Fort mims, alabama fort mims was a rough log stockade hastily constructed in 18 around the home of samuel mims, an early settler of baldwin county, alabama. The creeks set fire to most of the forts buildings using flaming arrows. Beasley had been at fort mims only a few days when gen. Fort mims and the redstick war of 181814 fire ant books kindle edition by waselkov, gregory a download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. After a creek victory at the battle of burnt corn, a band of creek red sticks attacked fort mims, in what today is alabama, killing 400500 settlers, slaves, militiamen, and creek loyalists and taking 250 scalps. The fort mims restoration association has done a lot of work on the site and has a reenactment every year. News of the fort mims massacre spread quickly, shocking and outraging the american nation. I began researching historical accounts of fort mims and clarke county alabama history several years ago.
Massacre at fort mimson august 30, 18, a force of about 700 creek indians destroyed fort mims, in presentday baldwin county, killing 250 defenders and taking at least 100 captives, in the first major battle of the creek war of 1814. Sep 01, 20 two hundred years ago a bloody battle between settlers and creek indians took place at fort mims, near tensaw, alabama. Two of baileys brothers, james and daniel, turned a house inside the fort into a defensive position, making firing holes in the roof. Learn about this critical frontier battle in a film that is balanced, accurate and moving. Before the massacre, the creek nation had generally peaceful relations with the white settlers, and intermarriage was not uncommon. Until the terrorist attacks, this was the worst massacre in the history of our nation. In the meantime, the wealthy halfbloods about little river had dropped down the alabama, in their boats, and had secreted themselves in the swamp about lake tensaw. He joined the war party, and formed one of the expeditions against fort mims. Am in california but hope to do another historical cross country trip and cant wait to explore the fort mims area. On august, 18, about 50 of beasleys men at fort mims were sent to mount vernon, a cantonment on the mobile river a few miles west of the fort.
Sep 01, 2011 although accounts of the massacre at fort mims served to ignite war with the united states and the creeks, the militia attack at the battle of burnt corn angered the red sticks, which is what ultimately led to the slaying of approximately 300 people that day at fort mims. Claiborne inspected the post on august 7, 18, and recommended that at least two and possibly three additional blockhouses be built. Mason and is excerpted from fort mims and the tensaw settlement, by dess l. To respect our enemy, and to prepare in the best possible way to meet him, is the certain means to ensure success, gen. In the absense of federal troops, who were occupied with americas war of 1812 along the canadian border, an influx of tennesse, georgia, and mississippi territory volunteers rallied to the creek war in the wake of what was termed the fort mims massacre. Fort mims state historic site stockton this is the site of the 18 battle where more than 400 settlers, many of mixed creek heritage, fell in an attack by warring redstick creek indians. Fort mims and the redstick war of 181814 fire ant books. It was while serving in this capacity that crockett earned his reputation as a firstrate scout, which added to his already established reputation as a crack shot. A number of friendly indians and halfbreeds had also sought protection within the fort. While the red stick massacre at fort mims was one of the greatest victories in the history of the southern creek nation. Fort mims massacre article about fort mims massacre by the. Fort mims, temporary stockade near the confluence of the tombigbee and alabama rivers. In fact, many of the settlers who died at fort mims were of mixed blood. The militia captain daniel beasley and a force of some 170 had occupied the post.
He is commonly spoken of in books, and especially in books that were written while a feeling of intense antipathy to him continued to exist, as the son of a scotch pedler, or the son of a georgia pedler, the phrase carrying with it the suggestion that red eagle was a man of contemptible origin. Since he was in the felicianas in 1820, might he have been kin to david bradford of the myrtles. William weatherford led a native american force in the killing of c. In the book, a minor character, grandma fontaine, shares her memories of seeing her entire family murdered in the creek uprising following the massacre as a lesson to the protagonist, scarlett.
It is with regret that i send them as it weakens my command very much, maj. Beginning that fall, an organized campaign to defeat the red sticks commenced using a mix of us regulars and militia. August 30, 20 marks the 200th anniversary of the battle of fort mims. Fort mims and the massacre of 18 spanish fort, alabama. Although fort mims played a critical role in the countrys nativeamerican policy, the memory of the massacre was almost lost to history. In many instances, such as that of georger weekley, his wife and children were at the fort and were all killed. The creek war and the mississippi territory by mike bunn and clay williams nothing could have prepared captain j. Beyond fort mims audiobook, written by lauran paine. Alabama pioneers, biographies and other resources estate owned by our ancestor, who was also killed in the massacre. Located about 35 miles from mobile, a stockade had been erected by an early settler named samuel mims. Many of those killed were also of mixed blood, neighbors to william weatherford. Special thanks to darren denney, graduate student at the university of montevallo, for the above summary of the massacre at fort mims. A cavalry troop finds itself under constant attack by indians. Two hundred years ago a bloody battle between settlers and creek indians took place at fort mims, near tensaw, alabama.
The fort mims massacre was a battle that occurred on 30 august 18 during the creek war, when a force of creek indians, belonging to the red sticks faction under the command of head warriors peter mcqueen and william weatherford, or lamochattee red eagle, stormed the fort and defeated the militia garrison. Come out and watch as we recreate the epic battle that was to become the greatest massacre in american history. The fort mims massacre shocked the white citizens of the united states, and they determined to crush the creek uprising. Heinlein, time enough for love a long time ago, in a place that is rather close geographically, but far removed in culture and way of life, a war party of some 2,000 hostile creek indians overwhelmed fort mims, alabama and massacred over 500 men, women, and children. At any rate, he was one of the few survivors of the massacre at fort mims in baldwin co. Marker at fort mims in baldwin county, alabama, honoring the victims of the massacre of august 30, 18.
Marker at fort mims in baldwin county, alabama, honoring. In 18, 14yearold prudence is the youngest daughter of samuel and hannah mims. The project gutenberg ebook of red eagle and the wars with. Battle for fort mims tells the story of an 18 attack by red stick creek warriors on a frontier stockade in alabama. Battle of fort mims reenactments to conclude sunday after. The fort mims massacre of 18 historical society of. After creek were attacked by us forces in the battle of burnt corn which the creek won, a band of red sticks sacked fort mims, alabama, killing 400 civilians and taking 250 scalps. Although the attack on fort mims was an overwhelming tactical victory for the red sticks, it was a strategic.
In response, the natives shot burning arrows into the building, setting it on fire. On august 30, 18, the red sticks, led by peter mcqueen and william weatherford mixedblood creeks, attacked fort mims, killing over 500. After the defeat of the garrison there ensued a massacre and almost all of the remaining lower creek, white settlers, and militia at fort mims were killed. Mims, fort, massacre at took place on 30 august 18 during the creek indian war. At fort mims the assault was kept up, in the face of desperate resistance, from noon until nearly sunset a persistence due solely to the fact that the savages were for once commanded by a real soldier, who possessed the qualities of an able and determined general. An 1858 engraving of the massacre at fort mims, an attack on settlers and allied native americans on august 30, 18, by the red stick faction of the creeks. The fort mims massacre is cited in margaret mitchells epic novel gone with the wind. Join us for a weekend of living history, reenactments, crafts. Explore historic fort mims in tensaw, baldwin county, alabama.
Public outcry sparked the initial military action against the creek nation that would usher in the creek war of 1814. A number of websites and books cite a list compiled by david p. Although the attack on fort mims was an overwhelming tactical victory for the red sticks, it was a strategic defeat. Sir names of families who either were at fort mims or who had relatives who were in the fort. The last mighty war whoop of the creek indians and massacre at fort mims. She fed and clothed him, and he grew to athletic manhood.
Fort mims was the home where samuel mims and his family when on august 30, 18, a creek red stick war party attacked killing not only the 100 mississippi volunteer militia who camped there but also over 200 innocent men, women and children seeking shelter. Mason of families either at the fort or relatives of people at the fort. Located about 35 miles from mobile, a stockade had. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a conquering spirit. Replica maps are available for purchase through the museum while supplies last. Remember fort mims became a battle cry for the ensuing creek indian war by militia forces and volunteers. The fort mims massacre stunned the american public and claiborne was criticized for his handling of the frontier defenses. The massacre at fort mims baldwin county, alabama was a tragic event. This fastmoving documentary uses reenactment footage, 19th century images and interviews to bring the story of fort mims to life. Take a look at even more movies and tv shows that were so nice they made em twice at least. Although accounts of the massacre at fort mims served to ignite war with the united states and the creeks, the militia attack at the battle of burnt corn angered the red sticks, which is what ultimately led to the slaying of approximately 300 people that day at fort mims. I am working with a professor at the u of south al to construct a list of participants at the fort.
Aug 15, 20 although fort mims played a critical role in the countrys nativeamerican policy, the memory of the massacre was almost lost to history. The accounts of what followed, which are given in the various books that treat the subject, are for the most part very meagre, and upon one or two points of minor importance they conflict with each other. Bit by bit, the defenders were forced back across the fort. I do not know which publication contains this list. The booklet may be purchased from coffeetable publications, po box 884, bay minette, al 36507. Red eagle and the fort mims massacre essay 5055 words. Many settlers, including numerous women and children were burned alive. General claiborne was widely criticized for his handling of the frontier defenses, but major beasleys carelessness appears to the more to blame for the fort mims massacre. Have diorama displays depicting the lives of my ancestors and am currently constructing one for fort mims still looking for little tents and houses have the main house and some figures that will work. Fort mims massacre article about fort mims massacre by.
May 26, 20 fort mims, alabama fort mims was a rough log stockade hastily constructed in 18 around the home of samuel mims, an early settler of baldwin county, alabama. Luckily, we have one account which is much more minute than any other, and at the same time is entirely. Commemorating historic battle of fort mims the battle of fort mims is reenacted friday, aug. This fort was little more than a log stockade surrounding the home of samuel mims. The massacre at fort mims is what spurred young davy crockett to leave his family and become a volunteer scout in the military campaign between american militias and the creek indians.
Home alabama photographs and pictures collection marker at fort mims in baldwin county, alabama, honoring the victims of the massacre of august 30. Uniting with the whites, they soon began the construction of a fort around the residence of samuel mims. Under andrew jackson, these state militiamen won a series of victories against the red. The fort mims massacre is one such account that transpired on august 30, 18, in baldwin county, alabama.
Dec 19, 2017 it became known as the fort mims massacre. A debut historical novel reexamines the fort mims massacre. Jun 21, 2016 remember fort mims became a battle cry for the ensuing creek indian war by militia forces and volunteers. With their long history of border conflict with the creeks and their fear of britains northern indian allies, tennesseans took the lead in the war. Am in california but hope to do another historical cross country trip and cant wait to. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone. Many of the forts defenders, however, were killed by indians firing into the fort through loopholes behind the defenders positions.
Visit the website of the fort mims restoration association for information regarding the august 3031, 2014 reenactment of the 18 massacre at fort mims. From there i found a conquering spirit and this work is a perfect compliment to that classic. They own a plantation in the tensaw delta, near mobile, alabama, whichnot yet a stateis in mississippi territory. I wonder if it would be a good idea for some reenactors to set up an encampment over at the farmers opry in chumuckla, fl which was peripheral to the mims massacre with many of the locals descended from survivors. The fort mims massacre took place on august 30, 18, during the creek war, when a force of creek indians belonging to the red sticks faction, under the command of head warriors peter mcqueen and william weatherford also known as lamochattee or red eagle, stormed the fort and defeated the militia garrison. The bicentennial year is 20 and plans are already being made for a big gathering. It was largely through the efforts of campbells mother, june slaughter, that a physical presence was established at fort mims.