WAR OF 1812 - John McNair's Pension card

 John's military service was in Tennessee. 
His pension numbers were: 
pension number #1 WO30367 
pension number #2 WC25181
Roll # 62
Archive Publication Number M 313

John McNair and Mary Ann Sherertz Marriage bond

 

My McNair Lineage in the McNair Book by James Birtley McNair

 James McNair > John McNair > Mack Manilus McNair
McNair Genealogies: 1928 ed.: James Birtley McNair
https://archive.org/details/mcnairmcnearmcne1928mcna/page/298/mode/2up

Mack Manilus McNair - on page 300, listed as the 16th child 
of John and Mary Ann McNair.

James Birtley McNair compiled McNair History

                                                                McNair Quote

As long as marriages are recorded, births registered, gravestones used, and obituaries written there is value to genealogy. As long as heredity is recognized, family merit encouraged, and patriotism cherished genealogy is imperative.

                                                ~ James Birtley McNair 1929

James Birtley McNair compiled the McNair History into several volumes. Most all of them can be found on Family Search (Mormon website) through their book library and can be viewed by the public. I purchased ALL of the volumes but only found our family in the McNair, McNear, and McNeir Genealogies, supplement 1928, slide #318, p 299. 

News article in The Athens Post 1853

 Spies to the CREEK NATION

McNair, John, Capt
Knox County Tennessee
Vol 2 p 357 -359
 
News article in The Athens Post by Sam P Ivins
Athens, Tenn. Friday, November 4, 1853, Vol. VI – no. 267
Image 1 of The Athens post (Athens, Tenn.), November 4, 1853
https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84024443/1853-11-04/ed-1/?sp=1&q=john+mcnair&st=image&r=-0.28,-0.312,1.771,1.101,0
 
For the Post
SPIES to THE CREEK NATION IN 1813.
In the summer of 1813, a rumor was afloat that a portion of the Creek Indians were, assuming hostile appearances. To ascertain the facts respecting those savages, Gen. Jas.
White ordered Col. John McNair and Andrew Cowan to proceed through the Cherokee Nation and ascertain as near as possible the movements of the hostile Creeks, and to communicate the same to him, after which to return into the Cherokee Nation and remain
there, at Captain David McNair’s, until he would give further orders.
 
Accordingly, on the 25th of August of the same summer, they left their homes and in a short time arrived at Hightower towns in the Cherokee Nation. They informed the Chief of these towns of their business, but he appeared rather obstinate, so they continued the prosecution of their mission and did not call at the next town but passed on down the Coosa river to where a white man lived by the name of Vann, who had married a Cherokee. Vann procured them a linkister (archaic term for linguist or interpreter) and told them they must not let the Creeks know that they were Tennesseans, as their ambition was principally against the States of Kentucky and Tennessee, and that they were making preparations to attack those States. Our heroes left Vann's with their interpreter to go to Turkeytown in the Creek Nation. This town when they arrived at it was entirely deserted -- they, however, found an old negro man in it who informed them that the Indians were about twenty miles down the Coosa River in council with the peaceable party to influence them to engage in the attack against Tennessee and Kentucky. Now our gallant heroes were anxious to meet with the Indians in their council before they come to a conclusion. The old negro having informed them that by crossing the river twice they would shorten the distance less than half. They left their horses in Turkeytown and walked and arrived where the council was sitting, in a short time. They were immediately put under guard and closely interrogated as to their business, which they had to make known. Our heroes used every argument to convince the council of the insufficiency of the Indian forces compared with the United Stales forces. They brought to bear on their minds their want of guns and ammunition. The council moved off a few paces to consult, after which they liberated our heroes on condition they would meet them in council next day at Turkeytown. The sun was near setting, but our heroes returned to Turkeytown that night, not withstanding the dark dismal route over which they had to travel.
 
After they arrived in town they purchased a watermelon (some of the natives having returned) and rode their horses into the woods about two miles, where they ate their watermelon and slept on the green grass till morning. In the morning they returned to town and met with the council about 10 o'clock. The council made inquiries, as on the day before, in relation as to when the whites would have an army in the nation so our heroes continued reasoning with them as to the insufficiency of their forces and equipment. This reasoning for a while had no effect, for the council were of opinion that, if they could subdue Tennessee and Kentucky, the remainder of the States would submit also. The council finally concluded not to engage in the hostile movement without they were forced to it by popular acclamation and to solemnize their promise they lit a pipe, took one or two pulls, and invited our heroes to do likewise, assuring them at the same time that they were their friends, and, also, informing them where four parties of the hostile Creeks were. Here our heroes wrote a letter to Gen. White and one to Gov. Blount and gave an Indian six dollars to carry them to the Cherokee agent (Col. Meigs) who was directed to forward them by express to their destination.
 
Now our heroes returned back into the Cherokee Nation and informed the Cherokees what they had done. There lived a Chief somewhere in the Nation who was quite influential, so our heroes found his residence, and were highly treated by him. His name was Ridge. The Chief set before them a bottle of whiskey and presented them with a large watermelon. His daughter, who could talk English, told them to help themselves they declined drinking the whiskey, but dissected the melon. Ridge said he would call a council of the Nation, which he did but the council did not meet until after several days. So our heroes proceeded on to Capt. David McNair’s, as they were ordered in the outset by Gen. White. Here they received letter from Gen. White, in answer to the one they had written from the council in the Creek Nation. Col. McNair, while they were at this place, took a severe pain in his eyes, which was so intense that he was confined about eight days, during which time Ridge's national council met. Mr. Cowan attended this council, which was fifty miles off, without the company of Col. McNair. The council was in session three days -- during the time our old hero had several interviews with the Chief, who made a speech in council every day.
We do not wish to interrupt this narrative but would only remark that this man Ridge was a Webster in the council of his Nation, and probably of as good natural sense as any Senator in the Senate chamber of the United States.
 
After the Council adjourned, Mr. Cowan returned to Capt. McNair’s and found Col. McNair very much reduced. Gen. White having ordered them in his letter to return to the Creek Nation, they left Capt. McNair's as soon as Mr. Cowan returned. Before they crossed the Coosa River, they were informed by the Cherokees that a party of the Creeks were on the scout in ambush for them. This information caused them to change their route and cross the river where they had not been in the habit of crossing. At night they put up with a Cherokee whose name was Waterhunter. This Cherokee told them that a party of four Creeks were at his house in pursuit of them. This news our hero were glad to learn, as they had apprehended a larger force to contend with. They were well prepared to defend themselves having each a ride and a holster of pistols.
 
They now set out for Vann's, where they called before. On the way they had to pass on a backbone ridge, covered with small cane. On either side of the ridge ran a creek that confined them to this route. The Indians had been in ambush for them on this ridge, but a deer having passed that way, they went in pursuit of it, as they were informed by Vann, the Indians having left them only a short time before our heroes came up.
 
They now crossed back to the East side of the Coosa river and travelled to Turkeytown, where they learned that an army of whites  were coming  so they pushed to meet it, which they did twenty-five miles distant. This was in the month of November. They detailed to the army the condition of the Nation and joined it. They army crossed Coosa River thirty miles above Turkeytown, and entered into the Creek Nation and attacked a town, the name of which we are not able to make out in the notes before us. However, they subdued the town, killed about sixty warriors and imprisoned about three hundred.
 
This narrative, to do full justice to our old heroes, would fill a small volume. We will not, however, for the present continue it further, but must be permitted to make some general remarks.
 
The perils that these two brave men contended against can better be imagined than described. They were exposed to cold, slept generally in the woods and frequently spent a night in this way without having had anything to eat the day preceding. They had to cross the Coosa River frequently, which they always swam. They are now quite old men – the hoary heads have faced the terrors of many winters, and as it were, they stand on the brink of the grave, whose clods will soon hide them from the eyes of men, yet they will live in the memory of their countrymen.
Andrew Cowan now lives in Bradley County, Tenn., where Col. John McNair lived until about one year ago, when he moved to the West. It will be due to remark that the money they spent out of their own proceeds while in the Cherokee and Creek Nations, was not refunded until eight years after their return home.
                                                                                                                J. A.
                                                                                                                Kingston, Roane Co., 1853
 
 
 

Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Creek Wars

 The War of 1812

Creek War with the Red Sticks

                Battle of Horseshoe Bend         

http://military.wikia.com/wiki/Battle_of_Horseshoe_Bend_(1814)

During the Creek War (1813-1814), Colonel Andrew Jackson became a national hero after his victory over the Creek Red Sticks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.  

The Battle of Horseshoe Bend is considered part of the War of 1812 in central Alabama. The Creek Indians of Georgia and Alabama had become divided into two factions: the Upper Creeks (or Red Sticks), who opposed the American expansion and sided with the British and Spanish during the War of 1812, and the Lower Creek, who had a stronger relationship with the US Indian Agent Benjamin Hawkins, and sought to remain on good terms with the Americans. The Red Sticks began to raid American frontier settlements, and when the Lower Creek helped U.S. forces capture leading raiders, they were punished by the Red Sticks.

As Federal forces were devoted to the War of 1812, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama organized militias that were commanded by Colonel Andrew Jackson, together with Lower Creek and Cherokee allies, to go against the Red Sticks.

Horseshoe Bend was the major battle of the Creek War, in which Andrew Jackson sought to "clear" Alabama for American settlement. Colonel Jackson commanded an army of West Tennessee militia, which he had turned into a well-trained fighting force.

After leaving Fort Williams in the spring of 1814, Jackson's army (consisting of 2,600 American soldiers, 500 Cherokee, and 100 Lower Creek allies) cut its way through forest up a steep hill. This placed them on a bend in the Tallapoosa River, called “Horseshoe Bend.”  They were within 6 miles of Chief Menawa's Red Stick camp of Tohopeka. From this vantage point, Jackson would begin his attack on a Red Stick Creek fortification.

Jackson split his troops sending roughly 1300 men (mounted infantry and Indian allies) to cross the Tallapoosa River under the command of General John Coffee.

They were to surround the Red Sticks' camp. Jackson stayed with the rest of the 2,000 infantry north of the camp and later began an artillery barrage which consisted of two cannons firing every two hours. Little damage was caused to the Red Sticks or their 400-yard-long log-and-dirt fortifications. Jackson was impressed with the measures the Red Sticks took to protect their position.

Jackson then ordered a bayonet charge. The 39th U.S. Infantry, led by Colonel John Williams, charged the breastworks defending the camp and caught the Red Sticks in hand-to-hand combat. Sam Houston (the future statesman and politician) served as a third lieutenant in Jackson's army. Houston was one of the first to make it over the log barricade alive and received a wound from a Creek arrow that troubled him the rest of his life.

The Creek warriors refused to surrender, though, and the battle lasted for more than five hours. At the end, roughly 800 of the 1000 Red Stick warriors were killed. In contrast, Jackson lost fewer than 50 men during the fight and reported 154 wounded.

Chief Menawa was severely wounded but survived; he led about 200 of the original 1,000 warriors across the river and into safety among the Seminole tribe in Spanish Florida.

On August 9, 1814, Andrew Jackson forced the Creek to sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson. The Creek Nation was forced to cede 23 million acres, half of central Alabama and part of southern Georgia—to the United States government. Jackson was promoted to Major General after getting agreement to the treaty.

Lt. Col. John McNair

Col. Jack (John) McNair and his wife, Mary Ann Sheretz were married in Knox County, Tn, July 12, 1821. They moved to the Cherokee nation, now Bradley County, Tenn, in 1851 to Union County, Ill. where John died in 1852. Mary Ann and her children moved to Pleasant Hill, MO, to live with her son, James. The colonel was a well-to-do famer. He was captain of a co. during the War of 1812 and some of the Indian Wars. Information obtained from the History and Folklore of Searcy Co, Arkansas, Source Book No. 1, edited by Mary Frances Harrell,published by New Leaf Press Harrison Ark 1977

CAPTAIN JOHN RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION AS CAPTAIN THAT DAY IN BRIGADIER GENERAL GEORGE DOHERTY'S BRIGADE ON 23 NOV. 1813.

War Of 1812

Name: John McNare

Company: BUNCH'S REG'T (1814), E. TENNESSEE MIL.

Rank - Induction: CAPTAIN

Rank - Discharge: CAPTAIN

Roll Box: 141

Roll Exct: 602 (FROM NATIONAL ARCHIVES)

_________________________________________

Colonel Samuel Bunch 2nd Regiment of the East Tennessee Militia 10 Jan 1814 - 17 May 1814

CAPTAINS: James Allen, Amos Barron, Francis Berry, Andrew Breeden, Edward Buchanan, Moses Davis, Solomon Dobkins, Joseph Dunkin, John English, Nicholas Gibbs, George Gregory, Jones Griffin, John Houk, John Howell, John McNair, Francis Register, Samuel Richerson, (Major) Alexander Smith, Issac Williams and Daniel Yankell

HISTORY: Regiment of 3-month enlistees. Participated in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend; they were part of the right line of American Forces in this engagement. Some of the other men from this Regiment remained at Fort Williams prior to Horseshoe Bend to guard the post -- provision returns indicate that there were 283 men in Bunch's Regiment at Fort Williams at the time of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

This Regiment was in General Doherty's Brigade and many of them stayed after the enlistment expiration of 17 May 1814 to guard the posts at Fort Strother and Fort Williams until June/July. The line of march went through Camp Ross (near present day Chattanooga), Fort Armstrong (located on Cherokee Land) and Fort Jackson.

On December 2nd, 1815, John was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and Commandant of the Tennessee 10th Regiment.