The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-22
Congressman Hehin Will Be
 Strongly Supported
A FAMOUS BATTLEFIELD
Effort to Secure an Appropriation. Brief Story of Great Creek Battle Is Included In Document
 Sent to Washington.

ment to have Congress make an appro- priation for survey and purchase of the Horseshoe Bend battlefield, in Tal- vile. A memorial has just been sent to Congress by the battlefield commis- sion of the state, provided for by the last legislature and recently organized in the office of Gov. B. B. Conner, he being the president.
 In this memorial 1t is pointed out that this Is the place of the great fight between Jackson and his forces and the Creek Indians, March 27, 1874; that 1t ought to be preserved as a national site and park and a rallying point of historical data. The progress of the history of the movement and the argu- ments is presented and the whole dis cussion taken up. "In view of the foregoing 1t is believed that every patriotic consideration demands affirm ative action on this memorial" says the commission, in it's memorial con- clusion. It is urged that it's establish ment would be a lasting memorial to the men who fought and fell in those trying days.
 The Memorial.
 The full memorial follows:
 The battle of Horseshoe Bend, March
 27. 1874, between the Americans and
 the Creek Indians.-Memorial of the
 Horseshoe Bend battle commission,
 created by the state of Alabama,
 praying Congress to establish a mil
 itary park on the Horseshoe Bend
 battlefield.
 To the Congress of the United States. Gentlemen-Yo memorialists, the Horseshoe Bend Battle commission, duly and regularly constituted under and by virtue of an act of the legisla- ture of Alabama, approved August 6, 1907, respectfully petition and memor- alize your honorable bodies to take early and favorable action upon H. B. 26395, introduced in the House of Rep resentatives by Hon. J. T. Hef1in, rep resentative from the Fifth Alabama dis trict.
 As your memorialists are informed, the legislation contemplated by the proposed bill has ample warrant in 
 numerous acts, either creating national military parks or in the publication of historical documents, or in monument ing historic spots, or in otherwise com memorating historic incidents in the past life of our country. In such legis- lation public opinion throughout the United States has unanimously con- cured. But while much has been done on the part of the federal government in the patriotic direction indicated there undoubtedly remain many points and places which, from the importance of the occurrences which took place upon them or in their vicinity, ought either to become the property of the govern ment, or ought to be suitably com memorated in a permanent and lasting way.
 Therefore, in determining upon future action on the part of Congress it is respectfully urged that due considera- tion be given those great events in the history of our country, which in a cer tain sense have heretofore been neg lected, and, consequently in a sense for
 
 for it's object the establishment of the Horseshoe Bend Battle Park and the appropriate momenting or marking of what is commonly known as the Horse shoe Bend battle ground located on the Tallapoosa river, in the county of Tal lapoosa, In the state of Alabama. AL though the significance of this battle as one of the decisive battles in the long line of heroic battles of the coun- try has been emphasized again and again by both the local and the general historians, 1t has never yet received that attention, either from the state or general government, which its impor- tance has demanded. The bill of MT. Hehin seeks to meet what appears to be an apparent duty long neglected, and we believe in a way which ought to commend itself to immediate and favorable action on the part of your honorable body. Hereinafter are set forth the principal facts connected with the subject, and to these careful and thoughtful attention is invited. It is believed that they will abundantly demonstrate the historic significance of the battle, and the grat patriotic and the battle, and the great patriotic and lation.
 The Place.
 The point where the battle was fought occupies a unique place in the history of the Creek Indians; and it is today a romantic and picturesque spot in a prosperous section of the state Parton, Life of Jackson (1S64, vol. l, pp. 512 and 514, says of the bend, in which the battle was fought:
 "The attention of the reader Is now to be directed to a remarkable bend of the river Tallapoosa, about 55 miles from Fort Strother, the scene for so many weeks of General Jacksons strenuous endeavors. The bend of which we speak is about midway between the source and the mouth of the Tallapoosa. It occurs where the stream is not forable during the spring rains, but is not wide enough to pre- sent a very serious ob bstacle to an In- dian swimmer. From the shape of this peninsula the Indians called 1t Toho- peka which means horseshoe. It con- tains 100 acres of land, since a cotton field The neck or tsthmus, is about $50 yards across. The ground rises somewhat from the edge of the water. It was a wild, rough piece of ground, abounding a in places which would af- ford covert to an Indian warrior. At the time of which we write. the sur rounding country, for 100 miles of more, was a nearly unbroken wilderness of forest swamp and cane, tmarked only by the trail of wild beasts and the trace of wild men. As well from its situation as its form, this place was entitled to be styled the heart of the Indian country"
 Description of Battle.
 While full and detailed accounts of the battle will be found in the append