August 30, 1813, Fort Mims, Alabama (Mississippi Territory)
The Fort Mims massacre occurred on August 30 when a force of Red Sticks under Peter McQueen attacked a group of settlers and militia in Fort Mims.
At the start of the Creek Civil War, settlers north of Mobile particularly mixed blood Creeks from the lower towns began to take refuge in the stockades of Fort Mims. About 550, including 175 armed militia, were gathered at Fort Mims, located about 35 to 45 miles above Mobile on the eastern side of the Alabama River. Upon learning that Peter McQueen's party of Red Sticks was in Pensacola obtaining arms from the Spanish, Major Daniel Beasley and Captain Dixon Bailey led a disorganized force to intercept the Red Sticks. The resulting confrontation is known as the Battle of Burnt Corn.
Immediately after Burnt Corn, Peter McQueen gathered a party of about 800 to a 1000 warriors to strike at the mix-blood Creeks at Fort Mims. One of McQueen's strongest allies, William Weatherford, attempted to talk the Red Sticks from attacking because he feared for the lives of his family mambers who had taken refuge in the fort. Weatherford eventually agreed to take part in the attack with the hopes of preventing a slaughter and to seek vengeance on his personal enemy Capt. Dixon Bailey.
http://www.mywarof1812.com/battles/130830.html
