Indian Wars- 1800-1899

During the years 1836-1837, a brutal war
was waged for control of the last remaining
lands of the Creek Nation east of the
Mississippi River. The war initiated one of the
greatest tragedies in American history, the
Creek Trail of Tears.

The proximity of Jasper and Jones counties to hostile Creek towns resulted in a regiment of Georgia volunteer militia under Major General David Adams. John Floyd was made General of the main Georgia army (in September 1812 numbering 2,362 men). The Georgia Army was aided by Cherokee and independent Creek allies as well as a number of Georgia volunteer militia. Floyd’s task was to advance to the junction of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers and join the Army of Tennessee.

Due to the state’s failure to secure supplies early enough in the year, Floyd gained a few months to train and drill the men at Fort Hawkins. On November 24, General Floyd crossed the Chattahoochee and established Fort Mitchell, where he was joined by 300-400 Creek from Coweta, organized under McIntosh. With these allies and 950 of his men, Floyd began his advance towards the juncture of the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers where he was supposed to rendezvous with Jackson.

The “Battle of Calabee Creek” was Georgia’s last offensive operation of the war.