At Fort Mims, the entire garrison from the oldest man to the youngest child had been massacred by Creek warriors under William Wheaterford, the half-breed chief. When General Jackson moved into the land of the Creek, he found the nation divided into pro- and anti-American factions.

Chinnaby, a leading chief, and his son, Selocta, led the warriors who favored the Americans, while Wheaterford swore to his council that he would never sell an acre of land to the Americans and would drive them into the sea.

Jackson's first contact with Selocta was when the young warrior appeared in his camp begging for soldiers to help fight off Weatherford's forces that had surrounded his father's small log fort on the Coosa River.

Jackson gave him some light infantry and the siege was lifted. Selocta then became Jackson's principal guide and Indian adviser. He was the government interpreter when Wheaterford surrendered to Jackson.

[...]

Jackson, no Indian lover, always respected a courageous enemy. He told Weatherford that he was free to leave the camp, but Jackson warned him that if he were retaken he would be hanged.

The half-breed shook his head and through Selocta told Jackson: "There was a time when I could have answered you; I then had a choice, but now I have none-even hope has ended.... I cannot call the dead to life. My warriors can no longer hear my voice... While there was a chance of success, I never left my post, nor asked for peace. But my people are gone, and I now ask for peace for my nation and for myself.... Those who would still hold out, can be influenced only by a spirit of revenge, and to this they must not, and shall not, sacrifice the last remnant of their nation. You have told us where we must go, and be safe. This is a good talk, and they ought listen to it. They shall listen to it."

Shortly after Weatherford's surrender, Jackson urged a united council of chiefs to remove their nation to western lands offered by the United States.

This time it was Selocta who pleaded with Jackson, reminding the general of how he and his father had fought with the Americans against their own people, and for the sake of peace had rejoined Weatherford and the other chiefs. John Henry Eaton in his Life of General Jackson , published in 1824, recalled the Creek's speech and added:
"There were, indeed, none whose voice ought sooner to have been heard than Selocta's. None had rendered greater services, and none had been more faithful. He had claims growing out of his fidelity that few others had."

Selocta soon discovered that fidelity meant little to the white man. In the winter of 1825- 1826 he was among the Creek chiefs who were finally forced to sign away their lands and move west.