Gallant
was with his
son Edward by his first wife at the Battle of Emucfau in Alabama as a
private
in the Company of Tennessee Volunteers Mounted Gunmen commanded by
Capt.
Adam Dale, Second Regiment commanded by Col. William Y Higgins &
under
the command of Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson fighting the Creek
Indians.
He was shot through the head on the morning of the 22nd January 1814
and
died on the fourth day after on 26 January 1814.
The
following is taken
from the Book Pictorial Field-Book,
Jackson
on the war-path
again. Pages 774 & 775, Battle of Emucfau, Bravery of the Force.
January
21, 1814.
On
the following morning
he pushed forward toward Emucfau, twelve miles distant on the bend of
the
Tallapoosa, and toward the evening, when near Emuqeth Creek, fell upon
a much beaten trail, which indicated the proximity of a large force of
Indians. Jackson though it prudent to halt and reconnoiter.
He disposed his troops in a hollow square, doubled the sentinels, sent
out spies, and in every way had measures to meet an attack during the
night.
Toward midnight the savages were observed prowling about, and at the
same
time the general was informed that a large body of Indians were
encamped
within three miles of him, some engaged in a war dance, and others
removing
the women and children. An immediate attack seemed impending, and
Jackson, fully prepared, calmly awaited it.
January
22, 1814.
The
night wore away,
and the dawn approached, when, at six o'clock, the Indians fell
suddenly
and with great fury upon the left flank of Jackson's camp, occupied by
troops under Colonel Higgins. General Coffee was with them, and, under
his direction, assisted by Colonel Sitler, the Adjutant General, and
Colonel
Carroll, the Inspector General, these new recruits fought gallantly,
and
kept the assailants in check. At dawn, when the whole field might
be seen, they were re-enforced by Captain Ferrill's company of
infantry,
and the whole body were led to vigorous charge upon the savages by
General
Coffee, Supported by Colonels Higgins and Carroll, and the friendly
Indians.
The savages were discomfited and dispersed and fled, hotly pursued by
the
Tennesseans, with much slaughter, for full two miles. Inspired by
this success, Jackson immediately detached General Coffee, with four
hundred
men and the whole body of Indians, to destroy the encampment of the for
at Emucfau. It was found to be too strongly fortified to be taken
without artillery, so Coffee march back for the purpose of guarding the
cannon on its way to a position to bear upon the town. This
retrograde
movement encouraged the Indians, and a strong party of them fell upon
the
right of Jackson's encampment. Coffee at once asked and obtained
leave to lead two hundred men to the support of that wing, and to fall
upon the left of the foe, while the friendly Indians should fall upon
their
right flank at the same moment. By some mistake only fifty-four
men
followed Coffee. The gallent General fell upon the Indians with
these,
and Jackson ordered two hundred of the friendly Indians to co-operate
with
him by attacking the right flank of the savages. "This order was
promptly obeyed," said Jackson in his report, "and on the moment
of its execution what I expected was realized. The enemy had
intended
the attack on the right as a feint, and , expecting to direct my
attention
thither, meant to attack me again with their main force, on the left
flank,
which they had hoped to find weakened and in disorder. They were
disappointed." The General, with wise discretion, had only
ordered
his left to remain firm, but had repaired thither himself, and directed
a part of the reserves, under Captain Ferrill, to hasten to its
support.
In this way the main body met the advancing enemy. They gave the
foe two or three volleys, and then charged them vigorously with the
bayonet.
The Indians broke, and fled in confusion, hotly pursued some distance
and
the friendly Indians, unable to withstand the temptation, left their
post
on the right flank and joined in the chase, all the while pouring a
harassing
fire upon the fugitives.
General
Coffee in the
mean time was struggling manfully against the assailants on the right
of
the encampment. The desertion of the Indians supporters placed
him
in a critical situation, for the odds were greatly against him. he was
soon relieved by the return from the chase of Jim Fife and a hundred if
his warriors, who were immediately summoned to his support. The
aid
was timely. Coffee and his little party charged the savages
vigorously,
who, dispirited by the flight of their main body, gave way and ran for
their lives in every direction, many of them falling before the
destructive
weapons of the pursuers. The victory, in the form of a repulse,
was
complete, but it had been won at the cost of a severe wound in his Body
by General Coffee, and the loss of his Aid-De-Camp, Colonel A.
Donelson,
and two of three others. Several of the Privates were also
wounded.
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