Historical marker describes 'most brutal massacre in American history'

'Fort Mims' historical marker at Tensaw, Ala.

This week’s featured historical marker is the “FORT MIMS” marker near the Fort Mims State Historic Site at Tensaw in Baldwin County, Alabama. This marker is located on the south side of Baldwin County Road 80 (also called Boatyard Road) near the intersection of Fort Mims Road.

This marker was erected by the Alabama Historical Association in 1955. There’s text on both sides of the marker, but both sides are the same. What follows in the complete text from the marker:

----- 0 -----

“FORT MIMS – 500 yards – Here in Creek Indian War 1813-14 took place most brutal massacre in American history. Indians took fort with heavy loss, then killed all but about 36 of some 550 in the fort. Creeks had been armed by British at Pensacola in this phase of War of 1812.”

----- 0 -----

This marker is actually a short distance from a newer, two-sided historical marker that gives more details about the massacre at Fort Mims. Here’s what that newer marker has to say:

“FORT MIMS AND THE CREEK INDIAN WAR, 1813-14: In 1813, people on the United States’ southwestern frontier were fearful. The Redstick faction of the Creek Indian Nation opposed growing American influence in the area and had voted for war. However, Creeks living in the Tensaw area had intermarried with the European and American settlers and were close allies.

“Early in the summer, local American militia and allied Creeks attacked a group of Redsticks at Burn Corn Creek. Tensions grew and many families along the Tensaw, Alabama and Tombigbee rivers took refuge in quickly fortified sites.

“On this site they built a stockade around Samuel Mims’ plantation. Later, volunteer troops from Mississippi helped enlarge it. But as weeks passed without an attack, the people of Fort Mims grew complacent.”

“FORT MIMS AND THE CREEK INDIAN WAR, 1813-14: At midday, August 30, about 700 Redstick warriors attacked the fort. They entered through an open gate and fired into the fort through poorly designed gunports. The commander, Major Daniel Beasely, died in the first wave, but part-Creek Dixon Bailey rallied the defenders. The attack continued for five hours and ended with more than 500 attackers and defenders dead, including most of the women and children at the fort.

“News spread quickly throughout the South. Troops from surrounding states and territories joined to crush the ‘Creek War’ by the following summer. On Aug. 9, 1814, the defeated Creek leaders met at Fort Jackson near Wetumpka and ceded 23 million acres of their land to the United States.”

If you’re interested in learning more about Fort Mims, I highly encourage you to attend the annual reenactment of the Battle of Fort Mims, which is held every August. This year’s event will mark the 202nd anniversary of the battle.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.