Quote:
Originally Posted by Hurkman
I can't be the only one that's enjoying this, am I? Legendsport, I love this already, and can't wait to see what happens, especially since we've only had one mention of baseball at all!
Also, it's funny, because my high school history teacher used to talk about the War of 1812, and said if the Duke of Wellington came over here, we would have been in big trouble. I'm starting to agree even more.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by f.montoya
I'm enjoying this too. It's excellent. More like a movie if you have the imagination for it. legendsport is doing a great job of not jumping too far ahead and is setting roots for the events to come...which we all know will include the birth of organized base ball.
Very nice!
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Thanks guys. I could tell by the number of views that folks were reading (or at least *looking*), but it's good to hear that someone's enjoying it. It'll take a bit to get to organized baseball (though the progress and growth of the game will be mentioned here and there) but I'm going to try to keep it entertaining in the meantime....
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PART V - RED STICKS AND OLD HICKORY
Events in the South, 1812 through September 1813- February 7, 1812 - An earthquake, later estimated at greater than 8.0 on the Richter scale, strikes the Midwest, centered near the town of New Madrid in the Louisiana Territory. The large quake caused large areas to sink into the earth, new lakes to form and it even shifted the course of the mighty Mississippi River.
- Early 1812 - A faction of Creeks calling themselves "Red Sticks" interpret the quake as a sign indicating the tribes' need to return to a more traditional life, scorning the advances and ways of the white man. Red Stick chieftains such as William Weatherford (called Red Eagle), Peter McQueen and Menawa violently clashed with other Creek chiefs. They ally themselves with the British while the rest of the Creek tribes align with the U.S.
- February 1813 - Little Warrior, a Red Stick, while returning from Detroit where they had fought with the British, massacres two families of settlers on the Ohio River. U.S. Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins demands the Creeks turn over Little Warrior and his six companions. The seven are instead subjected to tribal justice and executed, starting a civil war among the Creek tribes.
- July 21, 1813 - American soldiers in southern Alabama stop a party of Red Stick warriors returning from Pensacola, Florida where they had been given arms by the Spanish governor. The Creeks dropped the munitions and fled, only to return and attack the American soldiers who were looting the abandoned stores. This became known as the Battle of Burnt Corn and broadened the Creek Civil War to include American forces fighting against the Red Sticks.
- August 30, 1813 - William Weatherford and Peter McQueen lead an attack on Fort Mims, just north of Mobile with a goal of attacking half-breed Creeks who had taken refuge at the U.S. fort. A massacre ensues in which the Red Sticks kill some 400 to 500 people.
- September, 1813 - With the northern and western states embroiled in the war with the British, the southern states raise militia to put down the Red Sticks and restore peace to the southeastern frontier. A general is needed.
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THE HERMITAGE PLANTATION, NEAR NASHVILLE, TN, SEPTEMBER 19, 1813: The messenger, wearing the uniform of the Tennessee state militia, rode up on horseback through trees flanking a lane to the two-story log cabin which was the home of the owner of the large plantation. In the distance, slaves tended the fields, bringing in the harvest. As the messenger stopped in front of the cabin and dismounted, a slender woman with dark hair emerged from within.
"Greetings, madam," the messenger said as he tied his horse to the post outside the cabin. "I've come to see the colonel."
Rachel Donelson Jackson politely returned the greeting, then went inside to fetch her husband.
The man of the house appeared a moment later. With a shock of unruly hair atop his head and a scowl on his face, Militia Colonel Andrew Jackson was a fearsome fellow. His arm, recently shattered by a bullet in a duel, was bandaged, but Jackson was fearsome nonetheless.
"Colonel, the governor sends his greetings and has orders for the militia." The messenger said, then inclined his head in a bow and handed a packet to Jackson.
As Jackson opened the packet, only a bead of sweat appearing on his brow indicated any discomfort from the wounded arm. He removed the paper and tilted his head to the right as he read. Over his shoulder, Rachel Jackson wore a look of nervous concern.
"Damn!" Jackson swore. "I was hoping we would be sent to fight the British. By the Eternal, someone should be fighting them." Jackson's hatred of the British was well-known. Despite being just 13 years of age at the time, Jackson had fought in the Revolution. He had been hit in the head by the flat of a British officer's sword after being captured. His offense was the refusal to shine the man's boots. Jackson itched for action against the British, which thus far had been denied and he was famously irate at the ineptitude of U.S. efforts thus far.
"What is it, Andy?" asked Rachel quietly.
The messenger was surprised as the anger which had been so visibly present a second earlier disappeared when Jackson turned to his wife. "I'm to take the militia south to fight the Red Stick Creeks," he told her and the devotion in his voice was evident.
She looked frightened. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Now, Rachel. You know nothing's going to happen to me," he said softly. "I'm too ornery to be felled by some savage. We'll dismiss the Red Stick threat and then maybe they'll give me a chance against the British."
The messenger nodded and blurted, "It's true ma'am. The boys call the colonel 'Old Hickory' on account of how tough he is." Jackson glared at him and the messenger colored and quieted down.
"Thank you, young man," Jackson said by way of dismissal. With his hand still on his wife's shoulder, Jackson guided her into the cabin and closed the door behind them.
The messenger smiled. Those Creeks were in for it now, he thought.