Escambia County
The Battle of Burnt Corn Creek was fought on July 27, 1813, and is generally recognized as the opening clash of the Creek War of 1813–1814. This marker was unveiled in 2026 by the Escambia County Historical Society, with representatives of Creek historical organizations participating in the dedication. The marker explains both the battle and the chain of events that followed, including the attack on Fort Mims a little more than a month later.
Front of Marker
BATTLE OF
BURNT CORN CREEK
This battle, which started the Creek War of 1813–1814, was fought approximately nine miles north of this location at Burnt Corn Creek. Around noon on July 27, 1813, a war party of about 100 Creek warriors, under the War Chief Jim Boy, was attacked by about 180 Mississippi Territory Militia commanded by Colonel James Caller. The Creeks were returning from Pensacola, Florida with ammunition laden pack horses and were camped near a spring cooking a meal when they were surprised by the sudden attack and forced to withdraw.
(Continued on other side)
Escambia County Historical Society — 2026
Reverse of Marker
BATTLE OF
BURNT CORN CREEK
(Continued from other side)
Seeing the militia force fall into disorder in plundering their camp, the Creeks counterattacked, causing a panic among the militia, who then fled the field. The loss of life was minimal on both sides, but set in motion the lethal attack on Fort Mims. Some of the militia was composed of settlers from the Tensaw area north of Mobile, Alabama. In revenge, the Creeks later returned with a war party of about 600–800 warriors and on August 30, 1813, destroyed Fort Mims, to which many of these settlers and their families had fled.
Escambia County Historical Society — 2026
The Battle and the Old Federal Road
The Battle of Burnt Corn Creek grew directly out of the struggle for control of travel, trade and military supplies across the region. Creek warriors returning from Spanish-held Pensacola were carrying ammunition northward when Mississippi Territory militia intercepted them near Burnt Corn Creek.
The Old Federal Road was one of the principal routes through the Creek Nation and the Mississippi Territory during this period. Settlers, soldiers, traders and Native travelers all used the road and its connecting trails. As tensions increased during 1813, the road became part of a much larger network carrying people, warnings and military supplies across southern Alabama.
The militia initially surprised the Creek encampment and forced the warriors to retreat. However, the militia soon fell into disorder while searching and plundering the abandoned camp. The Creek warriors regrouped, counterattacked and drove the militia from the field.
The number of men killed at Burnt Corn Creek was small compared with later battles, but the consequences were far greater than the immediate casualties. The confrontation intensified existing divisions and helped set in motion the events that led to the attack on Fort Mims on August 30, 1813. From there, the conflict expanded into the Creek War of 1813–1814.
The unveiling of this marker brought together representatives of the Escambia County Historical Society and Creek historical groups. Their participation helped recognize that the story of Burnt Corn Creek is shared history—one involving the Creek people, territorial settlers and the transformation of Alabama during the early nineteenth century.
Video
Watch the Old Federal Road Project video about the unveiling and history of the Battle of Burnt Corn Creek marker:
Location
Escambia County, Alabama
The marker states that the battle was fought approximately nine miles north of the marker’s location at Burnt Corn Creek.
GPS Coordinates: 31.10255, -87.07553