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HistoryCentral.com > American History > New Nation > War of 1812 >

1814- Battle of Horseshoe Bend

In one of the most important battles of the war, American naval forces, under the command of Commodore MacDonough, defeat a British fleet on Lake Champlain. The American naval victory forces the British to withdraw, and thus ends the British invasion.


The Creek Indians had continued to be a threat in Southern US. After the Massacre at FT Sims a major campaign was planned to eliminate that threat. Leading that campaign was General Andrew Jackson. The plan was to attack from three directions. Like most coordinated attacks during the War of 1812, the coordination did not work very well. The campaign stated in November 1813. The initial parts of the campaign did not go as well as planned, but Jackson and the American forces made continuing promise against the Creeks. 

On March 14th Jackson headed south from Fort Strother with 4,000 soldiers including his Indian Allies for what he expected to be a decisive battle with the Creek. Jackson’s destination was the Red Stick stronghold called Tohopeka at Horseshoe Bend on the Tallapoosa River. There were 1,000 Indian warriors and three hundred women and children in a fortified settlement there. 

On March 27th troops under John Coffee occupied the riverbank opposite the head of the bend. At 10:30 Am Jackson gave the order to open cannon fire. The cannon fire had no effect on the Indian breastworks. Coffee mounted another diversion, and then Jackson attacked the Indian lines with his main forces. The Indians put up tough resistance but Jackson’s overwhelming force held the day. The Indians refused to surrender and by the end of the day nearly 900 were killed. The women and children were taken prisoner.

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