Battle of Tallushatchee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Tallushatchee
Part of the Creek War
Map of Alabama during the War of 1812
Date November 3, 1813 Location Mississippi Territory, 3.2 miles (5.2 km) north of Alexandria, Alabama Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
Red Stick Creek	United States
Commanders and leaders
unknown	John Coffee
Strength
unknown	~900 cavalry
Casualties and losses
186 killed, unknown wounded	5 killed, 41 wounded

The Battle of Tallushatchee was a battle fought during the War of 1812 and Creek War on November 3, 1813, in Alabama between Native American Red Stick Creeks and United States dragoons. A cavalry force commanded by Brigadier General John Coffee was able to defeat the Creek warriors.

Background

After the massacre at Fort Mims, General Andrew Jackson assembled an army of 2,500 Tennessee militia. Jackson began marching into Mississippi Territory to combat the Red Stick Creeks. Jackson's troops began to construct Fort Strother along the Coosa River. 15 miles (24 km) away from the fort lay the Creek village of Tallasseehatchee, where a sizeable force of Red Stick warriors were. Jackson ordered his friend and most trusted subordinate, General John Coffee, to attack the village.

Battle

Coffee took about 900 dragoons and arrived on November 3 at the village, where he divided his brigade into two columns that encircled the town. Two companies ventured into the center of the circle to draw out the warriors. The trap worked: The warriors attacked and were forced to retreat back into the buildings of the village. Coffee closed the circle in on the trapped warriors. Davy Crockett, serving in the Tennessee Militia, commented, "We shot 'em down like dogs." In his memoirs he also described participating in burning down a house where 46 Creek warriors and their families had taken refuge.

Coffee's forces killed 186 warriors, as well as many women and children, while suffering only 5 dead and 41 wounded.

This battle was the first battle in General Andrew Jackson's military campaign. A week later, General Jackson inflicted another serious defeat on the Red Sticks at the Battle of Talladega.

General Coffee attacks the Indians