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468 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
However, General Jackson continued his operations in the territory
of the Creek Nation. Advancing, in March, with strong re-enforce
ments, he won a decisive victory over the Red Sticks at Horse-Shoe
Bend, on the Tallapoosa River, sometimes referred to as the Battle of
Topekah. Hundreds of the surviving Creeks fled across the Florida
line and took refuge among the Seminoles. On August 9, 1814, the
victorious Tennessean assembled at Fort Jackson the vanquished chiefs
who still remained in Alabama and there dictated terms of peace to the
Creek Nation. As a result, Georgia acquired, under the terms of this
treaty, an extensive area of land south of the Altamaha River, reaching
from the western boundaries of the old original County of Wayne to
the 'banks of the Chattahoochee River. Out of this vast tract more than
a score of counties were afterwards organized; but it was first opened
to settlement under the Lottery of 1820.
Col. Daniel Appling, a native Georgian and a graduate of West
Point, achieved renown in a distant state during the War of 1812. As-
soon as hostilities began, he received orders to repair to Sackett's Har
bor, in New York. He hastened northward without delay; and, in the
Battle of Sandy Creek, on May 30, 1814, achieved the gallant record
upon which his fame as a soldier today rests. The following account
has been preserved of Colonel Appling's part in this engagement:*
"Captain Woolsey left the port of Oswcgo, on May 28, in charge
of eighteen boats with naval stores, destined for Sackett's Harbor. He
was accompanied by Captain Appling, with one hundred and thirty
of the rifle regiment and about the same number of Indians. They
reached Sandy Creek on the next day, where they were discovered by
the British gun-boats, and in consequence entered the creek. The rifle
men were immediately landed and, with the Indians, posted in an am
buscade. The enemy ascended the creek; but, in an effort to land a
detachment upon the banks, an unforeseen difficulty was encountered.
The riflemen from where they were concealed suddenly confronted the
new arrivals and poured so destructive a fire upon them that, in ten
minutes they surrendered to the number of two hundred, including two
post Captains and two Lieutenants. On the part of the Americans but
one man was lost. Three gun-boats were captured, besides several small
vessels and equipments. After this affair, Appling was breveted Lieu
tenant-Colonel."
There were several other engagements in which this distinguished
officer figured with equal credit. At the close of the war he returned
to Georgia; and on October 22, 1814, the General Assembly passed a
resolution in which "the heroic exploits of the brave and gallant Lieu
tenant-Colonel Daniel Appling" were commended in the most enthusi
astic terms. At the same time, the governor was requested to have pur
chased and presented to this native son an elegant sword suited to an
officer of his grade. But Colonel Appling, on March 18, 1818, at Fort
Montgomery, died of an attack of pleurisy, before the above resolution
was carried into effect. He left no children. At the ensuing session
•of the State Legislature, a resolution was passed in which the General
Assembly of Georgia assumed the guardianship of the young officer's
* "White's Statistics," pp. 106-107.