The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-09-24
SXETcHRs OF ALABAMA HISTORY.
NUMBER TWO.

American writers, ana rs Nc was HoEcely bUyleu |
by our own Jackson in his last memorable in
terview with the famous chieftain-is no char
acter of fiction, or creature of romance, but O
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-
circled by the hower-crowned annals of
song"
Weatherford was born on the eastern bank
| of the Alabama river at the first bluff below
the junction of the Coosa and Tsllapcosa. The
time of his birth is not positively known, but it
must have been about the year 1880, as he 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 Marchand; and their
only daughter-also named sehoy-married a
Tuokabatchee chief, from whom was born an
other queenly Sehoy, wife of Charles Weather
ford, Scotchman who entered the Nation from
Georgia, and was the father of the subject of
this sketch.
Weatherford always boosted that no Yankee
blood flowed in his veins; and to this fact was
attributed lis intense hatred for the American
name
We find personal description of him in Mr..
Caborne's "Notes the War in the South"
written at the conclusion of hostilties, when
the writer was iHcensed against his subject by
the crueties he had committed during that
period.
''In his person, he ia tall, straight and we'll
proportioned his eye, black, penetrating, in
dicative of courage; his nose, elegant in its
formation; while all the features of his face
speak an active and disciplined mind. Silent
and reserved, and superior to the weakness of
rendering himself cheap by his addresses, he
delivered his opinions but seldom in council
but, when he did 80, he was listened to with
delight and appreciation. His Judgment and
eloquence secured for him the respect of the
old his vices made him the idol of the young
and the unprncipled"
He also speaks of him as cruel, vindictlve
| idle and superstitieus :" while another writer,
who knew him we'll after the destruction of his
| Nation, and who had ample opportunities of
| judging, testifies, That art and Discrimination
| formed no part of his character; his bearing
was marked by nobleness of purpose and his
conduct was always honorable"
| His uncle, the celebrated McGillivray, was
| the founder of an United Creek Confederacy,
and has been styled by historians the Indian
| Tallyrand of diplomacy. He it was who in
| stilled into his young relative vindictive feel
| ipgs against the Americans, and who assisted
in placing him in the position of leader of the
whole Muscogee Nation.
It'll thought thai at one time he was opposed
to hostilities on the part of his people, but not
being able to stem the torrent of hatred directed
against the settlers, he determined to lead the
contemplated movement; for his intrepid dis
position would not permit him to be second
where his talents enabled him to be first. The
opening engagement between the whites and
Indians was fought at Burnt Corn Greek, th as
inaugurating the bloody series of battles called
the Creek War, and which terminated in the
utter destruction of that brave and undounted
race.
1t was Weatherford who planned the fearful
attack upon Fort Minis and it is no reproach
to his memory to record that his cunning aad
skill, united with his valor, outwitted the rash
confidence of the commander of the Fort, AT
resped for his warriors laurels that should
have been won by the soldiers of the doomed
, post.
Many time before mere handful of armed
{ men, within their strong stockades, h ad kept
at bay powerful force of Indians, and Major
B9azely, who neglected his duty and Left the
gate of the fortress defautly open, is more
truly deserving the appelation of murderer of
Fort Minis than the gallant chieftain who took
advantage of his enemy's fatal rash4ess.
He asserted afterwards that he had tried to
check the fearful massacre in the Fort but his
fierce warriors, having once tasted blood, were
like fsmished wolves and would not be satiated
+ While urging them to desist, many atomahawk
was raised allowed his head and many threat
f made against his life-and thus he found that,
although he had raised the storm, he was
powerless to quell its fury.
, However, after that dreadful day of the Both
August, 1913, the desire of revenge for the
q slaughter of their countrymen awoke O fearful
, spirit of retribution on the part of the Ameri-
cans, which, directed by the stern will of
q Jackson and the strong arm of Claiborne, soon
annihilated the brave warriors of the Creeks.
We need not follow the Red Eagle in all his