Red Stick - a Muscogee (Creek) man who volunteered, or was assigned, as a Warrior from a Red Town.
Muscogee Towns were divided into Red and White Towns. White Towns generally had the responsibility of making
peace. Red Towns were responsible for waging war.
Different written and verbal accounts on how and why the term "Red Stick" came to signify a Muscogee
Warrior have been passed down through the years, decades, and centuries. For instance, Red Towns and White
Towns had some of their buildings and ceremonial objects in their respective Town's color. Another example, a
Red Pole was placed in the center of a Red Town where Warriors assembled and prepared for war. Still yet,
Warriors carried with them a wooden red stick for protection and ferocity. Finally, with acceptance by the
Muscogee Red Stick Society, wooden red sticks were given to Red Towns, which represented how many Warriors,
were needed, and for what length of time, each Red Town was to provide for war. Elder Warrior Members have
provided very valuable guidance and insight into the history and legend of the Red Stick. Their links to the
past, especially their relationships with Combat Veterans and their relatives of the 19th and 20th Centuries,
is what has kept a consistent link. What was told to them by previous generations of Muscogee Warriors is
embraced and is part of our tapestry. The origin of the Red Stick - Combined, or taken solely, was known, and
will be known for perpetuity, as the symbol for a Muscogee Warrior.
The prominence of the name "Red Stick" came into the English language vocabulary in the War of 1812.
Before
the arrival of the Newcomers, Tribal Towns were distinct in their functions. However, by the time the War of
1812 began this distinction became blurred through years of intrusion, migration, swindle, treaties, and
International and National political influence and intrigue. Furthermore, warfare concerning the World Powers
over Muscogee lands made neutrality virtually impossible. Thus, almost every Tribal Town by the time of the
War of 1812 began had the ability to wage war independently, and more importantly had its own Warriors - Red
Sticks.
