A Conquering Spirit: Fort Mims and the Redstick War of 1813–1814The Fort Mims massacre changed the course of American history in many ways, not the least of which was the ensuing rise of one Andrew Jackson to the national stage. The unprecedented Indian victory over the encroaching Americans who were bent on taking their lands and destroying their culture horrified many and injured the young nation's pride. Tragedies such as this one have always rallied Americans to a common cause: a single-minded determination to destroy the enemy and avenge the fallen. The August 30, 1813, massacre at Fort Mims, involving hundreds of dead men, women, and children, was just such a spark. Gregory Waselkov tells compellingly the story of this fierce battle at the fortified plantation home of Samuel Mims in the Tensaw District of the Mississippi Territory. With valuable maps, tables, and artifact illustrations, Waselkov looks closely at the battle to cut through the legends and misinformation that have grown around the event almost from the moment the last flames died at the smoldering ruins. At least as important as the details of the battle, though, is his elucidation of how social forces remarkably converged to spark the conflict and how reverberations of the battle echo still today, nearly two hundred years later. |
Contents
The Tensaw | 16 |
Many Paths to the Tensaw | 32 |
Creek Civil War to Redstick War | 96 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
A Conquering Spirit: Fort Mims and the Redstick War of 1813–1814 Gregory A. Waselkov Limited preview - 2009 |
A Conquering Spirit: Fort Mims and the Redstick War of 1813–1814 Gregory A. Waselkov No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
ADAH Alabama River Alexander McGillivray American Andrew Jackson Archaeological August Austill battle Beasley's Benjamin Hawkins British Burnt Corn century Choctaw Claiborne's clan colonial Coosada Cornells County Creek Indians Creek métis Creek Creek nation Creek War culture David Tate Davis Dixon Bailey Doctor Thomas early English descent escaped Federal Road Florida Fort Stoddert Frontier Claims Georgia Halbert and Ball Historical narration History of Alabama Holmes Ibid J.F.H. Claiborne Collection James John Josiah Francis Journals and Writings killed Lackey lands Letterbook F Letters massacre McGillivray McGirth MDAH miles militia Mississippi Territory Mobile Moniac Muscogees or Creek Muskogee NARA Natchez Negro Notes taken Pensacola Pickett Papers plantation prophets quote Randon Redstick warriors Samuel Mims Sehoy settlement Sex Age Slave Shawnee Slave Owner Fate South Spanish Steadham Stoddert talwa Tecumseh Tensaw Country Tensaw métis Tensaw resident Tombigbee Toulmin town Upper Creek Waselkov Washington Republican William Weatherford women Woodward