
William Weatherford (“Red Eagle”)
Arguably the best known Red Stick war leader in the Creek War of 1813-14 and also of mixed parentage, Weatherford was born into the Wind Clan near Coosada, an Alabama town of the Creek confederacy. He led the attack against the garrison established at the home of Samuel Mims, referred to as Fort Mims but is said to have left before the massacre of women and children. Weatherford continued to participate in many battles against the armies of Andrew Jackson along the Alabama, Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers. During a famous battle at “Holy Ground”, Weatherford escaped certain death or capture by leaping on horseback from a bluff into the Alabama River amid a hail of gunfire. Later, after a series of defeats, he strode into General Andrew Jackson’s camp and surrendered. Jackson, impressed with the warrior’s audacity and bravery, allowed him leave when he promised to help convince other Red Sticks to stop fighting.
Arguably the best known Red Stick war leader in the Creek War of 1813-14 and also of mixed parentage, Weatherford was born into the Wind Clan near Coosada, an Alabama town of the Creek confederacy. He led the attack against the garrison established at the home of Samuel Mims, referred to as Fort Mims but is said to have left before the massacre of women and children. Weatherford continued to participate in many battles against the armies of Andrew Jackson along the Alabama, Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers. During a famous battle at “Holy Ground”, Weatherford escaped certain death or capture by leaping on horseback from a bluff into the Alabama River amid a hail of gunfire. Later, after a series of defeats, he strode into General Andrew Jackson’s camp and surrendered. Jackson, impressed with the warrior’s audacity and bravery, allowed him leave when he promised to help convince other Red Sticks to stop fighting.