Did star-crossed lovers leap from bluff at Claiborne, Alabama?

I was flipping through a copy of The Journal’s 1966 Centennial Edition on Monday afternoon and ran across an interesting tale that harkens back to the early days of Old Fort Claiborne. Under the headline “Claiborne Also Has Lover’s Leap Legend,” the newspaper reprinted the romantic tale of frontier soldier Leopold Lanier and Indian princess, Winona.

This tale begins at Fort Claiborne, a military outpost used by the U.S. Army during the Creek Indian War of 1813-1814. This walled fort enclosed about two acres and was surrounded by a ditch. It was located about one mile south of the present-day Claiborne-Murphy Bridge on the highpoint of a bluff overlooking the river.

Miles and miles down river from the fort, where the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers flow together, was Nannahubba Island. It was from this island that Josiah Francis, a “charismatic religious leader” among the Indians, waged an independent war against settlers between the two rivers. Many readers will remember from Alabama History class that Francis, who was also known as the Prophet Francis, played a huge role in the Creek Indian War.

The story goes that Francis held a prisoner named Leopold Lanier at his stronghold on Nannahubba. Francis, surrounded by his warriors, declared that Lanier was to be put to death at dawn. Lanier, who was said to have been from Burnt Corn, was bound securely to a tree outside and was placed under heavy guard.

Lanier was also being watched by Josiah’s “beautiful” daughter, Winona, who felt toward Lanier “a sympathy and in her heart, resolved to set him free.” In the stillness of the morning, she approached the tree and cut Lanier free with a stone knife. Lanier followed her quickly to a canoe, where he lingered and “gazed on his lovely savior, while in his heart arose the flame of love.” Exchanging vows of fidelity, Lanier slipped into the canoe and made his escape.

Sometime later, in the autumn of that year, Lanier found himself pulling sentry duty outside Fort Claiborne. By this time, Winona had made her way to the outskirts of the fort, where she often met with Lanier. She being an Indian, Lanier was afraid to disclose her presence to his friends, and she was afraid of her angry father.

One night, as they talked outside the fort, they thought they heard the sound of paddles in the river. When they took a closer look, they saw Francis with “12 grim warriors.” Francis ordered his warriors to seize Lanier, but not to harm his daughter.

Lanier, being a tough woodland soldier, shot Francis with his rifle. At this point, the warriors rushed Lanier and “on the rim of the yawning precipice” they fought until the warriors managed to take Lanier’s rifle. In that instant, Lanier took Winona in his arms and with a wild bound, leaped into the river. “There in the watery grave, side by side, sleep Leopold and Winona, the ever-faithful lovers.”

Who can say if this story is true, but one thing that is certain is that Josiah Francis was a real historical Indian leader. Born in 1770 near Montgomery, he fought at the Battle of Holy Ground and led the attack on Fort Sinquefield in present-day Clarke County in 1813. However, he did not die from a rifle wound at Fort Claiborne but was instead executed by hanging by General Andrew Jackson at St. Marks, Florida in 1818.