The  Sonthem  Creeks,  under  the  direct  .influ-
ence of  Weathersford  (see  Fort  Mimma)  and  the
British  and  Spanish  ofiScers,  were  very  active
and  sanguinary  in  the  region  of  the  forks  of  the
Tombigbee  and  Alabama  rivers.  General  Flonr-
noy  ordered  (Oct.  12,  1813)  General  C.  C.  Clai-
borne to  advance  with  his  army  into  the  heart
of  the  Creek  country  to  defend  the  white  citi-
zens while  gathering  their  crops ;  to  drive  the
Indians  from  the  frontiers ;  to  follow  them  to
their  contiguous  towns;  and  to  kill,  burn,  and
destroy  all  their  property — "negroes,  horses,
and  cattle,"  and  other  effects — that  could  not
be  brought  off.  This  sanguinary  order  of  the
Georgia  general  was  instantly  obeyed.  Clai-
borne scoured  the  country  on  the  eastern  side
of  the  Tombigbee,  dispersing  Indian  bands  here
aud  there.  He  pushed  across  to  the  Alabama
with  three  hundred  volunteers,  some  dragoons
and  militia,  and  a  band  of  Choctaw  Indians  un-
der Pnshamataha,  aud  on  the  east  side  of  the
river  was  joined  (Nov.  17)  by  a  regiment  of  reg-
ulars under  Colonel  RusselL  There  he  con-
structed a  strong  stockade,  which  was  named
Fort  Claiborne,  and  made  it  a  deposit  of  sup-
plies. Claiborne  apprised  Governor  Blount  aud
General  Jackson  of  this  dejjot,  and  also  of  the
aiTival  at  the  Spanish  fort  at  Peusacola  of  Eng-
lish vessels  with  supplies  for  the  Indians.  He
determined  to  push  on  aud  share  with  Jackson
and  Coffee  the  danger  and  honor  of  bringing
tlie  Creeks  into  submission.  With  a  considera-
ble force,  he  marched  (Dec.  12)  in  a  northeast-
erly direction  eighty  mile."!,  and  built  a  stockade
for  stores,  which  be  called  Fort  Deposit.  Then  ha


WILUAM  C.  C.  CLAIBOENTL

pushed  on  through  an  almost  pathless  wilder-
ness thirty  miles  farther,  and  approached  Eco-
nochaca,  or  Holy  Ground,  on  a  bluff  on  the
left  bank  of  the  Alabama,  the  present  Powell's
Ferry,  in  Lowndes  County.  It  was  a  noted  place,
established  by  Weathersford  (see  Fort  Mimim)


CLAIMS  OF  CONNECTICUT


254


CLAEKE


after  the  visit  of  Tecumtha  and  the  Propbet.
