Hardly had the heap of ruins, ghastly with human bodies, ceased to
smolder before fleet riders were spreading the news in Georgia, in
Louisiana, and in Tennessee. A shudder swept the country. Every
exposed community expected to be attacked next. The people's demand
for vengeance was overmastering, and from north, west, and east
volunteer armies were soon on the march. Tennessee sent two quotas,
one from the eastern counties under General John Cocke, the other from
the western under Andrew Jackson. When the news of the disaster on the
Mobile reached Nashville, Jackson was lying helpless from wounds
received in his fight with the Bentons. But he issued the necessary
orders from his bed and let it be known with customary vigor that he,
the senior major general, and no one else, would lead the expedition;
and though three weeks later he started off with his arm tightly
bandaged to his side and a shoulder so sore that it could not bear the
pressure of an epaulette, lead the expedition he did.
About the middle of October the emaciated but, dogged commander
brought his forces together, 2700 strong, at Huntsville and began
cutting his way across the mountains toward the principal Creek
settlements.
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