JULY 27:

July 27, 1755: Indians attack the settlers at Fort Sartwell in Vernon, Connecticut.
 

July 27, 1813:  A battle took place on Burnt Corn Creek, not far from the Escambia River. Creeks led by Chief Peter McQueen, had just recently purchased guns and ammo in Pensacola from the British. While en route back to their villages, they are attacked by Colonel James Caller and 180 militiamen. After initially gaining the upper hand, someone in the militia called for a retreat, and some of the Americans took off at a run. Taking advantage of the situation, the Red Stick Creeks were able to escape. This battle would encourage the Creeks to further battles with the Americans. Six men in McQueen's group and two soldiers will die in the fighting. This first fight of the Creek War would be called "The Battle of Burnt Corn."

July 27, 1874:  Gold found in the Black Hills.
 

BACKGROUND:
 
 

Burnt Corn, Alabama, a town in Monroe Co., was rich in the history of the early Alabama Territory. Close by was the famous Federal Road, a former Indian horse path, which crossed the territory into Georgia. For nearly a century whites and Creeks had lived in peace with good trade relations, intermarriage, and reliable treaties. There was almost full assimilation. But this was soon to change. In the fall of 1811, the great Shawnee Tecumseh came into the area to incite the Creeks against the whites. He gave a speech at Tuckabatchee, challenging the Creeks to regain their former glory. In Florida, the Spanish were also encouraging discord among the Creeks; it was to their advantage, both politically and monetarily. Thus arose the struggles of the whites against the Creeks to claim the land. And here in Monroe Co. whites staged a surprise attack on the Red Sticks in the first battle of the Creek War of 1813-1814 - the Battle of Burnt Corn.

The hostile Creeks were called Red Sticks because of the red-painted clubs that they carried; the name was a proud name for them. They sought however more sophisticated arms and journeyed to Pensacola to purchase guns and gunpowder from the Spanish. On July 27, 1813, 80 Creeks under Peter McQueen and High Head Jim were returning from Florida to the Upper Creeks. They camped for the night at on the banks of Burnt Corn Creek.  The whites had heard about the gun purchase and were afraid of the consequences of such action, relations with the Creeks had so seriously deteriorated. About 180 white militia under Col. James Caller organized an attack to halt this threatening flow of supplies to the Indians.

As the Creeks relaxed before the evening meal, the horde of militia crept over the hill above and swooped down into the midst of the camp. A complete surprise! Horses scattered as did the Red Sticks. A war whoop went up! At first, the whites had the advantage. The startled Creeks stood their ground but soon began to run for cover in the swamps. The exultant militia began plundering, gathering horses and guns and whatever they could find. In their zeal for booty, they forgot their mission. Seeing this from their hiding places in the cane brake, the Creeks went on a furious attack. Panic ensued and the whites began to flee! Some, like the wounded hero Captain Sam Dale, fought on bravely but in vain. The whites' numbers were now greatly reduced. The situation was hopeless. Now it was the whites who retreated in humiliation with the Creeks in swift pursuit. The tragic Creek War was begun but for now the Red Sticks had won the day!
 

From: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cmamcrk4/crkwr2.html#anchor1364926