MOBILE OF THE FIVE  FLAGS ARCHIVE https://archive.org/stream/mobileoffiveflag00hami/mobileoffiveflag00hami_djvu.txt

 The Six Militia-Men. During this period a sad 
event occurred at Mobile. Six militia-men had left the 
American army in the Creek country when they thought 
their term of enlistment had expired. The officers con- 
strued the enlistment differently, and the men when re- 
captured were condemned to death for desertion. Jackson 
confirmed the judgment and while the British fleet was 
still at anchor in the Bay the men were carried in a cart 
to what is now the northeast corner of the public park on 
the Bay, where the American army under General Win- 
chester was drawn up. The heads of the militia men were 
covered with white caps, and, as they stood by their 
coffins, a detachment of their comrades shot them down in 
due military form. Only one was not killed outright, and 
he, covered, with blood, crawled forward and sat on his 
coffin. The other five were buried, and he was removed 
to a hospital and died in a few days. This severity marred 
the rejoicing over peace; but at least peace had come, not 
onlv with the British, but with the Creeks.