Battle for the Southern Frontier: The Creek War and the War of 1812

by Mike Bunn, Clay Williams

This comprehensive book is the first to chronicle both wars and document the sites on which they were fought. It sheds light on how the wars led to the forced removal of Native Americans from the region, secured the Gulf South against European powers, facilitated increased migration into the area, furthered the development of slavebased agriculture and launched the career of Andrew Jackson.

Genres: History, American History, Native American, Military History, War

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quite readable survey of two inter-related conflicts, but it was light on documentation for me. As a starting point for understanding the conflicts emerging as the southeast was settled, though, I think it serves ably.

[Brenden Gallagher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rarely have I see 192 pages stretched to contain so little information.

The problem with researching a relatively obscure topic is that you have to settle. There just aren't that many books in print about the Creek War, and when a book has relatively good reviews, you don't ask questions.

This text feels so much like cliff notes, calling it a book doesn't quite feel fair. Filled with illustrations (sometimes unreasonably large), lots of white space, and repetitious, broad statements, the book stretches to almost 200 pages what could be gotten across in about 40.

Due to this lack of detail, the text falls into a lot of traps you see from poor histories of this era. Andrew Jackson is painted as a great hero, and his shortcomings are simply due to his being a "product of this time." The atrocities committed by the Native Americans are highlighted while the wrongdoing on the part of the Americans is glossed over.

If you need this book for research, the maps and breakdown of important figures are incredibly helpful, but if you're reading this for pleasure, all of that will just feel like more wasted space.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a brief but effective overview of two separate conflicts in early American history that overlapped in more than just the time period they shared. The War of 1812 has always been a bit of an enigma to me. How did it relate to the Creek Indian Wars? The authors answer this question. Having lived in south and east Alabama my entire life, I was largely unaware of the military history that has occurred in this region. One item I particularly appreciate is the pains the authors take to identify the specific locations where these events took place, some of which are not marked today. Those who live in proximity and may want to make a visit.

[Miles Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t finish this book, but that’s not because it’s bad. For what’s its trying to do—be an introduction to the Creek War and also be part travelogue—I think it succeeds.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contains some generally useful information but more a travelogue than serious work of history. A little over-the-top in defense of Jackson's shameful treatment of the Creek nation.

[William Mego · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly good accounting of a very important conflict largely ignored and forgotten by U.S. History, yet vital to understanding the formation not only of American national identity, but that which creates the massive influx to the "Old Southwest" (today the Southeastern states of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi) which create the agricultural culture that in turn leads to the U.S. Civil War. Politically, it elevates the man for whom all U.S. policy would be deeply influenced by between 1829 and the early 1850's. If there is a mostly unknown war in U.S. history, it's entirely forgotten little brother is the Creek War. To understand that you cannot look at them separately is one of the glories of this book.

The book is arranged in smaller sections, taking some period or place and giving the reader an essential narrative, then following it with a breakdown of each battle, town, or fort involved in a short paragraph which includes where it lies in modern times, the status (if any) of any historical markers, parks, and reconstructions. Often these include some sense of the roads and distances required to reach them, and even pictures taken by the authors of the modern sites.

Serious historians will find a somewhat lighter treatment than they might expect, though primary sources are reprinted in the back of the book...the accounts of the fall of Ft. Mims, and the Battle of the Canoes standing out as excellent reading to this reviewer. But the easy readability of this book is to it's profit, and the most serious of readers shouldn't overlook this book, but perhaps use it as a starting point, and guide. The notes on sources are also excellent, and will leave the student with a detailed roadmap to further study.

In all, a truly excellent effort, accomplishing exactly what they set out to do. Highly recommended!

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covers the Creek War and the War of 1812 very well. Divides it up by the various campaigns of the Creek War, which lead to Jackson forcing the Treaty of Fort Jackson, then going down to Pensacola, over to Mobile for the defense of Fort Bowyer, and over to New Orleans for one of the most significant battles in US history. The best part is that after each chapter, the sites that you can visit are detailed. So the book is a combination history book/travel guide.