The Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Alabama
The Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Jackson's Report
Menawa
The war or military leader of the
Creek forces at the Battle of
Horseshoe Bend, Menawa was
wounded seven times. He
survived in a pile of the dead until
nightfall, when he crawled to the
Tallapoosa River and swam
away.
Andrew Jackson
This photograph of Andrew
Jackson was taken later in life,
but it is still possible to visualize
the younger appearance of the
general who began his march to
the White House with the
dramatic victory at Horseshoe
Bend.
The following is excerpted from Andrew Jackson's official report of the Battle
of Horseshoe Bend. This was written on the battlefield on March 28, 1814, to
Major General Thomas Pinckney, Jackson's commanding officer in the South.
"...It is difficult to conceive a situation more eligible for defence than the one they
had chosen, or one rendered more secure by the skill with which they had erected
their breast work, it was from five to eight feet high, and extended across the point
in such a direction, as that a force approaching it, would be exposed to a double
fire while they lay in perfect security behind. A cannon planted at one extremity
could have raked it to no advantage.
"Determining to exterminate them, I detached Genl. Coffee & nearly the whole of
the Indian force, early on the morning of yesterday to cross the river about two
miles below their encampment, & to surround the bend in such a manner, as that
none of them should escape by attempting to cross the river; With the infantry I
proceeded slowly & in order along the point of land which led to the front of their
breast work. Having planted my cannon (one six & one three pounder on an
eminence at the distance of one hundred & fifty to two hundred yds from it, I
opened a very brisk fire, playin upon the enemy with the musquetry & rifles
whenever they shewed themselves beyond it. This was kept up with short
interruptions for about two hours, when a part of the Indian force * Capn. Russels
& Lt Beans companies of Spies, who had accompanied Genl. Coffee crossed
over in canoes to the extremity of the bend & set fire to a few of the buildings which
were there situated, they then advanced with great gallantry towards the breast
work & commenced a spirited fire upon the enemy behind it. Finding that this
force, not withstanding the bravery they displayed was wholly insufficient to
dislodge them, and that Genl. Coffee had entirely secured the opposite banks of
the river, I now determined to take their works by storm. The men by whom this
was to be effected, had been waiting with impatience to receive the order, & hailed
it with acclamation. The spirit which animated them was a sure augury of the
success which was to follow, the history of warfare furnishes few instances of a
more brilliant attack. The Regulars led on by their skillful & intrepid commander
Col Williams & by the gallant Major Montgomery soon gained possession of the
works in the midst of a most tremendous fire from behind them. The militia of the
venerable Genl Doherty's brigade accompanied them in the charge, which a
vivacity & firmness which would have done honor to Regulars. The enemy were
compleatly routed. Five hundred & fifty seven were left dead upon the peninsula, &
a great number were killed by the horsemen; It is believed that not more than 20
have escaped; The fighting continued with some severity for five hours, but we
continued to destroy many of them until we were prevented by the night; This
morning we killed sixteen who had lain concealed. We took about two hundred &
fifty prisoners all women & children except two or three
"Our loss is 106 wounded and twenty six killed Major McIntosh (the Coweta) who
joined the army with a part of his tribe greatly distinguished himself.... The power
fo the creeks is I think forever broken...."
From the National Archives
Records Group 107
