The Southern Campaign

The US believed that Spain would join the British in the War of 1812, but Spain didn't.  To goad the Spanish into it a Tennessee lawyer-politician, one Andrew Jackson marched 1500 troops to New Orleans to meet up with troops led by (now how did this happen?) one James Wilkerson.

President Madison asked Congress for authority to take over both Floridas because the British would
take them if we did not. New England and other northern states defeated this proposal on February 2, 1813.  Jackson's army disbanded but Congress authorized occupying Mobile and West Florida under Wilkerson's command...which angered Spain, but not enough to fight back.

Jackson was back home building his own army, this time to fight the Creek Indians.  March 27, 1814, after months of attack and raid, Jackson and 3000 men fought the Creeks at Horseshoe Bend in Mississippi Territory.  Over 700 Indians were killed ending forever Creek domination.

The defeat of the Indians in the Northwest Territory and the South accomplished one of the war.  By 1814, war weariness pressed for peace negotiations with the British.  The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814 after British defeats at Fort McHenry in Baltimore and Plattsburg on Lake Champlain.  It was more of a stalemate than a surrender.

Next time...One Last Battle
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On This Day in Pioneer History:  "On March 3, 1887, Anne Sullivan begins teaching six-year-old Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing after a severe illness at the age of 19 months