A BGES’ Americana Field University Program: And the British Kept a Coming: Andy Jackson, the Creek Indian War and the

Who is this man, Andy Jackson? How did he become the Hero of the ? Why did he become the seventh President of the ? Old Hickory is as much a part of the lore and legend of America as the Pilgrims, Washington, and the Little Big Horn. Join us to find out why.

Andy Jackson hated the British—from the days near Waxhaws, North Carolina, to the death of his family, he had ample cause. Yet some 40 years later, he was settled near Nashville and a leader in his community. As commander of the local , when the United States again went to war with Great Britain, he took command of forces in and Northern Alabama. Believing he might engage the enemy, he marched his volunteers hundreds of miles away from home only to be ordered to disband. Staying with the men as he returned to Nashville, more intrigue caused him to regroup and become the American Commander in the southern United States. Sweeping through Alabama, he crushed the British allies, the Creek Indians, and when rumors of British invasion reached him, moved toward Mobile to engage any action that might result. The British indeed came, and Jackson met them on the plains of Chalmette. The Battle of New Orleans was decisive, and Jackson was an American Legend. You will like this program!

Sunday, March 31, 2019

6:30 PM: Meet at the Wingate Hotel Airport, Nashville, Tennessee—our headquarters hotel. Neil and Len will meet you in the lobby and distribute readings and other information about the program. We will then head out for a group meal. Hotel and dinner are included.

Monday, April 1, 2019

8:15: After breakfast, you will visit the home of . The famous general and seventh U.S. President, Jackson is buried at the Hermitage, and this lovely site is well presented for your perusal. We then hit the road for Gadsden, Alabama, stopping at the home of America's 11th president, James Polk, where you will be free to have lunch on your own. The afternoon will introduce you to the assembling expeditionary force under Jackson's command at Camp Blount, the stepping off point at Ditto's Landing and the expedition's major base of supply at Fort Deposit on the mighty Tennessee River. Dinner will be on your own. Hotel, breakfast, and lunch are provided.

Tuesday April 2, 2019

8:15: We get right to the fighting today, with stops at Fort Stother, and the battlefields at Tallushatchee and Talladega, seeing the battle monument at Oak Hill Cemetery. Following lunch, which is included, you will see the site of Fort Williams and visit the Memorial Gravesite for the . After visiting and discussing the massacre at Hillabee, we will see the site and discuss the Creek victory over Jackson at the battle of Enitachopoc. The day finishes at Alexander City, Alabama, where you will have dinner on your own. Breakfast, lunch, and hotel included. .

Wednesday April 3, 2019

8:15: The day starts with a quick visit to Emuckfaw to set up our morning visit to the decisive American victory at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. This is a site indicative of its abiding importance in American history. We will then see where the Militia, which marched to support Jackson, encountered the Red Stick Indians at the battles of Autossee (means “War Club”) and Calebee. We will do an onboard interpretation of Tuckabatchee Creek, where the great Indian warrior Tecumseh visited. After lunch in Tallassee, we will drive to Fort Jackson and Fort Deposit, overnighting in Greenville. Dinner is on your own. Breakfast, lunch, and your hotel are provided.

Thursday April 4, 2019

8:15: Our first stop this morning explores the Creek's victory at the Creek battlefield, followed by a real treat, as you will see the home of William Barrett Travis, who commanded the garrison at The Alamo. Our next stop is the grave of , aka Red Eagle, an Indian chief of note. The tour turns to the darker side when we visit the site of the infamous Fort Mims Massacre. After lunch at the park, we will visit the site where Geronimo was held prisoner, at the Mt. Vernon Arsenal near Fort Stoddard. We make haste to , where we will overnight in Slidell.

Friday April 5, 2019

8:15: We spend the morning at the Battle of New Orleans site in Chalmette before visiting the famous French Quarter and Jackson Square, where the triumphant general is immortalized in bronze. You will have lunch on your own and the afternoon to explore the oldest part of New Orleans, perhaps visiting the Cabildo museum, the Museum of New Orleans, or the World War II Museum. Maybe you will just walk the French Quarter. We then will depart for the New Orleans International Airport for flights home. Breakfast is included.

SPECIAL NOTE: If your schedule permits, a program on Civil War New Orleans starts at our headquarters hotel (Country Inn and Suites) in Slidell the evening of April 5, ending on Monday afternoon, April 8, led by Executive Director Len Riedel. Separate registration is required.

About the Faculty:

Neil Mangum, one of the nation’s foremost historians, is an expert on frontier life. However, Neil is a Virginian who grew up in the shadow of the Petersburg National Battlefield, which was one of his very first assignments in the NPS. He still has deep ties. A retired National Park Service official, Neil served as Superintendent at the Little Big Horn National Battlefield as it transitioned from Custer National Battlefield. The popular Mangum only allows himself four or five tours a year, and BGES is fortunate to enjoy his favor. He enjoys the clientele and the small folksy nature of the group that is usually well prepared. Neil is author of The Battle of the Rosebud: Prelude to the Little Big Horn. He has a following, and most people on this trip will have traveled with him before, which makes this event even nicer.

Hotel Information:

Your registration fee includes includes five nights single or double occupancy lodging. The headquarters hotel will be the Wingate Inn, Nashville International Airport. Subsequent hotels will be in Gadsden, Alabama; Alexander City, Alabama; Greenville, Alabama; and Slidell, Louisiana.

Transportation:

Our servicing airport is Nashville (BNA). Our headquarters hotel will provide transportation to and from the airport. If you drive to Nashville, we will make arrangements for you to leave your car parked there—an additional charge may apply, or you may want to park in long-term parking at the airport and take the hotel shuttle back to the hotel. You will need to book transportation from New Orleans. Southwest Airlines serves New Orleans (MSY), so one-way tickets are easily secured and affordable. Airline tickets are not included in your registration. Our program will end at the New Orleans International Airport.

Recommended Reading:

You will be provided with a reading book and maps upon arrival. We recommend the following books to enhance your preparation for this tour. Amazon.com has a program to support non-profits IF YOU SIGN UP to support Blue and Gray Education Society (EIN 54-1720582) at AmazonSmile. When you sign up there rather than the normal Amazon site, one-half of one percent of your purchase price will be provided to BGES as a donation from Amazon. This will apply not only on this purchase but others you may make at other times.

George Eggleston: Red Eagle and the Wars with the Creek Indians of Alabama 1812– 1814

Tom Kanan: Tennesseans at War, 1812–1815: Andrew Jackson, The Creek War and the Battle of New Orleans

Robert Remini: The Life of Andrew Jackson

Robert Remini: The Battle of New Orleans: Andrew Jackson and America's First Military Victory

Howard Weir: A Paradise of Blood, The Creek War of 1813–1814

Registration Form And the British Kept a Coming: Andy Jackson, The Creek Indian War, and the Battle of New Orleans Presented by Neil Mangum March 31 to April 5, 2019 from Nashville, TN

Name: ______

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Registration includes five nights lodging, five breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners, a reading book with maps, the academic program, support of a professional historian, tour director, all admissions, and transportation. We will also provide snacks, bottled water, and a limited selection of sodas.

______Registration $1750 Single

______Double occupancy $1500 per person

______Dues paying BGES member $1695 Single

______Dues paying BGES member $1445 per person Double occupancy

______Full-time Student or active teacher $1625 single Note: Teacher or student will save money if traveling and rooming with another person than the applicable rate above provides.

______I am sending a deposit of $500 per person plus full payment for any memberships.

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Mail to BGES Seminars, PO Box 1176, Chatham, VA 24531; or fax credit cards to 434-432-0596.