with about
two hundred friendly Creeks and sixty-five more Cherokee, he left his
camp on the Coosa and advanced against the towns on the Tallapoosa.
Learning, on arriving near the river, that he was within a few miles
of the main body of the enemy, he halted for a reconnoissance and
camped in order of Wattle on Fmukfaw creek, on the northern hank of
the Tallaj sa, only a short distance from the famous Horseshoe bend.
Here, on the morning of June 24, 1814, he was suddenly attacked by
the enemy with such fury that, although the troops charged with the
bayonet, the Creeks returned again to the fight and were at last broken
only by the help of the friendly Indians, who came upon them from
the rear. As it was, .lack-on was so badly crippled that heretreated
to Fort Strother on the Coosa, carrying his wounded, among them ( ren-
eral Coffee, on horse-hide litters. The Creeks pursued and attacked
him again as he was crossing Enotochopco creek on January 24, hut
after a severe fight were driven back with discharges of grapeshot from
a six-pounder at close range. The army then continued its retreat to
Fort Strother. The American loss in these two battles was about one
hundred killed and wounded. The loss of the ( 'reeks was much greater,
hut they had compelled a superior force, armed with bayonet and
artillery, to retreat, and without the aid of the friendly Indians it is
doubtful if Jackson could have saved his army from demoralization.
The Creeks themselves claimed a victory and boasted afterward
that they had " whipped Jackson and run him to the Coosa