Archaeological Survey of the Old Federal Road in Alabama

Figure 9-19. Fletcher Hale’s map showing the location of Calebee Battle Site in(courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History).The Redsticks went along with Welsh’s plan, after he persuaded the warriors they would beannihilated if they followed Weatherford. In the end, McGillivray joined forces with Welsh, butWeatherford and a few other Creeks left th camp, refusing to follow Welsh into battle. 16 On January 27,the Redsticks and their army of nearly 1,300 warriors attacked General Floyd’s army just before sunrise. 17Early on the Creeks had the advantage of a surprise attack. It was dark and Floyd’s troops were confusedand disoriented, as the Redsticks had hoped. However, as dawn approached, General Floyds militia wereable to use their artillery effectively and repelled the Redstick assault. The Creeks retreated and werepursued by Floyd’s army. The battle at Calebee cost the Redsticks between forty and fifty warriors,including High-head Jim. Although considered an American victory, General Floyd’s army lost 17Georgia militia and 5 allied Creeks, along with a very high number of wounded soldiers, nearly 150,which forced him to fall back to Fort Hull.Soon afterwards, General Floyd marched back Fort Mitchell and then returned to Georgia leavingColonel Milton in charge of a small garrison at Fort Hull, including thirty regulars, 550 South Carolinamilitia, an unknown number of allied Creeks and four pieces of artillery.18 Fort Hull was only occupiedfor a short time. In March 1814, Colonel Milton and his troops left Fort Hull to build Fort Decatur,208