The Second Creek War in the Eufaula Area Historical

The Second Creek War in the Eufaula Area Historical (HM1WVL)

Location: Eufaula, AL 36027 Barbour County
Buy Alabama State flags at Flagstore.com!
Country: United States of America
Buy United States of America flags at Flagstore.com!

N 31° 53.599', W 85° 8.404'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 470 views
Inscription

—Creek Heritage Trail —

In 1836 long-simmering tensions between Creeks and American settlers erupted into warfare. The Creeks, crowded onto the last portion of their ancestral homeland and witnessing the rampant theft of their lands, had also become subject to harsh laws limiting their travel and employment. Some resorted to plundering settler plantations for food and supplies. Several isolated incidents of violence between Creeks and settlers occurred early in 1836, including the murder of some Creeks from the village of Eufaula by residents of Georgia. A portion of the desperate Creeks determined to strike back, resulting in the Second Creek War.


Some of the first actions of the war occurred just north of Irwinton. Rebel Creeks attacked the community of Glennville in early May, 1836 and on May 15th destroyed Roanoke, Georgia a few miles up river from Irwinton. Some of the survivors of the ambush fled to Irwinton afterward. By the
time General William Irwin and a battalion of militia arrived in the area to restore order, the town was nearly deserted. Irwin sent out an urgent request for volunteers to assemble there. General John W. Moore arrived shortly afterwards and was placed in command of all forces in the Irwinton area. In June Moore launched a prolonged raid on rebel Creek strongholds in Barbour and Russell counties. Later that month, General
Winfield Scott's troops arrived and marched north in search of any remaining hostile Creeks. He declared the war over a few days later. While fighting around Irwinton was at an end, the war actually continued for nearly another year.

[Top left map caption]

Barbour County during the first phase of the Second Creek War, summer 1836
From The Second Creek War: Interethnic Conflict and Collusion on a Collapsing Frontier, by John T. Ellisor
Courtesy of the University of Nebraska Press

[Bottom left photo captions]

Alabama Governor Clement C. Clay ordered troops to Irwinton after the attack on Glennville
Courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History

Jim Boy, an Upper Creek chief, commanded allied Creeks that fought with the American armies in this area.
Courtesy of the Alabama Department of Archives and History


[Right side photo captions]

The Smartt-Parker-Comer House was built on the site of a log stockade constructed by residents of Irwinton during the Second Creek War, and incorporates parts of the fort's walls in its design.

Troops from Irwinton were involved in several Second War battles. Especially prominent was the Wellborn family. William Wellborn, leader of the "Barbour Rangers" militia unit, became the most celebrated local military
figure of the war. He rode his popularity to election to the Alabama State Senate in 1837. His teenage son, James, was killed while fighting alongside him at the Battle of Pea River. William's brother, Dr. Levi T. Wellborn, also led troops during the war. Dr. Wellborn's home (above) still stands in Eufaula.
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress


[Right side newspaper article caption]

Columbus Enquirer article of July 21, 1836 about the premature celebration of the end of the war in Irwinton
Details
HM NumberHM1WVL
Tags
Year Placed2015
Placed ByThe Historic Chattahoochee Commission and the City of Eufaula
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Saturday, February 11th, 2017 at 1:01pm PST -08:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16R E 675897 N 3530119
Decimal Degrees31.89331667, -85.14006667
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 31° 53.599', W 85° 8.404'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds31° 53' 35.94" N, 85° 8' 24.24" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)334
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling West
Closest Postal AddressAt or near Yoholo-Micco Trail, Eufaula AL 36027, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. Is this marker part of a series?
  2. What historical period does the marker represent?
  3. What historical place does the marker represent?
  4. What type of marker is it?
  5. What class is the marker?
  6. What style is the marker?
  7. Does the marker have a number?
  8. This marker needs at least one picture.
  9. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  10. Is the marker in the median?