The Canoe Fight was a skirmish between Mississippi Territory militiamen led by Captain Samuel Dale and Red Stick warriors that took place on November 12, 1813 as part of the Creek War. The skirmish was fought largely from canoes and was a victory for the militiamen, who only had one member wounded. The victory held little military value in the overall Creek War but its participants gained widespread notoriety for their actions during the fight. The fight has been depicted in multiple illustrations, but only a historical marker currently exists near the site of the fight. Background During the Creek War, the United States allied themselves with Creek, Choctaw, and Cherokee warriors who were supportive of the United States in fighting Creeks who were hostile to the United States. The supportive Creeks (known as White Sticks), had championed the enlargement of the Creek governing body known as the National Council and paid off existing debt to the United States by selling Creek lands in present-day Alabama and Georgia. The Creeks who were hostile to the United States, known as Red Sticks, were angered at the growing power of the National Council and felt governmental duties should instead be handled by Creek clans. The Red Sticks were also angered over the selling of traditional Creek lands to the United States and the arrival of settlers on Creek land. Prior to the Creek War, the disagreements over the National Council had led the White Stick and Red Stick warriors to engage in civil war. The United States hoped to prevent the Red Sticks from allying themselves with Great Britain as part of the War of 1812. Red Stick warriors began sporadically attacking settlers who encroached on Creek lands. In response, citizens of the Mississippi Territory built protective forts in addition to United States military action against the Red Sticks. After the Fort Mims massacre militias were formed in present-day southern Alabama to protect settlers while they were gathering the fall harvest. Red Stick warriors continued to attack settlers in the area. Captain Samuel Dale, who was recovering from wounds received at the Battle of Burnt Corn, volunteered to lead a group of 30 Mississippi Territory volunteers and 40 volunteers from the surrounding area to drive away the Red Stick warriors. On November 11, the party left Fort Madison headed southeast towards the Alabama River. They crossed the river at French's Landing (labeled