The Creek warrior who wouldn’t die: Menawa’s river escape in 1814

Menawa’s Seven-Bullet Survival at Horseshoe Bend

Chief Menawa took seven bullets at Horseshoe Bend in 1814 and still lived to tell about it. Born to a Creek mother and white trader, he rose to become a wealthy Creek leader with his own store and herds.

Yet when Andrew Jackson’s army crushed his 1,000 Red Stick warriors, Menawa was left for dead on the battlefield. At night, he crawled to the river, drifted downstream in a canoe, and was saved by Creek women.

Years later, he led the execution of William McIntosh, his old foe who had sold Creek lands without permission.

The Horseshoe Bend National Military Park in Alabama brings this remarkable survival story to life through vivid displays and dioramas.

From Trader’s Son To "Crazy War Hunter"

Menawa was born around 1765 to a Creek woman and an American fur trader. He got the nickname “Hothlepoya” (crazy war hunter) from his bold horse raids.

By 1811, he became second chief of the Okfuskee towns. Beyond fighting, Menawa ran a trading store and owned large herds of cattle and hogs.

His business smarts made him one of the richest Creek men in the Southeast, giving him strong sway among his people.

The Red Stick Leader Prepared For Jackson’s Army

After meeting Tecumseh in 1811, Menawa joined the Red Stick group that fought American expansion.

In March 1814, he led 1,000 Red Stick warriors to Tehopeka village at Horseshoe Bend on the Tallapoosa River.

His men built a 400-yard barricade of logs and dirt across the peninsula, making a fortress to shield 350 women and children.

They faced tough odds against Andrew Jackson’s 3,300 men, including soldiers, militia, Cherokee warriors, and Lower Creek allies.

Artillery Failed To Break Creek Defenses

Jackson’s forces reached Horseshoe Bend on March 27, 1814, and fired cannons for two hours starting at 10:30 AM.

The shots barely damaged the strong Creek walls. Red Stick warriors mocked their enemies from behind their defenses, shouting for hand-to-hand combat.

Menawa faced a big problem – only about a third of his 1,000 warriors had guns. The rest used bows, clubs, and tomahawks against Jackson’s well-armed troops.

Cherokee Allies Swam The River For A Surprise Attack

General Coffee’s Cherokee warriors changed the battle when they swam across the Tallapoosa River without orders.

They took Creek canoes and brought more fighters across. Soon 300 Cherokee and Lower Creek allies attacked Tohopeka village from behind, trapping Menawa’s forces.

They burned the village, creating smoke that signaled Jackson to launch his main attack on the barricade.

Sam Houston Joined The Bloody Assault

At 12:30 PM, Jackson ordered the 39th U.S. Infantry to charge with bayonets against the Creek defenses.

Major Lemuel Montgomery and young lieutenant Sam Houston (later famous in Texas) led the attack over the walls. During the fight, Menawa killed a Creek prophet named Monahell and took full command.

The Red Sticks refused to give up despite being outnumbered, fighting to the death as Jackson’s men poured over the walls.

Seven Bullets Couldn’t Kill The Creek Leader

During the fierce fighting, Menawa took seven gunshot wounds throughout his body.

One bullet went under his ear and came out through his other cheek, knocking out several teeth. The worst injury was a shot to his face that knocked him out. He bled among hundreds of dead warriors.

American soldiers walked past him, thinking he was dead like the other 800+ Red Stick fighters. Yet somehow, Menawa stayed alive.

Playing Dead Saved His Life

The battle lasted nearly six hours, with over 800 Red Stick warriors killed. Menawa lay still among the dead until dark.

Jackson’s men walked through the battlefield, taking gruesome trophies – some made bridle reins from strips of skin while others cut off noses to count their kills.

The surviving Creek women and children became prisoners. All this time, Menawa waited, barely breathing, for his chance to escape.

A Canoe Carried Him To Safety

After dark, Menawa woke up and crawled to the river.

He climbed into a canoe and pushed away from the bank, letting the current carry him downstream from enemy patrols.

Creek women hiding in canebrakes along the river spotted him and pulled him to safety. For several months, Menawa healed from his seven gunshot wounds in hiding.

Against all odds, he lived to become the only major Red Stick leader who kept political power after the war.

McIntosh Betrayed The Creek Nation

William McIntosh, a mixed-blood Creek chief who fought with Jackson at Horseshoe Bend, signed the Treaty of Indian Springs on February 12, 1825.

He did this without Creek Council approval, illegally giving away all Creek land in Georgia plus 3 million acres in Alabama for $400,000.

The Creek National Council grew angry.

They made unauthorized land sales a death penalty crime and picked Menawa to lead the “Law Menders” police force to carry out the sentence.

Revenge Came At Dawn

On April 30, 1825, Menawa led about 150 warriors to McIntosh’s plantation in Georgia. They surrounded the house at dawn and set it on fire to force McIntosh outside.

When the wounded chief tried to escape the flames, Menawa’s men dragged him out and stabbed him in the heart.

They also killed his partner Etommee Tustunnuggee and hanged Samuel Hawkins, though Benjamin Hawkins got away.

The Law Menders took about 100 slaves and livestock before leaving.

The Warrior’s Final Journey

Menawa stayed active in Creek politics after executing McIntosh and traveled to Washington to protest unfair treaties.

He helped nullify the illegal 1825 treaty, but Georgia still took Creek lands through other agreements.

At age 70, Menawa joined thousands of Creeks forced to leave their homeland during the Trail of Tears in late 1836.

The man who had survived seven gunshot wounds and decades of warfare finally met his end somewhere near Little Rock, Arkansas, during the brutal journey west, never reaching the new Creek lands in Oklahoma.

Visiting Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, Alabama

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park at 11288 Horseshoe Bend Road in Daviston tells the story of Creek war chief Menawa, who survived seven gunshot wounds during the 1814 battle.

You can visit for free and watch a 23-minute documentary about the Creek War. Take the 3-mile auto tour with five stops through the battlefield.

The visitor center opens 9am-4:30pm, park grounds 8am-5pm. Join the living history event March 21-22, 2025 for traditional Muscogee Creek demonstrations.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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