Bashi Skirmish Explained

Conflict:Bashi Skirmish
Partof:the Creek War
Date:October 4?, 1813
Place:Failetown, Alabama
Result:Creek victory
Combatant1:Creek
Combatant2: United States
Commander1:Unknown
Commander2:Colonel William McGrew
Strength1:Unknown
Strength2:~25
Casualties1:None Documented
Casualties2:~4 killed
1 missing
Several wounded

The Bashi Skirmish in the Creek War was fought in what became Failetown, Alabama.[1] A Clarke County historical marker which stands on Woods Bluff Road between Alabama 69 and Cassidy Hill marks the location of the incident[2] which resulted in the death of 4 Americans.

The exact date of this skirmish is not clear but it is believed to have occurred in early October 1813.[3] At least one source puts it at October 4, 1813.[1]

A group of 25 white horsemen led by Colonel William McGrew left St. Stephens traveling towards Fort Easley.[4] The company was proceeding towards a stream called Bashi Creek that flows into the Tombigbee River a mile or two north of Wood's Bluff when they suddenly found themselves among concealed Creek warriors.[3] They were ambushed after a turkey tail was raised above a log by one of the concealed Creek, giving the signal for attack.[3] The Indians who had guns instantly fired from their places of concealment and McGrew who had taken part in the Battle of Burnt Corn was killed along with Edmund Miles, Jesse Griffin and Captain William Bradbury.[3] [5] David Griffin was reported missing and presumed dead; his body was never found.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Welcome to Clarke County Pamphlet . Clarke County Development Foundation . June 2005 . 2007-04-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708162253/http://www.clarkecountyal.com/documents/ClarkeBooklet.pdf . 2011-07-08 .
  2. Web site: Historical Markers & Sites . Clarke County Government . 2007-04-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070730235342/http://www.clarkecountyal.com/historical_markers.htm . 2007-07-30 .
  3. Book: Halbert, Henry Sale. The Creek War of 1813 and 1814. 1895. Donohue & Henneberry. Chicago, Illinois. 219–222. Bashi Skirmish..
  4. Book: Weir, III . Howard . A Paradise of Blood: The Creek War of 1813-14 . 2016 . Westholme . Yardley, Pennsylvania . 978-1-59416-270-1 . 267-8.
  5. Book: Owen, Thomas McAdory. History of Alabama and dictionary of Alabama biography, Volume 1. 1921. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. Chicago. 978-1-174-87227-3. 124.