The Chattahoochee River
The Chattahoochee flows
near the site of the vanished
town of Roanoke.
The Chattahoochee flows
near the site of the vanished
town of Roanoke.
Roanoke, Georgia
Only a marker stands as
evidence that the town of
Roanoke ever existed. It was
destroyed in the attack.
Only a marker stands as
evidence that the town of
Roanoke ever existed. It was
destroyed in the attack.
The Battle of Roanoke - Stewart County, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - The Battle of Roanoke, Georgia
| Battle of Roanoke, Georgia The actual site of Roanoke is now covered with water, but a marker stands on nearby Highway 39. |
Creek Vengeance in Georgia
When the Creek War of 1836 erupted during
the spring of 1836, one of the first places to
feel the brunt of the uprising was the town of
Roanoke, Georgia.
Settled by the Chattahoochee River on fields
that had previously belonged to the Creek
Nation, Roanoke was a pivotal point in the
resentment felt by many Creek warriors as a
result of the loss of their lands to white
settlers. Upon the outbreak of the war, they
immediately set their sights on the hated
settlement of Roanoke.
Warriors crossed the Chattahoochee from
their towns in Alabama and scouted the
village in early May, creating concerns that
led to the evacuation of the women and
children from the town to nearby Lumpkin. A
major attack, however, did not materialize
and by May 14, 1836, the men at Roanoke let
down their guard. Some went to Lumpkin to
visit their families, leaving the town with too
few guards.
Recognizing the opportunity, a large force of
Creeks moved into position around the town.
Led by the Yuchi warrior Jim Henry, they
swept in from different directions at around 2
in the morning.
Only around 20 men were in the town at the
time of the attack and most were sleeping.
They awoke to the sounds of war cries and
gunfire.
The defenders tried to put up a fight, but they
were severely outnumbered. Although the
exact number of warriors involved in the
Roanoke attack is unknown, white survivors
believed there were more than 300.
Realizing that further resistance was futile, a
few of the defenders took advantage of the
darkness and confusion to escape. Colonel
Felix Gibson and two other men survived by
submerging themselves in the water of a
branch or small creek with only their noses
protruding.
the spring of 1836, one of the first places to
feel the brunt of the uprising was the town of
Roanoke, Georgia.
Settled by the Chattahoochee River on fields
that had previously belonged to the Creek
Nation, Roanoke was a pivotal point in the
resentment felt by many Creek warriors as a
result of the loss of their lands to white
settlers. Upon the outbreak of the war, they
immediately set their sights on the hated
settlement of Roanoke.
Warriors crossed the Chattahoochee from
their towns in Alabama and scouted the
village in early May, creating concerns that
led to the evacuation of the women and
children from the town to nearby Lumpkin. A
major attack, however, did not materialize
and by May 14, 1836, the men at Roanoke let
down their guard. Some went to Lumpkin to
visit their families, leaving the town with too
few guards.
Recognizing the opportunity, a large force of
Creeks moved into position around the town.
Led by the Yuchi warrior Jim Henry, they
swept in from different directions at around 2
in the morning.
Only around 20 men were in the town at the
time of the attack and most were sleeping.
They awoke to the sounds of war cries and
gunfire.
The defenders tried to put up a fight, but they
were severely outnumbered. Although the
exact number of warriors involved in the
Roanoke attack is unknown, white survivors
believed there were more than 300.
Realizing that further resistance was futile, a
few of the defenders took advantage of the
darkness and confusion to escape. Colonel
Felix Gibson and two other men survived by
submerging themselves in the water of a
branch or small creek with only their noses
protruding.
 | |  | |  | |  |
The Battle of Roanoke resulted in the deaths
of 12 of the town's 20 defenders. The Creek
warriors torched the town, burning it to the
ground. It was never rebuilt.
The "massacre" at Roanoke, as it was called
by white settlers of the region, exploded into
newspaper headlines across the South.
Panic spread across the area and terrified
settlers flooded into such locations as Fort
Gaines, Lumpkin and Columbus. Fields and
homes were abandoned and the work of
destruction initiated by Jim Henry at Roanoke
was carried to other settlements and farms
in the area.
The site of Roanoke is now submerged
beneath the waters of Lake Eufaula (Walter
F. George Lake), but a marker can be seen
on Highway 39 a little over 2 miles south of
the Florence Marina State Park in Omaha,
Georgia. The marker is located near the
intersection with the road leading to Roods
Creek Park.
of 12 of the town's 20 defenders. The Creek
warriors torched the town, burning it to the
ground. It was never rebuilt.
The "massacre" at Roanoke, as it was called
by white settlers of the region, exploded into
newspaper headlines across the South.
Panic spread across the area and terrified
settlers flooded into such locations as Fort
Gaines, Lumpkin and Columbus. Fields and
homes were abandoned and the work of
destruction initiated by Jim Henry at Roanoke
was carried to other settlements and farms
in the area.
The site of Roanoke is now submerged
beneath the waters of Lake Eufaula (Walter
F. George Lake), but a marker can be seen
on Highway 39 a little over 2 miles south of
the Florence Marina State Park in Omaha,
Georgia. The marker is located near the
intersection with the road leading to Roods
Creek Park.
| Copyright 2009 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |
Shepherd's Plantation
The Battle of Shepherd's
Plantation was fought just
north of Roanoke.
The Battle of Shepherd's
Plantation was fought just
north of Roanoke.
lor.
Fort Jones, Georgia
Fort Jones was built near
Roanoke after the attack and
garrisoned by Georgia militia.
Fort Jones was built near
Roanoke after the attack and
garrisoned by Georgia militia.
The Battle of Shepherd's Plantation, Georgia
The Creek War of 1836
Historic Sites in Georgia
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
The Creek War of 1836
Historic Sites in Georgia
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
