March 27, 1814: American militia under Andrew Jackson defeat Creek warriors at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend

Throughout the War of 1812, several native tribes raided settlements along the Florida territorial border. These Native Americans were members of the Creek tribe, which lived in present day Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The war had caused a great division in the tribe. The tribe divided into two: the Upper Creek, or Red Sticks, who opposed American expansion and supported the British, and the Lower Creek, who were more assimilated and supported the American war effort. With the help of Tecumseh and the Shawnee, the Red Sticks were able to engage the Americans in the southeastern United States. In 1813, they attacked troops stationed on the Florida border at the Battle of Burnt Corn. Then they moved on to attack and and massacre the soldiers garrisoned at Fort Mims. The Form Mims Massacre spurred the states of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia to call up volunteers to form a militia company. The new militia was placed under the command of General Andrew Jackson. In the spring of 1814, Jackson's troops discovered a Creek camp at a "horseshoe bend" in the Tallapoosa River.

On the morning of March 27, Jackson's militia and his native allies assaulted the camp. The Creek chief in charge of the camp, Menawa, tried to rally his men. Jackson commence an artillery barrage into the camp, as his men surrounded it on both sides. He then ordered half of his army to charge bayonets as the other half came up the rear. Over 1000 Red Sticks were killed while Jackson's losses totaled only 50 causalities. Menawa was wounded but he and some of his remaining warriors fled into Florida. Jackson decided to give chase to his opponents, pursuing them into Spanish Florida.

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