The Surrender of Chief RedEagle
In the early 1800's settles were moving into Indian territory at and astounding rate. The encroachment of Indian lands brought with it problems that would soon cause a mighty nation to fall. In July of 1813 Chief RedEagle (AKA William Weatherford) and another chief named Ochille Hadjo held meetings with the Choctaw Nation urging them to join forces with the Creek Red Sticks against the Americans. The objective was to drive the American settlers off the Indian lands once and for all. The influential Chief Pushmataha being proud that his people had never shed the blood of any white man, sternly led his counsel in a refusal to join the Creeks. (Griffith 99-100).
The Creek Indians were so divided amongst themselves on this issue that a civil war had begun. This caused the Creek nation to separate. The towns that wanted peace with the white intruders were the White sticks and the Towns that wanted to wage war against them were the Red Sticks. After several battles with the Red Sticks (or hostiles as American history would say) The Creek Indians held a counsel to discuss ways to bring revenge against the Americans and there mixed blood Indian allies. (Akers 136)
In August of 1813 the Red Sticks surrounded Fort Mimms and waited in the woods all night. During the night There leader Chief RedEagle made a speech to his Indian force. He told his warriors that the war was against the white man and not the women and children. He asked them not to harm the women and children but to take them prisoners and send them back to the villages. The next day the Indians attacked the fort and they started killing everyone in sight. This made Chief RedEagle so made that he took his half brothers slaves with him to safety and left the fort. (Akers 144-154; Woodward 90-93; Green 38-39; Griffith 78-114; Horan 130; O'Brien 121-122).
The month before in July, Congress had authorized the governors of Tennessee and Georgia to raise an army of 1500 men each to use against the Creek Indians in case of an uprising. The battle of Fort Mimms was just what Andrew Jackson was waiting for. For Jackson the opportunity had finally came about to finally get rid of the Creeks once and for all. The war was on and the massacre of Fort Mimms was compared to the massacres of 1622, and 1644. If fact the Massacre of Fort Mimms was at that time considered the largest Indian Massacre in the history of the United States. (Akers 136; Griffith 99)
The American armies of Tennessee and Georgia joined forces with the White Stick Creek Indians against the Red Sticks. Not only did the coalition have half of the Creek nation on their side but they also persuaded the Cherokees and Choctaws to help in their war. After a series of battles in 1814 the coalition army fought the ending battle at Horse Shoe Bend in what is now present day Alabama. Jackson was furious that Chief RedEagle wasn't captured. It is not known for sure if he was even at the battle of Horse Shoe Bend. Jackson soon moved his troops to the old French Fort Toulouse. This fort had been rebuilt after the mutiny of Captain Marchand (RedEagles Great Grandfather). When he arrived at the fort he raised the American flag and renamed the fort "Fort Jackson". Indians came everyday for months waving white flags but still not Weatherford. (Griffith 151).
Jackson had tried to offer a reward for the capture of RedEagle to the other Indians but they all refused to accept it. For several months Jackson's army and allies tried to capture Chief RedEagle but were never successful. When Weatherford had heard that Jackson was pressuring his fellow Indians and chiefs into capturing him, he decided to ride to Fort Jackson and turn himself in. Thus sparing his friends and other chiefs the humiliation of turning their head chief over to the one white man they hated the most, Andrew Jackson. (Griffith 151).
RedEagle rode up to Fort Jackson. He inquired where the generals tent was and went right to it. Jackson had just came out of his tent when the Indian came up to him. The Chief said: Are you General Jackson? When the man replied yes; the Indian said "I am Bill Weatherford". Jackson was furious he told RedEagle to go into his tent. Inside the tent the Generals secretary recorded the following: Continued on next page
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