Horseshoe Bend Historic Trail

Located just east of Alexander City and along the banks of the wide and peaceful Tallapoosa River lies Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. Operated by the National Park Service, the tranquility found here is a far cry from the violent battle that was waged on this piece of land almost 200 years ago.

Native Americans called this location "Cholocco Litabixee" or "horse's flat foot." We know it as Horseshoe Bend, the elbow or "horseshoe" of the Tallapoosa. The gravel footpaths of the park take us on an easy walk through the history of the early 1800s. During this time, while many of the tribes of the Creek Nation were friendly toward settlers moving into the area, the Red Stick tribe believed in Indian nationalism and feared the government's expansion into the region. One day the tribe was erroneously told that war had broken out between the Creek Nation and the United States. In retaliation, the Red Sticks attacked and murdered several frontier families and the war had begun.

While a Creek tribal council captured, convicted and executed many of the conspirators who had a role in the murders, Red Stick Chief Menawa was not captured, and vowed to eliminate everyone connected with the executions and remove white influences on the region.

Bloody battles were fought for two years until on March 27, 1814, when General Andrew Jackson led his troops into the bend and ended the war with this bloody battle now known as the "Battle of Horseshoe Bend." By the end of the battle, 1,000 Red Sticks were dead, and much of the Creek land was seceded to the U.S.

Along the trail, markers describe the progression of the battle. Before heading out, be sure to watch the 10-minute slide show at the visitors center for an orientation on the battlefield.