Fort Mims Massacre - Attack

Attack

On August 29, 1813, two black slaves tending cattle outside the stockade reported that "painted warriors" were in the vicinity. But, mounted scouts from the fort found no signs of the war party. To the detriment of Fort Mims, Beasley had the second slave flogged for "raising a false alarm". Beasley received a second warning the morning of the assault by a mounted scout but dismissed it and took no precautions as Beasley was reportedly drunk.

Major Beasley, the commander, had claimed that he could "maintain the post against any number of Indians", but historians believe the stockade was poorly defended. At the time of the attack, the East gate was partially blocked open by drifting sand. The Red Sticks attacked during the mid-day meal and Beasley had put no pickets or sentries out, dismissing the reports the Creeks were near.

The Creek warriors attempt to take the fort in a Coup de Main, charging the open gate en masse.The Red Sticks took control of the gun loopholes and the outer enclosure. Under Captain Bailey, the militia and settlers held the inner enclosure fighting on for a time and after about two hours there was a pause of about an hour. The indians, their initial impetus blunted inside the fort and casualties rising, held an impromptu council debating whether to continue the fight or withdraw. By 3 o'clock it was decided that the Tensaw métis led by Dixon Bailey would have to be destroyed to avenge their treachery at Burnt Corn and then the Creeks launched a second attack at 3 pm. The remaining defenders fell back into a building called the 'bastion'. The Red Sticks set fire to the 'bastion' in the center, which then spread to the rest of the stockade.

The warriors forced their way into the inner enclosure and, despite attempts of Weatherford, killed most of the militia defenders, the mixed-blood Creek, and white settlers. After a struggle of hours, the defense collapsed entirely and perhaps 500 militia, settlers, slaves and Creeks loyal to the Americans died or were captured, with the Red Sticks taking some 250 scalps. By five o'clock the battle and sack was over and the stockade and buildings were in flames. While they spared the lives of almost all of the slaves, they nonetheless then took over 100 captive. At least 3 women and 10 children are known to have been made captive. Some 36 people, nearly all men, escaped, including Bailey who was mortally wounded, and 2 women and one girl. When a relief column arrived a few weeks later, it found 247 corpses of the defenders and 100 of the Creek attackers.