Near Gainestown in Clarke County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The Canoe Fight

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 25, 2017

1. The Canoe Fight Marker (Side 1)

Inscription.
On November 12, 1813, the Canoe Fight, one of the key assaults of the Creek War, took place nearby at the mouth of Randon’s Creek where it flows into the Alabama River. Following the Fort Mims Massacre in August, small bands of Creek warriors persisted in attacks on settlements in the region. Capt. Sam Dale, stationed at Ft. Madison in Clarke County, volunteered to lead a mission to drive the Creeks from the area. The American militiamen, led by Dale, had launched their canoe the day before at Brazier’s Landing (now French’s Landing) and moved upriver where they encountered a canoe containing nine Indian warriors. The American

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militiamen were: Dale, Jeremiah Austill and James Smith. A ferryman named Caesar paddled the canoe and as the battle ensued, he held the two canoes together. One Indian was thrown into the water and the other eight were killed. As a result of this battle, the inroad of the Creek warriors on the west side of the Alabama River was checked and the settlers of Clarke County were able to return to their plantations and gather their crops and enlarge their improvements.

Erected 2013 by the Clarke County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Wars, US Indian

The Canoe Fight Marker (Side 2) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 25, 2017

2. The Canoe Fight Marker (Side 2)

• Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is November 12, 1813.

Location. 31° 26.716′ N, 87° 38.659′ W. Marker is near Gainestown, Alabama, in Clarke County. It is at the intersection of Madison Road (County Road 33) and Tennessee Road, on the right when traveling north on Madison Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Madison Road, Gainestown AL 36540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

The Canoe Fight Marker looking north on Madison Road. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, February 25, 2017

3. The Canoe Fight Marker looking north on Madison Road.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: French's Chapel (approx. 0.9 miles away); Union Chapel Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); Gainestown (approx. 2.9 miles away); Cedar Hill/English Cemetery (approx. 4.3 miles away); Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church (approx. 6.8 miles away); Fort Madison-Creek War 1812-13 (approx. 6.9 miles away); Lafayette's Tour (approx. 10 miles away); William B. Travis House (approx.

Samuel Dale at the "Canoe Fight" image. Click for full size.

Public domain - US Army photo

4. Samuel Dale at the "Canoe Fight"

10 miles away).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. The Canoe Fight. Encyclopedia of Alabama website entry (Submitted on February 26, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

2. Sam Dale. Wikipedia website entry (Submitted on February 26, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

The Canoe Fight Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, July 15, 2026

5. The Canoe Fight Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,657 times since then and 90 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 26, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5. submitted on July 16, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia.