MUMBLINGS September 7, 2006

One of the most important and significant Indian fights in American History was the Massacre of Fort Mims. It is one of the least publicized and promoted. Consider the largest Indian Massacre in our country's history; it was in August 1813, that an estimated 1,000 Indians surprised the Fort by attacking and killing over 500 white men, women, and children. The slaughter occurred at Boatyard Lake in the Latham community about 20 miles north of Bay Minette.

Local people should be congratulated for the annual reenactment of the horrible massacre. They do an excellent job, with what they have. Unfortunately, there is not much there to see as historians have done a lot of talking about the event, but done very little. This year’s reenactment was Saturday August 26th.

Although there are several books written about the event, it is a comparatively unknown chapter in our history. Its significance is certainly unrealized.

Subsequently to the Massacre, Andrew Jackson headed a force to battle chief Red Eagle and his Red Sticks and the final results were their defeat at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in Tallapoosa County, north of Montgomery. This battle site has been taken over by the Federal Parks Bureau and a beautiful park is located their. No such park has been built at Fort Mims. More significant historically than Custard’s last stand, were where Indians killed hundreds of American Soldiers led by General Custard. The Federal Park Bureau also runs a fine park in this area thousands of people visit it daily.

Tradition has it that massacres is when Indians kill white people and battles are when white people kill Indians.

In 1956, one of Alabama’s greatest citizens, the late Thomas W. Martin President of Alabama Power Company wrote a book on the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
For over 50 years I have been trying to get a copy of it and finally succeeded. Naturally, it is out of print but the Alabama Public Library Service keeps a copy of every book published by Alabama writers in its library in Montgomery. Through them, I was successful in getting a copy of the book.

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The book reveals the importance of the battle and then describes the actual fight where Red Eagle and his band were defeated. In the Horseshoe Battle, 830 Indians were killed and 47 wounded. General Jackson’s army lost 26 and 107 that were wounded.

Fort Mims and Horseshoe Bend were significant in American History because it cut off the influence of Spain and allowed Alabama to develop without influence of that country.

As most who know anything about this, are aware of the fact that later, President Jackson invited William Weatherford, Red Eagle, to live with him in his beautiful home, the Hermitage, near Nashville, Tennessee.

Martin was one of Alabama’s leading citizens. The few months after I arrived in Baldwin County in 1936, he came to Bay Minette and I went with him to visit Blakeley. At that time, you had to walk through the woods to reach the dead city. Thanks to several people, including Mary Grice, this historical dead city has been developed to the point that it is a prominent historical site. Unfortunately, lightning struck the main building and destroyed it recently.

Mr. Martin was one of the founders of the Alabama State Chamber of Commerce, which later became the Business Council of Alabama. I was one of the early directors and at 28, was the youngest and served for almost thirty years.

See you again soon, I hope.