In early January 1814, General Floyd, having replenished rations, firearms and artillery, marched with 1500 men via the Federal Road deep into Creek territory. About forty miles west of Fort Mitchell, they constructed Fort Hull as a supply base. He and his troops advanced to Calabee (Chalibee) Creek where they constructed a fortified camp, Camp Defiance. On January 27, 1814 over 1300 Indian warriors attacked at dawn on the banks of Calabee (Chalibee) Creek. If friendly Lower Creek Indians (who had allied themselves with the white state militias) had not warned them, and the veteran companies had not acted quickly, General Floyd might have lost this brutal battle. His campaigns to subdue the hostile Upper Creek and Choctaw Indians were so effective, he was promoted to the rank of Major-General.