The Creek War of 1813 and 1814

VI. The Stockades

100 THE CREEK WAR. adopted: Hoithlewahlee, Foosbatchee, Kolumee, Ekanhatkee, Sawanogee, Muklasa, Ochee-apofa, Oakchovuchee, Pochus-hatchee, Pakan-talahassee, Wakokayee, Wewaka. These towns "made themselves red." So Gatschet translates itchatidshalgi. The Alibamo towns, which are counted among the Upper Creeks, have already been named as hostile. The Lower Creeks, under the influence more largely of Colonel Hawkins, were, for the most part, friendly. Not.ed among these friendly Indians were General William McIntosh, a Creek chiefof the tribe of the Cowetas, Mad Dragon's Son, and Timpony Barnard of the ITchees. In the narration of events we left Weatherford with the war party on the east of the Alabama, surely, according to the letter of General Wilkinson, in July or August of 1813. And some of that party very soon proceeded to Pensacola, then the great mart of trade, to procure military supplies. On their return occurred the attack and defense known as the Battle of Burnt Corn, which will be detailed in another chapter APPENDIX. NOTE.-It seems fitting to append here some extracts , if lengthy, yet interesting and valuable, from the memoranda of Mr. Geor~_ S. Gaines, originally published in the Alabama Historical Rellorter. With some members of tbe Gaines family I have been personally acquainted, and these memoranda I am sure are reliable. T.R.B. THE W.dB CLOUD GATHERING. 101 EXTlU.OTS FROM MElWRANDA. OF GEO. 8. GAINES. "A Oreek chief, known as O-ee-o-ehee-mot-la, obtained permission of the Ohoetaws to make a settlement at the falls of the Black Warrior, so that the hunters of each tribe might have a resting place when visiting each other. This settlement had increased to many families before I took charge of the U. S. Ohoctaw trading house at St. Stephens (1805), and they traded with us. I was in the habit of extending a credit to the old chief of about a hundred dollars, which he always paid off at his next visit, but expected the same indulgence after he had finished bartering. During the spring and fall of every year he came down the river with a fleet of canoes to visit me. In the faU of 1811 he arrived with a large fleet manned by thirty or forty warriors, and having each canoe freighted with larger cargoes than usual of skins and furs, etc. At that time Tandy Walker, who had lived many years in the Oreek nation as a "public blacksmith," sent by the government for the benefit of the Indians, resided in the neighborhood of St. Stephens. He learned their language and was a great favorite, and when O-ce-o-chee-mot-Ia came down to trade with me he acted as interpreter. On the present occasion I noticed that the old chief was exceedingly anxious to make me believe that he was very much attached to me. He informed me that he had acted upon my advice in relation to building a good store house, and now brought with him several hundred dollars' worth of peltries, etc., to purchase a supply of goods for his store-that I had offered him credit several times before to the amount of several hundred dollars. Next day, after this conversation, the Ohief remarked he would make his debt an "old hundred " (one thousand) this time. I replied that the times were changed. The British government had a misunderstanding with the President which 102 THE CREEK WAR. might end in a war, and it would be unwise in me to allow him to contraot so large a debt and imprudent in him to do so. He remarked that his friend, Tandy Walker, who was a man of property, would be his seourity for one or two "old hundreds." Whilethis conversation was progressing I notioed Walker was greatly troubled, and was endeavoring to appear calm. I reiterated I could only let him have the usual amount of credit under the existing oircumstances. But the crafty Chief was not to be put off so readily, and entered into an ingenious argument to overcome my objections. The sun went down and I told the chief that it was time to prepare for sleep, and we woul~ " tell each other our dreams in the morning." Bidding me good night with assurances of affeotion and respeot, he led his party off. In a few minutes Walker returned and leaning over the counter he whispered...