Battle of Burnt Corn
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Burnt Corn, also known as the Battle of Burnt Corn Creek, was an encounter between United States
armed forces and Creek Indians that took place July 27, 1813 in present-day southern Alabama
. The battle was part of the Creek War
.
and a large party of "Red Sticks
" warriors proceeded to Pensacola, Florida
to buy munitions, with £400 and a letter from a British
officer at Fort Malden
. In McQueen's words, the Spanish
governor gave them "a small bag of powder for each ten towns, and five bullets to each man." The governor represented this as a "friendly present, for hunting purposes".
But Samuel Moniac, a Creek warrior, testified August 2, 1813 after the events, “High Head told me that, when they went back with their supply, another body of men would go down for another supply of ammunition; and that ten men were to go out of town, and they calculated on 'five horse-loads for every town'.”
, having heard of McQueen's mission, sent a quickly organized force, led by Colonel James Caller and Captain Dixon Bailey, to intercept McQueen's party. The Americans ambushed the Red Sticks as they bedded down for the evening on the banks of Burnt Corn Creek, in what is now northern Escambia County, Alabama
.
The Americans scattered the Red Sticks, who fled to the nearby swamps. Flush with victory, the Americans began looting the Red Sticks' pack-horses. From the swamp, the Creeks noticed that the Americans had dropped their guard. The Creek re-grouped and launched a surprise attack of their own, which scattered the Americans.
most of the people at the fort, a total of 300-400. This provoked fear among settlers across the Southeast and demands for state and federal governmental action.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
armed forces and Creek Indians that took place July 27, 1813 in present-day southern Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The battle was part of the Creek War
Creek War
The Creek War , also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, began as a civil war within the Creek nation...
.
Background
In July 1813, Peter McQueenPeter McQueen
Peter McQueen was a Creek Indian chief, trader and warrior from the tribal town of Talisi He was one of the young men, known as Red Sticks, who supported a revitalization of traditional practices and opposed European-American settlement...
and a large party of "Red Sticks
Red Sticks
Red Sticks is the English term for a traditionalist faction of Creek Indians who led a resistance movement which culminated in the outbreak of the Creek War in 1813....
" warriors proceeded to Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
to buy munitions, with £400 and a letter from a British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
officer at Fort Malden
Fort Malden
Fort Malden is a fort that stands on the remains of Fort Amherstburg in Amherstburg, Ontario. The original fort was abandoned by the British/Canadians in 1813 when Southwest Ontario fell into American hands. The Americans began building a smaller replacement fort on the same site, but this was...
. In McQueen's words, the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
governor gave them "a small bag of powder for each ten towns, and five bullets to each man." The governor represented this as a "friendly present, for hunting purposes".
But Samuel Moniac, a Creek warrior, testified August 2, 1813 after the events, “High Head told me that, when they went back with their supply, another body of men would go down for another supply of ammunition; and that ten men were to go out of town, and they calculated on 'five horse-loads for every town'.”
Battle
United States soldiers at Fort MimsFort Mims massacre
The Fort Mims massacre occurred on 30 August 1813, when a force of Creek people, belonging to the "Red Sticks" faction under the command of Peter McQueen and William Weatherford "Red Eagle", his cousin by marriage, killed hundreds of settlers, mixed-blood Creeks, and militia at Fort Mims...
, having heard of McQueen's mission, sent a quickly organized force, led by Colonel James Caller and Captain Dixon Bailey, to intercept McQueen's party. The Americans ambushed the Red Sticks as they bedded down for the evening on the banks of Burnt Corn Creek, in what is now northern Escambia County, Alabama
Escambia County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.1% White*31.9% Black*4.4% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*1.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
The Americans scattered the Red Sticks, who fled to the nearby swamps. Flush with victory, the Americans began looting the Red Sticks' pack-horses. From the swamp, the Creeks noticed that the Americans had dropped their guard. The Creek re-grouped and launched a surprise attack of their own, which scattered the Americans.
Aftermath
In retaliation for the US forces attack at Burnt Corn Creek, the Red Sticks attacked Fort Mims. Both European-American settlers and families from the Lower Creek towns had fled to the fort at the outbreak of the Creek War. Historians believe the Lower Creek were also targets of the Red Stick aggression. They massacredFort Mims massacre
The Fort Mims massacre occurred on 30 August 1813, when a force of Creek people, belonging to the "Red Sticks" faction under the command of Peter McQueen and William Weatherford "Red Eagle", his cousin by marriage, killed hundreds of settlers, mixed-blood Creeks, and militia at Fort Mims...
most of the people at the fort, a total of 300-400. This provoked fear among settlers across the Southeast and demands for state and federal governmental action.
External links
- A map of Creek War Battle Sites from the PCL Map Collection at the Universtity of Texas at Austin.
- Account of the Battle of Burnt Corn
- The Deposition of Samuel Moniac taken in 1813.
