October 12 1863
Skirmish of Buckhorn Tavern
American Civil War Skirmish of Buckhorn
Tavern, fought on October 12, 1863, between General Phillip D. Roddey’s Alabama Cavalry Brigade and a Union cavalry brigade commanded by General Robert Mitchell.
By tradition, the tavern took its name “Buckhorn” in 1858 when William L. Fanning killed a buck near the site and presented its antlers to the innkeeper. The antlers are now displayed at Buckhorn High School.
Editor: Buckhorn Tavern, Located in Section 18, Township 2, Range 2 East, Madison County Alabama, was an early wayside stop for pioneer settlers as they traveled the road from Winchester, Tennessee into Madison County. The tavern pre-dates the creation of the county, Dec. 13, 1808.
During the Creek Indian War (1813 – 1814), the Deposit Road was created at this point and stretched southeastward through Cherokee lands to Fort Deposit near Gunter’s Landing. This became the supply route for General Andrew Jackson’s forces. His deputy, Colonel John Coffee, stored supplies opposite the tavern and camped his troops (Nov. 22 – Dec. 8, 1813).