the Talladega battle-field is now (1851) embraced · within the limits of the beautiful and flourishing American town of that name, which contains a population of near two thousand, and is situ- ated in a delightful valley, with magnificent mountain scenery in view. VOL. II. 16
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CHAPTER XXXV.
seat of war under Major-General John Cocke. Shortly after- wards, General White, commanding a detachment of one thousand men, belonging to Cocke's force, advanced to Turkey 1813 November 5 Town. From this place he reported to Jackson that he would, the next day, march in the direction of head-quarters, and should, in the meantime, be glad to receive his orders. November 7 The latter ordered him to march to Fort Strother, and protect that place during his absence to Talladega, where, he informed him, he intended immediately to march to the relief of the garrison of Lashley's fort. While White was on the march to Fort Strother, to comply with this requisition, he received a despatch from General Cocke, ordering him to alter his route, and form a junction with him at the mouth of the Chat- tooga. This order he obeyed, preferring to comply with the commands of Cocke rather than those of Jackson, although the latter was generally considered the commander-in-chief of all the troops from Tennessee. Jackson was shocked at - receiving an account of the retrograde march of White, and that, too, at a late hour of night, previous to the battle of Talladega ; and it determined him to attack the Indians forth- with, and rush back to Fort Strother, now left with a very feeble protection.
However, before General White had reached Turkey Town, his advance-guard, consisting of four hundred Cherokees and a few whites under Colonel Gideon Morgan and John Low- rey, advanced upon the town of Tallasehatche on the evening of the 3d November, and found that it had that morning
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been destroyed by Coffee. Collecting twenty of the wounded CHAPTER XXXV.
Indians, they returned with them to Turkey Town.
The mischiefs of a want of concert between the East and West Tennessee troops-growing out of a jealousy of the former, and a strong desire to share some of the glory which the latter had already acquired in the few battles they had fought-were, in a very few days, made quite apparent. Through Robert Graison, an aged Scotchman, the Hillabees (a portion of whom fought Jackson at Talladega) made offers of peace, to which the general immediately and willingly ac- ceded. At that very time, and when Graison had hastened back with the favorable reply of Jackson, General White sur- rounded the Hillabee town early in the morning, and effected 1813 November 18 a complete surprise, killing sixty warriors and taking two hundred and fifty prisoners. The Hillabees, it is asserted, made not the slightest resistance. At all events, not a drop of Tennessee blood was spilt. The other Hillabee towns, viewing this as flagrant treachery on the part of Jackson, became the most relentless enemies of the Americans, and afterwards fought them with fiendish desperation. The de- struction of this town was in pursuance of the orders of Gene- ral Cocke. White, in marching down, had already destroy- November 13 ed Little Ocfuske and Genalga, both of which had been aban- doned by the inhabitants, with the exception of five warriors, who were captured at the former.
General Cocke having given up the ambition of achieving separate victories, was now prepared to co-operate with Jack-
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CHAPTER XXXV. 1813 son, and for that purpose joined him at Fort Strother with fourteen hundred men. He was sent, by the commander-in- December 12 chief, back to East Tennessee, with a portion of his command, whose term of service had nearly expired, with orders to raise fifteen hundred men, and rejoin him in the Creek nation.
Georgia, no less patriotic than Tennessee, soon came to the relief of her brethren of the Mississippi Territory. Briga- dier-General John Floyd crossed the Ockmulgee, Flint and Chattahoochie, and advanced near the Tallapoosa, with an - army of nine hundred and fifty militia, and four hundred . friendly Indians, piloted by Abram Mordecai, the Jew trader, of whom we have so often had occasion to speak. Before November 29 sunrise, on a cold frosty morning, Floyd attacked the Creeks, who were assembled in great force at the town of Auttose, which was situated on the east bank of the Tallapoosa, at the mouth of the Calebee Creek. Booth's battalion, which com- posed the right column, marched from the centre-Watson's composed the left, and marched from its right. Upon the flanks were the rifle companies of Adams and Merriweather- the latter commanded by Lieutenant Hendon. The artillery, under Captain Thomas, advanced in the road in front of the right column. General Floyd intended to surround the town, by throwing the right wing on Calebee Creek, at the mouth of which he was informed the town stood, and resting the left on the river bank below it; but the dawn of day exhibit- ed, to his surprise, a second town, about five hundred yards below. It was now necessary to change the plan of attack,
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by advancing three companies of infantry to the lower town, accompanied by Merriweather's rifles, and two troops of light dragoons commanded by Captains Irwin and Steele. The remainder of the army marched upon the upper town, and soon the battle became general. The Indians at first advanc- ed, and fought with great resolution ; but the fire from the artillery, with the charge of the bayonets, drove them into the out-houses and thickets, in rear of the town. Many con- cealed themselves in caves cut in the bluff of the river, here thickly covered with cane. The admirable plans of General Floyd for the extermination of the foe, were not properly executed, owing to the failure of the friendly Indians to cross the Tallapoosa to the west side, and there cut off all retreat. The difficulty of the ford and the coolness of the morning deterred them, as they stated; but fear, in all probability, was the prime cause. They now irregularly fell back to the rear of the army. However, the Cowetas under McIntosh, and the Tookabatchas under the Mad Dragon's Son, fell into the ranks, and fought with great bravery. The hour of nine o'clock witnessed the abandonment of the ground by the enemy, and the conflagration of the houses. From the num- ber of bodies scattered over the field, together with those burnt in the houses and slain on the bluff, it is believed that two hundred must have perished, among whom were the Kings of Tallase and Auttose. The number of buildings burned, some of which were of fine Indian architecture and filled with valuable articles, amounted to about four hundred.
CHAPTER XXXV.
1813 November 29
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CHAPTER The Americans had eleven men killed and fifty-four wounded. XXXV. The friendly Indians had several killed and wounded. Im- portant services were rendered by Adjutant-General Newnan, the aids Majors Crawford and Pace, and the surgeons Wil- liamson and Clopton. Major Freeman, at the head of Irwin's cavalry and part of Steele's, made bold charges upon the In- dians, completely routing them. The companies led on by Captains Thomas, Adams, Barton, Myrick, Little, King, Broad- nax, Cleveland, Cunningham, Lee, and Lieutenant Hendon, fought with gallantry. Brigadier-General Shackleford per- formed efficient services in successfully bringing the troops into action, and Adjutants Montgomery and Broadnax exhi- - bited activity and courage. The battalion of Major Booth was properly brought into action, and that of Major Watson fought with commendable spirit. The cavalry under Irwin, Patterson and Steele, charged with success when opportunities were afforded. Great heroism was displayed by Quarter- Master Terrill, who, though badly wounded, escaped after his horse was shot under him. The horse of Lieutenant Strong was shot under him, and he made a narrow escape. In seven days the troops had marched one hundred and twenty miles, and fought this battle. Being now sixty miles from the depot of provisions, and the rations of the troops being nearly ex- hausted, Floyd, after the dead had been interred and the wounded properly attended, began the retrograde march to 1813 Fort Mitchell, upon the Chattahoochie. On ascending Hey- don's Hill, a mile east of the battle-ground, many of the
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