John T. McIntyre

“ Desperation itself was the conduct of the Creeks; they fought like trapped wolves, ever seeking to break through the circle of their foes. But at length, when the last rifle had cracked, the last pistol had spoken its sharp sentence of death, the last hatchet, sword and knife had ceased to rise and fall, the smoke of the conflict slowly lifted and drifted away. Of the warriors of Tallushatchee more than a hundred and sixty were slain, and the remainder were taken prisoners. ”

“ Not only did the fights at Emuckfan and Enotachopco Creeks dash the spirit of the Indians, but they also gave Jackson’s raw troops a taste of war as it is waged in the wilderness. Instead of harrying the border and setting it ablaze as they had no doubt intended, the savages were content to hold their fort at the bend of the Tallapoosa and await the aggression of the white man. ”

“ Again there was a silence, and then Tecumseh went on:
“It is well that my voice is only for the ears of the old men. For they are wise, and will judge well of what I have to say. Young men are quick, but they have no wisdom; they are strong when the war-whoop sounds, for their knives and tomahawks are keen, and their arrows straight. But in the council they are like young bears. My words are the wisdom of the Muscogee; let the old men give ear.” ”

“ The afternoon wore away; then the sun began to lower behind the range of waving tree tops and the long shadows began to trail upon the slopes of the knoll. But the Creeks made no sign; craftily they assumed carelessness, lolling about in groups, their horses picketed at some little distances.
“They think to fool us,” said Jack. “It’s their idea not to stir until their movements are covered by darkness; and in that way, so they imagine, they’ll lure us into thinking they are not going to move at all.” ”

“ But the scene at the savage camp-fire, the streaked faces of the Creek council, the words of the Red Warrior [42] and of Tecumseh had been ominous and impressed themselves upon the boys’ minds.
“If the Injuns ever really join together for a war against the whites, they’ll sweep the border like flame for a while,” observed Jack, soberly, as they rode along. “The settlers are far apart, and the soldiers would be a long time getting into action.”
“I hope it never comes,” spoke Frank, fervently. “It will gain nothing for the tribes, and it will cost many an honest man his life.” ”

“ He had a line of traps, in season, for miles along the banks of the streams; he hunted bear and hill-cats and deer, and lived in a small log house in the shelter of a huge, uprearing rock, in a region into which man, white or red, seldom ventured. Here with a packhorse and a brace of huge dogs, almost as savage as wolves, he had lived for years, only venturing into the settlements in the spring to sell his furs, and in the early fall to lay in his necessities, as Jack had said, for the winter. ”

“ The interest and attention of Jack Davis was almost equal to that of the Creeks; he leaned forward, drinking in the utterances of the Shawnee eagerly.
“And now,” spoke Tecumseh, “at last the end has come. Suns have risen and gone down upon the white man’s advance, and the red man’s retreat before him. Moons have begun and moons have ended, and more and more the forest rings with the stroke of the axe which means death to the hunting grounds of our fathers. The march of the white man is the march of an evil spirit ”

“ But their leader was another half-breed, Weatherford, the dreaded “Red Warrior” of the Creeks. Upon the back of a great charger, garbed in all the barbaric splendor of a savage chief, he dashed among his scattering bands. His great voice lifted like a trumpet, burning them with his scorn.
“Are the Muscogees men, or children?” he cried. “Have they the hearts of warriors, or of rabbits? You have asked to be led against the foe; he is before you. Shall your children say their fathers turned their backs upon the paleface? ”

“ On the second night at Fort Strother a fresh band of Cherokees came up, and both Jack Davis and Frank Lawrence were delighted to see Running Elk among them.
[120] “How?” said the young hunter, as he threw himself from his horse and shook hands with them, a wide smile upon his face.
“Good,” replied Frank. “And you look quite fresh and lively yourself, Running Elk.”
“Glad to see you,” spoke Jack, who had a great regard for the young brave. “That’s a good sized war party you’ve ridden in with.”
“Much want fight Creeks,” stated Running Elk. “Creek bad medicine. Make big war. All die like wolf.” ”

“ Jack had taken part in more than one desperate affray with the red men in his expeditions into their hunting country, and so he was more or less familiar with their methods.
“Look out for the wounded Creeks,” he advised Frank as he reloaded his piece. “They are never too weak to strike another blow. And they are not always dead when they appear to be so. They have a habit of lying quiet and entangling your legs when you come within reach, and pulling you down within reach of a knife.”
Colonel Coffee raged among the Indians like an infuriated giant. ”

“ Jack and Frank were seated just outside the flap of Jackson’s tent, when the commander spoke these words to his officers within. Jack nodded to his companions.
“I wouldn’t care to be an army contractor and have the general on my trail,” said he. “He wouldn’t stop at much.”
“Not he,” said a young Nashville lawyer, who was in the scouts. “Jackson is a man who accomplishes everything he sets out to do. He does not know what fear is, and has the most resolute will I’ve ever known.” ”

“ Jack Davis and Frank Lawrence had been friends for almost ten years. Jack’s father was a prosperous farmer with a great tract of land which he had won from the wilderness of Tennessee, and the boy had been brought up at the plow in the planting season, harvesting the crop in the autumn, and in the fall and winter ranging the woods with his rifle, accompanied by friendly Indians, or by some old trapper who had spent his life in the wilds. ”

“ Frank Lawrence gave one look at the drawn, white face and gaunt frame and whispered to his friend:
“I say, do they really mean to offer this man command of an army? He looks to be dying.”
Jack nodded his head and answered in the same low voice:
“Maybe so. But that won’t make much difference to the general. Anything he sets himself to do, he does; and if he makes up his mind to lead the expedition against the Creeks, he’ll do it, no matter what his condition is.” ”

“ Upon the door was the skin of a panther which in life must have been a monster; bears’ claws and teeth, traps, fishing-tackle, hatchets, and axes, and an extra gun also hung upon the wall. There was a huge fireplace at one side, built of stones and dried clay. With a little thrill of content, Frank pictured the cabin as it must be in the winter, with a fire of logs roaring up the chimney’s wide throat; all was snow and cold without, the dreary [49] wilderness stretched away on every hand, but, within, the fire-glow gave off a cheer and comfort missing in a more stately dwelling. ”

“ The young Virginian also grinned at this; but he resumed, soberly enough:
“Our coming on this band so unexpectedly has made me think. Here we are, away in the heart of this wilderness; there’s possibly not a white man nearer than Fort Mims, and that’s fifty miles away. Of course, we’re armed and our horses are good ones; but, if we were attacked by a party of Creeks of any size, we’d stand a poor chance.”
“We’re taking the regular chance of the border,” said Jack. “No more, no less.” ”

“ As for the young Cherokee hunter, he [89] seemed greatly pleased with the venture; the danger, instead of being dreaded in his case, was welcomed.
“Brave must fight,” said he, elatedly. “Not like squaw or papoose.”
“Well, I’d just as leave dodge any fighting at the odds we’ll have to give,” said Jack, drily. “But,” and there was a hopeful note in his voice, “maybe we’ll not be molested much. You see,” to Frank, “that section of the Alabama River where the triple oaks stand has no white settlers; and the Indians at this time are mustering in the neighborhoods they mean to attack. ”

“ Jack Davis shook the rein of his black horse; and so the three rode toward the stream, which was perhaps a quarter of a mile away. It was late autumn and the year was 1812. The Muscogee country, as the state of Alabama was then called, was green with mighty forests, and in places almost untrodden by the foot of the white man; game was to be met on every hand; and the red huntsmen ranged the hills and valleys, seeking not only food, but their foes as well. ”

“ During the boy’s ninth year the Declaration of Independence was signed; and in a little while Marion, known on the border as “the Swamp Fox,” Sumpter, known as “the Game [197] Cock,” and other heroes of the wilderness were up in arms and stemming the tide of the red-coated aggression. Amidst the Tory outrages, the assaults of the ferocious dragoons of Tarleton, Hugh Jackson, Andrew’s elder brother, took up his rifle and joined the defenders. He met his death in the fight at Stono.
The old log church was used as an hospital, and Mrs. Jackson was among the women who nursed the wounded Americans. ”

“ In the first place, much to his amazement, no supplies were being sent them from Fort Strother; indeed, a rider brought the news that the fort itself was almost destitute. To maintain an army in the wilderness without food is of course impossible; and so, instead of pressing forward to the victory which would have ended the war, the army was forced to retreat.
On top of this came the tidings that the brigade of troops left at Fort Strother to protect those wounded at Tallushatchee had been ordered away by the commander of another division which was also operating in the hostile country. ”

“ He was not the man to pause, even though he had but soldiers enough to man his few pieces of artillery. But by the early part of January, 1814, he had a strong body of men at Fort Strother; though more were on their way, he felt that he need not wait for them.
About eighty miles south of his position on the Coosa River was a fortified camp of Creeks, a place called Tohopeka. At this place the savages were assembling in great numbers; the scouts from Fort Strother had been watching them for some time and keeping the general closely in touch with what was happening there. ”

“ Before the force under the giant colonel forded the river, its commander had a very [123] clear idea of the natural formations; moreover, Jack and Frank, with Running Elk and a scouting party of young Cherokee braves, were riding ahead.
“Looks like a piece of sharp work,” said the young Virginian to his friend.
“Yes,” replied Jack. “We’ll reach Tallushatchee before morning; and if the Creeks are in the frame of mind Running Elk reports, there will be a piece of fighting such as this border hasn’t seen for many a day.” ”

“ With this fact greatly comforting him, Frank was willing to turn once more toward the settlements; so after one night more in the river bank camp, they took to the saddle and headed for the Tennessee line. After the first day, unmistakable signs of Indians compelled them to change [92] their course somewhat; the twilight of the second day found them in the forest amid a perfect maze of fresh trails.
“They seem to be all around us,” said Jack, as they brought up at last, and sat their horses looking about them. ”

“ Frank now turned his eyes upon the point of land upon which stood the triple oaks; to his surprise, he saw among the trees all the evidences of a Creek encampment; and a new flight of arrows and volley of rifle shots from behind rocks, stumps and trees, told of the hiding places of the savages.
By great good fortune, the boys’ horses, at the first sound of the rifles of the hostiles, [59] had broken away from their slight restraint and galloped off into the woods, unhurt.
“Keep close to the ground,” warned Jack, “and after them. We must not lose sight of our mounts, or we’re done for.” ”

“ Next day Jack and Frank, Running Elk having departed for a visit to the lodges of his people, took horse and rode to Nashville, and went at once to General Jackson’s house. They found him upon a sunny porch in the midst of a committee which had been appointed to offer him the command of the volunteers. He was a long thin man with large bones and a frame of great natural [111] strength. ”

“ Holding out his hand to them, appealingly, he said in fairly good English:
“Young paleface, I, Black Bear of the Cherokee people, ask you to carry my message to your chief.”
“Speak, Black Bear,” said Jack, quietly; “and be sure we will do so.”
The wounded Indian lifted himself upon an elbow and proceeded.
“I am of the village of Talladega; we of that village are friends of the white man. Four suns ago the Red Sticks attacked us; they had us ringed about with spears and arrows, and they were as many as the leaves of the forest in summer. We fought, but we were too few to drive them away. ”

“ It’s not the Indian nature to stand up unprotected in the face of rifle fire. Their training is to hunt cover, to stalk their enemy, to creep up and jump on him when he’s not looking for it. One-quarter as many white men would have taken this knoll at the first rush, seeing that there are [72] only three to defend it. But Injuns are different.” He pointed with one outstretched arm toward the discomfited savages. “They have the worst of it and they know it. It’ll surprise me a good deal if they pull themselves together enough to make another attack.” ”

“ All our supplies can be sent down to us in boats without trouble. The first thing to do is to open a military road through the forest and over the mountains [118] to the Coosa River, and there establish a second depot. The great idea is to create a permanent communication between East Tennessee and Mobile. Once we reach the Coosa that will be easy, as the Alabama River can be used for the remainder of the way.”
“But in opening this way you’ll encounter many hostile Indians.” ”

“ A small party can carry and kill all it needs for months; but a force like this can’t go further than its supply train can follow.”
It was this same night that Jack and Frank were visiting in the camp of the friendly Cherokees just outside the fort. They sat at a camp-fire with the father of Running Elk, a stately old chief with a hard Cherokee name and great fame as a warrior and hunter. Running Elk was also there, as were numerous braves of the tribe. Conversation with them was most difficult, as everything had to be translated by Running Elk ”