The Middle Woodland and Mississippian Ancestors
The Creek Indians along with other southeastern tribes such as the Choctaw and Cherokee, are descended from the peoples of the Mississippian period (ca. AD 800-1500). They were known for giant earthen mounds and complex, hierarchical social structure. The arrival of Europeans in the sixteenth century brought epidemics and widespread warfare and violence to the Southeast, resulting in the scattering of the region's indigenous peoples. Beginning in the seventeenth century, these diverse populations joined together and established settlements along the central Chattahoochee River, the lower Tallapoosa River, and the central Coosa River in what is now east-central Alabama. The Creek Indians were one of the Five Civilized Tribes along with the Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Seminole.
The Creek Indians along with other southeastern tribes such as the Choctaw and Cherokee, are descended from the peoples of the Mississippian period (ca. AD 800-1500). They were known for giant earthen mounds and complex, hierarchical social structure. The arrival of Europeans in the sixteenth century brought epidemics and widespread warfare and violence to the Southeast, resulting in the scattering of the region's indigenous peoples. Beginning in the seventeenth century, these diverse populations joined together and established settlements along the central Chattahoochee River, the lower Tallapoosa River, and the central Coosa River in what is now east-central Alabama. The Creek Indians were one of the Five Civilized Tribes along with the Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Seminole.
The Creek War (Red Stick Revolt): Fort Mims
On August 30, 1813, a force of about 700 Creek Indians (Red Stick faction) led by William Weatherford destroyed Fort Mims in present-day Baldwin County. This resulted in the killing of 250 defenders and taking of at least 100 captives in the first major battle of the Creek War of 1813-14. Approximately 400 American settlers, U.S.-allied Creeks, and enslaved African Americans had taken refuge inside a stockade hastily erected on the plantation of Samuel Mims, a wealthy resident of the Tensaw District of the Mississippi Territory. The Creek attack on Fort Mims, and particularly the killing of civilian men, women, and children at the end of the battle, outraged the U.S. public and prompted military action against the Creek Nation.
On August 30, 1813, a force of about 700 Creek Indians (Red Stick faction) led by William Weatherford destroyed Fort Mims in present-day Baldwin County. This resulted in the killing of 250 defenders and taking of at least 100 captives in the first major battle of the Creek War of 1813-14. Approximately 400 American settlers, U.S.-allied Creeks, and enslaved African Americans had taken refuge inside a stockade hastily erected on the plantation of Samuel Mims, a wealthy resident of the Tensaw District of the Mississippi Territory. The Creek attack on Fort Mims, and particularly the killing of civilian men, women, and children at the end of the battle, outraged the U.S. public and prompted military action against the Creek Nation.
Another River To Cross
The Alabama Indian
The Creek War (Red Stick Revolt): Horseshoe Bend
On the morning of March 27, 1814, Gen. Andrew Jackson and an army consisting of Tennessee militia, United States soldiers, and Cherokee and Lower Creek allies attacked Chief Menawa and his Upper Creek (Red Stick) warriors fortified in the Horseshoe Bend of the Tallapoosa River. More than 800 Upper Creek warriors died at Horseshoe Bend defending their homeland. This was the final battle of the Creek War of 1813-14. In treaty signed after the battle, known as the Treaty of Fort Jackson, the Creeks ceded more than 21 million acres of land to the United States. After being shot several times, Menawa escaped capture by jumping into the Tallapoosa River.
On the morning of March 27, 1814, Gen. Andrew Jackson and an army consisting of Tennessee militia, United States soldiers, and Cherokee and Lower Creek allies attacked Chief Menawa and his Upper Creek (Red Stick) warriors fortified in the Horseshoe Bend of the Tallapoosa River. More than 800 Upper Creek warriors died at Horseshoe Bend defending their homeland. This was the final battle of the Creek War of 1813-14. In treaty signed after the battle, known as the Treaty of Fort Jackson, the Creeks ceded more than 21 million acres of land to the United States. After being shot several times, Menawa escaped capture by jumping into the Tallapoosa River.
Menawa
Menawa was born around 1765, the son of a Creek woman and an Anglo-American deerskin trader. Menawa suffered seven gunshot wounds in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. After the battle he was left among the dead and wounded and managed to escape under cover of darkness. Menawa and other surviving Okfuskee warriors sought refuge near the Falling Rock Falls of the Cahawba River in present-day Shelby County. Menawa was later part of the official Creek delegation sent to Washington, D.C., in late 1825 to protest an illegal treaty that had forfeited Creek land east of the Chattahoochee River to Georgia. Thomas McKenney, then head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, praised Menawa's character, noting his dignity and leadership during the negotiations.
Menawa was born around 1765, the son of a Creek woman and an Anglo-American deerskin trader. Menawa suffered seven gunshot wounds in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. After the battle he was left among the dead and wounded and managed to escape under cover of darkness. Menawa and other surviving Okfuskee warriors sought refuge near the Falling Rock Falls of the Cahawba River in present-day Shelby County. Menawa was later part of the official Creek delegation sent to Washington, D.C., in late 1825 to protest an illegal treaty that had forfeited Creek land east of the Chattahoochee River to Georgia. Thomas McKenney, then head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, praised Menawa's character, noting his dignity and leadership during the negotiations.