A Battle of the Creek War
The Battle of Shepherd's
Plantation was part of the
Creek War of 1836-1837.
Fort Jones, Georgia
Militia reinforcements arrived
on the battlefield from nearby
Fort Jones in barely the nick
of time.
The Battle of Shepherd's Plantation - Florence, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Battle of Shepherd's Plantation, Georgia
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Battle of Shepherd's Plantation, Georgia
Battle of Shepherd's Plantation
A site of the important Creek War battle is marked by
a roadside monument erected in 1936.
The Creek War of 1836-1837
A weathered monument on Highway 39 just
north of Florence Marina State park is a quiet
reminder of one of the bloodiest battles of the
Creek War of 1836.

The Battle of Shepherd's Plantation was
fought on June 9, 1836, between a force of
Georgia militia and an attacking party of
Creek warriors. The battle was a pivotal fight
in the a war of resistance launched by Yuchi,
Hitchiti and other warriors trying to prevent
the forced removal of their people from their
traditional lands.

The war began with a series of attacks on
white settlements in the spring of 1836 and
accelerated as warriors skirmished with
militia soldiers at several points. On June
9th, however, the Creeks launched their
boldest attack of the war at Shepherd's
Plantation.

An active farm before the war, the plantation
became an important military encampment
as Georgia militia troops moved south from
Columbus in anticipation of an offensive
against the Creeks. The soldiers had already
built Fort McCreary a few miles to the north
and Fort Jones a couple of miles south, but
in early June a militia force moved to occupy
Shepherd's Plantation itself. The slave
cabins and outbuildings were used to house
the troops.

Although there were reports of Indian activity
in the area, the soldiers did not know they
were being closely watched by a growing
force of Creek warriors. Supposedly led by
the Yuchi warrior Jim Henry, the Creek force
gathered in a nearby swamp and waited for
an ideal opportunity to attack.

That moment came when, in part subject to
orders and in part on his own initiative, Capt.
Hamilton Garmany divided his force several
times over. Some were sent to Fort McCreary,
others to scout and still others to wash their
clothing. When the main force was thus
dangerously weakened, the Creeks struck.

Firing off weapons to create the impression
that a battle had opened, the warriors drew
Garmany and his men from their camp. The
soldiers quickly found themselves in serious
trouble as the an estimated 250 Creeks
attacked them in both front and flank.
Overwhelmed, Garmany's men began a
fighting retreat. The Creeks rushed forward
after them, inflicting heavy casualties on the
retreating Georgians. The militia force might
have been overwhelmed had not reinforce-
ments arrived at the critical moment from Fort
Jones. Even so, the troops reported 22
casualties, most of them killed.

The Battle of Shepherd's Plantation was the
most aggressive Creek attack of the war. The
tide of the conflict would soon turn against
them. The battlefield is privately owned, but
the monument can be visited from the
shoulder of Highway 39 north of Florence
Marina State Park in Omaha, Georgia.

On the same highway, but south of the park
are markers for Fort Jones and Roanoke.
Battlefield Monument
The D.A.R. marked the 100th
anniversary of the battle by
erecting this monument.
Stewart County, Georgia
Shepherd's Plantation was
one of several Creek War
battles in Stewart County.
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Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox
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