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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 12, 2007, 11:28 pm
Book Title: History Of Clarke County
TERRIBLE MASSACRE AT FORT MIMS.
[Transcriber’s note: See Notes at end of chapter]
"In the meantime, the wealthy half-bloods about Little river had dropped
down the Alabama, in their boats, and had secreted themselves in the swamp about
Lake Tensaw. Uniting with the whites, they soon began the construction of a fort
around the residence of Samuel Mims, a wealthy Indian countryman, to whom we
have often alluded, and who, originally, was one of the pack-horsemen of the
Honorable George Galphin.
"Being about to relate a horrible affair, in which people of all ages and
both sexes were subjected to savage butchery, a particular description of the
place where it occurred is deemed necessary. Mims lived within four hundred
yards of the Boat Yard, upon Lake Tensaw, a mile east of the Alabama river, and
two miles below the Cut-Off. His house was a large frame building of one story,
with spacious shed-rooms. Around it pickets were driven, between which
fence-rails were placed. Five hundred port-holes were made, three and a half
feet only from the ground. The stockading enclosed an acre of ground, in a
square form, and was entered by two ponderous but rude gates, one on the east
and the other on the west. Within the enclosure, besides the main building, were
various outhouses, rows of bee-gums, together with cabins and board shelters,
recently erected by the settlers, wherever a vacant spot appeared. At the
southwest corner a block-house was begun, but never finished. This defence was
situated on a very slight elevation. A large potato field lay adjoining on the
south, in which were a row of negro houses. Woods intervened between the
picketing and the lake, while in a northern direction cane swamps, which grew
denser as they approached the river, were hard by. On the east the flat lands
continued for several miles, interspersed with cane marshes and some ravines. It
was altogether a most ill-chosen place for a fort, as it ultimately proved. [1]
"No sooner was Fort Mims partially finished than the citizens poured in,
with their provisions and effects. Colonel Carson, who had reached Mount Vernon
in advance of Claiborne, sent over Lieutenant Osborne, with sixteen men.
Afterward Claiborne despatched one hundred and seventy-five more volunteers to
Fort Mims under the command of Major Daniel Beasley, with Captains Jack,
Batchelor and Middleton. He found seventy militia upon duty, commanded, for the
present, by Dunn and Plummer, two inexperienced officers. Permitting them to
elect their officers, the brave Captain Bailey was unanimously chosen for the
post of captain, and _____ Crawford for ensign. The next day General Claiborne,
arriving at Fort Minis and inspecting the works, addressed a general order of
instruction to Beasley, charging him 'to strengthen the picketing, build two
more block-houses, respect the enemy, to send out scouts frequently, and allow
the suffering people provisions, whether whites or friendly Indians.' Returning
to his headquarters, at Mount Vernon, he, for the moment, directed his attention
to other portions of the frontiers. [2] In the meantime, Major Beasley had
extended the picketing on the east side sixty feet deep, forming a separate
apartment for the accommodation of the officers and their baggage. He greatly
weakened his command by sending small detachments to Forts Madison, Easley,
Pierce, and Joshua Kennedy's saw-mill, where citizens had collected, and asked
for assistance. [3] At this mill the government had a large contract for lumber
to put Fort Charlotte, of Mobile, in repair, and build a fort at Mobile Point,
and it was deemed necessary to strengthen it with troops to prevent the Indians
from burning it down. [4]
"The whole population of Fort Mims, consisting of whites, Indians, soldiers,
officers and negroes, now amounted to five hundred and fifty-three souls.
Crowded together in an Alabama swamp, in the month of August, much sickness
prevailed. [5] In the meantime, Crawford was dismissed from the post of ensign
for having deserted from the regular army, and Peter Randon, a half-breed, was
appointed in his place. Beasley kept up a correspondence with Claiborne, several
times acquainting him with alarms, which turned out to be false. [6]
"The Creeks, whom we left returning to Pensacola from the battle ground of
Burnt Corn, were again liberally supplied with arms and ammunition. Making their
way back to the Tallapoosa without molestation, active preparations were made by
them for immediate war. Warriors from the towns of Hoithlewale, Fooshatche,
Cooloome, Ecunhutke, Souvanoga, Mooklausa, Alabama, Oakchoieooche,
Pockus-chatche, Ochebofa, Puckuntallahassee, Wewocoe and Woccocoie marched in a
southern direction, while others, from Tallase, Auttose and Ocfuske, formed a
front of observation toward Coweta to conceal the movement. [7]
"Associated with McQueen and Francis was William Weatherford, the son of
Charles Weatherford, a Georgian, who had lived almost a life-time in the Creek
Nation. His mother, Sehoy, was the half-sister of General McGillivray, and a
native of Hickory Ground. William was uneducated, but was a man of great native
intellect, fine form and commanding person. His bearing was gentlemanly and
dignified, and was coupled with an intelligent expression, which led strangers
to suppose that they were in the presence of no ordinary man. His eyes were
large, dark, brilliant and flashing. He was one of 'nature's noblemen'— a man of
strict honor and unsurpassed courage. He was now with the large Indian army,
conducting them down to attack the Tensaw settlers, among whom were his brother
and several sisters, and also his half-brother, David Tait. [8] How unhappily
were these people divided! His sister, Hannah McNac, with all her sons, belonged
to the war party, while the husband was a true friend of the Americans, and had
fled to them for protection. Weatherford led his army to the plantation of
Zachanah McGirth, a little below the present Claiborne, where, capturing several
negroes, among whom was an intelligent fellow named Joe, from whom they learned
the condition of Fort Mims, and the proper time to attack it, he halted for
several days to deliberate. One of the negroes escaped, and conveyed
intelligence to the fort of the approach of the Indians. Major Beasley had
continued to send out scouts daily, who were unable to discover traces of the
enemy. The inmates had become inactive, free from alarm, and abandoned
themselves to fun and frolic. The negro runner from McGirth's plantation now
aroused them for a time, and Fort Mims was further strengthened. But the Indians
not appearing the negro was pronounced to be a liar, and the activity of the
garrison again abated. At length two young negro men were sent out to mind some
beef cattle that grazed upon the luxuriant grass within a few miles of the fort.
Suddenly they came rushing through the gate out of breath, and reported that
they had counted twenty-four painted warriors. Captain Middleton, with a
detachment of horse, was immediately despatched with the negroes to the place,
but being unable to discover the least sign of the enemy, returned about sunset,
when one of the negroes, belonging to John Randon, was tied up and severely
flogged for alarming the garrison with what Major Beasley deemed a sheer
fabrication. Fletcher, the owner of the other, refused to permit him to be
punished, because he believed his statement, which so incensed the major that he
ordered him, with his large family, to depart from the fort by 10 o'clock the
next day. The next morning Randon's negro was again sent out to attend the
cattle, but seeing a large body of Indians, fled to Fort Pierce, being afraid to
communicate the intelligence to those who had whipped him. In the meantime
Fletcher's negro, by the reluctant consent of his master, was tied up and the
lash about to be applied to his back;, the officers were preparing to dine; the
soldiers were reposing on the ground: some of the settlers were playing cards;
the girls and young men were dancing, while a hundred thoughtless and happy
children sported from door to door, and from tent to tent.
"At that awful moment one thousand Creek warriors, extended flat upon the
ground in a thick ravine, four hundred yards from the eastern gate, thirsted for
American blood. No eyes saw them but those of the chirping and innocent birds
in the limbs above them. The mid-day sun sometimes flashed through the thick
foliage and glanced upon their yellow skins, but quickly withdrew, as if afraid
longer to contemplate the murderous horde. There lay the prophets, covered with
feathers, with black faces, resembling those monsters which partake of both
beast and bird. Beside them lay curious medicine bags and rods of magic. The
whole ravine was covered with painted and naked savages, completely armed.
"The hour of 12 o'clock arrived, and the drum beat the officers and the
soldiers of the garrison to dinner. Then, by one simultaneous bound, the ravine
was relieved of its savage burden, and soon the field resounded with the rapid
tread of the bloody warriors. The sand had washed against the eastern gate,
which now lay open. Major Beasley rushed, sword in hand, and essayed in vain to
shut it. The Indians felled him to the earth with their clubs and tomahawks,
and, rushing over his body into the additional part of the fort, left him a
chance to crawl behind the gate, where he shortly after expired. To the last he
called upon the men to make a resolute resistance. The eastern part of the
picketing was soon full of Indians, headed by five prophets, whom the Americans
immediately shot down, while engaged in dancing and incantations. This greatly
abated the ardor of the enemy, many of whom retreated through the gate for the
moment. They had been assured that American bullets would split upon the sacred
persons of the prophets, and pass off harmless. The unhappy inmates of Fort Mims
now made all efforts to defend the place, but their attempts were confused and
ineffective. The assailants, from the old line of picketing, in the additional
part of the fort, and from the outside stockading, commenced a general fire upon
the Americans. Soldiers, negroes, women and children fell. Captain Middleton, in
charge of the eastern section, was soon despatched, together with all his men.
Captain Jack, on the south wing, with a company of riflemen, defended his
position with great bravery. Lieutenant Randon fought from the guard-house, on
the west, while Captain Dixon Bailey repulsed the enemy, to the best of his
ability, on the northern line of pickets, against which much the largest number
of Indians operated. The number of savages was so great that they apparently
covered the whole field, and they now rent the air with their exulting shouts.
Many of the younger prophets surrounded the main building, which was full of
women and children, and danced around it, distorting their faces, and sending up
the most unearthly screams. The pickets and houses afforded the Americans some
protection, where the young men, the aged, and even the boys, fought with
desperation. Captain Bailey was the man to whom the eyes of all the settlers
were turned at this critical moment. He maintained his position, and was the
only officer who gained the port-holes before they were occupied by the enemy.
His repeated discharges made lanes through the savage ranks. Fresh numbers
renewed their efforts against him, and often an Indian and an American would
plant their guns across the same port-hole to shoot at each other. Bailey
encouraged the whole population in the fort to fight, assuring them that Indians
seldom fought long at one time, and, by holding out for a little while longer,
many would be saved. Failing in his entreaties to prevail upon several to rush
through the enemy to Fort Pierce, only two miles distant, there procure
reinforcements, and attack the assailants in the rear, he resolved to go
himself, and began to climb over the pickets for that purpose; but his
neighbors, who loved him dearly, pulled him back.
"About three o'clock, the Indians, becoming tired of the contest, plundered
the additional part of the fort, and began to carry off the effects to the house
of Mrs. O'Neil, which lay three hundred yards distant, on the road to the ferry.
Weatherford overtook them, on a fine black horse, and brought them back to the
scene of action, after having impressed them by an animated address. About this
time, Dr. Osborne, the surgeon, was shot through the body, and carried into
Patrick's loom-house, where he expired in great agony. The women now animated
the men to defend them by assisting in loading the guns and bringing water from
the well. The most prominent among these was Mrs. Daniel Bailey, who, provoked
at the cowardice of Sergeant Mathews, severely punctured him with a bayonet as
he lay trembling against the wall. Many instances of unriveled courage could be
enumerated, if our space permitted it. One of Jack's soldiers retreated to the
half-finished blockhouse, after his commander and all his brothers-in-arms had
fallen, and from that point discharged his gun at intervals, until he had killed
over a dozen warriors. James and Daniel Bailey, the brothers of the gallant
captain, with other men, ascended to the roof of Mims' dwelling, knocked off
some shingles for port-holes, where they conttinued to shoot the lusty warriors
on the outside of the picketing. But the superior force of the assailants
enabled them constantly to bring fresh warriors into the action. They now set
fire to the main building, and many of the out-houses. The shrieks of the women
and children went up to high heaven.
"To Patrick's loom-house had been attached some extra picketing, forming
what was improperly termed a bastion. Hither Captain Bailey, and those of his
command who survived, entered and continued to pour upon the savages a most
deadly fire. Many citizens attempted to reach that spot, now the only one of the
least security. The venerable David Mims, attempting to pass to the bastion,
received a large ball in the neck; the blood gushed out; he exclaimed : 'Oh,
God, I am a dead man!' and fell upon his face. A cruel warrior cut around his
head and waved his hoary scalp exultingly in the air. Some poor Spaniards, who
had deserted from the Pensacola garrison, kneeled around the well and crossed
themselves, and, while interceding with the Most High, were despatched with
tomahawks. 'To the bastion! To the bastion!' was now the fearful cry of the
survivors. Soon it was full to overflowing. The weak, wounded and feeble were
pressed to death and trodden under foot. The spot presented the appearance of
one immense mass of human beings, herded together too close to defend
themselves, and, like beeves in the slaughter-pen of the butcher, a prey to
those who fired upon them. The large building had fallen, carrying with it the
scorched bodies of the Baileys and others on the roof, and the large number of
women and children in the lower story. The flames began to reach the people in
the bastion. Dr. Thomas G. Holmes, an assistant surgeon in the garrison, seized
an axe, cut some pickets in two, but did not take them down, suffering them to
remain until a suitable opportunity offered to escape. The brave Dixon Bailey
now cried aloud that all was lost, that his family were to be butchered, and
begged all to make their escape, if possible. His negro man, Tom (still living,
at Sisemore's plantation) took up his favorite son, who was thirteen years of
age, but feeble with the fever, and bore him through the pickets, which Holmes
now threw down, and gained the woods in safety. But, strange to say, the
infatuated negro presently brought back the poor boy to a squad of hostiles, who
dashed out his brains with war-clubs. Little Ralph cried out, 'Father, father,
save me!' Of his Heavenly Father the poor little heathen had probably never heard.
"In front of the northern line of picketing was a fence, fifty yards
distant, in every lock of which many warriors had placed themselves, to cut off
all retreat; besides which, others stationed themselves at various points to
shoot those who should run. Dr. Holmes, Captain Bailey, and a negro woman named
Hester, the property of Benjamin Steadham, were the first to escape through the
aperture. Holmes, receiving in his flight several balls through his clothes, but
no wounds, strangely made his way over the fence, gained the swamp, and
concealed himself in a clay hole, formed by the prostration of an immense tree.
Bailey reached the swamp, but, being badly wounded, died by the side of a
cypress stump. Hester received a severe wound in the breast, but reached a canoe
in the lake, paddled to Fort Stoddart that night, and was the first to give
intelligence to General Claiborne of the horrible affair.
"Returning again to the fatal spot, every house was seen to be in flames.
The bastion was broken down, the helpless inmates were butchered in the quickest
manner, and blood and brains bespattered the whole earth. The children were
seized by the legs and killed by beating their heads against the stockading. The
women were scalped, and those who were pregnant were opened, while they were
alive, and the embryo infants let out of the womb. Weatherford had, some time
previous, left the horrid scene. He had implored the warriors to spare the women
and children, and reproached them for their barbarity; but his own life was
threatened for interposing, many clubs were raised over his head, and he was
forced to retire. In after years he never thought of that bloody occasion
without the most painful emotions. He had raised the storm, but he could not
control it.
"The British agents at Pensacola had offered a reward of five dollars for
every American scalp. The Indians jerked the skin from the whole head, and,
collecting all the effects which the fire had not consumed, retired to the east
one mile from the ruins, to spend the night, where they smoked their pipes and
trimmed and dried their scalps. The battle had lasted from twelve to five o'clock.
"Of the large number in the fort, all were killed or burned up except a few
half-bloods, who were made prisoners; some negroes, reserved for slaves; and the
following persons, who made their escape and lived: Dr. Thomas G. Holmes;
Hester, a negro woman; Socca, a friendly Indian; Peter Randon, lieutenant of
Citizens' company; Josiah Fletcher; Sergeant Mathews, the coward; Martin Rigdon;
Samuel Smith, a half-breed;_____ Mourrice, Joseph Perry, Mississippi volunteers;
Jesse Steadham; Edward Steadham; John Hoven; ______ Jones, and Lieutenant W. R.
Chambliss, of the Mississippi volunteers.
"Dr. Holmes lay concealed in the clay-hole until nine o'clock at night. The
gin-house in the Boat Yard had been fired, and the conflagration threw a light
over the surrounding country in addition to that still afforded by the ruins of
Fort Mims. Hence, he was forced to resume his position until twelve o'clock,
when the flames died away. Remembering that he had never learned to swim, he
abandoned the idea which he first entertained, of crossing the Alabama and
making his way to Mount Vernon. He therefore bent his course toward the high
lands. He frequently came upon small Indian fires, around which the bloody
warriors lay in profound sleep. Bewildered and shocked in every direction in
which he turned by unwelcome and fearful sights like these, he at length, after
a great deal of winding and turning, fell back into the river swamp, hid in a
clump of thick cane, and there subsisted upon water, mutton-reed and roots. All
this time he was in the immediate neighborhood of the scene of the tragical
events we have described, and heard distinctly the Indians killing the stock of
the citizens. When silence ensued, after the fifth day, he made his way to the
Race-Track, and from thence to Pine-Log Creek, where he spent the night.
Reaching Buford's Island the next day, and seeing the tracks of people and
horses, he determined to fall in with them, although they should prove to be
hostile Indians, so desperate had he become from starvation. At the Tensaw Lake,
Holmes found the horses tied, and, rejoicing to find that they belonged to his
friends, fired off his gun. John Buford and his party, supposing the discharge
proceeded from the war party, fled up into a bayou in a boat, where they
remained two days. The disappointed Holmes went to the abandoned house of
Buford, where he fortunately obtained some poultry, which he devoured without
cooking. Three days afterward he was discovered by Captain Buford and conveyed
to Mount Vernon, where the other fourteen who had escaped had arrived and
reported him among the slain.
"Martin Rigdon, Samuel Smith, Joseph Perry, _____ Mourrice and Jesse
Steadham escaped through the picketing together. The latter was shot through the
thigh early in the action, and Mourrice in the shoulder. Leaping the fence in
front of the bastion, over the heads of the squatting Indians, they reached the
swamp, where they remained three days, when, finding an old canoe below the Boat
Yard, they made their escape to Mount Vernon. Edward Steadham, who was wounded
in the hand while flying from the bastion, entered the swamp, swam the Alabama
above the Cut-Off, and arrived at Mount Vernon four days after the massacre. All
the others who escaped so miraculously made their way with success through the
Indian ranks, and had many similar adventures, reaching the American
headquarters at the most imminent peril. Lieutenant Chambliss had received two
severe wounds in the fort, and in running across the field received another.
Reaching the woods, he crept into a log-heap. At night a party of warriors set
fire to it, for the purpose of smoking their pipes, and when the heat was
becoming intolerable, and he would soon have been forced to discover himself,
they fortunately were called off to another camp-fire. He left that place
immediately, wandered about, and for a long time was supposed to be dead. He
made his way, however, to Mount Vernon, and from thence went to Soldier's
Retreat, the residence of General Claiborne, near Natchez, where Dr. John Coxe,
an eminent surgeon, extracted two arrow-heads and a ball from his body. [9]
The day after the fall of Fort Mims the Indians began to bury their dead, by
laying their bodies between the potato-rows and drawing dirt and vines over
them; but, from the great number of the dead, it was abandoned. Many were also
wounded, who were put in canoes and conveyed up the river. Others wounded
started home on foot, and died at Burnt Corn Spring. Most of those who were
unhurt remained in the neighborhood to kill and plunder, while another party
went to Pensacola with the scalps suspended upon poles. [10]
"Zachariah McGirth was the son of James McGirth, who was, as we have seen,
an unprincipled but brave man, and a captain of a company of tories during the
Revolutionary War, called the 'Florida Rangers,' forming a part of a battalion
commanded by his brother, Colonel Daniel McGirth. When the war terminated
Captain James McGirth fled to the Creek Nation, with his children, among whom
was Zachariah. The latter married a half-breed Creek woman, named Vicey
Curnells, had become wealthy, and was now an inmate of Fort Mims with his wife
and eight children. About ten o'clock on the clay of the massacre McGirth
entered a boat with two of his negroes, and went out of Lake Tensaw into the
Alabama, with the view of ascending that river to his plantation, which was
situated below Claiborne, for some provisions. Reaching the Cut-Off he heard a
heavy discharge of guns at Fort Mims With pain and anxiety he continued to
listen to the firing, and running his boat a mile down the river, in a small
bayou, resolved to remain there, being firmly impressed with the belief that the
Indians had attacked the fort. Late in the evening the firing ceased, and
presently he saw clouds of black smoke rise above the forest trees, which was
succeeded by flames. The unhappy McGirth now well knew that all was lost, and
that in all probability his family had perished in the flames. Being a bold man,
like his father, he resolved to go through the swamp with his negroes to the
fatal spot. When he came within a quarter of a mile of the fort he placed the
negroes in a concealed place, and approached alone. All was gloomy and horrible.
Dogs in great numbers ran all over the woods, terrified beyond measure. Seeing
that the savages had left the ruins, he returned for his negroes, and a little
after twilight cautiously advanced. McGirth stood aghast at the horrible
spectacle. Bodies lay in piles, in the sleep of death, bleeding, scalped,
mutilated. His eyes everywhere fell upon forms half burned up, but still
crackling and frying upon the glowing coals. In vain did he and his faithful
slaves seek for the bodies of his family. Pile after pile was turned over, but
no discovery could be made, for the features of but few could be recognized. He
turned his back upon the bloody place, crossed the swamp to his boat, and
paddled down the Alabama with a sad and heavy heart.
"McGirth, now alone in the world, became a desperate man, ready to brave the
greatest dangers for the sake of revenge. During the Creek War he was often
employed in riding expresses from the Tombigby to Georgia, when no one else
could be found daring enough to go through the heart of the enemy's country.
After a long service amid such dangers, a friend accosted him one day in Mobile,
and told him some people desired to see him at the wharf. Repairing there, he
saw — common sight in those days—some wretched Indians, who had been captured.
He was asked if he knew them. Hestitating, his wife and seven children advanced
and embraced him. A torrent of joy and profound astonishment overwhelmed him. He
trembled like a leaf, and was, for some minutes, speechless.
"Many years before the dreadful massacre at Fort Mims, a little hungry
Indian boy, named Sanota, an orphan, houseless and friendless — stopped at the
house of Vicey McGirth. She fed and clothed him, and he grew to athletic
manhood. He joined the war party, and formed one of the expeditions against Fort
Minis. Like the other warriors, he was engaged in hewing and hacking the females
to pieces, toward the close of the massacre, when he suddenly came upon Mrs.
McGirth and his foster-sisters. Pity and gratitude taking possession of his
heart, he thrust them in a corner, and nobly made his broad savage breast a
rampart for their protection. The next day he carried them off on horses, toward
the Coosa, under the pretence that he had reserved them from death for his
slaves. Arriving at his home, he sheltered them, hunted for them, and protected
them from Indian brutality. One day he told his adopted mother that he was going
to fight Jackson at the Horse-Shoe, and that, if he should be killed, she must
endeavor to reach her friends below. Sure enough, the noble Sanota soon lay
among the slain at Cholocco Litebixee. Mrs. McGirth, now being without a
protector, and in a hostile region, started off on foot, with her children, for
Fort Claiborne. After much suffering, they reached their deserted farm, below
Claiborne, where Major Blue, at the head of a company of horse, discovered these
miserable objects, and carried them to Mobile, where the interview just related
took place with the astonished husband, who imagined that he had some months
before surveyed their half-burnt bodies upon the field of Fort Mims. His son was
the only member of his family who had perished on that memorable occasion. [11]
"General Claiborne despatched Major Joseph P. Kennedy, with a strong
detachment, to Fort Mims, from his headquarters at Mount Vernon, for the purpose
of interring the dead. Upon arriving there, Kennedy found the air darkened with
buzzards, and hundreds of dogs, which had run wild, gnawing upon the human
carcasses. The troops, with heavy hearts, succeeded in interring many bodies in
two large pits, which they dug. 'Indians, negroes, white men, women and children
lay in one promiscuous ruin. All were scalped, and females, of every age, were
butchered in a manner which neither decency nor language will permit me to
describe. The main building was burned to ashes, which were filled with bones.
The plains and the woods around were covered with dead bodies. All the houses
were consumed by fire, except the block-house, and a part of the pickets. The
soldiers and officers, with one voice, called on Divine Providence to revenge
the death of our murdered friends.' [12]
"In drawing our account of this sanguinary affair to a conclusion, it is
proper to observe that General Claiborne was in no wray to blame for the
unfortunate result. He corresponded with Beasley, heard from him almost every
day, and in his despatches constantly urged him to be prepared to meet the enemy."
END NOTES
[1] Claiborne's MS. papers.
[2] Claiborne's MS. papers.
[3] Conversations with Dr. Thomas G. Holmes, of Baldwin.
[4] Conversations with Dr. Thomas G. Holmes.
[5] Conversations with Dr. Thomas G. Holmes.
[6] Claiborne's MS. papers.
[7] Indian Affairs, vol. 1, p. 858. The Spaniards and the British agents charged
McQueen's party to "fight the Americans. If they prove too hard for you, send
your women and children to Pensacola, and we will send them to Havana; and if
you should be completed to fly yourselves, and the Americans should prove too
hard for both of us, there are vessels enough to take up all off together."—Ibid.
[8] David Tait was the son of Colonel Tait, a British officer, who was stationed
at the Hickory Ground, upon the Coosa, in 1778, as we have seen.
[9] Claiborne's MS. papers.
[10] I am indebted to Dr. Thomas G. Holmes, of Baldwin County, Alabama, for the
prominent facts in the foregoing narrative of the fall of Fort Mims. He made
notes of the horrible affair a few years after the massacre took place, while
the facts were fresh in his memory. I also conversed with Jesse Steadham, of
Baldwin, and Lieutenant Peter Randon, the latter of whom I found in New Orleans,
who also escaped.
[11] Conversations with Colonel Robert James, of Clarke County, Alabama, who
often heard McGirth relate these particulars. McGirth, in 1834, made the same
statements to me.
[12] Major Kennedy's MS. report to General Claiborne.
Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF CLARKE COUNTY
BY JOHN SIMPSON GRAHAM
Press of
BIRMINGHAM PRINTING COMPANY
Birmingham, Ala.
1923
File at:
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/al/clarke/history/1923/historyo/terrible89gms.txt
This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/
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