The Battle of Creek, also known as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, was a battle fought between the United States Army and the Red Stick Creek Indians in 1813. The battle was part of the Creek War, which was fought between the United States and the Creek Indians over control of land in the Southeast.
Background
In the early 19th century, the Creek Indians were a powerful and influential tribe in the Southeast. They lived in a territory that stretched from present-day Alabama and Georgia to Florida. The Creeks were divided into two main factions: the Upper Creeks and the Lower Creeks. The Upper Creeks were more traditional and resistant to change, while the Lower Creeks were more open to adopting European ways.
In 1813, the United States began to pressure the Creeks to cede land to the government. The Creeks resisted, and tensions between the two sides grew. In July 1813, a group of Red Stick Creek warriors attacked Fort Mims, a U.S. fort in Alabama. The attack resulted in the deaths of over 250 people.
The Battle
In response to the attack on Fort Mims, the United States Army launched a campaign against the Red Stick Creeks. The campaign was led by General Andrew Jackson, who had previously defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Talladega.
Jackson's army marched into Creek territory and quickly defeated several Red Stick villages. The Creeks retreated to Horseshoe Bend, a horseshoe-shaped bend in the Tallapoosa River. Jackson's army surrounded the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend and attacked on March 27, 1814.
The battle was fierce, but the United States Army eventually defeated the Creeks. Over 1,000 Creeks were killed in the battle, and many more were wounded. Jackson's army lost about 50 men.
Aftermath
The Battle of Creek was a decisive victory for the United States Army. The victory broke the power of the Red Stick Creeks and forced them to cede land to the United States. The battle also helped to open up the Southeast to settlement by Europeans.
The Creek War ended in 1814 with the Treaty of Fort Jackson. The treaty forced the Creeks to cede over 23 million acres of land to the United States. The treaty also led to the removal of the Creeks from their traditional homeland.