The Creek War of 1813 and 1814

XVI. Beard and Tandy Walker

218 THE CREEK WAR. and Ohickasaw warriors to do but to burn the deserted cabins and return home. According to Pickett , when the returning warriors reached Pitchlyn's, they separated, one party going to their homes and the other party going to St. Stephens to join Claiborne 's army The union of the Ohoctaws and the Ohickasaws with the whites was now secured and thus was gained a great point for the protection of the Mississippi Territory. And to Oaptain Gaines and 001onel McKee must be accorded the chief honor of bringing the warriors of these tribes into the military service of the United States during the Oreek War of 1813. NOTES: The materials for the above chapter are drawn from Pickett's History of Alabama, the Alabama Historical Reporter of May, 1884, Olaiborne's life of Sam Dale, the reoords of the Department of the Interior , Ohoctaw traditions, and oonversations, in 1877, with the venerable Oaptain S. P. Doss, of Piokensville, Alabama, who, in early life, was an intimate friend of Pushmataha. H. S. H. 'l'HE BASH.! SIClRlJIISB. 219 CHAPTER XV. THE BASHI SKIRMISH. "A steed comes at morning; no rider is there; But its brldleia red with the sign of despair." -Lochiel', Warning. ITis not certain when the events bearing this name took place. An intelligent citizen of Clarke county says, before Fort Easeley was evacuated. Pickett says ea.rly in October. The inmates of Fort Easeley and of Turner's Fort came for greater security to Fort St. Stephens, probably early in September, and from this neighborhood Colonel William McGrew, with some twenty-five mounted men, had gone up the river, into the Wood's Bluff neighborhood, to look after the Indians who among the various tenantless and exposed plantations were committing depredations. Before this small band of horsemen had reached a littlestream called Bashi, that flows into the Tombigbee a mile or two north of Wood's Bluff, they suddenly found themselves among tloncealed Creek warriors. They wero ambushed. A turkey tail was raised above a log by one of the concealed Indians,and this was the signal for attaok. The Indians who had guns instantly fired from their places of concealment and the white leader, who had taken part in the Burnt Corn engagement , fell from his horse. Edmund Miles wa..'1 220 THE CREEK lVAR. also killed, and Jesse Griffin severely wounded. Colonel McGrew's men returned the .fire of the Indians, but without much effect. The Indians from their places of ambush had largely the advantage of the mounted men, and these found it needful to make good their retreat. Besides the commanding officer three of the men were missing, Edmund Miles, Jesse Griffin, and David Griffin. These two Griffins were twins. One of them on the morning of that fatal day seemed to expect some calamity, and they agreed to stand by each other, the one not to leave the other in case ofdanger. They came into the world together,and they proposed,if need should be,to stand or fall side by side, and go out of the world togEther. According to the best information Jesse Griffin was shot through the thigh and, being unable to retreat with the others, his brother David, according to their agreement, staid by him while life remained. It is one tradition that the two kept up a fire upon the Indians, as fast as they could load their guns, until seven of the Indians were killed; but, however that may be, it is very sure that among the few whites and the Indians slain the body of David Griffin was not found. His son, William Griffin, born at Wood's Bluff in 1812, and at this time with his mother either in Fort Easeley or at St. Stephens, a resident at Bashi in 1879, states, as the account that was given to him, that the last sight which his comrades had of his father, as the Indians were still firing upon them in their retreat, showed him in the act of loading his gun, himself then with a broken limb, but resolute in appearance, as determined to fight to the last moment of his life. William Griffi~ THE BASHl SKIRMISH. 221 was informed by those who hac} a right to know that the body of his father was surely never found. All that was found as a trace of him on that...