While the Long Roll Was Beating

While General Coffee's men took position across the Tallapoosa River, Major General Jackson stationed his remaining soldiers here in front of the Red Stick's log barricade, marked by white posts. In this field about 1,400 of Jackson's 2,000 men were Tennessee Militia, and 600 were regulars from the 39th U.S. Infantry Regiment. On both sides tension built as cannon shot slammed into the barricade. At 12:30 p.m. the drums beat the long roll announcing the order to charge, and the army surged forward. Drummers such as Americus Hammock, one of several African American soldiers with Jackson, echoed the pounding hearts of the men as they advanced into battle, capturing the kind of enthusiasm Major John Reid remembered feeling as the long roll was beating.

Alabama · United States