Red Eagle, William Weatherford, Creek #2

by British Library

Title

Red Eagle, William Weatherford, Creek #2

Artist

British Library

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Image taken from page 74 of "The History of Monroe County, Iowa. Illustrated" published by Western Historical Company, 1878. Red Eagle or William Weatherford (1780 or 1781 - March 24, 1824) was a Creek chief. One of many mixed-race descendants of Southeast Indians who intermarried with European traders and later colonial settlers, Red Eagle was of mixed Creek, French and Scots ancestry. He was raised as a Creek in the matrilineal nation and achieved his power in it, through his mother's prominent Wind Clan, as well as his father's trading connections. After showing his skill as a warrior, he was given the war name of Hopnicafutsahia. The Creek War (1813-1814), also known as the Red Stick War and the Creek Civil War, was a regional war between opposing Creek factions, European empires, and the United States, taking place largely in Alabama and along the Gulf Coast. The major conflicts of the war took place between state militias and the "Red Stick" Creeks. At the Battle of Horseshoe Bend General Andrew Jackson defeated the Red Sticks, effectively ending the Creek War. Red Eagle and some other 200 Red Sticks escaped, but turned himself in. Jackson spared his life and Red Eagle helped engineer a new peace through a new treaty, which although permanently reducing Creek territory, was lenient in allowing them to retain most of their homes. After the war, he rebuilt his wealth as a slaveholding planter in lower Monroe County, Alabama where he died in 1824.

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June 14th, 2016

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