The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-05

IefIulndtlOn ana military capaclty. Trials of Andrew Jackson With his arm in a sling, the effects of his duel with the Bentons emaciated by disease, Andrew Jackson went to the front. All the plans of hla campaign seemed to have miscarrled. The authori- ties failed to supply his troops with provisions, and the success or the expedi- ton was menaced by mutines, insubord-
 nation and famine; yet, mishaps and diff ficultes, to which an ordinary man would have succumbed, only seemed to arouse his cumulative and aggressive nature, and furnish the opportunity for the dis play of his marvellous resources. his in-
 domitable will and his remarkable con-
 trol of men. He was compelled to make
 his way through trackless forests and
 without provisions or adequate supplies,
 or munitions of war yet he went steadily
 forward, overcoming all disaffection and
 enforcing discipline, and converting a
 body of raw volunteers into efficient and
 effective fighting men.
 "Ie realized that retreat would be ruin
 ous and that any signs of weakness,
 would only embolden the Indian tribes.
 and threaten the border states themselves.
 The massacre at Fort Mims was to be
 avenged and the power of the whites
 so signaly displayed, as to strike terror
 to the hostile tribes, and forever free the
 Mississippi territory from the menace of
 treacherous and savage foe.
 Bitterly disappointed at the failure of
 contractors to furnish supplies. with
 mutiny and insubordnation with which
 to contend. General Jackson slowly gath cred at Fort Strother, the army with
 which he intended to forever crush the power of the Creeks. His addresses and dispatches were vigorous and eloquent, and did much to arouse the enthusiasm of his volunteers, and his stern military discipline taught them that they were commanded by a soldier, who would vigorously enforce discipline and punish insubordination.
 "At this bend of the Tallapoosa river, at this peninsular called by the Indians 'TohopelSa,' which means Horseshoe, the Creeks had assembled their warriors, and
 across the neck of the Peninsular, had erected a breastwork of logs. pierced
 with two rows of port-holes; behind these
 breastworks, history tells us there was a mass of logs and brush wood, and at the bottom of the peninsular, near the river, a village of huts. while the banks of the river were fringed with canoes, giving the
 Indians, as they supposed. the means of
 retreat as we'll as defense.
 Tt Is said that II days were con- sumed by Jackson in marching his army through the 55 miles of under
 growth and wilderness thft lay between
 Fort Strother and this Horseshoe Bend of the Tallapoosa. Roads had to be cut, the Coosa explored, Fort Viii Hams built and garrisoned to keep
 open the line of communication and
 numerous difficulties to be overcome, and 1t was on the morning of March 27. 1874, with his army diminished to 2000 men, that Jackson reached this place and commenced his operations. shall not undertake to describe the battle.
 'The graphic description of this con- test, the last stand of the Creeks, has been carefully and eloquent1y detailed in all the histories of that period The Indians had vainly believed that if their breastworks were carried. they could easily find means of escape witil their canoes and by crossing the river, seek shelter in the vast wilderness, which bordered it's banks. General Jack son, however, realized that the In-
 dians were in veritable slaughter pen, and and that here, at one blow, he could forever crush the power of the
 Creeks, avenge the massacre at Fort Mims, and relieve the entire Mississippi territory from the danger of hostile In dian tribes.
 He sent General Coffee with all the | mounted men and friendly Indians, across the river, two miles below, where it was fordable, to take position on the bank opposite the line of canoes
 and cut off the retreat, and this move | ment General Coffee promptly ex- ecuted. He also hit upon a plan, which was very effective, by sending swim
 mers across the river to cut loose and l bring away the canoes of the bellig- 1 erent Creeks, and use these canoes to 1 send over body of men to set fire
 to the cluster of huts in the bottom
 of the Bend, and to attack the Indians
 behind the breastw works.
 Entire Force Slaughtered l "As soon as Coffee reached his sta | tion, by a prearranged signal, Jackson l was notified and the attack unon the