Forged in the Fires by E. Paul Yarbro

Author:E. Paul Yarbro [Yarbro, E. Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, United States, General
ISBN: 9781098025335
Google: uaMuEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2020-04-23T00:59:07+00:00

First Lady Dolley Madison

The frame of the portrait was screwed tightly to the wall, and removing it became a chore. After spending too much time trying to remove it, the frame was broken and the canvas was removed. Now she could finally leave the city before she was captured, and boarded a wagon and left the capital. On her way out of the city, she was scared, not for herself, but for the president.

A half an hour later, Madison galloped into the capital and learned he just missed his wife.

Joshua Barney and his marines were the only resistance left on the outskirts of the city, and they made the British pay for every inch of land. Outnumbered and running low on ammunition, Barney’s men retreated. Barney himself was wounded but still refused to surrender and was eventually taken prisoner.

After a three-hour rest, Cockburn and Ross resumed their march toward the capital. Excitement filled their ranks because they were about to bring the rebellious child, the United States, to its knees and end the illusion of self-government. They were giddy with confidence and felt they were avenging their fathers who were forced to sue for peace in the Revolution. They also believed they were reclaiming their dominance throughout the world. France’s Revolution was a disaster in self-government, and Napoleon was in the dustbin of history.

Now they were certain the last beacon of government by the people was about to join him.

* * * * *

Horseshoe Bend, Alabama, March 27, 1814

After the two battles at Emuckfaw and Enotachopco, Jackson had the Red Sticks on the run and wasn’t about to let them get away.

Eight hundred Creek warriors retreated to a fort located at Horseshoe Bend and prepared to fight a siege.

Surrounded by water, except for a small strip of land, Horseshoe Bend looked impregnable, but Jackson saw an opportunity.

Two thousand Americans surrounded the fort and waited for the order. Many Cherokee and friendly Creek fought alongside Jackson’s men and saw the Red Sticks siding with the British a lost cause. Jackson placed these friendly warriors on the opposite side of the river to block any possible escape and put his main force in front of the fort. With his men in place, he ordered them to open fire.

Major Coffee sent a small detachment across the river to capture the enemy’s canoes but held back his full attack until the Red Stick women and children left the fort. Regardless of biased historians, all of Jackson’s decisions weren’t heartless. He spared women and children whenever possible.

Jackson was an officer making snap decisions, which could ensure the survival of his army and America or the death of both. This serious responsibility was his and no one else’s. The Red Sticks were Britain’s allies and would determine the success of a southern invasion. If they kept Jackson’s men tied up instead of building naval and land defenses, the British could land in the South unopposed.

At twelve thirty in the afternoon, Jackson ordered the fort taken, and the infantry moved forward.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.