The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-09-17
ShETcRIS OF ALABAMA HISTORY.
NUMBER ONE.


that sketches OF the ono cannot fail to prove
| interesting to the readers of the other; while,
apart from this close relationship, there are
heroic deeds and gallant names connected with
the former which challenge admiration with
the brightest events recorded in Grecian or
Roman history.
It 10 = we'll known fact that our American
youth find the general history of their country
dull and tedious whereas q study of each in
dividual State will be found to possess an
! attractive interest surprising that of the most
elaborate fiction and it is very much to be
regretted that many persons familiar with the
exploits of antiquity are strangely ignorant of
the early records of their native coil.
Bienville-the noble and the Rood-the
founder of New Orleans, is also entitled to be
called the Father of Alabama. As governor of
that territory during forty years, all the moi
dents OF it's early career cluster around his
memory, and Louisiana can only divide with
this noble State the glory of his name and the
benefits of his administration.
For the lovers of ancient relics and centen-
nial celebrations it may be interesting to learn
that there exists, in the city of Montgomery,
precious memorial which serves to remind the
traveller at once of the gallantry of Bienville,
| and of the undaunted perseverance, of our
American hero-Jackson. In 1876 Bienvile
| penetrat into the heart of the Indian settle.
| ments aud erected fort on the west bank of
| the Tombeokbee river, which he named Fort
Toulouse, in honor of @ French officer. Here
he gallsntly attacked the Chick asaws, who had
been making hostile depredations upon the
| settlements around Mobile; and, although
eventually driven back by the immense forces
opposed to his little army, he taught the muir
cerous savages that the colony under his care
owned one determined arm, which would seek
| them out and strike it's avengipg blow,
however far they hid themselves within the
depths of their glorious forests. Being obliged
to abandon this fort, the French spiked some of
their guns, throwing the others into the river.
Nearly one hundred years afterwards, jackson
also established a small force at old Fort Tou-
louise, and on leaving it, abandoned Bienville's
guns to whatever fate might betide them. One
of these venerable souvenirs of the two illus
trious men found its way to Montgomery, and
-" Alas, how are the mighty fallen "-now
serves to hold up broken sidewalk at Pollard's
corner in the pretty capital of Alabama.
There are three incidents in the colonial his
tory of Alabama which, once learned, can never
be forgotten. The Massacre of Fort Minis, the
Can oe-fght, aud the life of Weatherford, the
Red Eagle, are among those details of American
history which are not to be found in works of
general character.
We propose giving short, consecutive
sketches of these three points, which may serve
as samples to illustrate the terrible perils of
the early settlers of Alabama, the splendid
courage of her hardy hunters, and the heroic
spirit of her untamed forest. warriors.
Fort Minis was situated on the Tensaw
branch of the Alabama, and the fearful massacre
which sent a thrill of horror thou ghout the en-
tire Union, was perpetrated in 1913 by the
| Creek Indians under the leadership of the Red
Eagle.
The settlers along the banks of the Tensaw,
Alabama and Tombeck bee rivers were, for
the most part, emigrants from the Carolinae,
Georgia and Virginia, with a few French and
| Spanish Creoles from Mobile and Pensacola.
Among these bold and adventurous spirits,
were intelligent and refined families and many
| individuals of great moral worth and excel
lence. Agriculture was, of course, the chief
employment Of the men, while the boldest
| among them engaged in hunting the game,
| then 30 valuable and so abundant throughout
| the country.
In 1912, Tecumseh, who had conceived the
grand although terrible design of uniting all
the Indian tribes sgAinst the Americans, paid q
visit to the towns along the waters of the
Alabama so as to incite the different nations to
| q concurrence in his designs; and we'll did
| he succeed in his willy plans that all the prom-
nent chieftains Joined the conspiracy, and i'm
| mediately began the arrangements necessary
| for carrying on the bloody work.
In consequence of this determination on the
part of the Indians, hostilities began in q
desultory way by the burning of houses and
the murder of defenceless women and children.
A party of Creeks, in this manner, while on
their way to Pensacola to procure arms and
ammunition, murdered a whole family of set
tiers under circumstances of particular cruelty
military force, aided by some friendly In
dams, resolved to intercept this party on it's
| return from Florida and revenge the atrooious
| deed. The collision took place at Burnt Corn
Creek, where the old furrow path turned off