The Indian War of 1812. Battle of Horseshoe Bend

Contributed by Janet Piccola

In March, 1814, General Andrew Jackson mobilized the Tennessee Militia, made up ofVolunteers from the East and West Tennessee Militias and the Thirty-Ninth U.S. Infantry for a full-scale campaign against the Red Sticks. General Jackson's army totaled about 3,000 men. Jackson's army left Fort Williams on the Coosa River (Mississippi Territory) and marched 52 miles through the forest in three days. They made camp six miles north of Horseshoe Bend. The Red Stick's had built a barricade on the river, which eventually trapped them once Jackson's soldiers surrounded them. Over 800 Red Sticks died as a result of the Battle. General Jackson's dead and wounded were taken back to Ft. Williams. The following is a listing of the soldiers who were buried at Ft. Williams.. The original site of Fort Williams is now under Lay Lake in Coosa County, Alabama. The headstones and the monument to the soldiers were moved to a new location 57 miles north of Horseshoe Bend Military Park. The cemetery has been badly vandalized. The site is NOT part of the Military Park and is on private property. Unfortunately, the cemetery cannot be maintained by the Military Park Rangers as they have no jurisdiction over the site. Anyone who might know to whom we might write so that we can get this area cleaned and maintained, please 'e' mail me. I will be happy to 'start the ball rolling'. Janet Piccola

The following list of those buried at the Indian War of 1812 Cemetery, along with a corresponding map. The list and map were done by Mr. Paul Ghioto, Park Historian, Horseshoe Bend Military Park, in March, 1978. The headstones are numbered 1-78.

 1. Panky, Riley  Pvt            25.  Dawson, Thomas Pvt
 2. Duncan, Allen Sgt            26.  Meants, David  Pvt
 3. Austin, John  Pvt            27.  Robertson, Joseph Pvt
 4. Laton, Joshua Pvt            28.  Smiley, Sawyer  Pvt
 5. Sharper, Jacob, Pvt          29.  Hutchinson, Reuben Pvt
 6. Watson, George Pvt           30.  Glasco, Robert  Pvt
 7. Abbot, Samuel Pvt            31.  Gibbs, Nicholas  Capt
 8. Tracy, Paris Pvt             32.  Miltonberger, William  Pvt
 9. Sawry, Henry Pvt	         33.  Reffew, Jeffrey  Pvt
10. Jones, John Pvt              34.  Pankey, Stephen  Pvt
11. Ellis, James Pvt             35.  Ford, Thomas  Pvt
12. Bright, Elijah Pvt           36.  Yates, Robert  Pvt
13. Pursell, William, lst Sgt    37.  Freeman, Moses   Pvt
14. Brooks, George Pvt           38.  Payne, William  Pvt
15. O'Neal, Isom Pvt             39.  Hill, Spencer  Pvt
16. Beeler, Joseph Pvt           40.  Rice, Rowling  Pvt
17. Stubbs, Everett Pvt          41.  Cloud, William  Pvt
18. Magill, William Pvt          42.  Usher, John  Pvt
19. Summers, Johnston Pvt	      43.  Ritchey, Thomas  Pvt
20. Bray, Solomon, lst Corp      44.  Rector, Enoch   Pvt
21. Bell, Phillips, Pvt          45.  Nail, Archibald  Pvt
22. Hamblen, Thomas Pvt          46.  Harden, William P.  Pvt
23. Hamilton, James Pvt          47.  Waddle, Elias  2nd Lt
24. McCoy, James Pvt             48.  King, Edward  lst Lt
Page 2, The Indian War of 1812 Cemetery
49. Smith, Briant  Pvt
50. Sims, Alfred  Sgt
51. Cahoon, Andrew  Pvt
52. Cox, Gale  Q.M.
53. Bruner, Jacob  Pvt
54. Gross, George  Pvt
55. Johnson, Thomas J.  lst Lt
56. Bunch, William Pvt
57. Huffman, John Pvt
58. Crumley, Jacob, Sr.  Pvt
59. Marshall, Joseph  Pvt
60. Masoner, Peter  Pvt
61.Horton, Caleb  Pvt
62.Hill, Richard  Pvt
63.McConka, Samuel  Corp
64.Rogers, Spencer  Pvt
65.Boaz, James Pvt
66.Yount, Jacob Pvt
67.Hellums, George Pvt
68.Dockrey, Able Pvt
69.Leeper, John  Pvt
70.Rankin, David  lst Lt
71.Thompson, Moses  Pvt
72.Kathcart, Joseph  Pvt
73.Rice, Able (Musician)
74.Moiers, Williams  Pvt
75.French, John  Pvt
76.Homes, Joseph Pvt
77.Fields, David  Pvt
78.  Alstadt, Nicholas, Pvt

Location of the Cemetery: The Cemetery is near the town of Sylacuaga, Ala., about 13.2 miles off of U.S. Highway 280, approximately 57 North of Horseshoe Bend Military Park. The Site is marked on Alabama Maps as “Indian War of 1812 Cemetery.”

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