Creek War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Creek War
Part of War of 1812 and American Indian Wars
William Weatherford surrendering to Andrew Jackson
Date 22 July 1813 – 9 August 1814 (1 year, 2 weeks and 4 days) Location Southern United States Result U.S. and allied victory
Belligerents
United States Lower Creeks Cherokee Choctaw	Red Stick Creeks (supported by):  United Kingdom Spain Tecumseh's Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Andrew Jackson John Coffee William McIntosh Pushmataha Mushulatubbee	William Weatherford Menawa Peter McQueen
Strength
7,000	4,000
Casualties and losses
~584 killed, unknown wounded	~1,597 killed, unknown wounded

The Creek War (1813–1814) was a big conflict in the Southern United States. It was also called the Red Stick War or the Creek Civil War. This war involved different groups of Creek people, European countries, and the United States. Most of the fighting happened in what is now Alabama.

The main battles were between American state militias and a group of Creek known as the "Red Sticks". The U.S. government teamed up with the Choctaw and Cherokee Nations. These nations were traditional rivals of the Creek. They also allied with other Creek people to stop the Red Stick rebellion.

Historians say the Creek War was like a civil war within the Creek nation. It showed how the Creek and Seminole people were becoming separate. This war was also part of the longer American Indian Wars. It is often seen as part of the War of 1812. This is because it was influenced by Tecumseh's War and involved many of the same people. The Red Sticks also sought help from the British.

The Creek War started as a fight among the Creek Confederation. But soon, local American militias got involved. British traders in Florida and the Spanish government gave weapons and supplies to the Red Sticks. They all wanted to stop the United States from expanding into their lands. The war mostly ended with the Treaty of Fort Jackson in August 1814. General Andrew Jackson forced the Creek to give up over 21 million acres of land. This land is now in southern Georgia and central Alabama.

Why the Creek War Happened

The Creek people became more militant because the United States was taking more of their land. Also, American culture was spreading into their traditional areas. The war was also called a "civil war" because of disagreements within the Creek tribe. These disagreements were about culture, politics, money, and where people lived.

At the time, the Upper Creeks controlled rivers like the Coosa and Tallapoosa. These rivers led to Mobile. The Lower Creeks controlled the Chattahoochee River. The Lower Creeks traded with the United States. They had also adopted more American cultural practices than the Upper Creeks.

Land Disputes and Treaties

European goods came into Creek country mostly from East and West Florida. These areas were controlled by Spain and Britain. Cities like Pensacola and Mobile were in Spanish Florida. They controlled the rivers flowing from the Mississippi Territory.

Conflicts between France, Spain, Britain, and the U.S. along the Gulf Coast changed things. These conflicts, like the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812, made Creek alliances weaker.

The Creek people had signed treaties like the Treaty of New York (1790) and the Treaty of Fort Wilkinson (1802). In these treaties, they gave up parts of their land in Georgia. In 1804, the U.S. claimed Mobile. A treaty in 1805 also allowed the Federal Road to be built. This road connected Washington, D.C. to New Orleans and went through Creek lands.

The U.S. wanted to keep the "Indian Line" from the Royal Proclamation of 1763. This line was a boundary to stop settlers from moving onto Indian lands. It also helped the U.S. control trade with Native Americans. But settlers often ignored these treaties. This expansion into Creek territory, including parts of Spanish Florida, made Britain and Spain strengthen their ties with the Creek.

In 1810, the U.S. sent troops to take Mobile. Mobile was then occupied by both American and Spanish soldiers. In February 1813, Secretary of War John Armstrong ordered General James Wilkinson to force Spain to give up Mobile.

Spain decided to support the Creek in fighting the United States. But Spain was weak in Florida and lacked supplies.

Cultural Changes and New Beliefs

The Creek people had been divided for a long time. But this division became very clear after 1811. The Red Stick movement was a reaction to problems in Creek society. These problems came from adopting Western trade goods and culture. For centuries, the Creek had traded successfully with Europeans. But the price of deerskin dropped a lot from 1783 to 1793. This made it hard for people to pay their debts. At the same time, American goods became more necessary.

The Red Sticks especially did not like the "civilization programs" run by the U.S. Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins. Hawkins had stronger ties with the Lower Creek towns. Some "progressive" Creek started using American farming methods as their hunting game disappeared. More white settlers also joined Creek towns and families.

Leaders of the Lower Creek towns included Bird Tail King and Little Prince. Many important Creek chiefs were "mixed-bloods," like William McIntosh.

Before the Creek War, many U.S. politicians thought that Native Americans should either move or become like Westerners. But the Creeks mixed their own culture with new trade goods and ideas. They did not plan to leave their land.

The Shawnee leader Tecumseh visited the area. He wanted to unite tribes to push Americans out of Native American lands. In 1811, Tecumseh spoke to 5,000 Creeks at Tukabatchee. He urged them to resist American expansion. His message was popular among the Creek and Seminole, especially among traditional elders and young men.

More people joined Tecumseh's cause after the Great Comet of 1811 and the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811–12. People saw these events as proof of Tecumseh's special powers. The war party gathered around prophets who had traveled with Tecumseh. These prophets influenced new Creek religious leaders. Peter McQueen, Josiah Francis (Hillis Hadjo), and High-head Jim were some of these spiritual leaders.

The militant group of Creek opposed the official policies of the Creek Confederacy Council. They especially disagreed about relations with the United States. This rising war party became known as "Red Sticks". In Creek culture, red sticks or clubs meant war, while white sticks meant peace.

Major Events of the War

Creek people who did not support the war became targets for the prophets. Their property was attacked, and plantations were burned. The first big attack of this civil war was by the Red Sticks on the Upper Creek town of Tukabatchee on July 22, 1813.

In Georgia, a group of "friendly" Creek led by William McIntosh attacked 150 Uchee warriors. These warriors were going to meet the Red Sticks. After this, McIntosh's group burned several Red Stick towns.

At first, Indian agent Benjamin Hawkins did not think the Creek unrest was serious. But in February 1813, a small group of Red Sticks killed two settler families near the Ohio River. Hawkins demanded that the Creek hand over these warriors.

The first fights between the Red Sticks and U.S. forces happened on July 27, 1813. A group of militia stopped some Red Sticks returning from Spanish Florida. The Red Sticks had gotten weapons from the Spanish governor in Pensacola. The Red Sticks escaped, and the soldiers took what they found. Seeing this, the Creek regrouped and defeated the Americans. This fight, known as the Battle of Burnt Corn, brought American forces into the Creek Civil War.

Fort Mims Massacre

Chiefs Peter McQueen and William Weatherford led an attack on Fort Mims, north of Mobile, on August 30, 1813. The Red Sticks wanted to attack mixed-blood Creek people who had taken shelter at the fort. The warriors attacked the fort and killed 400 to 500 people. This included women, children, and many white settlers. This event became known as the Fort Mims Massacre. It became a reason for American militias to fight back.

The Red Sticks then attacked other forts, like Fort Sinquefield. Settlers across the Southwestern frontier became very scared. They demanded that the U.S. government step in. Federal forces were busy fighting the British and other Native American tribes in the Northwest. So, affected states called up their own militias to deal with the threat.

After the Battle of Burnt Corn, U.S. Secretary of War John Armstrong told General Thomas Pinckney that the U.S. was ready to act against the Creek.

American Military Campaigns

Brigadier General Ferdinand Claiborne of the Mississippi Territory militia wanted to attack first. But Major General Thomas Flourney wanted to use a defensive strategy. Settlers in the region found safety in blockhouses.

The Tennessee government allowed Governor Willie Blount to raise 5,000 militia. Blount called out 2,500 men from West Tennessee under Colonel Andrew Jackson. He also called 2,500 men from East Tennessee under Major General John Alexander Cocke.

The U.S. Indian agent Hawkins organized the friendly Lower Creek under Major William McIntosh. They helped the Georgia and Tennessee militias fight the Red Sticks. The Cherokee Nation also voted to join the Americans. Under Chief Major Ridge, 200 Cherokee fought with the Tennessee Militia.

The Red Stick force had about 4,000 warriors. They had about 1,000 muskets. They had not been in a large-scale war before. Many Creek tried to stay friendly with the U.S. But after Fort Mims, few Americans in the region could tell the difference between friendly and unfriendly Creeks.

The Holy Ground (Econochaca) was the center of the Red Stick group. It was far from any American supply points.

Georgia's Role

By August, Georgia's volunteer army and state militia were ready for war. News of Fort Mims reached Georgia on September 16. This was seen as a reason to start a military attack. General John Floyd led the main Georgia army of 2,362 men. The Georgia Army was helped by Cherokee and friendly Creek allies. Floyd's goal was to meet the Army of Tennessee.

Floyd trained his men at Fort Benjamin Hawkins. On November 24, Floyd crossed the Chattahoochee. He built Fort Mitchell, where 300-400 Creek from Coweta joined him. With these allies and 950 of his men, Floyd moved towards the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers. His first target was Autossee, a Red Stick stronghold. On November 29, he attacked Autossee. Floyd's forces had 11 killed and 54 wounded. Floyd estimated 200 Creek were killed. After destroying the town, Floyd went back to Fort Mitchell.

Floyd's troops advanced again with 1,100 militia and 400 friendly Creek. They built Fort Bainbridge and Fort Hull. On January 26, 1813, they camped near Autossee. Red Stick chiefs William Weatherford, Paddy Walsh (creek indian), and High-head Jim gathered at least 1,300 warriors. This was the largest force the Creek raised in the war. On January 29, the Red Sticks attacked the American camp. Floyd's army pushed them back. Floyd's forces had 17 to 22 killed and 132 to 147 wounded. Floyd estimated 37 Red Stick casualties. Georgia retreated to Fort Mitchell. The Battle of Calebee Creek was Georgia's last attack in the war.

Mississippi's Role

In October, General Thomas Flourney gathered about 1,000 troops at Fort Stoddert. General Claiborne was ordered to destroy Creek property. He caused some damage but had no major fights. Captain Samuel Dale had a famous hand-to-hand fight with four warriors in a canoe. This was called the Canoe Fight.

Claiborne built Fort Claiborne. On December 23, he met a small force at the Holy Ground and burned 260 houses. William Weatherford almost got captured. Claiborne's forces had 1 killed and 6 wounded. 30 Creek soldiers were killed. Due to lack of supplies, Claiborne went back to Fort St. Stephens.

Tennessee's Campaign

Jackson's main goal was to defeat the Creek, but he also wanted to move on Pensacola. He planned to go south, build roads, destroy Upper Creek towns, and then attack Spanish-held Pensacola from Mobile. He faced problems with supplies and soldiers leaving early.

On October 10, Jackson set out with 2,500 troops. He built Fort Strother as a supply base. On November 3, his cavalry officer, Brigadier General John Coffee, defeated Red Sticks at the Battle of Tallushatchee. It was a very tough battle. After this, Jackson helped 150 allied Creeks who were surrounded by 700 Red Stick warriors. Jackson marched his troops to help them and won another big victory at the Battle of Talladega on November 9.

U.S. troops storm the breastworks at Horseshoe Bend

After Talladega, Jackson had problems with supplies and soldiers leaving early. General John Alexander Cocke, with the East Tennessee Militia, joined the field on October 12. He angered Jackson by attacking a friendly village by mistake. When he finally reached Fort Strother on December 12, his men only had 10 days left on their enlistments. Jackson had to let them go. By the end of 1813, Jackson had very few soldiers left.

Jackson decided to make the most of his new, inexperienced troops. He left Fort Strother on January 17. He marched towards Emuckfaw to work with the Georgia Militia. This was a risky choice. After two battles at Emuckfaw and Enotachopo Creek that didn't have a clear winner, Jackson went back to Fort Strother. He didn't attack again until mid-March.

The arrival of the 39th United States Infantry on February 6, 1814, gave Jackson a strong core for his army. His force grew to about 5,000 men. Jackson spent the next month building roads and training his army. In mid-March, he moved against the Red Stick force at Tohopeka (Horseshoe Bend) on the Tallapoosa. He built a new outpost at Fort Williams. Then he moved on Tohopeka with about 3,000 fighting men. He also had 600 Cherokee and Lower Creek allies. The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, on March 27, was a huge victory for Jackson. It effectively ended the Red Stick resistance.

What Happened After the War

Territory ceded by the Creek Confederation in 1814 under the Treaty of Fort Jackson

On August 9, 1814, Andrew Jackson forced Creek leaders to sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson. Even though some Creek chiefs had fought alongside Jackson, the Creek Nation had to give up over 21 million acres of land. This was about half of present-day Alabama and part of southern Georgia. Jackson took this land for the security of the United States. He also forced the Creek to give up land that the Cherokee Nation, who were U.S. allies, claimed as hunting grounds.

With the Red Sticks defeated, Jackson focused on the Gulf Coast in the War of 1812. He invaded Spanish Florida and pushed a British force out of Pensacola. He then defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815. In 1818, Jackson invaded Florida again. Some Red Stick leaders had fled there. This event is known as the First Seminole War.

Because of these victories, Jackson became a national hero. He was later elected the seventh President of the United States in 1829. As president, Andrew Jackson supported the Indian Removal Act. This law, passed in 1830, allowed the U.S. government to negotiate treaties to exchange land. It also allowed the forced relocation of Southeastern tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River. This forced removal is now known as the Trail of Tears.

See also

In Spanish: Guerra Creek (1813-1814) para niños