Horseshoe Bend National Military Park ⓘ

In March 1814, General Jackson's army left Fort Williams on the Coosa, cut a 52-mile trail through the forest in three days, and on the 26th made camp six miles north of Horseshoe Bend. The next morning, Jackson sent General John Coffee and 700 mounted infantry and 600 Cherokee and Creek allies three miles down-stream to cross the Tallapoosa and surround the bend. He took the rest of the army - about 2000 men, consisting of East and West Tennessee militia and the Thirty-ninth U.S. Infantry - into the peninsula and at 10:30 a.m. began an ineffectual two-hour artillery bombardment of the Red Sticks' log barricade. At noon, Coffee's Cherokee allies crossed the river and assaulted the Red Sticks from the rear. Jackson quickly ordered a frontal bayonet charge, which poured over the barricade. Fighting ranged over the south end of the peninsula throughout the afternoon. By dark at least 800 of Chief Menawa's 1,000 Red Sticks were dead (557 slain on the field and 200-300 in the river). Menawa himself, although severely wounded, managed to escape. Jackson's losses in the battle were 49 killed and 154 wounded, many mortally.

Though the Red Sticks had been crushed at Tohopeka, remnants of the war party held out for several months. In August 1814, a treaty between the United States and the Creek Nation was signed at Fort Jackson near the present day city of Wetumpka, Alabama. The Treaty of Fort Jackson ended the conflict and required the Creeks to cede 23 million acres of land to the United States. The state of Alabama was carved out of this domain and admitted to the Union in 1819.

In 1828, partly as a result of his fame from the battles of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans, Andrew Jackson was elected the seventh President of the United States.

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park manages 2,040 acres of land. Within the park lies wildlife and scenery exemplary of Alabama’s rich biodiversity. Through it flows a section of the Tallapoosa River, with shoals just upriver and downriver from the park. The forest and the river together create a perfect habitat for many species.

The physical makeup of the region affects which plants and animals can thrive here. Some plants may want more or less acidic soil which the rocks around it play a large role.The park sits in Alabama’s piedmont region of the state at the very southern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Geologically, this area’s rocks date back to the Paleozoic era-- that’s anywhere between 250-450 million years ago! The climate, geology, and topography of this region make it uniquely suited to support life here in the forest and river. Explore this page to learn more about the natural world in Horseshoe Bend!

With more than 6,350 species, Alabama ranks 4th among states in terms of species diversity and is first among states east of the Mississippi River. Alabama is consistently at the top of the list for most freshwater aquatic species. Of the U.S., Alabama ranks #1 for most species in the following freshwater taxa: fish, mussels, snails, crawfish, & turtles.

Horseshoe Bend NMP resides in a Shortleaf / Loblolly Pine forest. Historically, these forests would have looked different at the time of the battle. Much of the land you see on your visit to the park was farmed shortly after the battle until the creation of the park. Today our maintenance staff conducts best practices for the health of the forest. Control burns are performed routinely to simulate natural fires the land would have experienced years ago, which many native plants need in order to thrive.

The Tallapoosa River is roughly 258 miles long with its headwaters in western Georgia. It flows through Alabama until it meets the Coosa River to create the Alabama River. The breadth of the river is a combination of flat water and shoals with small rapids that only classify as “class 1” (easy) in the International Scale of River Difficulty. This makes it an easy approachable float for paddlers of all abilities.

The stretch flowing through Horseshoe Bend NMP is part of the Harold Banks Canoe Trail. This 25-mile stretch of the Tallapoosa River highlights all that the Tallapoosa has to offer, from public access points to flora and fauna. You can read more about the Harold Banks Canoe Trail by visiting the Alabama Cooperative Extension Services website.

On the Tallapoosa River, one can find many notable native species. Belted Kingfishers, Bald Eagles, Ospreys may soar overhead as you float down the river. Beside you could be found native River Otters, Beavers, Turtles, and more. Beneath you as you float atop the river, the Tallapoosa Redeye Bass is a species of bass that can only be caught in this river and its creeks and is often chased by anglers. Other fish of note include the Tallapoosa Darter, Channel Catfish, and Longear sunfish. In summer, the river has large blooms of Shoal Lilies, Water Willows, and Elderflower.

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park is a participant in the Dragonfly Mercury Project , a national project that’s powered by citizen scientists and community volunteers to monitor mercury levels of waterways through dragonfly larvae collection. In large quantities, mercury can be dangerous to humans and wildlife alike. This project helps resource managers better understand and fight mercury contamination.