Battle of Holy Ground
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Holy Ground, or Battle of Econochaca, was a battle fought on December 23, 1813 between the United States
militia
and the Red Stick Creek Indians
during the Creek War
. The battle took place at Econochaca, the site of a fortified encampment established in the summer of 1813 by Josiah Francis on a bluff above the Alabama River
, in what is now Lowndes County, Alabama
. It was one of three encampments erected by Red Stick Creeks that summer. In addition to the physical defenses, Creek prophets performed ceremonies at the site to create a spiritual barrier of protection. Hence the Creek name "Econochaca," loosely translated as holy ground, but properly translated as sacred or beloved ground.
and the subsequent Fort Mims massacre
, General Ferdinand Claiborne, under the orders of General Thomas Flournoy
, began attempting to round-up troops to attack the Red Stick Creeks. By early December he had amassed a force of roughly 1000 men, including 150 Choctaw
warriors under their leader, Pushmataha
. On December 22, 1813, Claiborne's force set up camp about 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Econochaca. Upon learning of this, the Creeks, under William Weatherford
, evacuated women and children from settlement. On December 23 Claiborne attacked the defenses, killing between 20 and 30 Red Stick warriors and losing one man himself. Most of the Creeks escaped, with Weatherford riding his horse Arrow over the bluff and into the river while under fire. The U.S. forces then destroyed the encampment and the Creek supplies.
The site is now home to Holy Ground Battlefield Park, maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
and the Red Stick Creek Indians
Creek people
The Muscogee , also known as the Creek or Creeks, are a Native American people traditionally from the southeastern United States. Mvskoke is their name in traditional spelling. The modern Muscogee live primarily in Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida...
during 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...
. The battle took place at Econochaca, the site of a fortified encampment established in the summer of 1813 by Josiah Francis on a bluff above the Alabama River
Alabama River
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about north of Montgomery.The river flows west to Selma, then southwest until, about from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into...
, in what is now Lowndes County, Alabama
Lowndes County, Alabama
Lowndes County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of William Lowndes, a member of the United States Congress from South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 11,299...
. It was one of three encampments erected by Red Stick Creeks that summer. In addition to the physical defenses, Creek prophets performed ceremonies at the site to create a spiritual barrier of protection. Hence the Creek name "Econochaca," loosely translated as holy ground, but properly translated as sacred or beloved ground.
History
Following the Battle of Burnt CornBattle of Burnt Corn
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...
and the subsequent Fort Mims massacre
Fort 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...
, General Ferdinand Claiborne, under the orders of General Thomas Flournoy
Thomas Flournoy
Thomas Stanhope Flournoy was a U.S. Representative from Virginia and a cavalry officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War....
, began attempting to round-up troops to attack the Red Stick Creeks. By early December he had amassed a force of roughly 1000 men, including 150 Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
warriors under their leader, Pushmataha
Pushmataha
Pushmataha , the "Indian General", was one of the three regional chiefs of the major divisions of the Choctaw in the nineteenth century. Many historians considered him the "greatest of all Choctaw chiefs"...
. On December 22, 1813, Claiborne's force set up camp about 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Econochaca. Upon learning of this, the Creeks, under William Weatherford
William Weatherford
William Weatherford, also known as Lamochattee by the Creek , was a Creek chief of the Upper Towns who led the Red Sticks offensive in the Creek War against the United States...
, evacuated women and children from settlement. On December 23 Claiborne attacked the defenses, killing between 20 and 30 Red Stick warriors and losing one man himself. Most of the Creeks escaped, with Weatherford riding his horse Arrow over the bluff and into the river while under fire. The U.S. forces then destroyed the encampment and the Creek supplies.
The site is now home to Holy Ground Battlefield Park, maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
.