The Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Alabama

The site of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend has been preserved as a national park area and is now protected and maintained
by the U.S. Government. The battlefield is open daily and is one of the best preserved military sites in the South. Key
features of the battlefield are marked and a Visitor Center and interpretive panels make it easy to understand the events of
the engagement. The scenery is spectacular.

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is located
near the small town of Daviston, Alabama, not far
from Alexander City and roughly half-way between the
larger cities of Birmingham, Alabama, and
Columbus, Georgia.

This view looks across the Tallapoosa River to the
battlefield site from the positions taken by U.S.-allied
Cherokee warriors and Tennessee riflemen prior to
the start of the battle. An estimated 200-300 Creek
warriors were shot in the water.

The Visitor Center at Horseshoe Bend offers an
outstanding small museum, an audio visual
presentation on the battle and a good collection of
books and other material

This photograph was taken from the Overlook near
the beginning of the tour road leading through the
park. The main battlefield is directly ahead. Gun Hill,
where Jackson placed his artillery, is ahead at right.

Major Lemuel Montgomery, 39th U.S. Infantry, was
killed during the assault on the barricade. His grave
now overlooks the scene of his death from the foot of
nearby Gun Hill.

The site of the Creek barricade or fortification is
marked by a line of white posts. U.S. troops stormed
the wall by attacking from left to right across the
scene displayed in this photograph.

This photograph shows approximately the view of
Jackson's artillerymen as they opened fire on the
Creek barricade, which lay on the rise visible in the
clearing.

A cannon and monument erected by the U.S.
Congress now stand atop Gun Hill, marking the spot
where Jackson placed his artillery and attempted to
breach the Creek defenses.

Once across the river, Coffee's men set fire to the
village of Tohopeka which stood on this site. The
secondary attack created an important diversion that
allowed Jackson's main force to storm the barricade
and secure ultimate victory in the Battle of Horseshoe
Bend.

A portion of Jackson's army - comprised largely of
U.S.-allied Cherokee warriors and Tennessee
riflemen - swam the Tallapoosa River at this point
and captured a number of canoes which they used to
ferry the troops of General John Coffee across the
river for a rear attack on the Creek warriors.