Andrew Jackson's Sword and Scabbard

Object Details

Jackson, Andrew

Description

Physical Description

Forged steel with metal scabbard.

Specific History

Andrew Jackson carried this sword and scabbard while commanding the American forces, which included Tennessee militia, U.S. regulars, and Cherokee, Choctaw, and Southern Creek Indians during the Creek War and in the War of 1812.

General History

The Creek War began on August 30, 1813, when a faction of Creek known as the Red Sticks attacked a contingent of 553 American settlers at Lake Tensaw, Alabama, north of Mobile. The British were believed to be a main ally of the Indians.

In response to the Alabama attack, Jackson led 5,000 militiamen in the destruction of two Creek villages, Tallasahatchee and Talladega. The fighting lasted into the next year, culminating in Jackson’s troops destroying the Creek defenses at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. On March 27, 1814 the battle ended with 800 Creek warriors killed and 500 women and children captured.

On August 9, 1814, Major General Andrew Jackson signed the Treaty of Fort Jackson, ending the Creek War. The agreement provided for the surrender of twenty-three million acres of Creek land to the United States. This vast territory encompassed more than half of present-day Alabama and part of southern Georgia.

Credit Line

U.S. Department of State

used date

1812

ID Number

AF.32012

catalog number

32012

accession number

68016

Object Name

sword

Other Terms

sword; Edged Weapons

Physical Description

steel (overall material)

Measurements

total: 37 1/4 in x 5 in x 3 1/4 in; 94.615 cm x 12.7 cm x 8.255 cm

scabbard: 32 1/2 in x 3 1/2 in x 1 1/4 in; 82.55 cm x 8.89 cm x 3.175 cm

blade: 32 1/2 in x 1 1/4 in; 82.55 cm x 3.175 cm

hilt: 5 in x 3 1/4 in; x 12.7 cm x 8.255 cm

associated place

France

used

United States: Alabama

See more items in

Political and Military History: Armed Forces History, Military

Military

ThinkFinity

Exhibition

Price of Freedom

Exhibition Location

National Museum of American History

National Museum of American History

subject

National Guard

Presidents

related event

War of 1812

Creek War

Expansion and Reform

Record ID

nmah_438732

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a2-6582-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa