Near Daviston in Tallapoosa County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
With Deer Tails in Their Hair
Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
On the morning of the battle, Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson’s Indian allies surrounded the lower portion of Horseshoe Bend.
The Cherokee were positioned across the river from where you stand; the Lower Creek were farther upriver to your left.
Hearing distant cannon fire, Cherokee and Lower Creek warriors swam across the river, stole Red Stick canoes from this bank, and took them back to the other side. Hundreds of Indians---adorned with deer tails---then canoed across, a few at a time, to attack the village of Tohopeka behind you.
Jackson’s Allies
Prior to Horseshoe Bend, Jackson ordered his Cherokee and Lower Creek allies to wear white deer tails in their hair or headdress to distinguish them from the Red Sticks. Although the Upper Creek and the Lower Creek were both part of the Creek confederation of towns, the Lower Creek lived closer to and had developed stronger relationships with Americans in Georgia. Many of the Lower Creek and Cherokee supported the United States in fighting against the Red Sticks; they joined Jackson’s army hoping to secure rights to tribal lands and to gain financial support.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #07 Andrew Jackson series list.
Location. 32° 58.133′ N, 85° 44.557′ W. Marker is near Daviston, Alabama, in Tallapoosa County. Marker is on Battlefield Park Tour Road, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11288 Horseshoe Bend Road, Daviston AL 36256, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tohopeka in Flames (here, next to this marker); The High Ground (approx. 0.2 miles away); They Fought to the Last (approx. 0.4 miles away); Who Were the Creek? (approx. half a mile away); Miller Covered Bridge (approx. half a mile away); While the Long Roll Was Beating (approx. 0.6 miles away); Charge! (approx. 0.6 miles away); Designed for Defense (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Daviston.
More about this marker. Tour Stop #3 Cherokee Crossing
The Red Sticks gathered in the “horseshoe” hoped the encircling river would protect them from Jackson’s attack. But Jackson surrounded the bend with his allied warriors, who, led by a Cherokee named Whale, launched a surprise rear attack into Tohopeka village. The warriors crossed the river in canoes stolen from the Creeks, Coffee said, “advanced into the village & very soon drove the enemy up from the bank of the river” to the barricade then under attack by Jackson’s militia and regulars. Coffee also said that “attempts to cross the river at all points of the bend were made by the enemy but not one escaped, very few ever reached the bank, and those were killed the very instant they landed.”
From Horseshoe Bend National Military Park Map and Guide Brochure.
Also see . . . Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. (Submitted on September 21, 2011, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2011, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 837 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on September 21, 2011, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.