Maker

J. Bellah (Maker)

Dimensions / Weight

Dimensions: 5.5" H x 18" W x 2" D

Physical Description

American made pistol, .38 caliber.

Specific History

One of a pair of flintlock pistols Andrew Jackson presented to Major Lemuel P. Montgomery following the battle of Talladega. Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, would take its name from the major.

General History

Andrew Jackson had a long history with the Indians. During the War of 1812, he led militia forces in a war against Creek Indians.

One faction of the Creek sided with the British and fought the United States along the western frontier. This group, known as Red Sticks because of the bright red war clubs they carried, followed the teachings of the charismatic Shawnee, Tecumseh. The Red Sticks believed that Indians of many tribes needed to unite against the United States.

Andrew Jackson received a plea for help from a tribe of allied Creeks at Talladega. Jackson mobilized an army of 1,200 infantry and 800 cavalry and set out for the Creek fort at Talladega, arriving there in the early morning of 9 November 1813. Jackson surrounded the town with a brigade of militia under General Isaac Roberts on the left and a brigade of volunteers led by General William Hall on the right. The Creeks attacked the line held by Roberts’ brigade who retreated allowing hundreds of Creek to escape. The gap was quickly filled by reserves and the position repaired. Within fifteen minutes the battle was over. At least 300 Creeks perished on the battlefield while American losses amounted to fifteen killed and eighty-six wounded.