The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-09-24
sKETCHFs OF ALABAMA HISTORY.
NUMBER TWO.

American writers, and as he was fiercely styled
by our own Jackson in his last memorable in
teryiew with the famous chieftain-is no char
acter of fiction, creature OF romance, but q
stern and startling reality connected with the
early history of Alabama. His name needs no
touch of Fancy to add to its absorbing interest,
while his heroic deeds shine brighter upon the
sober pages of official records than when en-
circlsd by "the fower-crowned annals OF
song"
Weatberford was born on the eastern bank
of the Alabama river, at the first bluff below
the junction of the Coosa and Tallapcosa. The
time of his birth is not positively known, but 1t
must have been abou the year 1850, as be was
but little over thirty years of age at the open
ing of the Creek hostilities in 1913.
His maternal ancestors were Sehoy, an Indian
princess of the famous family of the Wind, and
a French trader named Marchsnd; and their
only dauehter-also named Sehoy-married a
| Tucksbatchee chief, from whom was born an
other uueenly sehoy, wife of Charles Weather
ford, a Scotchman who entered the Nation from
Georgia. and was the father of the subject OF
| this sketch.
weatherford always boasted that no Yankee
blood flowed in his veins and to this fact was
| attrl Duteu ElS Intense 0atT6u thc
name.
We find a personal description of him in Mr.
Claiborne's "Notes on the War in the South, !
written at the conclusion of hostilities, wher
the writer was iaceused against his subject by
the cruelties he had committed during that
period.
ain his person, he is tall, straight and wei
proportioned his eye, black, penetrating, in
dicativs of courage; his nose, elegant IN 1T
formation while all the features OF his fac
speak an active and disciplined mind. Silen
and reserved, and superior to the weakness o
rendering himself cheap by his addresses, b.
delivered his opinions but seldom in council
but when he did 80, he was listened to witt
delight and appreciation. His judgment AM
eloquence secured for him the respect of th
old his vices made him the idol of the youn
and the unprincipled."
He also speaks of him as " cruel, vindictlv'
, idle and superstitous :" while another write
, who knew him we'll after the destruction of b
Nation, and who had ample opportunities {
f Judging, testifies THAT art and dissimulatio
, formed no part of his character his bearin
q was marked by nobleness of purpose, and b
conduct was always honorable"
His uncle, the celebrated McGillivray, w
the founder of an United Creek Confederac
and has been styled by historians the Indi'
Q Tanyrand of diplomacy. BE it was who
u stilled into his young relative vindictive fe
y :ngs against the Americans, and who assist
1t in placing him in the position of leader of t
of whole Euscogee Nation.
" tits thought that at one time lie was oppos
j. to hostilities on the part of his people, but
A. being able to stem the torrent of hatred direct
r. against the settlers, he determined to lead
=. contemplated movement; for his intrepid {
:. position would not permit him to be sect
where his talents enabled him to be first.
80, opening engagement between the whites
VI Indians was fought at Burnt Corn Greek, t
ler inauguratipg the bloody series of battles cal
,r- the Creek War, and which terminated in
utter destruction of that brave and uudoun
)rs race.
- 1t was Weatherford who planned the fea
attack upon Fort Minis; and it is no repro
- 20 his memory to record that his cunning
'no skill, united with his valor, outwitted the
eH confidence of the commander of the Fort,
Ign reaped for his warriors laurels that she
4 have been won by the soldiers cf the doo
the post.
ing Many time before G. mere handful of ar
sly at bay powerful force OF Indians and
7 at b eazeiy, who neglected his duty and Left
gate of the fortress defant]y open, is
truly deserving the appellation of murder'
q in Fort Minis than the gallant chieftain who
don advantage of his enemy's fatal rashness.
MA He asserted afterwards that he had trie
an check the fearful massacre in the Fort, bu
,oar fierce warriors, having once tasted blood,
the like famished wolves, and would not be sati'
n of While urgip them to desist, many tomah
,der was raised allowed his head and many tt
,r of made against his life and thus he found
> AL although he had raised the storm, he
bis poweress to quell its fury.
ance However, after that dreadful day of the
Par. August, 1913, the desire of revenge fol
the slaughter of their countrymen swoke fe
eadv spirit of retrbution on the part of the A
Tri- cans, which, directed by the stern wi
f the Jackson and the strong arm of Claiborne,
49, It