Andrew Jackson's Quartermaster Urgently Requests Flints for Offensive Against Creeks, Native American

General Andrew Jackson's quartermaster and nephew writes from Fort Strother in Alabama, pleading for flints for the militia muskets from Quartermaster Lewis in Nashville. A week later, Jackson led his militiamen, whose enlistment terms were nearing their end, in two indecisive battles against the Creeks.

[ANDREW JACKSON.] Stokely D. Hays, Autograph Letter Signed, to William B. Lewis, January 9, 1814, [Fort Strother, Alabama]. 1 p., 7.875" x 8". Tear from opening seal, affecting two words; general toning; some staining.

Complete Transcript
Ten miles East [of As]hville Jany 9th 1814
Maj W B Lewis,
Sir I have this moment sent an express from Genl Jackson He requires me, to write you for ten thousand flints. You will procure them without delay and send them on by express; the Genl states the army are entirely without. There must be no disappointment in this article. If they are not to be had in Nashville, the adjacent Towns must be searched and all that can be had sent on without a moments loss of time. Nothing can be done without them. I have no paper nor time to write you further.
respectfully your friend,
S. D. Hays Qr. M. Genl

Historical Background
The Creek War began as a civil war among different factions of the Creeks, especially the Red Sticks, a war party that opposed the Creek Confederacy Council's policies of peaceful coexistence with the United States. In July 1813, the first clash between the Red Sticks and a group of territorial militiamen occurred in southern Alabama, which came to be known as the Battle of Burnt Corn. On August 30, 1813, Red Sticks attacked Fort Mims, north of Mobile, and killed 400 to 500 people, including many white settlers. Responding to this attack became a rallying cause for the American militia.

Tennessee Governor Willie Blount called out a force of 2,500 men from west Tennessee under Colonel Andrew Jackson and 2,500 more from East Tennessee under Major General John Alexander Cocke. Andrew Jackson's advance in late 1813 and early 1814 was hampered by supply shortages and short enlistments. He struggled to keep Fort Strother, which his forces had built in November 1813 on the Coosa River. New recruits arrived in January 1814, and Jackson led approximately 175 militiamen, 30 artillerymen, and approximately 200 allied Lower Creek and Cherokee warriors from Fort Strother on January 17. His goal was to march toward the village of Emuckfaw to cooperate with the Georgia militia. A few days later, a strong force of Red Sticks attacked Jackson's camp a dozen miles from Emuckfaw and attacked again two days later. The Battles of Emuckfaw and Enotachopo Creek were indecisive, though both sides suffered significant casualties, and General John Coffee, the commander of Jackson's cavalry was seriously wounded. Jackson returned to Fort Strother and did not resume the offensive until mid-March.

In February, the 39th U.S. infantry arrived, which provided Jackson with a disciplined core for his forces. In the spring of 1814, Jackson advanced with new Tennessee militia and established a new outpost at Fort Williams, farther down the Coosa River. On March 27, 1814, he led his troops to attack the Red Sticks at Horseshoe Bend. His decisive victory there effectively ended the war.

Stokely Donelson Hays (1788-1831) was born in Tennessee, the son of Robert Hays and his wife Jane Donelson (1754-1834), older sister of Andrew Jackson's wife Rachel Donelson Jackson (1767-1828). In 1806, his uncle Andrew Jackson allowed Hays to accompany Aaron Burr to New Orleans but told him to be cautious of Burr's intentions. Although Burr was ultimately arrested for treason, Hays was not implicated and returned home safely. In 1811, Jackson performed the wedding of Hays to Jackson's ward Lydia Butler (1788-1865). During the Creek War, Hays accompanied Jackson and served as his quartermaster general. He also participated in the Battle of New Orleans. As President Jackson appointed Hays as Registrar of the land office in Clinton, Mississippi, but he soon returned to Jackson, Tennessee, where he died of fever.

William B. Lewis (1784-1866) was born in Virginia and moved in 1809 to Nashville, Tennessee, where he became a longtime friend and associate of Andrew Jackson. He served as a quartermaster under Jackson during the War of 1812 and the Creek War. He later assisted Jackson in his campaign for the U.S. Senate in 1823 and his presidential campaigns. He served as a member of Jackson's “Kitchen Cabinet,” and Jackson appointed him as the second auditor of the treasury, a position Lewis retained into the late 1840s.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.