The Battle at Horseshoe Bend
Page 22
While I do not always paint Jackson in the best light, especially in his dealings with Indian allies, I must say I find him to be a brave and magnificent leader. I know of no other American leader who was faced with such great odds and still obtained the success that Jackson achieved. A man who was plagued with wounds from dueling, near starvation for lack of supplies, faced with expiring enlistment contracts and mutiny, jealousy from regular army officers, he beat all that opposed him and won at all levels. He beat the Red Sticks and the British. He also beat the Spanish and the Seminoles in Florida. Finally, he beat his political opponents and became President of the United States.
John Coffee was Jackson’s lifelong friend and commanding officer of the cavalry. He started out with the rank of colonel but was promoted to general. Captain John Reid was Jackson’s aide and friend.
In regards to other main characters in this book, I encourage the readers to read about these brave men. Sam Houston became a legend in Texas and was the Republic of Texas’ first president, after winning their independence from Mexico.
Davy Crockett will be forever remembered for dying at the Alamo. However, while some put him at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, I could find no record of it. He was a part of Jackson’s forces and served as a scout with Russell’s scouts before and after the battle however. Crockett was a known storyteller and served as a representative of Tennessee in the Congress. Jackson’s army was made up for the most part of militia. Volunteers from Tennessee, Georgia, and a few from the Carolinas who were brave, but poorly trained men. Most of whom were also poorly disciplined. Davy Crockett was one of the Tennessee volunteers.
It was not until the arrival of the 39th United States Infantry, in February 1814, that Jackson had an army that he could truly go to battle with. After a riff with Jackson, the 39th’s commanding officer assigned himself other duties.
Major Montgomery of the 39th was killed, shot in the head as he climbed over the barricade at Horseshoe Bend. The city of Montgomery, Alabama was named in his honor.
William Weatherford, aka. Red Eagle, aka. Lumhe-Chati, lived for years after the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. As he promised Jackson, he gave up his war ax. He did not flee Alabama and join the Seminoles in Florida as many other Red Sticks did. This group included Menawa, who survived his wounds at Horseshoe Bend but died fighting with the Seminoles against Jackson some years later.
The Creek Nation was considered one of the civilized tribes. They lived much as whites, married white women, and a good many characters mentioned in this book were of mixed heritage. A number of them were Scots. These included William Weatherford, whose family, especially his grandfather, was very well-to-do. Menawa was part Scottish, and Peter McQueen was also of mixed blood. The Creeks planted fields, raised livestock, and owned slaves. Until pushed by the white man’s greed and westward expansion, as well as being supplied by Spanish and British agents with weapons and talk of war, they would have lived in peace indefinitely.
While the burning of Washington only takes up a small part of this book, it was an important part of the War of 1812. No other enemy has since caused so much destruction to our capital. We have, however, been attacked; I’m sure no one has forgotten 9/11. Our Pentagon was attacked and received heavy damage. An attack planned for the Capital did not take place. Therefore, the British burning of Washington, D.C. was the only time in our history in which the nation’s capital was laid to ruin.
John Armstrong did resign the office of Secretary of War on the fourth of September, 1814, shortly after the city was burned. He was replaced by James Monroe, who became the fifth president in 1816. He was the last of our founding fathers to hold the office.
Finally, I’d like to say I probably spent more hours in researching this book than any I have ever written. I went through thousands of sheets of printer paper and several ink cartridges, and I read numerous books written on the war. These were listed in Remember the Raisin. Therefore, to give you but a few resources in which to read further is not reasonable. I will say that the great-grandson of William Weatherford has a good website. He was kind enough to respond to my emails. Don C. East also has a few articles on the web that gives a good overview and I recommend it. Tennessee history also provides a good outline of the events that lead up to the Battle of Horseshoe Bend and a good synopsis of the battle itself. Remember that Crockett, Houston, and Jackson were all from Tennessee.
About the Author
Michael Aye is a retired Naval Medical Officer. He has long been a student of early American and British Naval history. Since reading his first Kent novel, Mike has spent many hours reading the great authors of sea fiction, often while being “haze gray and underway” himself. This is his second novel on the War of 1812.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Chris and Jay, the good folks at Bitingduck, for continuing to work with me and bring my stories to print. You are a really great team, and I feel lucky to have you in my corner.
Greg Clark, your smile and energy is contagious. Thanks for lunch.
George, Jim, Alaric, and Bill, where would I be if it wasn’t for old salts such as yourself willing to advise and answer my questions.