Emucfau, battle of.
On a bend in the
Tallapoosa River, in
Alabama, was a Creek village named Emucfau.
Jackson, with a considerable force, approaching the place (Jan. 21, 1814), saw a wellbeaten trail and some prowling
Indians, and prepared his camp that night for an attack.
At six o'clock the next morning a party of Creek warriors fell upon him with great fury.
At dawn a vigorous cavalry charge was made upon the foe by
General Coffee, and they were dispersed.
Coffee pursued the barbarians for 2 miles with much slaughter.
Then a party was despatched to destroy the
Indian encampment at Emucfau, but it was found to be too strongly fortified to be taken without artillery.
When Coffee fell back to guard approaching cannon, the Indians, thinking it was a retreat, again fell upon
Jackson, but, after a severe struggle, were repulsed.
Jackson made no further attempt to destroy the encampment at Emucfau.
He was astonished at the prowess of the
Creek
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warriors.
In their retrograde movement (Jan. 24), the Tennesseeans, were again threatened by the Indians, near Enotochopco Creek.
A severe engagement soon ensued; but the Tennesseeans, having planted a 6-pounder cannon on an eminence, poured a storm of grape-shot on the Indians, which sent them yelling in all directions.
The slaughter among the Indians was heavy, while that among the white troops was comparatively light.
In the two engagements (Emucfau and Enotochopco),
Jackson lost twenty killed and seventy-five wounded.
