The Emperor of the Creeks

(c) 1995-2003 William James Chance

The son of Sehoy and Lachlan McGillivray grew to be a tall, slender boy, full of his father's desire for doing things and his mother's love of the Creek Indians. When he was twelve years old, Alexander was sent away to Charleston, South Carolina to school. He had never been away from his family before so he felt very lonely. Since it was hard for him to be happy so far away, his father allowed him to leave school and return home.

At the age of about fourteen, he was put to work in his father's store. Instead of working as the other clerks did, Alexander would slip away and read books. At first his father urged him to attend to his work in the store but Alexander seemed to forget all about his work when he could find a book to read. So his father said one day, "If Alexander wishes to be a scholar, a scholar he shall be. He shall go to school and take his learning like a gentleman". This time Alexander studied well in the school at Charleston and became one of the best educated men in the country. It was thought that he might remain in Charleston and become a great lawyer but the call of his Indian blood was too strong for that. Once more he turned his back on civilization and rode away to his beloved Alabama.

A royal welcome awaited the homecoming of Alexander McGillivray. The Creek Indians of Alabama were in need of a bold leader at this time, for their chief had died. They talked among themselves of young Alexander and they thought him a wise young man. When it became known that he had chosen to return to his mother's people, they made him their chief at once.

Alexander McGillivray took charge of the affairs of the Creek Indians with great honesty. He called himself The Emperor and ruled in such a splendid way that the Indians were very much pleased. They came to look upon him as the greatest person upon mother earth.

About this time, the Revolutionary War was being fought in the colonies on the Atlantic coast. The Emperor remained friendly to the King of England. He did little fighting himself, but he caused the Creek Indians to fight against the Americans. The English were defeated, for brave George Washington led the Americans to victory. After eight years, the king's soldiers sailed away, never to return again.

The Americans hated The Emperor for the part he had played in the war, so they took almost all of his property from him. They wanted to punish him but they did not take his life because they needed the friendship of the Creek Indians.

The Emperor hated the Americans and did everything in his power to make it hard for them to succeed. To the south of the United States was Florida, which was owned and settled by the Spaniards. The Americans wanted Florida very much but the Spaniards, of course, wanted to keep it themselves. The Emperor helped the Spaniards when he could. He joined the Spanish Army and was made a colonel.

As a colonel in the Spanish Army and as leader of the Creek Indians, he became a most important man. The Seminole Indians of Florida, which are the lower Creek Indians, also obeyed him. He never lost a chance to stir up trouble between the Creek Indians and the Americans. His own selfishness was plain in many instances, for he nearly always got many things for himself. He became wealthy by selling the things which he gained in this way.

At last he became so bold and so dangerous that the American government had to take some action. President Washington chose Colonel Willett to come to Alabama to make peace with the Creeks and the Seminoles and to invite them to come to New York to see him. It was necessary for Colonel Willett to have a talk with The Emperor about this because The Emperor's word was law to the Indians.

Colonel Willett was made welcome by the Indians. A great crowd of elders and chiefs had gathered to hear him. He spoke to them as follows: "Our great white chief, George Washington, has sent me to you to bring you a message of love and to invite you to his council lodge in New York. Our great white chief loves the red man and he wishes him to be happy. He wishes you to visit him so that he may tell you of his love for you and his interest in you".

Even The Emperor listened with interest to Colonel Willett's speech. In the end he promised to take his chiefs and go back with Colonel Willett to New York to see the great white chief. He would not make a promise to sign a peace treaty but he did promise to listen to President Washington.

Before many moons had passed, The Emperor, with his nephew, two servants and Colonel Willett set out on horseback from little Tallassee. A large number of warriors went with him and many chiefs joined him as he traveled toward New York, which at that time was the capital of the United States. They were dressed in bright costumes and rode their horses. They made a fine procession as they rode along.

On the way, they stopped to rest in the home of General Pickens of South Carolina, where they were treated very kindly. General Pickens furnished wagons for the remainder of their journey to New York. Colonel Willett was given a surrey in which to ride, while The Emperor, with four bodyguards, continued to ride on horseback.

When they reached Philadelphia, they were entertained in splendid style for three days. All of the White Eyes along the way knew why the Indians were going to New York and everyone was anxious to treat them well for they all wanted peace between the Indians and the White Eyes. From Philadelphia they went to Elizabethtown where they went onboard a fine ship bound for New York.

When the party arrived in New York, a great crowd welcomed them. New York was decorated with flags and banners as a welcome to them. Amid all the noise, music and ceremony that even an Indian could wish, they were marched up Wall Street by the Federal Hall where congress was meeting and on to the house of the president.

George Washington and The Emperor met and liked each other. They were both fighting men and leaders of their people. The Emperor seemed to understand that Washington was seeking only to serve his country and Washington seemed to understand that The Emperor was seeking to serve his own people.

The White Eyes made the visit of the Indians so pleasant that even The Emperor showed that he liked the way they were received. Besides a great feast, they were entertained in many ways.

Toward the close of the visit, Washington and his friends had an earnest talk with The Emperor. A treaty was signed by The Emperor and Washington, which promised that peace, would be kept forever between the Indians and the Americans.

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