USA > Alabama > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 23
USA > Georgia > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 23
USA > Mississippi > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 23
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* Such is the account of Weatherford's interview with Jackson, as related by the Chieftain himself, to Colonel Robert James, of Clarke, William Sisemore, of Little river, and many other persons. The incorrect statements of Eaton, in his Life of Jackson, are doubtless based entirely upop camp gossip.
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horse and make his escape." Captain Laval instantly told Weatherford to follow him. He passed by the guard, giving the countersign, and reached the tree. Weatherford eagerly seized the limb to which the horse was tied, threw the reins over the animal's head, shook Laval by the hand, and said, in earnest and grateful tones, "GOOD BYE ! GOD BLESS YOU !" He then vaulted into the saddle, and rode off rapidly. That was the last time he ever saw Weatherford. For the distance of one mile, at least, Laval heard the clattering of the horse's feet .*
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
After the war was over, Weatherford became a permanent citizen of the lower part of the county of Monroe, where, upon a good farm, well supplied with negroes, he lived, maintained an excellent character, and was much respected by the American citizens for his bravery, honor and strong native sense. In 1826, he died, from the effects of fatigue, produced by a desperate bear hunt.
Many persons yet living bear testimony to the bravery and honor of William Weatherford, in private life, an instance of which we here take occasion to mention :
In 1820, many people assembled at the sale of the effects of the deceased Duncan Henderson, in the lower part of Monroe county, Alabama. An old man, named Bradberry- the father of the gallant lieutenant, who fought at Burnt Corn, and who was afterwards killed in another action-was cruelly murdered upon this occasion, by one C-r, who
* Conversations with Major Laval, a resident of Charleston, S. C.
1820
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plunged a long knife into the back of his neck. The mur- derer had an accomplice, one F -- r, who was in pursuit of Bradberry at the same time, and who had, a few moments before, broken a pitcher over his head. These men were so desperate, and flourished their knives with such defiance, that Justice Henderson in vain called upon the bystanders to seize them, while the poor, unoffending old Bradberry, lay weltering in his blood.
1820
Shocked at the cowardly and brutal act, and provoked at the timidity of the bystanders, William Weatherford, who lived in that neighborhood, now advanced towards Henderson, and said, in a loud voice, "These, I suppose, are white men's laws. You stand aside, and see a man, an OLD man, killed, and not one of you will avenge his blood. If he had one drop of Indian blood mixed with that which runs upon the ground there, I would instantly kill his murderers, at the risk of my life." Justice Henderson implored him to take them, and, being assured that the white man's law would not hurt him, but that he would be commended for the act, Weather- ford now drew forth his long, silver-handled butcher-knife, and advanced towards the murderers, who stood forty paces off, threatening to kill the first man who should attempt to arrest them. He first advanced to C-r, who, trembling at his approach, let his knife drop by his side, and instantly surrendered. Seizing him by the throat, he said to the by- standers, "Ilere, tie the d-d rascal." Then, going up to F -- r, upon whom he flashed his tiger eyes, he also arrested
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him, without the least opposition-F-r exclaiming, "I CHAPTER will not resist you, Billy Weatherford." XXXVIII.
General Pinckney arriving at Fort Jackson, and being the senior officer of the Southern army, assumed the command, and approved of all the acts of Jackson. Learning that the Indians were generally submitting, he ordered the West Ten- nessee troops to march home. Two hours after the order was issued, they were in motion. Arriving at Camp Blount, near Fayetteville, Jackson discharged them, after gratifying them with a feeling address. He then repaired to the Hermitage, from which he had been absent eighteen months, in a hostile land, and, a portion of the time, alinost alone.
Pinckney remained at Fort Jackson, with the troops from the two Carolinas and those from East Tennessee. Four hundred of General Dougherty's brigade of East Tennesseans were stationed at Fort Williams. General Johnson, at the head of five hundred men, had been despatched to the Ca- hawba river, who proceeded to its source, and joined Jackson before he reached the Tennessee river. Several detachments were sent forth from Fort Jackson, who scoured the country in all directions, for the fugitive Red Sticks. Colonel Haw- kins performed several trips to the Chattahoochie, and exerted himself to induce the wretched Creeks to surrender, and ter- minate a war which had proved so disastrous to them. But the British, at Pensacola, were endeavoring to rally them. Two vessels had anchored at the mouth of the Apalachicola, and had landed five thousand stand of arms and abundant ammunition, and three hundred British troops had commenced
1814 April 20
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July 1
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CHAPTER a fortification, under the command of a colonel. Runners XXXVIII. were sent to all parts of the nation, inviting the Indians to rush to that point for provisions and military supplies, and thither many of the Red Sticks repaired. The condition of the friendly Indians, too, was, at this time, most wretched. and upwards of five thousand of them were fed at the diffe- rent American posts .*
* Indian Affairs, vol. 1, pp. 857-860.
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CHAPTER XXXIX.
TREATY OF FORT JACKSON-ATTACK UPON MO- BILE POINT-MARCH UPON PENSACOLA.
ON the resignations of Generals Hamilton and Harrison, CHAPTER Jackson had been promoted to the rank of major-general. XXXIX. Leaving the Hermitage once more, he proceeded, with a small escort, to Fort Jackson, where he safely arrived, and 1814 July 10 assumed the command of the Southern army. He had been empowered by the Federal Government to conclude a treaty of peace with the Creek nation. After much opposition from the Big Warrior, and other Chiefs, to the surrender of the territory which was demanded, a treaty was signed. It was August 9 stipulated that a line should commence upon the Coosa, at the southern boundary of the Cherokee nation, and continue down that river to Wetumpka, and thence eastwardly to Georgia. East and north of that line, containing upwards of one hundred and fifty thousand square miles, remained to the Indians. West and south of it, was secured to the Uni- ted States. This territory was obtained as an indemnification for the expenses incurred by the government in prosecuting the war. Before the treaty was agned, the Big Warrior VOL. II. 19
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addressed Jackson and Hawkins, in a long speech, and ten- dered them, in the name of the friendly Chiefs, a reservation of three miles square of land, each, "to be chosen where you like, from that we are going to give, as near as you can to us, for we want you to live by us, and give us your advice." To George Mayfield and Alexander Curnells, their intetpre- ters, they also gave one mile square, each. Jackson accepted of this national mark of regard for him, if approved by the President, who, he said, "would, doubtless, appropriate its value in aid of your naked women and children." Colonel _ Hawkins said :
"I have been long among you-I have grown grey in your service-I shall not much longer be your agent. You all know that when applied to by red, black or white, I looked not to color, but to the justice of the claim. I shall continue to be friendly and useful to you, while I live, and my chil- dren, born among you, will be so brought up as to do the same. I accept your present, and esteem it the more highly by the manner of bestowing it, as it resulted from the impulse of your own minds, and not from any intimation from the general or me.""
Among other gallant officers present upon this occasion. was Colonel Arthur P. Hayne, who, after the peace, resided in Autanga county, Alabama, and was there much esteemed and respected. He was born in Charleston, South-Carolina, on the 12th March, 1790, and descended from a family distin-
* Indian Affairs, vol. 1.
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guished in the Revolution. Although not of age when the CHAPTER attack was made by the British upon the Chesapeake, he en- XXXIX. tered Colonel Wade Hampton's regiment of light dragoons, as a first lieutenant. In 1809, he was stationed upon the Missis- sippi with Scott and Gaines, who then held the same rank with himself. When war was declared against England, Hayne was ordered to the North, and he presently participated in the battle of Sackett's Harbor, in which he displayed so much gallantry and judgment, that he was immediately pro- moted to the command of a squadron of cavalry, with the rank of major. IIe was with Wilkinson in 1813, on the St. Lawrence. General Hampton, who wanted Hayne to join his wing of the army, in one of his letters to the Secretary of War, employed this complimentary language :- "Send me Hayne ; I want his constitutional ardor-it will add much to the strength of my army." After Major Hayne had been in several severe engagements, at the North, he received the im- portant appointment of inspector-general; and being ordered to join Jackson, in the Creek nation, we find him at the marquee of that officer when the treaty was made. Colonel Hayne, during the battle of New-Orleans, was constantly in his saddle, executing the many hazardous trusts confided to him by Jackson, with promptness, bravery and ability. In later years, the duties of important offices abroad, emanating from the Federal Government, have been confided to him. He is now a resident of Charleston.
In the meantime, General Jackson had been vigilant as to the movements of the British and their Indian allies upon the
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coast of the Floridas. He constantly despatched spies to Pensacola and other points, who returned and confirmed the previous reports which had reached him. Provoked at the treachery of the Spaniards, he addressed a letter to Manri- quez, Governor of Pensacola, remonstrating against the atti- tude of the Spanish authorities towards the United States, a power with which Spain professed to be at peace. Manri- quez, in his reply, denied that the fugitive Red Sticks were then with him, and that if they were, he could not surrender them, upon the ground of hospitality, nor refuse them assist- ance at a moment when their distresses were so great ; and, in admitting that the English had and still used the posts of Florida, he justified it on account of a treaty which existed between Great Britain and the Indians, previous to the con- quest of the Floridas by Spain. Jackson replied in strong terms to this letter, despatching Captain Gordon with the doc- ument, who was instructed to gain additional information of the designs of the enemy.
1814 August 11
Having arranged all things at the fort which bore his name, Jackson, in company with Colonel Hayne, departed down the Alabama, in boats, with a portion of his troops, and ar- riving at Mobile, made that place his head-quarters. He had been admonished that it was the design of the English soon to attack the city. He addressed a letter to Colonel Butler, which reached that officer at Nashville, on the 9th of Sep- tember, urging him to hasten the advance of the volunteers to protect that point and New-Orleans. Soon, Gen. Coffee was on the march from Tennessee, at the head of two thou-
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sand men, while Colonel Butler hastened to press forward the CHAPTER militia, under Colonel Lowery, which had been, heretofore, re- XXXIX. quired for garrisoning posts in the Indian country. Captains Baker and Butler also commenced the march from Nash- ville to Mobile, with the regular forces lately enlisted.
Colonel Nichol, an Irishman by birth, and now a British offi- cer, arrived at Pensacola with a small squadron of his majes- ty's ships, immediately manned the Forts Barancas and St. Michael, and hoisted the British flag upon their ramparts. Making the house of Governor Manriquez his head-quarters, Nichol sought to draw around his standard the malcontents and traitors of the country, by issuing a proclamation, stating that he had come with a force sufficient to relieve them from the chains which the Federal Government was endeavoring to rivet upon them. This presumptuous appeal was even ex- tended to the patriotie people of Kentucky and Louisiana. At the same time, in conjunction with Captain Woodbine, he employed himself in collecting and clothing, in British uni- form, the Red Sticks and Seminoles, whom he publicly drilled in the streets of Pensacola. To these, and all the Red Sticks, he promised a bounty of ten dollars for every scalp, whether of men, women or children.
Fort Bowyer, at Mobile Point, had been dismantled by the or- ders of General Flournoy, who deemed it incapable of defence. Jackson, soon after arriving at Mobile, sailed to the Point, and after an inspection of this defence, resolved to garrison it. Sending from Mobile the artillery which was taken from it, and one hundred and thirty mem, including officers, Major
1814 August 29
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CHAPTER Lawrence. the commander, immediately prepared to resist XXXIX. the attacks of the enemy, should he make his appearance. 1814 September 12 At length a sentinel, stationed towards Lake Borgne, discov- ered six hundred Indians and one hundred and thirty British marines. In the evening, two English sloops of war, with two brigs, came to anchor on the coast, within six miles east from the fort. The next day, at twelve o'clock, the land force September 13 approaching within seven hundred yards, threw three shells and one cannon ball. The shells exploded in the air, but the ball carried away a timber of the rampart. The Americans. returning a few shots, forced the assailants to retire behind the sand hills, a mile and a half distant, where they began to raise intrenchments, but a few more discharges from the fort dispersed them. Some small boats were sent out from the ships to sound the channel, but the discharge from the bat- September 15 tery drove them off. The ships now stood out to sea, but about two o'clock they bore down upon the fort in order of battle, the Hermes, on board of which was Commodore Percy, being in the advance. The Americans opened a fire upon her at four o'clock, but she came to anchor within mus- ket shot-the other three taking their position behind her. The engagement became general, the ships discharging whole broadsides, while the American circular battery was destruc- tive in its operations. Captain Woodbine opened a battery with a land force, from behind a sand bluff on the south-eastern shore, seven hundred yards distant, but the south battery of the Americans soon dispersed them. A furious cannonade of an hour filled the air with so much smoke, that Major Lawrence
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ceased for a moment to ascertain the intentions of the Eng- lish, seeing that the halyard of the commodore's flag had been carried away. The commodore raised a new flag, and, at that moment, all the guns of the American battery were discharged, sensibly shaking the earth around. After a short silence, the English renewed the action. The cable of the Hermes was cut, and she was carried away by the current, keeping her head to the fort, which enabled Lawrence, for twenty minutes, to rake her. fore and at.
In the hottest of the engagement, Lawrence seized a sponge staff, and hoisted upon the edge of the parapet another flag, to supply the place of the one which had been carried away. The land force, under Woodbine, seeing the fall of the flag, rushed September 15 1814 in triumph towards the fort : but were discharges of grape again dispersed them. The Hermes duded a half mile, ran aground and was set on fire. The tray was so disabled that she could scarce retire, to join the other two vessels, which now all put to sea. At eleven Schek at night, the explosion of the magazine blew up the Hex *
The attack upon Mobile Poles was & confirmation of the previous conjecture of Generd Jackson, and he determined to throw a force into Pensaco's suscivor to expel the enemy, who had sailed to that place acer bes defeat at Fort Bow- yer. He despatched Colour! Haise => Fort Montgomery,
* British loss-162 killed, "0 womanet &mercan loss-4 killed, 4 wounded. Latour's War in W.x Furun : na Louisiana, pp. 32-42. Russell's History of the War. > ="4. \\ .. 1ms" Florida, p. 200. Eaton's Life of Jackson, pp. 236-S3 .. .
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which was then in command of Colonel Thomas H. Benton, under whose superintendence it was erected, for the purpose of organizing the troops in that quarter. Colonel Hayne discharged this duty with his usual promptness and decision. About this time, General Coffee had encamped on the western side of the Tombigby, opposite the Cut-Off, with two thous- 1814 October 25 and eight hundred men. Jackson reached his camp, and strained every nerve to afford supplies for the army, effecting loans upon his own credit and responsibility. The army crossed the Tombigby, and proceeded across Nannahubba Island, to Mims's Ferry. One thousand volunteers, hitherto mounted, left their horses in the care of keepers, to feed on the cane, and now cheerfully marched on foot. Reaching Fort Montgomery, the army reposed a short time, and again November 4 took up the line of march for Pensacola. It consisted of the third, thirty-ninth and forty-fourth regiments of infantry, the militia of Tennessee, a battalion of volunteer dragoons of the November 6 Mississippi Territory, and some friendly Indians. Encamping within one mile and a half of Pensacola, Jackson sent a de- tachment of cavalry, under Lieutenant Murray, of the Mis- sissippi dragoons, to reconnoitre. They captured a Spanish picket-guard, but could perceive nothing. Lieutenant Murray was, unfortunately, killed by an Indian, while in a path, some- what separated from his command.
Major Pierre was despatched from head-quarters to the governor, with a summons, preparatory to an attack upon the town, but was fired upon when he had arrived within three hundred yards of Fort St. Michael, although he held a white
MIPI
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flag in his hand. Impelled by a feeling of humanity towards CHAPTER the oppressed Spaniards, whose fortifications were held by the XXXIX. English, Jackson sent a letter, by a prisoner, to the governor, demanding an explanation for the insult offered to his flag. Through an officer, his excellency disclaimed any participation in the transaction, and gave a pledge that American officers should, in future, be treated with respect. Major Pierre being again sent, at midnight, was unsuccessful in his negotiation with the governor to allow Jackson to occupy Forts Barancas and St. Michael, until Spanish troops should arrive in suffi- cient numbers to protect the Floridas from British outrages upon the neutrality of the nation. Major Pierre then left the governor, with the assurance that recourse would be had to arms.
Zachariah McGirth, who has been mentioned in reference to Fort Mims and the battle of Calebee, was sent by Jackson into Pensacola, to ascertain the number and position of the enemy. About midnight he returned, and reported that a body of Indians, British and Spaniards, whom he estimated at over five thousand, occupied the heart of the town, and that some distance in advance of them, in the direction of the American camp, another party had erected a battery, across a street. Knowing that this battery commanded the only avenue by which he could reach the enemy, without passing under the guns of Fort St. Michael, Jackson determined to remove it. He sent for Captain Laval, of the third regiment, and informed him that he had selected him as the man to " lead the forlorn hope." He ordered him to pick one hun-
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1814 November 6
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1814 November 7
dred and twenty men, for the purpose of storming the bat- tery. Laval commanded a company composing that number, and, although he had the option of selecting men from other companies, he first appealed to his own men, and stated to them the dangerous duty which had been assigned to him. They all responded, by saying, " Wherever you go, Captain Laval, we follow." About eight o'clock in the morning Laval began his march. Captain Denkins, who was ordered to sup- port him with two pieces of artillery, if it should become necessary, marched some distance in his rear. Colonel Hayne, so anxious for the success of Laval, who was his warm friend, rode in the rear of the company. When Laval came near the battery, Denkins and his artillery were far behind, in con- sequence of the rapid march of the former, and the heavy sand, which retarded the pieces of the latter. The enemy opened their cannon upon the "forlorn hope," while nume- rous assailants annoyed them, by cross fires, from the houses and gardens. The brave Laval, at the head of his company, however, marched steadily on. Colonel Hayne now dis- mounted, and rushed upon the enemy on foot. Finally, Laval reached the battery, and, at that moment, a large grape shot tore his leg to pieces, and he instantly fell to the ground. The troops rushed over the battery, and secured the pieces of the enemy, all of whom presently fled, except the command- ing officer, who bravely maintained his position, and was taken a prisoner.
Captain William Laval, now Major Laval, was born on the 27th May, 1708, in Charleston, South-Carolina. His father
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who had been an officer in France, came to America with the French army, in the legion of the Duke of Lauzun, to assist us in the struggle for our liberties. He was a cavalry officer, and participated in several of the American battles in Virginia, Delaware and New-Jersey, and, after peace was declared, was, for many years, a Sheriff of the Charleston district. The son entered the American army in October, 1808, as an ensign. He was stationed at Forts Moultrie and Johnson, and at a recruiting encampment upon the Catawba. In 1812, he was appointed a first lieutenant. In January, 1813, he advanced, with his company, commanded by Cap- tain Moore, from Fort Hawkins, across the Creek nation, to Mobile, and fro" thence to New-Orleans. Very soon after, when the Creek war broke out, he was promoted to the post of captain, and marched with the third regiment, to which his - company belonged, to Fort Claiborne, and from thence to the Holy Ground, in the battle of which he participated. From the wound which he received upon the occasion of the siege of Pen- sacola, he was a severe sufferer for two years ; but, although it has rendered him a cripple for life, he is now in fine health, and moves upon his crutches with ease and animation. Since the war, he has held various respectable offices, conferred by a people grateful for his military services. He has been a Secreta- ry of State of South-Carolina, its Comptroller-General, a Sheriff of Charleston, an officer in the custom-house, Assistant Treasur- er of the United States under Mr. Polk, and is now the Treasur- er of the State of South-Carolina. Major Laval is near six feet
CHAPTER XXXIX.
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high, very erect in person, and presents a very striking and military appearance.
1814 November 7
In the capture of the Spanish battery, seven Americans were killed and eleven wounded, among whom, besides Laval, was Lieutenant Flournoy. Four Spaniards were killed, six wounded, and several captured.
After the storming of this battery, three thousand Ameri- cans, in three columns, advanced, and proceeded along the beach, eastward of the town, to avoid the fire from St. Mi- chael. A flag of truce from Governor Manriquez produced a cessation of hostilities. The former terms of Jackson were now agreed to; but the commandant of St. Michael refused to obey the governor. Jackson now, leaving Major Pierre, with eight hundred men, with orders to possess the fort before night, retired to his camp with the remainder of his troops, the British attempting to intercept his march by the fire of long guns, from the shipping.
It was important that the Americans should possess the fort before morning, for the British vessels, provided with spring cables, were, at any moment, ready to fire the town, or effect a landing. Indeed, by the aid of their boats, they had continued to fire upon our troops, as they passed along the principal streets ; but Lieutenant Call, with a single piece of artillery, suddenly appeared upon the beach, and dispersed them. Five hundred men were now placed upon the beach, to oppose the landing of the British, while Captain Denkins, with two companies and three pieces of cannon, occupied
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