Great Warrior: David Moniac of the Creek

Over the centuries, Natives from several tribes have served honorably in America's armed forces.  David Moniac (1802-1836), was one of the earliest.  A mixed-race Creek born in Alabama, he was related to Creek and Seminole leaders on both his mother's, father's, and wife's sides of the family.  His mother, Elizabeth Weatherford, claimed descent through the Wind Clan.  She was the sister of William Weatherford, the Red Stick Creek leader.  David's great-uncle was Alexander MacGillivray, another early mixed-race Creek leader.  During the Creek War, David's father Sam Moniac served with White Stick forces under William MacIntosh. 

The treaty of Fort Jackson (1814), in addition to the usual land concessions and other punitive measures, did make provisions for the education of Creek youngsters.  This and his father's military service enabled David to secure an appointment at the United States Military Academy of West Point.  He had to take preparatory classes with a tutor in Washington, D.C. to prepare for the entrance examinations and a year at college to be on a level with his classmates.  Academics must have been a struggle for him, as he finally graduated 39 out of his class of 40.  As a newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, he would have been expected to do two years military service to repay the cost of his education.  However, due to the deaths of more senior relatives back home, he was allowed to return home to Alabama to manage his family's property there.

David settled in Baldwin, Alabama and developed a cotton plantation.  He also raised race horses.  He married a woman of Creek ancestry by the name of Mary Powell, who was either a sister or cousin of Osceola.  In 1836, he was mustered into the Alabama militia to deal with a minor uprising among some displaced Creeks.  His major service, though, would be in Florida during the Second Seminole War, as a captain of the Mounted Creek Volunteers.  He was not present during the Battle of the Withlacochee (December, 1835), so he missed out on an opportunity to face his famous in-law in battle.  However, there were other skirmishes along that river, for which he was promoted to Major. 

On November 21, 1836, he and his regiment were part of a force sent to the Wahoo Swamp to find and destroy the stronghold of Seminole Chief Jumper.  Under fire from the Seminoles, the Americans tried to cross a river in deep water.  Moniac ran into the water to encourage and direct his men when he was shot down by Seminole on the opposite bank.  His body was buried nearby, at the Dade's Massacre site.  In 1990, his remains were moved to the Florida National Cemetery for Veterans.  His descendants still live in Alabama to this day.