The Battle of Fort Mims

The Battle of Fort Mims. . , As the occupants of Fort Mims took their mid-day meal on August 30, 1813, a force of around 700 Redstick Creek warriors charged toward the fort's open east gate (1). Major Daniel Beasley, commander of the Mississippi Territorial Volunteers garrison, fell near the gate along with most of his men (2). Survivors of the initial onslaught took refuge inside the main compound, where hundreds of civilians and the local militia came under fire from Redstick warriors shooting through gunports in the south wall (3). Redsticks and Americans fought for control of the block- house (4), which was unoccupied when the attack occurred., After several hours of fighting, the battle stalemated. When the Redstick Creeks renewed their attack, they shot fire arrows into the kitchen and other buildings (5) near the south wall, setting the entire fort ablaze. Defenders held out in the Mims family home (6) until overcome by smoke and flames. The north wall had been stoutly defended throughout the battle by local Tensaw militia (7) led by Captain Dixon Bailey, a Creek métis like many of his men. By early evening, with nearly 300 of the fort's occupants killed and another 100 taken captive, the 30 or so survivors chopped a hole through the stockade (8) and escaped into the swamps north of Fort Mims., This map of the Fort Mims battlefield, drawn by a member of an American reconnaissance party, probably on September 8, 1813, was found many years later among the papers of Gen. Ferdinand Claiborne, commander of the Mississippi Territorial Volunteers. [Map courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History], Lieutenant Spruce McKay Osborne, chief surgeon with the Mississippi Territorial Volunteers, died in the loom house (near 7) toward the end of the battle. [Only known image of a battle participant, image courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History], Archaeology at Fort Mims has uncovered many fascinating artifacts. A broad axe (a), found in one of the fort's wells, still carries the owner's initials, ZM, pecked into the poll. Zachariah McGirth walked out of the fort minutes before the Redstick Creek attack and hid in a nearby cane thicket during the battle., The wooden pulley (b) was preserved underwater at the bottom of the well. Weaponry from the battle (c) includes brass arrow points made by the Redstick Creeks and lead rifleballs used by both sides. The fire that destroyed Fort Mims charred vast amounts of British-made tablewares (d), among the most valued possessions of the settlers who sought refuge here. A handwrought iron gate catch (e) secured the fort's western gate, which remained closed during the battle. [Artifact photographs courtesy of the Alabama Historical Commission]