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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24728-8.txt b/24728-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae99d46 --- /dev/null +++ b/24728-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7672 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories Of Georgia, by Joel Chandler Harris + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories Of Georgia + 1896 + +Author: Joel Chandler Harris + +Release Date: March 2, 2008 [EBook #24728] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF GEORGIA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +STORIES OF GEORGIA + +By Joel Chandler Harris + +Copyright, 1896, by American Book Company + + + + +PREFACE. + +In preparing the pages that follow, the writer has had in view the +desirability of familiarizing the youth of Georgia with the salient +facts of the State's history in a way that shall make the further study +of that history a delight instead of a task. The ground has been gone +over before by various writers, but the narratives that are here retold, +and the characterizations that are here attempted, have not been brought +together heretofore. They lie wide apart in volumes that are little +known and out of print. + +The stories and the characterizations have been grouped together so +as to form a series of connecting links in the rise and progress of +Georgia; yet it must not be forgotten that these links are themselves +connected with facts and events in the State's development that are +quite as interesting, and of as far-reaching importance, as those that +have been narrated here. Some such suggestion as this, it is hoped, +will cross the minds of young students, and lead them to investigate for +themselves the interesting intervals that lie between. + +It is unfortunately true that there is no history of Georgia in which +the dry bones of facts have been clothed with the flesh and blood of +popular narrative. Colonel Charles C. Jones saw what was needed, +and entered upon the task of writing the history of the State with +characteristic enthusiasm. He had not proceeded far, however, when the +fact dawned upon his mind that such a work as he contemplated must be +for the most part a labor of love. He felt the influence of cold neglect +from every source that might have been expected to afford him aid and +encouragement. He was almost compelled to confine himself to a bare +recital of facts, for he had reason to know that, at the end of his +task, public inappreciation was awaiting him. + +And yet it seems to the present writer that every person interested +in the growth and development of the republic should turn with eager +attention to a narrative embodying the events that have marked the +progress of Georgia. It was in this State that some of the most +surprising and spectacular scenes of the Revolution took place. In one +corner of Georgia those who were fighting for the independence of the +republic made their last desperate stand; and if they had surrendered to +the odds that faced them, the battle of King's Mountain would never have +been fought, Greene's southern campaign would have been crippled, and +the struggle for liberty in the south would have ended in smoke. + +It is to illustrate the larger events that these stories have been +written; and while some of them may seem far away from this point of +view, they all have one common purpose and tend to one common end. + + + + +STORIES OF GEORGIA. + + + + +A SEARCH FOR TREASURE. + +[Illustration: De Soto 014] + +So far as written records tell us, Hernando de Soto and his companions +in arms were the first white men to enter and explore the territory now +known on the map as the State of Georgia. Tradition has small voice in +the matter, but such as it has tells another story. There are hints that +other white men ventured into this territory before De Soto and his men +beheld it. General Oglethorpe, when he came to Georgia with his gentle +colony, which had been tamed and sobered by misfortune and ill luck, +was firmly of the opinion that Sir Walter Raleigh, the famous soldier, +sailor, and scholar, had been there before him. So believing, the +founder of the Georgian Colony carried with him Sir Walter's diary. He +was confirmed in his opinion by a tradition, among the Indians of the +Yamacraw tribe, that Raleigh had landed where Savannah now stands. +There are also traditions in regard to the visits of other white men +to Georgia. These traditions may be true, or they may be the results +of dreams, but it is certain that De Soto and his picked company of +Spaniards were the first to march through the territory that is now +Georgia. The De Soto expedition was made up of the flower of Spanish +chivalry,--men Used to war, and fond of adventure. Some of them were +soldiers, anxious to win fame by feats of arms in a new land; some were +missionaries, professing an anxiety for the souls of such heathen as +they might encounter, but even these men were not unfamiliar with the +use of the sword; some were physicians, as ready to kill as to heal; +some were botanists, who knew as much about the rapier and the poniard +as they did about the stamens, pistils, and petals of the flowers; +and some were reporters, men selected to write the history of the +expedition. As it turned out, these reporters were entirely faithful +to their trust They told all that happened with a fidelity that +leaves nothing to be desired. The record they have left shows that the +expedition was bent on finding gold and other treasures. + +On the 30th of May, 1539, De Soto's expedition landed at Tampa Bay, +Fla., and his men pitched their tents on the beach. The army was not +a large one; but it was made up of chosen men, who were used to the +dangers of war, and who, as stated before, were fond of adventure. There +was but one gray head in the expedition: therefore, though the army was +a small one, it was the most enthusiastic and warlike array that had +ever been seen in the New World. The soldiers wore rich armor, and +the cavalry rode gayly caparisoned horses. The army was accompanied by +slaves and mules to bear the burdens. It had artillery and other weapons +of war; handcuffs, neck collars, and chains for prisoners; crucibles for +refining gold; bloodhounds, greyhounds, and a drove of hogs. + +For nearly a year the little army of De Soto wandered about in Florida, +ransacking the burying grounds of the Indians in search of treasures, +and committing such other depredations as were common to the +civilization of that age. When inquiries were made for gold, the +Indians always pointed toward the north; and, following these hints, +the expedition pursued its way through Florida, wandering about in the +swamps and slashes, but always held together by the enthusiasm of the +men and their hopes of securing rich spoils. + +On the 3d of March, 1540, De Soto's army left Anhayca, which is said to +have been near the site of Tallahassee, and marched northward. Before +leaving the Spaniards seized from the Indians a large supply of maize +(now commonly known as corn), and appropriated whatever else struck +their fancy. They had spent some time with the Indians at this town of +Anhayca, and had sent out parties that committed depredations wherever +an Indian settlement could be found. They made slaves of many Indians, +treating them with more severity than they treated their beasts of +burden. It is no wonder, therefore, that the Indians, discovering the +greed of the Spaniards for gold, should have spread rumors that large +quantities of the yellow metal were to be found farther north. + +Reports came to the Spaniards of a wonderful Indian queen who reigned +at a place called Yupaha, a settlement as large as a city. One day an +Indian boy, who had been brought to camp with other prisoners, told the +Spaniards a good deal about this great Indian queen. He said that she +ruled not only her own people, but all the neighboring chiefs, and as +far as the Indian settlements extended. The boy told the Spaniards that +all the Indians paid tribute to this great queen, and sent her fine +presents of clothing and gold. De Soto and his men cared nothing about +fine clothing. They were greedy only for gold and precious stones. They +asked the Indian boy many questions, and he answered them all. He +told how the gold was taken from the earth, and how it was melted and +refined. His description was so exact that the Spaniards no longer +had any doubt. Their spirits rose mightily, and, after robbing and +plundering the Indians who had fed and sheltered them during the winter +months, they broke up their camp and moved northward. + +Four days after leaving Tallahassee, the Spaniards came to a deep river, +which Colonel C. C. Jones, jun., in his "History of Georgia," says was +the Ocklockonnee, very close to the southwest boundary of Georgia. Two +days later they came to an Indian village from which the inhabitants +fled, but a little later a squad of five soldiers was set upon by the +Indians hiding near the encampment. One of the Spaniards was killed, +while three others were badly wounded. De Soto left this Indian village +on the 11th of March, and presently came to a piece of country which the +Spanish historian describes as a desert. But it was not a desert then, +and it is not a desert now. It was really a pine barren, such as may +be seen to this day in what is called the wire-grass region of southern +Georgia. In these barrens the soil is sandy and the land level, +stretching away for miles. De Soto and his men saw the primeval pines; +but these have long since disappeared, and their places are taken by +pines of a smaller growth. On the 21st of March, the Spaniards came to +the Ocmulgee River, near which they found an Indian town called Toalli. + +There will always be a dispute about the route followed by De Soto in +his march. This dispute is interesting, but not important. Some say that +the expedition moved parallel with the coast until the Savannah River +was reached, at a point twenty-five miles below Augusta; but it is just +as probable that the route, after reaching the Ocmulgee, was along the +banks of that stream and in a northwesterly direction. + +At Toalli the Indians had summer and winter houses to live in, and they +had storehouses for their maize. The women wore blankets or shawls made +of the fiber of silk grass, and the blankets were dyed vermilion or +black. Thenceforward the Indians whom the Spaniards met with were of a +higher order of intelligence, and of a more industrious turn, than those +left behind in Florida and along the southern boundary of Georgia. + +As De Soto marched along, he seized Indians and made guides of them, +or made prisoners and held them until he was furnished with guides and +interpreters. He also announced to the Indians that he was the Child of +the Sun, who had been sent to seek out the greatest Prince and Princess. +This made a great impression on the Indians, many of whom were sun +worshipers. + +Many times during the march the Spaniards were on the point of +starvation, and the account of their sufferings as set forth in the +history of the expedition is intended to be quite pathetic. We need +not pause to shed any tears over these things, for the sufferings the +Spaniards endured were nothing compared to the sufferings they inflicted +on the Indians. They murdered and robbed right and left, and no doubt +the Indians regarded them as demons rather than Christians. More +than once when the Spaniards were wandering aimlessly about in the +wilderness, they were found by the Indians and saved from starvation. In +turn the simple-minded natives were treated with a harshness that would +be beyond belief if the sickening details were not piously set forth by +the Spanish historian of the expedition. + +[Illustration: Indian Queen 020] + +About the 28th of April the expedition reached the neighborhood of +Cutifachiqui, having been told by three Indians whom they had taken, +that the queen of that province knew of the approach of the Spaniards, +and was awaiting them at her chief town just across the river. As De +Soto came to the shore of the stream, four canoes started from the +opposite side. One of them contained a kinswoman of the queen, who +had been selected to invite the Spaniards to enter the town. Shortly +afterwards the queen came forth from the town, seated on a palanquin or +litter, which was borne by the principal men. Coming to the water side, +the queen entered a canoe, over the stern of which was stretched an +awning to shelter her from the sun. + +Under this awning she reclined on cushions; and thus, in company with +her chiefs, and attended by many of her people in canoes, she crossed +the river to meet De Soto. She landed, and gave the Spaniard a gracious +welcome. As an offering of peace and good will, she took from her neck +a long string of pearls, and gave the gems to De Soto. She also gave him +many shawls and finely dressed deerskins. The Spaniard acknowledged the +beautiful gifts by taking from his hand a gold ring set with a ruby, and +placing it upon one of the queen's fingers. + +The old historian pretends that De Soto and his men were very much +impressed by the dignity and courtesy of the Indian queen. She was the +first woman ruler they had met in their wanderings. She was tall, finely +formed, and had great beauty of countenance. She was both gracious and +graceful. All this is set down in the most pompous way by the Spanish +chroniclers; but the truth seems to be that De Soto and his men cared +nothing for the courtesy and hospitality of the queen, and that they +were not moved by her beauty and kindness. The Spaniards crossed the +river in canoes furnished by the queen's people, and found themselves +surrounded by the most hospitable Indians they had yet seen. They were +supplied with everything the land afforded, and rested in comfortable +wigwams under the shade of mulberry trees. The soldiers were so +delighted with the situation, that they were anxious to form a +settlement there; but De Soto refused to forget the only object of +the expedition, which was to search for gold and other treasures. His +determination had the desired effect His men recovered their energies. +While enjoying the hospitality of the queen, they found out the burial +places of her people, and gathered from the graves, according to the +statement of the Spanish historian, "three hundred and fifty weight of +pearls, and figures of babies and birds, made from iridescent shells." + +The mother of the queen lived not far from the town where the Spaniards +were quartered, and, as she was said to be the owner of many fine +pearls, De Soto expressed a desire to see her. Upon hearing this, the +queen sent twelve of her principal men to beg her mother to come to +see the white strangers and the wonderful animals they had brought +with them; but the mother of the queen was very shrewd. She rebuked the +messengers, and sent them back with some sharp words for her daughter; +and though De Soto did his best to capture the woman, he was never able +to carry out his purpose. + +He then turned his attention to a temple that stood on the side of +a deserted settlement which had formerly been the chief town of the +queen's people. This temple, as described by the Spanish chronicler, +was more than one hundred steps long by forty broad, the walls high in +proportion, and the roof elevated so as to allow the water to run off. +On the roof were various shells arranged in artistic order, and the +shells were connected by strings of pearls. These pearls extended from +the top of the roof to the bottom in long festoons, and the sun shining +on them produced a very brilliant effect. At the door of the temple were +twelve giant-like statues made of wood. These figures were so ferocious +in their appearance, that the Spaniards hesitated for some time before +they could persuade themselves to enter the temple. The statues were +armed with clubs, maces, copper axes, and pikes ornamented with copper +at both ends. In the middle of the temple were three rows of chests, +placed one upon another in the form of pyramids. Each pyramid consisted +of five or six chests, the largest at the bottom, and the smallest at +the top. These chests, the Spanish chroniclers say, were filled with +pearls, the largest containing the finest pearls, and the smallest only +seed pearls. + +It is just as well to believe a little of this as to believe a great +deal. It was an easy matter for the survivors of the expedition to +exaggerate these things, and they probably took great liberties with +the facts; but there is no doubt that the Indians possessed many pearls. +Mussels like those from which they took the gems are still to be found +in the small streams and creeks of Georgia, and an enterprising +boy might even now be able to find a seed pearl if he sought for it +patiently. + +It is not to be doubted that rich stores of pearls were found. Some were +distributed to the officers and men; but the bulk of them, strange to +say, were left undisturbed, to await the return of the Spaniards another +day. De Soto was still intent on searching for gold, and he would hear +of nothing else. He would neither settle among the queen's people for a +season, nor return to Tampa with the great store of pearls discovered. +Being a resolute man and of few words, he had his way, and made +preparations to journey farther north to the province called Chiaha, +which was governed by a great Indian king. The conduct of the Spaniards +had been so cruel during their stay at Cutifachiqui, that the queen had +come to regard them with fear and hatred, and she refused to supply +them with guides and burden bearers. De Soto thereupon placed her under +guard; and when he took up his march for Chiaha, the queen who had +received him with so much grace, dignity, and hospitality, was compelled +to accompany him on foot, escorted by her female attendants. The old +Spanish chronicler is moved to remark that "it was not so good usage +as she deserved for the good will she shewed and the good entertainment +that she had made him." This was the return the Spanish leader made +to the queen who had received and entertained his army,--to seize her, +place her under guard, and compel her to accompany his expedition on +foot. + +One reason why De Soto made the queen his prisoner and carried her with +the expedition was to use her influence in controlling the Indians along +his line of march. The result was all that he could have expected. In +all the towns through which the Spaniards passed, the queen commanded +the Indians to carry the burdens of the army; and thus they went for a +hundred leagues, the Indians obeying the queen without question. After a +march of seven days, De Soto arrived at the province of Chelaque, which +was the country of the Cherokees. Here the soldiers added to their +stores of provisions, and renewed their march; and on May 15 they +arrived in the province of Xualla, the chief town of which is supposed +to have been situated in the Nacoochee valley. Inclining his course +westwardly from the Nacoochee valley, De Soto set out for Guaxule, which +marked the limit of the queen's dominion, and which has been identified +as Old Town, in Murray County. On this march the queen made her escape, +taking with her a cane box filled with large pearls of great value. This +box had been borne by one of the queen's attendants up to the moment +when she disappeared from the Spanish camp. De Soto made every effort +to recapture the queen. No doubt the bloodhounds, which formed a part of +the expedition, were called in to aid in the search; but it was all to +no purpose. The queen hid herself as easily as a young partridge hides, +and neither men nor dogs could find her. De Soto went on his way, +deploring the loss of the valuable pearls. + +From Nacoochee to Murray County the march was fatiguing. The route lay +over mountains as well as valleys. One of the foot soldiers, Juan Terron +(his folly has caused history to preserve his name), grew so weary on +this march, that he drew from his wallet a linen bag containing six +pounds of pearls. Calling to a cavalryman, Juan Terron offered him the +bag of pearls if he would carry them. The cavalryman refused the offer, +and told his comrade to keep them. But Juan Terron would not have it so. +He untied the bag, whirled it around his head, and scattered the pearls +in all directions. This done, he replaced the empty bag in his wallet, +and marched on, leaving his companions amazed at his folly. Thirty of +the pearls were recovered by the soldiers. The gems were of great size, +and perfect in every particular; and it was estimated that the six +pounds of pearls would have fetched six thousand ducats in Spain (over +twelve thousand dollars). The folly of the foot soldier gave rise to +a saying in the army, that is no doubt current in Spain to this +day,--"There are no pearls for Juan Terron," which means that a fool +makes no profits. + +Continuing their march, the Spaniards came to the town of Chiaha,--a +site that is now occupied by the flourishing city of Rome. De Soto +remained at Chiaha a month, sending out exploring expeditions in search +of the much-coveted gold. They found traces of the precious metal, but +nothing more. On the 1st of July, 1540, De Soto left Chiaha, going down +the valley of the Coosa. His expedition was organized by the spirit of +greed. It spread desolation wherever it went, and it ended in disaster +and despair. De Soto himself found a grave in the waters of the +Mississippi, and the survivors who made their way back home were broken +in health and spirits. + +An attempt has been made to throw a halo of romance over this march +of the Spaniards through the wilderness of the New World, but there +is nothing romantic or inspiring about it. It was simply a search for +riches, in which hundreds of lives were most cruelly sacrificed, and +thousands of homes destroyed. + + + + +OGLETHORPE AND HIS GENTLE COLONY + +General James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of the Colony of Georgia, +was among the few really good and great men that history tells us of. +We need to keep a close eye on the antics of history. She places the +laurels of fame in the hands of butchers, plunderers, and adventurers, +and even assassins share her favors; so that, if we are going to enjoy +the feast that history offers us, we must not inquire too closely into +the characters of the men whom she makes heroes of. We find, when we +come to look into the matter, that but few of those who figured as the +great men of the world have been entirely unselfish; and unselfishness +is the test of a man who is really good and great. Judged by this test, +General Oglethorpe stands among the greatest men known to history. + +He had served in the army with distinction, as his father had before +him. He was on the staff of the great soldier Eugene of Savoy, and +under that commander made himself conspicuous by his fidelity and +fearlessness. A story is told of him that is interesting, if not +characteristic. While serving under Eugene, he one day found himself +sitting at table with a prince of Würtemberg. He was a beardless +youngster, and the prince thought to have some sport with him. Taking up +a glass of wine, the prince gave it a fillip, so that a little flew in +Oglethorpe's face. The young Englishman, looking straight at the prince, +and smiling, said, "My prince, that is only a part of the joke as the +English know it: I will show you the whole of it." With that he threw a +glassful of wine in the prince's face. An old general who sat by laughed +dryly, and remarked, "He did well, my prince: you began it." + +[Illustration: Oglethorpe 028] + +Born in 1689, Oglethorpe entered the English army when twenty-one years +of age. In 1714 he became captain lieutenant of the first troop of the +queen's guards. He shortly afterwards joined Eugene on the continent, +and remained with that soldier until the peace of 1718. On the death of +his brother, he succeeded to the family estate in England. In 1722 he +was elected to Parliament from Haslemere, county of Surrey, and +this borough he represented continuously for thirty-two years. His +parliamentary career was marked by wise prudence and consistency; +and his sympathies were warmly enlisted for the relief of unfortunate +soldiers, and in securing reform in the conduct of prisons. In this way +Oglethorpe became a philanthropist, and, without intending it, attracted +the attention of all England. Pope, the poet, eulogizes his "strong +benevolence of soul." + +In that day and time, men were imprisoned for debt in England. The +law was brutal, and those who executed it were cruel. There was no +discrimination between fraud and misfortune. The man who was unable to +pay his debts was judged to be as criminal as the man who, though able, +refused to pay. Both were thrown into the same prison, and subjected +to the same hardships. In "Little Dorrit," Charles Dickens has told +something of those unfortunates who were thrown into prison for debt. + +There was apparently nothing too atrocious to be sanctioned by the +commercial ambition of the English. It armed creditors with the power to +impose the most cruel burdens upon their debtors, and it sanctioned the +slave trade. Many crimes have been committed to promote the commercial +supremacy of Great Britain, and on that blind policy was based the law +which suffered innocent debtors to be deprived of their liberty and +thrown into prison. + +This condition of affairs Oglethorpe set himself to reform; and while +thus engaged, he became impressed with the idea that many of the +unfortunates, guilty of no crime, and of respectable connections, might +benefit themselves, relieve England of the shame of their imprisonment, +and confirm and extend the dominion of the mother country in the New +World, by being freed from the claims of those to whom they owed money, +on condition that they would consent to become colonists in America. +To this class were to be added recruits from those who, through lack +of work and of means, were likely to be imprisoned on account of their +misfortunes. Oglethorpe was also of the opinion that men of means, +enterprise, and ambition could be enlisted in the cause; and in this he +was not mistaken. + +He had no hope whatever of personal gain or private benefit. The plan +that he had conceived was entirely for the benefit of the unfortunate, +based on broad and high ideas of benevolence; and so thoroughly was this +understood, that Oglethorpe had no difficulty whatever in securing +the aid of men of wealth and influence. A charter or grant from the +government was applied for, in order that the scheme might have the +sanction and authority of the government. Accordingly a charter was +granted, and the men most prominent in the scheme of benevolence were +incorporated under the name of "The Trustees for establishing the +Colony of Georgia in America." Georgia in America, was, under the terms +of the charter, a pretty large slice of America. It embraced all that +part of the continent lying between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers, +and extending westerly from the heads of these rivers in direct lines to +the South Seas; so that the original territory of Georgia extended from +ocean to ocean. + +In aid of this enterprise, Oglethorpe not only contributed largely from +his private means, and solicited contributions from his wealthy friends, +but wrote a tract in which he used arguments that were practical as well +as ingenious. + +On the 17th of November, 1732, all arrangements having been completed, +the "Anne" set sail for the Colony of Georgia, accompanied by +Oglethorpe, who furnished his own cabin, and laid in provisions not +only for himself, but for his fellow-passengers. On the 13th of January, +1733, the "Anne" anchored in Charleston harbor. From Charleston the +vessel sailed to Port Royal; and the colonists were soon quartered +in the barracks of Beaufort-town, which had been prepared for their +reception. Oglethorpe left the colonists at Beaufort, and, in company +with Colonel William Bull, proceeded to the Savannah River. He went up +this stream as far as Yamacraw Bluff, which he selected as the site of +the settlement he was about to make. He marked out the town, and named +it Savannah. The site was a beautiful one in Oglethorpe's day, and it is +still more beautiful now. The little settlement that the founder of the +Colony marked out has grown into a flourishing city, and art has added +its advantages to those of nature to make Savannah one of the most +beautiful cities in the United States. + +Close by the site which Oglethorpe chose for his colony was an Indian +village occupied by the Yamacraws,--a small tribe, of which Tomochichi +was chief. At this point, too, was a trading post, which had been +established by a white man named John Musgrove. This man had married a +half-breed woman whose Indian name was Coosaponakesee, but who was +known as Mary Musgrove. In order to insure the friendly reception of his +little colony and its future safety, Oglethorpe went to the village and +had a talk with Tomochichi. Mary Musgrove not only acted as interpreter, +but used her influence, which was very great, in favor of her husband's +countrymen. This was fortunate, for the Indians were very uneasy when +they learned that a colony of whites was to be established near their +village, and some of them even threatened to use force to prevent it; +but Oglethorpe's friendly attitude, and Mary Musgrove's influence, at +last persuaded them to give their consent. They made an agreement to +cede the necessary land, and promised to receive the colonists in a +friendly manner. Oglethorpe returned to Beaufort when he had concluded +this treaty, and the Sunday following his return was celebrated as a day +of thanksgiving. After religious services there was a barbecue, which, +history tells us, consisted of four fat hogs, turkeys, fowls English +beef, a hogshead of punch, a hogshead of beer, and a quantity of wine. + +[Illustration: Mary Musgrove 032] + +On the 30th of January, 1733, the immigrants set sail from Beaufort, and +on the afternoon of the next day they arrived at Yamacraw Bluff. On the +site of the town that had already been marked off, they pitched four +tents large enough to accommodate all the people. Oglethorpe, after +posting his sentinels, slept on the ground under the shelter of the +tall pines, near the central watch fire. As a soldier should, he slept +soundly. He had planted the new Colony, and thus far all had gone well +with him and with those whose interests he had charge of. + +To bring these colonists across the ocean, and place them in a position +where they might begin life anew, was not a very difficult undertaking; +but to plant a colony amongst savages already suspicious of the whites, +and to succeed in obtaining their respect, friendship, and aid, was +something that required wisdom, courage, prudence, and large experience. +This Oglethorpe did; and it is to his credit, that, during the time he +had charge of the Colony, he never in any shape or form took advantage +of the ignorance of the Indians. His method of dealing with them was +very simple. He conciliated them by showing them that the whites could +be just, fair, and honorable in their dealings; and thus, in the very +beginning, he won the friendship of those whose enmity to the little +Colony would have proved ruinous. + +Providence favored Oglethorpe in this matter. He had to deal with an +Indian chief full of years, wisdom, and experience. This was Tomochichi, +who was at the head of the Yamacraws. From this kindly Indian the +Georgia Colony received untold benefits. He remained the steadfast +friend of the settlers, and used his influence in their behalf in every +possible way, and on all occasions. Although he was a very old man, +he was strong and active, and of commanding presence. He possessed +remarkable intelligence; and this, added to his experience, made him one +of the most remarkable of the Indians whose names have been preserved +in history. There was something of a mystery about him that adds to the +interest which his active friendship for the whites has given to his +name. He belonged to the tribe of Lower Creeks; but for some reason or +other, he, with a number of his tribemen, had been banished. The cause +of his exile has never been made known; but at this late day it may be +guessed that he became disgusted with the factional disputes among the +Creeks, and sought in another part of the territory the peace and repose +to which his years of service had entitled him; and that when he had +taken this step, the factions which he had opposed succeeded in having +him banished. Some such theory as this is necessary to account for the +tributes that were paid to his character and influence by the Creek +chiefs who assembled at Savannah to make a treaty with Oglethorpe. +Tomochichi was ninety-one years old when the Georgia Colony was founded, +and he had gathered about him a number of disaffected Creeks and +Yemassees, known as the tribe of the Yamacraws. When the Creeks came to +Savannah to meet Oglethorpe, the greatest of their chiefs said that +he was related to Tomochichi, who was a good man, and had been a great +warrior. + +Thus, with Oglethorpe to direct it, and with Tomochichi as its friend, +the little Georgia Colony was founded, and, as we shall see, thrived and +flourished. + + + + +THE EMPRESS OF GEORGIA + +When Oglethorpe landed at Yamacraw Bluff, he was greatly aided in +his efforts to conciliate the Indians by the wife of John Musgrove, a +half-breed woman whose Indian name was Coosaponakesee. She was known by +the colonists as Mary Musgrove, and her friendship for the whites was +timely and fortunate. She was Oglethorpe's interpreter in his first +interview with Tomochichi. She was very friendly and accommodating, +giving aid to Oglethorpe and his colony in every possible way. Finding +that she had great influence, and could be made very useful to the +colonists, Oglethorpe employed her as interpreter, and paid her yearly +one hundred pounds sterling, which in that day was equal to a great deal +more than five hundred dollars; but Mary Musgrove earned all that was +paid her, and more. She used all her influence in behalf of the whites. +She aided in concluding treaties, and also in securing warriors from +the Creek nation in the war that occurred between the colonists and the +Spaniards who occupied Florida. + +General Oglethorpe had a sincere friendship for Mary Musgrove, and his +influence over her was such that she never refused a request he made. +If Oglethorpe had remained in Georgia, it is probable that the curious +episode in which Mary took a leading part would never have occurred. + +Oglethorpe left Georgia on the 23d of July, 1743, and never returned. +John Musgrove died shortly afterwards, and Mary married a man named +Matthews, who also died. She then married a man named Thomas Bosomworth, +who had been chaplain to Oglethorpe's regiment. In 1743, before +Oglethorpe's departure, Bosomworth had been commissioned to perform all +religious and ecclesiastical affairs in Georgia. Previous to that he had +accepted a grant of lands, and had taken up his abode in the Colony. He +appears to have been a pompous and an ambitious person, with just enough +learning to make him dangerous. + +Before Mary Musgrove married Bosomworth she had never ceased to labor +for the good of the Colony. No sacrifice was too great for her to make +in behalf of her white friends. It is true, she had not been fully +paid for her services; but she had faith in the good intentions of +the government, and was content. In 1744, a year after Oglethorpe's +departure from the Colony, Mary married Bosomworth, and after that her +conduct was such as to keep the whites in constant fear of massacre and +extermination. + +In 1745, Thomas Bosomworth went to England and informed the trustees +of the Georgia Company that he intended to give up his residence in the +Georgia Colony. The next year he returned to Georgia, and violated +the regulations of the trustees by introducing six negro slaves on the +plantation of his wife near the Altamaha River. This action was at once +resented; and President Stephens, who had succeeded Oglethorpe in the +management of the Colony's affairs, was ordered to have the negro slaves +removed from the territory of Georgia. This was done, and from that time +forth Bosomworth and his wife began to plot against the peace and +good order of the Georgia Colony. He used the influence of his wife to +conciliate the Indians, and secure their sympathy and support. While +this was going on, he was busy in preparing a claim against the +government of the Colony for the services rendered and losses sustained +by his wife, which he valued at five hundred pounds sterling. In +her name he also claimed possession of the islands of Ossabaw, St. +Catharine, and Sapelo, and of a tract of land near Savannah which in +former treaties had been reserved to the Indians. + +Bosomworth was shrewd enough not to act alone. In some mysterious way, +not clearly told in history, he secured the sympathy and support of +Major William Horton, commander of Oglethorpe's regiment stationed at +Frederica, and other officers. Colonel Heron, who succeeded Major Horton +as commander of the regiment in 1747, was likewise gained over to the +cause of the Bosomworths. By the connivance of this officer, a body +of Indians, with Malatche at their head, marched to Frederica for a +conference. At this conference Malatche made a speech in which he told +of the services which his sister Mary had rendered the colonists, and +requested that a messenger be sent to England to tell the King that he, +Malatche, was emperor of all the Creeks. He declared, also, that Mary, +his sister, was confided in by the whole Creek nation, and that the +nation had decided to abide by her will and desire. + +Bosomworth saw the necessity of pushing the matter forward, and so +he suggested to Malatche the importance of having himself crowned as +emperor by those who were with him. Accordingly a paper was drawn up +giving to Malatche full authority as emperor. This done, Bosomworth was +quick to procure from the Creek emperor a deed of conveyance to +Thomas and Mary Bosomworth of the islands of Ossabaw, Sapelo, and St. +Catharine. + +Matters went on peaceably for a while; but Bosomworth was active and +energetic, and his wife appears to have been entirely under his control. +He bought on credit a great number of cattle from planters in South +Carolina, and these he placed on the islands that had been given him +by Malatche. When his debts fell due, he was unable to pay them. Rather +than surrender the property for which he was unable to pay, he suggested +to his wife that she take the title of an independent empress. It is +doubtful if she knew what an empress was; but she had an idea, that, if +she claimed to be one, she would be able to buy some red calico at the +nearest store, as well as an extra bottle of rum. So she fell eagerly +into the Rev. Mr. Bosom-worth's plans. She sent word to the Creeks that +she had suddenly become a genuine empress, and called a meeting of the +big men of the nation. The big men assembled; and Mary made a speech, +in which she insisted that she was the Empress of Georgia. She must have +been a pretty good talker; for the Indians became very much excited, and +pledged themselves to stand by her to the last drop of their blood. + +Having thus obtained the support of the Indians, Mary set out for +Savannah, accompanied by a large body of them. She sent before her a +messenger to inform the president of the Province that she had become +empress over the whole territory belonging to the Upper and Lower +Creeks; that she was on her way to demand the instant surrender of all +the lands that had belonged to Doth nations; and that, if there should +be any serious opposition to her demands, the settlement would be +attacked and destroyed. + +[Illustration: Empress Mary 039] + +It was a dark hour for the colonists, who were vastly outnumbered by the +Indians. The president and council were disturbed by the bold threats +made by Mary Bosomworth. Their first plan was to meet the Indians +peaceably, and, by gentle measures, find an opportunity to seize Mary +Bosomworth and ship her to England. In the town of Savannah there were +only one hundred and seventy men able to bear arms. The president of +the Province sent a messenger to Mary, while she and her followers were +still several miles distant, warning her to give up her wild scheme. +Mary sent back a message expressing her contempt for the Colony and its +officials. Thereupon the president of the Province determined to put +the best possible face on the matter, and receive Mary and her savage +followers boldly. Accordingly the militia was ordered under arms; and as +the Indians entered the town, they were stopped by Colonel Noble Jones, +who, at the head of a company of horse, demanded to know whether they +came with friendly or hostile intentions. He received no satisfactory +answer to his demand, whereupon he informed the Indians that they must +ground their arms, as he had orders not to permit an armed man +among them to set foot within the town. The Indians submitted to the +unexpected demand, but with great reluctance. + +Having grounded their arms, the Indians were allowed to enter the town. +They marched in regular order, headed by Thomas Bosomworth, who, decked +out in full canonical robes, with Mary by his side, was followed by +the various chiefs according to their rank. The army of Indians made a +formidable appearance as they marched into the town, and the inhabitants +were terror-stricken at the sight. They marched to the parade ground, +where they found the militia drawn up to receive them. Here they were +saluted with fifteen guns, and then conducted to the president's house. +When the Indians were assembled there, Thomas and Mary Bosomworth were +ordered to withdraw. Then the president and council asked the Indian +chiefs in a friendly manner why they visited the town in so large a +body, not having been sent for by any person in lawful authority. The +Indians replied that Mary, their empress, was to speak for them, and +that they would abide by what she said. They had heard that she was to +be made a prisoner and sent across the great waters, and they wanted to +know why they were to lose their queen. They said they intended no harm +to the whites, and begged that their arms might be restored to them. +Then, after talking with Bosomworth and his wife, they would return and +settle all public affairs. Their arms were restored to them, but orders +were given that on no account should any ammunition be issued until the +true purpose of their visit was made known. + +The Indians then had a conference with Mary Bosomworth, and on the +following day began to conduct themselves riotously, running up and down +the streets like madmen. As all the men were obliged to perform guard +duty, the women were compelled to remain alone in their houses. They +were in a constant state of terror and alarm, expecting every moment to +be set upon and killed by the unruly savages. While the confusion was at +its worst, a rumor was circulated that the Indians had cut off the head +of the president of the council. The report was false; but the colonists +were in such a state of excitement, that they could scarcely be +restrained from firing on the Indians. The situation was very critical. +Great prudence was necessary in order to prevent bloodshed, and save the +town from destruction. + +At this crisis orders were given to the militia to lay hold of Thomas +Bosomworth, and place him in close confinement. When this order was +carried out, Mary became frantic, and made threats of vengeance against +the whole Colony. She cursed General Oglethorpe, declared that his +treaties were fraudulent, and ordered the colonists to depart from her +territory. She raved furiously, and claimed control over the entire +earth. But while engaged in cutting up these extraordinary capers, she +kept an eye on the leading men among the Indians, who she knew could be +easily bribed. + +The president of the Province, finding that nothing could be done with +the Indians while they remained under the influence of their so-called +empress, caused Mary to be privately arrested, and placed her under +guard with her husband. When this was done, quiet was at once restored. +The Indians ceased to be boisterous. When the time seemed to be ripe, +the president of the Province employed men acquainted with the Creek +language to entertain the chiefs and their warriors in the friendliest +way. A feast was prepared; and in the midst of it the chiefs were told +that Bosomworth had become involved in debt, and was anxious to secure +not only all the lands of the Creeks, but also a large share of the +bounty paid to them by the King of England, so that he might be able to +pay his creditors in Carolina. He was also told that the King's presents +were intended only for the Indians; that the lands near the town were +reserved for them for their encampments; that the sea islands were +reserved for them to hunt upon when they should come to bathe in the +salt waters; and that neither Mary nor her husband had any right to +these lands, which were the common property of the Creek nations. + +For the moment this policy was successful. Even Malatche, Mary's +brother, seemed to be satisfied; and many of the chiefs declared that +they were convinced that Bosomworth had deceived them, and that they +would trust him no more. But Malatche, at his own request, had another +talk with Thomas and Mary Bosomworth, and was again won over to support +their wild pretensions; so that, when the Indians were gathered together +to receive their shares of the royal bounty, Malatche stood up in the +midst of them, and delivered a most violent speech in favor of the +claims of Mary as the Empress of Georgia. He declared that she had three +thousand warriors at her command, and that every man of them would take +up arms in her defense. At the conclusion of his speech, Malatche drew +forth a paper and presented it to the president of the council This +paper was merely the sum and substance of Malatche's speech; and it +was so clearly the production of Bosomworth, that the effect was far +different from what the Indians had expected. The astonishment of the +president and council was so apparent, that Malatche begged to have the +paper again, so that he might deliver it to the person from whom he had +received it. + +It was important that another conference should be had with the Indians. +Accordingly they were called together again; and the president of the +Province made an address, recalling to their minds the fact that when +General Oglethorpe and his colony landed in Georgia, they found Mary, +then the wife of John Musgrove, living in a hut at Yamacraw; that at +that time she was comparatively poor and friendless, being neglected +and despised by the Creeks, and going about in rags; that General +Oglethorpe, finding that she could speak both the English and the Creek +tongues, employed her as an interpreter, gave her rich clothes, and made +her a woman of some consequence; that she was respected by the colonists +until she married Thomas Bosomworth, but from that time forth they no +longer had any confidence in her; that she had no lands of her own; and +that General Oglethorpe had no treaty with her, but dealt with the old +and wise leaders of the Creeks, who voluntarily surrendered their waste +lands to the whites. The president then went on to show that Mary's +claims had been invented by Thomas Bosomworth as an easy means of +paying a debt of four hundred pounds which he owed in South Carolina for +cattle, and that his quarrel with the colonists was due to the fact +that they had refused to give him a third part of the royal bounty which +belonged by right to the Indians. + +At this point the Creek chiefs begged the president to stop. They had +heard enough to convince them, they said, and now they wanted to smoke +the pipe of peace. Apparently this was a happy ending to a very serious +dispute. But at the very moment when everything was serene, Mary +Bosomworth made her appearance amongst those who were patching up their +differences. She had escaped from her guards, and, having secured a +supply of rum, now made her appearance drunk and furious. She filled the +air with threats. The president told her, that, unless she ceased her +efforts to poison the minds of the Indians, he would again order her +into close confinement. Thereupon Mary turned to Malatche and told him +what the president had said. In a rage, Malatche seized his arms, and, +calling to the rest of the Indians to do the same, dared the whites to +touch the empress. The uproar was great. Every Indian had his tomahawk +in his hand, and the council expected nothing less than instant death. + +At this moment, Captain Noble Jones, who commanded the guard, ordered +the Indians to deliver up their arms. The savages were overawed by the +coolness and courage of this intrepid officer. They yielded up their +arms, and Mary was shut in a private room, and a guard set over her. +There she was securely kept, and while the Indians remained she had no +further communication with them. Her husband was then sent for, and +the president and council tried to reason with him; but he remained +obstinate, declaring that he would stand up for his wife's rights to +the last. Finding Bosomworth unreasonable, the council caused him to +be seized and confined. This done, the authorities then set about +persuading the Indians to leave the town peaceably and return to their +own settlements. This the savages did after a while, leaving Savannah in +small parties until all were gone. + +Finding himself no longer supported by the Indians, Thomas Bosomworth +at last repented of his folly. He wrote to the president and council, +apologizing for his wanton conduct. He acknowledged the title of his +wife to be groundless, and relinquished all claim to the lands of the +Province. Though his offense had been serious, the colonists pardoned +him, and thus ended the career of Coosaponakesee as Empress of Georgia. + +And yet, after all, the Rev. Thomas Bosomworth had his way. Mary seems +to have lived long; and her husband pressed her claims in London, +so that, when Henry Ellis was made governor of the Province, he was +authorized, in 1759, to sell the islands of Ossabaw and Sapelo, as well +as other Indian lands near Savannah, and out of the moneys received to +settle the demands of the Bosomworths, and to give them a title to +the Island of St. Catharine, which they had settled and improved. Mary +Bosomworth was given four hundred and fifty pounds for goods she had +expended in the King's service, and it was provided also that she should +be allowed sixteen hundred and fifty pounds for her services as agent. +In addition, she was given two thousand pounds, the sum for which +Ossabaw and Sapelo sold at auction. A grant of St. Catharine Island was +also made to Mary Bosomworth; so that it may be considered that she was +richly rewarded for the many good turns she did the colonists in +her better days, before her mind had been poisoned by the Rev. Mr. +Bosomworth. + + + + +THE LIBERTY BOYS. + +[Illustration: The Liberty Boys 048] + +In 1765, what is known as the Stamp Act was passed by the Parliament of +Great Britain, in spite of all the protests made by the agents of +the Colonies. The people of the Colonies felt that taxation without +representation was an exercise of power not to be tolerated. + +The Stamp Act itself was a very small matter; but many of the American +Colonies had been setting up claims of independence in various matters. +As Benjamin Franklin said, the British nation was provoked by these +claims of independence, and all parties proposed by this piece of +legislation to settle the question once for all. While the agents of the +Colonies, and among them Franklin, protested against the Stamp Act, none +of them supposed that it would be met by armed resistance; and yet the +terms of the act were insolent and sweeping. It was provided that if the +stamps were not used, "marriages would be null and void, notes of +hand valueless, ships at sea prizes to the first captors, suits at +law impossible, transfers of real estate invalid, inheritances +irreclaimable." In spite of these sweeping terms, Benjamin Franklin did +not doubt that the act would be carried into effect, and other patriotic +Americans thought that the colonists should submit. Even James Otis of +Boston, who was afterwards among the first to advocate the calling of an +American congress to deliberate upon the propriety of the acts of Great +Britain, was of this opinion. + +The Georgia authorities regarded the stamp duty as just as any that +could be generally imposed on the Colonies, though the manner of +imposing it greatly inspired alarm. But while the other Colonies were +hesitating, a voice was heard in Virginia. Patrick Henry, speaking +for the Virginians, made an eloquent protest against the law, and his +boldness kindled into flames the spirit of opposition that had been +smoldering in all the Colonies. The Sons of Liberty were organized +North and South. In Georgia they were known as "Liberty Boys." "Liberty, +property, and no stamps!" was the cry, and it was a cry that stirred the +country from one end to the other. + +The congress suggested by James Otis of Boston assembled on Monday, the +7th of October, 1765, Georgia had no delegates in the congress, but +was represented by a messenger who was sent to obtain a copy of the +proceedings. Such representation was not because the Colony of Georgia +failed to sympathize with the purpose for which the congress was called, +but was entirely due to the influence and popularity of Governor Wright, +the royal governor, who was not only a good man personally, but wise, +prudent, and far-seeing. Owing to his exertions, Georgia was not +represented in the person of delegates. The speaker of the Georgia +House of Assembly had indeed called a convention of the members for the +purpose of selecting delegates to the Colonial Congress called to meet +in New York, and sixteen members had responded to the call; but such +was the influence of Governor Wright, that these members of the assembly +were prevailed upon not to send delegates to the congress. But they +could not be prevented from preparing and sending a response to the +Massachusetts invitation. They had resolved, they said, to support +heartily every measure that might be suggested for the support of the +common rights of the Colonies. + +We learn from the letters of Governor Wright, written to the Earl of +Halifax, that it was as much as he could do (and he was a very active +as well as a very wise governor) to prevail on the people to maintain at +least the outward show of loyalty to the King. And he was not successful +even in this, for he informs another correspondent (Mr. Secretary +Conway) on the 31st of January, 1766, that the same spirit of "sedition, +or rather rebellion, which first appeared at Boston," had reached +Georgia, and that he had been constantly engaged for the space of three +months in trying to convince the people that they ought to submit to the +King's authority until they could point out their grievances and apply +for redress in a constitutional way. Governor Wright also states to +the same correspondent that he has had much trouble in preserving from +destruction at the hands of the people the stamp papers that had been +forwarded for the collection of the tax. He received "incendiary" +letters; he had to issue proclamations against riots and "tumultuous +and unlawful assemblies;" and he had also to take measures against the +Liberty Boys, who began to have private meetings, and who had formed +themselves into a society to oppose and prevent the distribution of the +stamp papers. + +In short, the good governor was kept in a constant state of alarm lest +the Liberty Boys should seize some advantage and cause his Majesty the +King of England to have a moment of grief. The Liberty Boys were so +active, and made so many threatening demonstrations, that Governor +Wright was driven to what he describes as extreme measures. He was +compelled to send the obnoxious stamp papers to a place of safety to +prevent the people from destroying them; and when he had the papers +securely hidden, he was compelled to place men on duty day and night to +protect the precious stamps. He was obliged to send a posse of men to +protect the stamp distributer by hiding him, and was then moved to send +him into the country for a season, in order to avoid the resentment of +the people; and then, after all his trouble, the good governor found +that the people had determined not to apply for any papers, stamped +or unstamped, until the King had acted on the petitions sent from the +Colonies. No wonder that he was moved to call it "a wretched situation." +It was indeed a wretched situation for one who had no higher ideas of +duty than to continue to serve the King and oppose the interests of the +people. + +There was something more of an uproar in South Carolina than in Georgia; +but the truth of history appears to be that the resistance offered to +the Stamp Act in Georgia was much more serious than that displayed in +Carolina. Although Governor Wright used all his influence to support the +act, the people exercised so much vigilance in watching the stamp papers +and the officer sent to issue them, that none of the papers found their +way into use. + +The Colonies were bordering on a state of revolution, when, through the +influence of the Earl of Chatham, the Stamp Act was repealed. There +was great rejoicing among the people, and a general manifestation of a +renewal of loyalty to the mother country. But the seeds of dissension +had been sown. The Stamp Act unnecessary and uncalled for, had given the +people cause to ponder over their real relations to the Crown; and out +of the discussion that had taken place arose a spirit of independence +that grew and thrived and spread day by day. + +In short, the repeal of the Stamp Act gave the people of the Colonies +only momentary satisfaction. Their success in securing its repeal +gave them a new taste for liberty of action, and a new sense of their +importance as individuals. But King George III. was never satisfied with +the repeal of the Stamp Act of 1765. He declared that it had wounded +the Majesty of England. It fretted him, and the irritation that he felt +extended like a contagion to his cabinet. When the Earl of Chatham died, +there was no statesman to take his place. The mantle of his office fell +on Charles Townshend, who was more anxious to please the King than to +secure good government to the people of the Colonies. He was anxious +for the British Government to assert with vigor its right to govern the +Colonies as it saw fit. + +Meanwhile the spirit of independence in the Colonies continued to assert +itself more openly day by day, and the determination grew among them +not to submit to taxation without representation in Parliament. The +organization of Sons of Liberty and Liberty Boys grew and spread both +North and South. One of the most fruitful causes of discontent was the +fact that Georgia and the other Colonies were compelled to depend upon +the will of the British Government in all matters. Every act passed by +a colonial assembly must receive the sanction of the British Parliament +before it became a law. Petitions were disregarded. Frequently there +was a delay of two years between the passage of an act by the Colonial +General Assembly and its ratification. But every measure had to receive +the approval of the Crown. While the affairs of the country were in this +peculiar condition, the people became more and more dissatisfied. + +It is now known that Governor James Wright, loyal to the King as he +proved himself to be, was fully sensible of the injustice to which +the Colonies were compelled to submit. On the 15th of August, 1769, he +addressed a letter to the Earl of Hillsborough, which was not read until +fifteen months after it was written. In this letter the governor warned +the British cabinet that the Colonies would never submit to taxation +without representation. There was no disaffection, he said, toward the +King or the royal family, but simply a determination on the part of the +people to stand on their rights. But the governor's letter lay unread +for fifteen months, and there was no reply to the numerous petitions +sent from the Colonies. At last the Americans determined to appeal to +the pockets instead of to the sentiments of the people of Great Britain. +They determined to import no goods whatever that could be manufactured +or produced at home. + +This determination, instead of causing the British people to conciliate +the Americans by securing the repeal of unfriendly laws, turned the +popular opinion against the Colonies; and this feeling was intensified +by the Boston Tea Party. A bill was passed by both Houses of the British +Parliament to close the port of Boston, and the discussion of the +measure gave an opportunity to some of the statesmen of the mother +country to show their spite. Another law was passed, limiting and +cutting down the power of the representative assembly of Massachusetts, +and providing that town meetings should not be held except on permission +in writing from the royal governor. Another act was passed, giving the +governor of the Province the power to send to Great Britain or to other +Colonies persons indicted for murder or charged with capital crimes +committed in aiding the government of Massachusetts. These acts, +intended to humiliate the Colonies, had the effect of inflaming them, +and the Liberty Boys grew in numbers and determination. + +[Illustration: Tondee's Tavern 055] + +On the 20th of July, 1774, "The Georgia Gazette," published at Savannah, +contained an invitation to the people of the Province to meet at +Tondee's Tavern on the 27th of July to take into consideration the +unjust laws that had been passed by the British Parliament. The cause +of Massachusetts was the cause of all. The meeting was held, and stood +adjourned to the 10th of August, in order to give all the parishes an +opportunity to be represented by delegates. Governor Wright, loyal to +the last, issued a proclamation warning the people of the Province to +avoid attending the meeting; but the proclamation was disregarded, and a +meeting of the people of the Province was held at Tondee's Tavern on +the 10th of August, 1774. Resolutions were adopted, declaring that +his Majesty's subjects in America owed the same allegiance, and were +entitled to the same rights and privileges, as their fellow-subjects +in Great Britain; that the act lately passed for blockading the port +of Boston was contrary to the British constitution; that the act for +abolishing the charter of Massachusetts Bay tended to the subversion of +American rights; that the Parliament of Great Britain had not, nor ever +had, the right to tax his Majesty's American subjects; and that every +demand for the support of government should be by requisition made to +the several houses of representatives. The resolutions covered all the +grievances of the people of the Colonies. + +Meanwhile, Governor Wright was not idle. He called a convention of +Royalists, which met, and signed a protest against the resolutions. +Copies of this protest were made, and sent into all the parishes, by the +governor's friends. Under pressure, many timid men who were really in +sympathy with the Liberty Boys signed the protest. The signatures of +dead men were used, and other frauds practiced, in order to make the +demonstration in favor of the King sufficient to overawe those who +had pledged themselves to American independence. In all this, Governor +Wright was aided by the fact that the only newspaper in the Province, +"The Georgia Gazette," was under his control. He was also aided by the +geographical situation of Georgia, and by his own personal popularity. +He had made a good governor. He had worked as hard for the prosperity +and progress of the Province as he now worked to prevent the people from +joining the movement for independence. + +The governor was successful to the extent that he was able to prevent +Georgia from sending duly accredited representatives to the First +Continental Congress; and this fact has been taken by some writers of +history to mean that the spirit of liberty and independence was not as +earnest and as enthusiastic in Georgia as in the other Provinces. Later, +when Georgia was overrun by British and Tory influences, and appeared to +be conquered, ill-natured critics recalled the fact that her people were +slow to join hands with those who advocated resistance to tyranny. + +When the South Carolina delegates to the First Continental Congress +returned to their homes, bearing with them copies of the Declaration of +Colonial Rights, the Liberty Boys of Georgia renewed their movement with +great zeal. Copies of the Declaration were distributed throughout the +Province. The result was, that the Liberty Boys grew steadily stronger +in numbers, and more defiant in action. An idea of the situation at this +time may be gathered from a letter written by Governor Wright to the +Earl of Dartmouth on the 13th of December, 1774. He declared that the +spirit of independence, or, as he called it, the spirit of enthusiasm, +which many were possessed of before, "is raised to such a height of +frenzy, that God knows what the consequences may be, or what man or +whose property may escape their resentment." + +No doubt the amiable governor misunderstood the situation. What he +regarded as "frenzy" was merely the eager desire and the determination +of the Liberty Boys of Georgia to redeem themselves in the eyes of their +brethren in the other Colonies. They were humiliated by their failure to +send representatives to the Continental Congress, and they endeavored to +redeem themselves by increased zeal and enthusiasm. + +They arranged to hold a provincial congress in Savannah on the 18th +of January, 1775. Governor Wright, on hearing of this, determined to +convene the Provincial General Assembly on the same day, hoping and +believing that this would prevent a meeting of the Provincial Congress, +or greatly hamper its action. But the governor was mistaken. The +General Assembly met in response to the call, and so did the Provincial +Congress. Governor Wright addressed the members, declaring to them the +danger of the situation, and imploring them to be prudent and loyal. +The upper house of the General Assembly made a response agreeable to the +governor's expectations, but the lower house gave to its address a tone +of independence that was not at all pleasing to the King's officer. He +showed his displeasure, and placed a serious obstacle in the way of the +Liberty Boys by adjourning the General Assembly until the 9th of the +following May. The Assembly had met on the 18th of January, and was +adjourned on the 10th of February; so that the Liberty Boys, who made up +a majority of the lower house, had no time to appoint delegates to the +Philadelphia congress soon to be held, nor to take any official action +in behalf of the independence of Georgia. + +Governor Wright's plans were certainly very shrewdly laid. His +adjournment of the General Assembly not only hampered the Provincial +Congress (or convention) that had met at Savannah simultaneously with +the legislature, but threw the delegates into confusion and disorder, +and was the means of causing the convention to adjourn without taking +such action as the friends of liberty hoped for. All that it did was +to elect three representatives to the Philadelphia congress. This +was something, but it was not enough. The Liberty Boys expected +the Provincial Convention to adopt all the measures and resolutions +suggested by the Continental Congress. They therefore felt mortified +when the convention adjourned, and left Georgia still outside the +continental association. + +This event was a serious embarrassment to the other Colonies, and +aroused the anger of those friends of liberty who were unable to +understand the peculiar conditions that surrounded the movement for +independence in Georgia. The friends of liberty in South Carolina were +so indignant, that they denounced the Georgians "as unworthy the +rights of freemen, and as inimical to the liberties of their country." +Throughout the Colonies, the partisans of American independence were +deeply wounded by the apparent hesitation of the Georgians, while the +Royalists were delighted. + +Though the Provincial Convention remained in session only seven days +before adjourning, the delegates of St. John's Parish had withdrawn from +the body. These delegates insisted on an emphatic indorsement of the +acts of the Continental Congress, and they retired as soon as they +found there would be some difficulty in bringing some of the hesitating +members to their way of thinking. They retired, and selected Dr. Lyman +Hall to represent St. John's in the Philadelphia congress. He took his +seat in that body, and although he cast no vote, he made his voice heard +in the discussions. + +In spite of all the drawbacks which the Liberty Boys in Georgia had +experienced, their enthusiasm did not cool. They never ceased their +efforts, and the independence movement continued to grow. The public +mind became more and more inflamed with resentment against the tyranny +of King George and his Parliament, as the people heard of the progress +of events in the more northern Colonies. By the 10th of May the people +of Savannah had heard of the shedding of American blood by British +troops at Lexington and Concord. As the news spread from parish to +parish, the people became aroused, and the response of public sentiment +was all that American patriots could expect. + +[Illustration: Seisure of Ammunition in Savannah 060] + +The first response of the Liberty Boys at Savannah was to seize the +ammunition stored in the magazine. This event occurred on the night of +the 11th of May, and was planned and carried out by the members of the +Council of Safety. About six hundred pounds of powder fell into the +hands of the Liberty Boys. Some was sent to South Carolina, and the rest +was hidden in the garrets and cellars of the patriots who had seized it. +Tradition says that some of this powder was sent to Massachusetts, where +it was used by the patriots who drove the British before them at the +battle of Bunker Hill. + +Other events occurred that showed the temper of the Liberty Boys. On the +4th of June, when Governor Wright came to fire salutes in honor of King +George's birthday, he found the cannon had been spiked, dismounted, and +rolled to the bottom of the bluff. On the 5th of June the first liberty +pole in the Colony was set up at Savannah. A young man named Hopkins, +who spoke contemptuously of the members of the Committee of Public +Safety was seized by a mob, tarred and feathered, placed in an +illuminated cart, and paraded up and down the streets of Savannah. + +As the days went by, the independence movement in Georgia became more +enthusiastic, the Liberty Boys more active. The first vessel armed and +equipped for naval warfare during the Revolution was fitted up by +the Liberty Boys of Georgia under the authority of the Provincial +Convention, which had assembled in Savannah on the 4th of July, 1775. +This event is interesting. The Carolina Committee of Safety had heard +that a British ship had sailed for Georgia with a cargo of powder +intended for the Indians and for the use of the Royalists. The +Carolinians at once resolved to capture the ship and seize the cargo. +To that end, two barges, manned by forty well-armed men, were embarked +from Beaufort, and went to the mouth of the Savannah River, where they +encamped on a point that commanded a full view of Tybee Lighthouse. The +Provincial Convention, hearing of this expedition, offered to assist the +officers in every way possible. There was an armed British schooner in +the river at that time; and the Liberty Boys of Savannah determined to +join forces with the Carolinians at Tybee, and effect her capture. For +this purpose a schooner was equipped by the Provincial Convention, and +placed under command of Captain Bowen and Joseph Habersham. This vessel +was armed with ten carriage guns and swivels, and carried fifty men. The +British armed vessel was not inclined to enter into a contest, but, +when the Georgia schooner appeared, weighed anchor and sailed away. The +schooner then took position beyond the harbor bar, and waited for the +ship carrying the cargo of powder. She had not long to wait. On the 10th +of July, 1775, the powder ship, commanded by Captain Maitland, made her +appearance. Before entering Tybee Inlet, however, Captain Maitland saw +the armed schooner. Suspecting that he was about to fall into a trap, he +brought his vessel round, tacked, and stood out to sea. But he had gone +too far. The Georgia schooner gave chase, and soon overtook and captured +the ship. It was a fortunate capture for the Colonies. Five thousand +pounds of powder were sent to Philadelphia, and nine thousand fell to +the share of Georgia. + +The convention that commissioned the first armed vessel of the +Revolution did more important work than this. It placed the Province +of Georgia in political union with her sister Colonies, and gave her +fellowship with those struggling Provinces. She was welcomed into the +United Colonies with joyful demonstrations by the Continental Congress. +By the 15th of April, 1776, the Liberty Boys in Georgia were so strong +that Governor Wright had taken refuge on one of the King's vessels at +Tybee; and on that date the patriots took full charge of the government +of the Province. Archibald Bulloch was the first republican president of +Georgia. + +This is how the Liberty Boys took the Province of Georgia from his +Majesty the King, and made a free and independent government. Their +struggle did not end here, but the details of that struggle must be left +to history to relate. + + + + +A GROUP OF CHARACTERS + +The Revolutionary War in Georgia developed some very romantic figures, +which are known to us rather by tradition than by recorded history. +First among them, on the side of the patriots, was Robert Sallette. +Neither history nor tradition gives us the place of his birth or the +date of his death; yet it is known that he played a more important part +in the struggle in the Colony than any man who had no troops at his +command. He seems to have slipped mysteriously on the scene at the +beginning of the war. He fought bravely, even fiercely, to the end, +and then, having nothing else to do, slipped away as mysteriously as +he came. "In Liberty County," says history, "there lived during the +Revolution a man by the name of Robert Sallette, distinguished for +his opposition to the Tories. It is not known with certainty to what +particular command he was attached. He appears to have been a sort of +roving character, doing things in his own way." Here is the mystery of +romance to begin with. Here is the wanderer,--the character so dear to +the imagination of youth. + +"The Tories," says history further, "stood very much in dread of him; +and well they might, for never had they a more, formidable foe." Here, +then, is the hero and the wanderer combined in one person, and +that person fighting for the holiest cause in which man can take up +arms,--the rights and liberties of the people. What more could be asked? + +Curious as we may be to know something of the personal history of Robert +Sallette, it is not to be found chronicled in the books. The French +twist to his name makes it probable that he was a descendant of those +unfortunate Acadians who, years before, had been stripped of their lands +and possessions in Nova Scotia by the British, their houses and barns +burned, and they themselves transported away from their homes. They were +scattered at various points along the American coast. Some were landed +at Philadelphia, and some were carried to Louisiana. Four hundred were +sent to Georgia. The British had many acts of cruelty to answer for in +those days, but none more infamous than this treatment of the gentle and +helpless Acadians. It stands in history to-day a stain upon the British +name. + +Another fact that leads to the belief that Robert Sallette was a +descendant of the unfortunate Acadians was the ferocity with which he +pursued the British and the Tories. The little that is told about +him makes it certain that he never gave quarter to the enemies of his +country. + +His name was a terror to the Tories. One of them, a man of considerable +means, offered a reward of one hundred guineas to any person who would +bring him the head of Robert Sallette. The Tory had never seen Sallette, +but his alarm was such that he offered a reward large enough to tempt +some one to assassinate the daring partisan. When Sallette heard of the +reward, he disguised himself as a farmer, and provided himself with +a pumpkin, which he placed in a bag. With the bag swinging across his +shoulder, he made his way to the house of the Tory. He was invited in, +and deposited the bag on the floor beside him, the pumpkin striking the +boards with a thump. + +[Illustration: The head of Robert Sallette 066] + +"I have brought you the head of Robert Sallette," said he. "I hear that +you have offered a reward of one hundred guineas for it." + +"Where is it?" asked the Tory. + +"I have it with me," replied Sallette, shaking the loose end of the bag. +"Count me out the money and take the head." + +The Tory, neither doubting nor suspecting, counted out the money, and +placed it on the table. + +"Now show me the head," said he. + +Sallette removed his hat, tapped himself on the forehead, and said, +"Here is the head of Robert Sallette!" + +The Tory was so frightened that he jumped from the room, and Sallette +pocketed the money and departed. + +On one occasion Robert Sallette is known to have spared the lives of two +Tories, at least for a little while. Once when he and Andrew Walthour +(for whom Walthourville in Georgia is named) and another man were riding +along a narrow trail late in the afternoon, they met three other +riders whom they suspected to be Tories. The plan that Sallette and his +companions adopted to capture the men was very simple. Andrew Walthour, +who was riding in front, was to pass the first and second men, Robert +Sallette to pass the first. As Walthour came to the third man when +Sallette had come to the second, and their companion to the first, the +Liberty Boys seized the guns of the three simultaneously. The men had no +opportunity either to fight or escape. + +"Dismount, gentlemen!" said Sallette. Then he addressed himself to the +leader. "What is your name?" + +In reply to this, a fictitious name was given, as Sallette and his +companions afterwards found out. + +"Where is your camp?" asked Sallette. + +"We are from over the river," answered the man, meaning the Altamaha. + +"Where did you cross?" + +"At Beards Ferry." This was where the Whigs and the Liberty Boys were +most numerous. + +"That is not true!" exclaimed Sallette. + +Then he turned to the second man, asked the same questions, and received +the same replies. He turned to the third man, asked the same questions, +and received the same replies. + +"If you do not tell me the truth," exclaimed Sallette to this last man, +"I'll cut off your head!" + +The man persisted, and Sallette was as good as his word. The others +begged for their lives, and declared that they would guide Sallette +straight to their camp. This they did; and Sallette, aided by his +prisoners, captured a large party of Tories. + +Once when Robert Sallette and Andrew Walthour were marching with the +advance guard of the American troops, they suddenly met the advance +guard of the British. A short but sharp skirmish followed, during which +a very large man of the British guard was killed. Observing that the +dead man wore a pair of good boots, Sallette determined to get them. +While he was pulling them off in the midst of a furious fire from the +enemy, his companions called out to him to come away or he would surely +be killed. "I must have the boots!" cried Sallette to his companions. "I +want them for little John Way!" + +Here was fun in the midst of tragedy; for it is said that little John +Way could have put both his feet and his fists into one of the boots. + +One day Sallette dressed himself up as a British officer and accepted +an invitation to dine with a party of the enemy. Suddenly, in the midst +of the toasting and drinking, Sallette drew his sword, killed the men +who sat to the right and left of him, sprang on his horse, and rode off +unhurt, though he was in such a hurry that he had no time to throw the +bridle reins over the horse's head. + +At the White House, near Sunbury, Major Baker, of the patriot army, with +thirty men, attacked and defeated a party of Tories under command of +Captain Goldsmith. + +Among the slain was Lieutenant Gray, whose head was almost severed from +his body by a stroke of Robert Sallette's sword. + +On many occasions, when a battle was in progress, Sallette would detach +himself from the American army, gain the rear of the enemy, and kill +many men before he was discovered. If this brave man was indeed a +descendant of the Acadians, he avenged the wrongs of many of his +countrymen. + +Another character who attracted attention during the War of the +Revolution was Patrick Carr, whose hatred of the Tories made his name +celebrated among the Liberty Boys of Georgia. Paddy Carr, as he was +called, lived and died in Jefferson County. He was born in Ireland, but +came to Georgia before the Revolution. When the independence movement +began, he threw himself into it with all the ardor of his race. Owing to +the cruelty of the Tories, he conceived a special hatred against them. +He showed them no quarter. History gives but a word or two to his +achievements, but tradition still keeps his name alive in the region +where he operated. Like Sallette, he was an independent partisan; but, +unlike Sallette, his operations were among those who could remember well +enough, but who would not take the trouble to preserve the particulars +of even the least of his exploits. We know that Patrick Carr lived. We +know that he became famous where recklessness and daring were common. +But that is nearly all we know. It is said of him that during the war he +killed one hundred Tories with his own hands. Once, when praised for his +bravery, he smiled and shook his head, saying that he would have made +a very good soldier, but the Lord had given him a heart that was too +merciful. He no doubt remembered the atrocities of the Tories in the +section that is now Jefferson, Columbia, Burke, and Wilkes counties. The +cruelties they committed in that region during the Revolution have no +parallel in civilized warfare. + +Among the adventurous characters of that time, on the side of the +British, Daniel McGirth stands easily first. The history of his career +during the war is a strange one. He was born in South Carolina, +and entered into the struggle against the British with the utmost +enthusiasm. He was a brave man, a hard fighter, and one of the most +active of those who took up arms against the King. He was an expert +woodsman, and was at home in the saddle. He was assigned to duty as a +scout, and was better equipped for that service, perhaps, than any man +in the American army. The ease with which he secured information of the +enemy's movements and plans, and the energy that marked his movements, +made his services of great value to the patriot cause. This was not +thoroughly appreciated by some of the officers under whom McGirth acted. + +He brought with him into the army a mare which he called "The Gray +Goose." She is said to have been an elegant animal, and McGirth was +very proud of her. With this mare under him, he always felt safe +from pursuit. One of the American officers, who was a good judge of +horseflesh, and who probably wanted to "cut a dash," as the saying is, +saw this beautiful mare, and coveted her. Finding that McGirth scorned +all offers to sell her, the officer adopted various means to obtain her. +These efforts were resisted by McGirth, mainly on the ground that the +mare was his own private property, and that she was essential to the +duties he was called on to perform. Failing to gain his ends in this +way, the officer continued to worry McGirth in other ways. He no doubt +did something to rouse the ire of the scout, who was an irritable man, +and who felt the importance of the service he was rendering to the +cause. It is not now known how McGirth insulted the officer,--whether +in a moment of passion he struck him, or whether he merely used rough +language to him. + +Whatever the offense, McGirth was placed under arrest, tried by a +court-martial, found guilty of violating the articles of war, and +sentenced to be whipped. He received this punishment, and was placed +in confinement again, where he was to remain until he received another +whipping. While thus held, he saw his mare picketed near the camp, and +he immediately resolved to escape. He was successful in this. Once free, +he secured The Gray Goose, leaped into the saddle, turned around, and, +in the face of his pursuers, pronounced threats of vengeance against all +the Americans for his ill treatment. + +There is no doubt that he was illtreated; but if he had not been an +ignorant man, he would not have pronounced against the cause of liberty +on account of the treatment he received at the hands of individuals. +But the savage in his nature was aroused, and he carried out his fierce +threats to the fullest extent. For the time being, he attached himself +to another American command; but at the first opportunity he deserted +to the enemy, and became the scourge and terror of those who opposed the +British cause. He spared none. His field extended from the Florida line +to the Savannah River, in what is now Elbert County, and far into South +Carolina. He appeared when least expected, and carried destruction with +him. His mare became as noted as her master. In what was then Upper +Georgia, she was known as "The Bald-faced Pony." On many an occasion +he owed his life to the fleetness of his mare. But his vengeance was +never satisfied: it was always active, and thirsting for the blood of +the American patriot. The whim of the officer to possess McGirth's mare +was a foolish one at best. It was the cause of great public and private +suffering. + +[Illustration: McGirth and his mare 072] + +When South Carolina was rescued from the British, McGirth retreated +into Georgia, and finally into Florida. When the Spaniards regained +possession of that territory, he became subject to their laws. For some +reason or other he was thrown into one of the dungeons of the old fort +at St. Augustine, where he was confined for five years. When released, +his health was broken, and it was with great difficulty that he managed +to return to Sumter District, in South Carolina, where his wife lived. + +A very queer and eccentric character in the Revolution was Captain Rory +Mcintosh, of Mallow. Though Rory was a kinsman of General Lachlan and +Colonel John Mcintosh, who were among the most active Liberty Boys in +Georgia, he took up arms for the King, and a very devoted Tory he was. +His eccentricities would have been called whims if he had not stuck +to them with such constancy. He was a Highlander and a follower of the +Stuarts. How and why he became loyal to the new line of British kings, +history does not state; but his clan had a chief, and he no doubt +thought that every government ought to have a monarch. When the +Revolution began, he was over sixty years of age, and was living +comfortably on his plantation at Mallow; but he volunteered, and fought +through the war. + +A story is told of Rory Mcintosh that once when the Spaniards held +East Florida, he carried to St Augustine a drove of cattle. He received +payment in dollars, which he placed in a canvas bag behind him on his +horse. When near his home, the bag gave way, and a part of the money +fell out. He secured what was left and rode on, paying no attention to +that which had fallen from the bag. When in need of money some years +after, he returned to the place where the dollars had spilled, picked +up as many as he wanted, and went back home. Whenever he could, he went +about accompanied by a piper. Rory was a tall, finely formed man,'with +bristling whiskers and a ruddy complexion: consequently when he appeared +on parade, he attracted great attention. + +[Illustration: Captain Rory McIntosh 074] + +In 1778 two expeditions were sent from St. Augustine for the purpose +of attacking Savannah,--one by sea, and one by land under command of +Lieutenant Colonel Prevost. This land expedition had been joined by +Captain Roderick Mcintosh, in the capacity of a volunteer. He attached +himself particularly to the infantry company commanded by Captain +Murray. When the British laid siege to Sunbury and the fort, Captain +Murray's company was in the line near the fort. One morning when Captain +Rory had had a dram too much, he determined to sally out and summon +the fort to surrender. His comrades tried to restrain him, but he was +determined. Finally he strutted out, a drawn claymore in his hand, with +his trusty slave Jim. He approached the fort and cried out,-- + +"Surrender, you miscreants! How dare you presume to resist his Majesty's +arms?" + +Colonel Mcintosh, who commanded the fort, saw at once the condition of +Captain Rory, and forbade the men to fire. Then he threw open the gate, +and said,-- + +"Walk in, Mr. Mcintosh, and take possession." + +"No," cried Rory, "I'll not trust myself among such vermin. I order you +to surrender!" + +At that moment a rifle was fired by some one in the fort, and the ball +passed through Captain Rory's face from side to side under the eyes. +He fell backwards, but immediately recovered, and stood on his feet +flourishing his claymore. Then he began to walk backward, his face to +the fort. Several shots were fired at him, and Jim called out,-- + +"Run, massa, run! dey kill you!" + +"Run!" cried Rory scornfully. "You may run, but I belong to a race that +never runs!" + +It was at the siege of Sunbury that Colonel Mcintosh, when summoned by +Colonel Prevost to surrender the fort, sent back the reply, "Come and +take it!" + + + + +AUNT NANCY HART. + +There lived in Georgia, during the Revolutionary struggle, the most +remarkable woman in some respects that the country has produced. To find +her match, we shall have to go to the fables that are told about the +Amazons. The Liberty Boys called her Aunt Nancy Hart. The Indians, +struck by her wonderful feats in behalf of her country, called her "The +War Woman;" and there is a creek in Elbert County, where she lived, that +was named by the Indians "War Woman's Creek." + +There are other heroines to whom history has paid more attention, and +whose deeds have been celebrated in song and story; but not one of them +was more devoted to the high cause of freedom, or more courageous, or +depended less on aid from others, than Aunt Nancy Hart. In this last +respect, the War Woman of Georgia stands alone in history, just as she +stood alone when the Tories were waging a war of extermination, sparing +neither women nor children, in the region in which she lived. Invention +and fable have kindly come to the aid of the most famous of the world's +heroines, but neither fable nor invention has touched the character or +the deeds of this heroine of the Revolution. She stands out on the +pages of history rough, uncouth, hot-tempered, unmanageable, uneducated, +impolite, ugly, and sharp-tongued; but, as her friends said of her, +"What a honey of a patriot she was!" She loved the Liberty Boys as well +as she loved her own children. It has been said that she was cruel; but +this charge may as well be put out of sight. Before passing upon it, +we should have to know what the War Woman's eyes had seen, and +what terrible revelations her ears had heard. Standing for American +independence in a region that swarmed with Tories, whose murderous deeds +never have been and never will be fully set forth, Aunt Nancy Hart had +to defend her own hearthstone and her own children. + +The maiden name of this remarkable woman was Morgan, and she was born in +North Carolina. She married Benjamin Hart, a brother of Colonel Thomas +Hart of Kentucky. Thomas Hart was the father of the wife of Henry Clay, +and the uncle of the celebrated Thomas Hart Benton. Aunt Nancy and her +husband moved to Georgia with the North Carolina emigrants, and settled +on Broad River, in what is now Elbert County. She was nearly six feet +high, and very muscular,--the result of hard work. She had red hair, +and it is said that she was cross-eyed, but this has been denied on +good authority. It matters little. Her eyes were keen enough to pierce +through all Tory disguises, and that was enough for her. It is certain +that her courage and her confidence kept alive the spark of liberty +in hearts that would otherwise have smothered it, and was largely +responsible for kindling it into the flame that finally swept the +British out of that section, and subdued the Tories. When the Whigs and +patriots who had been her neighbors were compelled to flee before the +murderous Tories, she refused to go with them, but stood her ground and +never ceased to speak her sentiments boldly. Nothing but the wholesome +dread with which she had inspired them prevented the Tories from +murdering her and her children. When General Elijah Clarke moved the +women and children of the Broad River region to an asylum in Kentucky, +and the Liberty Boys had taken refuge in South Carolina, Aunt Nancy Hart +remained at home, and for a long and dismal period she was unprotected +save by her own remarkable courage. + +At that period the houses were built of logs, and the chimneys were +built of sticks plastered with clay. They were called "stack chimneys." +One evening Aunt Nancy and her children were sitting around the fire, on +which a pot of soap was boiling. Now, a pot of soap must be constantly +stirred, and for this the strong, muscular arms of Aunt Nancy were +peculiarly fitted. So she stirred the soap, and, as she stirred, told +the youngsters the latest news of the war. Presently one of her children +chanced to discover some one peeping through the crack of the chimney, +eavesdropping. By a gesture or a nod of the head Aunt Nancy was informed +of what was going on. She smiled, and grew more spirited in her talk, +rattling away and laughing as she gave exaggerated accounts of the +recent defeats of the Tories. As she talked, she stirred the bubbling +soap, and kept her keen eyes on the crack where the eavesdropper had +been seen. Suddenly she dashed a ladleful of boiling soap through the +crack full into the face of the intruder. It was so quickly and deftly +done, that the eavesdropper had no time to dodge the scalding stuff. He +received the full benefit of it Blinded and half crazed by the pain, +he howled and screamed at a tremendous rate. Aunt Nancy went out, +and, after amusing herself at his expense, bound him fast and held +him prisoner. The probability is that the next day she H tucked up her +petticoats, shouldered her gun, and compelled the unlucky Tory to ford +the river ahead of her; and that, once on the other side, she kept in +constant communication with the Clarkes and with other partisans of the +American cause. + +[Illustration: Aunt Nancy Hart 079] + +Her husband, whom she sometimes jokingly described as "a poor stick," +assisted her in her communications. A conch shell was kept at the +spring, some distance from the house. On this conch shell the children +were taught to blow the blasts that gave Mr. Hart information. One +signal was, "The enemy is at hand;" another was, "Keep close;" another, +"Make tracks for the swamp;" and still another was that he and his +friends were wanted at the cabin. + +At the very darkest hour of the Revolution in Georgia, Aunt Nancy +performed one of her most remarkable feats,--one that brought into play +all the courage and devotion of her strong nature, and all the tact and +audacity that belonged to her character. + +Brigadier General Andrew Williamson, with three hundred men, was +encamped near Augusta. When Charleston fell, this officer, who was +already a traitor, though his treachery had not been avowed, called his +officers together, and expressed the opinion that it would be foolish +to further resist the King. He therefore advised them to return to their +homes, and there accept the protection which would be offered them. He +then abandoned his command, which was immediately disbanded. Shortly +afterwards Colonels Brown and Garrison, two partisans of the King's army +who had made themselves notorious by their cruelty to Americans, seized +Augusta. Brown had been tarred and feathered in Augusta just before the +breaking-out of the Revolution, and he made the patriots of that town +and of the country roundabout pay dearly for the indignities that +had been heaped upon him on account of his loyalty to the Crown. He +confiscated the property of the patriots, and issued an order banishing +all Whig families beyond the borders of Georgia. + +Raiding parties were sent into the region in the neighborhood of Augusta +to compel the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance to the King. +One of these parties entered the house of Colonel John Dooly, a gallant +officer, and murdered him in cold blood in the presence of his wife and +children. Colonel Dooly was the father of Judge Dooly, who became famous +in Georgia after the war. + +A detachment of this murdering party found its way to Aunt Nancy Hart's +cabin. There were five Tories in the detachment, and Aunt Nancy received +them coldly enough. They told her they had come to inquire into the +truth of a report they had heard to the effect that she had aided a +well-known rebel to escape from a company of King's men by whom he +was pursued. With a twinkle of malice in her eyes, Aunt Nancy boldly +declared that she had aided her Liberty Boy to escape, and then she +described the affair. + +She said that one day she heard the gallop of a horse. Looking out, she +saw a horseman approaching, and at once knew him to be a Whig flying +from pursuers. She let down the bars near her cabin, told him to ride +his horse right through her house, in at the front door and out at the +back, to take to the swamp, and hide himself the best he could. She then +put up the bars, entered her house, closed the doors, and went about her +business. In a little while a party of Tories rode up, and called to her +with some rudeness. She muffled her head and face in a shawl, opened +the door slowly, and asked in a feeble voice who it was that wanted to +pester a sick, lone woman. The Tories said they had been pursuing a man, +and had traced him near her house. They wanted to know if any one had +passed that way. "I told 'em," said Aunt Nancy to the listening Tories, +"that I had seen a man on a sorrel horse turn out of the road into the +woods a little ways back. So they went back and took to the woods, and +my Whig boy got off safe and sound." + +Naturally this story, boldly told, did not please the five Tories who +heard it; but something in the War Woman's eye prevented them from +offering her any personal injury. Instead, they ordered her to give them +something to eat. + +"I never feed King's men if I can help it," she replied. "The scamps +have fixed me so that I can't feed my own family in a decent manner. +They have run off with all my pigs and poultry except that old gobbler +you see in the yard there." + +"Well, you shall cook the old gobbler for us," exclaimed one who seemed +to be the leader of the party. Suiting the action to the word, he raised +his musket and shot the gobbler. One of his men brought it into the +house and gave it to Aunt Nancy, with orders to clean and cook it at +once. This, of course, made that stanch patriot very angry, and she gave +the Tories a violent tongue lashing. + +It is probable that while she was dressing the turkey for the pot, the +Tories let some hint drop about the outrageous murder of Colonel John +Dooly, who was a warm friend of Aunt Nancy's. At any rate, she suddenly +changed her tactics. She ceased to storm and quarrel, the scowl left +her face, and she soon seemed to be in high good humor. She went about +getting the meal ready with great good will. She sent her little girl +to the spring after water, but told her to sound on the conch shell the +signal to "keep close," so that her husband and his neighbors who were +with him might know there were Tories in the cabin. + +While the daughter was gone after water, one of the Tories volunteered +to take her place in helping to get everything ready. Aunt Nancy +accepted his services, and joked with him with great freedom and +familiarity. Like all women of spirit and independence, Aunt Nancy +possessed a considerable fund of humor, and it stood her in good stead +now. She contrived to thoroughly interest the Tories, and it was not +long before they were in the most jovial frame of mind imaginable. They +had expected to find a bad-tempered, ill-conditioned woman; and they +were agreeably surprised when they found, instead, a woman who could +match their rude jests, and make herself thoroughly entertaining. + +The Tories had brought a jug with them, and they were so pleased with +Aunt Nancy's seeming friendliness that they invited her to drink with +them. "I'll take one swig with you," said Aunt Nancy, "if it kills every +cow on the Island," meaning a neck of land at the junction of river and +creek where the Whig families of the neighborhood pastured their cattle +and hid them. The Tories laughed and drank, and then they laughed and +drank again. They kept this up until the old gobbler had been cooked to +Aunt Nancy's satisfaction; and by the time they were ready to sit down +to table they were in a very merry mood indeed. + +They had stacked their arms within easy reach of where they had been +sitting and drinking; but Aunt Nancy had moved her table to the middle +of the floor, so as to be able to walk around it on all sides while +waiting on the Tories. In helping the men to the turkey and other +eatables that she had prepared, she frequently came between them and +their muskets. The Tories had hardly begun to eat before they called for +water. Aunt Nancy, expecting this, had used up in cooking all that had +been brought: consequently her daughter had to take the piggin and go +to the spring after a fresh supply. She went with instructions to signal +her father, and the neighbors who were with him, to come immediately to +the cabin. While her daughter was at the spring, Aunt Nancy managed to +pull off one of the boards that filled the space between the logs of the +house, and through this crack she slipped two of the muskets. She was +slipping the third through when her movements caught the eye of one of +the Tories. Instantly the men sprang to their feet, but Aunt Nancy +was now in her element. Quick as a flash she clapped the musket to her +shoulder, and threatened to shoot the first man that approached her. The +men, knowing her reputation as a fighter, and awed by her appearance, +hesitated. At last one bolder than the rest began to advance toward her. +She fired promptly, and at the report of the gun the man fell dead on +the floor. + +Before the others could recover from their consternation, Aunt Nancy +had seized another musket, and held it in readiness to fire again. Her +daughter had now returned from the spring with the information that her +father and his neighbors would soon arrive. Directed by her mother, +the girl took the remaining musket and carried it out of the house. The +Tories, seeing that no time was to be lost in recovering their arms, +proposed to rush upon Aunt Nancy in a body and overpower her. But the +War Woman was equal to the occasion. She fired again, and brought down +another Tory. As she did so, the daughter, acting on her orders, handed +her another musket. Then, taking position in the doorway, she called on +the men to "surrender their ugly Tory carcasses to a Whig woman." + +[Illustration: Aunt Nancy captures the Tories 085] + +The Tories agreed to surrender, and wanted to shake hands to make the +bargain binding; but Aunt Nancy kept her position in the doorway until +her husband and his friends made their appearance. The Whigs wanted +to shoot the Tories; but Aunt Nancy, whose blood was up, declared that +shooting was too good for them. "They've murdered John Dooly," she +exclaimed; "now let them hang for it!" Thereupon the Tories were taken +out and hanged. The tree from which they swung was still standing as +late as 1838, and was often pointed out by old people who had lived +through the troubled times of the Revolution. + +One day Aunt Nancy met a Tory going along the highway. She engaged him +in conversation, diverted his attention, and suddenly seized his gun and +wrenched it away from him. She then ordered him to take up the line of +march for a fort not far distant. Not daring to disobey, the man marched +before her, as many others had been compelled to do, and she turned him +over to the commander of the fort. + +When Augusta was in the hands of the British, and their raiding parties +had been driven in by the Americans under Colonel Elijah Clarke, it +became necessary for that commander to get some positive information +in regard to the intentions of the British. At this juncture Aunt Nancy +came to the rescue. She disguised herself as a man, and went boldly into +the British camp. She remained there for several days, pretending to be +crazy. In this way she secured a great deal of important information, +and made haste to carry it to Colonel Clarke. + +Aunt Nancy was once left in a fort with several other women and a number +of small children, her own among the rest. The men had gone out in +search of supplies. They had not expected an attack, and had left only +one of their number, a young man, to protect the women and children. +Suddenly a party of Tories and Indians made its appearance, and +surrounded the fort, which was nothing more than a stockade. The +yelling of the savages threw all the women and children into the utmost +confusion,--all except Aunt Nancy. That wonderful woman, who never knew +what fear was, only became more energetic in the face of danger. There +was a small cannon in the fort, but it was not in position to reach +the enemy with its fire. After trying her best to lift the cannon into +position, Aunt Nancy remembered the young man who had been left in +the fort, and looked about for him; but he was not to be seen. A close +search discovered him hiding under a cowhide. Aunt Nancy pulled him +out by the heels, and vowed she would make mince-meat of him unless he +helped her to move the cannon. The fellow knew perfectly well that Aunt +Nancy was not to be trifled with when her blood was up. He gave her the +necessary assistance. She aimed the cannon and fired it, and the Tories +and savages promptly took to their heels. + +On another occasion when the river was high, it became necessary for the +Americans on the Georgia side to know what was going on on the Carolina +side; but no one could be induced to venture across. Hearing of the +difficulty, Aunt Nancy promptly undertook to go. + +The freshet had swept away all the boats, but to Aunt Nancy this was +a trifling matter. She found a few logs, tied them together with +grapevines, and on this raft made the voyage across the river. She +gathered the necessary information, and made haste to communicate it to +the Georgia troops. + +Aunt Nancy was the mother of eight children,--six sons and two +daughters. Her eldest daughter, Sally, married a man named Thompson, +who was as quicktempered as his mother-in-law. After the war, Aunt Nancy +moved to Brunswick. Sally and her husband followed a year or two later. +In passing through Burke County, they camped for the night by the +roadside. The next morning Thompson ordered a white man, who had been +hired as a teamster, to perform some duty. Thompson's tone was so +peremptory that the man returned an insolent answer, and refused. In a +fit of rage, Thompson drew his sword, and severed the man's head from +his body with one swinging stroke. He then drove the team himself until +he came to the first house, where he gave information that he had cut +off a fellow's head at the camp down the road, and that they "had best +go and bury him." He then drove on, but was overtaken, arrested, +and lodged in jail at Waynesboro. As soon as Aunt Nancy heard of the +trouble, she made her appearance in the upcountry again. Within a few +days after her return, the jail was found open one morning, and +Thompson was gone. Speaking of this afterwards, Aunt Nancy was heard to +exclaim,-- + +"Drat 'em! that's the way with 'em all. When they get into trouble, they +always send for me!" + +Not long after this episode, Mr. Benjamin Hart died. Aunt Nancy mourned +his loss for a while, and then married a young man. Then, as the saying +is, she "pulled up stakes," and moved to what is now the State of +Alabama, on the Tombigbee. There she had the French and the Spaniards +for neighbors, and she felt at home with neither race. She was bluntly, +emphatically, and unaffectedly American. To add to her troubles, a big +rain flooded the river, destroyed her crops, and surrounded her house. +This, with the French and Spaniards, was too much for her. She returned +to Georgia, but, finding her old home occupied by others, she settled in +Edgefield, S.C. + +A Methodist society was formed in her neighborhood, and its influence +became so active that Aunt Nancy's conscience began to trouble her. She +listened to the preaching of the Word from a distance until she became +worried about her future state. She went to the meetinghouse, but found +the door closed against intruders. The deacon and members were holding +a class meeting. The closed door was no obstacle to Aunt Nancy. She cut +the fastening and walked in without ceremony. Once in, she found what +she wanted. She became an enthusiastic Methodist, and is said to have +fought Satan and sin as manfully as she fought the Tories and the +British. + +When Governor George R. Gilmer of Georgia was in Congress, in 1828-29, +the members were very anxious to attract the notice of General Jackson, +who had been elected President. A proposal was made to fill the vacant +niches in the rotunda with paintings descriptive of the battle of New +Orleans and the general's other victories. Governor Gilmer offered as an +amendment a resolution to fill one of the niches with a painting of Aunt +Nancy Hart wading Broad River, her petticoats held up with one hand, +a musket in the other, and driving three Tories before her, to deliver +them up to Colonel Elijah Clarke. + +Governor Gilmer's proposition was a more sensible one than he intended +it to be. Georgia has perpetuated Aunt Nancy's name by calling a county +after her; but the Republic owes something to her memory. + + + + +TWO SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. + +The pen of the historian is not always as impartial as it should be. It +has its spites and prejudices; and it frequently happens that the men +who wield the pen with which history is written, have their whims, +their likes, and their dislikes. It is certain that two of the hardest +fighters in the War for Independence--two of the most distinguished +officers that Georgia gave to the cause--have had tardy justice done +to their valor. The names of these men are General James Jackson and +General Elijah Clarke. The independence and the individuality of these +men stand clearly out in all the records that we have of them, and it +is no doubt true that these qualities made them to some degree unpopular +with those who inspired the early chroniclers of the Revolution in the +South. Neither of these officers was capable of currying favor with his +superiors, or of doing injustice to the humblest of his comrades. They +were not seekers after the bubble reputation, but had their minds and +all their energies bent on liberating Georgia and her sister Colonies. + +General James Jackson was born in the county of Devon, England. He +came to this country in 1772, landing at Savannah penniless and almost +friendless. He began the study of law; but when the Liberty Boys began +their movement for resisting British oppression, he placed his books +on their shelves, and gave himself entirely to the cause of the people. +When only nineteen years old, he was one of the volunteers that fired +the British armed vessels sent to attack Savannah by water, while Major +Maitland and Major Grant attacked it by land. The crews of these vessels +were compelled to escape without their clothes and arms. General Jackson +served in the lower part of Georgia until the fall of Savannah in 1778, +when he and his friend John Milledge made their way to the patriot +troops, commanded by General Moultrie. Such was the condition of these +men, both of whom afterwards became governors of Georgia, that they +were compelled to make the greater part of their journey barefoot and in +rags. Their appearance was so much against them that they were arrested +as spies by some American soldiers, and would have been hanged but for +the timely arrival of a gentleman who knew them. + +General Jackson was at the siege of Savannah, and, after the disastrous +result of that affair, returned to South Carolina. The victory of the +Americans at Blackstock's House, in South Carolina, was almost wholly +due to the Georgians who were there. Sumter commanded at the beginning +of the action, but a severe wound compelled him to retire from the +field. The command then devolved upon the oldest Georgia officer, +General John Twiggs, who was assisted by Jackson, Clarke, and Chandler. +In this engagement Tarleton, the famous leader of the British dragoons, +was defeated for the first time, and he was never able to recover the +prestige he had lost. Tarleton fled from the field, and Jackson was +ordered to pursue him. It was owing only to the fleetness of his horse +that Tarleton escaped. + +[Illustration: General James Jackson 093] + +At the battle of The Cow-pens, Jackson again distinguished himself. +"Major Jackson," says General Andrew Pickens, "by his example, and firm, +active conduct, did much to animate the soldiers and insure the success +of the day. He ran the utmost risk of his life in seizing the colors of +the 71st British Regiment, and afterwards introducing Major Mc-Arthur, +commanding officer of the British Infantry, as a prisoner of war to +General Morgan." His services brought him to the attention of General +Greene, and he was sent on a tour of difficult duty through North +Carolina. He was so successful in this, that the commanding general +authorized him to raise a partisan legion of infantry and cavalry for +service in Georgia. By means of his native eloquence, which was said +to be almost irresistible, he succeeded in raising the legion in a very +short time. Wherever he addressed the people, there were loud cries of +"Liberty and Jackson forever!" When his legion had been organized, he +was appointed lieutenant colonel. His dragoons were clothed and armed by +themselves, with the exception of their pistols. Their coats were made +of dressed deerskins, and faced with the little blue that could be +procured. + +Just before the siege of Augusta, Jackson was called upon to employ +his eloquence in preventing the militia from giving up in despair +and returning to their homes. These men were utterly worn out. Being +ignorant men, they could see no ray of hope. They lacked every necessary +of life. Jackson roused their drooping spirits, restored their hopes, +and revived their old-time enthusiasm. At the siege of Augusta these men +fought fiercely. Jackson himself led one of the advance parties. After +the surrender of the town, he was ordered to level the fortifications, +and he was appointed commandant. He was afterwards ordered to take +position midway between Augusta and Savannah. While he held this +position, a conspiracy was formed in the infantry to kill him in +his bed. A soldier named Davis, who waited in the commander's tent, +suspected that something was wrong. So he mingled among the men, and +applied many harsh epithets to Jackson. Thinking to make Davis useful to +them, the conspirators told him their plans, which he made haste to lay +before his superior officer. Shortly afterwards the infantry were drawn +up in line, and the ringleaders in the conspiracy arrested, tried, and +executed. + +After the war the Legislature gave Davis a horse, saddle, and bridle, +and five hundred acres of land, as a reward for his fidelity. + +Jackson was with General Wayne in his Georgia campaign, and was +intrusted by him with many hazardous duties. When Savannah surrendered, +General Wayne issued an order in which he said, "Lieutenant Colonel +Jackson, in consideration of his severe and fatiguing service in the +advance, is to receive the key of Savannah, and is allowed to enter the +western gate." + +In 1786, Jackson was made brigadier general, and had command of the +forces operating against the Indians. Between 1788 and 1806 General +Jackson held almost every high office within the gift of the people of +the State,--member of the Legislature, governor when only thirty-one +years old, member of the first Congress held under the Federal +Constitution, member of the State Constitutional Convention, +presidential elector, and United States senator. + +With General Jackson in many of his engagements was General Elijah +Clarke, who in many respects was the most remarkable soldier +that Georgia contributed to the War for Independence. With fairer +opportunities than he had, he would have made a great commander. He had +small knowledge of tactics, but he had what is better,--the skill to +take advantage of quickly passing events, and the coolness that made him +complete master of all his resources. He was a man of the most striking +characteristics, and he came out of the war with many bitter enemies +among those with whom he came in contact. This feeling was perpetuated +by the political campaigns in which his son, John Clarke, took part +after the war. A trace of this is to be seen in the sketch which +Governor Gilmer gives to Elijah Clarke in his curious book entitled +"Georgians." It is undoubtedly true that Elijah Clarke was ignorant of +what is called book knowledge, but he was not much worse off in this +respect than the famous Confederate General Forrest, who is thought by +some high military critics to have been the most remarkable commander +on the Southern side in the civil war. Elijah Clarke, as well as General +Forrest, had something that served them a better turn than a mere +knowledge of books. They had a thorough knowledge of men, and a quick +eye for the situations that follow each other so rapidly in a skirmish +or battle. + +[Illustration: Elijah Clarke 097] + +Elijah Clarke was born in North Carolina, but moved to Georgia in 1774. +He was among the first of the inhabitants of Upper Georgia to take +up the cause of American independence; and his example, for he was a +notable man even in private life, did much to solidify and strengthen +those who leaned to that cause. When the British troops marched from the +coast into Upper Georgia, Elijah thought the time had come to take +his gun from the rack over the door, and make at least some show of +resistance. His courage, and the firmness and decision of his character, +made him the natural leader of those of his neighbors whose sympathies +were with the Liberty Boys in other parts of the State, and he soon +found himself a commander without commission or title. He cared less +for these things than for the principles of liberty for which he was +fighting. + +For a while Elijah Clarke and his followers fought as partisan rangers, +but he soon drew around him a compact and disciplined body of men who +were ready to go wherever he might lead them. He did not confine his +efforts to his new neighborhood We hear of him with Howe's ill-fated +expedition against East Florida, where, at Alligator Creek, he was asked +to perform the impossible feat of storming with a troop of horse a camp +intrenched behind logs and brushwood. He was no doubt amazed at the +stupidity of General Howe in issuing such an order, but he attempted to +carry it out with his usual courage. He did succeed in floundering over +the logs with his troops, but he came to a ditch that was too wide for +his horses to leap, and too deep to be ridden through. At this moment he +and his men were saluted with a heavy fire from the enemy, and they were +compelled to retire in confusion. In this attempt Elijah Clarke was shot +through the thigh. Later he was in South Carolina, at Blackstocks, and +at The Cowpens. + +In some quarters an effort has been made to blacken the reputation of +General Clarke by comparing his treatment of the Tories with the mild +and humane policy pursued by Francis Marion. There was, indeed, some +misunderstanding between the two men in regard to the methods that might +be adopted. The policy of Marion was undoubtedly the correct one, so far +as South Carolina was concerned; but if the Tories in that Province had +been guilty of the crimes committed by their brethren in Wilkes and the +surrounding region, General Marion's policy would not have been very +different from that of General Clarke. The Tories with whom Clarke was +familiar were guilty of murder, rapine, pillage, and incendiarism. The +Tories in South Carolina were kept under by the presence of Marion and +his men. Clarke went wherever his services were needed; and during his +absence, the Tories of the Broad River region were free to commit +every excess. Marion refused to leave the region where he made his name +famous, and thus kept the Tories in constant fear and dread. + +Who shall say that Marion would not have been as ready to exterminate +the Tories as Clarke was, or that Clarke would not have been as humane +as Marion, if each of these distinguished patriots had been in the +other's place? + +At the battle of Kettle Creek, in what is now Wilkes County, Elijah +Clarke distinguished himself by his readiness and skill as a commander. +The Americans under Colonel Pickens were in pursuit of the British under +Colonel Boyd. Their line of march was the order of battle, and following +the vanguard came the right and left wings. The left wing was commanded +by Elijah Clarke. The center was led by Colonel Pickens, who was in +command of the expedition. Colonel Boyd, the British commander, appeared +to be unconscious of pursuit. He had halted on a farm on the north side +of Kettle Creek. His horses were left to forage on the young cane that +grew on the edge of the swamp; and his men were slaying cattle and +parching corn, preparing for a feast after their short rations. The +British encampment was formed near the creek, on a piece of open ground +flanked on two sides by a canebrake. Colonel Boyd was in utter ignorance +of the approach of the Americans, who advanced at once to the attack. +The British colonel formed his line in the rear of his encampment, and +there received the assault. The battle was hotly contested for more than +an hour, and then the Tories retreated through the swamp. + +Elijah Clarke, seeing a piece of rising ground on the farther side +of the creek, on which he suspected the Loyalists would try to form, +ordered the left wing to follow him, and was about to cross the stream +when his horse was shot under him. Mounting another, he soon crossed +the creek, followed by not more than a fourth of his division. There had +been some mistake in sending the order along the line. Clarke gained the +hill that had attracted his eye just in time to attack Major Spurgen, a +brave British officer, who was forming his command. The firing attracted +the notice of the rest of Clarke's division, and they soon joined their +leader. Pickens and Dooly also pressed through the swamp, and the battle +was renewed with great vigor. For a while the result was in doubt, +but at the end the Americans held the hill. The Tories fled in all +directions, leaving seventy dead on the field, and seventy-five wounded +and captured. Of the Americans, nine were slain, and twenty-three +wounded. To Elijah Clarke must be given the credit for this victory, +which, coming at the time it did, revived the hopes and courage of the +Liberty Boys in all parts of the country. + +The Tories, on the other hand, were so depressed by it, that many +of them left that part of the State, and those who remained became +comparatively quiet. The situation was so encouraging, that many of the +people of Georgia, who had been driven from their homes by the cruelty +of the Tories, returned with their families. They were not long left in +peace, however. The British and the Tories had their active agents among +the Creeks and Cherokees, urging these tribes to take up arms and attack +the Americans. In view of this, Clarke was sent to guard the frontier +forts. Then the Tories again began to pillage and devastate the Broad +River region. Some of the crimes they committed would have disgraced +savages. Clarke's house was burned, and his family ordered to leave +the State. Mrs. Clarke and her two daughters started on their perilous +journey with nothing but a small pony of little value, and even this was +taken from them before they had gone very far. This only served to renew +the activity of Clarke in behalf of the American cause. He defeated +the Tories wherever he met them; and if he gave them no quarter, it was +because they had shown no mercy to the Americans. The savage character +of the warfare waged by the Tories against men, women, and children, +must ever stand as an explanation and as an excuse for the fierce spirit +displayed by Clarke and the Americans who lived in the Broad River +region. + +In the battle near Musgrove's Mill, Clarke defeated the British, killing +sixty-three men, and wounding and capturing one hundred. During the +battle he was twice severely wounded on the head and neck; and once he +was surrounded by the enemy, captured, and placed in charge of two men. +One of these he knocked down with a blow of his fist, and the other +fled. At one time, acting without orders, he was near taking Augusta, +and was only prevented by the desire of his men to see their families. +After this he returned to Wilkes County, where he was compelled to take +under his protection nearly four hundred women and children who had been +driven from their homes by the savage Tories. He resolved to carry +these to a place of safety, and, with a sufficient guard, set out for +Kentucky. Cornwallis, hearing of this movement, and taking for granted +that it was a retreat, sent one hundred men under Captain Ferguson to +cut Clarke off, the supposition being that the great partisan fighter +would march through South Carolina, but he had re-crossed the mountains +in the Piedmont region. Hearing of this movement, Clarke detached +Major Chandler and Captain Johnston with thirty men to take part in +the operations against Ferguson. Thus it was the pursuit of Clarke that +brought on the memorable battle of Kings Mountain, which resulted in +a great victory for the cause of American independence; and although +Clarke was not there in person, his heroic spirit animated the brave men +who won the day. + +He was the first to teach the militia to stand against the bayonets of +the British; and at Blackstocks, in South Carolina, at the head of his +Wilkes riflemen, he charged and drove the British light infantry in an +open field,--a movement that turned the enemy's right flank, and insured +the victory of the Americans. At the siege of Augusta, Clarke had +anticipated the movement of Colonel "Light Horse Harry" Lee, and had +confined the British garrison to their works for weeks before Colonel +Lee's arrival. + +At the close of the Revolution, Clarke led the movement against the +Indians. He defeated the Creeks in the battle of Jacks Creek. After +peace was declared, Clarke, who had been made a general by a grateful +State, settled on lands that had been reserved to the Indians. For this +he has been criticised very severely; but it is curious that the policy +for which he was attacked, shortly afterwards became the policy of the +whole people. The States and the United States have made treaties +with the Indians, only to break them. Having personal knowledge of the +Indians, and having been made the victim of some of their raids, he had +no respect for them or for their rights. To this view the whole country +afterwards came, and the red men disappeared before it. + +It will be well to bear in mind, that, whatever failings he may have +had, there was not a more heroic figure in the Revolution than General +Elijah Clarke. + + + + +A WAR OF EXTERMINATION. + +[Illustration: A War of Extermination 104] + +Some of the barbarous features of the Revolutionary War in Georgia have +been briefly noted. + +History has turned her eyes away from the more horrible details; but +by reading between the lines, and taking advantage of the hints and +suggestions, it is not hard to get a tolerably fair idea of the methods +that were pursued on both sides. Even Colonel Charles C. Jones, jun., +whose "History of Georgia" is thus far the most complete that has been +written, touches lightly on the cruelties practiced in the efforts of +the British and Tories to wrest Upper Georgia from the control of the +Americans. There are matters that History cannot deal with and maintain +her dignity. + +There can be no doubt that the British and the Tories began their +cruelties without considering the results to which their acts would +lead. It is an easy matter at this late day to see how naturally the +war, in the region tributary to Augusta, degenerated into a series of +crimes and barbarities foul enough to cause History to hold her hands +before her eyes. When Colonel Campbell, assisted by Colonel Brown, +advanced to attack Augusta, it was the only American post that had +not surrendered to the King's men, and its capture would complete the +subjugation of Georgia from a military point of view. The city fell +without a struggle, and the American forces retreated across the river. +It was natural that the British, and the Tories who were acting with +them, should take advantage of this victory to bring the whole region +above and around Augusta to terms. The sooner this was done, the sooner +would all Georgia be restored to her relations with his Majesty George +III. No time was to be lost. Therefore Colonel Campbell, the British +commander, tarried in Augusta but a few days. He left Colonel Brown +in charge, and marched in the direction of Wilkes County. Those of the +inhabitants who had Tory sympathies were to be encouraged; but those who +were disaffected were to be dealt with summarily, so as to put an end, +at once and forever, to the disloyalty that had been active in that +region. This plan was carried out promptly and violently. The severest +punishment was the portion of those who refused to take the oath of +allegiance. Plunder and the torch were the portions of those who chanced +to be away from home, fighting for their country. Their helpless +wives and children were left homeless, and destitute of provisions. +Fortunately a great many stanch Liberty Boys had carried their families, +their household effects, and their cattle, into South Carolina as soon +as they heard of the fall of Augusta; but many had remained at home, and +the sufferings of these were severe. + +Another explanation of the extreme cruelty with which the war in Upper +Georgia was waged after the fall of Augusta, was the fact that Colonel +Brown, who had been left in command by Colonel Campbell, had some old +scores to settle. At the very beginning of the struggle he had been +arrested in Augusta by some of the Liberty Boys, tarred and feathered, +and paraded through the public streets, on account of his outspoken +loyalty to the King. Still another reason was the fact that Daniel +McGirth, who had been maltreated by an American officer, was among the +officers who had accompanied Colonel Brown. McGirth held every American +responsible for the treatment he had received, and he spared few that +fell into his hands. Thus, between the anxiety of the British to conquer +Georgia completely, and the desires of Brown and McGirth to revenge +themselves, the Americans in Upper Georgia were made the victims of the +most inhuman barbarities. + +The Americans under Elijah Clarke lost no time in retaliating, and +thus was begun a contest that may be aptly described as a war of +extermination. Clarke was enabled to defeat the British and the Tories +wherever they opposed him on anything like equal terms, and this fact +added to the rigor with which they treated the Americans who were so +unfortunate as to fall into their hands. Shortly after the affair at +Musgrove's Mill, in which Clarke defeated the British and the Tories, +Lord Cornwallis addressed a circular letter to the officers commanding +the advanced posts. He declared, "The inhabitants of the Provinces who +have subscribed to and taken part in this revolt shall be punished +with the utmost rigor; and also those who will not turn out shall be +imprisoned, and their whole property taken from them or destroyed. I +have ordered," he goes on to say, "in the most positive manner, that +every militiaman who has borne arms with us, and afterwards joined the +enemy, shall be immediately hanged. I desire you will take the most +vigorous measures to punish the rebels in the district in which you +command, and that you obey in the strictest manner the directions I have +given in this letter relative to the inhabitants in this country." + +Here was authority broad enough to cover every crime that the British +and the Tories might see fit to commit, and they stretched it to the +utmost limit. They burned houses and destroyed property. They insulted +and inhumanly treated women and children. They hanged the innocent. They +went about the country practicing every barbarity that their savage and +bloodthirsty natures could suggest. It was no wonder that the Americans +retaliated whenever they had the opportunity. It was no wonder that +Elijah Clarke, naturally independent and irritable, should fail to see +the justice or necessity of treating the Tories he captured as prisoners +of war. + +The situation of the Americans became so serious that Clarke determined +to strike a heavy blow. He returned from Carolina to Wilkes County in +September, 1780, and in two days succeeded in placing in the field +three hundred and fifty men. With this force, strengthened by eighty men +recruited in Carolina, he boldly marched on Augusta. The movement was so +unexpected, that, but for the fact that the advance guard fell in with +an Indian camp which it was compelled to attack, Colonel Brown would +have been taken completely by surprise. But the retreating Indians gave +him notice, and he took refuge with his command in a strong building +known as the White House. The siege began on the 14th. By daylight on +the 16th Clarke had succeeded in cutting the garrison off from its water +supply. The sufferings of the men, especially the wounded, became most +intense. The Americans could hear their cries for water and for medical +aid. Brown appears to have been as brave as he was cruel. Though he was +shot through both thighs, he remained at the head of his men; and his +great courage sustained the spirits of his followers. Clarke summoned +him to surrender on the 17th. He not only refused, but warned the +American commander that the demonstration he was making against the +King's men would bring destruction to the western part of Georgia. + +Meanwhile some of Clarke's men had gone to visit their families, and +others were more interested in securing plunder than in forwarding +the cause of independence. Colonel Brown, as soon as he heard of the +approach of the Americans, had sent several messengers by different +routes to inform Colonel Cruger of the state of affairs. Cruger, who was +in Carolina at Ninety-six, promptly set his men in motion, and on the +morning of the 18th appeared on the bank of the Savannah, opposite +Augusta. Under the circumstances, Clarke was compelled to retreat. He +had suffered a loss of sixty, killed and wounded. In retreating, he was +compelled to leave twenty-nine of his wounded men behind. Among these +was Captain Ashby, one of the bravest and most humane of the officers +of the American army. This unfortunate officer and the men with him fell +into the hands of the enemy. Colonel Brown was so severely wounded that +he was unable to move about; so he ordered Captain Ashby and twelve of +the wounded prisoners to be hanged on the staircase of the White House, +where he might see their sufferings and gloat over their agonies. These +men were cruelly strangled before Brown's eyes. But their fate was a +happy one compared with that of their wounded companions. Those men were +turned over to the red savages, who were the allies of the British. The +Indians received the prisoners with howls of delight, and began at once +to torture them in every conceivable way. They formed a circle, and +marched around the Americans, cutting and slashing them with their +knives. The end of the unfortunates was most horrible. They were ripped +with knives, scalped, and then burned. No doubt, Colonel Brown enjoyed +this scene more thoroughly than he did the tame and commonplace +spectacle of strangling Captain Ashby and his companions. + +Before raising the siege, Elijah Clarke paroled the officers and men +whom he had captured,--fifty-six men, all told. This fact is mentioned +to show that the Georgia militia had not then begun those acts of +retaliation which have attracted the notice of historians. They had +had, as we know, abundant provocation; but after the horrible crimes +perpetrated by Brown reached their ears, they threw off all restraint. +Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and the men who acted +with Elijah Clarke thought that the best way to preserve the lives of +themselves and their families was to destroy the Tories as fast as they +caught them. The fact is chronicled by Colonel Jones, and it is worth +noting, that the officers and men paroled by Clarke, in utter disregard +of their obligations, took up their arms as soon as the Americans +had departed. The probability is that they were driven to this by the +commands of Brown. + +It is well known, that, as soon as Clarke and his men had retreated, +Colonel Brown sent detachments of troops in all directions, with orders +to arrest all persons who had taken part in the siege, or who had +sympathized with the efforts of the Americans to recapture Augusta. +Under this sweeping order, men of all ages and conditions were dragged +from their homes and thrown into prison. Those who were suspected of +taking part in the siege, or of belonging to Clarke's command, were +seized and hanged out of hand. Old men, no longer able to bear arms, +were imprisoned for welcoming the return of members of their families +who had fought on the American side. One instance out of many that +might be cited was the arrest of the father of Captains Samuel and +James Alexander. In the seventy-eighth year of his age, this old man +was arrested at his home, tied to the tail of a cart, and dragged forty +miles in two days. When caught leaning against the cart to rest his +feeble limbs, he was whipped by the driver. It was at this time that +in the region round about Augusta the hopes of the patriots grew very +faint. The women and children assembled, and begged Elijah Clarke to +take them out of the country; and in response to the appeals of these +defenseless ones, he undertook the movement that culminated in the +glorious victory of Kings Mountain. + +[Illustration: Old man whipped at the tail of a cart 111] + +The winter of 1780 was the darkest hour of the Revolution in Upper +Georgia. There was no trade. Farming was at a low ebb. The schoolhouses +were closed. Many of the patriots had carried off their families. +Many had gone with Elijah Clarke to Kentucky. The patriots had betaken +themselves to South Carolina, though the services they rendered there +have been slurred over by the historians of that State. + +When General Greene began his Southern campaign, and gradually rid South +Carolina of the British and the Tory element, the patriots of Upper +Georgia ventured to return to their homes. Captain McCall, who was among +them, says, in his history, that they returned in parties of ten and +twelve, so as to attract as little attention as possible. They appointed +Dennis's Mill, on Little River, as a place of meeting. "When these small +parties entered the settlements where they had formerly lived," says +Captain McCall, "general devastation was presented to view; their aged +fathers and their youthful brothers had been murdered; their decrepit +grandfathers were incarcerated in prisons where most of them had been +suffered to perish in filth, famine, or disease; and their mothers, +wives, sisters, and young children had been robbed, insulted, and +abused, and were found by them in temporary huts more resembling a +savage camp than a civilized habitation." Though Captain McCall was +an eyewitness of some of the scenes he describes, the picture he draws +might seem to be too highly colored were it not supplemented by a great +mass of evidence. One more instance out of many may be given. In a +skirmish with the Americans under Colonel Harden, Brown captured several +prisoners. Among them was a youth only seventeen years old named Rannal +McKay, the son of a widow who was a refugee from Darien. Being told that +her son was a prisoner in the hands of Brown, Widow McKay, providing +herself with some refreshments that she thought might suit the taste of +the British commander, went to Brown's headquarters, and begged that +her son might be set free. The cruel wretch accepted the present she +had brought him, but refused even to let her see her son, and caused the +sentinels to put her out of the camp by force. Next day young McKay and +four other prisoners were taken out of the rail pen in which they had +been confined. By Brown's order they were hanged upon a gallows until +they were nearly strangled. They were then cut down and turned over to +the tender mercies of the Indians, by whom they were mutilated, scalped, +and finally murdered in the most savage manner. + +The cruelty of Colonel Brown and the Tories acting under him was so +unbearable that the patriots of that region felt that their existence +depended on the capture of Augusta. They decided on an aggressive +movement when they met again at Dennis's Mill, on Little River. + +Colonel Clarke, who was suffering from the results of smallpox, was +too feeble to lead them. His place was taken for the time by Lieutenant +Colonel Micajah Williamson; and on the 16th of April, 1781, the +Americans moved to the vicinity of Augusta. They were there reënforced +by a detachment from southern Georgia under Colonel Baker, and by a +number of recruits from Burke County. A few days afterwards they were +joined by some Carolina militiamen under Colonel Hammond and Major +Jackson. + +With this force, Colonel Williamson took up a position twelve hundred +yards from the British works, and fortified his camp. The Americans were +compelled to wait nearly a month for the aid they expected from General +Greene. The militia, worn out with waiting for the reënforcements, were +about to withdraw from the camp in despair, when Jackson, that truly +great Georgian, made them an address full of the most passionate and +patriotic eloquence, and this appeal changed their purpose. Jackson's +voice was afterwards heard in the halls of Congress; but we may be sure +that he was never more in earnest or more truly eloquent than when he +pleaded with the faint-hearted Americans to stand to their cause and +their arms. Jackson's address revived their courage; and when, on +the 15th of May, Elijah Clarke rode into camp, restored to health +and accompanied by one hundred fresh recruits, the confidence of the +militiamen was fully renewed. + +It was at this time that General Pickens and "Light Horse Harry" Lee +(the father of General Robert E. Lee) were ordered by General Greene to +march on Augusta and capture that post When Lee reached the neighborhood +of Augusta, he learned, from a party of light horse which he had sent on +ahead to collect prisoners and gain information, that the annual royal +present intended for the Indians had arrived at Fort Galphin, some +distance below Augusta. The present comprised blankets, liquor, salt, +small arms, powder, and ball. There was a great lack of these articles +in the American camp, and Lee resolved to capture them. The supplies +were so valuable, that Brown, the British commander, had sent two +companies from Augusta to garrison Fort Galphin. This was the situation +when "Light Horse Harry" arrived on the ground. The British in Augusta +had not yet discovered his approach, and promptness was necessary. +Leaving Eaton's battalion, the artillery, and the footsore men of the +legion, to follow more slowly, Lee mounted a detachment of infantry +behind his dragoons, and made a forced march to Fort Galphin. + +This point he reached on the 21st of May, 1781. The weather was +extremely hot, and for miles the troopers and their horses had been +unable to find a drop of water: consequently neither the men nor the +animals were in a condition to make the attack when the command was +brought to a halt under the pines that skirted the field surrounding +the fort. The British within the fort were resting quietly, and were +not aware that an enemy was at hand. A prompt and decisive movement was +necessary; and when his men and horses had rested a little while, Lee +dismounted the militiamen he had brought with him, and ordered them to +make a demonstration against the fort on the side opposite the position +he had taken. This famous commander reasoned, that, as soon as the +militiamen appeared before the fort, the garrison would sally from the +stockade. The militia would retreat, the garrison pursuing, and he would +seize upon that moment to assault and capture the post left defenseless. +To carry out this plan, Captain Rudolph (who was supposed to be some +great general in disguise), with a detachment of picked infantry, was +held in readiness to rush upon the fort; while the rest of the troops, +supported by the dragoons, were placed where they could shield the +militia from the pursuit of the British. + +The affair took place just as Lee had foreseen. The garrison sallied out +to the attack. The militia, before making a show of resistance, began +a retreat. The garrison gave pursuit. Captain Rudolph dashed across the +field, and captured the fort without any trouble, The end came, when the +militia rallied, and the foot soldiers and dragoons closed around the +soldiers of the garrison. During the engagement the Americans lost one +man from sunstroke. The enemy lost only three or four men. The rest, +together with the valuable stores in the stockade, fell into the hands +of the patriots. + +Following this successful affair, which was of more importance than it +seems now to be, Lee formed a junction with General Pickens; and these +two then joined their forces with those of Clarke, who commanded the +Georgia militia, and the siege of Augusta began. The first movement +was the capture of Fort Grierson, so called in honor of the man who +commanded its garrison. Grierson, hard pressed, threw open the gates of +the fort, and endeavored to escape. Thirty of his men were killed, and +forty-five wounded and captured. Grierson was made a prisoner, but was +killed by a Georgia rifleman. He was as cruel and vindictive as Brown +himself. He was a monster who had made himself odious to the followers +of Clarke. In his history, Captain McCall strongly hints that Grierson +was shot by one of the sons of the aged Mr. Alexander, who had been made +prisoner and dragged to Augusta tied to the tail of a cart. A reward +was offered for information that would lead to the arrest of the man who +shot Grierson, but the reward was never claimed. The whole army probably +knew who had fired the fatal shot, and no doubt the commanders knew, +but their knowledge was not official. No further notice was taken of the +matter. + +The capture of Fort Grierson cheered the hearts of the besiegers, and +gave them renewed courage. Fort Cornwallis was next invested. This +stronghold was commanded by Colonel Brown himself, who was as bold as +he was cruel. He was mean enough to expose to the American fire the aged +Mr. Alexander and other unfortunate patriots who had long been held as +prisoners. Captain Samuel Alexander commanded one of the companies close +to the fort, and could see and recognize his venerable father, who had +been placed in an exposed position by Brown. + +It is not necessary to describe all the events of the siege. Brown held +out as long as he could, but was finally compelled to surrender. On the +5th of June, 1781, Brown, with three hundred men, marched out of Fort +Cornwallis, and that stronghold was immediately taken possession of by +Captain Rudolph. A strong guard was detailed by the American commanders, +to protect Brown from the just anger of the Georgia soldiers, under +Clarke, Williamson, and Jackson. To insure his safety, he was carried +to the quarters of "Light Horse Harry" Lee. The next day he and a few of +his officers were paroled and sent down the river in charge of a party +of infantry instructed to guard him. Ramsay, in his "History of the +Revolution of South Carolina," says that Brown was recognized at Silver +Bluff by Mrs. McKay, who thus addressed him: "Colonel Brown, in the late +day of your prosperity I visited your camp, and on my knees supplicated +for the life of my son; but you were deaf to my entreaties. You hanged +him, though a beardless youth, before my face. These eyes have seen him +scalped by the savages under your immediate command, and for no better +reason than that his name was McKay. As you are now prisoner to the +leaders of my country, for the present I lay aside all thoughts of +revenge; but when you resume your sword, I will go five hundred miles to +demand satisfaction at the point of it, for the murder of my son." The +probability is that Mrs. McKay used no such stately language. No doubt +she walked up to Brown, shook her finger in his face, and exclaimed, +"You miserable villain! I can't get at you now; but if the day ever +comes, I'll flay you alive for the murder of my poor boy." + +The fall of Augusta was received with rejoicings by the patriots +everywhere, and the British and the Tories were correspondingly +depressed. Men who had been overawed by the cruelty of the Tories, now +came out boldly for the cause of independence, and the forces of the +Americans were rapidly strengthened. Preparations were made for an +aggressive campaign in Georgia by the Liberty Boys; and in this purpose +they had the active aid and sympathy of General Greene, whose skill and +ability as a commander were not greater than the wisdom he displayed in +dealing with the people. + +In January, 1782, General Greene ordered General Anthony Wayne to take +charge of the campaign in Georgia. At the same time he wrote a letter +to Governor Martin that displays better than any document now extant +the sagacity and conservatism that were the basis of General Greene's +character and the source of his great success as a commander. "I cannot +help recommending to your Excellency," he wrote to the governor of +Georgia, "to open a door for the disaffected in your State to come +in, with particular exceptions. It is better to save than to destroy, +especially when we are obliged to expose good men to destroy bad. It +is always dangerous to push people to a state of desperation; and the +satisfaction of revenge has but a momentary existence, and is commonly +succeeded by pity and remorse. The practice of plundering, which, I am +told, has been too much indulged with you, is very destructive to the +morals and manners of the people. Habits and dispositions founded +on this practice soon grow obstinate, and are difficult to restrain; +indeed, it is the most direct way of undermining all government, and, +never fails to bring the laws into contempt, for people will not stop at +the barriers which were first intended to bound them after having tasted +the sweets of possessing property by the easy mode of plunder. The +preservation of morals and an encouragement to honest industry should be +the first objects of government. Plundering is the destruction of both. +I wish the cause of liberty may never be tarnished with inhumanity, nor +the morals of people bartered in exchange for wealth." This letter was +intended to put an end to the war of extermination that the Tories of +Upper Georgia had begun, and to prevent the patriots from carrying out +their plans of revenge. The letter did great good. It was turned over +to the Legislature by the governor, and thus made public; and its +sentiments were taken to heart by hundreds who had suffered the most +cruel wrongs at the hands of the Tories. General Greene's letter was +also made the basis of two proclamations, both issued by the governor +after conference with General Wayne. One opened the door to disaffected +Georgians who might desire to return to the ranks of the republicans, +and the other was addressed to the Hessian troops who had already +begun to sympathize with the Salzburghers at Ebenezer. Stevens, in his +"History of Georgia," says that many citizens who had been compelled +from various reasons to seek protection under the British Government, +and who had even joined the armies of the enemy, took advantage of the +proclamation which referred to them, returned to their State allegiance, +and joined the forces of General Wayne, where they proved their +sincerity by making the most zealous efforts to merit the pardon and +protection that had been promised them by the governor. + +After a brilliant campaign, lasting from January to July, 1782, General +Wayne, assisted by Elijah Clarke, James Jackson, and other bold spirits +who had never suffered the fires of liberty to go out in Georgia, +cleared the State of the British. Savannah was occupied on the 11th of +July, the keys having been surrendered to James Jackson. This was the +end of British rule in Georgia. + + + + +A NEGRO PATRIOT. + +[Illustration: A Negro Patriot 122] + +Along with the emigrants from North Carolina who first settled Wilkes +County, there came a man named Aycock. He brought with him a mulatto boy +named Austin. This boy passed as Aycock's slave; but when the conflict +between the Liberty Boys and the Tories in that part of the country +became desperate,--when the patriots were fighting for their lives as +well as for the liberties of their country,--Aycock's neighbors called +on him to do his part. According to all accounts, Aycock was not much +of a warrior. His sympathies were with his liberty-loving neighbors; +but his enthusiasm did not invite him to expose himself to the fire of +musketry. It is said that he joined the neighbors, and strove to be a +faithful militiaman, but he was in a state of constant fear. Governor +Gilmer says of Aycock, that, from the time he was required to fight, he +saw a terrible Tory constantly pointing a loaded gun at him. His alarm +finally became so extreme that he offered as his substitute the mulatto +boy Austin, who had then grown to be a stout and serviceable lad. + +Objection was made that Austin was a slave, and could not therefore be +received as a soldier. At this, Aycock acknowledged that Austin was no +slave; that, although he was a mulatto, he had been born free. This fact +was made so clear to the patriots, that they willingly received Austin +as a soldier, and he was mustered into the service under the name of +Austin Dabney. He fought under Elijah Clarke, being under the command of +Colonel John Dooly, who was afterwards so foully murdered by the Tories. +Of all the brave men that fought under the heroic Clarke, there was none +braver than Austin Dabney, none that did better service. + +He was in the battle of Kettle Creek, and was foremost among those who +followed Clarke. Toward the close of this the bloodiest battle fought in +Georgia between the patriots and Tories, Austin Dabney was shot through +the thigh, and so dangerously wounded that he became a cripple for life. +He was taken by his comrades to the house of a Mr. Harris, where he was +carefully nursed until his wound healed. He was not able to do military +duty after that, but he devoted himself to Harris and his family more +faithfully than any slave could have done. It may be said of him that +gratitude became the ruling passion of his heart. + +After the Americans had won their independence, and peace with it, +Austin Dabney became prosperous. Being a quick-witted man, with an +instinct for business, he accumulated property. He finally moved to +Madison County, taking with him his benefactor and family, to whose +wants and desires he continued to minister with as much devotion as he +displayed at the beginning of his service. It was in Madison County +that Austin Dabney became noted for his fondness for horse-racing. He +attended all the races in the neighboring counties. He was the owner of +some of the finest race horses to be found in the country; and such was +his popularity, that he always found prominent men to stand for him. + +Shortly after he removed to Madison County, he received a pension from +the United States Government. He sent Harris's oldest son to school, +and afterwards to college. When the young man graduated from Franklin +College, now the State University, Austin Dabney supported him while +he studied law with Hon. Stephen Upson at Lexington, Oglethorpe County. +When young Harris was undergoing his examination for admission to the +bar, Austin Dabney stood leaning against the railing that inclosed the +court, listening to the proceedings with great anxiety. When the young +man was sworn in, and was shaking hands with the members of the bar, +Austin, unable to control himself, burst into a flood of tears, happy +that he had been able to make a gentleman of the son of the man who had +nursed him so long and patiently while his wound was healing. + +When the public lands in Georgia were distributed among the people by +lottery, the Legislature gave to Austin Dabney a lot of land in Walton +County. The next year the voters of Madison County were in a condition +bordering on distraction, being divided into Dabney and anti-Dabney +parties. Austin had not been permitted to have a chance in the lottery +with other soldiers of the Revolution. Consequently Stephen Upson, one +of Georgia's most prominent men at that time, employed his influence +with such effect that a law was passed giving Dabney a valuable lot. +One of the members of the Legislature from Madison County voted for +this law. At the next election the constituents of this member divided +themselves into two parties, one faction indorsing the vote, and the +other denouncing it. Those who denounced the vote did it on the ground +that it was an indignity to white men for a mulatto to be put on an +equality with them in the distribution of the public land, though, as +Governor Gilmer bluntly puts it, not one of them had served his country +so long or so well. Governor Gilmer, from whose writings all facts about +Austin Dabney are taken, tells a very interesting anecdote about him. In +order to collect the pension which the United States Government allowed +on account of his broken thigh, Austin went once a year to Savannah. +Once when he was on his way to draw what was due him, he fell in with +Colonel Wiley Pope, his neighbor, who was also journeying to Savannah. +They were very intimate and social on the road, and until they found +themselves in the streets of Savannah. When they reached the fashionable +part of the city, Colonel Pope observed to his companion that he was +a sensible man, and knew the prejudices that prevented them from +associating together in the city. Austin Dabney replied that he +understood it very well, and with that he checked his horse and fell in +the rear of Colonel Pope after the fashion of a servant following +his master. Their way led them in front of the house of General James +Jackson, who was at that time governor of the State. The governor was +standing in his door at the time. Colonel Pope passed on unrecognized, +but, chancing to glance around, he saw Governor Jackson run from the +house into the street to greet Austin Dabney. The governor seized the +negro's hand, shook it heartily, drew him from his horse, and carried +him into the house, where he remained a welcome guest during his stay in +the city. Colonel Pope (so Governor Gilmer says) used to tell this story +with great glee, but owned that he felt put out when he realized, that, +whilst he was a stranger at a tavern, Austin Dabney was the honored +guest of the governor of the State. The explanation was, that Governor +Jackson had seen Dabney's courage and patriotism tested on the field +of battle, and he knew that beneath the tawny skin of the mulatto there +beat the heart of a true man. + +Austin Dabney was always popular with those who knew of his services in +the Revolutionary War. Governor Gilmer says that he was one of the +best Chroniclers of the stirring events of that period. His memory was +retentive, his understanding good, and he had a gift of description +possessed by few. He moved to the land the State had given him, taking +with him the family of the man who had nursed him. He continued to serve +them while he lived, faithful to the end, and when he died left them the +property he had accumulated. + + + + +THE YAZOO FRAUD + +Some writers on the early history of Georgia have been under the +impression that the speculation known as the Yazoo Fraud had its +beginning in the efforts of General Elijah Clarke and his followers to +settle on the Indian reservation lying west of the Oconee River; but +this is not the case at all. General Clarke's movement was the result +of an enterprise which was aimed against the Spaniards; and, though the +facts have no real connection with the Yazoo speculation, they may +be briefly told here, especially since Stevens, in his "History of +Georgia," turns them all topsy-turvy. + +Genet was the first envoy sent to represent the wild and revolutionary +republic of France,--the republic of Robespierre and the Jacobins. He +represented, as well as any man could, the ideas and purposes of those +who had wrought such havoc in France. He was meddlesome, wrong-headed, +unreasonable, and bold with it all. He sailed from France in a +ship which he commanded himself; and instead of going straight to +Philadelphia (then the seat of government), where his business called +him, he landed at Charleston in South Carolina. War was then pending +between France and Spain; and Genet, after landing in Charleston, found +ready sympathizers in the French Huguenots of South Carolina, and indeed +in all those who had fought for American liberty. There were two reasons +why the fiery appeals of Genet to the people of Carolina to take up +arms against Spain were received enthusiastically. One was, that the +Spaniards in Florida had been at constant war with the people of Georgia +and Carolina, and had committed many crimes and depredations. The other +was, that the people felt grateful to France for the aid she had given +the American Colonies in their efforts to shake off the yoke of Great +Britain. + +Genet's plan was to raise in this country an army large enough to seize +the Spanish possessions in Florida, and to reconquer Louisiana. For +the reasons stated, Genet found the people enthusiastic in favor of his +enterprise. The enthusiasm was intense. It crossed the Savannah, +and found General Elijah Clarke, with his strong nature and active +sympathies, ready to embrace it. His military prestige in the South +commended him to Genet as the man to lead the military enterprise +against the Spanish settlements in the South. Accordingly he was given +command of the army that was to be raised, and was made a major general +in the French service with a pay of ten thousand dollars. + +Having secured a commander whose courage and resources in the field +could be depended on, Genet went from Charleston to Philadelphia +overland, stirring up sympathy for his enterprise and enlisting men. His +success was greater than he had dreamed of. He found but one thing in +his way, and that was the firmness and vigilance of George Washington. +This great man set his face sternly against the project; but such was +the enthusiasm of the people--artfully stirred by Genet, who was as +accomplished as he was unscrupulous,--that a French party was formed. +Genet took advantage of the formation of this party to arouse prejudice +against Washington; and such was his success, that John Adams, who +was afterwards President, says that there was a multitude of men in +Philadelphia ready to drive Washington from the executive chair. + +A considerable army was raised, recruits reported to General Clarke from +the Ohio River to the St. Mary's, and everything was ready for action. +At that moment the heavy hand of Washington descended on the enterprise. +The recall of Genet was demanded, the French party went to pieces, +the project collapsed, and Elijah Clarke was left without resources, +surrounded by a considerable force of men who had come at his bidding +to take part in the attack on the Spanish possessions. These men were on +his hands, expecting the fulfillment of promises that had been made to +them. What was to be done? It was at this critical period that the eyes +of General Clarke turned to the Indian reservation west of the Oconee. +He marched his men to these lands, and took possession. He, and those +who engaged in the movement for settling the lands, had risked their +lives for their country on a hundred battlefields. They thought that +the lands that had been claimed by the King belonged to those who had +conquered the King's armies. They were right in principle, but wrong +in action. The lands that had belonged to the King now belonged to +the people, not as individuals, but as a corporate body,--to the whole +people represented by the State government. These principles had not +been made as clear by discussion in General Clarke's day as they have +been made since. He engaged in no speculation. He boldly settled the +lands, and was prepared to boldly hold his position. The settlement was +made in 1794. On the 28th of July, Governor George Matthews issued a +proclamation forbidding the settlement, and likewise directed one of +the judges to issue a warrant for the general's arrest. At the Superior +Court of Wilkes County, Clarke surrendered himself to the judge, who +referred the case to the county justices. These judges made a decision, +setting forth the fact that Elijah Clarke had surrendered himself into +custody; that, being desirous to do speedy justice to the State as well +as to the party charged, they had proceeded to maturely consider the +case; and that after examining the laws of the State, and the treaties +made and laws passed by the United States, they gave it as their +"decided and unanimous opinion that the said Elijah Clarke be and +is hereby discharged." Encouraged by this decision, General Clarke +returned to his settlement with the intention of holding the lands; but +finally both the Federal and the State governments moved against +him, and he abandoned the enterprise. The policy that Clarke began in +settling the Indian lands without regard to the rights of the savage has +since become the policy of the government. It is not a wholesome +policy, nor is it authorized by the moral or civil law; but it has been +unblushingly carried out nevertheless. + +The Yazoo Fraud was a far different matter. The very name of it was +foreign to Georgia. It was borrowed from the Indian name of a small +stream which empties itself into the Mississippi River. When the +Colony of Georgia was first settled, the land granted to Oglethorpe was +described as lying along the Savannah River, extending southward along +the coast to the Altamaha, and from the head waters of these rivers +westward to "the South Seas." Afterwards Great Britain changed the line +which he had established. She carried the boundary line of West Florida, +a part of her possessions, higher up. The new line started from the +Mississippi at the mouth of the Yazoo River, and ran due east to the +Chattahoochee at a point near where the town of West Point now stands. +As the upper boundary of British West Florida this line came to be known +as the Yazoo line, and the country above and below it to an indefinite +extent came to be known as the Yazoo country. No boundary can now be +fixed to the region then known as the Yazoo country. At the close of +the Revolutionary War, Great Britain made a treaty which has been +interpreted as vesting in the United States and in Georgia the right +and title to these lands, reaching from the Chattahoochee to the Yazoo +River, and extending on each side of this line to a distance that has +never been estimated. + +The Yazoo Fraud itself had a somewhat vague beginning. From the best +information that can now be obtained, it may be said that it was set on +foot in 1789, shortly after the close of the Revolution, by a sharper +who was famous in that day. He was known as Thomas Washington, but his +real name was Walsh. Washington, or Walsh, is described as being a very +extraordinary man. He had fought in the service of Georgia, but he +had the instinct of a speculator; and when the war was ended, he gave +himself up to the devices of those who earn their living by their +wits. He was a man of good address, and his air of candor succeeded in +deceiving all whom he met. Those who dealt with him always had the worst +of the bargain. + +When Washington, or Walsh, began to operate in Georgia through agents, +he found the way already prepared for him. The War for Independence +had barely closed, when certain individuals, most of them men of some +influence, began to look on our Western possessions with a greedy +eye. They had an idea of securing these lands and setting up a new +government,--a sort of Western empire. To further their designs they +began by forming themselves into an association called the "Combined +Society," the members of which were bound to secrecy by oaths and other +solemn pledges. The purpose of the Combined Society became known, and +the force of public opinion compelled the members to disband. Some of +them were men of aristocratic pretensions. + +Thus Washington, or Walsh, found a great many sympathetic people in +Georgia. He was too well known in the State to undertake any scheme to +which his name was attached: so he worked through an agent, a man named +Sullivan. This man Sullivan had been a captain in the patriot army; but +he had headed the Philadelphia mob which insulted Congress, and he was +compelled to flee to the Mississippi to save his neck. When the old +Congress went out, Sullivan felt free to return. He came to Georgia, +representing, or pretending to represent, the Virginia Yazoo Company, of +which the celebrated Patrick Henry was a member, and made application to +the State Legislature for the purchase of the Western lands. Sullivan's +description of the Yazoo lands was so glowing that another company +was formed in Georgia. Some of the members of the new company formerly +belonged to the Combined Society, but others were men of good standing. +This company employed active agents; but no corrupt means were used so +far as is now known, though some members of the General Assembly were +interested. The efforts of the company were successful. Their act was +passed, and the sale made. Immediately the people began to oppose the +scheme, and to demand the repeal of the act The demand grew into a State +issue, and the new Legislature declared the sale null and void. + +[Illustration: The Yazoo Scheme 134] + +For a while the land grabbers were quiet; but in 1794 it seemed to the +most eager of the speculators that the time had come for them to make +another effort to secure the rich Western lands that belonged to the +State. They were evidently afraid, that, unless they made haste to get +hold of the lands, the people's Legislature would divide them out or +sell them to the Federal Government. So they formed another conspiracy, +and this time they laid their plans very deep. Acting on the principle +that every man has his price, they managed, by bribery and other +underhanded schemes, to win the sympathy and support of some of the +most prominent men in the State,--men whose names seemed to be far +above suspicion. Some of the highest judges lent their aid to the land +grabbers. Members of Congress were concerned in the scheme. Generals +and other high officers of the militia took part in it. Nothing was left +undone that was calculated to win the support of men who, up to that +time, had enjoyed and deserved the confidence and respect of the +State. The extent of the bribery and corruption that existed would be +altogether beyond belief if the records were not left to show it. The +swindlers were both bold and cunning, and in one way or another sought +to win the support of all the leading men in the State. And they came +very close to succeeding. + +The Legislature held its session in Augusta at that time; and while the +Yazoo land sale was up for discussion, the agents of the land grabbers +swarmed around it, coaxing, bribing, and bullying the people's +representatives. Among these agents was a judge of the Supreme Court of +the United States, from Pennsylvania, with twenty-five thousand dollars +in his hands. There was a judge of the United States District Court for +Georgia, paying shares in the land company for the votes of members. A +United States senator from Georgia, James Gunn, who had neglected to +return to his post of duty in Congress, was seen bullying members with a +loaded whip, to secure their support for the land-sale scheme. A judge +of the State courts was also present, with other prominent citizens, +buttonholing the members of the Legislature, offering them shares, +sub-shares, and half sub-shares to secure their votes. General James +Jackson, who was then a United States senator from Georgia, was told by +a prominent judge of the State that he might have any number of acres he +pleased up to half a million, without the payment of a dollar, if he +would use his influence in behalf of the corrupt schemes of the land +grabbers. In reply, General Jackson said he had fought for the people of +Georgia; that the land belonged to them and to their children; and that, +should the conspirators succeed, he, for one, would hold the sale to be +void. Many weak men in the Legislature were intimidated by threats; and +some who could not be persuaded to vote for the sale, were paid to go +home, and remain away from the Legislature. + +In this way the representatives of the people were persuaded and bribed +to support the scheme of the land grabbers. In 1795 the bill was passed, +selling to four companies--the Georgia Company, the Georgia +Mississippi Company, the Upper Mississippi Company, and the Tennessee +Company--thirty-five million acres of land for $500,000. Nothing was now +wanting to complete the fraud but the signature of the governor. If he +put his name to the bill, it became a law. If he refused to sign it, +the scheme of the swindlers would fail. General George Matthews was the +governor at that time, and, though two of his sons had been made members +of the land-grabbing companies, it was hoped that he would refuse to +sign the bill. The hope was justified by the fact that he had refused to +sign a similar bill, and had given some very good reasons for it. It +was known, too, that he was a man of great courage, and honest in his +intentions; but the influence brought to bear on him was too great. His +judgment was weakened by the clamor of the prominent men around him, who +had become the paid agents of the swindlers. He resisted for some time, +but finally agreed to sign the bill. The secretary of Governor Matthews, +a man named Urquhart, tried to prevent the signing of the bill by +working on the governor's superstitions. He dipped the pen in oil, +thinking that when Matthews came to write with it, and found that the +ink refused to flow, he would take it as an omen that the bill should +not be signed. The governor was startled, when, after several efforts, +he found the pen would not write; but he was not a man to let so +trifling a matter stand in his way. He directed his secretary to make +another pen, and with this he made the land-steal bill a law. By a +stroke he made the bill a law, and also signed away his own popularity +and influence. The people of Georgia never trusted him afterwards; and +he left the State, finding it unpleasant and uncomfortable to live among +those who had lost their respect for him. Yet no charge of corruption +was ever made against him. + +When the people learned that the Yazoo Fraud had become a law, they rose +up as one man to denounce it. Those who lived in the neighborhood of +Augusta determined to put to death the men who had betrayed them. They +marched to the legislative halls, and were only prevented from carrying +out their threats by the persuasion of the small minority of the members +that had refused to be coaxed, bullied, or bribed into voting for the +Yazoo Fraud. But the indignation of the people continued to grow as +they learned of the corrupt methods that had been employed to pass the +measure. Meetings were held in every county; and public opinion +became so strong that those who had voted for the Yazoo Fraud found it +dangerous to remain in the State. A senator from Hancock County became +so alarmed that he fled to South Carolina. He was followed by one of his +neighbors, found in a lonely cabin at night, and shot to death. Except +in one or two counties, the men who voted for the Yazoo Fraud were +compelled to hide themselves until the anger of the people had cooled. + +In his "Sketches of the First Settlers of Upper Georgia," Governor +George R. Gilmer tells a little story that will serve to show the state +of feeling in Georgia at that time. After the Yazoo Fraud was passed, +the people of the counties held indignation meetings. A meeting was +called in Oglethorpe County, and on the morning of the day, a citizen on +his way to town stopped at the gate of a neighbor to wait until he could +get ready to go. The man who was getting ready was named Miles Jennings. +The citizen, waiting, saw Mr. Jennings put a rope in his pocket. + +"What is that for?" the citizen asked. + +"To hang Musgrove!" replied Mr. Jennings, Musgrove being the name of the +member of the Legislature. + +When the two neighbors arrived at the courthouse, all the people had +assembled. Mr. Jennings hitched his horse and went into the crowd, +pulled the rope from his pocket, and, holding it above his head where +all could see it, cried out,-- + +"Neighbors! this rope is to hang Musgrove, who sold the people's land +for a bribe!" + +[Illustration: Rope to hang Musgrove 138] + +The words of Jennings and the sight of the rope made the people furious. +Musgrove had been given a hint by Jennings's neighbor, and he had made +good his escape. But for that, no human power could have saved him. + +The whole State was in a condition of excitement that is hard to +describe. Grand juries made presentments, county and town meetings +passed resolutions, and petitions were sent from hand to hand, and +signed by hundreds of people. A State convention, called to alter the +constitution, had been chosen to meet in May, 1795, but the members had +been chosen at the same time that the members of the corrupt Legislature +had been elected; and a majority of them had been "tarred with the same +stick," as the saying goes. The presentments, resolutions, and petitions +crowded so fast upon the convention, that it was decided to postpone the +changing of the constitution to a time when the people were in a better +humor. The convention referred all the papers it had received to the +next Legislature, and adjourned in some confusion. + +This added to the excitement and anger of the people. They were in doubt +how to act. Delay would give the land grabbers time to sell the lands +they had secured through bribery and corruption. But whom could the +people trust? They had been betrayed by many of their highest judges, +by one of their United States senators, and by a large majority of their +Legislature. A great many believed that all the powers of government had +come to an end. + +During the troubled times of the Revolution it had been the custom of +military officers having the confidence of the people to convene the +Legislative Assembly when an emergency seemed to call for it. In the +midst of their doubt and confusion, the people applied to General +Twiggs, the senior major general, to convene the Legislature in order +that action might be taken before the swindlers sold the lands they had +obtained by fraud; but General Twiggs refused to act in a case in which +he had no clear right and power, so the people remained for the time +being without a remedy. + +From the very beginning of this scheme to defraud the people of the +State, it had been bitterly opposed by General James Jackson, who was +representing Georgia in the United States Senate. He denounced it in the +Senate. He corresponded with the most eminent men in the State, he wrote +to the newspapers, and in every possible way held up to the scorn and +contempt of the public the men who were trying to defraud the State of +its rich Western lands. On the other hand, the conspirators left nothing +undone to injure the reputation of General Jackson. His character was +attacked, and his life was several times threatened. As early as the +spring of 1795, he took occasion in full Senate, and in the presence +of General James Gunn (the Georgia senator who was representing the +swindlers), to denounce the scheme as "a speculation of the darkest +character and of deliberate villany." + +By his bold, even violent opposition to the Yazoo sale, General Jackson +had made himself the leader of the people. Therefore in 1795, while he +was still senator, many of the people requested him to resign, so that +he might use his influence and great talents in bringing about the +repeal of the obnoxious law. He tendered his resignation at once, and +returned home. He was elected a member of the Legislature, and devoted +all his time and all his energy to blotting out the odious law. He +became a member of the committee appointed to investigate the means used +to pass the law, and under his leadership the whole scandalous affair +was probed to the bottom. + +In electing the new Legislature, the only issue was Yazoo and +anti-Yazoo. The people were successful in electing men who favored +the repeal of the law. There was no other business before the General +Assembly until this matter was disposed of. The body was flooded with +the petitions and remonstrances that had been sent to the convention. +The Legislature had met in January, 1795. At once a day was set to +"consider the state of the Republic." On that day the petitions and +presentments were considered, and referred to a committee, of which +General Jackson was appointed chairman. On the 22d of January the +committee reported not only that the act was unconstitutional, but that +fraud had been practiced to secure its passage. On these grounds they +declared that the act was a nullity, and not binding on the people of +the State. + +The bill declaring the sale void was drawn up by General Jackson. It +passed both Houses by large majorities, and was signed by Governor +Irwin. The feeling of the Legislature was so strong, that, after the +Yazoo act had been repealed, it was decided to destroy all the records +and documents relating to the corruption. By order of the two Houses a +fire was kindled in the public square of Louisville, which was then the +capital. The enrolled act that had been secured by fraud was brought out +by the secretary of state, and by him delivered to the President of the +Senate for examination. That officer delivered the act to the Speaker +of the House. The Speaker in turn passed it to the clerk, who read the +title of the act and the other records, and then, committing them to the +flames, cried out in a loud voice, "God save the State and preserve her +rights, and may every attempt to injure them perish as these wicked and +corrupt acts now do!" + +The flames in which the records were burned were kindled by means of +a sun glass, so that it might be truly said that fire came down from +heaven to destroy the evidences of corruption. There is a tradition that +when the officers of the State had met to destroy the records, an old +man, a stranger to all present, rode through the multitude, and made +his way to where the officials stood. Lifting up his voice, he declared, +that, feeble as he was, he had come there to see an act of justice +performed, but he thought the fire in which the records of corruption +were to be destroyed should come from heaven. The people watched him in +silence. He drew from his bosom with trembling hands a sun glass, and in +this way burned the papers. Then, says tradition, the white-haired old +man mounted his horse and rode away, and was never seen again. + + + + +GEORGE MATTHEWS AND JOHN CLARKE. + +[Illustration: George Matthews and John Clarke 143] + +In giving the history of the Yazoo Fraud, mention has been made of +General George Matthews, who was governor at the time, and who was +compelled to leave the State because he had been persuaded to sign the +bill. General Matthews was one of the most remarkable characters of his +time. Governor Gilmer has drawn a very interesting portrait of him. +It is not a pleasing picture in some respects, but it gives a very +interesting glimpse of a man who in his day was one of the strongest +characters in the State. + +He was the son of an Irishman named John Matthews, who settled in +western Virginia in 1737. George Matthews began to fight the Indians at +an age when most boys are at school. In 1761 the Indians attacked and +murdered a family not far from his father's home. He heard the guns, and +thought that a shooting match was going on. With some companions of his +own age, he rode forward to join in the sport; but the youngsters saw +the dead bodies of their neighbors lying in the yard where they had been +left by the murderous savages, and at once turned their horses' heads +and fled. They were not a moment too soon; for the Indians, who had +been lying in ambush, rose and fired at the boys. Matthews had a narrow +escape; for a bullet cut off the wisp of hair (known as a queue) that +hung dangling from the back of his head. The danger that he had passed +through, and the sight of his murdered neighbors, roused young Matthews +to action. He collected a party of men, put himself at the head of them, +followed and overtook the savages, and killed nine of their number. + +In the greatest battle that ever took place between the Virginians and +the Indians, Matthews commanded a company, and bore a very conspicuous +part. The battle took place at the junction of the Ohio River with the +Kanawha, on what was called Point Pleasant. The fight began at sunrise, +and was kept up all day, with no great success on either side. The +Indians held their ground, and refused to give way before the most +stubborn attacks of the Virginians. Near sundown, Matthews, with two +other captains, made a strategic movement. The three companies were +withdrawn from the battle. Out of sight of the enemy, they got into the +bed of a creek. Hidden by the banks of the stream, they marched to the +rear of the Indians, and from this point made an attack. The movement +had been so cleverly carried out, that the savages were taken completely +by surprise, and driven across the Ohio. + +Early in the Revolutionary War, General Washington, who knew well the +value of the training Matthews had received on the frontier, ordered him +and the regiment which he commanded to join the main army. He took part +in the battle of the Brandywine; and at the battle of Germantown he +led his regiment against the British opposing him, drove them back, and +pushed on to the center of the town, where he captured a regiment of the +enemy. Shortly after this, while engaged in a skirmish, his courage led +him too close to the British. He was knocked down, severely wounded by +a bayonet thrust, and taken prisoner. He was sent to the British prison +ship in New York Harbor. He was there treated with so much cruelty that +he appealed to his government for relief. In response to that appeal, +Thomas Jefferson, who was then governor of Virginia, wrote him a +personal letter, in which he said, "We know that the ardent spirit and +hatred of tyranny which brought you into your present situation +will enable you to bear up against it with the firmness which has +distinguished you as a soldier, and look forward with pleasure to the +day when events shall take place against which the wounded spirit of +your enemies will find no comfort, even from reflections on the most +refined of the cruelties with which they have glutted themselves." + +General Matthews was not exchanged until the close of the war. He then +joined the Southern army under General Greene, and commanded the Third +Virginia Regiment. While in the South, he bought a tract of land on +Broad River, known as the Goose Pond. He settled there with his family +in 1784. The fame he had won as a soldier made General Matthews at that +time the principal man in Georgia. He was elected governor in 1786. When +his term expired, he was sent to Congress. In 1794-95 he was again made +governor; and it was at this time, that, contrary to all expectations, +he was prevailed on to sign the Yazoo Act. No charge of corruption was +ever made against him. No thief or swindler was ever bold enough to try +to bribe such a high-spirited and fearless man. But excitement in +the State ran so high, that General Matthews was ruined so far as his +influence was concerned. He left Georgia, and never afterwards made the +State his home for any long period. + +In 1811 a lot of runaway negroes, ruffians, and lawless men congregated +in Florida in such numbers that they were able to get control of +affairs. They formed a government of their own, and then petitioned +the United States to make Florida one of their territories. President +Madison appointed General Matthews the agent of the United States to +negotiate with the "constituted authorities" for the annexation of +Florida. General Matthews made a treaty with those who were in control +of Florida; but Spain protested, and the President finally declared that +the treaty had not been made with the "constituted authorities." + +General Matthews was not a learned man (he knew nothing of books), +and he could not understand the fuss that was made over the term +"constituted authorities." He became very angry with the President, said +that that officer had a cowardly fear of Spain and Great Britain, and +declared that he would go to Washington to "thrash" the President. He +actually set out on that errand; but the fatigue and exposure which he +had experienced in Florida, and the high state of excitement under +which he labored, threw him into a fever while he was on his journey to +Washington, and he died in Augusta in March, 1812. + +Previous to his Florida appointment, General Matthews had been nominated +to be governor of the Territory of Mississippi by President Adams; but +the opposition was so great that the President withdrew the nomination. +When General Matthews heard of this, he promptly set out for +Philadelphia to call the President to account. He rode to Mr. Adams's +house, gave a loud knock on the door, and told the servant he wished +to see the President. The servant said the President was engaged; but +General Matthews bristled with anger at the bare thought that any man, +even the President, could be engaged in any business more important +than talking to George Matthews, late colonel of the Virginia line, and +governor of the State of Georgia. Therefore he told the servant to go at +once and tell the President that a gentleman wished to speak to him; +and he added, that, if the message was not carried at once, the servant +would find his head taken from his shoulders. General Matthews wore his +Revolutionary sword and cocked hat, and he succeeded in convincing the +servant that he was not to be trifled with. He was promptly admitted +into the presence of Mr. Adams, and, with the touch of Irish brogue he +had caught from his father, he made himself and his business known. He +introduced himself, and then said to the President,-- + +"Now, sir, I understand that you nominated me to the Senate of these +United States, to be governor of the Territory of Mississippi, and that +afterwards you took back the nomination. Sir, if you had known me, you +would not have taken the nomination back. If you did not know me, you +should not have nominated me to so important an office. Now, sir, unless +you can satisfy me, your station as President of these United States +shall not screen you from my vengeance." + +Mr. Adams at once made himself agreeable, for he had nothing but good +will for the stanch Georgia Federalist. The outcome of the meeting was +that the President promised to appoint the general's son John to be +supervisor of the revenue, and this promise he carried out. + +Governor Gilmer, in his racy reminiscences of the people who settled +in the Broad River region, draws an interesting portrait of General +Matthews. He describes him as a short, thick man, with stout legs, on +which he stood very straight. "He carried his head rather thrown back. +His features were full and bluff, his hair light red, and his complexion +fair and florid. He admitted no superior but General Washington. He +spoke of his services to his country as unsurpassed except by those of +his great chief. He wore a three-cornered cocked hat, top boots, a shirt +full ruffled at the bosom and wrists, and sometimes a long sword at +his side. To listen to his talk about himself, his children, and his +affairs, one would have thought that he was but a puff of wind. Trade +or talk of history with him, and he was found to be one of the shrewdest +of men. Fight with him, and he never failed to act the hero. He was +unlearned. He spelled 'coffee' k-a-u-g-h-p-h-y. He wrote 'Congress' with +a K." + +When it is considered that he had small opportunity to train himself in +any direction except rough fighting, General Matthews must be regarded +as one of the most remarkable men of his time. + +Another remarkable man who figured largely in both the military and +political history of the State was General John Clarke, son of the +famous Elijah Clarke. John Clarke became a soldier in the Revolutionary +War when a mere boy. He had followed his father to camp, and remained +with him. He took part in many skirmishes; but at the battle of Kettle +Creek, in Wilkes County, he distinguished himself by his coolness and +courage. He fought through the war. He was made a lieutenant at sixteen +years of age, and when the war ended he was a major. After the war he +was made a brigadier, and then a major general of the militia. After +aiding to run the British out of the State, and subduing the Tories, +General Clarke turned his attention to the Indians. At the battle +of Jacks Creek, in Walton County, in 1787, he greatly distinguished +himself, having charge of one of the wings of the Georgia forces. + +It was natural that a man raised in camp, and brought up in the midst of +the rough and tough elements that are collected together there, should +possess qualities not calculated to fit him for the polite transactions +that take place in drawing rooms and parlors. General Clarke's +self-reliance was extreme. Having commanded men from the time he was +sixteen, it was natural that his temper and his manners should be +offensive, to some extent, to those who were not thoughtful enough to +make due allowance for these things. It thus happened that when peace +came, John Clarke's methods and practices made him many bitter enemies. +On the other hand, the sterling qualities of his character made him many +strong friends. + +Coming out of the war with neither trade nor profession, and with only +the rudiments of an education, John Clarke was compelled to turn his +attention to politics. With him politics was simply a modified form of +war. He had never given any quarter to the Tories, and he gave small +quarter to his political enemies. But he was as faithful to his friends +in politics as he had been to the cause of American liberty. He was +uncompromising, whether dealing with friends or enemies, and his temper +was such that he regarded his opponents as his personal enemies. Of +his political career, mention will be made in another place. It is +sufficient to say that a quarrel he had with a judge divided the people +of the State into two parties, and the contest between them was carried +on for several years. The prejudices that sprang up in that contest +lasted for more than a generation, and strong traces of them are to be +found in estimates of General Clarke's character written long after he +was dead. + +Only a man of the strongest character, and possessing the most +remarkable qualities, could have made such a marked impression on the +political history of a commonwealth. + + + + + +AFTER THE REVOLUTION. + +[Illustration: After the Revolution 152] + +The Revolution came to an end in Georgia when, on the 11th of July, +1782, Savannah was taken possession of by the American troops under +General Anthony Wayne. It ended for the whole country when, on the 30th +of November of the same year, the treaty of peace was signed at Paris +between the United States and Great Britain. The King of Great Britain +acknowledged the independence of the Thirteen States, and declared them +free and sovereign. This was a very happy event for the country, and +had been long looked forward to by the people, sometimes doubtfully, but +always hopefully. + +But the great victory that had been won found the people of Georgia +prostrate. The little property that they possessed when the war +began had either been spent in maintaining the struggle, or well-nigh +destroyed by the raids of the British and Tories. In the larger +communities of Savannah and Augusta, the citizens had the resources of +trade and commerce to fall back on, but in the smaller settlements +and rural districts the condition of the inhabitants bordered on +destitution. + +At the time that Savannah was surrendered to the American troops, there +was almost a famine in the land. The soldiers were without shoes, and +sometimes they were without supplies. The crops were short on account +of the lack of farmers. The condition of the people was quite as bad as +that of the troops, especially when the disbanded militia returned to +their homes. Houses, barns, and fences had been burned; stock and cattle +had been slaughtered or driven away; and there was a great lack of even +the necessities of life. + +But those whose energy and spirit upheld them through the long struggle +for independence were not the men to surrender to the hard circumstances +that surrounded them. They went to work as bravely as they had fought; +and the sacrifices they made to peace were almost as severe, though +not so bloody, as those they had made to war. Slowly, but surely and +steadily, they reclaimed their waste farms. Slowly, but surely and +steadily, they recovered from the prostration that the war had brought +on their industries. Slowly, but surely and steadily, the people worked +their way back to comparative prosperity. There may have been a few +drones in the towns, but there were no idle hands in the country places. + +The men built for their families comfortable log cabins; and these, +with their clean sanded floors, are still the fashion in some parts of +Georgia. This done, they went about the business of raising crops, and +stocking their farms with cattle. The women and children were just as +busy. In every cabin could be heard the hum of the spinning wheel, and +the thump of the old hand loom. While the men were engaged in their +outdoor work, the women spun, wove, and made the comfortable jeans +clothes that were the fashion; while the girls plaited straw, and made +hats and bonnets, and in many other ways helped the older people. In +a little while peddlers from the more northern States began to travel +through Georgia with their various wares, some with pewter plates and +spoons, and some with clocks. The peddlers traveled in wagons instead +of carrying their packs on their backs, and in this way brought a great +deal of merchandise to the State. + +As was natural, the political development of Georgia was much more rapid +than its industrial progress. In January, 1783, Lyman Hall was elected +governor. He was distinguished for the patriotic stand he took at the +very beginning of the controversy between the Colony and the King. The +Legislature met in Savannah after the evacuation of the town by the +British; but it was so far from the central and upper portions of the +State, and there was so much dissatisfaction among the people on this +account, that in May Augusta was made the capital. In that town the +General Assembly met July 8, 1783. Measures were at once taken to seize +land, and confiscate the property of those Royalists who had lived +in Georgia. This property was sold for the benefit of the public. In +November of the same year a new cession of land was obtained from the +Creek nation by treaty. This was divided into the counties of Franklin +and Washington, and the land distributed in bounties to the soldiers of +the war. + +It is worthy of note that about this time, when the State had hardly +begun to recover from the effects of the war, the representatives of +the people began to move in the matter of education. The Constitution +of 1777 had declared that "schools shall be erected in each county, and +supported by the general expense of the State." On the 31st of July, +1783, the Legislature appropriated one thousand acres of land to each +county for the support of free schools. In 1784, a short time after +the notification of the treaty of peace, the Legislature passed an +act appropriating forty thousand acres of land for the endowment of a +college or university. A year later the charter for this university was +granted; and the preamble of the act declares it to be the policy of the +State to foster education in the most liberal way. It so happened that +some of the provisions that had been made for public education were +not carried out at once, and the people of the various settlements +established schools of their own. Many of the best teachers of the +country came to Georgia from the more northern States; and some of them +won a reputation that has lasted to this day. Later, more than one +of these teachers established schools that became famous all over the +country. In this way the reign of the "old field schoolmaster" began, +and continued for many years. + +[Illustration: Early Cultivation of Cotton 156] + +The people had been cultivating cotton on a small scale before 1791; but +the staple was so difficult to handle, that the planting was limited. +Those who grew it were compelled to separate the seed from the lint by +hand, and this was so tedious that few people would grow it. But in +1793, Eli Whitney, who was living on the plantation of General Greene, +near Savannah, invented the cotton gin. The machine was a very awkward +and cumbrous affair compared with the gins of the present day; but in +that day and time, and for many years after, the Whitney was sufficient +for the needs of the people. It was one of the most important inventions +that have ever been made. It gave to the commerce of the world a staple +commodity that is in universal demand, and it gave to the people of the +South their most valuable and important crop. But for this timely +invention, the cultivation of cotton would have been confined to the +narrowest limits. The gin proved to be practicable, and it came into use +very quickly. The farmers prospered, and gradually increased the cotton +crop. + +The population also increased very rapidly. The rich lands were +purchased and settled on by farmers from Virginia and the Carolinas. The +colony that had been planted by Oglethorpe had never ventured very far +from the seacoast. A few probably followed the course of the Savannah +River, and made their homes in that region; but the people brought +over by Oglethorpe were not of the stuff that pioneers are made of. The +experience they had undergone in the mother country had tamed them +to such a degree that they had no desire to brave the future in the +wilderness. Adventures of that kind were left for the hardy North +Carolinians and Virginians who first settled what was then known as +Upper Georgia. After the Revolution, this tide of immigration increased +very rapidly, and it was still further swelled by the profits that the +Whitney gin enabled the planters of Georgia to make out of their cotton +crops. + +The settling of Georgia began with the charitable scheme of Oglethorpe. +The making of Georgia began when the North Carolinians and Virginians +began to open up the Broad River region to the north of Augusta. It was +due to the desperate stand taken by these hardy pioneers that Georgia +continued the struggle for American independence. To Upper Georgia +came some of the best families from Virginia and North Carolina,--the +Grattons, the Lewises, the Clarkes, the Strothers, the Crawfords, +the Reeses, the Harrises, the Andrewses, the Taliaferros (pronounced +Tollivers), the Campbells, the Barnetts, the Toombses, the Doolys, +and many other families whose names have figured in the history of +the country. Here also settled James Jack, the sturdy patriot who +volunteered to carry the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence to +Philadelphia. The Congress then in session chose to shut its eyes to +that declaration, but it was the basis and framework of the Declaration +afterwards written by Thomas Jefferson. + +After the Revolution, when the Cherokees went on the warpath, the +Virginia settlement was in a state of great alarm. Men, women, and +children met together, and decided that it would be safer to camp in +the woods in a body at night rather than run the risk of being burned to +death in houses that they could not defend. They went into the depths +of the woods and made an encampment. One night while they were around a +fire, cooking their supper, suddenly the report of a gun was heard, and +then there was a cry of "Indians!" The men seized their guns; but they +hardly knew where to turn, or what to do. Suddenly a lad who had not +lost his head emptied a bucket of water on the fire. This was the +thing to do, but no one else had thought of it. The name of the lad +was Meriwether Lewis. He went into the regular army, became the private +secretary of President Jefferson, and was selected to head the party +that explored the Territory of Louisiana, which had been bought from +France. Meriwether Lewis selected for his companion Captain Clark, an +old army friend and comrade. Leading the party, Lewis and his friend +Clark left St. Louis, and pushed westward to the Pacific coast, through +dangers and obstacles that few men would have cared to meet. The famous +expedition of Lewis and Clark has now become a part of the history of +the country. Lewis took possession of the Pacific coast in the name of +the United States. There was a controversy with Great Britain some years +afterwards as to the title of Oregon, but that which Lewis and Clark had +established was finally acknowledged to be the best. + +Meriwether Lewis won a name in history because the opportunity came to +him. His name is mentioned here because he was a representative of the +men who settled Upper Georgia,--the men who kept the fires of liberty +alive in the State, and who, after helping to conquer the British and +the Tories, became the conquerors of the wilderness that lay to the west +of them. From Wilkes, Burke, Elbert, and the region where Clarke and his +men had fought, the tide of emigration slowly moved across the State, +settling Greene, Hancock, Baldwin, Putnam, Morgan, Jasper, Butts, +Monroe, Coweta, Upson, Pike, Meriwether, Talbot, Harris, and Muscogee +counties. + +Some of the more adventurous crossed the Chattahoochee into Alabama, and +on into the great Mississippi Valley and beyond. Their descendants live +in every part of the South; and Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas have had +Georgians for their governors, and their senators and representatives in +Congress,--men who were descended from the Virginia and North Carolina +immigrants. One of the most brilliant of these was Mirabeau B. Lamar, +scholar, statesman, and soldier, the president of Texas when that +Territory had declared itself a free and an independent republic. + + + + +THE COTTON GIN. + +Brief mention has been made of Whitney's invention of the cotton gin. +The event was of such world-wide importance that the story should be +told here. Whitney, the inventor of the gin, was born in Massachusetts +in 1765, in very poor circumstances. While the War of the Revolution was +going on, he was earning his living by making nails by hand. He was such +an apt mechanic that he was able to make and save enough money to pay +his way through Yale College, where he graduated in 1792. In that year +he engaged himself to come to Georgia as a private tutor in the family +of a gentleman of Savannah; but when he reached that city, he found that +the place had been filled. + +While in Savannah, Whitney attracted the attention of the widow of +General Nathanael Greene, who lived at Mulberry Grove, on the river at +no great distance from the city. Mrs. Greene invited the young man to +make his home on her plantation. He soon found opportunity to show his +fine mechanical genius, and Mrs. Greene became more interested in him +than ever. + +The story goes, that soon after the young man had established himself on +the Mulberry Grove Plantation, several Georgia planters were dining with +Mrs. Greene. During their conversation the difficulty of removing the +seed from the cotton fiber was mentioned, and the suggestion was made +that this might be done by machinery. At this Mrs. Greene mentioned the +skill and ingenuity of young Whitney, and advised her guests that he +should be given the problem to solve. This advice was followed. The +planters had a talk with the young man, and explained to him the +difficulty which they found in separating the seed from the lint. + +At that time one pound of lint cotton was all that a negro woman could +separate from the seed in a day; and the more cotton the planters +raised, the deeper they got in debt. The close of the war had found them +in a state of the utmost poverty, so that they had been compelled to +mortgage their lands in order to get money on which to begin business. +Cotton was the only product of the farm for which there was any constant +demand; but, owing to the labor of separating the lint from the seed, +it could not be raised at a profit. Thus, in 1791, the number of pounds +exported from the South to Europe amounted to only about 379 bales of +500 pounds each. + +When the planters went to Whitney with their problem, he was entirely +ignorant of the whole matter. He knew nothing of cotton or of cotton +planting; but he at once set himself at work. He made a careful study of +the cotton plant. He shut himself in a room with some uncleaned cotton, +and worked at his task during a whole winter. He made his own tools at +the plantation blacksmith shop; and all day long, and sometimes far into +the night, he could be heard hammering and sawing away. + +In 1793 he called together the planters who had asked him to solve the +problem, and showed them the machine, which he called a cotton gin. When +they saw it work, their surprise and delight knew no bounds. They +knew at once that the problem had been solved by the young genius from +Massachusetts. Little calculation was needed to show them that the +cotton gin could clean as much cotton in a day as could be cleaned on +a plantation during a whole winter. What before had been the work of a +hundred hands for several months could now be completed in a few days. + +[Illustration: Whitney and his Cotton Gin 163] + +But it seems to be the fate of the majority of those who make wonderful +inventions never to enjoy the full benefits of the work of their genius. +Eli Whitney was not an exception to the general rule. While he was +working on his cotton gin, rumors of it went abroad; and by the time it +was completed, public expectation was on tiptoe. When the machine was +finished, it was shown to only a few people; but the fact, of such +immense importance to the people of the State, was soon known throughout +the State, and the planters impatiently waited for the day when they +would be able to put it in use. + +One night the building in which Whitney's cotton gin was concealed +was broken into, ransacked, and the machine carried off. It was a bold +robbery, and a very successful one. The inventor made haste to build +another gin; but before he could get his model completed, and obtain +a patent right to the invention, the machine had been manufactured at +various points in the South by other parties, and was in operation on +several plantations. Whitney formed a partnership with a gentleman who +had some capital, and went to Connecticut to manufacture his gin; but he +was compelled to spend all the money he could make, fighting lawsuits. +His patent had been infringed, and those who sought to rob him of the +fruits of his labor took a bold stand. The result of all this was, that +the inventor never received any just compensation for a machine that +revolutionized the commerce of the country, and added enormously to the +power and progress of the Republic. Lord Macaulay said that Eli Whitney +did more to make the United States powerful than Peter the Great did to +make the Russian Empire dominant. Robert Fulton declared that Arkwright, +Watt, and Whitney were the three men that did more for mankind than any +of their contemporaries. This is easy to believe, when we remember that +while the South shipped 6 bags of cotton to England in 1786, and only +379 in 1791, ten years after the cotton gin came into use, 82,000 +bales were exported. The very importance of Whitney's invention made +it immensely profitable for the vicious and the depraved to seize and +appropriate the inventor's rights. These robberies were upheld by those +who were anxious to share in the profits; and political demagogues made +themselves popular by misrepresenting Whitney, and clamoring against +the law that was intended to protect him. It was only by means of this +clamor, half political and wholly dishonest, that the plain rights +of Whitney could be denied and justice postponed. His invention was +entirely new. It was distinct from every other. It had no connection +with and no relation to any other invention that had been made. It stood +alone, and there could be no difficulty whatever in identifying it. And +yet Whitney had just this difficulty. In his efforts to prove that he +was the inventor of the cotton gin, and that he was entitled to a share +of the immense profits that those who used it were reaping, he had to +travel thousands of miles, and spend thousands of dollars in appearing +before Legislatures and in courts that denied him justice. The life +of his patent had nearly expired before any court finally enforced +his right, and Congress refused to grant him an extension beyond +the fourteen years that had then nearly expired. Associations and +combinations had been formed for the purpose of defrauding Whitney, and +these were represented by the ablest lawyers that could be hired. It is +no wonder that Whitney, in writing to Robert Fulton, a brother inventor, +declared that the troubles he had to contend with were the result of a +lack of desire on the part of mankind to see justice done. The truth is, +his invention was of such prime importance that the public fought for +its possession, and justice and honesty were for the moment lost sight +of. At one time but a few men in Georgia were bold enough to go into +court and testify to the simplest facts within their knowledge; +and Whitney himself says, that in one instance he had the greatest +difficulty in proving that the machine had been used in Georgia, +although at that very moment three, separate gins were at work within +fifty yards of the building in which the court sat. They were all so +near, that the rattle and hum of the machinery could be heard from the +court-house steps. + +In December, 1807, a judge was found to affirm the rights of Whitney +under his patent. The judge's name was Johnson; and in his decision he +said, "The whole interior of the Southern States was languishing, and +its inhabitants emigrating for want of some object to engage their +attention and employ their industry, when the invention of this machine +at once opened views to them which set the whole country in active +motion. From childhood to age it has presented to us a lucrative +employment. Individuals who were depressed with poverty, and sunk in +idleness, have suddenly risen to wealth and respectability. Our debts +have been paid off. Our capital has increased, and our lands have +trebled themselves in value. We cannot express the weight of the +obligation which the country owes to this invention. The extent of it +cannot now be seen." + +The language of the learned judge was high-flown; but he was a just +judge, and he had a faint and glimmering idea of the real importance of +this remarkable invention. It was a very simple affair. The principle +came to Whitney in a flash, and he had a model constructed within ten +days after the despairing planters had gone to him with their problem. +But it may be doubted whether any other individual, by one simple +invention, ever did so much for the progress and enrichment of human +interests, and for the welfare and the comfort of the human race. This +little machine made the agriculture of the South the strongest and the +richest in the world, and gave to this section a political power that +was for years supreme in the nation, and was only surrendered as the +result of a long and exhausting war. By means of the cotton gin, towns +and cities have sprung up, and a vast network of railways has been +built; and yet the most that Whitney received was a royalty on his gin +in North Carolina, and a donation of fifty thousand dollars from the +State of South Carolina. In Georgia his right to his invention was +stolen, and all that he got out of it was a number of costly lawsuits. + +After struggling for five years against the overwhelming odds that +avarice and greed had mustered to aid them, Whitney turned his attention +in another direction, and made a still more remarkable display of his +genius. This part of his career does not belong directly to the history +of Georgia, but it is interesting enough to be briefly recorded here. +The United States Government was in want of arms, and this want various +contractors had failed to meet. Through the influence of the secretary +of the treasury, Whitney was given a contract to make ten thousand +muskets at $13.40 apiece. He had no capital, no works, no machinery, no +tools, no skilled workmen, no raw material. In creating a part of these +and commanding the rest, he called into play an inventive genius, the +extent of which must always excite wonder and admiration. + +Within ten years he created his own works, and invented and made his own +tools, invented and made his own machinery. More than this, he invented +and applied a wholly new principle of manufacture,--a principle that +has done more to advance human industry and increase wealth all over the +world than any other known effort of the human mind to solve material +problems. He invented and developed the principle or system of making +the various parts of a musket or any other complex manufactured +article, such as the sewing machine, so absolutely uniform as to be +interchangeable. This principle has been carried out in hundreds of +thousands of different ways. It has entered into and become a feature of +a vast range of manufactures. The principle was established by a series +of inventions as wonderful as any that the human mind ever conceived, +so that Whitney has been aptly called the Shakespeare of invention. His +inventions remain practically unchanged. After ninety years of trial, +they are found to be practically perfect. + +It was his peculiar gift to be able to convey into inanimate machinery +the skill that a human being could acquire only after years of study and +practice. + +It is almost like belittling the greatest of marvels to call it a +stroke of genius. He made it possible for the most ordinary laborer +to accomplish a hundred times as much in an hour, and with the most +exquisite perfection, as a skilled laborer could accomplish in a day. + +On these wonderful inventions Whitney took out no patents. He gave them +all to the public. In this way he revenged himself on those who had +successfully robbed him of the fruits of his labor and genius in the +invention of the cotton gin. Perhaps if he had been more justly treated +in Georgia, he might have set up his works in this State, and this fact +might have made the South the seat of great manufacturing industries. +Who knows? + + + + +SOME GEORGIA INVENTIONS. + +The credit of inventing the steamboat is by general consent given to +Robert Fulton. Every schoolboy is taught that such is the case, and yet +the fact is at least very doubtful. There is preserved among the papers +in the Archives of Georgia a document that indicates, that, while Robert +Fulton has won the credit for an invention that has revolutionized +the commerce of the world, the real inventor may have been William +Longstreet of Augusta, an uncle of General James B. Longstreet, and the +father of Judge A. B. Longstreet, author of "Georgia Scenes." On the +26th of September, 1790, William Longstreet sent the following letter to +Edward Telfair, who was then governor of Georgia:-- + + Sir,--I make no doubt but you have heard of my steamboat + and as often heard it laughed at. But in this I have only + shared the fate of all other projectors, for it has + uniformly been the custom of every country to ridicule even + the greatest inventions until use has proved their utility. + + My not reducing my scheme to practice has been a little + unfortunate for me, I confess, and perhaps for the people in + general, but until very lately I did not think that either + artists or material could be had in the place sufficient. + However, necessity, that grand science of invention, has + furnished me with an idea of perfecting my plans almost + entirely with wooden materials, and by such workmen as may + be got here, and from a thorough confidence of its success, + I have presumed to ask your assistance and patronage. + + Should it succeed agreeable to my expectations, I hope I + shall discover that source of duty which such favors always + merit, and should it not succeed, your reward must lay with + other unlucky adventurers. + + For me to mention to you all the advantages arising from + such a machine would be tedious, and, indeed, quite + unnecessary, Therefore I have taken the liberty to state in + this plain and humble manner my wish and opinion, which I + hope you will excuse, and I will remain, either with or + without approbation, + + Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant, + + William Longstreet. + +There are two features of this letter that ought to attract attention. +One is that William Longstreet has the name of "steamboat" as pat as if +the machine were in common use. The second is his allusion to the fact +that his conception of a boat to be propelled by steam was so well known +as to be noised abroad. + +Credit is sometimes given to John Fitch, who, it is said, invented a +boat propelled by steam, that carried passengers on the Delaware River +in 1787. An Englishman named Symington is said to have run a steamboat +in 1801, while Robert Fulton's success was delayed until 1806. All these +men have received credit for their efforts to benefit humanity, but +history is silent in regard to William Longstreet. In one book about +Georgia the remark is made that "James Longstreet is said to have +invented the steamboat in 1793," but in this instance neither the name +nor the date is correct. + +In old St. Paul's churchyard in Augusta there is a tombstone which +bears the inscription, "Sacred to the memory of William Longstreet, who +departed this life September 1, 1814, aged 54 years, 10 months, and +26 days." Below this runs the pleasant legend, "All the days of the +afflicted are evil, but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual +feast." We are thus left to infer that William Longstreet was a man of a +merry heart; and that fact is certified to by the cleverness with which +his son, the author of "Georgia Scenes," has preserved for us some of +the quaint characters that lived and moved and had their being on the +borders of Georgia society directly after the Revolution. + +[Illustration: William Longstreet and his Steamboat 172] + +Being an inventor, a man of ingenious ideas, and somewhat ambitious of +serving the public in that way, William Long-street certainly had need +of a merry heart; for, as he himself says, the way of the projector +is hard. The term itself is used in Georgia to this day to express a +certain sort of good-natured contempt. Go into the country places and +ask after some acquaintance who has not prospered in a worldly way, and +the answer will be, "Oh, he's just a prodjikin around." + +It is certain that William Longstreet knew that steam could be used as +a motive power long before it was so applied; and because he employed +a good deal of his time in trying to discover the principle, he was +ridiculed by his neighbors and friends, and the more thoughtless among +them didn't know whether he was a crank, a half-wit, or a "luny." From +all accounts, he was a modest, shy, retiring man, though a merry one. He +had but little money to devote to the experiments he wished to make, and +in this was not different from the great majority of inventors. + +For a long time Longstreet's zeal and enthusiasm attracted the attention +of a few of his wealthy friends, and these furnished him such money as +he wanted; but no very long time was needed to convince those who +were spending their money that the idea of propelling a boat by steam, +instead of by sails or oars, was ridiculous. Longstreet made many +experiments, but he had not hit upon the method of applying the +principle he had in mind: consequently his rich friends closed their +purses, and left him entirely to his own resources. A newspaper +publication, in giving some of the facts in regard to Longstreet's +efforts, says that he and his steamboat were made the subject of a comic +song:-- + + "Can you row the boat ashore, + Billy boy, Billy boy? + Can you row the boat ashore, + Gentle Billy? + + Can you row the boat ashore + Without a paddle or an oar, + Billy boy?" + +Though he had failed many times, Longstreet was not disheartened. He +continued his experiments, and at last succeeded in making a toy boat, +which he exhibited to a few friends. His idea at this time, it seems, +was not to construct a steamboat, but merely to convince some of his +friends that steam could be used as a motive power. But in this he was +not very successful. His toy boat did all that he wanted it to do; but +his friends declared, that while steam might be used to move a small +boat, it could never be used to move a large one. The experience of a +new generation showed that there was one wise man in Augusta and a great +many fools. Nevertheless William Longstreet determined to show that +a large boat could be moved by a large amount of steam as easily as a +small boat could be moved by a small volume. + +Now, while he was making his experiments; and trying to overcome the +difficulties that presented themselves, Robert Fulton was living in +Paris with Joel Barlow. He was in Paris when Napoleon became first +consul. At that time he was experimenting with his diving boat and +submarine torpedo. Napoleon was so much interested in this work that +he gave Fulton ten thousand francs to carry it on. The inventor was +in France in 1803 when Napoleon organized his army for the invasion of +England. He was surrounded by influential friends, and he had money at +his command. + +Compared with William Longstreet, Robert Fulton was "in clover." +Longstreet was compelled to work without money, and in the midst of a +community whose curiosity had developed into criticism and ridicule. +Thus it was not until 1806 that he succeeded in completing a steamboat +that would accommodate twenty or twenty-five persons. He went on board, +accompanied by such of his friends as he could persuade, and in the +presence of a curious and doubting crowd the first real steamboat was +launched on the Savannah River. Some of the friends of those on board, +feeling anxious for their safety if the "contraption" should explode, +secured a skiff, and followed the steamboat at a safe distance, ready +to pick up such of the passengers as might survive when the affair had +blown to pieces. Longstreet headed the boat down the river, and went in +that direction for several miles. Then he turned the head of the little +boat upstream; and, although the current was swift, he carried his +passengers back to the wharf, and several miles above. + +From that hour William Longstreet became a man of some consequence in +the community. Those who had ridiculed him now sang his praises, and +those who had doubted that steam could be used as a motive power were +now convinced. His friends tried hard to get him to go to Washington and +secure the benefits of a patent for his invention; but he persistently +refused to take any steps to profit by the results of his genius, or +indeed to make his invention known. His constant reply to all those who +tried to persuade him to go to Washington was, that he had carried +on his experiments simply to prove the truth of his theory to his own +satisfaction, and to convince those whose respect he coveted that he was +neither a fool nor a crank. + +Some of his friends and admirers were themselves preparing to go to +Washington in behalf of the inventor, but they had put off their journey +until the year after the exhibition was made in Augusta, and at +that time they heard that Robert Fulton had exhibited his steamboat +"Clermont" on the Hudson River. They then gave up their design, and +William Longstreet continued to remain in the seclusion that was so +pleasant to him. + +It is a noteworthy fact, that twelve years after William Longstreet made +his successful experiments on the Savannah River, Georgia enterprise +built, launched, and managed the first steamship that ever crossed the +ocean. This great enterprise was organized in Savannah in 1818. The +Georgia Company contracted to have the ship built in New York; and when +completed, it was named the "Savannah." The vessel was finished and +brought to Savannah in April, 1819. In May the steamship left Savannah +bound for Liverpool. From Liverpool it went to St. Petersburg, and then +returned to Savannah, having made the voyage in fifty days. + +The first sewing machine was invented by Rev. Frank R. Goulding, a +Georgian who has won fame among the children of the land as the author +of "The Young Marooners." He invented the sewing machine for the purpose +of lightening the labors of his wife; and she used it for some years +before some other genius invented it, or some traveler stole the idea +and improved on it. + +Dr. Crawford W. Long, in 1842, when twenty-seven years of age, performed +the first painless surgical operation that is known to history. In 1839, +Velpeau of Paris declared that the attempts to find some agent by which +to prevent pain in surgical operations was nothing less than chimerical; +and as late as 1846 Sir Benjamin Brodie said, "Physicians and surgeons +have been looking in vain, from the days of Hippocrates down to the +present time, for the means of allaying or preventing bodily pain." And +yet three years after the declaration of Velpeau, and four years before +the statement of Sir Benjamin Brodie, the young Georgia physician had +removed a tumor from the neck of a patient, and that patient had felt no +pain. + +The story is very interesting. Dr. Crawford W. Long was born in +Danielsville, Madison County, Ga., on the 1st of November, 1815. He +graduated at the University of Georgia, studied medicine, and graduated +at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. He then +went to Jefferson, Jackson County, where he opened an office, and +practiced medicine for many years. + +[Illustration: Laughing Gas 177] + +In those days the young men living in the country districts, for want +of something better to amuse them, were in the habit of inhaling +nitrous-oxide gas, or, as it was then popularly known, "laughing gas." +The young people would gather together, and some of them would inhale +the gas until they came under its influence. The result was in most +cases very amusing. Some would laugh, some would cry, and all in +various ways would carry out the peculiarities of their characters and +dispositions. Thus, if a young man had an inward inclination to preach, +he would, under the influence of "laughing gas," proceed to deliver a +sermon. As these "laughing-gas" parties were exhilarating to the young +people who inhaled the gas, and amusing to those who were spectators, +they became very popular. + +But it was not always easy to secure the gas. On one occasion a company +of young men went to Dr. Long's office and asked him to make them a +supply of "laughing gas." There was no apparatus in the office suitable +for making it, but Dr. Long told the young men that the inhalation of +sulphuric ether would have the same effect. He had become acquainted +with this property of ether while studying medicine in Philadelphia. +The young men and their friends were so well pleased with the effects +of ether inhalation, that "ether parties" became fashionable in that +section, as well as in other parts of the State. At these ether parties, +Dr. Long noticed that persons who received injuries while under its +influence felt no pain. On one occasion a young man received an injury +to his ankle joint that disabled him for several days, and he told Dr. +Long that he did not feel the slightest pain until the effects of the +ether had passed off. Observing these facts, Dr. Long was led to believe +that surgical operations might be performed without pain. + +Dr. Long's theory was formed in 1841, but he waited for some time before +testing it, in the hope that a case of surgery of some importance--the +amputation of an arm or a leg--might fall in his practice. On the 30th +of March, 1842, Dr. Long removed a tumor from the neck of Mr. James +M. Venable. On the 6th of June, the same year, another small tumor was +removed from the neck of the same patient, and both operations were +painless. Mr. Venable inhaled sulphuric ether, and the effect of it was +to render him insensible to the pain of cutting out the tumors. + +Dr. Long had told Mr. Venable that he would charge little or nothing for +removing the tumors under the influence of ether. The bill rendered +for both operations amounted to $4.50; but, small as the bill was, +it represented the discovery and application of ether in surgical +practice,--one of the greatest boons to mankind. Up to that time no +patient under the surgeon's knife had ever been able to escape the +horror and pain of an operation. + +Dr. Long did not at once print the facts about his discovery. He wanted +to make assurance doubly sure. He waited in the hope of having an +important case of surgery under his charge, such as the amputation of +a leg or an arm. But these cases, rare at any time, were still rarer at +that time, especially in the region where Dr. Long practiced. He finally +satisfied himself, however, of the importance of his discovery, but, +having waited until 1846, found that at least three persons--Wells, +Jackson, and Morton--had hit on the same discovery, and had made +publication of it. Morton patented ether under the name of "Letheon," +and in October, 1846, administered it to a patient in the Massachusetts +General Hospital. + +In 1844, Horace Wells, a native of Vermont, discovered that the +inhalation of nitrous-oxide gas produces anaesthesia. He was a dentist. +He gave it to his patients, and was able to perform dental operations +without causing pain. Thus we may see how the case stands. Long produced +anaesthesia in 1842; that is to say, he caused his patients to inhale +sulphuric ether in that year, whenever he had a painful operation to +perform, and in each case the operation was painless. + +In 1846, when the surgeons of the Massachusetts General Hospital +performed painless operations on patients, after administering to them +Morton's patented "Letheon," which was his name for sulphuric ether, +there came about a great war of pamphlets, and it ended tragically. +Long had never made any secret of the substance which he used. He gave +information of it to all the surgeons and doctors with whom he came in +contact; and he was not in any way concerned in the conflict that was +carried on by Jackson, Morton, and Wells. He simply gathered together +the facts of his discovery, proved that he was the first physician to +perform painless operations in surgery, and that was the end of it so +far as he was concerned. + +Wells became insane, and committed suicide in New York in 1848. Morton +died in New York City of congestion of the brain. Jackson ended his days +in an insane asylum. + +In Boston a monument has been erected to the discoverer of anaesthesia. +The name of Crawford W. Long should stand first upon it, and should be +followed by the names of Wells, Morton, and Jackson. + +[Illustration: Early Progress of the State 181] + + + + +THE EARLY PROGRESS OF THE STATE. + +After the invention of the cotton gin, the progress of the people +and the development of the agriculture of the State went forward very +rapidly. The population began to increase. The movement of families from +Virginia and North Carolina grew constantly larger. In Virginia, and +in settled portions of North Carolina, it was found that the soil +and climate were not favorable to the growth of the cotton plant: +consequently hundreds of families left their homes in these States, and +came to Georgia. + +When Oglethorpe settled the Colony, the charter under which he acted +prohibited the introduction and use of negro slaves in the Colony. It +is hard to say at this late day whether this portion of the charter was +dictated by feelings of humanity, especially when we remember that +in those days, and in most of the Colonies, there were many white +people--men, women, and children--employed and used as slaves. From +the very first, many of the Georgia colonists were anxious to introduce +negro slaves, but the trustees firmly refused to allow it. There was a +strong party in favor of introducing negroes, and those who opposed +the movement presently found themselves in a very small and unpopular +minority. By 1748 the excitement over the question had grown so great, +that those colonists who were opposed to negro slavery were compelled to +abandon their position. Rev. Mr. Whitefield, the eloquent preacher, had +already bought and placed negro slaves at his Orphan House at Bethesda, +near Savannah. The colonists had also treated this part of the charter +with contempt. They pretended to hire negroes' homes in South Carolina +for a hundred years, or during life. They paid the "hire" in advance, +the sum being the full value of the slaves. Finally negroes were +bought openly from traders in Savannah. Some of them were seized; but +a majority of the magistrates were in favor of the introduction of +negroes, and they were able to postpone legal decisions from time to +time. + +Rev. George Whitefield, whose wonderful eloquence has made his name +famous, and Hon. James Habersham, had great influence with the trustees; +and it was mainly due to their efforts that the colonists were legally +allowed to purchase and use negro slaves. Mr. Habersham affirmed that +the Colony could not prosper without slave labor. Rev. Mr. Whitefield, +on the other hand, was in favor of negro slavery on the broad ground of +philanthropy. He boldly declared that it would be of great advantage +to the African to be brought from his barbarous surroundings and placed +among civilized Christians. When we remember what has happened, who +can deny that the remark of the eloquent preacher was not more to the +purpose, and nearer to the truth, than some of the modern statements +about American slavery? What really happened (as any one may discover by +looking into impartial history) was, that thousands of negroes who had +been captured in battle, and made slaves of in their own country, +were taken from that dark land and brought into the light of Christian +civilization. Their condition, mentally and morally, was so improved, +that, in little more than a century after White-field made his +statement, the government of the United States ventured to make citizens +of them. The contrast between their condition and that of the negroes +who remained in Africa is so startling, that a well-known abolitionist, +writing twenty years after emancipation, has described slavery as a +great university, which the negroes entered as barbarians, and came out +of as Christians and citizens. + +The efforts of the Colony to secure a repeal of the act prohibiting +slavery were successful. The trustees in London concluded that it would +be better to permit slavery, with such restrictions and limitations as +might be proper, than to permit the wholesale violations that were then +going on; and so in 1749 the colonists of Georgia were allowed by law to +own and use negro slaves. + +Thus, when the cotton gin came fairly into use, slavery had been legally +allowed in Georgia for nearly half a century. The rest of the Colonies +had long enjoyed that privilege. The cotton gin, therefore, had a +twofold effect,--it increased the cotton crop and the value of the +lands, and it also increased the use of negro slaves. The Virginians and +North Carolinians, who came to Georgia, brought their slaves with them; +and the Georgians, as their crops became profitable, laid out their +surplus cash in buying more negroes. The slave trade became very +prosperous, and both Old England and New England devoted a large amount +of capital and enterprise to this branch of commerce. + +As the population increased, and the cotton crop became more valuable, +the demand for land became keener. To this fact was due the intense +excitement kindled by the Yazoo Fraud in 1794. The cotton gin had been +introduced the year before, and the people were beginning to see and +appreciate the influence the invention would have on their prosperity. +Instead of selling land to speculators, they wanted to keep it for +themselves and children, or at least to get something like its real +value. + +The cotton gin had increased not only the demand for negro slaves, but +also the demand for land; and indirectly it was the cause of the various +troubles the State had with the Indians after the close of the War for +Independence. The troubles with the Indians also led finally to serious +misunderstandings between the United States Government and that of +Georgia. In May, 1796, a treaty was made between the United States and +the Creeks. This treaty created some indignation among the people, and +was denounced as an interference by the General Government with State +affairs. The lands which the Indians ceded to the United States were a +part of the Territory of Georgia, and the transaction gave rise to much +discussion and considerable bad feeling. + +In ten years, from 1790 to 1800, the population in Georgia had increased +more than eighty thousand. During the next ten years the increase in the +population was more than ninety thousand. This increase meant a still +greater demand for farm lands. Westward the Territory of Georgia +extended to the Mississippi River. The agitation which began over this +rich possession when the Yazoo Fraud was attempted, was kept up until +1800, when Georgia appointed four of her most prominent citizens to +meet with commissioners appointed by the United States; and settle all +questions that had arisen. The result was, that Georgia ceded to the +General Government all her lands belonging to the State, south of +Tennessee and west of the Chattahoochee River. These lands were to be +sold, and out of the proceeds the State was to receive $1,250,-000. It +was also provided that the United States, at its own expense, should +extinguish the Indian titles to the lands held by the Creeks between +the forks of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers, and that in like manner the +General Government should extinguish the Indian title to all the other +lands within the State of Georgia. Under this agreement, and the Indian +treaty based upon it, nearly all of the lands lying between the Oconee +and Ocmulgee rivers were opened up for occupation and cultivation. + +All the Territory of Georgia was looked upon by the people as a public +domain, belonging to the State for distribution among the citizens. The +lands east of the Oconee were divided among the people under the plan +known as the "Head Right System." By this system every citizen was +allowed to choose, and survey to suit himself, a body of unoccupied +land. This done, he received a title called a "head right land warrant," +which was issued to him when he paid a small fee and a nominal price +for the land. If no one had previously appropriated the same land, the +warrant was his title. But much confusion arose in the distribution of +titles, and serious disputes grew out of it. The poorer sections of land +were neglected, and only the most fertile sections surveyed. + +When the lands west of the Oconee were acquired, the clumsy Head Right +System was given up for what is known as the "Land Lottery System." "All +free white males, twenty-one years of age or older, every married man +with children under age, widows with children, and all families of +orphan minors," were allowed to draw in the lottery. Lists of these +persons were made out in each count, and sent to the governor. The +lottery was drawn under the management of five responsible persons. The +tickets to be drawn were marked with the numbers of the land lots, and +these were put into boxes with numerous blanks. Those who were fortunate +enough to draw numbered tickets were entitled to plats and grants of +their lots, signed by the governor. + +The lots were not all of the same size. Some contained 202 1/2 acres, +others 490 acres. Twelve months after the drawing was completed, the +fortunate person was required to pay into the State treasury four +dollars for every hundred acres contained in his lot. + +Many of those who had the good fortune to draw prizes in the +land-lottery scheme paid the necessary amount of money, and received +titles to their land lots; but many others neglected to pay in the +money, and thus forfeited their titles. + +It has been said that the land hunger of the people at this time was +both selfish and sordid; but if we come to look at the matter closely, +selfishness is behind much of the material progress that the world has +made. The selfishness of individuals is not more conspicuous than the +selfishness of communities, commonwealths, and nations. In history we +find the rumseller, the land grabber, and the speculator following +hard upon the heels of the missionary. The selfishness of nations is +frequently given the name of "patriotism," and rightly so, since it is a +movement for the good of all. + +When Georgia had fairly begun to recover from the disastrous results of +the War for Independence, the troubles that resulted in the War of 1812 +began to make themselves felt. France and England were at war; and the +United States Government tried to remain neutral, giving aid to neither +the one nor the other. But this was not pleasing to either of these +great powers. Both were interested in the trade and commerce of this +country, and both issued orders affecting American affairs. The United +States resented the interference, and protested against it Great +Britain, with an arrogance made bitter by the remembrance of her +humiliating defeat at the hands of a few feeble Colonies, replied to the +American protest, declaring that American ships would still be searched, +and American sailors impressed into the service of the British, wherever +found on the high seas. In 1807 a British man-of-war fired on an +American merchant vessel as it was leaving harbor. Three men were +killed, eighteen wounded, and four sailors seized. This outrage inflamed +the whole country, and in December of that year Congress passed a law +preventing American vessels from leaving their ports to trade with +foreign nations. This law was deeply resented by the New England States, +and they held at Hartford, Conn., the first secession convention that +ever met in this country. + +[Illustration: British Impressement of Americans 188] + +Georgia was foremost among the States to denounce and resist the +aggressive acts of Great Britain. In 1808 the Legislature sent an +address to the President of the United States, approving the measures he +had taken, and declared that the people of Georgia were strong in their +independence, and proud of their government, and that they would never +wish to see the lives and property of their brethren exposed to the +insult and rapacity of a foreign power; but if the war should come, they +would, in proportion to their number and resources, give zealous aid to +the government of their choice. + +The British, meanwhile, made arrangements to force a cotton trade with +Georgia and South Carolina, and for the purpose fitted out a number +of vessels of from ten to fifteen guns each. These vessels were to +be employed in opening the ports of Georgia and Carolina. A war brig +anchored at Tybee, and two of its officers went to Savannah. When they +had made known their purpose, they were peremptorily ordered away. They +returned to their vessel and put to sea; but as they were leaving, they +fired at a pilot boat in the harbor, and committed other outrages. + +This incident and others aroused the indignation of the people. The +Legislature passed resolutions, addressed to the President of the +United States, declaring that all hope of a peaceful termination of +the difficulty had been lost, that the duty of the United States was to +maintain its sovereign rights against the despots of Europe, and that +the citizens of Georgia would ever be found in readiness to assert the +rights and support the dignity of the country whenever called on by the +General Government. By the time the treaty of peace was made, the day +before Christmas in 1814, the war spirit in Georgia had been roused +to the highest pitch by the numerous outrages committed by the Indian +allies of the British. + +But the story of the Indian troubles belongs to a chapter by itself. + + + + + +THE CREEKS AND THE CREEK WAR + +[Illustration: The Creek War 191] + +If all the stories of the troubles of the early settlers of Georgia with +the Indians could be written out, they would fill a very large book. All +the whites with whom the red men came in contact in Georgia were not as +just, as generous, and as unselfish as James Edward Oglethorpe. On the +other hand, not all the Indians with whom the whites had dealings were +as wise and as honest as old Tomochichi. Consequently misunderstandings +arose, and prejudices grew and developed. This was greatly helped by +dishonest traders and speculators, who were keen to take advantage of +the ignorance of the Indians. + +The controlling influence among the Indians in Georgia was the Creek +Confederacy (or nation); and this, in turn, was practically controlled +by the Muscogees. + +North of the Creeks, Broad River being the dividing line, lived the +Cherokees, a nation even more warlike than the Creeks. The impression +made upon the Indians by Oglethorpe and some of his more prudent +successors, made them the strong friends of the British. Of course, the +red men were unable to appreciate the merits of the quarrel between +the Georgia settlers and King George: but, even if matters had been +different, they would probably have remained on friendly terms with the +Royalists; for Governor Wright, who was a wise as well as a good man, +took great pains, when the Liberty Boys began their agitations against +the Crown, to conciliate the Indians, and to show them that the King was +their friend. What was known as "the royal presents" were promptly +sent from England, and promptly delivered to and distributed among the +Indians. The governor sent for the chiefs, and had conferences with +them; so that when the Revolution began, the Upper and the Lower Creeks, +and the Cherokees as well, were the firm friends of the British. +During the Revolution, as we have already seen, they made constant and +unprovoked attacks on the patriots, burning their houses, carrying off +their cattle, and murdering their helpless women and children. These +raids were continued even after the Americans had compelled Great +Britain to recognize their independence, and hundreds of incidents +might be given to show the ferocity with which the savages attacked the +whites. In many cases the settlements were compelled to build stockades, +in which the people took shelter, for safety as well as defense, +whenever there was an alarm. + +On one occasion shortly after the close of the war, the Indians attacked +the family of a man named William Tyner, who was living in what is known +as Elbert County. Tyner himself was absent, and his family was entirely +without protection. Mrs. Tyner was killed, the brains of her youngest +child were dashed out against a tree, and another child was scalped and +left for dead. A young boy named Noah, the son of Mr. Tyner, escaped in +the general confusion, and hid himself in a hollow tree. This tree was +for many years known as "Noah's Ark." Mary and Tamar, two daughters, +were suffered to live; but the Indians carried them off to the Coweta +towns on the Chattahoochee. These children remained with the Indians +several years. John Manack, an Indian trader, saw them there, and +purchased Mary. He then brought her to Elbert County, and afterwards +made her his wife. He returned to the Indian nation shortly afterwards, +and tried to purchase Tamar; but, as she was useful to the Indians in +bringing wood and fuel for their fires, they refused to sell her. When +Manack went away, an old Indian woman, who was fond of Tamar, learned +that the Indians, suspecting the girl was preparing to escape, had +decided to burn her at the stake. The old woman helped her to escape +by providing her with provisions and a canoe. She also gave Tamar +directions how to go down the Chattahoochee. By day the fleeing girl hid +herself in the thick swamps along the banks of the river, and by +night she floated down the river in her canoe. She finally reached +Apalachicola Bay, took passage on a vessel, and shortly afterwards +arrived at Savannah. Here she was assisted to her home in Elbert County +by the citizens. She married a man named Hunt, and no doubt many of her +descendants are still living in Georgia. + +There was once an Indian village in Troup County, on the west bank of +the Chattahoochee, where the Indians who lived on the Alabama side of +the river were in the habit of meeting before and after their raids upon +the white settlements. Before the raids they would meet there to arrange +their programme; and afterwards they would assemble at the village to +count the scalps they had taken, dispose of their prisoners, and divide +the spoils. On one occasion, after a very destructive raid into the +white settlements, the Indians returned to this village, and began to +celebrate the success with which they had been able to creep upon the +settlements at dead of night, murder the unsuspecting whites, burn their +dwellings, and drive off their horses and cattle. This time, however, +the Indians had been followed by a few hundred men, under the leadership +of General David Adams, who was at that time a major in the militia, +and a scout. Major Adams had taken part in the closing scenes of +the Revolution when quite a young man. When the Creeks renewed their +depredations after the war, Major Adams, both as a scout and as a +leader, fought the Indians with such success as to win distinction. + +He followed the Indians on this occasion with a few hundred men, who had +volunteered to accompany him. His pursuit was not active. The men under +him were not seasoned soldiers; and even if they had been, the force +of Indians was too large to justify an attack. Major Adams followed the +Indians in the hope that he and his men would find an opportunity to +surprise them. The Indians marched straight for the village on the west +bank of the Chattahoochee, about eight miles beyond the point where La +Grange now stands. At this village, which was the central point of the +Lower Creek nation at that time, there were many Indians--men, women, +and children--awaiting the return of the raiders. It was in the late +afternoon when they reached the village, and as the sun went down they +began the celebration of their victories; and in this they were joined +by the Indians, who had been waiting for their return. + +Major Adams had halted his command a few miles from the river, where he +waited until night fell. He then advanced silently to the banks of the +stream, which was not so wide that he and his men could not see the +Indians dancing around their fires, and hear their whoops and yells. On +one bank stood the men whose families and friends had been murdered; on +the opposite shore, and almost within a stone's throw, the red murderers +danced and howled in savage delight. + +For half the night, at least, the orgies were kept up by the Indians; +but at last they grew weary of the song and dance. Their fires slowly +died out, and there came a moment when the whites, who were watching and +waiting, could hear nothing but the murmur of the flowing water, as it +rippled over the shoals or lapped the bank. The time had come to strike +a blow, if a blow was to be struck. It was characteristic of Major +Adams, that, instead of sending one of his little party to find out the +position of the village and its surroundings, so as to be able to make a +swift, sudden, and an effective attack, he himself proposed to go. + +[Illustration: Major Adams scouting and Indian camp 197] + +It was a hazardous undertaking, and required a bold heart to undertake +it. Major Adams knew there was a ford near the point where his men lay. +The trail led into the river; but, once in the river, it was lost. He +had to find the ford for himself, and it proved to be a very narrow and +difficult one. It led in a direct line across the river nearly halfway, +and then turned down the stream in an oblique direction. A part of the +ford was over a slippery shoal. At some points the water was knee-deep, +at others it was chin-deep. + +With great difficulty Major Adams reached the opposite bank in safety. +The paths leading from the ford into the swamp that lay between the +Indian village and the river were so numerous that the stout-hearted +scout hardly knew which one to take. He chose one almost at random, and, +after following it through the thick underbrush, he found that it had +led him some distance below the village. He followed the margin of +the swamp back again, and soon found himself in the outskirts of the +village. There he paused to listen. A dog somewhere in the settlement +barked uneasily and sleepily. + +Pushing forward, but moving with the utmost caution, Major Adams soon +found himself in the center of the village. In every hut the Indians +were sleeping; and, in addition to these, the ground seemed to be +covered with warriors, who lay stretched out and snoring, their rifles +and tomahawks within easy reach. The brave Georgian went through the +village from one end to the other. Once a huge Indian, near whom he +was passing, raised himself on his elbow, grasped his gun, and looked +carefully in every direction. Having satisfied himself, he lay down, +and was soon snoring again. Fortunately, Major Adams had seen the Indian +stir, and sank to the ground near a group of sleeping warriors, where he +remained until he was sure the savage was asleep. + +He had examined every point of attack and defense in the village, and +was returning to the river, when he saw a pony tethered to a sapling. +Thinking that the little animal would be able to find the ford without +trouble, and could thus be used as a safe guide, Major Adams resolved +to capture it. He approached the pony with that intention, but not until +too late did he discover that it had a bell hung on its neck. The pony, +frightened at the sight of a white man, broke the rope by which he was +tied, and went scampering through the village, arousing and alarming +warriors, squaws, children, and dogs with the jingling bell. + +At the sound of the bell, Major Adams knew that there would be a +tremendous uproar in the village, and he made an instant rush toward +the river, but soon found himself entangled in the briers and thick +underbrush of the swamp. It was fortunate that he missed the path +leading to the ford; for a party of Indians ran in that direction, +either to catch the pony, or to find out whether they were about to be +attacked. Some of them passed within a few feet of the spot where Major +Adams stood. + +In a short time the Indians returned to the village, and it was not long +before everything was as quiet and as peaceful as before the uproar. +Major Adams, instead of hunting for the path, made his way directly +to the river, slipped into the water, and swam straight across to the +opposite bank. He soon found his men, and told them of his adventure +and of the plans he had matured. Up to this moment he had been second in +command. A colonel of militia was with the party, and it was his right +to be the leader of the expedition; but now the men declared that they +would cross the river under the leadership of no one but Adams. It was +Adams or nobody; and the militia colonel, as gracefully as he could, +yielded to the demand. + +Major Adams led the volunteers safely across the treacherous ford and +into the Indian town. The surprise was complete. Scarcely a warrior +escaped. The women and children were spared as far as possible, but the +village was burned to the ground. In retreating from that point, which +was the center of the famous Muscogee nation, Major Adams made long +marches during the day, and camped without fires at night, and in this +way brought his command out of the Indian country without the loss of a +man. + +But Adams's excursion to the center of the Muscogee (or Creek) nation +did not settle matters. The troubles continued. The temper of the people +was not improved by the efforts of the United States Government to take +affairs into its own hands. In some instances the agents of the General +Government sought to stir up active strife between the people of the +State and the Indians, and it was their habit to belittle the State +government by speaking of it contemptuously before the Indians. In many +instances the United States stepped in between the agents of the State +and the Indians, and prevented settlements and treaties that would have +been of lasting benefit to both the whites and the Indians. This was not +due to any purpose or desire of the General Government to trample on the +rights of the State, but grew altogether out of the folly of the agents, +who wanted to put on airs and advertise their importance. + +In 1796 there was a treaty of peace arranged between the Creek nation +and the United States. Three commissioners represented the General +Government, and Georgia also had three present; but the business was +conducted without regard to the wishes of the Georgia commissioners, +and, as the commissioners thought, without regard to the interests of +the State. Seagrove was the name of the agent representing the General +Government at that time, and his attitude toward Georgia was not +calculated to give the Indians any respect for the commonwealth. After +the treaty was signed, General James Jackson, on the part of Georgia, +made an eloquent speech, in which he showed that the Creeks had not +faithfully observed the treaties they had made with the State. He +exhibited two schedules of property which they had stolen, amounting in +value to $110,000, and demanded its restoration. When General Jackson +had concluded, one of the prominent chiefs of the Creeks remarked that +he could fill more paper than Jackson showed with a list of outrages of +the Georgians upon his people. There was something more than a grain of +truth in this; but on that very account the Indians and the Georgians +should have been allowed to settle their difficulties in their own way, +without the interference of the United States. + +The result of the treaty at Coleraine, in 1796, was, that the Georgia +agents were offended with Seagrove (the Indian agent for the United +States), offended with the Indians, and displeased with the United +States commissioners. To these last the Georgians presented a protest +in which the Federal commissioners were accused of disregarding the +interests of Georgia. Charges were brought against Seagrove, who, it was +claimed, had influenced the Creeks not to cede the lands as far as the +Ocmulgee. A bitter controversy grew out of this. It was, in fact, very +nearly the beginning of the discussion that has continued from that day +to this, in some shape or other, over the rights of the States and the +power of the General Government. Pickett, in his "History of Alabama +and Georgia," says that General Jackson, and Seagrove the Indian agent, +became enemies, and afterwards fought a duel. + +Other treaties were made with the Creeks up to 1806, but all these were +violated when the Indians became the allies of the British during the +War of 1812. It is only fair to the Indians to say that the leader in +whom they placed the greatest confidence was a man who for many years +nourished hot resentment against the United States, and especially +against Georgia. This man was General Alexander McGillivray, who became +famous as an opponent of the Americans and the Georgians in all their +efforts to come to a just, fair, and peaceable understanding with the +Creeks. + +As has been stated, when the War of 1812 began, the Creeks became the +allies of the British, and the attacks they made on the unprotected +settlements were so numerous and so serious as to call for some action +on the part of the General Government. In September, 1813, Congress +called for a levy of Georgia troops, and, the State authorities ordered +3,600 men to assemble at Camp Hope, near Fort Hawkins, on the Ocmulgee +River. The ruins of Fort Hawkins may be seen to this day on the +Ocmulgee, in the city of Macon. + +The men who assembled at Camp Hope were volunteers, and all eager for +service. The command of this force fell to General John Floyd, who made +haste to take charge, and endeavored to make arrangements for taking the +field at once. He found his men assembled according to orders, and all +anxious to be led against the hostile Indians. But the little army could +not march. The Federal Government had failed to supply the necessary +funds. What is called "red tape" stood in the way of prompt action. A +dispute arose. Federal officials placed the blame on the contractors +who were to furnish supplies, and the contractors placed it on the +officials, who had failed to furnish the necessary money. While this +dispute was raging, General Floyd, who was a brave and gallant spirit, +applied to the State Legislature, then in session, for a loan of +$20,000. The request was granted, and he was able to equip his troops, +procure supplies, and march into the country of the Creeks, by the +middle or latter part of November. + +Meanwhile the hostile Creeks had already challenged Georgia and begun +their attack. On the 30th of August, seven hundred and twenty-five +Creek Indians attacked Fort Mims on the Chattahoochee. The attack was as +sudden as it was unexpected. It was made at twelve o'clock in the day, +and the inmates of the fort were taken entirely by surprise. The savages +massacred nearly three hundred men, women, and children in the most +cruel manner. This horrible outrage spread consternation on the +frontier, and aroused indignation in all parts of the country. Hundreds +of frontier settlers fled from their homes, and sought safety in the +more thickly settled regions. + +It was owing to this massacre that the troops commanded by General Floyd +were called out. This active and energetic leader began his campaign +by building a line of forts and blockhouses from the Ocmulgee to the +Alabama River, and in this way completely protected the northern part of +the State from invasion by the Creeks. General Floyd accomplished this +work in spite of the failure of the United States officials to supply +with provisions and transportation the troops they had called out. + +He completed his line of defense by building Fort Mitchell. Leaving a +sufficient garrison in this fort, General Floyd placed himself at the +head of nine hundred and fifty men, and marched on Autossee, one of the +most populous towns of the Creek nation, situated on the left bank of +the Tallapoosa River, and near the town of Tallassee, which was nearly +as large. The distance from Fort Mitchell to Autossee was sixty miles, +and General Floyd made it by forced night marches, resting his troops +during the day. He was accompanied on this expedition by General William +Mcintosh, the famous Indian chief, who led four hundred friendly Creeks. + +Arriving at Autossee and Tallassee at daybreak on the 29th of November, +1813, General Floyd arranged and ordered a simultaneous attack on both +towns. By nine o'clock the Indians had been defeated and driven from the +towns, and their houses burned. Four hundred houses were burned, with +all the provisions and stock. Two hundred Indians were killed, including +the kings of both towns. The pipe which the old chief of Tallassee had +smoked at a treaty forty years before, was taken and presented to the +governor, who placed it in the executive office of the State Capitol. +Eleven whites were killed, and fifty-four wounded; among them, General +Floyd himself, who had received a ball in the knee early in the fight. +He refused to have his wound dressed, and continued on horseback, +directing his troops, until after the battle was over. He never entirely +recovered from the effects of this wound. After the towns had been +entirely destroyed, the troops returned to Fort Mitchell, having marched +a hundred and twenty miles in bitter cold weather, and fought a severe +engagement on five days' provisions. + +In January, 1814, General Floyd heard that the Upper Creeks had +collected in great force at the Indian town of Hothlewaulee. By that +time his wound had so far healed that he was able to ride a horse, +and he determined to make an attack on the town. For this purpose he +detached from the troops at Fort Mitchell a force of fifteen hundred +men. The weather was cold, and the winter rains had so obstructed the +roads that the troops found the march a weary and a difficult one; but +they pressed on, nevertheless, cheered by the energy and enthusiasm of +their gallant leader. They marched to within fifteen or twenty miles of +the town, and there encamped. Between midnight and day a large body +of Indians, led by the warrior Weather-ford and Colonel Woodbine, an +English officer, attacked General Floyd's camp. His troops were taken by +surprise, but they were not demoralized. They had been fighting for six +months, and were seasoned to all the dangers of Indian warfare. Above +all, they had a leader who possessed in a wonderful degree a genius for +war. + +No sooner had the alarm been sounded than General Floyd rallied his +little army, formed it in a square, the baggage in the center, and held +the savages at bay until daylight. There was no faltering in any part +of the line or on any side of the square. The dauntless courage of Floyd +himself seemed to control every man, down to the humblest private. When +day dawned, a charge was sounded, and Floyd's troops drove the Indians +before them at the point of the bayonet. Within a quarter of an hour +after the charge was made, the battle was won. The loss of the Indians +was never discovered, as they had an opportunity to carry off their +killed and wounded up to the moment the charge was sounded. Seventeen +Georgians were killed, and a hundred and thirty-two wounded. Floyd's +camp was known as Camp Defiance, but in the official report the fight is +called the battle of Chalibbee. The attack was made on Floyd in order +to prevent a junction between his troops and those of General Andrew +Jackson, who was fighting the Indians in the lower part of Alabama. The +result of the fight made a junction unnecessary; and shortly afterwards +the term for which Floyd's Georgia troops had enlisted expired, and they +were discharged. + +In 1814, when peace was declared between the United States and Great +Britain, the Creeks remained quiet for some time. + + + + +TWO FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS. + +Among the Indian leaders who made Georgia the scene of their operations, +the most celebrated were General Alexander McGillivray and General +William Mcintosh. If these men had been born and brought up among the +whites, both of them would have won lasting renown. They possessed the +energy and the genius: all they lacked was the opportunity to direct +their gifts into channels that would have benefited humanity. + +Alexander McGillivray was one of the most remarkable men of his time, +whether we regard him as a leader of the Indians or simply as an +individual. His father, Lachlan McGillivray, being a lad of adventurous +turn, ran away from a home in Scotland where he enjoyed all the +advantages and comforts that wealth could give him, took passage on +a ship bound for South Carolina, and shortly afterwards landed at +Charleston. Wandering about in that city, and enjoying the sights that +were new to his experience, he soon found himself in the suburbs of the +city. There he found the headquarters of the Indian traders, who came to +Charleston with their pack horses to carry merchandise of all kinds to +the red men. One of these traders persuaded young McGillivray to go with +him. His Scotch eye and mind were quick to appreciate the possibilities +of this new business, and in a few years he became one of the most +enterprising and prosperous of the Indian traders. He pushed his trade +farther than any of his predecessors had ever dared to go. He went, +indeed, to the neighborhood of Fort Toulouse. A few miles above that +fort, where Wetumpka, Ala., now stands, he met Sehoy Marchand, a +beautiful girl of about sixteen years. This girl was the daughter of +Captain Marchand, who had commanded at Fort Toulouse, but who had been +killed by his own soldiers in August, 1722. The soldiers rose against +the officers of the garrison on account of the failure of France to +forward money and supplies to the troops in her American settlement. +The girl's mother was a Creek woman of the tribe of The Wind, the most +powerful and influential family in the Creek nation. The young Scotchman +fell in love with the dark-haired maiden, and she fell in love with the +blue-eyed Scotchman, with his fair skin and red hair. Lachlan +McGillivray built him a trading house on the Coosa, not far away, and +soon married Sehoy, and carried her home. He became very wealthy. He +owned two plantations on the Savannah River, which were well stocked +with negroes, and stores filled with merchandise in both Savannah and +Augusta. When Lachlan McGillivray's son Alexander reached the age of +fourteen, he was carried to Savannah and placed at school, and in a few +years was made a clerk in a counting-house at Savannah. + +But the humdrum business of buying, selling, and adding up long rows of +tiresome figures, did not please him, and so he neglected his duties to +read books, mainly histories. His father, taking the advice of friends, +placed young Alexander under the tutorship of a clergyman in Charleston, +where the lad learned Latin and Greek, and in that way became well +grounded in what our dear old grandfathers called polite literature. But +one day word came to the young man that the chiefs of the Creek nation, +who were getting into trouble with the people of Georgia, were waiting +for the moment when he, as a descendant of the tribe of The Wind, should +return and take charge of the affairs of the nation. So he departed +suddenly from Charleston, and turned his horse's head toward the +wilderness. + +[Illustration: McGillavray joins the Indians 208] + +On his way to the Creek nation, he fell in with Leclerc Mil-fort, an +adventurous Frenchman, who afterwards wrote a book of travels, and +was made a general of brigade by Napoleon. Milfort married one of +McGillivray's sisters, was made Tustenug-gee (or grand war chief), and +was the right-hand man of his powerful brother-in-law. The first that +was heard of McGillivray after he left Charleston, he was presiding at +a grand national council of the Creeks at the town of Coweta on the +Chattahoochee. When Alexander arrived among the Creeks, Colonel Tait of +the British army was stationed on the Coosa, and he used all his tact +and influence to prevail upon the young man to take the side of the +English in the war that was then going on between the Colonies and +the mother country. To this end Colonel Tait pursued McGillivray with +attentions, loaded him with favors, and finally caused him to be given +the rank and pay of a colonel in the army. The result was that the great +chief was throughout the war devoted to the cause of the British. +This would have been natural in any event, for his father was a stanch +Royalist. During the war, McGillivray frequently acted in concert with +the notorious Daniel McGirth, sometimes leading his Indians in person; +but his main dependence was on his brother-in-law Milfort, who was +possessed of the most daring spirit. McGillivray preferred to plan and +engage in intrigue, which gave the remarkable powers of his mind full +play. + +There is no doubt that the authorities of Georgia made a great mistake, +after the war, in neglecting to win the friendship of McGillivray. Such +a course would have prevented much suffering and bloodshed. The father +of the great chief, Lachlan McGillivray, was living in Savannah at the +close of the Revolution; and when the British were compelled to evacuate +the city, he scraped together an immense amount of money and other +valuables, and sailed for Scotland. He abandoned his plantations and +negroes, in the hope that his wife and three children might be permitted +to inherit them; but the Georgians confiscated the whole of the valuable +estate, and thus the Creek leader had another reason for entertaining a +bitter prejudice against the Whigs. + +The result was, that until the day of his death, which occurred in +1792, he succeeded in baffling all the efforts of the Federal and State +authorities to come to an understanding with the Creek nation. He was +perhaps the most accomplished diplomat in the country,--a veritable +Talleyrand, able to cope with the most distinguished statesmen among the +Americans. Such of his letters as have been preserved do not suffer by +comparison with the writings of even the greatest of the Americans. The +most of these depended on a stately and scholarly diction to attract +attention. McGillivray paid little regard to diction; but his letters +possess the distinction of style, and in this particular but one +American writer can be compared to him,--Benjamin Franklin. There is, +in fact, a modern touch and flavor about McGillivray's letters that +even the writings of Franklin do not possess. He wrote thus to +Andrew Pickens, who had addressed him on behalf of the United States +Government:-- + +"When we found that the American independence was confirmed by the +peace, we expected that the new government would soon have taken some +steps to make up the differences that subsisted between them and the +Indians during the war, to have taken them under their protection +and confirmed to them their hunting grounds. Such a course would have +reconciled the minds of the Indians, and secured the States their +friendship, as they considered your people their natural allies. The +Georgians, whose particular interest it was to conciliate the friendship +of this nation, have acted in all respects to the contrary. I am sorry +to observe that violence and prejudice have taken the place of good +policy and reason in all their proceedings with us. They attempted to +avail themselves of our supposed distressed situation. Their talks to us +breathed nothing but vengeance, and, being entirely possessed with the +idea that we were wholly at their mercy, they never once reflected that +colonies of a powerful monarch were nearly surrounding us, to whom, in +any extremity, we might apply for succor and protection, and who, to +answer some ends of their policy, might grant it to us. However, we yet +deferred any such proceeding, still expecting that we could bring them +to a true sense of their interest; but still finding no alteration +in their conduct towards us, we sought the protection of Spain, and +treaties of friendship and alliance were mutually entered into; they +guaranteeing our hunting grounds and territory, and granting us a free +trade in the ports of the Floridas. + +"How the boundary and limits between the Spaniards and the States will +be determined, a little time will show, as I believe that matter is +now on foot. However, we know our limits and the extent of our hunting +grounds. As a free nation, we have applied, as we had a right to do, +for protection, and obtained it. We shall pay no attention to any +limits that may prejudice our claims, that were drawn by an American +and confirmed by a British negotiator. Yet, notwithstanding we have +been obliged to adopt these measures for our preservation, and from real +necessity, we sincerely wish to have it in our power to be on the same +footing with the States as before the late unhappy war, to effect which +is entirely in your power. We want nothing from you but justice. We want +our hunting grounds preserved from encroachments. They have been ours +from the beginning of time, and I trust that, with the assistance of our +friends, we shall be able to maintain them against every attempt to take +them from us." + +Undoubtedly McGillivray was unscrupulous, and the probability is that +he was mercenary; but such charges may be brought against some of the +ablest men who have figured in history. When all is said, the fact +remains that Alexander McGillivray was one of the most accomplished and +ingenious of the politicians of his time. If he had been on the side of +the whites, and had managed their interests with the skill and ability +which he displayed in behalf of the Creeks, history would have written +him down as a great statesman. It was only by an accidental suit at law +that some of his most characteristic letters were brought to light; but +those that have been rescued from oblivion show that in wielding the +pen he was more than a match for the many able men who corresponded with +him. + +In September, 1789, Washington sent General Andrew Pickens, with three +other commissioners, to treat with McGillivray. They found the great +chief at Rock Landing, on the Oconee, with two thousand Creek warriors, +where he had been encamped more than a week. The Indian camp was on the +western bank of the river. The commissioners pitched their tents on the +eastern bank. They were received by McGillivray with great courtesy. +Everything progressed favorably, so much so that the commissioners read +to the assembled chiefs a copy of the treaty which they had drawn up. +This treaty was all in favor of the whites. The Indians were offered +no equivalent for the terms proposed. It is worthy of note that Andrew +Pickens wholly dissented from the terms of the proposed treaty. He knew +that the Indians would have to be paid for the valuable land which the +Georgians were then cultivating in the neighborhood of the Oconee, and +the commissioners had been advised by the Federal authorities to pay +for these lands. McGillivray broke up his encampment and retired to +the Ocmulgee, nor could he be induced at that time to renew the +negotiations. + +President Washington was urged by the Georgia delegation in Congress to +declare war against the Creeks, and this indeed was his first impulse; +but when he found, from a careful estimate, that the expenses of such +a war would amount to fifteen millions of dollars, he prudently gave +up the idea. He took the matter in hand in a more conservative way. He +appointed Colonel Marinus Willett a secret agent to visit Mc-Gillivray, +and urge him to visit President Washington in New York. In this Colonel +Willett was entirely successful. Accompanied by McGillivray and a number +of the leading men of the Creeks, Willett set out on his return journey. +At Guilford Court House, McGillivray attracted great attention on +account of a very pathetic incident that occurred there some years +before. A man named Brown had been killed by the Creeks, and his wife +and children captured and made slaves. Their unfortunate condition came +to the notice of Alexander McGillivray, and, as he had done in the case +of many other captive white women and children, he paid their ransom and +redeemed them from slavery. He maintained them at his house for over a +year, and finally assisted them to return to their friends. Mrs. Brown, +hearing that McGillivray had arrived, went to see him. At that moment +he was in the courthouse, the center of a large assembly of ladies +and gentlemen who had gathered to pay their respects. But this was no +obstacle to Mrs. Brown. She rushed through the assembly, and, in a flood +of tears, expressed her gratitude to him for saving her life and the +lives of her children. She also expressed her strong admiration for his +character. + +In due course, McGillivray arrived in New York, where he was treated +with great consideration. He had long private conferences with +Washington and other officials of the government, and was finally +induced to make a treaty which was satisfactory to the United States, +and would have been satisfactory to Georgia if it had been carried out, +but in fact the terms of it were never fulfilled. While in New York, +McGillivray made a secret treaty with Washington, a fact that was not +discovered for many years. It provided, that after two years from date +(August, 1790) the commerce of the Creek nation should be carried on +through the ports of the United States, and in the mean time through +the present channels; that a number of chiefs of the Creeks and of the +Seminole nation should be paid one hundred dollars a year each, and +be furnished with handsome medals; that the United States should feed, +clothe, and educate Creek youth at the North, not exceeding five at one +time; and that Alexander McGillivray should be constituted agent of the +United States, with the rank of brigadier general, and the pay of twelve +hundred dollars a year. In 1792, McGillivray was a British colonel, an +American brigadier general, an agent of the United States, and an +agent of Spain. This extraordinary man died in Pensacola on the 17th of +February, having been seized with a fatal illness while returning from +one of his plantations on Little River in Putnam or Baldwin. + +Another famous Creek was General William Mcintosh, a half-breed. His +father was Captain William Mcintosh, and his mother was an Indian +of unmixed blood. He was not so brilliant a man intellectually as +McGillivray; but he had a native force of character, and an inborn sense +of justice, that McGillivray seems to have been a stranger to. History +tells us little enough of Mcintosh, but that little is all to his +credit. Almost from the days of Oglethorpe, there were two parties in +the Creek nation, and the issue on which they divided was the +treatment that should be accorded to the whites. The party division was +geographical as well as political. The Upper Creeks, living upon the +Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa rivers, were not present at the Coweta +town when James Oglethorpe treated with the Lower Creeks in August, +1730. At that time they were under the influence of the French, and +afterwards they sought the protection of the Spaniards. They refused to +recognize any of the treaties made by the Lower Creeks with the English, +and the great body of them remained to the end the bitter enemies of +the Georgians. On the other hand, the majority of the Lower Creeks +were friendly with the English from the days of Oglethorpe; and that +friendship continued, with but few interruptions, down to the days of +Governor Troup. + +Now, McGillivray, in his day and time, represented the Upper Creeks +of the Tallapoosa country and their policy, while William Mcintosh +represented the Lower Creeks of the Coweta country and their policy. The +division in the Creek nation was so serious, that, when the Upper Creeks +took sides with the British in the War of 1812, they found themselves +opposed in the field by a large party of Lower Creeks under the command +of Mcintosh. Thus, at the battle of Autossee, William Mcintosh led a +large band of Lower Creeks against those who were making war on the +whites. He made himself so conspicuous in that affair, that General +Floyd mentions him in the official report of the battle. + +The treaty at Indian Spring, and the results that followed, cannot be +clearly understood unless we bear in mind the political differences that +existed between the Upper and the Lower Creeks. The Creek chiefs and the +commissioners met at Indian Spring on the 15th of February, 1825. The +chiefs and warriors of the Upper Creeks declared that no treaty could +be made for a cession of lands, and on the night of the 11th they went +home. On the 12th a treaty was signed with the Mcintosh party. Colonel +John A. Crowell, agent for the Creek Indians, sent a letter to the +secretary of war, in which he declared that the treaty was in direct +opposition to the letter and spirit of the instructions to the +commissioners; but the treaty was sent to Washington, and was ratified +on the 3d of March, 1825. When the Indians of the Upper Creeks and their +party learned that the treaty had been ratified, they became very much +excited. Mcintosh and his party went to Milledgeville, and told the +governor that they expected violent treatment at the hands of the +Upper Creeks. They begged the protection of the State and of the United +States, and this was promised them. + +Out of this treaty grew a very serious conflict between the Federal and +State governments. After a good deal of discussion, the President asked +Congress to reconsider the treaty of Indian Spring, and presented a +new one as a substitute, which was ratified and proclaimed; but popular +indignation ran so high in Georgia, that Governor Troup felt justified +in paying no attention to this new treaty. He proceeded to carry out the +terms of the Indian Spring treaty. Charges were brought against Crowell, +the Indian agent. The governor informed T. P. Andrews, the special +agent, that he would hold no further correspondence with him. The +conduct of General Gaines had been such that Governor Troup requested +the Federal Government to recall, arrest, and punish him. In 1826 the +State Legislature declared that the attempt to repeal the treaty of +Indian Spring by the substitution of another treaty was illegal and +unconstitutional. In September, 1826, Governor Troup ordered the +districts ceded by the treaty of Indian Spring to be surveyed. When the +Indians complained of this, the secretary of war wrote to Governor Troup +that the President felt himself compelled to employ all the means under +his control to maintain the faith of the nation by carrying the treaty +into effect, meaning the treaty made at Washington, and intended to be +a substitute for the Indian Spring treaty. In his reply, Governor Troup +declared that he would feel it to be his duty to resist to the utmost +any military attack which the President of the United States should +think proper to make upon the Territory, the people, or the sovereignty +of Georgia. "From the first decisive act of hostility," he wrote to the +secretary of war, "you will be considered and treated as a public +enemy. You have referred me, as the rule of my conduct, to the treaty +of Washington. In turn I refer you to the treaty of prior date and prior +ratification, concluded at the Indian Spring." + +The President issued orders that the surveyors appointed by the State +be prosecuted. Governor Troup thereupon ordered the proper officers, in +every instance of complaint made of the arrest of any surveyor, to take +all necessary and legal measures to effect their liberation, and to +bring to justice all the parties concerned in such arrests, as violators +of the peace and personal security of the State. He also ordered +the major generals of the militia to hold the various regiments and +battalions in readiness to repel any hostile invasion of the State. But +no acts of violence were committed. The surveyors were not arrested, the +surveys were made, and the lands ceded by the treaty of Indian Spring +were divided by lottery in 1827. + +The Upper Creeks, who had always been unfriendly to the Georgians, +were so angry at the signing of the treaty of Indian Spring, that they +determined to assassinate General William Mcintosh. They had never +forgiven him for leading his party of Lower Creeks against them in the +campaign that was made necessary by the terrible massacre of Fort Mims, +and they now determined to rid themselves of him at once and forever. + +We have seen that General Mcintosh, and his party of Lower Creeks, +suspecting that an attack would be made on them by the powerful tribes +on the Tallapoosa, went to Milledgeville to beg the governor to protect +them. Protection was promised, but never given. Meanwhile the Upper +Creeks held a secret council, and selected a hundred and seventy of the +boldest warriors in the nation to murder Mcintosh. They marched in the +most cautious way. They reached the neighborhood of Mcintosh's home, +and concealed themselves, to wait for night to fall. About sundown, or +a little before, the Indians saw from their hiding place two persons +riding along a trail. One was Mcintosh, and the other a man named +Hawkins, who had married one of Mcintosh's daughters. It would have been +an easy matter for the savages to have killed Mcintosh at this time; but +they had made up their minds to kill him upon his own premises, so that +his blood might stain the land that had been granted him by the State. +While still in sight of the men who had been sent to slay him, Mcintosh +bade Hawkins good evening, wheeled his horse, and rode back on the trail +toward his home. Although he was now alone, the Indians would not kill +him. They had fixed up a different plan, and they carried it out. + +Before dark the Indians gathered together a supply of "fat lightwood," +as the resinous pine was called. This they split into convenient length, +and made up into three bundles to be carried on the backs of their +warriors. They remained hidden within half a mile of Mcintosh's house +till three o'clock in the morning, and then silently and swiftly marched +to the place. They had taken along with them a man named James Hutton to +act as interpreter, the reason for this being that Mcintosh was in the +habit of entertaining travelers. + +It was to be Hutton's duty to assure such as might be found there that +they would not be disturbed in any manner. Guests of Mcintosh were +commonly lodged in an outhouse in the yard; and Hutton, accompanied by +two Indians, went to this building to see who might be sleeping there. +They found a peddler in one bed, and Chilly, a son of General Mcintosh, +in another. + +Young Mcintosh, as if instinctively understanding the nature of the +visit, sprang from the bed and leaped out at a window. He was fired upon +by the Indians, but was not touched, and succeeded in making his escape. +The peddler was nearly scared out of his wits; but his pack of goods +was removed to a place of safety, and the house in which he had been +sleeping was soon in flames. + +[Illustration: Indian Attack 220] + +Meanwhile most of the Indians had surrounded Mcintosh's house, and +torches of the fat pine were used to set it on fire. The red men danced +around the burning building, yelling, and crying out, "Mcintosh, we have +come, we have come! We told you if you sold the land to the Georgians +we would come. Now we have come!" At the first alarm Mcintosh had +barricaded his front door. He stood near it; and when it was broken +down, he fired upon his assailants. At that moment, one of his firmest +friends, Toma Tustenuggee, who had thrown himself upon the party at the +door, fell on the threshold, riddled with bullets. General Mcintosh then +retreated to the second story with four guns, which he continued to fire +from the windows. + +The flames drove him from the second story to the first floor again. He +fought bravely to the end, but was soon compelled to expose himself to +the fire of his enemies. He fell to the floor, pierced by many bullets, +and was dragged into the yard by his heels. He breathed defiance to +the last, and was finally stabbed to death. After this savage deed, the +Indians plundered the houses, killed such cattle as they could find, +and committed other outrages. A small party of the Indians had followed +Hawkins the evening before. His house was surrounded about daybreak the +next morning, and he was ordered to come out. He refused, and defended +himself the best he could; but he was finally taken prisoner and tied, +until the fate of Mcintosh was known. Then he was murdered, and his body +thrown into the river near where he lived. The Indians marched back +to the Tallapoosa country with the scalps of these unfortunate men. +Mcintosh's scalp was suspended from a pole in the public square of +Ocfuskee, and young and old danced around it with shouts of joy. + +General Mcintosh was a cousin of Governor Troup, being the son of +Governor Troup's uncle, Captain William Mcintosh, who was frequently on +the Chattahoochee before the breaking-out of the Revolution. + + + + +REMOVAL OF THE CHEROKEES. + +When Georgia had begun to recover its breath, after the difficulties +with the Creeks, the people had time to discover that they had a much +more serious problem to deal with in the Cherokee nation, which occupied +all the northwestern portion of the State. Those who mingled thrift with +their benevolence, and had the courage to think about the future of +the whites as well as the future of the savages, thought that both +ends would be attained by making a permanent settlement for the Indians +beyond the Mississippi River. Those whose benevolence was a mixture of +sentimentality and romantic misinformation thought the Indians ought +to be left where contact with the whites would tend to civilize +and Christianize them. Consequently there were two parties to the +discussion, and a good deal of practical selfishness at the bottom of it +all. There used to be an old song running in this wise,-- + + "All I want in this creation, + Is a pretty little wife and a big plantation + Away up yonder in the Cherokee nation,"-- + +and this song no doubt represented the real feeling behind the whole +matter. The big plantation was what was really wanted. At the same time +it should not be forgotten that it was for the benefit of the Indians as +well as the whites that they should be settled in a section where they +would remain undisturbed. This policy has been proven by time to be the +true one. + +Travelers and romancers have done no end of harm by exalting the Indian +character, covering up its faults, and exaggerating its merits. Romance +has made great heroes of the Indians; but in the whole history of the +red men, so far as it has been faithfully chronicled, the names of the +Indians of unmixed blood who are worth remembering can be counted on the +fingers of two hands. + +Sequoia, or George Guess, who invented the Cherokee alphabet, was the +grandson of a white man. This invention, however, was a very remarkable +achievement, and it is worthy of a word here. Sequoia was altogether +illiterate. He could neither write nor speak English, but he saw that +the whites could talk with each other by means of pieces of paper. So +he set himself to work to examine his own language. He found that sixty +monosyllables could be so combined as to represent every word in +the Cherokee language, and for each of these syllables he formed a +character. Many of these characters were taken from an English spelling +book which he managed to get hold of. Some are Greek characters, and +others are letters of the English alphabet turned upside down; but +each character in the Cherokee alphabet stands for a monosyllable. It +happened, too, from the structure of the Cherokee language or dialect, +that the syllabic alphabet is also in the nature of a grammar; so that +those who know the language by ear, and master the alphabet, can at once +read and write. Owing to the extreme simplicity of this system, it can +be acquired in a few days. Some have learned it even in one day. Thus +it happened that the Cherokees, who were at the beginning of one year +ignorant and illiterate, had become in the course of a few months able +to read and write their own language. They accomplished this without +going to school, and without expense of time or money. + +This curious and useful invention is dwelt on here because it stands +alone. The Indian grandson of a white man remains to-day the only man, +in the long history of the aborigines, who has done anything for the +real and lasting benefit of his race. + +When the people of Georgia insisted on the removal of that nation to the +Far West, the Cherokees were neither better nor worse than the rest of +the Indians. Some of the half-breeds had indeed begun to put on the airs +of civilization, and many of them had put off their barbarian garbs; but +from time to time they gave evidence that contact with the whites had +only whetted their savage appetites for cruelty. The Indian in Cooper's +novels and the Indian in real life are two different creatures. They +were tall and straight because they refused to do manual labor. The +drudgery was left to the women, who hoed the corn when at home, and +carried the burdens when the warriors were moving about. They cultivated +the passion of revenge. Those who know them best have declared in +a thousand ways that they never found in the red men any solid +substantial, or agreeable quality. They were brave, but so is a bulldog. + +There is no wonder that Georgia wanted to get rid of them as neighbors. +The people showed their anxiety in this matter when, in 1802, they +conveyed to the United States Government all the valuable lands that now +form the States of Alabama and Mississippi; the consideration being that +the General Government would secure from the Indians, and open up to +settlement, the lands which they then held in the State. In 1808 the +Cherokees asked the United States to allow them to examine the public +land west of the Mississippi, and, if pleased, to settle on it. +Permission was given, and the Cherokees sent a party to explore +the lands. The country suited them so well that many of the Indians +emigrated at once. The General Government thus had an opportunity to +carry out the contract of 1802, but failed to do so. It had another +opportunity in 1814, when the conquered Creeks sued for peace. The +General Government had the right to demand of them the cession of the +land they occupied in Georgia. Instead, it took land in Alabama, which +it sold for its own benefit. + +And so the matter went on from year to year, and the people waited +patiently; for they had become aware, from costly experience, that one +of the prices they have to pay for popular government is the occasional +rule of the political demagogue. + +In 1827, when the people of Georgia began to grow restive under the +failure of the government to carry out its contracts, the Cherokees +had declared themselves to be an independent state. They had their own +printed constitution and code of laws. So that here in the limits of +Georgia there were three governments going on at one and the same +time. The United States prohibited any person from settling on Indian +territory, or trading with any Indian, without a special license from +the proper authority. In addition to this, the State of Georgia had +found it necessary to extend her criminal courts over the Cherokee +territory, in order to protect her own citizens. + +The half-breeds among the Cherokees were very shrewd and unscrupulous. +They had caused some of their tribe to take possession of lands ceded +to Georgia by the Creeks, and in this way sought to add confusion to the +discussion that was then going on. The Indians took possession by force. +They were armed and painted, and led by Chief Ridge. Fourteen or fifteen +houses were burned by these savages, and the white women and children +were left exposed to the weather, the ground being covered with snow. + +The great trouble with the Cherokees then and afterwards was, that the +government of their nation had fallen into the hands of half-breeds, +whose education only gave them fresh opportunities to gain wealth +and power at the expense of the rest of the tribe. They owned trading +houses, big plantations, numbers of slaves, had charge of the ferries, +and controlled all the traffic between the whites and the Indians. As +these half-breeds became wealthier, the rest of the tribe became poorer. +They had forsaken their primitive habits and customs, and taken up those +of the most depraved whites who lived among them. It is worthy of note +that the most progressive spirits among the Cherokees were in favor +of emigration beyond the Mississippi. The leaders of this party were +natives of unmixed blood, who saw that the control of the corrupt +half-breeds was carrying the nation to ruin. Several of these leaders +were waylaid and shot down by the agents of those whose policy they were +opposing. The alarm in some sections was very great. The citizens met, +and adopted resolutions requesting the government to station troops at +suitable points, for the protection of the lives and property of the +whites and friendly Indians. + +Under an act of the Legislature, a body of militia had been organized, +under the name of the "Georgia Guard." It was the duty of the Guard to +protect the citizens of Georgia and the friendly Cherokees. John Howard +Payne, the famous author of "Home, Sweet Home," was arrested by this +Guard. The poet was traveling among the Cherokees for information, and +was no doubt ignorant of the state of feeling then existing. He was +finally suspected by the vigilant Georgia Guard of writing improper +papers. He had been seen making notes, and when he was arrested his +papers were searched. The commander of the Georgia Guard, Colonel +William N. Bishop, reported to the governor that he had examined some +of Mr. Payne's papers, and found some very improper and indiscreet +statements about the President, the government, and the State +authorities, and many bitter remarks concerning Cherokee matters. +Evidently, Colonel Bishop was of the opinion, that, while a politician +or a newspaper editor might be allowed to indulge in improper and +indiscreet statements about Presidents and other public men, a poet +had no such rights. But the colonel finally discharged Mr. Payne from +custody, and the very foolish proceeding was condemned by a resolution +of the General Assembly. + +In 1835 two parties had developed in the Cherokee nation. One was in +favor of removal to the Western lands, and the other was opposed +to removal. John Ridge headed the removal party, and John Ross the +opposition. In February of that year these men went to Washington at +the head of deputations, and entered into negotiations with the General +Government. After a great deal of talk, excitement, confusion, and +trouble, the Cherokee people finally concluded to hold a meeting at Red +Clay in October, 1835. There was a good deal of angry feeling between +those of the Cherokees who were in favor of a treaty of removal and +those who were opposed to it. Major Ridge, John Ridge, and David Vann +were impeached for holding opinions contrary to those held by the +Cherokee authorities. On the other hand, many of those in favor of +removal met, and passed resolutions, in which they declared that their +people could not prosper in the midst of a white population, and that, +while they loved the lands of their fathers, and would leave the place +of their birth with regret, they considered that it would be better to +become exiles than to submit to the laws of the State. + +At the Red Clay meeting, arrangements were made for discussing with the +United States authorities the terms of a treaty of removal. The Ross +party was still violently opposed to removal. John Ross, the leader of +this party, was only one fourth Indian, the other three fourths +being Scotch and American. Ross was very shrewd and thrifty, and had +accumulated a great deal of property, with the prospect of accumulating +more. He had many sympathizers and admirers in all parts of the country. +It seems to have been thought a wonderful thing in that day, that a man +one quarter Indian should be able to read and write English, and make +political speeches. When everything had been arranged for the final +treaty, and while negotiations were going forward, Ross and his party +put an end to them, and went to Washington, where they hoped to delay +matters. But the Ridge party met the United States commissioners at New +Echota on the 21st of December, 1835, according to appointment, and on +the 29th the treaty was concluded. On May 23, 1836, it was ratified. + +By the terms of this treaty, the Cherokees, in consideration of the sum +of five million dollars, relinquished all claims to lands east of the +Mississippi. In addition to the money to be paid, they were to receive +seven million acres of land west of the Mississippi. Should this +territory be found to be insufficient, the United States, in +consideration of five hundred thousand dollars, was to convey to them +an additional body of land. The land thus granted was not to be included +within the limits of any State at any future time. The Cherokees were +guaranteed protection against domestic strife and foreign enemies, and +it was provided that the tribe should be entitled to a delegate in the +House of Representatives whenever Congress passed a law to that effect. +The United States authorities were to remove the Cherokees to their new +homes, and to provide for their support for one year after they were +settled. There were other provisions, all in favor of the Cherokees. The +Indians were to be removed within two years after the ratification of +the treaty. + +Ross, and other leaders opposed to removal, had gone to Washington. +While there they were informed, by Major Ridge and others, of the treaty +at New Echota. Ross refused to make any reply to the communication, but +tried to make a new treaty. He was told that he could not be received to +make a new treaty. The attitude of the Ross party, together with certain +threats that had been made by their followers, led many citizens +of Georgia to believe that the Indians opposed to removal would, in +accordance with their character and history, revenge themselves by +making night attacks on the unprotected people. Consequently those most +likely to be the victims of such attacks petitioned the governor for +arms, ammunition, and troops; and these petitions were granted. A +battalion of militia was raised, and placed at Lashley's Ferry on the +Coosa River, with orders to keep the Cherokees in check, and also to +prevent the Creeks from coming into Georgia. Many of the Cherokees were +disarmed; and five hundred muskets, with ammunition, were sent into +Cherokee County, for the use of the people in the event of any hostile +movement on the part of the Indians. + +The State of Georgia was to take possession of the territory ceded by +the treaty on the twenty-fourth day of May, 1838, and the military were +got in readiness for removing the Indians. General Scott, of the United +States army, called on the governor of Georgia for two regiments, and to +this call there was a prompt response. By the 18th of May enough men had +arrived at New Echota, where the troops were to assemble, to organize a +regiment; and on the morning of the 24th the troops took up the line of +march for the purpose of collecting the Indians. This continued until +the 3d of June, when the troops and the Indians started for Ross's +Landing on the Tennessee River. About fifteen hundred Indians had been +collected by the Georgia troops, and these troops were then dismissed +from the service of the United States. + +The rest of the work was done by the regular army, which, being +divided into small detachments, went about the Cherokee country, making +prisoners of family after family, and carrying them to the camps. The +most careful arrangements had been made to prevent cruelty or disorder, +and there has never been any complaint as to the manner in which the +troops performed their duty. Nearly the whole nation had been gathered +into camps by the end of June. At that time some of the Indians began +their march to the West; but the great body of the tribe, fourteen +thousand in number, did not begin their westward journey until +September, owing to the hot weather. Every arrangement that could be +suggested was made for the comfort of the Indians in their march; but +from May, when the removal began, to the time when the last company had +completed its journey, more than four thousand persons died. + +One year afterwards, on the 22d of June, 1839, Major Ridge, John Ridge, +and Elias Boudinot, all of whom had taken an active part in negotiating +the treaty of removal, were assassinated. + +Since their removal the Cherokees have prospered to a greater extent +than any other Indian tribe. They have a government of their own, +flourishing schools, and books and newspapers printed in their own +language. It is the only tribe of American Indians that has shown any +desire or ability to share in the benefits of civilization. + + + + +THE BEGINNING OF PARTIES IN GEORGIA. + +The first serious political division in Georgia after the Revolution had +a very curious beginning. There is always, of course, a division among +the people on great public questions as they arise. But the War of the +Revolution had so solidified public sentiment that nothing occurred to +jar it until the Yazoo Fraud created some division. Even then public +sentiment was so overwhelmingly opposed to the sale of the lands to +the speculators, that the few who favored it were not numerous nor +respectable enough to be called a party. + +On the 24th of February, 1806, Mr. Josiah Glass, having come all the way +from North Carolina in search of a Mr. Robert Clary, went to the town of +Sparta with a warrant which he requested Judge Charles Tait to indorse. +This Judge Tait did in due form. The warrant was for negro stealing, +and was directed against Mr. Robert Clary. Mr. Clary was arrested by +Mr. Josiah Glass in Washington County, and was carried to Greene County +Superior Court. On the first day of the court, Mr. Josiah Glass wrote +a letter to Judge Tait, and requested him to attend, and take the +examination of a man then in his custody, who would make confessions +highly interesting to the State and the United States. Judge Tait, +accompanied by Squire Oliver Skinner, attended that night, and took +a part of the confessions of Mr. Robert Clary, and completed them the +following night. Then he gave Mr. Josiah Glass a certified copy of the +same to take with him to North Carolina, to which State he was taking +Mr. Robert Clary, on a warrant charging him with negro stealing. + +Now, it seems that the warrant against Clary was merely intended as +a scheme to get him to North Carolina to testify against a man named +Collins. History has suppressed the confessions made by Mr. Robert +Clary; but it is certain that they contained a most offensive charge +against General John Clarke, whose patriotic services in behalf of the +people during the Revolution gave him great fame and popularity. No +sooner did John Clarke hear of this affair than he proceeded to act with +his usual promptness. When he learned the particulars about the taking +of the affidavit at night, he at once jumped to the conclusion that +he had been made the victim of a conspiracy. There had been some +disagreement between him and Hon. William H. Crawford; and as Judge +Tait had been the partner of Mr. Crawford, and was his firm friend,--for +Crawford was a man great enough to command and deserve friends,--General +Clarke suspected that Clary and Glass had been made tools of to damage +his reputation. General Clarke acted at once. He presented a memorial to +the Legislature, making certain charges against Judge Tait with respect +to the taking of the "dark-lantern affidavits," as they were called by +his friends. The Legislature found, as it ought to have done, that the +charges made in the memorial of General Clarke were unsupported by fact +or evidence. In the very nature of things, it could not be shown that +an honorable judge of the Superior Court of Georgia, in certifying to an +affidavit containing the confession of a mere adventurer, was engaged +in a conspiracy; but the question with which General Clarke had to +deal was, how did the offensive and malicious matter, contained in +an affidavit taken by a judge and one witness at night, become public +property? If General Clarke had been a more thoroughgoing politician, he +would have found a better way to confound his enemies than that which he +adopted; but he was deeply wounded by a foul charge made at night, and +put in circulation by means of nods and winks and whispers. His first +recourse was to the Legislature, consequently it had the effect of +strengthening both his friends and his enemies. His friends were +indignant at the action of the Legislature. His enemies professed to +be astonished that arrogance should fly so high as to bring before the +Legislature unfounded charges against a judge of the superior courts. + +The legislative record is not as full as it might be. There was +something behind the Clary business that does not appear on the records +of the House and Senate. General Clarke wrote a pamphlet entitled "A +Legacy for My Children," in which, according to Judge Garnett Andrews +(see "Reminiscences of an Old Georgia Lawyer"), the matter of his +memorial to the Legislature is differently stated. According to Judge +Andrews, who bases his authority on General Clarke's pamphlet and on the +testimony of those who were familiar with the facts, Clary was arrested +and carried before Judge Tait on a charge of stealing horses. Clary +charged General Clarke with complicity. Mr. Crawford was the prosecuting +attorney. General Clarke accused Judge Tait and Mr. Crawford with +instigating Clary to make the charge. + +The truth seems to be, that Clary, knowing the differences that existed +between these distinguished men, sought to help his own case by making +the charge against General Clarke, and that the latter was quite ready +to believe that his two opponents had originated the charges for the +purpose of doing him a mortal injury. Feeling assured of the justice +of his cause, he appealed to the Legislature. This failing, he took the +matter into his own hands. He challenged Mr. Crawford, shot him through +the wrist, and then challenged him again. A little later, cantering +along a street in Milledgeville on his fine sorrel horse, General Clarke +saw Judge Tait before him in a sulky. He spurred his horse forward, and +laid his whip across the judge's shoulders two or three times. + +[Illustration: General Clarke whips Judge Tait 237] + +These events created great excitement throughout the State. There had +already been controversy and division caused by the duel between Mr. +Crawford and Van Allen, a cousin of President Van Buren, and at that +time attorney-general of the State. Van Allen was killed; and there was +a great controversy in Georgia, in consequence, as to who was right +and who was wrong. This excitement became furious in the course of the +contest between Clarke and Crawford. Crawford was fortunately lifted out +of it by being made a United States senator in 1807. His distinguished +career afterwards is well known. He was minister to France, secretary of +the treasury, Vice-President of the United States, and would have been +elected President but for reports circulated throughout the country that +he had been stricken down with a fatal illness. But the contest between +the Clarke and Crawford parties continued to rage. Whatever issue the +Clarke men were favorable to, the Crawford men opposed. Whatever scheme +the Clarke men suggested, the Crawford men fought. There was nothing +polite about the contest. People who wore gloves pulled them off. +In cold weather the voters were warm, and in hot weather they were +steaming. The contest went on before elections, and was kept up with +just as much energy after elections. No vote could settle it, and no +success could quiet it. It was in the nature of a political squabble, +covering the whole State, dividing districts, counties, cities, towns, +villages, settlements, beats, crossroads groceries, and families. It +was a knock-down-and-drag-out fight, in which hair pulling, gouging, and +biting were allowed. + +While Crawford was advancing step by step in national politics, his +party in Georgia took up George M. Troup, one of the most brilliant and +aggressive men in the State. The contest had been going on for twenty +years when Troup came upon the scene, in 1830, as a candidate +for governor. He had been a member of the State Legislature, a +representative in Congress, and a United States senator: therefore in +1820, when he was nominated for governor by the Crawford party, he was +ripe in experience. He was forty years old, and full of the fire and +energy that marked his whole career. The Crawford party now became the +Troup party, and the contests that followed were the most exciting +that ever took place in the State before, or that have ever taken place +since. + +At that time the General Assembly elected the governor, the people +selecting members favorable to the candidates they preferred. As the +result of the first campaign between the Clarke and Troup parties, +General John Clarke was elected by a majority of thirteen legislative +votes. When Governor Clarke's term expired, he was again opposed by +Troup, and was again elected, but this time by a majority of only two +legislative votes. In 1823, Matthew Talbot represented the Clarke party, +but was defeated by Troup. In 1825, General Clarke again entered the +contest. The election was no longer in the hands of the Legislature, but +was by popular vote. Governor Troup's treatment of the Indian question, +and the firm stand he had taken in favor of the rights of the State, had +materially increased his influence, and he was elected over Clarke by a +majority of 683 votes. + +Curious to relate, the old Clarke party became the Union party, and +in 1840 was the Democratic party. The Crawford party became the States +Rights party, and in 1840 was the Whig party. Such was the evolution of +parties in Georgia. + + + + +A QUEER CASE. + +[Illustration: A Queer Case 241] + +A very queer, not to say mysterious case, was brought to trial in Jones +County in 1837, at the April term of the Superior Court. It has had no +parallel in Georgia before or since, and had none in any other country, +so far as the present writer is aware, until the celebrated Tichborne +case was brought to trial in England a few years ago. The Bunkley case +created quite as much excitement, and caused quite as much division in +public opinion in Georgia, as the Tichborne case did in England. + +Jesse L. Bunkley belonged to a good family in Jones County, and when +he came of age would have fallen heir to an estate worth forty thousand +dollars. An effort was made to give him all the advantages of education, +but these he refused to accept. He was a wild boy, and was fonder +of wild company than of his books. He went to school for a while in +Eatonton, but got into some scrape there and ran away. He was afterwards +sent to Franklin College, now the State University, where he entered the +grammar school. Such discipline as they had in those days was irksome to +young Bunkley, and he soon grew tired of it. He left the college, and, +after roving about for a while, returned to his home in Jones County. +In his twentieth year, 1825, being well supplied with money, he left his +home for the purpose of traveling. He went to the Southwest, and in that +year wrote to his mother from New Orleans. + +No other letter was received from him during that year or the next, and +in 1827 word was brought to Jones County that Jesse Bunkley was dead. +The rumor, for it seems to have been nothing more, was regarded by the +family as true. At any rate, no attempt was made to investigate it. +Jesse was the black sheep of the family; he had been away from home a +good deal; his conduct when at home had not been such as to commend +him to the affections of his people; and his mother had married a third +husband, a man named Lowther: consequently the vague news of the young +man's death was probably received with a feeling of relief. There was +always a probability that such a wild and dissipated youngster would +come to some bad end; but with his death that probability ceased to +be even a possibility, and so, no doubt with a sigh of relief, young +Bunkley's people put aside the memory of him. He was dead and buried. +Those who survived him were more than willing to take the care and +trouble of managing the estate which young Bunkley would have inherited +had he returned and claimed it. + +But in 1833, Major Smith of Jones County received a letter purporting to +be from Jesse L. Bunkley, and it related to matters that both Smith and +Bunkley were familiar with. In December, 1833, Mrs. Lowther, his mother, +received a letter from a person claiming to be her son Jesse. The letter +was dated at the New Orleans prison. It appears from this letter that +the family of Bunkley had already taken steps to disown the person who +had written to Major Smith, and who claimed to be Jesse Bunkley. The +letter to Mrs. Lowther was very awkwardly written. It was misspelled, +and bore no marks of punctuation; and yet it is just such a letter +as might be written by a man who took no interest in his books when a +schoolboy, and had had no occasion to look into them or to handle a pen. +He said in this letter that he wrote to convince his mother that he was +her own child, though it appeared that she wished to disown him. This, +he declared in his awkward way, he knew no reason for, unless it was on +account of his past folly. He then went on to relate some facts about +the family and his own school days. The mother did not answer this +letter, because, as she said afterwards on the witness stand, she did +not consider that it was from her son. She was satisfied, she said, that +the letter was not in her son's handwriting. + +The person claiming to be Jesse L. Bunkley reached Jones County some +time afterwards. His case, in the nature of things, excited great public +interest. Hundreds of people who had known Jesse recognized him in this +claimant. On the other hand, hundreds who had also known Bunkley when +a boy failed to recognize him in the claimant. Meanwhile those who had +charge of the Bunkley property took prompt action. They went before the +grand jury, and had the claimant indicted for cheating and swindling; +and thus began the celebrated case of the State against Elijah Barber, +alias Jesse L. Bunkley. + +The claimant came to Jones County in 1836, was indicted in that year, +and his case was brought to trial in the Superior Court in April, 1837. +A great deal of time was taken up in the investigation. More than one +hundred and thirty witnesses were examined. Ninety-eight, the majority +of these being disinterested persons, declared that they believed +the claimant to be an impostor. More than forty disinterested persons +declared under oath that they believed the claimant to be Jesse L. +Bunkley, and the majority of these last witnesses had known Bunkley long +and intimately. + +The efforts of the prosecution were directed to showing that the man +claiming to be Jesse Bunkley was in reality Elijah Barber, who in +1824-25 was a wagoner who hauled lumber from Grace's Mill near Macon, +who was also known in Upson County, and who had served in the Florida +war. Some of the witnesses who had never known Bunkley recognized the +claimant as a man who had called himself Barber. Some of the witnesses +who had known Jesse from his boyhood testified that they recognized the +claimant as Bunkley on sight. Bunkley had various scars on his face, +neck, and body. The claimant exhibited all these to the jury. One of the +witnesses remembered that Bunkley bore the marks of a snake bite on one +of his legs. The claimant immediately showed these marks. Hundreds of +questions had been put to the claimant to test his memory. A great many +he answered correctly, a great many others he failed to answer; but his +replies to all vital questions were wonderfully clear and satisfactory. +The jury was out but a short time before it returned, bringing in a +verdict of guilty; and the claimant was sentenced to the penitentiary, +where he served out his term. + +[Illustration: The Bunkley Trial 245] + +This verdict and sentence settled the case in law, but it remained as +unsettled as ever in the public mind. The writer of this has heard it +discussed on more than one occasion among old ladies and gentlemen who +knew Bunkley, and who saw the claimant; and, without exception, they +declared that the verdict of the jury was cruelly unjust. + +And yet, if any wrong was done, Bunkley himself was to blame for it. +Being a young man of fortune and of the fairest prospects, he owed it to +himself, his family, his friends, and to society at large, to become +a good citizen, so that his ample means might be properly employed. +Instead of that, he became a rowdy and a rioter, spending his days and +his nights in evil company and in dissipation. If the claimant in this +mysterious case was really Jesse Bunkley, it may be said of him that his +sins had found him out. + + + + +GEORGIA WIT AND HUMOR. + +The wit and humor of Georgia stand by themselves. They have no +counterpart in any other section of the country. Many attempts have been +made to imitate them, but there is always something lacking. The flavor, +the "bouquet," the aroma, is gone. The sun, the soil, the air, and +even the spring water, seem to have something to do with it. Just what, +nobody knows. Wit and humor are elusive,--they are unsubstantial. On the +other hand, the Georgia watermelon is something solid. It may be handled +and felt. It may be "thumped" and "plugged" and tested. Those who know +what a watermelon is and should be, know that there is none to compare +with the melons that are grown in Georgia, no matter what the variety. +The same may be said of the wit and humor that belong to Georgia. An old +man--Uncle Tom Norris he was called, on account of his gray hairs--was +once heard to say (speaking professionally), "Let me clap a drop of +the low-wines to my tongue, and I'll tell you what branch the fire was +kindled on." He was a distiller, and knew his business. One need not +be an expert to say the same of Georgia humor. It is almost possible to +tell the very militia district in which it originated. It carries not +only the flavor, but the color. + +For a hundred years Georgia has remained the most democratic part of the +country. The sons of the richest men were put in the fields to work +side by side with the negroes, and were thus taught to understand the +importance of individual effort that leads to personal independence. +It thus happened that there was a cordial, and even an affectionate, +understanding between the slaves and their owners, that perhaps had no +parallel elsewhere. The poorer whites had no reason to hold their heads +down because they had to work for their living. The richest slave owners +did not feel themselves above those who had few negroes or none. When +a man called his neighbor "Colonel," or "Judge," it was to show his +respect, nothing more. For the rest, the humblest held their heads as +high as the richest, and were as quick, perhaps quicker, in a quarrel. + +The Virginians and North Carolinians who settled in the Broad River +region intermarried, and spread out over middle Georgia. Those who were +not akin were bound to each other by ties of long acquaintanceship; but +the homogeneousness of the people, complete and thorough as it was, was +not marked by any monotony. On the contrary, character and individuality +ran riot, appearing in such strange and attractive shapes as to puzzle +and bewilder even those who were familiar with the queer manifestations. +Every settlement had its peculiarities, and every neighborhood boasted +of its humorist,--its clown, whose pranks and jests were limited by +no license. Out of this has grown a literature which, in some of its +characteristics, is not matched elsewhere on the globe; but that which +has been preserved by printing is not comparable, either in volume or +merit, with the great body of humor that has perished because of the +lack of some one industrious enough to chronicle it. + +One of the most perfect types of the Georgia humorist was the late John +M. Dooly. Judge Dooly was a remarkable man in other respects, but it is +his wonderful fund of humor that has made his name famous in Georgia and +throughout the country. It has been told in these pages how Colonel John +Dooly was dragged from his bed by the Tories and murdered. This Colonel +Dooly was the father of John M., who was hid under the bed when the +Tories dragged his father out and murdered him. It might be supposed +that such an event would have a tendency to give a boy a very serious +view of life. Judge Dooly's views were no doubt serious enough; but they +were overwhelmed and overpowered by a temperament which found cause for +laughter in almost every person and passing event, and was the cause of +innocent mirth in others. + +Judge Dooly was born in what he called the "Dark Corner" of Lincoln +County, which had not then been cut off from Wilkes. After the murder of +his father, the family was left in poverty. When he went to Washington, +the county seat of Wilkes County, to read law with Mr. Matthews, the +clothes he wore were in such a condition that he was compelled to +confine himself to the office in the daytime. He was very poor and +very bright. Old people who knew him when a boy, described him to Judge +Garnett Andrews as "a sallow, piney-woods-looking lad." "Piney-woods +people" was the local name for the tackies, the clay eaters, the +no-accounts, that had settled about on the poorer lands in that section +of Georgia, and given themselves over to thriftlessness for good and +all. But young Dooly had that within him which made him superior to the +conditions and limitations of poverty. Apart from his remarkable gift of +humor, he had a native brilliancy of mind that gave him an easy mastery +over the principles of law that he found in the books. He was admitted +to the bar in 1798, and was immediately successful as a lawyer. His +education had been limited to that which he found in the "old field +schools," and in that day they were not of the best; but such a mind as +his needed only the rudiments, the rest came as by instinct. + +[Illustration: Judge Dooly 250] + +Judge Dooly was not a student while practicing at the bar. He had +thoroughly mastered the principles, the groundwork, of the law; and his +mind, as logical as it was brilliant, fitted these principles to every +case he had charge of. His love of humor, and his fondness for the +society of those who preferred fun and frolic, placed many temptations +in his way, and some of these he did not always resist; but the faults +he had were the faults of the time in which he lived, the faults of the +society in which he was brought up and by which he was surrounded. Judge +Dooly has been described by a contemporary as having a large head, +with a bold, high forehead, heavy eyebrows, prominent nose, a small +compressed mouth, and large, vivid, sparkling eyes, which, when the +spirit of humor had possession of him, illuminated his countenance as if +an electric battery were in play. + +On one occasion, Judge Dooly had been challenged by Judge Tait,--the +same Judge Tait who had made himself so obnoxious to General John +Clarke. Judge Tait had a wooden leg; and Judge Dooly, in replying to the +challenge, referred to this fact, and said he did not think they could +fight on equal terms. He hoped his refusal would not be interpreted as a +reflection on the misfortunes of Judge Tait. This reply made Judge Tait +more indignant than ever. He wrote a severe reply, suggesting to Judge +Dooly that his refusal to fight was the result of cowardice rather than +a desire not to shed the blood of an unfortunate cripple. In answer to +this insinuation, Judge Dooly declared boldly that he was ready to fight +his adversary on anything like equal terms. He announced that he would +meet Judge Tait anywhere, on any day, and exchange a shot with him, +provided he (Judge Dooly) was allowed to stand on the field of honor +with one leg in a bee-gum! The bee-gums of that day were made of +sections of hollow trees. Naturally this remarkable proposition made +Judge Tait madder than ever, and he wrote to Judge Dooly that he +intended to publish him as a coward. Judge Dooly calmly informed Judge +Tait by letter that he had no sort of objection to the publication, +provided it was at Tait's expense. He declared, that, for his part, he +would rather fill a dozen newspapers than one coffin. These unexpected +strokes of humor disarmed the anger of Judge Tait, and set the whole +State in a roar. They did more: they cleared the political atmosphere, +and took the edge off of party rancor, which was at that time very +fierce and keen. + +Once, when dining at a public table, Dooly said something or did +something to irritate Major Freeman Walker. The latter, remarking that +he had borne with the liberties taken by Judge Dooly quite long enough, +said he proposed to resent them then and there. The attack on his +feelings had been made in public, and he proposed to resent it in +public. Seizing a chair, he advanced on Judge Dooly. The judge seized a +carving knife, and braced himself for defense. Several gentlemen caught +hold of the judge to prevent him from using the knife, while only one +held Major Walker. Surveying the scene, Judge Dooly calmly remarked, +"Gentlemen, one of you will be sufficient to prevent me from doing any +mischief. The rest of you had better hold Walker." The explosion that +this remark created put even Major Walker in good humor, and he and the +judge settled their differences in the most amiable and rational manner. + +When the Legislature passed severe laws against gaming, Judge Dooly +enforced them rigidly. Some of the gamblers were brought to trial and +fined, and others were only saved from arrest by the fact that they kept +out of the way when court was in session. + +But one night in Washington, Wilkes County, after the judge had been +holding court all the week and had closed the term, he went to his room +in the hotel and made all preparations to retire. He had barely settled +himself in bed, when he heard a noise in an adjoining room, and soon +discovered that a game of faro was going on. The noise disturbed him so, +that he dressed himself, went to the room, and told the players, that, +having tried all legal methods to break them up, and failed, he was +now determined to try another plan. He thereupon seated himself at the +table, and before the night was spent broke the bank. He then told the +gamblers to clear out, and be more careful in future how they interfered +with the court. + +Once when sitting up late at night, trying a very complicated case, the +sheriff voluntarily placed on the bench beside the judge a small pitcher +half filled with toddy. When he had finished the toddy, the judge called +to the officer, "Mr. Sheriff, fetch in some more water out of the same +spring." A murder case was once tried before him. The point in the case +was whether the prisoner had shot in self-defense. There was a good deal +said by the lawyers about the right to shoot. The jury, intending to +justify the prisoner, brought in this verdict: "The prisoner has a right +to shoot." When this verdict was read to the court, the judge held up +his hands in pretended alarm, and cried out, "Mr. Sheriff, don't let him +shoot this way!" + +A story is told of Judge Dooly and Tom Peter Carnes, another rare +humorist, that fairly illustrates the statement made in the beginning +of this chapter in regard to the plain and democratic character of the +people who settled Middle Georgia. Dooly and his friend Carnes were +traveling to court, having gone without breakfast in order to be up and +on their way at an early hour. At last they reached the place where they +were to get breakfast, and called for it with some show of impatience. +The lady of the house, however, was in no hurry. She said that they +should have breakfast the moment Charles came. So she called for +Charles, blew the horn for Charles, and finally sent for Charles. When +Charles put in an appearance, the two travelers found that he was a big +negro, so black and fat that he fairly glistened when the sun shone on +him. Naturally Dooly and Carnes were surprised. They were still more +surprised when the negro's mistress said in a coaxing tone, "Now, +Charles, I do wish you would sit down and let the gentlemen eat, as they +are in a hurry to go to court." Charles didn't like so much company; +but he finally sat down to the table, on which there was a big bowl of +clabber, three "hunks" of corn bread, and three pewter spoons. "Now, +Charles," said the woman, "do eat, and then the gentlemen will begin." +Making the best of the situation, and somewhat enjoying the humor of it, +Dooly and Carnes sat down at the table and began to eat. Carnes shook +his big spoon at the negro, and cried out, "Now, Charles, you must +spoony on your own side;" and he kept on warning him, "Spoony on your +own side, Charles, spoony on your own side." The two lawyers ate until +Charles's spoon began to make raids on their side of the bowl, and then +they abandoned the feast to him and went on their way. + +A landlord of a hotel, having heard some of the lawyers, among them +Judge Dooly, bragging about the toothsomeness of a baked pig they had +tasted, probably at Milledgeville during the session of the Legislature, +concluded that he would surprise and please them by having something in +that line himself. + +He was either ignorant or ill-advised; for, instead of baking a suckling +pig, he roasted a half-grown pig, stuffed him, put an apple in his +mouth, and stood him upon his stumps in a dish. In those days the seat +of honor at the head of the hotel table was reserved for the judge of +the court At the head of the table Mr. Pig was placed, facing Judge +Dooly's seat. The judge and the lawyers came in, sat down, and ate +dinner in comparative silence. They were overawed by Mr. Pig. Though +the carving knife lay handy, and the landlord and his wife were watching +with impatience and uneasiness to see what the lawyers would say when +they had tasted this particular roast pig, no one dared to touch it. At +supper Mr. Pig was still standing defiantly in his place. He presided at +every meal during the day following. On the morning of the second day, +when Judge Dooly came to the table, Mr. Pig was in his old position. +Thereupon the judge bowed to him gravely. "Good-morning, sir!" he said. +"I am afraid you have lost your appetite, seeing you have not eaten that +apple yet. I presume you are tired attending court.--Mr. Sheriff, you +may discharge him on his own recognizance, until court in course, seeing +we shall have no further use for him at this session, and return him the +thanks of the court for his prompt and faithful attendance." + +[Illustration: The Roast Pig 255] + +Judge Dooly was a member of the Clarke party; but on one occasion, +when he was a candidate for reëlection to the judgeship of the northern +circuit, some of the Clarke men declared that Governor Troup's warlike +message was an evidence that he was mad. Judge Dooly made the comment, +"If he is mad, I wish the same mad dog that bit him would bite me." This +happy remark came to the ears of the Troup men in the Legislature, and +it so pleased them that they put an end to all opposition to the judge +in the election. + +Judge Dooly was one of the most charitable of men. He once refused to +give alms to an unfortunate woman in Savannah, and the refusal haunted +him all his life He declared that it taught him never to let Satan cheat +him out of another opportunity to help the unfortunate; that he had +determined to err on the safe side ever after. + +Just before he died, a friend called to ask after his condition. His +reply was that he had a bad cold without any cough to suit it. And so, +humor bubbling from his lips to the last, there passed away, on the 26th +of May, 1827, the rarest humorist that Georgia, the especial mother +of humorists, has ever produced. Judge Dooly had a humor that was as +illuminating as it was enlivening. It stirred to laughter or it moved to +tears, according as this wonderful man chose to direct it. + +A great deal of the humor that originated in Georgia has been printed +in books. We find it in Judge Long-street's "Georgia Scenes," in Major +Jones's "Travels," in Colonel Richard Malcolm Johnston's "Stories +of Georgia Life," and in other volumes that have attracted public +attention. But the best of it has been lost. It originated when the +lawyers were riding about on horseback or in buggies from court to +court, and tradition has only preserved a small part of it. + + + + +SLAVERY AND SECESSION. + +The dispute over slavery, which had been going on for many years, grew +furious in 1850; and its fury increased until, in 1860-61, it culminated +in the secession of the Southern States from the Union. Some of those +who have written the history of the secession movement contend that +slavery had little or nothing to do with the matter; that the South +seceded because the North had refused to grant her people their rights +guaranteed under the Constitution. This is true as far as it goes; but +the fact remains, that secession and the war grew out of the efforts of +the abolitionists of the North, and those who sympathized with them, to +keep slavery out of the Territories, and to prevent the new States then +forming from becoming slave States. There is no doubt that these efforts +were illegal and unconstitutional; and yet, in the minds of those who +made them, constitutionality was not a sufficient excuse for slavery, +which, whatever might be its political status, was morally wrong: that +is to say, they believed that such a wrong as slavery could not be +justified by paper constitutions and the like. Some of the more extreme +abolitionists of the North were just as ready to secede from the Union +that recognized slavery as the Southerners were to break up a Union +whose constitutional guaranties meant nothing. + +It must be borne in mind that the antislavery movement began in the +South. While slavery was in full blast both North and South, Thomas +Jefferson, the greatest political leader the South has ever produced, +was at the head of an emancipation movement, and in all parts of the +South there were men whose minds revolted at the possibilities that +swarmed about human slavery. Georgia was the only one of the Original +Thirteen Colonies in which slavery was prohibited, and we have seen +how this prohibition was repealed at the demand of the planters. Seven +Northern States, finding slavery unprofitable, abolished the system, +and a majority of the slaves were sold to the Southern States. But the +emancipation movement went on in the South. There were more than fifty +thousand free negroes in Virginia in 1856, and there were a great many +in Georgia. A number of planters in Georgia, the most prominent among +them being Alfred Cuthbert, emancipated their slaves, and arranged to +send them to Liberia. + +Nevertheless the invention of the cotton gin did more to strengthen +the cause of slavery than all other events combined. It became more +profitable than ever to own slaves; and in this way, and on this +account, all the cotton-growing States became interested in the system. +They had the excuse not only that slavery was profitable, but +that self-interest combined with feelings of humanity to make it a +patriarchal institution. And such, in fact, it was. It is to the glory +of the American character and name, that never before in the history of +the world was human slavery marked by such mildness, such humanity, as +that which characterized it in the United States. + +But all such considerations as these, as well as the moral objections +to slavery of any sort, humane or cruel, were lost sight of in the great +controversy that grew so furious in 1850. In that controversy some of +Georgia's ablest men took part,--men who were famous as statesmen all +over the country. There were Alexander H. Stephens, who afterwards +became the Vice-President of the Confederacy; Robert Toombs, whose fiery +and impetuous character and wonderful eloquence made him a man of mark; +Howell Cobb, who was speaker of the House of Representatives; Herschel +V. Johnson, who was a candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with +Stephen A. Douglas in 1860; Benjamin H. Hill, who was just then coming +into prominence; and Joseph E. Brown, whose influence on the political +history of the State has been more marked than that of any other +individual. + +The controversy growing out of the slavery question became so warm that +it led to the breaking-up of parties in 1850. Stephens and Toombs, +who had been Whigs, united with Howell Cobb, who was a Democrat. Other +Southern Whigs united under the name of the American party. At the North +the Whigs either joined the Republican party or united with the American +party. The spirit of disunion was rampant in all parts of the South. +In Georgia the Legislature had called a State convention, and a great +effort was made by some of the politicians to commit the State to +secession. Both Toombs and Stephens were strong Union men, and they +opposed the spirit and purpose of the call for the convention. +The speeches that Toombs had made in Congress were garbled by the +newspapers, and he was made to appear as favoring immediate secession. +He made short work of that scheme, however. He returned to Georgia in +the fall of 1850, and immediately began one of the most extraordinary +campaigns that has ever taken place in the State. He was in the prime +of life. His fiery energy, his boldness, his independence, and his +dauntless courage, were in full flower. He took issue with what seemed +to be the unanimous sentiment of the State. He declared that the call +for the convention had dishonored the State. He sent out a ringing +address to the people, urging the South to stand by the Constitution and +the laws in good faith. + +By the time the convention was held, the efforts of Toombs, supplemented +by those of Stephens and other conservative men, had turned the tide of +disunion. Whigs united with Democrats. When the returns of the election +were made known, it was found that a large majority of the members +were for the Union. "With no memory of past differences," said Toombs, +"careless of the future, I am ready to unite with any portion or all of +my countrymen in defense of the integrity of the Republic." So it was +that the convention met, and adopted what is known in our political +history as "The Georgia Platform." This platform said that Georgia held +the American Union secondary in importance to the rights and principles +it was bound to perpetuate; that, as the Thirteen Colonies found union +impossible without compromise, the thirty-one of that day would yield +somewhat in the conflict of opinion and policy, to preserve the Union; +that Georgia had maturely considered the action of Congress in adopting +the compromise measures, and, while she did not wholly approve that +action, would abide by it as a permanent adjustment of this sectional +controversy; that the State would in future resist, even to the +disruption of the Union, any act prohibiting slavery in the Territories, +or a refusal to admit a slave State into the Union. + +Thus the Union was saved in 1850 by the very man who had been charged +with trying to break it up. The eyes of the whole South were turned to +Georgia during that campaign; and when the people, under the leadership +of Toombs, Stephens, and Howell Cobb, voted to save the Union, the tide +of disunion was turned everywhere. The Georgia platform was made the +platform of the constitutional Union party in the Southern States. In +Mississippi, Henry S. Foote, the Union candidate, defeated Jefferson +Davis for governor. The action of Georgia strengthened the Union +sentiment in all parts of the country. + +For a while the situation was secure and satisfactory; but, in the +nature of things, this could not last. The politicians were busy while +the people were asleep. The Know-nothing party sprang up in a night, +and divided the people again; and in Congress the slavery discussion was +renewed with extreme bitterness over the bills to admit the Territories +of Kansas and Nebraska as States. This controversy was even more +exciting than that which resulted in the Compromise Laws of 1850. +Following close upon this agitation came John Brown's raid into +Virginia, and his attack on Harpers Ferry. In ordinary times this raid +would have been regarded with contempt by the Southern people. It was +a ridiculous affair,--the act of a man who had worked himself up into +a frenzy of folly. If the people themselves had not been influenced by +passion cunningly played on by the smaller politicians in both sections, +poor old John Brown would not have been regarded as a murderer by the +South nor as a martyr by the North. He would have been an object of pity +to the sensible men of both sections. + +But the state of public opinion was such at that time, that this +ridiculous venture of a crazy old man was a tremendous shock to the +South. It contributed more largely than any other event to alarm the +people of this section, and to turn their minds to secession as a relief +from, and a remedy for, such attacks upon the peace and good order of +society. It was a great stimulant to those who had long been in favor of +disunion, as well as to those at the North who were ready to get rid of +slavery by violence. Following this raid, public opinion both North and +South became so violently agitated, that the voices of conservative men +could not be heard above the storm. It was the hour of the agitator and +the extremist, and they made the most of it. The Democratic Convention, +to nominate a candidate for President and Vice-President, met in +Charleston on the 23d of April, 1860, and remained in session until the +second day of May. The confused state of public opinion was shown by the +turbulent division in that convention. + +At a moment when the wise men of the Democratic party, or of any party, +ought to have taken hold of affairs and made their influence felt, they +seemed to be unequal to the occasion. The members of the convention +could not agree, and the body adjourned to meet in Baltimore. But the +division continued and grew wider. The differences could not be settled. +One faction nominated Douglas and Johnson, and the other nominated +Breckinridge and Lane. The result was the election of Lincoln and Hamlin +as the candidates of the Republican party. + +[Illustration: Georgia Politics 264] + +In Georgia three of the ablest men still stood for the Union,--Alexander +H. Stephens, Herschel V. Johnson, and Benjamin H. Hill. But they were +unable to stem the tide. The vote of the State for members of the +convention that passed the ordinance of secession showed a majority +of only thirteen thousand for disunion; but Toombs, Thomas R. R. Cobb, +Howell Cobb, and others seized the advantage that events gave them, and, +in a whirlwind of passion, swept aside all the arguments and appeals +of the more conservative men. But, of all those who were in favor of +secession, Toombs was at that time the most powerful and influential. +He so managed matters in Congress as to make the secession of Georgia +follow the inevitable failure of measures that he proposed in that body. + +With the people of the South, and indeed with the people of the whole +country, divided between three parties, the election of a Republican +candidate was a foregone conclusion. Following this came secession, with +all the terrible disasters of a war in which the South could not have +hoped to succeed if reason and common sense had ruled. If the South +had fought for her constitutional rights in the Union and under the +old flag, the result might have been different. She would have had +the active sympathy and support of that large and influential body +of Northern men who were sincerely anxious to see the terms of the +Constitution faithfully carried out. But disunion was more than these +constitutional Democrats could stand. Daniel Webster had solidified +their love for the Union, and no consideration of party could affect it. + +The course of the South, considering all that was involved, should have +been conservative; but it was not. It is perfectly well known now that +Abraham Lincoln was willing to sacrifice the abolition party on the +altar of the Union. He was prompt to announce his policy in this +respect. But secession came, and with it came the doom of slavery. That +all was ordered by Providence, it would be foolish to deny; and yet it +is impossible not to regret the great sacrifice of blood and treasure +that was demanded by the unhappy war that followed secession. + + + + +THE FARMER BOY OF GADDISTOWN. + +In 1857, when Bob Toombs was looking after his large landed possessions +in Texas, and bringing the squatters to terms, he received a letter +from one of his political friends, announcing that the Democratic State +Convention had adjourned after nominating Joseph E. Brown as a candidate +for governor. Toombs was traveling with a party of friends, and to one +of them he read the letter. Then in a dazed way he asked, "Who is Joe +Brown?" His friend knew no more about Joe Brown than Senator Toombs did, +and all the way home the travelers were puzzling themselves with the +question, "Who is Joe Brown?" They were destined to find out; for the +convention that nominated Joe Brown for governor brought to the front +in Georgia politics one of the most remarkable men the State has ever +known. + +Shortly after his return to Georgia from Texas, Toombs was compelled to +meet Joe Brown to consult in regard to the details of the campaign in +which both were interested. It must have been an interesting meeting. It +was as if Prince Charlie and Cromwell had met to arrange a campaign. +It was a meeting between Puritan and Cavalier. Toombs was full-blooded, +hotheaded, impetuous, imperious. Joe Brown was pale, angular, awkward, +cold, and determined. It was as if in a new land the old issues had been +buried. Toombs was a man of the people, but in his own way, and it was +a princely and a dashing way. Brown was a man of the people, but in +the people's way; and it was a cold, calculating, determined, and +common-sense way. Howell Cobb had written to Toombs to go to the aid of +Brown, expressing a fear that the nominee, being a new and an untried +man, would not be able to hold his own against Ben Hill, who was the +candidate of the American or Know-nothing party for governor. So the +dashing and gallant senator sought out the new and unknown Democratic +candidate for governor, and had a conference with him. Toombs found the +young man strangely cold and placid, and yet full of the determination +that martyrs are made of. He found that Joe Brown had already mapped +out and arranged the plans for his campaign, and the more experienced +politicians saw nothing to change in them. They were marked by +shrewdness and sagacity, and covered every detail of party organization. +This was satisfactory; but how could the young man sustain himself on +the stump against such a speaker as Ben Hill, who, although a young +man, was a speaker of great force and power? Toombs thought it would be +better to meet Hill himself, and he started out with that purpose; +but when he heard Joe Brown make two or three speeches, and saw the +tremendous effect he produced on the minds of the audiences that +assembled to hear him, the older campaigner went home, satisfied that +young Brown needed no instruction and no coaching in the difficult art +of influencing the people and winning their votes. + +The personal history and career of Joseph E. Brown should be studied by +every ambitious boy in the land, especially by those who imagine they +cannot succeed because they lack opportunities that money and friends +would obtain for them. From 1857 to the close of the war, and after, +the political history of Joe Brown is the history of the State; but that +history, attractive as it is, is not so interesting as his struggle +to make a name for himself in the world. Joseph E. Brown was born in +Pickens County, South Carolina, and was the eldest of eleven children. +His family was English. His grandfather fought manfully against the +British and Tories in the Revolutionary War. His father fought under +Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, and was at the battle of New +Orleans on the 8th of January, 1815. + +Joe Brown was born in 1821. His parents were not so well off as to be +able to send the lad continuously to school as he grew up. He had to +"take his chances." He was compelled to work in the fields in season, +and was permitted to go to school only when there was nothing for him +to do on the little farm. He did farm labor from the time he was eight +until he reached the age of nineteen, and the schooling he had received +was only of the most haphazard kind. + +Before he was grown, his father moved from South Carolina into Georgia, +settling in Union County, near a little valley named Gaddistown. Up to +this time, though young Brown was nineteen years of age, he had learned +nothing but reading, writing, and arithmetic, and very little of +these. He was now compelled to work harder than ever. Settling in a new +country, and on new land that had to be cleared before it would yield a +crop, the Browns had as much as they could do to get the farm in order +in time for the planting season; and in this severe work, Joseph E., +being the eldest son, was the chief reliance of the family. He had a +pair of small steers with which he plowed; and when he wasn't plowing +on the farm, he was hauling wood and butter and vegetables to the small +market at Dahlonega, and taking back in truck and trade some necessary +article for the family. In this way he learned the lessons of patience, +self-control, and tireless industry that all boys ought to learn, +because they are not only the basis of content and happiness, but of all +success. + +When Joe Brown was twenty years old, his father allowed him to seek an +education. All he could do for the industrious and ambitious boy was +to give him his blessing and the yoke of steers with which he had been +plowing. With these young Brown returned to South Carolina and entered +an academy in Anderson district He gave the steers for eight months' +board, and went into debt for the tuition fee. In the fall of 1841 he +returned to Georgia and taught school for three months, and with the +money he received for this he paid for the schooling he had gone in debt +for. He returned to the Carolina academy in 1842, and went into debt not +only for his schooling, but for his board. His patience and his untiring +industry enabled him to make such rapid progress that within two years +he had fitted himself to enter an advanced class in college. But the +lack of means prevented him from entering college. Instead he returned +to Georgia and opened a school at Canton, Cherokee County. He opened +this school with six pupils, and the number rapidly increased to sixty, +so that he was able in a short time to settle the debts he had made +in Carolina. He taught school all day, and at night and on Saturdays +devoted himself to the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1845, +and was at once successful. He made no pretense of oratory; but his +simple and unpretending style, his homely and direct way of putting +a case, and his faculty of applying the test of common sense to all +questions, were as successful with juries as they afterwards proved to +be with the people; and before the people he was irresistible. + +[Illustration: Joe Brown and his Steers 270] + +But he was not yet through with his studies. A friend advanced him +the money necessary to enter the Law School of Yale; and there, from +October, 1845, to June, 1846, when he graduated, he took the lead in all +his classes, and had time to attend lectures in other departments of +the college. He returned home, began active practice, and was soon +prosperous. He became a State senator, and was afterwards made a judge +of the superior courts. + +When the Democratic Convention met in Milledgeville in 1857, for the +purpose of nominating a candidate for governor, it had so many popular +candidates to choose from, and these candidates had so many and such +strong friends, that the members found it impossible to agree on a +man. A great many ballots were taken, and there was a good deal of +"log-rolling" and "buttonholing," as the politicians call it, on behalf +of the various candidates by their special friends. But all this did no +good. There was a deadlock. No one of the candidates was able to obtain +a two-thirds majority, which, according to Democratic law, was the +number necessary to a nomination. Twenty-one ballots had been taken with +no result, and the convention had been in session three days. Finally +it was decided to appoint a special committee made up of three delegates +from each congressional district. It was the duty of this committee to +name a candidate on whom the convention could agree. When this committee +retired, it was proposed that a ballot be taken, each committeeman +writing the name of the candidate of his choice on a slip of paper, and +depositing the slip in a hat. This was done; but before the ballots were +counted, Judge Linton Stephens, a brother of Alexander H., stated that +such a formality was not necessary. He thereupon moved that Judge Joseph +E. Brown of Cherokee be selected as the compromise man, and that his +name be reported to the convention. This was agreed to unanimously, and +Joseph E. Brown was nominated; and yet, if the written ballots had +been counted, it would have been found that Alfred H. Colquitt, who +afterwards became so distinguished in Georgia, had been nominated by +the committee. He received a majority of one of the written ballots +when they were afterwards counted through curiosity. Twenty-three years +later, Colquitt, who was then governor, made Joseph E. Brown a United +States senator under circumstances that aroused strong opposition, and +immediately afterwards Brown aided Colquitt to a reelection in one of +the bitterest contests the State has ever witnessed. + +The unexpected nomination of Brown by the convention of 1857 introduced +into State politics the most potent element that it had ever known. The +nomination, surprising as it was, was not half so surprising as some +of the results that have followed it. At the moment the convention +nominated him, Joe Brown was tying wheat in one of his fields near +Canton, in Cherokee County. He was then judge of the Blue Ridge Circuit; +and on the day that his name was placed before the Democratic Convention +at Milledgeville, he had returned home. After dinner he went out into +his farm to see how his men were getting on. He had four men cutting +wheat with cradles, and he found the binders very much behind. About +half-past two o'clock he pulled off his coat and ordered the binders to +keep up with him. It was on the 15th of June, 1857. The weather was very +warm, but he kept at work all the afternoon. About sundown he went home, +and was preparing to bathe, when a neighbor, who had been to Marietta +and heard the news, rode to his house and told him about the nomination, +which had been made at three o'clock that afternoon. Telling about the +incident afterwards, Joe Brown, with a twinkle in his eye, said that he +had heard that a good many men were anxious to buy that wheat field, +so as to have an opportunity to tie wheat in it while a nominating +convention was in session. + +The great majority of the people of the State were as much puzzled about +Joe Brown as Toombs was. Either they had not heard of him before, or +they had forgotten him. In those days a man who made a reputation in the +Cherokee country was not known to the rest of the State for a long time. +The means of communication were slow and uncertain. But the whole State +found him out just as Toombs did. He was prompt to begin the campaign. +Toombs had already left the Whig party, and was acting with the +Democrats. Stephens had left the Whigs, but had not become a Democrat. +He was an Independent. He was, as he expressed it, "toting his own +skillet." Ben Hill was Joe Brown's opponent, and these two met in debate +before the people on two or three occasions. It was thought at first +that Mr. Hill had the advantage of the tall and ungainly candidate from +Cherokee, but the end of the contest showed that the advantage was all +the other way. Mr. Hill was a man of very marked ability. He was one +of the few good speakers who could write well, and one of the few +fine writers who could speak well. He had courage, he had wit, he had +learning, he had eloquence; he had everything, in fact, to attract +popular approval and entice a popular following; but somehow, and until +the very latest years of his life, he fell far short of being a popular +idol. He was showy and effective before a mixed crowd, he never failed +to attract applause, and it was supposed that Brown was making a losing +campaign; but the campaign was going just the other way. Hill, in +the course of his discussion, said hundreds of things that the +people applauded; while Brown said hundreds of things that the people +remembered, and carried home with them, and thought over. Joe Brown was +not only a man of the people, but a man of the country people; and +he pleased the city people who had formerly lived in the country. The +result of the campaign was that Know-nothingism was buried out of sight +in Georgia. Joe Brown was elected by more than ten thousand majority, +and the Democratic majority in the Legislature was overwhelming. + +Although he was only thirty-six years old when he became governor, the +people began to call him "Old Judg_ment_." This was due no less to his +peculiar gift of hard common sense than to his peculiar pronunciation. +His speech and his ways were "countrified," and they remained so all +the days of his life. His voice was not musical, and he had a peculiar +drawling intonation, which, if it had been a little more nasal, would +have been an exact reproduction of the tone and manner of the Down-east +Yankee. He shared these peculiarities with hundreds of the descendants +of the Puritans who settled in the mountains of East Tennessee and North +Georgia. He had no wish for the luxuries of life; and though he lived +comfortably, he never, even when by close economy he had accumulated one +of the largest fortunes in Georgia, cared to live finely. He was a plain +man at first and a plain man at last, always temperate, industrious, and +economical. + +His term of office in the governor's chair was for two years, and at +the end of that time he had almost entirely remolded and refashioned his +party. He had stamped his own personality and character upon it, and it +became in truth and in fact the party of the people,--the common people. +In his management of State affairs he had introduced the plain business +methods suggested by common sense; he dispensed with all unnecessary +officials; he shook off all the hangers-on; he uprooted all personal +schemes: so that when the time came to nominate a man to succeed him, it +was found that the people had no other choice. His party thought of no +other name. + +The year of Joe Brown's second nomination, as we have seen, was the year +that witnessed John Brown's ridiculous raid into Virginia. The people of +the South, however, thought it was a very serious matter, and the people +of Georgia were not different from those of the rest of the South. Some +very wise men allowed themselves to be led away by their passions. Even +Joe Brown, as Alexander Stephens once said, "tucked his judgment under +the bed" for the time being. Back of the indignation created by the John +Brown raid was the unconfessed and half-formed fear that the Northern +abolitionists would send their agents to the South and organize a negro +insurrection. Many of the Southern people remembered the horrors of San +Domingo, and there was a vague and an undefined but constant dread that +such a rising of the blacks would take place in the South. But there +never was any such danger in Georgia. The relations between the slaves +and their masters were too friendly and familiar to make such an +uprising possible. The abolitionists did send agents to the South to +stir the negroes to rebellion, and some of them came to Georgia, but +in every instance their mission became known to the whites through the +friendliness of the blacks. There was always some negro ready to tell +his master's family when the abolition agents made their appearance. +Still the people resented to the utmost the spirit that moved certain +so-called philanthropists of the North to endeavor to secure the freedom +of the negroes by means of the torch and midnight murder. + +Consequently in 1859, when Joe Brown was nominated for governor the +second time, the people were greatly stirred. Sectional feeling ran +high. In that year began the active movement that led to secession and +the civil war. If all our statesmen had been as wise as Mr. Stephens +and Mr. Hill, war would have been averted. Slavery itself, in the very +nature of things, was doomed. It had accomplished its providential +mission. It had civilized and christianized millions of savages who had +been redeemed from slavery in their own land. It had justified its own +ends, and would have passed away in good time, no matter what compromise +may have been made. + +Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hill were opposed to secession. They were for +fighting, if there must be a fight, in the Union, and this was the true +policy. For a while the people of Georgia were earnestly in favor +of this; but the efforts of the abolitionists to stir the negroes to +insurrection, and the inflammatory appeals of some of the leading +men, led them to oppose a policy which was at once just, wise, and +considerate. Even Joseph E. Brown, cool, calculating, placid, and not +easily-swayed by emotion, became a disunionist, demonstrating once again +that beneath the somber and calm exterior of the Puritan is to be +found a nature as combative and as unyielding as that which marks the +Cavalier. + +Joe Brown was reelected in 1859, and did everything in his power as +governor to hasten the event of secession. The National Democratic +Convention met in Charleston, and the meeting showed that the +differences between the Democrats could not be settled; and it so +happened, that, while the South was opposed by the solid and rapidly +growing Republican party, the people of the South were divided among +themselves. What is most remarkable, the people of the South, after +making the election of the Republican candidate certain by dividing +among themselves, seemed to be amazed at the result. In some instances +county meetings were held in Georgia, and resolutions sent to the +Legislature declaring the election of Lincoln and Hamlin "a violation of +national comity." Nothing could show more clearly that the minds of the +voters were upset. + +On Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union, and the event +was made the occasion for great rejoicing by the secession element in +Georgia. Bonfires were kindled, guns were fired, and people seemed to +be wild with enthusiasm. Georgia did not secede until Jan. 19, 1861; but +Governor Brown did not wait for that event. He committed the first overt +act of the war. He seized Fort Pulaski, on the Savannah, Jan. 3, 1861. + +On the 22d of January, ten cases of muskets belonging to a firm in Macon +were seized by the New York police after they had been placed on board a +vessel. Governor Brown sent a telegram to Governor Morgan, demanding +the release of these arms. Governor Morgan hesitated some time before he +made any response. Meanwhile, Governor Brown waited three days, and then +ordered the seizure of every ship in the harbor of Savannah belonging to +citizens of New York. Two brigs, two barks, and a schooner were seized +and held by the State troops. When this seizure was made known, Governor +Brown received official notification that the arms had been released. He +therefore ordered the release of the vessels. But when the agents of the +Macon firm made an effort to get the arms, they were refused. Promptly +Governor Brown seized other vessels, and caused them to be advertised +for sale. + +This was merely the beginning of those greater events that cast a shadow +over the whole country. The farmer boy of Gaddistown was reelected +governor in 1861, and continued to hold the office until 1865. + + + + +GEORGIA IN THE WAR. + +[Illustration: Georgia in the War 279] + +When the Southern Confederacy was organized at Montgomery, Ala., there +was great enthusiasm all over the South, especially in Georgia; and this +feeling kept up until the State had given to the Confederate armies +a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers, twenty thousand more than its +voting population. By reason of the fame and number of its public men, +Georgia had a controlling influence in the organization of the new +government. Howell Cobb was president of the convention of the seceded +States that met in Montgomery on the fourth day of February, 1861; +and it is well known that the convention itself was in favor of making +Robert Toombs president of the provisional government that was there +formed. Mr. Toombs, however, expressly forbade the use of his name. +The Georgia delegates then concluded to support Jefferson Davis of +Mississippi for president, and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia for +vice-president. + +Only a few men doubted that the South would conquer the North, and +among these was Herschel V. Johnson. There was an idea abroad, that one +Southerner could whip a dozen Northerners. Nobody knows how this idea +got out, nor why the absurdity of it was not plain to all; but the +newspapers were full of it, and the speech makers insisted on it so +roundly that the people began to believe it. One orator declared that he +could take one company of "Southrons," arm them with popguns, and run a +regiment of Yankees out of the country. Another stated that he would +be willing to drink all the blood that would be shed as the result +of secession. It is said that both of these orators were asked for an +explanation by their constituents after the war was over. The first +said that the reason he didn't run the Yankees out of the country with +popguns was because they wouldn't fight that way. The second one, who +had promised to drink all the blood, said that exposure in camp had +interfered with his digestion, and his appetite wasn't as good as it +ought to be. + +At this time and afterwards there was an overwhelming sentiment in favor +of the Union in some parts of North Georgia. The people of that section +had few slaves, and the arguments in favor of the protection of slavery +in the Territories did not appeal to them: consequently they were +opposed to secession. There was but one thing that prevented serious +trouble between these Union men and the State government, and that +was the fact that Joe Brown was governor. He knew the North Georgians +thoroughly, and he knew precisely how to deal with them. General +Harrison W. Riley, a leading citizen of Lumpkin County, declared that +he intended to seize the mint at Dahlonega, and hold it for the United +States. This threat was telegraphed to Governor Brown by some of the +secession leaders in that part of the State, and they appealed to him to +send troops to Dahlonega at once, and seize the mint by force. But the +governor knew Riley and the people of North Georgia too well to make any +show of force. He knew that any such demonstration would excite sympathy +for Riley, and inflame the Union sentiment there.. So Governor Brown +wrote to some of Riley's friends, telling them what he had heard, and +saying that he had known General Riley too long, and had too high an +opinion of his good sense and patriotism, to believe the report. At the +same time the governor informed the superintendent of the mint that the +State of Georgia now held that institution. The superintendent said he +was willing to act under the orders of the governor. + +At Jasper, the county seat of Pickens County, the feeling of loyalty to +the Union was very strong. The delegate from that county to the State +convention had refused to sign his name to the ordinance of secession. +Soon after the State had seceded, the citizens of Jasper planted a pole, +and raised on it a United States flag, and kept it floating there for +several weeks in open defiance of the Confederate and State authorities. +This was an event to be delicately handled. The slightest mistake would +have created a state of feeling in North Georgia that would have given +no end of trouble during the whole war. But the Union flag floating in +Pickens County irritated the rest of the State; and hundreds of appeals +were made to Governor Brown to send troops to Jasper, and have the flag +taken down by force. To these appeals he made but one response, and then +turned a deaf ear to all criticism. "Let the flag float there," he said. +"It floated over our fathers, and we all love the flag now. We have only +been compelled to lay it aside by the injustice that has been practiced +under its folds. If the people of Pickens desire to hang it out and keep +it there, let them do so. I shall send no troops to interfere with it." + +While this wise management on the part of Governor Brown did not change +the sentiments of the Union men of North Georgia, it prevented any +serious outbreak, and kept them soothed and quieted throughout the war. +Matters were managed differently in East Tennessee; and the result +was, that the Union men of that section went into the business of +bushwhacking, and created a great deal of trouble. While Governor Brown +exercised authority without regard for precedent, the time and the +occasion being without precedent, he was very wise and very prudent in +meeting such emergencies as those that arose in North Georgia. + +By the time the election for governor came on, Joe Brown had aroused a +good deal of opposition. He had had a controversy with the Confederate +authorities because the latter had enrolled troops from Georgia without +first making a requisition on the governor. He had seized several +cargoes of salt which the speculators had been holding for higher +prices. There was at that early day, and all during the war, a salt +famine in the South. The farmers found it difficult to save their meat, +owing to the scarcity of salt. It is a curious fact, that, when the +famine was at its height, a pound of salt was worth a pound of silver. +Foreseeing this famine, a great many shrewd business men had laid in +large stocks of salt, storing it about in large warehouses in different +parts of the State. They were about to realize immense fortunes out of +the sufferings of the people, when Governor Brown stepped in and seized +all the salt the State authorities could lay hands on, and prohibited +the shipment of the article out of the State. The Legislature afterwards +came to the support of the governor; but if the matter had been +discussed in the Legislature in advance of the action of the executive, +the speculators would have had timely notice, and the State authorities +would have found no salt to seize. + +[Illustration: The Salt Famine 284] + +This salt famine was almost as serious as any result of the war, and +it hung over the State until the close of the contest. In thousands of +instances the planters who had been prodigal of salt before the war, dug +up the dirt floors of their smokehouses, and managed to extract a small +supply of the costly article. The Legislature was compelled to +organize a salt bureau, and for that purpose half a million dollars was +appropriated. The State, in self-defense, took into its own hands the +monopoly of manufacturing salt and of distributing it to the people. + +The next difficulty with which the people of Georgia had to contend was +the Conscription Act. This act passed the Confederate Congress in April, +1862. It had been recommended by Mr. Davis in a special message, and +Congress promptly passed it. Nobody in Georgia could understand why +such a law had been recommended, or why it had passed. It was the most +ruinous blunder of the Confederate Government during the war. If such a +law was necessary, it showed that the Confederacy had fallen to pieces. +If it was not necessary, its enactment was a stupendous piece of +folly; and such it turned out to be. Under the last call for troops +for Confederate service, Governor Brown had no difficulty in furnishing +eighteen regiments. He could have gone on furnish ing troops as long as +there was any fighting material left in the State; but as soon as the +Conscript Act went into operation, the ardor of the people sensibly +cooled. The foolish law not only affected the people at home, but hurt +the army in the field. It was a reflection on the patriotism of the +whole Southern population. The law was the occasion of a controversy +between Governor Brown and President Davis, in which Brown, in the +nature of things, had a decided advantage; for the Conscript Act wiped +out the whole theory of State rights, on which the people of the South +depended to justify secession. But Georgia did not stand in the way of +the law. It was enforced, and the terms of its enforcement did the work +of disorganization more thoroughly than the hard times and the actual +war were doing it. + +In March, 1863, the governor issued a proclamation convening the +Legislature in special session to discuss the subject of bread. This was +a very important subject at that time. In his message, the governor said +that the time had come for the farmers to raise bread instead of cotton. +He also laid before the Legislature' the reports of the distribution of +the fund of two and a half millions of dollars for the support of the +indigent families of soldiers. These reports showed what havoc the war +had created among the people of a State which, not much more than two +years before, was one of the most prosperous in the country. The fund +had been distributed among more than eighty-four thousand people. +Of this number, about forty-six thousand were children, twenty-four +thousand were kinswomen of poor living soldiers, eight thousand were +orphans, four thousand were widows of dead soldiers, and five hundred +were soldiers disabled in service. Governor Brown, out of his own barn, +gave the people of Cherokee County four thousand dollars' worth of corn. +These events show the straits to which the people had been reduced by +two years of actual war. + +It should be borne in mind, however, that the people had to fight the +Union army in front, and the speculators and extortioners in the +rear. Governor Brown tried hard to make the lives of this latter class +entirely miserable, and he succeeded in a way that delighted the people. +Wherever he could get his hands on a speculator or extortioner, he shook +him up. He made many seizures, and confiscated the hoards of a great +many men who had influence with some of the newspapers; and in this way +life in the State was made almost as exciting as the experience of the +soldiers at the front. + +In 1863, Governor Brown wanted to retire from office. The strain on +his health and strength had been very severe, and he felt that he was +breaking down. He wanted to make Toombs, who was then a general in the +army, his successor. But Brown's friends insisted that he should make +the race. The public opinion of Georgia and of the whole South +insisted on it. So he became a candidate for a fourth term. He had two +opponents,--Joshua Hill, who had been a strong Union man; and Timothy +Furlow, who was an ardent secessionist and a strong supporter of the +Confederate administration; but Governor Brown was elected by a large +majority over both candidates. + +The war went steadily on, and during the year 1864 Georgia became the +battle ground,--the strategic point. This fact the Union commanders +realized very early, and began their movements accordingly. Virginia +was merely the gateway to the Confederacy, but Georgia was very near +the center of its vitality. This was shown by the fact that when Atlanta +fell, and Sherman began his destructive march to the sea, it was known +on all sides that the Confederate Government was doomed. This movement, +strange to say, was hastened by the Confederate authorities. General +Joseph E. Johnston, one of the greatest commanders of the war, was +removed at a critical moment, when his well-disciplined army had reached +Atlanta. He was ordered from Richmond to turn his army over to the +command of General Hood, and within a very few days the fate of +the Confederacy had been decided. Hood at once ordered an attack on +Sherman's lines. He was repulsed, and then compelled to evacuate the +city. General Sherman detached General Thomas from his main army to +follow Hood on his march toward the Tennessee, and moved across the +State to Savannah. Within a very few months thereafter the war was +brought to a close. Colonel I. W. Avery, in his "History of Georgia," +says that on the thirty-first day of December, 1864, one dollar in gold +was worth forty-nine dollars in Confederate money. The private soldier +received eleven dollars of this money for a month's service. He could +buy a pound of meat with his month's pay. He could buy a drink of +whisky, and have one dollar left over. With four months' pay he could +buy a bushel of wheat. General Toombs once humorously declared that +a negro pressman worked all day printing money, and then until nine +o'clock at night to pay himself off. There was a grain of truth in this +humor,--just enough to picture the situation as by a charcoal sketch. + + + + +A DARING ADVENTURE. + +On the 12th day of April, 1862, the anniversary of the firing on Fort +Sumter by the Confederates, a passenger train pulled out of the old car +shed in Atlanta. It was a "mixed" train, being composed of three freight +cars, a baggage car, and the passenger coaches. The train started +from Atlanta at an early hour, arrived at Marietta about daylight, +and stopped at Big Shanty, about seven miles north of Marietta, +for breakfast. At Marietta, early as the hour was, quite a crowd of +passengers were waiting to take the train. This excited no remark. There +was a good deal of travel and traffic on the State Road at that time, +for it was the key to the Confederacy--the one artery that connected the +army at the front with its source of supplies. + +The conductor of the train was Captain William A. Fuller, of Atlanta. +Captain Fuller's title was not one of courtesy. He was a captain in the +Confederate Army, on detached service. The engineer in charge of the +locomotive was Jeff Cain. Mr. Antony Murphy, an employee of the road, +was also on the train. At Big Shanty the passengers were allowed +twenty minutes for breakfast, but the train men were in the habit of +dispatching their meal a little quicker than this, so as to see that +everything about the locomotive was shipshape when the conductor tapped +the bell. Captain Fuller, sitting at a table near a window, had a +full view of the train. He had hardly begun to eat before he saw the +locomotive (the now famous "General") and the three freight cars pull +out, and heard the gong sound as the cord snapped. He rose instantly and +rushed from the breakfast room, followed by Engineer Cain and Antony +Murphy. He saw the "General" going at full speed up the road with +three freight cars attached. Without hesitation Captain Fuller started +after the flying train on foot, followed by Cain and Murphy. Hundreds of +soldiers were idling about the station. They had no idea what was taking +place. They thought either that the locomotive had been carried up the +track to take on or leave a freight car, or that some practical joker +was playing a prank. They showed their enjoyment of the situation by +laughing and cheering loudly when Captain Fuller, followed by Engineer +Cain and Mr. Murphy, started after the "General "on foot. + +[Illustration: Capture of the Locomotive 289] + +The locomotive had been captured, and had the plan of its captors been +successful, a paralyzing, perhaps a fatal, blow would have been struck +at the Confederacy. The way the capture had come about was this: Early +in 1862 the Federal commanders planned an advance on Chattanooga; but +the fact that stood in their way was, that at various points along the +line of railroad leading from Atlanta to Chattanooga, Confederate troops +had been posted: consequently the moment an advance on Chattanooga was +made, soldiers and war supplies could be hurried forward to the relief +of the city. It was General Mitchell of the Federal army who planned the +advance; and it was J. J. Andrews, an active spy in the Union service, +who planned a raid by means of which it was intended to burn the bridges +on the road north of Marietta, cut the telegraph wires, and thus destroy +for a time the lines of transportation and communication between Atlanta +and Chattanooga, and make the capture of the last-named point an easy +matter. Andrews suggested to General Mitchell that a party of bold men +could make their way to a station on the Western and Atlantic Railway +(called the State Road because it was owned by the State), capture a +locomotive, and then steam towards Chattanooga, burning the bridges and +cutting the telegraph lines as they went along. Although there seemed +to be small chance for the success of such a daring adventure, General +Mitchell gave his consent to it, agreeing to pay Andrews sixty thousand +dollars if he succeeded. To aid him, Andrews was allowed to select a +number of young men who had already made a reputation in the Federal +army for intelligence and bravery. + +There were twenty-four men in this small expedition when it started for +Chattanooga. They were under the command of Andrews, who was a tall, +handsome man with a long black beard. He was cold, impassive, and had +the air of one who is born to command. He was bold as a lion, and never +once lost his coolness, his firmness, or his decision. He and his men +pretended to be Kentuckians who had become disgusted with the Lincoln +government and were making their way South, where they might find more +congenial company than that of the ardent Union men who were their +neighbors at home. This story was plausible on the face of it, for many +Southern sympathizers had fled from Tennessee and Kentucky when the +Federals began to take possession of those sections. + +Andrews and his men tramped southward more than a hundred miles before +they reached Chattanooga. Before going into that city, they divided into +smaller squads, and all but two succeeded in eluding guards, sentinels, +and patrols, and passing into the town. They left Chattanooga on a train +bound for Atlanta, buying tickets for Marietta. They reached Marietta in +safety, and went to different hotels for the night. They had arranged +to meet again at four o'clock the next morning and take the north-bound +train. Two of the men were not called by the clerk of the hotel at which +they stopped: consequently they overslept, and their companions had to +go on without them when the train arrived. They had learned that Big +Shanty had no telegraph office, and that it was a breakfast station. At +that point Andrews determined to capture the locomotive. It was not long +before the brakeman put his head in at the door of the car and yelled +out, "Big Shanty! Twenty minutes for breakfast!" + +Andrews and his men looked out of the windows of the car as the train +drew up at the station, and the sight they saw was not calculated to +make them feel certain of success. Opposite the station was a field +covered with the tents of soldiers, and in and around the station +thousands of soldiers were loitering and standing about. When the train +stopped, Andrews, the leader, and Knight, an engineer who had come with +the party, rose and left the coach on the side opposite the depot, and +went to the locomotive, which they found empty. They also saw that the +track was clear. Andrews and Knight then walked back until they came to +the last of the three box cars. Andrews told his engineer to uncouple +the baggage car from the box car, and then wait for him. Knight did as +he was told, while Andrews walked leisurely back to the passenger coach, +opened the door, and said quietly, "Now is our time, boys! Come on!" + +The men rose at once and went out of the coach. Knight, as soon as he +saw them coming, climbed into the locomotive, cut the bell rope, and +stood with his hand on the throttle, waiting for the word. Andrews stood +near the locomotive, and motioned with his hand for the men to get into +the box cars, the doors of which were slid back. All the men were now in +the box cars except Andrews, Knight, and another engineer named Brown, +who ran forward and climbed into the locomotive. While this was going +on, a sentinel stood within half a dozen yards of the train, but he +had no idea what was occurring. Andrews gave the signal to go ahead. +Instantly Knight pulled the throttle valve open, and the locomotive +started forward with a jerk. It went puffing and snorting out of Big +Shanty without let or hindrance. + +But the train had not gone very far before the speed of the locomotive +began to slacken. The fire in the furnace refused to burn, and the +steam was low. While the engineer was trying to discover what was wrong, +Andrews ordered the men to cut the telegraph wire and tear up a rail +from the track. By the time the rail had been torn up and the wire +cut, the engineer had discovered that the dampers of the fire box were +closed. With these open, the boiler began to make steam again, and +the locomotive was soon rattling over the rails once more. It was +the intention of Andrews to run the captured train on the time of the +regular passenger train, so that he would have only one train to meet +and pass before reaching the Resaca River, where he intended to burn the +bridge. This done, it would have been an easy matter to burn the bridges +over the Chickamauga. This crooked stream winds about the valleys so +unexpectedly, and in such curious fashion, that the railroad crosses it +eleven times within a few miles. These eleven bridges Andrews intended +to burn as he went along, and then he would not fear pursuit. His +success seemed to be certain. + +The captured locomotive, an old-fashioned machine with a big heavy +smokestack, went clanking and clattering along the road, and reeling +and rumbling through the towns, dragging after it the three box cars +containing the men whom Andrews had brought with him. After passing +a station, the locomotive would be stopped and the wire cut. When the +train reached Cassville, wood and water were running low, and a stop was +made to get a fresh supply. The doors of the box cars were closed, and +the men inside could not be seen. The station agent at this place was +very inquisitive. He wanted to know why so small and insignificant a +freight train was running on the time of the morning passenger train. +Andrews promptly told the agent that the train was not a freight, but an +express, and that it was carrying three cars of gunpowder to Beauregard. +The agent believed the story, and furnished Andrews with a train +schedule. + +[Illustration: Tearing up the Rails 295] + +From Cassville the distance to Kingston was seven miles, and at that +point a freight train was to be passed. When Andrews reached the place, +he found that the freight had not arrived. He therefore switched his +train into a siding to wait for the freight train, and repeated his +powder story for the benefit of the inquisitive. When the freight +arrived, he saw that it carried a red flag. This meant another train +was on the road. After another long half hour's wait, the second freight +train came in sight, and Andrews was dismayed to see another red flag +displayed. The railroad men said another train was following. The men +on the captured train were compelled to wait more than an hour. To those +shut up in the box cars this was a very trying time. They had no means +of knowing what had happened, or what was about to happen, until Knight, +the engineer, found an opportunity to saunter by and tell them what the +trouble was. At the end of an hour the long wait was over. The freight +trains had passed, and the captured locomotive, dragging the box cars, +went swiftly out of Kingston. A short distance beyond, the usual stop +was made, and the wires cut An attempt was made to tear up the track by +some of the men, while others loaded the box cars with railroad ties. +While engaged in this work, the men heard the screaming whistle of +a locomotive in full pursuit. They were more than amazed: they were +paralyzed. If a pursuing locomotive had sprung out of the ground at +their feet with a full head of steam on, they could not have been more +astonished. They had just passed three freight trains headed in the +opposite direction, and now here was a pursuing locomotive coming +after them at full speed, and with a full head of steam on. Making one +spasmodic effort, they broke the rail they were trying to tear up. + +Reaching Adairsville, Andrews and his men found that the passenger train +had not arrived. But it was no time for waiting. They resolved to take +every chance. The engineer had orders to send the locomotive along at +full speed. He was very willing to do this. Calhoun was nine miles away, +and if that station could be reached before the passenger train left, +all would be well; if not, there was danger of a collision. But Andrews +took all the chances. The throttle of the locomotive was pulled wide +open, and the train started so suddenly and so swiftly that the men in +the box cars were thrown from their feet. The distance to Calhoun was +nine miles, and the train bearing Andrews and his men made it in seven +minutes and a half,--pretty swift traveling, when it is remembered that +the track was full of short curves, and not in the best condition. + +As the locomotive neared Calhoun, Engineer Knight gave several loud +blasts on the whistle; and it was well he did so, for the passenger +train had just begun to pull out of Calhoun on its way to Adairsville. +If the whistle had been blown a moment later than it was, the passenger +train would have been under full headway, and the signal would not have +been heard; but the passenger train had just begun to move, and was +going slowly. The whistle was heard, and the engineer backed his train +to Calhoun again. But when Andrews and his men arrived, they found a new +difficulty in the way. The passenger train was such a long one that the +rear end blocked the track. Andrews tried to get the conductor to move +on to Adairsville and there meet the upbound passenger train; but that +official was too badly scared by the danger he had just escaped to take +any more chances, and he refused to budge until the other train should +arrive. This would be fatal to the plans of Andrews, and that bold +adventurer made up his mind that the time had come for force to be used. +The conductor was finally persuaded to allow Andrews to go ahead with +his powder train. He ran a little more than a mile beyond Calhoun, +stopped his train, ordered the wire cut and another rail torn up. While +they were busily engaged in this work, they were both amazed and alarmed +to see a locomotive approaching from the direction of Calhoun. They had +only bent the rail, and were compelled to leave it and get out of the +way of their pursuers. + +Andrews and his men were bold and intrepid, even reckless; but the man +who had charge of the pursuit had all these qualities and more. Captain +Fuller was possessed of an energy and a determination that allowed +nothing to stand in their way. + +We have seen how Captain Fuller sprang from the breakfast table at Big +Shanty, and went running after the flying locomotive. Engineer Jeff Cain +and Mr. Murphy followed after. The soldiers loitering about the station +laughed and cheered at the queer spectacle of a conductor giving chase +on foot to his locomotive which, with a part of his train, was running +away under a full head of steam. All of Captain Fuller's energies were +aroused to their highest pitch, and he easily distanced his companions. +He ran fully three miles, and then came upon a squad of section hands +who had been engaged in repairing the track. They were now very much +excited. The captured locomotive had stopped with them long enough for +the men on the box cars to seize all their tools and cut the telegraph +wire, being careful to take away about fifty feet, so that the wire +could not be promptly joined. From the demoralized section hands Captain +Fuller learned of the number of men on the locomotive, and was given +reason to suspect that they were Federals in disguise. The section hands +had what was then called a pole car, a small affair which they pushed +with poles from point to point. It had been derailed to make way for the +up passenger train. Conductor Fuller had it lifted upon the track, +and then debated with himself as to whether he should go back for his +engineer, Jeff Cain, who, with Mr. Antony Murphy, had been left far +behind. Concluding that it would be well to have his engineer with +him, Captain Fuller pressed some of the section hands into service, and +pushed down the road the way he had come, going more than a mile before +he met Cain and Murphy. Once on the old hand car, Captain Fuller turned +and again began the pursuit as energetically as before, although he knew +that valuable time had been lost. Something of their leader's energy +and dauntless spirit was imparted to the men with him, and they made +tolerable speed with the pole car; but, suddenly, while they were poling +along at a great rate, the car tumbled from the track. They had now come +to the place where the would-be bridge burners had torn up the first +rail. The pursuers were not hurt by the fall. They jumped to their feet, +pushed the car over the obstruction, and were soon on their way again, +going even more rapidly than before. In this way the pursuit led by +Captain Fuller came to Etowah Station. Here he found the old "Yonah," a +locomotive belonging to the Mark A. Cooper Iron Works. The "Yonah" was +a superannuated engine, but Captain Fuller pressed it and its crew into +his service. The rickety old "Yonah" seemed to enter into the spirit of +the pursuit, for the distance to Kingston--thirteen miles--was made in +twelve minutes. + +As Andrews and his men had been delayed at Kingston for more than an +hour waiting for the freight trains to allow him to pass, the pursuers, +led by Captain Fuller, arrived at Kingston only ten minutes after the +raiders left. The tracks were crowded with these freight trains when the +"Yonah" arrived, and Captain Fuller saw at a glance that the locomotive +would be of no further service in the chase. He leaped from the engine, +and ran about two miles to the north angle of the Rome railway, where +he knew he would find the locomotive of the Rome road standing at this +hour. He pressed the engine and crew into service, and again took up the +pursuit of the fleeing raiders. + +Andrews and his men, in the meantime, had stopped and loaded their box +cars with old cross-ties and discarded rails These they began to throw +out of the rear end of their hindmost car as a measure of safety. They +did not suspect pursuit at this time, but they took the precaution +to obstruct the track in this manner. Six miles north of Kingston the +raiders stopped and tore up several rails. Captain Fuller rode on the +pilot of his engine, and removed such of the obstructions as were not +knocked off by the cowcatcher. + +When Captain Fuller reached the point where the rails had been removed, +his locomotive was useless. But his blood was now up. He abandoned the +engine, and ran on foot towards Adairsville, where he knew he would find +a through freight train. In fact he met it after he had run about three +miles, flagged it down, reversed it, and carried it back to Adairsville. +There, taking the engine, tender forward, with its crew, he renewed the +pursuit. The locomotive was run at an extraordinary rate of speed; +but Captain Fuller felt it to be his duty to ride on the bumper of +the tender, a precarious position even when there is no danger of +obstructions. Beyond Calhoun, Andrews and his men stopped to cut the +telegraph wire and tear up more rails. They had pried a rail above the +stringers when they heard the pursuing locomotive, and saw it rounding +a curve half a mile away. They scrambled into their cars in a hurry, +leaving the rail bent but not removed. Captain Fuller saw the bent rail, +but he had also seen the game, and he allowed his engine to be driven +over it under a full head of steam. + +From this point the chase was the most thrilling and reckless of which +there is any record. Andrews resorted to his old trick of dropping +cross-ties, but he soon saw that this would not do. Then he uncoupled +one of his box cars. Captain Fuller picked it up, and pushed it ahead. +Andrews uncoupled another. This was served the same way, and at Resaca +the cars were run on a siding. The "General," commanded by Andrews, +was now forward, with one car, while the "Texas," commanded by Captain +Fuller, and driven by Peter Bracken, was running tender forward, with +Fuller standing on the brake board, or bumper. The locomotives were +about evenly matched. Both had five-foot ten-inch drivers, and both were +running under all the pressure their boilers could carry. + +All thought of danger was lost sight of. The pursued had no time to +hatch any scheme calculated to delay pursuit. The pursuers forgot to +look for obstructions. On one side it was capture or die; on the other +it was escape at all hazards. The people of the towns and villages +through which the road passes knew not what to make of the spectacle. +Before they could recover from the surprise of seeing a locomotive with +one box car dash wildly past the station, they were struck dumb with +amazement by the sight of another locomotive thundering by, tender +forward, a tall man standing on the bumper and clinging to the brake +rod. + +They were going at a terrific rate of speed, but Peter Bracken, the +brave engineer of the "Texas," knew his locomotive so well, and handled +her with such a nice eye for her weak as well as her strong points, +that the pursuers gradually shortened the distance between them and the +raiders. The "General" was a good locomotive in its day and time, but +it was in unfamiliar hands. Any locomotive engineer will tell you that a +man must be thoroughly acquainted with his machine, and somewhat in +love with it to boot, to get the best speed out of it, when speed is +necessary. + +The raiders were pushed so closely that they soon found it necessary to +abandon their engine and car. Three miles north of Ringgold, they slowed +down a little, and, seizing a favorable opportunity, tumbled out, and +fled through the woods in all directions. It might be supposed that +Captain Fuller would be satisfied with recapturing his locomotive, which +was in all respects a remarkable achievement. But he had other views. He +knew that there would be no safety for the road with the bridge burners +at large, and so he made up his mind to be satisfied with nothing less +than their capture. In passing through Ringgold, three miles back, he +had noticed a company of militia drilling in an old field. So he sent +word to the commanding officer by his engineer, Peter Bracken (who, with +his fireman, took the two locomotives back to Ringgold), to mount his +men as promptly as possible, and join in the chase of the fugitives. +This message dispatched, Captain Fuller and two of his men, Fleming Cox +and Alonzo Martin, ran into the woods after the fleeing raiders. +Jeff Cain, the engineer of the "General," had been left with the Rome +locomotive. Mr. Antony Murphy remained in the chase until the "General" +was recaptured, and returned to Ringgold with the two locomotives. + +All the raiders were caught and imprisoned. Andrews was known to be a +spy, and he, with seven of his men who could establish no connection +with the Federal army in any branch of the service, was hanged. +Six escaped, and made their way to the Federal lines. The rest were +regularly exchanged. + +Perhaps those that were hanged deserved a better fate. They were brave +to recklessness, and were engaged in the boldest adventure of the war. +Their scheme was most skillfully planned, and courageously undertaken, +and if it had succeeded,--if the bridges had been burned and the door +of the Confederate granaries closed,--the result would have been what +it was when Sherman, with a large army, and at the sacrifice of many +men and much treasure, closed the State Road to the Confederates in +Virginia. + +Andrews and his men came near accomplishing, by one bold stroke, pretty +much all that Sherman accomplished in crippling the Confederates. It was +only by the merest chance that they had such a man as Captain Fuller to +oppose them. If they had arrived at Marietta the day before or the day +after, the probability is that they would have succeeded in their daring +venture. Captain Fuller was more than the equal of Andrews in all those +qualities that sustain men in moments of great emergency, and greatly +his superior in those moral acquirements that lead men to take risks and +make sacrifices on behalf of their convictions, and in the line of their +duty. + + + + +THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. + +The people of the State had not recovered from the chaos and confusion +into which they had been thrown by Sherman's march to the sea, when the +news came that Lee had surrendered in Virginia, and General Joseph E. +Johnston (who had been restored to his command) in North Carolina. Thus +a sudden and violent end had been put to all hopes of establishing a +separate government. General Sherman, who was as relentless in war as +he was pacific and gentle when the war was over, had, in coming to terms +with General Johnston, advanced the theory that the South never had +dissolved the Union, and that the States were restored to their old +places the moment they laid down their arms. This theory was not only +consistent with the views of the Union men of the North, but with +the nature and character of the Republic itself. But in the short +and common-sense cut that Sherman had made to a solution, he left the +politicians out in the cold, and they cried out against it as a hideous +and ruthless piece of assumption on the part of a military man to +attempt to have any opinions after the war was over. Any settlement that +left the politicians out in the cold was not to be tolerated. Some of +these gentlemen had a very big and black crow to pick with the South. +Some of them, in the course of the long debate over slavery, had had +their feelings hurt by Southern men; and although these wrangles had +been purely personal and individual, the politicians felt that the whole +South ought to be humiliated still further. + +The politicians would have been entirely harmless if the life of +President Lincoln had been spared. During the war, Mr. Lincoln was +greatly misunderstood even at the North; but it is now the general +verdict of history, that, take him for all in all, he was beyond all +comparison the greatest man of his time, the one man who, above all +others, was best fitted to bring the people of the two sections together +again, and to make the Union a more perfect Union than ever before. But +unfortunately Mr. Lincoln fell by the hands of an assassin, and never +had an opportunity to carry out the great policy of pacification which +could only have been sustained at that time by his great influence, by +his patience, that was supreme, and by his wisdom, that has proved to be +almost infallible in working out the salvation of the Union. After Lee's +surrender, the interests of the South could have sustained no severer +blow than the death of Lincoln. His successor, Andrew Johnson, was a +well-meaning man, but a very narrow-minded one in some respects, and a +very weak one in others. It is but justice to him to say that he did his +best to carry out Lincoln's policy of pacification, and his failure was +no greater than that of any other leading politician of his time would +have been. + +It would be impossible to describe the condition of the people at this +time. There was no civil law in operation, and the military government +that had been established was not far-reaching enough to restrain +violence of any sort. The negroes had been set free, and were supported +by means of a "freedmen's bureau." They were free, and yet they wanted +some practical evidence of it. To obtain this, they left the plantations +on which they had been born, and went tramping about the country in the +most restless and uneasy manner. + +[Illustration: The Negroes Freed 306] + +A great many of them believed that freedom meant idleness, such as they +had seen white folks indulge in. The country negroes flocked to the +towns and cities in great numbers, and the freedmen's bureau, active +as its agents were, had a great deal more than it could attend to. Such +peace and order as existed was not maintained by any authority, but grew +naturally out of the awe that had come over both whites and blacks at +finding their condition and their relations so changed. The whites could +hardly believe that slavery no longer existed. The negroes had grave +doubts as to whether they were really free. To make matters worse, a +great many small politicians, under pretense of protecting the negroes, +but really to secure their votes, began a crusade against the South in +Congress, the like of which can hardly be found paralleled outside of +our own history. The people of the South found out long ago that the +politicians of the hour did not represent the intentions and desires of +the people of the North; and there is much comfort and consolation to +be got out of that fact, even at this late day. But at that time the +bitterest dose of reconstruction was the belief that the best opinion of +the North sustained the ruinous policy that had been put in operation. + +The leading men of the State were all disfranchised,--deprived of +the privilege of voting, a privilege that was freely conferred on the +negroes. A newspaper editor in Macon was imprisoned, and his paper +suppressed, for declaring, in regard to taking the amnesty oath, that +he had to "fortify himself for the occasion with a good deal of Dutch +courage." The wife of General Toombs was ordered by an assistant +commissioner of the freedmen's bureau to vacate her home with only two +weeks' provisions, the grounds of the order being that the premises were +"abandoned property," and, as such, were to be seized, and applied +to the uses of the freedmen's bureau. The superior officer of this +assistant commissioner, being a humane and kindly man, revoked the +order. + +These were the days when the carpet-bagger and the scalawag +flourished,--the camp followers of the Northern army, who wanted money +and office; and the native-born Southerner, who wanted office and money. +There is no doubt that the indignities heaped on the people led to acts +of retaliation that nothing else could excuse; but they were driven +to desperation. It seemed, in that hour, that their liberties had been +entirely withdrawn. Governor Brown, who had formerly been so popular, +was denounced because he advised Georgians to accept the situation. He, +with other wise men, thought it was a waste of time and opportunity to +discuss constitutional questions at a moment when the people were living +under bayonet rule. Joe Brown's plan was to accept the situation, and +then get rid of it as quickly as possible. Ben Hill's plan was to +fight it to the last. There was a fierce controversy between these +two leaders; and such strong expressions were used on both sides, that +General Pope made them the subject of a curious letter to his commander +in chief, General Grant. + +General Pope seemed to be afraid that war was about to break out again, +and he assumed charge of everything. He removed and appointed mayors of +cities, solicitors, and sheriffs. He closed the State University because +a student made a speech which was in effect a defense of civil law. +After a while the general said he would reopen the institution if the +press of the State would say nothing about the affair. In 1867, General +Pope ordered an election to be held for delegates to a State convention. +The polls were kept open five days, and voters were allowed to vote +in any precinct in any county upon their making oath that they were +entitled to vote. The convention met, but, in the nature of things, +could not be a representative body. Thousands of the best and most +representative men of the State were not allowed to vote, and thousands +of other good men refused to take part in an election held under the +order of a military commander: consequently, when the convention met, +its membership was made up of the political rag-tag-and-bobtail of +that day. There were a few good men in the body, but they had little +influence over the ignorant negroes and vicious whites who had taken +advantage of their first and last opportunity to hold office. + +The authority of this convention was not recognized by the State +government, and this contest gave rise to a fresh conflict between the +State officials and the military dictators who had been placed over +them. The convention needed money to pay its expenses, and passed an +ordinance directing the treasurer of the State to pay forty thousand +dollars for this purpose to the disbursing officer of the convention. +General Pope issued an order to the treasurer to pay this amount. The +treasurer declined to pay out the money, for the simple reason that +he was forbidden by law to pay out money except on an order or warrant +drawn by the governor, and sanctioned by the comptroller general. + +About this time General Meade was appointed to rule in Georgia in place +of General Pope, and he found this matter unsettled when he took charge. +So he wrote to Governor Jenkins, and requested him to draw his warrant +on the treasury for forty thousand dollars. The governor could find no +authority in law for paying over this sum, and he therefore refused. +But civil government was not of much importance to the military at that +time; so, when he had received the governor's letter, General Meade drew +a sheet of paper before him, called for pen and ink, and issued +"General Order No. 8," in which the announcement is made that "the +following-named officers are _detailed for duty_ in the district of +Georgia: Brevet Brigadier General Thomas H. Ruger, Colonel 33d Infantry, +_to be Governor of the State of Georgia_; Brevet Captain Charles F. +Rockwell, Ordnance Corps U. S. Army, _to be Treasurer of the State of +Georgia_." + +In this way the rag-tag-and-bobtail convention got its money, but it +got also the hatred and contempt of the people; and the Republican +party,--the party that had been molded and made by the wise policy of +Lincoln,--by indorsing these foolish measures of reconstruction, and +putting its influence behind the outrages that were committed in the +name of "loyalty," aroused prejudices in the minds of the Southern +people that have not died away to this day. Some of the more vicious +of the politicians of that epoch organized what was known as "The Union +League." It was a secret political society, and had branches in every +county of the State. Through the medium of this secret organization, +the basest deception was practiced on the ignorant negroes. They +were solemnly told that their old masters were making arrangements to +reënslave them, and all sorts of incendiary suggestions were made to +them. It was by means of this secret society that the negroes were made +to believe that they would be entitled to forty acres and a mule for +voting for the candidates of the carpet-baggers. + +The effect of all this was to keep the blacks in a constant state of +turmoil. They were too uneasy to settle down to work, and too suspicious +to enter into contracts with the whites: so they went wandering about +the State from town to town and from county to county, committing all +sorts of crimes. As the civil system had been entirely overthrown by the +military, there was neither law nor order; and this condition was very +seriously aggravated by the incendiary teachings of The Union League. +The people, therefore, in some parts of the South, offset this secret +society with another, which was called the "Ku Klux Klan." This +organization was intended to prevent violence and to restore order +in communities; but the spirit of it was very frequently violated +by lawless persons, who, acting in the name of the "Klan," subjected +defenseless negroes to cruel treatment. + +There is no darker period in the history of the State than that of +reconstruction. The tax payers were robbed in the most reckless way, +and the rights of citizens were entirely disregarded. Even when the +Republican Congress, responsive to the voice of conservative Northern +opinion, turned its back on the carpet-bag government of Georgia, +these men made a tremendous effort to extend their rule unlawfully. The +carpet-bag Legislature was in session three hundred and twenty-eight +days, and cost the State nearly one million dollars; whereas the cost of +legislation from 1853 to 1862, nine years, was not nine hundred thousand +dollars. In one year the State Road took in a million dollars and a +half; and of this immense sum, only forty-five thousand dollars was paid +into the treasury. Added to this, the road had been run into debt to the +amount of six hundred thousand dollars, and it had been run down to +such an extent that five hundred thousand was needed to place it in good +condition. + +During this trying period, Joseph E. Brown, who had been so popular +with the people, was under a cloud. He had advised accepting the +reconstruction measures in the first instance, so that they might be +carried out by men who had the confidence and the esteem of the State; +but this wise proposition brought upon his head only reproaches and +abuse. The public mind was in such a state of frenzied uneasiness, the +result of carpetbag robbery and recklessness, that the people would +listen to no remedy except passionate defiance and denunciation. When +the name of Brown was mentioned only as a handle of abuse, Benjamin H. +Hill became the leader and the idol of the people. When, in 1870, Hill +issued an address declaring that the reconstruction must be accepted by +the people, he was at once made the object of the most violent attacks. +But Brown was right in 1864, and Hill was right in 1870, and the people +were wrong. They paid dearly for their blindness in the wrongs imposed +on them by men who were neither Republicans nor reconstructionists at +heart, but public plunderers. + +In 1871 the carpet-bag government began to totter. The governor left the +State, and staid away so long that the State treasurer, a man of stern +integrity, refused to pay warrants that were not signed by a resident +governor. Finally the governor returned, but almost immediately +resigned. In a short time the real representatives of the people took +charge of affairs, and since that time the State has been in a highly +prosperous condition. + + + + +"THE NEW SOUTH" + +When the people of Georgia had once more gained control of their State +government, the political tempest that had been raging slowly quieted +down. A pot that has been boiling furiously doesn't grow cool in a +moment, but it ceases almost instantly to boil; and though it may cool +slowly, it cools surely. There was not an end of prejudice and unreason +the moment the people had disposed of those who were plundering them, +but prejudice began to lose its force as soon as men had the opportunity +to engage in calm discussion, and to look forward hopefully to the +future. In the midst of bayonet and carpet-bag rule, the State could +not make any real progress. It is only during a time of peace and +contentment that the industrial forces of a community begin to display +their real energy. + +No State in the South had suffered so severely as Georgia during the +war. She placed in the field more than a hundred and twenty thousand +soldiers,--twenty thousand more than her voting population at the +beginning of the war. The taxable wealth of the State in 1867 was more +than four hundred and eighty-one millions less than it was in 1861,--a +loss of more than three fourths. After the reconstruction period, +all the State had to show, in return for the treasure that had been +squandered by the carpet-bag politicians, was a few poorly equipped +railroads that had been built on the State's credit. In some instances +railroad bonds were indorsed when there was no road to show for them; +in others, bonds were issued in behalf of the same road under different +names; so that the people lost by fraud as much or more than the amount +of improvement that had been made. The "developers" who had connected +themselves with the bayonet administration were much more interested in +"developing" their own private interests than they were in developing +the resources of the State. + +But when the bayonet administration had been driven out, not less +by Northern opinion, which had become disgusted with the reckless +dishonesty that was practiced under the name of republicanism, than by +the energetic opposition of all good citizens of the State, there came a +welcome end to the bitter controversy that had been going on. The fierce +rancor and prejudice that had been aroused gradually died out; so that +in 1872, shortly after the State had been rescued from misrule, Horace +Greeley, the great abolition editor, received in Georgia a majority of +more than seventy-one thousand votes over the straight-out Democratic +candidate. This, more than any other event, showed the improving temper +of the people, and their willingness to make compromises and concessions +for the purpose of restoring the Union and burying the spirit of +sectionalism. + +With this improved temper there came an improvement in the material +conditions of the State. Free negro labor was a problem which the +planters had to meet. For a time it presented many difficulties. It +was hard to make and enforce contracts with the negroes, who had been +demoralized and made suspicious by The Union League and by the harsh and +unjustifiable acts of men who acted under the name, but not under the +authority, of the Ku Klux Klan. But gradually all these difficulties +were overcome. The negroes settled down to work, and with them a good +many white men who had been left adrift by the fortunes of war and the +prostration of industries. This vast change was not brought about in a +day or a month, or even in a year, but was the gradual outgrowth of a +bitter feeling,--the slow awakening to the fact that matters were not as +bad on a better acquaintance as they had seemed. There was, of course, +the negro problem; but the wiser men soon saw that this problem, such +as it was, would settle itself sooner or later. The result was that +everybody began to take a day off from politics occasionally, and devote +themselves to the upbuilding of the resources of the State. + +At first, and for several years, the negro problem seemed to be a very +serious matter indeed. All the statesmen, all the politicians, all the +historians, and all the newspaper editors, discussed it morning, noon, +and night for a long time. Some wanted it settled one way, and some +another. At the North the men who had indorsed and approved the bayonet +governments of the South thought that laws ought to be passed giving the +negroes social equality with the whites. Finally a compromise was made +with what is called the "Civil Rights Law," which was intended to give +the negroes the same privileges at the hotels, theaters, and other +public places, that the whites had. The Northern politicians pretended +to believe that the efforts they were making were for the benefit of the +negroes, though no doubt the majority of them knew better. Of course, +the Southern people resisted the pressure thus brought to bear by +the Northern sectionalists, and the result was what might have been +expected. The condition of the negro was made more uncomfortable +than ever, and the color line was more closely drawn. To show how +shortsighted the politicians were and are, it is only necessary to call +attention to one fact, and it is this: that while the Civil Rights Law +has kept negroes out of public places both North and South, they ride +on the street cars side by side with the white people, and it frequently +happens that an old negro woman who comes into a crowded car is given +a seat by some Southerner who has tender recollections of his negro +"mammy." + +[Illustration: Streetcar in the South 318] + +It is worthy of note, that while the politicians on both sides were +fighting the shadows that the "negro problem" called up, the problem was +solving itself in the only way that such vast problems can be settled +in the order of Providence,--by the irresistible elements of time and +experience. A great deal of misery, suffering, and discontent would have +been spared to both races, if, after the war, the conservative men of +the North had either insisted on the policy that Abraham Lincoln +had mapped out, or had said to the pestiferous politicians who were +responsible for carpet-bag rule, "Hands off!" No doubt some injustice +would have been done to individuals if the North had permitted the +negroes to work out their political salvation alone, but the race itself +would be in a better condition every way than it is today; for outside +interference has worked untold damage and hardship to the negro. It has +given him false ideas of the power and purpose of government, and it +has blinded his eyes to the necessity of individual effort. It is by +individual effort alone that the negro race must work out its destiny. +This is the history of the white race, and it must be the history of all +races that move forward. + +When Georgia, with the rest of the Southern States, had passed safely +through the reconstruction period, the people, as has been seen, found +themselves facing new conditions and new possibilities. Slavery had been +abolished utterly and forever; and wise men breathed freer when they +saw that a great obstacle to progress and development had been +abolished with it. Instinctively everybody felt that here was cause for +congratulation. A few public men, bolder than the rest, looking out on +the prospect, thanked God that slavery was no more. They expected to be +attacked for such utterances, but they were applauded; and it was soon +discovered, much to the surprise of everybody, that the best sentiment +of the South was heartily glad that slavery was out of the way. Thus, +with new conditions, new prospects, and new hopes,--with a new fortune, +in fact,--it was natural that some lively prophet should lift up his +voice and cry, "Behold the New South!" + +And it was and is the new South,--the old South made new by events; +the old South with new channels, in which its Anglo-Saxon energies may +display themselves; the old South with new possibilities of greatness, +that would never have offered themselves while slavery lasted. After +these hopes, and in pursuit of these prospects, Georgia has led the way. +Hundreds of miles of new railroads have been built in her borders since +the dark days of reconstruction, hundreds of new factories have been +built, immense marble beds and granite quarries have been put in +operation, new towns have sprung into existence, and in thousands of new +directions employment has been given to labor and capital. In short, the +industrial progress the State has made since 1870 is more than double +that of the previous fifty years. + +It was natural, that, out of the new conditions, new men should arise; +and, as if in response to the needs of the hour and the demands of the +people, there arose a man who, with no selfish ends to serve and no +selfish ambition to satisfy, was able to touch the hearts of the people +of both sections, and to subdue the spirit of sectionalism that was +still rampant long after the carpetbag governments in the South had been +overthrown by the force of public opinion. That man was Henry Woodfin +Grady. He took up his public work in earnest in 1876, though he had been +preparing for it since the day that he could read a school history. In +that year he became one of the editors of the "Atlanta Constitution," +and at once turned his attention to the situation in which his State +had been left by the war, and by the rapacity of those who had come into +power by means of the bayonet. Whether he used his tongue or pen, the +public soon found out that he had control of that mysterious power which +moves men. Whether he wrote or whether he spoke, he had the gift and +the inspiration of eloquence; and from first to last he could never be +induced to use this great gift for his personal advancement, nor could +he be induced to accept a political office. With a mind entirely sincere +and unselfish, he addressed himself to the work of restoring unity +between the North and South, and to putting an end to the sectional +strife which the politicians were skillfully using to further their own +schemes. He was asked to be a United States senator, and refused; he was +asked to be a congressman, and refused. For the rest, he could have had +any office within the gift of the people of Georgia; but he felt that +he could serve the State and the South more perfectly in the way that he +had himself mapped out. He felt that the time had come for some one to +say a bold and manly word in behalf of the American Union in the ear of +the South, and to say a bold and manly word in behalf of the South in +the ear of the North. He began this work, and carried it on as a private +citizen; and the result was, that, though he died before he had reached +the prime of his life, he had won a name and a popularity in all parts +of the country, both North and South, that no other private citizen had +ever before succeeded in winning. + +It was Henry Grady that gave the apt name of "The New South" to the +spirit that his tireless energy and enthusiasm had called from the dark +depths of reconstruction. Of this spirit, and the movement that sprang +from it, he was the prophet, the pioneer, the promoter. He saw the South +poor in the midst of the most abundant resources that Providence ever +blessed a people with, and he turned aside from politics to point them +out. He saw the people going about in deep despair, and he gave them the +cue of hope, and touched them with his own enthusiasm. He saw the mighty +industrial forces lying dormant, and his touch awoke them to life. +He saw great enterprises languishing, and he called the attention of +capital to them. Looking farther afield, he saw the people of two great +sections forgetting patriotism and duty, and reviving the prejudices and +issues that had led to the war, and that had continued throughout +the war; and he went about among them, speaking words of peace and +union,--appealing to the spirit of patriotism which held the Northern +and Southern people together when they were building the Republic, when +they stood side by side amid the sufferings of Valley Forge, and when +they saw the army of a mighty monarch surrender to the valor of American +soldiers at Yorktown. With the enthusiasm of a missionary and the +impetuous zeal of an evangelist, he went about rebuking the politicians, +and preaching in behalf of peace, union, and genuine patriotism. + +Such was the mission of Henry W. Grady, and the work that he did will +live after him. "The New South" will cease to be hew, but the people +will never cease to owe him a debt of gratitude for the work that he did +in urging forward the industrial progress of this region, and in making +peace between the sections. He was the builder, the peacemaker. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Stories Of Georgia, by Joel Chandler Harris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF GEORGIA *** + +***** This file should be named 24728-8.txt or 24728-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/7/2/24728/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/24728-8.zip b/24728-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f917c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/24728-8.zip diff --git a/24728-h.zip b/24728-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..464e2a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/24728-h.zip diff --git a/24728-h/24728-h.htm b/24728-h/24728-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6353d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/24728-h/24728-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8745 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Stories of Georgia, by Joel Chandler Harris + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories Of Georgia, by Joel Chandler Harris + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories Of Georgia + 1896 + +Author: Joel Chandler Harris + +Release Date: March 2, 2008 [EBook #24728] +Last Updated: February 4, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF GEORGIA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + STORIES OF GEORGIA + </h1> + <h2> + By Joel Chandler Harris + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h4> + Copyright, 1896, by American Book Company + </h4> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="titlepage (27K)" src="images/titlepage.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> <big><b>STORIES OF GEORGIA.</b></big> </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> A SEARCH FOR TREASURE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> OGLETHORPE AND HIS GENTLE COLONY </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE EMPRESS OF GEORGIA </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> THE LIBERTY BOYS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> A GROUP OF CHARACTERS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> AUNT NANCY HART. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> TWO SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> A WAR OF EXTERMINATION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> A NEGRO PATRIOT. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> THE YAZOO FRAUD </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> GEORGE MATTHEWS AND JOHN CLARKE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> AFTER THE REVOLUTION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> THE COTTON GIN. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> SOME GEORGIA INVENTIONS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> THE EARLY PROGRESS OF THE STATE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> THE CREEKS AND THE CREEK WAR </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> TWO FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> REMOVAL OF THE CHEROKEES. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> THE BEGINNING OF PARTIES IN GEORGIA. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> A QUEER CASE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> GEORGIA WIT AND HUMOR. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> SLAVERY AND SECESSION. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> THE FARMER BOY OF GADDISTOWN. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> GEORGIA IN THE WAR. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> A DARING ADVENTURE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0028"> THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0029"> "THE NEW SOUTH" </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>ILLUSTRATIONS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0001"> De Soto </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0002"> Indian Queen </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0003"> Oglethorpe </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0004"> Mary Musgrove </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0005"> Empress Mary </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0006"> The Liberty Boys </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0007"> Tondee's Tavern </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0008"> Seisure of Ammunition in Savannah </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0009"> The Head of Robert Sallette </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0010"> Mcgirth and his Mare </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0011"> Captain Rory Mcintosh </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0012"> Aunt Nancy Hart </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0013"> Aunt Nancy Captures the Tories </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0014"> General James Jackson </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0015"> Elijah Clarke </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0016"> A War of Extermination </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0017"> Old Man Whipped at the Tail of a Cart </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0018"> A Negro Patriot </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0019"> The Yazoo Scheme </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0020"> Rope to Hang Musgrove </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0021"> George Matthews and John Clarke </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0022"> After the Revolution </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0023"> Early Cultivation of Cotton </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0024"> Whitney and his Cotton Gin </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0025"> William Longstreet and his Steamboat </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0026"> Laughing Gas </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0027"> Early Progress of the State </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0028"> British Impressement of Americans </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0029"> The Creek War </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0030"> Major Adams Scouting and Indian Camp </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0031"> Mcgillavray Joins the Indians </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0032"> Indian Attack </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0033"> General Clarke Whips Judge Tait </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0034"> A Queer Case </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0035"> The Bunkley Trial </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0036"> Judge Dooly </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0037"> The Roast Pig </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0038"> Georgia Politics </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0039"> Joe Brown and his Steers </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0040"> Georgia in the War </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0041"> The Salt Famine </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0042"> Capture of the Locomotive </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0043"> Tearing up the Rails </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0044"> The Negroes Freed </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#linkimage-0045"> Streetcar in the South </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PREFACE. + </h2> + <p> + In preparing the pages that follow, the writer has had in view the + desirability of familiarizing the youth of Georgia with the salient facts + of the State's history in a way that shall make the further study of that + history a delight instead of a task. The ground has been gone over before + by various writers, but the narratives that are here retold, and the + characterizations that are here attempted, have not been brought together + heretofore. They lie wide apart in volumes that are little known and out + of print. + </p> + <p> + The stories and the characterizations have been grouped together so as to + form a series of connecting links in the rise and progress of Georgia; yet + it must not be forgotten that these links are themselves connected with + facts and events in the State's development that are quite as interesting, + and of as far-reaching importance, as those that have been narrated here. + Some such suggestion as this, it is hoped, will cross the minds of young + students, and lead them to investigate for themselves the interesting + intervals that lie between. + </p> + <p> + It is unfortunately true that there is no history of Georgia in which the + dry bones of facts have been clothed with the flesh and blood of popular + narrative. Colonel Charles C. Jones saw what was needed, and entered upon + the task of writing the history of the State with characteristic + enthusiasm. He had not proceeded far, however, when the fact dawned upon + his mind that such a work as he contemplated must be for the most part a + labor of love. He felt the influence of cold neglect from every source + that might have been expected to afford him aid and encouragement. He was + almost compelled to confine himself to a bare recital of facts, for he had + reason to know that, at the end of his task, public inappreciation was + awaiting him. + </p> + <p> + And yet it seems to the present writer that every person interested in the + growth and development of the republic should turn with eager attention to + a narrative embodying the events that have marked the progress of Georgia. + It was in this State that some of the most surprising and spectacular + scenes of the Revolution took place. In one corner of Georgia those who + were fighting for the independence of the republic made their last + desperate stand; and if they had surrendered to the odds that faced them, + the battle of King's Mountain would never have been fought, Greene's + southern campaign would have been crippled, and the struggle for liberty + in the south would have ended in smoke. + </p> + <p> + It is to illustrate the larger events that these stories have been + written; and while some of them may seem far away from this point of view, + they all have one common purpose and tend to one common end. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + STORIES OF GEORGIA. + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A SEARCH FOR TREASURE. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0001" id="linkimage-0001"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/014.jpg" alt="De Soto 014 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + So far as written records tell us, Hernando de Soto and his companions in + arms were the first white men to enter and explore the territory now known + on the map as the State of Georgia. Tradition has small voice in the + matter, but such as it has tells another story. There are hints that other + white men ventured into this territory before De Soto and his men beheld + it. General Oglethorpe, when he came to Georgia with his gentle colony, + which had been tamed and sobered by misfortune and ill luck, was firmly of + the opinion that Sir Walter Raleigh, the famous soldier, sailor, and + scholar, had been there before him. So believing, the founder of the + Georgian Colony carried with him Sir Walter's diary. He was confirmed in + his opinion by a tradition, among the Indians of the Yamacraw tribe, that + Raleigh had landed where Savannah now stands. There are also traditions in + regard to the visits of other white men to Georgia. These traditions may + be true, or they may be the results of dreams, but it is certain that De + Soto and his picked company of Spaniards were the first to march through + the territory that is now Georgia. The De Soto expedition was made up of + the flower of Spanish chivalry,—men Used to war, and fond of + adventure. Some of them were soldiers, anxious to win fame by feats of + arms in a new land; some were missionaries, professing an anxiety for the + souls of such heathen as they might encounter, but even these men were not + unfamiliar with the use of the sword; some were physicians, as ready to + kill as to heal; some were botanists, who knew as much about the rapier + and the poniard as they did about the stamens, pistils, and petals of the + flowers; and some were reporters, men selected to write the history of the + expedition. As it turned out, these reporters were entirely faithful to + their trust They told all that happened with a fidelity that leaves + nothing to be desired. The record they have left shows that the expedition + was bent on finding gold and other treasures. + </p> + <p> + On the 30th of May, 1539, De Soto's expedition landed at Tampa Bay, Fla., + and his men pitched their tents on the beach. The army was not a large + one; but it was made up of chosen men, who were used to the dangers of + war, and who, as stated before, were fond of adventure. There was but one + gray head in the expedition: therefore, though the army was a small one, + it was the most enthusiastic and warlike array that had ever been seen in + the New World. The soldiers wore rich armor, and the cavalry rode gayly + caparisoned horses. The army was accompanied by slaves and mules to bear + the burdens. It had artillery and other weapons of war; handcuffs, neck + collars, and chains for prisoners; crucibles for refining gold; + bloodhounds, greyhounds, and a drove of hogs. + </p> + <p> + For nearly a year the little army of De Soto wandered about in Florida, + ransacking the burying grounds of the Indians in search of treasures, and + committing such other depredations as were common to the civilization of + that age. When inquiries were made for gold, the Indians always pointed + toward the north; and, following these hints, the expedition pursued its + way through Florida, wandering about in the swamps and slashes, but always + held together by the enthusiasm of the men and their hopes of securing + rich spoils. + </p> + <p> + On the 3d of March, 1540, De Soto's army left Anhayca, which is said to + have been near the site of Tallahassee, and marched northward. Before + leaving the Spaniards seized from the Indians a large supply of maize (now + commonly known as corn), and appropriated whatever else struck their + fancy. They had spent some time with the Indians at this town of Anhayca, + and had sent out parties that committed depredations wherever an Indian + settlement could be found. They made slaves of many Indians, treating them + with more severity than they treated their beasts of burden. It is no + wonder, therefore, that the Indians, discovering the greed of the + Spaniards for gold, should have spread rumors that large quantities of the + yellow metal were to be found farther north. + </p> + <p> + Reports came to the Spaniards of a wonderful Indian queen who reigned at a + place called Yupaha, a settlement as large as a city. One day an Indian + boy, who had been brought to camp with other prisoners, told the Spaniards + a good deal about this great Indian queen. He said that she ruled not only + her own people, but all the neighboring chiefs, and as far as the Indian + settlements extended. The boy told the Spaniards that all the Indians paid + tribute to this great queen, and sent her fine presents of clothing and + gold. De Soto and his men cared nothing about fine clothing. They were + greedy only for gold and precious stones. They asked the Indian boy many + questions, and he answered them all. He told how the gold was taken from + the earth, and how it was melted and refined. His description was so exact + that the Spaniards no longer had any doubt. Their spirits rose mightily, + and, after robbing and plundering the Indians who had fed and sheltered + them during the winter months, they broke up their camp and moved + northward. + </p> + <p> + Four days after leaving Tallahassee, the Spaniards came to a deep river, + which Colonel C. C. Jones, jun., in his "History of Georgia," says was the + Ocklockonnee, very close to the southwest boundary of Georgia. Two days + later they came to an Indian village from which the inhabitants fled, but + a little later a squad of five soldiers was set upon by the Indians hiding + near the encampment. One of the Spaniards was killed, while three others + were badly wounded. De Soto left this Indian village on the 11th of March, + and presently came to a piece of country which the Spanish historian + describes as a desert. But it was not a desert then, and it is not a + desert now. It was really a pine barren, such as may be seen to this day + in what is called the wire-grass region of southern Georgia. In these + barrens the soil is sandy and the land level, stretching away for miles. + De Soto and his men saw the primeval pines; but these have long since + disappeared, and their places are taken by pines of a smaller growth. On + the 21st of March, the Spaniards came to the Ocmulgee River, near which + they found an Indian town called Toalli. + </p> + <p> + There will always be a dispute about the route followed by De Soto in his + march. This dispute is interesting, but not important. Some say that the + expedition moved parallel with the coast until the Savannah River was + reached, at a point twenty-five miles below Augusta; but it is just as + probable that the route, after reaching the Ocmulgee, was along the banks + of that stream and in a northwesterly direction. + </p> + <p> + At Toalli the Indians had summer and winter houses to live in, and they + had storehouses for their maize. The women wore blankets or shawls made of + the fiber of silk grass, and the blankets were dyed vermilion or black. + Thenceforward the Indians whom the Spaniards met with were of a higher + order of intelligence, and of a more industrious turn, than those left + behind in Florida and along the southern boundary of Georgia. + </p> + <p> + As De Soto marched along, he seized Indians and made guides of them, or + made prisoners and held them until he was furnished with guides and + interpreters. He also announced to the Indians that he was the Child of + the Sun, who had been sent to seek out the greatest Prince and Princess. + This made a great impression on the Indians, many of whom were sun + worshipers. + </p> + <p> + Many times during the march the Spaniards were on the point of starvation, + and the account of their sufferings as set forth in the history of the + expedition is intended to be quite pathetic. We need not pause to shed any + tears over these things, for the sufferings the Spaniards endured were + nothing compared to the sufferings they inflicted on the Indians. They + murdered and robbed right and left, and no doubt the Indians regarded them + as demons rather than Christians. More than once when the Spaniards were + wandering aimlessly about in the wilderness, they were found by the + Indians and saved from starvation. In turn the simple-minded natives were + treated with a harshness that would be beyond belief if the sickening + details were not piously set forth by the Spanish historian of the + expedition. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0002" id="linkimage-0002"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/020.jpg" alt="Indian Queen 020 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + About the 28th of April the expedition reached the neighborhood of + Cutifachiqui, having been told by three Indians whom they had taken, that + the queen of that province knew of the approach of the Spaniards, and was + awaiting them at her chief town just across the river. As De Soto came to + the shore of the stream, four canoes started from the opposite side. One + of them contained a kinswoman of the queen, who had been selected to + invite the Spaniards to enter the town. Shortly afterwards the queen came + forth from the town, seated on a palanquin or litter, which was borne by + the principal men. Coming to the water side, the queen entered a canoe, + over the stern of which was stretched an awning to shelter her from the + sun. + </p> + <p> + Under this awning she reclined on cushions; and thus, in company with her + chiefs, and attended by many of her people in canoes, she crossed the + river to meet De Soto. She landed, and gave the Spaniard a gracious + welcome. As an offering of peace and good will, she took from her neck a + long string of pearls, and gave the gems to De Soto. She also gave him + many shawls and finely dressed deerskins. The Spaniard acknowledged the + beautiful gifts by taking from his hand a gold ring set with a ruby, and + placing it upon one of the queen's fingers. + </p> + <p> + The old historian pretends that De Soto and his men were very much + impressed by the dignity and courtesy of the Indian queen. She was the + first woman ruler they had met in their wanderings. She was tall, finely + formed, and had great beauty of countenance. She was both gracious and + graceful. All this is set down in the most pompous way by the Spanish + chroniclers; but the truth seems to be that De Soto and his men cared + nothing for the courtesy and hospitality of the queen, and that they were + not moved by her beauty and kindness. The Spaniards crossed the river in + canoes furnished by the queen's people, and found themselves surrounded by + the most hospitable Indians they had yet seen. They were supplied with + everything the land afforded, and rested in comfortable wigwams under the + shade of mulberry trees. The soldiers were so delighted with the + situation, that they were anxious to form a settlement there; but De Soto + refused to forget the only object of the expedition, which was to search + for gold and other treasures. His determination had the desired effect His + men recovered their energies. While enjoying the hospitality of the queen, + they found out the burial places of her people, and gathered from the + graves, according to the statement of the Spanish historian, "three + hundred and fifty weight of pearls, and figures of babies and birds, made + from iridescent shells." + </p> + <p> + The mother of the queen lived not far from the town where the Spaniards + were quartered, and, as she was said to be the owner of many fine pearls, + De Soto expressed a desire to see her. Upon hearing this, the queen sent + twelve of her principal men to beg her mother to come to see the white + strangers and the wonderful animals they had brought with them; but the + mother of the queen was very shrewd. She rebuked the messengers, and sent + them back with some sharp words for her daughter; and though De Soto did + his best to capture the woman, he was never able to carry out his purpose. + </p> + <p> + He then turned his attention to a temple that stood on the side of a + deserted settlement which had formerly been the chief town of the queen's + people. This temple, as described by the Spanish chronicler, was more than + one hundred steps long by forty broad, the walls high in proportion, and + the roof elevated so as to allow the water to run off. On the roof were + various shells arranged in artistic order, and the shells were connected + by strings of pearls. These pearls extended from the top of the roof to + the bottom in long festoons, and the sun shining on them produced a very + brilliant effect. At the door of the temple were twelve giant-like statues + made of wood. These figures were so ferocious in their appearance, that + the Spaniards hesitated for some time before they could persuade + themselves to enter the temple. The statues were armed with clubs, maces, + copper axes, and pikes ornamented with copper at both ends. In the middle + of the temple were three rows of chests, placed one upon another in the + form of pyramids. Each pyramid consisted of five or six chests, the + largest at the bottom, and the smallest at the top. These chests, the + Spanish chroniclers say, were filled with pearls, the largest containing + the finest pearls, and the smallest only seed pearls. + </p> + <p> + It is just as well to believe a little of this as to believe a great deal. + It was an easy matter for the survivors of the expedition to exaggerate + these things, and they probably took great liberties with the facts; but + there is no doubt that the Indians possessed many pearls. Mussels like + those from which they took the gems are still to be found in the small + streams and creeks of Georgia, and an enterprising boy might even now be + able to find a seed pearl if he sought for it patiently. + </p> + <p> + It is not to be doubted that rich stores of pearls were found. Some were + distributed to the officers and men; but the bulk of them, strange to say, + were left undisturbed, to await the return of the Spaniards another day. + De Soto was still intent on searching for gold, and he would hear of + nothing else. He would neither settle among the queen's people for a + season, nor return to Tampa with the great store of pearls discovered. + Being a resolute man and of few words, he had his way, and made + preparations to journey farther north to the province called Chiaha, which + was governed by a great Indian king. The conduct of the Spaniards had been + so cruel during their stay at Cutifachiqui, that the queen had come to + regard them with fear and hatred, and she refused to supply them with + guides and burden bearers. De Soto thereupon placed her under guard; and + when he took up his march for Chiaha, the queen who had received him with + so much grace, dignity, and hospitality, was compelled to accompany him on + foot, escorted by her female attendants. The old Spanish chronicler is + moved to remark that "it was not so good usage as she deserved for the + good will she shewed and the good entertainment that she had made him." + This was the return the Spanish leader made to the queen who had received + and entertained his army,—to seize her, place her under guard, and + compel her to accompany his expedition on foot. + </p> + <p> + One reason why De Soto made the queen his prisoner and carried her with + the expedition was to use her influence in controlling the Indians along + his line of march. The result was all that he could have expected. In all + the towns through which the Spaniards passed, the queen commanded the + Indians to carry the burdens of the army; and thus they went for a hundred + leagues, the Indians obeying the queen without question. After a march of + seven days, De Soto arrived at the province of Chelaque, which was the + country of the Cherokees. Here the soldiers added to their stores of + provisions, and renewed their march; and on May 15 they arrived in the + province of Xualla, the chief town of which is supposed to have been + situated in the Nacoochee valley. Inclining his course westwardly from the + Nacoochee valley, De Soto set out for Guaxule, which marked the limit of + the queen's dominion, and which has been identified as Old Town, in Murray + County. On this march the queen made her escape, taking with her a cane + box filled with large pearls of great value. This box had been borne by + one of the queen's attendants up to the moment when she disappeared from + the Spanish camp. De Soto made every effort to recapture the queen. No + doubt the bloodhounds, which formed a part of the expedition, were called + in to aid in the search; but it was all to no purpose. The queen hid + herself as easily as a young partridge hides, and neither men nor dogs + could find her. De Soto went on his way, deploring the loss of the + valuable pearls. + </p> + <p> + From Nacoochee to Murray County the march was fatiguing. The route lay + over mountains as well as valleys. One of the foot soldiers, Juan Terron + (his folly has caused history to preserve his name), grew so weary on this + march, that he drew from his wallet a linen bag containing six pounds of + pearls. Calling to a cavalryman, Juan Terron offered him the bag of pearls + if he would carry them. The cavalryman refused the offer, and told his + comrade to keep them. But Juan Terron would not have it so. He untied the + bag, whirled it around his head, and scattered the pearls in all + directions. This done, he replaced the empty bag in his wallet, and + marched on, leaving his companions amazed at his folly. Thirty of the + pearls were recovered by the soldiers. The gems were of great size, and + perfect in every particular; and it was estimated that the six pounds of + pearls would have fetched six thousand ducats in Spain (over twelve + thousand dollars). The folly of the foot soldier gave rise to a saying in + the army, that is no doubt current in Spain to this day,—"There are + no pearls for Juan Terron," which means that a fool makes no profits. + </p> + <p> + Continuing their march, the Spaniards came to the town of Chiaha,—a + site that is now occupied by the flourishing city of Rome. De Soto + remained at Chiaha a month, sending out exploring expeditions in search of + the much-coveted gold. They found traces of the precious metal, but + nothing more. On the 1st of July, 1540, De Soto left Chiaha, going down + the valley of the Coosa. His expedition was organized by the spirit of + greed. It spread desolation wherever it went, and it ended in disaster and + despair. De Soto himself found a grave in the waters of the Mississippi, + and the survivors who made their way back home were broken in health and + spirits. + </p> + <p> + An attempt has been made to throw a halo of romance over this march of the + Spaniards through the wilderness of the New World, but there is nothing + romantic or inspiring about it. It was simply a search for riches, in + which hundreds of lives were most cruelly sacrificed, and thousands of + homes destroyed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + OGLETHORPE AND HIS GENTLE COLONY + </h2> + <p> + General James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of the Colony of Georgia, was + among the few really good and great men that history tells us of. We need + to keep a close eye on the antics of history. She places the laurels of + fame in the hands of butchers, plunderers, and adventurers, and even + assassins share her favors; so that, if we are going to enjoy the feast + that history offers us, we must not inquire too closely into the + characters of the men whom she makes heroes of. We find, when we come to + look into the matter, that but few of those who figured as the great men + of the world have been entirely unselfish; and unselfishness is the test + of a man who is really good and great. Judged by this test, General + Oglethorpe stands among the greatest men known to history. + </p> + <p> + He had served in the army with distinction, as his father had before him. + He was on the staff of the great soldier Eugene of Savoy, and under that + commander made himself conspicuous by his fidelity and fearlessness. A + story is told of him that is interesting, if not characteristic. While + serving under Eugene, he one day found himself sitting at table with a + prince of Würtemberg. He was a beardless youngster, and the prince thought + to have some sport with him. Taking up a glass of wine, the prince gave it + a fillip, so that a little flew in Oglethorpe's face. The young + Englishman, looking straight at the prince, and smiling, said, "My prince, + that is only a part of the joke as the English know it: I will show you + the whole of it." With that he threw a glassful of wine in the prince's + face. An old general who sat by laughed dryly, and remarked, "He did well, + my prince: you began it." + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0003" id="linkimage-0003"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:32%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/028.jpg" alt="Oglethorpe 028 " /> + </div> + <p> + Born in 1689, Oglethorpe entered the English army when twenty-one years of + age. In 1714 he became captain lieutenant of the first troop of the + queen's guards. He shortly afterwards joined Eugene on the continent, and + remained with that soldier until the peace of 1718. On the death of his + brother, he succeeded to the family estate in England. In 1722 he was + elected to Parliament from Haslemere, county of Surrey, and this borough + he represented continuously for thirty-two years. His parliamentary career + was marked by wise prudence and consistency; and his sympathies were + warmly enlisted for the relief of unfortunate soldiers, and in securing + reform in the conduct of prisons. In this way Oglethorpe became a + philanthropist, and, without intending it, attracted the attention of all + England. Pope, the poet, eulogizes his "strong benevolence of soul." + </p> + <p> + In that day and time, men were imprisoned for debt in England. The law was + brutal, and those who executed it were cruel. There was no discrimination + between fraud and misfortune. The man who was unable to pay his debts was + judged to be as criminal as the man who, though able, refused to pay. Both + were thrown into the same prison, and subjected to the same hardships. In + "Little Dorrit," Charles Dickens has told something of those unfortunates + who were thrown into prison for debt. + </p> + <p> + There was apparently nothing too atrocious to be sanctioned by the + commercial ambition of the English. It armed creditors with the power to + impose the most cruel burdens upon their debtors, and it sanctioned the + slave trade. Many crimes have been committed to promote the commercial + supremacy of Great Britain, and on that blind policy was based the law + which suffered innocent debtors to be deprived of their liberty and thrown + into prison. + </p> + <p> + This condition of affairs Oglethorpe set himself to reform; and while thus + engaged, he became impressed with the idea that many of the unfortunates, + guilty of no crime, and of respectable connections, might benefit + themselves, relieve England of the shame of their imprisonment, and + confirm and extend the dominion of the mother country in the New World, by + being freed from the claims of those to whom they owed money, on condition + that they would consent to become colonists in America. To this class were + to be added recruits from those who, through lack of work and of means, + were likely to be imprisoned on account of their misfortunes. Oglethorpe + was also of the opinion that men of means, enterprise, and ambition could + be enlisted in the cause; and in this he was not mistaken. + </p> + <p> + He had no hope whatever of personal gain or private benefit. The plan that + he had conceived was entirely for the benefit of the unfortunate, based on + broad and high ideas of benevolence; and so thoroughly was this + understood, that Oglethorpe had no difficulty whatever in securing the aid + of men of wealth and influence. A charter or grant from the government was + applied for, in order that the scheme might have the sanction and + authority of the government. Accordingly a charter was granted, and the + men most prominent in the scheme of benevolence were incorporated under + the name of "The Trustees for establishing the Colony of Georgia in + America." Georgia in America, was, under the terms of the charter, a + pretty large slice of America. It embraced all that part of the continent + lying between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers, and extending westerly + from the heads of these rivers in direct lines to the South Seas; so that + the original territory of Georgia extended from ocean to ocean. + </p> + <p> + In aid of this enterprise, Oglethorpe not only contributed largely from + his private means, and solicited contributions from his wealthy friends, + but wrote a tract in which he used arguments that were practical as well + as ingenious. + </p> + <p> + On the 17th of November, 1732, all arrangements having been completed, the + "Anne" set sail for the Colony of Georgia, accompanied by Oglethorpe, who + furnished his own cabin, and laid in provisions not only for himself, but + for his fellow-passengers. On the 13th of January, 1733, the "Anne" + anchored in Charleston harbor. From Charleston the vessel sailed to Port + Royal; and the colonists were soon quartered in the barracks of + Beaufort-town, which had been prepared for their reception. Oglethorpe + left the colonists at Beaufort, and, in company with Colonel William Bull, + proceeded to the Savannah River. He went up this stream as far as Yamacraw + Bluff, which he selected as the site of the settlement he was about to + make. He marked out the town, and named it Savannah. The site was a + beautiful one in Oglethorpe's day, and it is still more beautiful now. The + little settlement that the founder of the Colony marked out has grown into + a flourishing city, and art has added its advantages to those of nature to + make Savannah one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. + </p> + <p> + Close by the site which Oglethorpe chose for his colony was an Indian + village occupied by the Yamacraws,—a small tribe, of which + Tomochichi was chief. At this point, too, was a trading post, which had + been established by a white man named John Musgrove. This man had married + a half-breed woman whose Indian name was Coosaponakesee, but who was known + as Mary Musgrove. In order to insure the friendly reception of his little + colony and its future safety, Oglethorpe went to the village and had a + talk with Tomochichi. Mary Musgrove not only acted as interpreter, but + used her influence, which was very great, in favor of her husband's + countrymen. This was fortunate, for the Indians were very uneasy when they + learned that a colony of whites was to be established near their village, + and some of them even threatened to use force to prevent it; but + Oglethorpe's friendly attitude, and Mary Musgrove's influence, at last + persuaded them to give their consent. They made an agreement to cede the + necessary land, and promised to receive the colonists in a friendly + manner. Oglethorpe returned to Beaufort when he had concluded this treaty, + and the Sunday following his return was celebrated as a day of + thanksgiving. After religious services there was a barbecue, which, + history tells us, consisted of four fat hogs, turkeys, fowls English beef, + a hogshead of punch, a hogshead of beer, and a quantity of wine. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0004" id="linkimage-0004"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:33%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/032.jpg" alt="Mary Musgrove 032 " /> + </div> + <p> + On the 30th of January, 1733, the immigrants set sail from Beaufort, and + on the afternoon of the next day they arrived at Yamacraw Bluff. On the + site of the town that had already been marked off, they pitched four tents + large enough to accommodate all the people. Oglethorpe, after posting his + sentinels, slept on the ground under the shelter of the tall pines, near + the central watch fire. As a soldier should, he slept soundly. He had + planted the new Colony, and thus far all had gone well with him and with + those whose interests he had charge of. + </p> + <p> + To bring these colonists across the ocean, and place them in a position + where they might begin life anew, was not a very difficult undertaking; + but to plant a colony amongst savages already suspicious of the whites, + and to succeed in obtaining their respect, friendship, and aid, was + something that required wisdom, courage, prudence, and large experience. + This Oglethorpe did; and it is to his credit, that, during the time he had + charge of the Colony, he never in any shape or form took advantage of the + ignorance of the Indians. His method of dealing with them was very simple. + He conciliated them by showing them that the whites could be just, fair, + and honorable in their dealings; and thus, in the very beginning, he won + the friendship of those whose enmity to the little Colony would have + proved ruinous. + </p> + <p> + Providence favored Oglethorpe in this matter. He had to deal with an + Indian chief full of years, wisdom, and experience. This was Tomochichi, + who was at the head of the Yamacraws. From this kindly Indian the Georgia + Colony received untold benefits. He remained the steadfast friend of the + settlers, and used his influence in their behalf in every possible way, + and on all occasions. Although he was a very old man, he was strong and + active, and of commanding presence. He possessed remarkable intelligence; + and this, added to his experience, made him one of the most remarkable of + the Indians whose names have been preserved in history. There was + something of a mystery about him that adds to the interest which his + active friendship for the whites has given to his name. He belonged to the + tribe of Lower Creeks; but for some reason or other, he, with a number of + his tribemen, had been banished. The cause of his exile has never been + made known; but at this late day it may be guessed that he became + disgusted with the factional disputes among the Creeks, and sought in + another part of the territory the peace and repose to which his years of + service had entitled him; and that when he had taken this step, the + factions which he had opposed succeeded in having him banished. Some such + theory as this is necessary to account for the tributes that were paid to + his character and influence by the Creek chiefs who assembled at Savannah + to make a treaty with Oglethorpe. Tomochichi was ninety-one years old when + the Georgia Colony was founded, and he had gathered about him a number of + disaffected Creeks and Yemassees, known as the tribe of the Yamacraws. + When the Creeks came to Savannah to meet Oglethorpe, the greatest of their + chiefs said that he was related to Tomochichi, who was a good man, and had + been a great warrior. + </p> + <p> + Thus, with Oglethorpe to direct it, and with Tomochichi as its friend, the + little Georgia Colony was founded, and, as we shall see, thrived and + flourished. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE EMPRESS OF GEORGIA + </h2> + <p> + When Oglethorpe landed at Yamacraw Bluff, he was greatly aided in his + efforts to conciliate the Indians by the wife of John Musgrove, a + half-breed woman whose Indian name was Coosaponakesee. She was known by + the colonists as Mary Musgrove, and her friendship for the whites was + timely and fortunate. She was Oglethorpe's interpreter in his first + interview with Tomochichi. She was very friendly and accommodating, giving + aid to Oglethorpe and his colony in every possible way. Finding that she + had great influence, and could be made very useful to the colonists, + Oglethorpe employed her as interpreter, and paid her yearly one hundred + pounds sterling, which in that day was equal to a great deal more than + five hundred dollars; but Mary Musgrove earned all that was paid her, and + more. She used all her influence in behalf of the whites. She aided in + concluding treaties, and also in securing warriors from the Creek nation + in the war that occurred between the colonists and the Spaniards who + occupied Florida. + </p> + <p> + General Oglethorpe had a sincere friendship for Mary Musgrove, and his + influence over her was such that she never refused a request he made. If + Oglethorpe had remained in Georgia, it is probable that the curious + episode in which Mary took a leading part would never have occurred. + </p> + <p> + Oglethorpe left Georgia on the 23d of July, 1743, and never returned. John + Musgrove died shortly afterwards, and Mary married a man named Matthews, + who also died. She then married a man named Thomas Bosomworth, who had + been chaplain to Oglethorpe's regiment. In 1743, before Oglethorpe's + departure, Bosomworth had been commissioned to perform all religious and + ecclesiastical affairs in Georgia. Previous to that he had accepted a + grant of lands, and had taken up his abode in the Colony. He appears to + have been a pompous and an ambitious person, with just enough learning to + make him dangerous. + </p> + <p> + Before Mary Musgrove married Bosomworth she had never ceased to labor for + the good of the Colony. No sacrifice was too great for her to make in + behalf of her white friends. It is true, she had not been fully paid for + her services; but she had faith in the good intentions of the government, + and was content. In 1744, a year after Oglethorpe's departure from the + Colony, Mary married Bosomworth, and after that her conduct was such as to + keep the whites in constant fear of massacre and extermination. + </p> + <p> + In 1745, Thomas Bosomworth went to England and informed the trustees of + the Georgia Company that he intended to give up his residence in the + Georgia Colony. The next year he returned to Georgia, and violated the + regulations of the trustees by introducing six negro slaves on the + plantation of his wife near the Altamaha River. This action was at once + resented; and President Stephens, who had succeeded Oglethorpe in the + management of the Colony's affairs, was ordered to have the negro slaves + removed from the territory of Georgia. This was done, and from that time + forth Bosomworth and his wife began to plot against the peace and good + order of the Georgia Colony. He used the influence of his wife to + conciliate the Indians, and secure their sympathy and support. While this + was going on, he was busy in preparing a claim against the government of + the Colony for the services rendered and losses sustained by his wife, + which he valued at five hundred pounds sterling. In her name he also + claimed possession of the islands of Ossabaw, St. Catharine, and Sapelo, + and of a tract of land near Savannah which in former treaties had been + reserved to the Indians. + </p> + <p> + Bosomworth was shrewd enough not to act alone. In some mysterious way, not + clearly told in history, he secured the sympathy and support of Major + William Horton, commander of Oglethorpe's regiment stationed at Frederica, + and other officers. Colonel Heron, who succeeded Major Horton as commander + of the regiment in 1747, was likewise gained over to the cause of the + Bosomworths. By the connivance of this officer, a body of Indians, with + Malatche at their head, marched to Frederica for a conference. At this + conference Malatche made a speech in which he told of the services which + his sister Mary had rendered the colonists, and requested that a messenger + be sent to England to tell the King that he, Malatche, was emperor of all + the Creeks. He declared, also, that Mary, his sister, was confided in by + the whole Creek nation, and that the nation had decided to abide by her + will and desire. + </p> + <p> + Bosomworth saw the necessity of pushing the matter forward, and so he + suggested to Malatche the importance of having himself crowned as emperor + by those who were with him. Accordingly a paper was drawn up giving to + Malatche full authority as emperor. This done, Bosomworth was quick to + procure from the Creek emperor a deed of conveyance to Thomas and Mary + Bosomworth of the islands of Ossabaw, Sapelo, and St. Catharine. + </p> + <p> + Matters went on peaceably for a while; but Bosomworth was active and + energetic, and his wife appears to have been entirely under his control. + He bought on credit a great number of cattle from planters in South + Carolina, and these he placed on the islands that had been given him by + Malatche. When his debts fell due, he was unable to pay them. Rather than + surrender the property for which he was unable to pay, he suggested to his + wife that she take the title of an independent empress. It is doubtful if + she knew what an empress was; but she had an idea, that, if she claimed to + be one, she would be able to buy some red calico at the nearest store, as + well as an extra bottle of rum. So she fell eagerly into the Rev. Mr. + Bosom-worth's plans. She sent word to the Creeks that she had suddenly + become a genuine empress, and called a meeting of the big men of the + nation. The big men assembled; and Mary made a speech, in which she + insisted that she was the Empress of Georgia. She must have been a pretty + good talker; for the Indians became very much excited, and pledged + themselves to stand by her to the last drop of their blood. + </p> + <p> + Having thus obtained the support of the Indians, Mary set out for + Savannah, accompanied by a large body of them. She sent before her a + messenger to inform the president of the Province that she had become + empress over the whole territory belonging to the Upper and Lower Creeks; + that she was on her way to demand the instant surrender of all the lands + that had belonged to Doth nations; and that, if there should be any + serious opposition to her demands, the settlement would be attacked and + destroyed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0005" id="linkimage-0005"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/039.jpg" alt="Empress Mary 039 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + It was a dark hour for the colonists, who were vastly outnumbered by the + Indians. The president and council were disturbed by the bold threats made + by Mary Bosomworth. Their first plan was to meet the Indians peaceably, + and, by gentle measures, find an opportunity to seize Mary Bosomworth and + ship her to England. In the town of Savannah there were only one hundred + and seventy men able to bear arms. The president of the Province sent a + messenger to Mary, while she and her followers were still several miles + distant, warning her to give up her wild scheme. Mary sent back a message + expressing her contempt for the Colony and its officials. Thereupon the + president of the Province determined to put the best possible face on the + matter, and receive Mary and her savage followers boldly. Accordingly the + militia was ordered under arms; and as the Indians entered the town, they + were stopped by Colonel Noble Jones, who, at the head of a company of + horse, demanded to know whether they came with friendly or hostile + intentions. He received no satisfactory answer to his demand, whereupon he + informed the Indians that they must ground their arms, as he had orders + not to permit an armed man among them to set foot within the town. The + Indians submitted to the unexpected demand, but with great reluctance. + </p> + <p> + Having grounded their arms, the Indians were allowed to enter the town. + They marched in regular order, headed by Thomas Bosomworth, who, decked + out in full canonical robes, with Mary by his side, was followed by the + various chiefs according to their rank. The army of Indians made a + formidable appearance as they marched into the town, and the inhabitants + were terror-stricken at the sight. They marched to the parade ground, + where they found the militia drawn up to receive them. Here they were + saluted with fifteen guns, and then conducted to the president's house. + When the Indians were assembled there, Thomas and Mary Bosomworth were + ordered to withdraw. Then the president and council asked the Indian + chiefs in a friendly manner why they visited the town in so large a body, + not having been sent for by any person in lawful authority. The Indians + replied that Mary, their empress, was to speak for them, and that they + would abide by what she said. They had heard that she was to be made a + prisoner and sent across the great waters, and they wanted to know why + they were to lose their queen. They said they intended no harm to the + whites, and begged that their arms might be restored to them. Then, after + talking with Bosomworth and his wife, they would return and settle all + public affairs. Their arms were restored to them, but orders were given + that on no account should any ammunition be issued until the true purpose + of their visit was made known. + </p> + <p> + The Indians then had a conference with Mary Bosomworth, and on the + following day began to conduct themselves riotously, running up and down + the streets like madmen. As all the men were obliged to perform guard + duty, the women were compelled to remain alone in their houses. They were + in a constant state of terror and alarm, expecting every moment to be set + upon and killed by the unruly savages. While the confusion was at its + worst, a rumor was circulated that the Indians had cut off the head of the + president of the council. The report was false; but the colonists were in + such a state of excitement, that they could scarcely be restrained from + firing on the Indians. The situation was very critical. Great prudence was + necessary in order to prevent bloodshed, and save the town from + destruction. + </p> + <p> + At this crisis orders were given to the militia to lay hold of Thomas + Bosomworth, and place him in close confinement. When this order was + carried out, Mary became frantic, and made threats of vengeance against + the whole Colony. She cursed General Oglethorpe, declared that his + treaties were fraudulent, and ordered the colonists to depart from her + territory. She raved furiously, and claimed control over the entire earth. + But while engaged in cutting up these extraordinary capers, she kept an + eye on the leading men among the Indians, who she knew could be easily + bribed. + </p> + <p> + The president of the Province, finding that nothing could be done with the + Indians while they remained under the influence of their so-called + empress, caused Mary to be privately arrested, and placed her under guard + with her husband. When this was done, quiet was at once restored. The + Indians ceased to be boisterous. When the time seemed to be ripe, the + president of the Province employed men acquainted with the Creek language + to entertain the chiefs and their warriors in the friendliest way. A feast + was prepared; and in the midst of it the chiefs were told that Bosomworth + had become involved in debt, and was anxious to secure not only all the + lands of the Creeks, but also a large share of the bounty paid to them by + the King of England, so that he might be able to pay his creditors in + Carolina. He was also told that the King's presents were intended only for + the Indians; that the lands near the town were reserved for them for their + encampments; that the sea islands were reserved for them to hunt upon when + they should come to bathe in the salt waters; and that neither Mary nor + her husband had any right to these lands, which were the common property + of the Creek nations. + </p> + <p> + For the moment this policy was successful. Even Malatche, Mary's brother, + seemed to be satisfied; and many of the chiefs declared that they were + convinced that Bosomworth had deceived them, and that they would trust him + no more. But Malatche, at his own request, had another talk with Thomas + and Mary Bosomworth, and was again won over to support their wild + pretensions; so that, when the Indians were gathered together to receive + their shares of the royal bounty, Malatche stood up in the midst of them, + and delivered a most violent speech in favor of the claims of Mary as the + Empress of Georgia. He declared that she had three thousand warriors at + her command, and that every man of them would take up arms in her defense. + At the conclusion of his speech, Malatche drew forth a paper and presented + it to the president of the council This paper was merely the sum and + substance of Malatche's speech; and it was so clearly the production of + Bosomworth, that the effect was far different from what the Indians had + expected. The astonishment of the president and council was so apparent, + that Malatche begged to have the paper again, so that he might deliver it + to the person from whom he had received it. + </p> + <p> + It was important that another conference should be had with the Indians. + Accordingly they were called together again; and the president of the + Province made an address, recalling to their minds the fact that when + General Oglethorpe and his colony landed in Georgia, they found Mary, then + the wife of John Musgrove, living in a hut at Yamacraw; that at that time + she was comparatively poor and friendless, being neglected and despised by + the Creeks, and going about in rags; that General Oglethorpe, finding that + she could speak both the English and the Creek tongues, employed her as an + interpreter, gave her rich clothes, and made her a woman of some + consequence; that she was respected by the colonists until she married + Thomas Bosomworth, but from that time forth they no longer had any + confidence in her; that she had no lands of her own; and that General + Oglethorpe had no treaty with her, but dealt with the old and wise leaders + of the Creeks, who voluntarily surrendered their waste lands to the + whites. The president then went on to show that Mary's claims had been + invented by Thomas Bosomworth as an easy means of paying a debt of four + hundred pounds which he owed in South Carolina for cattle, and that his + quarrel with the colonists was due to the fact that they had refused to + give him a third part of the royal bounty which belonged by right to the + Indians. + </p> + <p> + At this point the Creek chiefs begged the president to stop. They had + heard enough to convince them, they said, and now they wanted to smoke the + pipe of peace. Apparently this was a happy ending to a very serious + dispute. But at the very moment when everything was serene, Mary + Bosomworth made her appearance amongst those who were patching up their + differences. She had escaped from her guards, and, having secured a supply + of rum, now made her appearance drunk and furious. She filled the air with + threats. The president told her, that, unless she ceased her efforts to + poison the minds of the Indians, he would again order her into close + confinement. Thereupon Mary turned to Malatche and told him what the + president had said. In a rage, Malatche seized his arms, and, calling to + the rest of the Indians to do the same, dared the whites to touch the + empress. The uproar was great. Every Indian had his tomahawk in his hand, + and the council expected nothing less than instant death. + </p> + <p> + At this moment, Captain Noble Jones, who commanded the guard, ordered the + Indians to deliver up their arms. The savages were overawed by the + coolness and courage of this intrepid officer. They yielded up their arms, + and Mary was shut in a private room, and a guard set over her. There she + was securely kept, and while the Indians remained she had no further + communication with them. Her husband was then sent for, and the president + and council tried to reason with him; but he remained obstinate, declaring + that he would stand up for his wife's rights to the last. Finding + Bosomworth unreasonable, the council caused him to be seized and confined. + This done, the authorities then set about persuading the Indians to leave + the town peaceably and return to their own settlements. This the savages + did after a while, leaving Savannah in small parties until all were gone. + </p> + <p> + Finding himself no longer supported by the Indians, Thomas Bosomworth at + last repented of his folly. He wrote to the president and council, + apologizing for his wanton conduct. He acknowledged the title of his wife + to be groundless, and relinquished all claim to the lands of the Province. + Though his offense had been serious, the colonists pardoned him, and thus + ended the career of Coosaponakesee as Empress of Georgia. + </p> + <p> + And yet, after all, the Rev. Thomas Bosomworth had his way. Mary seems to + have lived long; and her husband pressed her claims in London, so that, + when Henry Ellis was made governor of the Province, he was authorized, in + 1759, to sell the islands of Ossabaw and Sapelo, as well as other Indian + lands near Savannah, and out of the moneys received to settle the demands + of the Bosomworths, and to give them a title to the Island of St. + Catharine, which they had settled and improved. Mary Bosomworth was given + four hundred and fifty pounds for goods she had expended in the King's + service, and it was provided also that she should be allowed sixteen + hundred and fifty pounds for her services as agent. In addition, she was + given two thousand pounds, the sum for which Ossabaw and Sapelo sold at + auction. A grant of St. Catharine Island was also made to Mary Bosomworth; + so that it may be considered that she was richly rewarded for the many + good turns she did the colonists in her better days, before her mind had + been poisoned by the Rev. Mr. Bosomworth. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE LIBERTY BOYS. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0006" id="linkimage-0006"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/048.jpg" alt="The Liberty Boys 048 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + In 1765, what is known as the Stamp Act was passed by the Parliament of + Great Britain, in spite of all the protests made by the agents of the + Colonies. The people of the Colonies felt that taxation without + representation was an exercise of power not to be tolerated. + </p> + <p> + The Stamp Act itself was a very small matter; but many of the American + Colonies had been setting up claims of independence in various matters. As + Benjamin Franklin said, the British nation was provoked by these claims of + independence, and all parties proposed by this piece of legislation to + settle the question once for all. While the agents of the Colonies, and + among them Franklin, protested against the Stamp Act, none of them + supposed that it would be met by armed resistance; and yet the terms of + the act were insolent and sweeping. It was provided that if the stamps + were not used, "marriages would be null and void, notes of hand valueless, + ships at sea prizes to the first captors, suits at law impossible, + transfers of real estate invalid, inheritances irreclaimable." In spite of + these sweeping terms, Benjamin Franklin did not doubt that the act would + be carried into effect, and other patriotic Americans thought that the + colonists should submit. Even James Otis of Boston, who was afterwards + among the first to advocate the calling of an American congress to + deliberate upon the propriety of the acts of Great Britain, was of this + opinion. + </p> + <p> + The Georgia authorities regarded the stamp duty as just as any that could + be generally imposed on the Colonies, though the manner of imposing it + greatly inspired alarm. But while the other Colonies were hesitating, a + voice was heard in Virginia. Patrick Henry, speaking for the Virginians, + made an eloquent protest against the law, and his boldness kindled into + flames the spirit of opposition that had been smoldering in all the + Colonies. The Sons of Liberty were organized North and South. In Georgia + they were known as "Liberty Boys." "Liberty, property, and no stamps!" was + the cry, and it was a cry that stirred the country from one end to the + other. + </p> + <p> + The congress suggested by James Otis of Boston assembled on Monday, the + 7th of October, 1765, Georgia had no delegates in the congress, but was + represented by a messenger who was sent to obtain a copy of the + proceedings. Such representation was not because the Colony of Georgia + failed to sympathize with the purpose for which the congress was called, + but was entirely due to the influence and popularity of Governor Wright, + the royal governor, who was not only a good man personally, but wise, + prudent, and far-seeing. Owing to his exertions, Georgia was not + represented in the person of delegates. The speaker of the Georgia House + of Assembly had indeed called a convention of the members for the purpose + of selecting delegates to the Colonial Congress called to meet in New + York, and sixteen members had responded to the call; but such was the + influence of Governor Wright, that these members of the assembly were + prevailed upon not to send delegates to the congress. But they could not + be prevented from preparing and sending a response to the Massachusetts + invitation. They had resolved, they said, to support heartily every + measure that might be suggested for the support of the common rights of + the Colonies. + </p> + <p> + We learn from the letters of Governor Wright, written to the Earl of + Halifax, that it was as much as he could do (and he was a very active as + well as a very wise governor) to prevail on the people to maintain at + least the outward show of loyalty to the King. And he was not successful + even in this, for he informs another correspondent (Mr. Secretary Conway) + on the 31st of January, 1766, that the same spirit of "sedition, or rather + rebellion, which first appeared at Boston," had reached Georgia, and that + he had been constantly engaged for the space of three months in trying to + convince the people that they ought to submit to the King's authority + until they could point out their grievances and apply for redress in a + constitutional way. Governor Wright also states to the same correspondent + that he has had much trouble in preserving from destruction at the hands + of the people the stamp papers that had been forwarded for the collection + of the tax. He received "incendiary" letters; he had to issue + proclamations against riots and "tumultuous and unlawful assemblies;" and + he had also to take measures against the Liberty Boys, who began to have + private meetings, and who had formed themselves into a society to oppose + and prevent the distribution of the stamp papers. + </p> + <p> + In short, the good governor was kept in a constant state of alarm lest the + Liberty Boys should seize some advantage and cause his Majesty the King of + England to have a moment of grief. The Liberty Boys were so active, and + made so many threatening demonstrations, that Governor Wright was driven + to what he describes as extreme measures. He was compelled to send the + obnoxious stamp papers to a place of safety to prevent the people from + destroying them; and when he had the papers securely hidden, he was + compelled to place men on duty day and night to protect the precious + stamps. He was obliged to send a posse of men to protect the stamp + distributer by hiding him, and was then moved to send him into the country + for a season, in order to avoid the resentment of the people; and then, + after all his trouble, the good governor found that the people had + determined not to apply for any papers, stamped or unstamped, until the + King had acted on the petitions sent from the Colonies. No wonder that he + was moved to call it "a wretched situation." It was indeed a wretched + situation for one who had no higher ideas of duty than to continue to + serve the King and oppose the interests of the people. + </p> + <p> + There was something more of an uproar in South Carolina than in Georgia; + but the truth of history appears to be that the resistance offered to the + Stamp Act in Georgia was much more serious than that displayed in + Carolina. Although Governor Wright used all his influence to support the + act, the people exercised so much vigilance in watching the stamp papers + and the officer sent to issue them, that none of the papers found their + way into use. + </p> + <p> + The Colonies were bordering on a state of revolution, when, through the + influence of the Earl of Chatham, the Stamp Act was repealed. There was + great rejoicing among the people, and a general manifestation of a renewal + of loyalty to the mother country. But the seeds of dissension had been + sown. The Stamp Act unnecessary and uncalled for, had given the people + cause to ponder over their real relations to the Crown; and out of the + discussion that had taken place arose a spirit of independence that grew + and thrived and spread day by day. + </p> + <p> + In short, the repeal of the Stamp Act gave the people of the Colonies only + momentary satisfaction. Their success in securing its repeal gave them a + new taste for liberty of action, and a new sense of their importance as + individuals. But King George III. was never satisfied with the repeal of + the Stamp Act of 1765. He declared that it had wounded the Majesty of + England. It fretted him, and the irritation that he felt extended like a + contagion to his cabinet. When the Earl of Chatham died, there was no + statesman to take his place. The mantle of his office fell on Charles + Townshend, who was more anxious to please the King than to secure good + government to the people of the Colonies. He was anxious for the British + Government to assert with vigor its right to govern the Colonies as it saw + fit. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the spirit of independence in the Colonies continued to assert + itself more openly day by day, and the determination grew among them not + to submit to taxation without representation in Parliament. The + organization of Sons of Liberty and Liberty Boys grew and spread both + North and South. One of the most fruitful causes of discontent was the + fact that Georgia and the other Colonies were compelled to depend upon the + will of the British Government in all matters. Every act passed by a + colonial assembly must receive the sanction of the British Parliament + before it became a law. Petitions were disregarded. Frequently there was a + delay of two years between the passage of an act by the Colonial General + Assembly and its ratification. But every measure had to receive the + approval of the Crown. While the affairs of the country were in this + peculiar condition, the people became more and more dissatisfied. + </p> + <p> + It is now known that Governor James Wright, loyal to the King as he proved + himself to be, was fully sensible of the injustice to which the Colonies + were compelled to submit. On the 15th of August, 1769, he addressed a + letter to the Earl of Hillsborough, which was not read until fifteen + months after it was written. In this letter the governor warned the + British cabinet that the Colonies would never submit to taxation without + representation. There was no disaffection, he said, toward the King or the + royal family, but simply a determination on the part of the people to + stand on their rights. But the governor's letter lay unread for fifteen + months, and there was no reply to the numerous petitions sent from the + Colonies. At last the Americans determined to appeal to the pockets + instead of to the sentiments of the people of Great Britain. They + determined to import no goods whatever that could be manufactured or + produced at home. + </p> + <p> + This determination, instead of causing the British people to conciliate + the Americans by securing the repeal of unfriendly laws, turned the + popular opinion against the Colonies; and this feeling was intensified by + the Boston Tea Party. A bill was passed by both Houses of the British + Parliament to close the port of Boston, and the discussion of the measure + gave an opportunity to some of the statesmen of the mother country to show + their spite. Another law was passed, limiting and cutting down the power + of the representative assembly of Massachusetts, and providing that town + meetings should not be held except on permission in writing from the royal + governor. Another act was passed, giving the governor of the Province the + power to send to Great Britain or to other Colonies persons indicted for + murder or charged with capital crimes committed in aiding the government + of Massachusetts. These acts, intended to humiliate the Colonies, had the + effect of inflaming them, and the Liberty Boys grew in numbers and + determination. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0007" id="linkimage-0007"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:32%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/055.jpg" alt="Tondee's Tavern 055 " /> + </div> + <p> + On the 20th of July, 1774, "The Georgia Gazette," published at Savannah, + contained an invitation to the people of the Province to meet at Tondee's + Tavern on the 27th of July to take into consideration the unjust laws that + had been passed by the British Parliament. The cause of Massachusetts was + the cause of all. The meeting was held, and stood adjourned to the 10th of + August, in order to give all the parishes an opportunity to be represented + by delegates. Governor Wright, loyal to the last, issued a proclamation + warning the people of the Province to avoid attending the meeting; but the + proclamation was disregarded, and a meeting of the people of the Province + was held at Tondee's Tavern on the 10th of August, 1774. Resolutions were + adopted, declaring that his Majesty's subjects in America owed the same + allegiance, and were entitled to the same rights and privileges, as their + fellow-subjects in Great Britain; that the act lately passed for + blockading the port of Boston was contrary to the British constitution; + that the act for abolishing the charter of Massachusetts Bay tended to the + subversion of American rights; that the Parliament of Great Britain had + not, nor ever had, the right to tax his Majesty's American subjects; and + that every demand for the support of government should be by requisition + made to the several houses of representatives. The resolutions covered all + the grievances of the people of the Colonies. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Governor Wright was not idle. He called a convention of + Royalists, which met, and signed a protest against the resolutions. Copies + of this protest were made, and sent into all the parishes, by the + governor's friends. Under pressure, many timid men who were really in + sympathy with the Liberty Boys signed the protest. The signatures of dead + men were used, and other frauds practiced, in order to make the + demonstration in favor of the King sufficient to overawe those who had + pledged themselves to American independence. In all this, Governor Wright + was aided by the fact that the only newspaper in the Province, "The + Georgia Gazette," was under his control. He was also aided by the + geographical situation of Georgia, and by his own personal popularity. He + had made a good governor. He had worked as hard for the prosperity and + progress of the Province as he now worked to prevent the people from + joining the movement for independence. + </p> + <p> + The governor was successful to the extent that he was able to prevent + Georgia from sending duly accredited representatives to the First + Continental Congress; and this fact has been taken by some writers of + history to mean that the spirit of liberty and independence was not as + earnest and as enthusiastic in Georgia as in the other Provinces. Later, + when Georgia was overrun by British and Tory influences, and appeared to + be conquered, ill-natured critics recalled the fact that her people were + slow to join hands with those who advocated resistance to tyranny. + </p> + <p> + When the South Carolina delegates to the First Continental Congress + returned to their homes, bearing with them copies of the Declaration of + Colonial Rights, the Liberty Boys of Georgia renewed their movement with + great zeal. Copies of the Declaration were distributed throughout the + Province. The result was, that the Liberty Boys grew steadily stronger in + numbers, and more defiant in action. An idea of the situation at this time + may be gathered from a letter written by Governor Wright to the Earl of + Dartmouth on the 13th of December, 1774. He declared that the spirit of + independence, or, as he called it, the spirit of enthusiasm, which many + were possessed of before, "is raised to such a height of frenzy, that God + knows what the consequences may be, or what man or whose property may + escape their resentment." + </p> + <p> + No doubt the amiable governor misunderstood the situation. What he + regarded as "frenzy" was merely the eager desire and the determination of + the Liberty Boys of Georgia to redeem themselves in the eyes of their + brethren in the other Colonies. They were humiliated by their failure to + send representatives to the Continental Congress, and they endeavored to + redeem themselves by increased zeal and enthusiasm. + </p> + <p> + They arranged to hold a provincial congress in Savannah on the 18th of + January, 1775. Governor Wright, on hearing of this, determined to convene + the Provincial General Assembly on the same day, hoping and believing that + this would prevent a meeting of the Provincial Congress, or greatly hamper + its action. But the governor was mistaken. The General Assembly met in + response to the call, and so did the Provincial Congress. Governor Wright + addressed the members, declaring to them the danger of the situation, and + imploring them to be prudent and loyal. The upper house of the General + Assembly made a response agreeable to the governor's expectations, but the + lower house gave to its address a tone of independence that was not at all + pleasing to the King's officer. He showed his displeasure, and placed a + serious obstacle in the way of the Liberty Boys by adjourning the General + Assembly until the 9th of the following May. The Assembly had met on the + 18th of January, and was adjourned on the 10th of February; so that the + Liberty Boys, who made up a majority of the lower house, had no time to + appoint delegates to the Philadelphia congress soon to be held, nor to + take any official action in behalf of the independence of Georgia. + </p> + <p> + Governor Wright's plans were certainly very shrewdly laid. His adjournment + of the General Assembly not only hampered the Provincial Congress (or + convention) that had met at Savannah simultaneously with the legislature, + but threw the delegates into confusion and disorder, and was the means of + causing the convention to adjourn without taking such action as the + friends of liberty hoped for. All that it did was to elect three + representatives to the Philadelphia congress. This was something, but it + was not enough. The Liberty Boys expected the Provincial Convention to + adopt all the measures and resolutions suggested by the Continental + Congress. They therefore felt mortified when the convention adjourned, and + left Georgia still outside the continental association. + </p> + <p> + This event was a serious embarrassment to the other Colonies, and aroused + the anger of those friends of liberty who were unable to understand the + peculiar conditions that surrounded the movement for independence in + Georgia. The friends of liberty in South Carolina were so indignant, that + they denounced the Georgians "as unworthy the rights of freemen, and as + inimical to the liberties of their country." Throughout the Colonies, the + partisans of American independence were deeply wounded by the apparent + hesitation of the Georgians, while the Royalists were delighted. + </p> + <p> + Though the Provincial Convention remained in session only seven days + before adjourning, the delegates of St. John's Parish had withdrawn from + the body. These delegates insisted on an emphatic indorsement of the acts + of the Continental Congress, and they retired as soon as they found there + would be some difficulty in bringing some of the hesitating members to + their way of thinking. They retired, and selected Dr. Lyman Hall to + represent St. John's in the Philadelphia congress. He took his seat in + that body, and although he cast no vote, he made his voice heard in the + discussions. + </p> + <p> + In spite of all the drawbacks which the Liberty Boys in Georgia had + experienced, their enthusiasm did not cool. They never ceased their + efforts, and the independence movement continued to grow. The public mind + became more and more inflamed with resentment against the tyranny of King + George and his Parliament, as the people heard of the progress of events + in the more northern Colonies. By the 10th of May the people of Savannah + had heard of the shedding of American blood by British troops at Lexington + and Concord. As the news spread from parish to parish, the people became + aroused, and the response of public sentiment was all that American + patriots could expect. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0008" id="linkimage-0008"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:32%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/060.jpg" + alt="Seisure of Ammunition in Savannah 060 " /> + </div> + <p> + The first response of the Liberty Boys at Savannah was to seize the + ammunition stored in the magazine. This event occurred on the night of the + 11th of May, and was planned and carried out by the members of the Council + of Safety. About six hundred pounds of powder fell into the hands of the + Liberty Boys. Some was sent to South Carolina, and the rest was hidden in + the garrets and cellars of the patriots who had seized it. Tradition says + that some of this powder was sent to Massachusetts, where it was used by + the patriots who drove the British before them at the battle of Bunker + Hill. + </p> + <p> + Other events occurred that showed the temper of the Liberty Boys. On the + 4th of June, when Governor Wright came to fire salutes in honor of King + George's birthday, he found the cannon had been spiked, dismounted, and + rolled to the bottom of the bluff. On the 5th of June the first liberty + pole in the Colony was set up at Savannah. A young man named Hopkins, who + spoke contemptuously of the members of the Committee of Public Safety was + seized by a mob, tarred and feathered, placed in an illuminated cart, and + paraded up and down the streets of Savannah. + </p> + <p> + As the days went by, the independence movement in Georgia became more + enthusiastic, the Liberty Boys more active. The first vessel armed and + equipped for naval warfare during the Revolution was fitted up by the + Liberty Boys of Georgia under the authority of the Provincial Convention, + which had assembled in Savannah on the 4th of July, 1775. This event is + interesting. The Carolina Committee of Safety had heard that a British + ship had sailed for Georgia with a cargo of powder intended for the + Indians and for the use of the Royalists. The Carolinians at once resolved + to capture the ship and seize the cargo. To that end, two barges, manned + by forty well-armed men, were embarked from Beaufort, and went to the + mouth of the Savannah River, where they encamped on a point that commanded + a full view of Tybee Lighthouse. The Provincial Convention, hearing of + this expedition, offered to assist the officers in every way possible. + There was an armed British schooner in the river at that time; and the + Liberty Boys of Savannah determined to join forces with the Carolinians at + Tybee, and effect her capture. For this purpose a schooner was equipped by + the Provincial Convention, and placed under command of Captain Bowen and + Joseph Habersham. This vessel was armed with ten carriage guns and + swivels, and carried fifty men. The British armed vessel was not inclined + to enter into a contest, but, when the Georgia schooner appeared, weighed + anchor and sailed away. The schooner then took position beyond the harbor + bar, and waited for the ship carrying the cargo of powder. She had not + long to wait. On the 10th of July, 1775, the powder ship, commanded by + Captain Maitland, made her appearance. Before entering Tybee Inlet, + however, Captain Maitland saw the armed schooner. Suspecting that he was + about to fall into a trap, he brought his vessel round, tacked, and stood + out to sea. But he had gone too far. The Georgia schooner gave chase, and + soon overtook and captured the ship. It was a fortunate capture for the + Colonies. Five thousand pounds of powder were sent to Philadelphia, and + nine thousand fell to the share of Georgia. + </p> + <p> + The convention that commissioned the first armed vessel of the Revolution + did more important work than this. It placed the Province of Georgia in + political union with her sister Colonies, and gave her fellowship with + those struggling Provinces. She was welcomed into the United Colonies with + joyful demonstrations by the Continental Congress. By the 15th of April, + 1776, the Liberty Boys in Georgia were so strong that Governor Wright had + taken refuge on one of the King's vessels at Tybee; and on that date the + patriots took full charge of the government of the Province. Archibald + Bulloch was the first republican president of Georgia. + </p> + <p> + This is how the Liberty Boys took the Province of Georgia from his Majesty + the King, and made a free and independent government. Their struggle did + not end here, but the details of that struggle must be left to history to + relate. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A GROUP OF CHARACTERS + </h2> + <p> + The Revolutionary War in Georgia developed some very romantic figures, + which are known to us rather by tradition than by recorded history. First + among them, on the side of the patriots, was Robert Sallette. Neither + history nor tradition gives us the place of his birth or the date of his + death; yet it is known that he played a more important part in the + struggle in the Colony than any man who had no troops at his command. He + seems to have slipped mysteriously on the scene at the beginning of the + war. He fought bravely, even fiercely, to the end, and then, having + nothing else to do, slipped away as mysteriously as he came. "In Liberty + County," says history, "there lived during the Revolution a man by the + name of Robert Sallette, distinguished for his opposition to the Tories. + It is not known with certainty to what particular command he was attached. + He appears to have been a sort of roving character, doing things in his + own way." Here is the mystery of romance to begin with. Here is the + wanderer,—the character so dear to the imagination of youth. + </p> + <p> + "The Tories," says history further, "stood very much in dread of him; and + well they might, for never had they a more, formidable foe." Here, then, + is the hero and the wanderer combined in one person, and that person + fighting for the holiest cause in which man can take up arms,—the + rights and liberties of the people. What more could be asked? + </p> + <p> + Curious as we may be to know something of the personal history of Robert + Sallette, it is not to be found chronicled in the books. The French twist + to his name makes it probable that he was a descendant of those + unfortunate Acadians who, years before, had been stripped of their lands + and possessions in Nova Scotia by the British, their houses and barns + burned, and they themselves transported away from their homes. They were + scattered at various points along the American coast. Some were landed at + Philadelphia, and some were carried to Louisiana. Four hundred were sent + to Georgia. The British had many acts of cruelty to answer for in those + days, but none more infamous than this treatment of the gentle and + helpless Acadians. It stands in history to-day a stain upon the British + name. + </p> + <p> + Another fact that leads to the belief that Robert Sallette was a + descendant of the unfortunate Acadians was the ferocity with which he + pursued the British and the Tories. The little that is told about him + makes it certain that he never gave quarter to the enemies of his country. + </p> + <p> + His name was a terror to the Tories. One of them, a man of considerable + means, offered a reward of one hundred guineas to any person who would + bring him the head of Robert Sallette. The Tory had never seen Sallette, + but his alarm was such that he offered a reward large enough to tempt some + one to assassinate the daring partisan. When Sallette heard of the reward, + he disguised himself as a farmer, and provided himself with a pumpkin, + which he placed in a bag. With the bag swinging across his shoulder, he + made his way to the house of the Tory. He was invited in, and deposited + the bag on the floor beside him, the pumpkin striking the boards with a + thump. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0009" id="linkimage-0009"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:32%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/066.jpg" + alt="The Head of Robert Sallette 066 " /> + </div> + <p> + "I have brought you the head of Robert Sallette," said he. "I hear that + you have offered a reward of one hundred guineas for it." + </p> + <p> + "Where is it?" asked the Tory. + </p> + <p> + "I have it with me," replied Sallette, shaking the loose end of the bag. + "Count me out the money and take the head." + </p> + <p> + The Tory, neither doubting nor suspecting, counted out the money, and + placed it on the table. + </p> + <p> + "Now show me the head," said he. + </p> + <p> + Sallette removed his hat, tapped himself on the forehead, and said, "Here + is the head of Robert Sallette!" + </p> + <p> + The Tory was so frightened that he jumped from the room, and Sallette + pocketed the money and departed. + </p> + <p> + On one occasion Robert Sallette is known to have spared the lives of two + Tories, at least for a little while. Once when he and Andrew Walthour (for + whom Walthourville in Georgia is named) and another man were riding along + a narrow trail late in the afternoon, they met three other riders whom + they suspected to be Tories. The plan that Sallette and his companions + adopted to capture the men was very simple. Andrew Walthour, who was + riding in front, was to pass the first and second men, Robert Sallette to + pass the first. As Walthour came to the third man when Sallette had come + to the second, and their companion to the first, the Liberty Boys seized + the guns of the three simultaneously. The men had no opportunity either to + fight or escape. + </p> + <p> + "Dismount, gentlemen!" said Sallette. Then he addressed himself to the + leader. "What is your name?" + </p> + <p> + In reply to this, a fictitious name was given, as Sallette and his + companions afterwards found out. + </p> + <p> + "Where is your camp?" asked Sallette. + </p> + <p> + "We are from over the river," answered the man, meaning the Altamaha. + </p> + <p> + "Where did you cross?" + </p> + <p> + "At Beards Ferry." This was where the Whigs and the Liberty Boys were most + numerous. + </p> + <p> + "That is not true!" exclaimed Sallette. + </p> + <p> + Then he turned to the second man, asked the same questions, and received + the same replies. He turned to the third man, asked the same questions, + and received the same replies. + </p> + <p> + "If you do not tell me the truth," exclaimed Sallette to this last man, + "I'll cut off your head!" + </p> + <p> + The man persisted, and Sallette was as good as his word. The others begged + for their lives, and declared that they would guide Sallette straight to + their camp. This they did; and Sallette, aided by his prisoners, captured + a large party of Tories. + </p> + <p> + Once when Robert Sallette and Andrew Walthour were marching with the + advance guard of the American troops, they suddenly met the advance guard + of the British. A short but sharp skirmish followed, during which a very + large man of the British guard was killed. Observing that the dead man + wore a pair of good boots, Sallette determined to get them. While he was + pulling them off in the midst of a furious fire from the enemy, his + companions called out to him to come away or he would surely be killed. "I + must have the boots!" cried Sallette to his companions. "I want them for + little John Way!" + </p> + <p> + Here was fun in the midst of tragedy; for it is said that little John Way + could have put both his feet and his fists into one of the boots. + </p> + <p> + One day Sallette dressed himself up as a British officer and accepted an + invitation to dine with a party of the enemy. Suddenly, in the midst of + the toasting and drinking, Sallette drew his sword, killed the men who sat + to the right and left of him, sprang on his horse, and rode off unhurt, + though he was in such a hurry that he had no time to throw the bridle + reins over the horse's head. + </p> + <p> + At the White House, near Sunbury, Major Baker, of the patriot army, with + thirty men, attacked and defeated a party of Tories under command of + Captain Goldsmith. + </p> + <p> + Among the slain was Lieutenant Gray, whose head was almost severed from + his body by a stroke of Robert Sallette's sword. + </p> + <p> + On many occasions, when a battle was in progress, Sallette would detach + himself from the American army, gain the rear of the enemy, and kill many + men before he was discovered. If this brave man was indeed a descendant of + the Acadians, he avenged the wrongs of many of his countrymen. + </p> + <p> + Another character who attracted attention during the War of the Revolution + was Patrick Carr, whose hatred of the Tories made his name celebrated + among the Liberty Boys of Georgia. Paddy Carr, as he was called, lived and + died in Jefferson County. He was born in Ireland, but came to Georgia + before the Revolution. When the independence movement began, he threw + himself into it with all the ardor of his race. Owing to the cruelty of + the Tories, he conceived a special hatred against them. He showed them no + quarter. History gives but a word or two to his achievements, but + tradition still keeps his name alive in the region where he operated. Like + Sallette, he was an independent partisan; but, unlike Sallette, his + operations were among those who could remember well enough, but who would + not take the trouble to preserve the particulars of even the least of his + exploits. We know that Patrick Carr lived. We know that he became famous + where recklessness and daring were common. But that is nearly all we know. + It is said of him that during the war he killed one hundred Tories with + his own hands. Once, when praised for his bravery, he smiled and shook his + head, saying that he would have made a very good soldier, but the Lord had + given him a heart that was too merciful. He no doubt remembered the + atrocities of the Tories in the section that is now Jefferson, Columbia, + Burke, and Wilkes counties. The cruelties they committed in that region + during the Revolution have no parallel in civilized warfare. + </p> + <p> + Among the adventurous characters of that time, on the side of the British, + Daniel McGirth stands easily first. The history of his career during the + war is a strange one. He was born in South Carolina, and entered into the + struggle against the British with the utmost enthusiasm. He was a brave + man, a hard fighter, and one of the most active of those who took up arms + against the King. He was an expert woodsman, and was at home in the + saddle. He was assigned to duty as a scout, and was better equipped for + that service, perhaps, than any man in the American army. The ease with + which he secured information of the enemy's movements and plans, and the + energy that marked his movements, made his services of great value to the + patriot cause. This was not thoroughly appreciated by some of the officers + under whom McGirth acted. + </p> + <p> + He brought with him into the army a mare which he called "The Gray Goose." + She is said to have been an elegant animal, and McGirth was very proud of + her. With this mare under him, he always felt safe from pursuit. One of + the American officers, who was a good judge of horseflesh, and who + probably wanted to "cut a dash," as the saying is, saw this beautiful + mare, and coveted her. Finding that McGirth scorned all offers to sell + her, the officer adopted various means to obtain her. These efforts were + resisted by McGirth, mainly on the ground that the mare was his own + private property, and that she was essential to the duties he was called + on to perform. Failing to gain his ends in this way, the officer continued + to worry McGirth in other ways. He no doubt did something to rouse the ire + of the scout, who was an irritable man, and who felt the importance of the + service he was rendering to the cause. It is not now known how McGirth + insulted the officer,—whether in a moment of passion he struck him, + or whether he merely used rough language to him. + </p> + <p> + Whatever the offense, McGirth was placed under arrest, tried by a + court-martial, found guilty of violating the articles of war, and + sentenced to be whipped. He received this punishment, and was placed in + confinement again, where he was to remain until he received another + whipping. While thus held, he saw his mare picketed near the camp, and he + immediately resolved to escape. He was successful in this. Once free, he + secured The Gray Goose, leaped into the saddle, turned around, and, in the + face of his pursuers, pronounced threats of vengeance against all the + Americans for his ill treatment. + </p> + <p> + There is no doubt that he was illtreated; but if he had not been an + ignorant man, he would not have pronounced against the cause of liberty on + account of the treatment he received at the hands of individuals. But the + savage in his nature was aroused, and he carried out his fierce threats to + the fullest extent. For the time being, he attached himself to another + American command; but at the first opportunity he deserted to the enemy, + and became the scourge and terror of those who opposed the British cause. + He spared none. His field extended from the Florida line to the Savannah + River, in what is now Elbert County, and far into South Carolina. He + appeared when least expected, and carried destruction with him. His mare + became as noted as her master. In what was then Upper Georgia, she was + known as "The Bald-faced Pony." On many an occasion he owed his life to + the fleetness of his mare. But his vengeance was never satisfied: it was + always active, and thirsting for the blood of the American patriot. The + whim of the officer to possess McGirth's mare was a foolish one at best. + It was the cause of great public and private suffering. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0010" id="linkimage-0010"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:32%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/072.jpg" alt="Mcgirth and his Mare 072 " /> + </div> + <p> + When South Carolina was rescued from the British, McGirth retreated into + Georgia, and finally into Florida. When the Spaniards regained possession + of that territory, he became subject to their laws. For some reason or + other he was thrown into one of the dungeons of the old fort at St. + Augustine, where he was confined for five years. When released, his health + was broken, and it was with great difficulty that he managed to return to + Sumter District, in South Carolina, where his wife lived. + </p> + <p> + A very queer and eccentric character in the Revolution was Captain Rory + Mcintosh, of Mallow. Though Rory was a kinsman of General Lachlan and + Colonel John Mcintosh, who were among the most active Liberty Boys in + Georgia, he took up arms for the King, and a very devoted Tory he was. His + eccentricities would have been called whims if he had not stuck to them + with such constancy. He was a Highlander and a follower of the Stuarts. + How and why he became loyal to the new line of British kings, history does + not state; but his clan had a chief, and he no doubt thought that every + government ought to have a monarch. When the Revolution began, he was over + sixty years of age, and was living comfortably on his plantation at + Mallow; but he volunteered, and fought through the war. + </p> + <p> + A story is told of Rory Mcintosh that once when the Spaniards held East + Florida, he carried to St Augustine a drove of cattle. He received payment + in dollars, which he placed in a canvas bag behind him on his horse. When + near his home, the bag gave way, and a part of the money fell out. He + secured what was left and rode on, paying no attention to that which had + fallen from the bag. When in need of money some years after, he returned + to the place where the dollars had spilled, picked up as many as he + wanted, and went back home. Whenever he could, he went about accompanied + by a piper. Rory was a tall, finely formed man,'with bristling whiskers + and a ruddy complexion: consequently when he appeared on parade, he + attracted great attention. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0011" id="linkimage-0011"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:33%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/074.jpg" alt="Captain Rory Mcintosh 074 " /> + </div> + <p> + In 1778 two expeditions were sent from St. Augustine for the purpose of + attacking Savannah,—one by sea, and one by land under command of + Lieutenant Colonel Prevost. This land expedition had been joined by + Captain Roderick Mcintosh, in the capacity of a volunteer. He attached + himself particularly to the infantry company commanded by Captain Murray. + When the British laid siege to Sunbury and the fort, Captain Murray's + company was in the line near the fort. One morning when Captain Rory had + had a dram too much, he determined to sally out and summon the fort to + surrender. His comrades tried to restrain him, but he was determined. + Finally he strutted out, a drawn claymore in his hand, with his trusty + slave Jim. He approached the fort and cried out,— + </p> + <p> + "Surrender, you miscreants! How dare you presume to resist his Majesty's + arms?" + </p> + <p> + Colonel Mcintosh, who commanded the fort, saw at once the condition of + Captain Rory, and forbade the men to fire. Then he threw open the gate, + and said,— + </p> + <p> + "Walk in, Mr. Mcintosh, and take possession." + </p> + <p> + "No," cried Rory, "I'll not trust myself among such vermin. I order you to + surrender!" + </p> + <p> + At that moment a rifle was fired by some one in the fort, and the ball + passed through Captain Rory's face from side to side under the eyes. He + fell backwards, but immediately recovered, and stood on his feet + flourishing his claymore. Then he began to walk backward, his face to the + fort. Several shots were fired at him, and Jim called out,— + </p> + <p> + "Run, massa, run! dey kill you!" + </p> + <p> + "Run!" cried Rory scornfully. "You may run, but I belong to a race that + never runs!" + </p> + <p> + It was at the siege of Sunbury that Colonel Mcintosh, when summoned by + Colonel Prevost to surrender the fort, sent back the reply, "Come and take + it!" + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + AUNT NANCY HART. + </h2> + <p> + There lived in Georgia, during the Revolutionary struggle, the most + remarkable woman in some respects that the country has produced. To find + her match, we shall have to go to the fables that are told about the + Amazons. The Liberty Boys called her Aunt Nancy Hart. The Indians, struck + by her wonderful feats in behalf of her country, called her "The War + Woman;" and there is a creek in Elbert County, where she lived, that was + named by the Indians "War Woman's Creek." + </p> + <p> + There are other heroines to whom history has paid more attention, and + whose deeds have been celebrated in song and story; but not one of them + was more devoted to the high cause of freedom, or more courageous, or + depended less on aid from others, than Aunt Nancy Hart. In this last + respect, the War Woman of Georgia stands alone in history, just as she + stood alone when the Tories were waging a war of extermination, sparing + neither women nor children, in the region in which she lived. Invention + and fable have kindly come to the aid of the most famous of the world's + heroines, but neither fable nor invention has touched the character or the + deeds of this heroine of the Revolution. She stands out on the pages of + history rough, uncouth, hot-tempered, unmanageable, uneducated, impolite, + ugly, and sharp-tongued; but, as her friends said of her, "What a honey of + a patriot she was!" She loved the Liberty Boys as well as she loved her + own children. It has been said that she was cruel; but this charge may as + well be put out of sight. Before passing upon it, we should have to know + what the War Woman's eyes had seen, and what terrible revelations her ears + had heard. Standing for American independence in a region that swarmed + with Tories, whose murderous deeds never have been and never will be fully + set forth, Aunt Nancy Hart had to defend her own hearthstone and her own + children. + </p> + <p> + The maiden name of this remarkable woman was Morgan, and she was born in + North Carolina. She married Benjamin Hart, a brother of Colonel Thomas + Hart of Kentucky. Thomas Hart was the father of the wife of Henry Clay, + and the uncle of the celebrated Thomas Hart Benton. Aunt Nancy and her + husband moved to Georgia with the North Carolina emigrants, and settled on + Broad River, in what is now Elbert County. She was nearly six feet high, + and very muscular,—the result of hard work. She had red hair, and it + is said that she was cross-eyed, but this has been denied on good + authority. It matters little. Her eyes were keen enough to pierce through + all Tory disguises, and that was enough for her. It is certain that her + courage and her confidence kept alive the spark of liberty in hearts that + would otherwise have smothered it, and was largely responsible for + kindling it into the flame that finally swept the British out of that + section, and subdued the Tories. When the Whigs and patriots who had been + her neighbors were compelled to flee before the murderous Tories, she + refused to go with them, but stood her ground and never ceased to speak + her sentiments boldly. Nothing but the wholesome dread with which she had + inspired them prevented the Tories from murdering her and her children. + When General Elijah Clarke moved the women and children of the Broad River + region to an asylum in Kentucky, and the Liberty Boys had taken refuge in + South Carolina, Aunt Nancy Hart remained at home, and for a long and + dismal period she was unprotected save by her own remarkable courage. + </p> + <p> + At that period the houses were built of logs, and the chimneys were built + of sticks plastered with clay. They were called "stack chimneys." One + evening Aunt Nancy and her children were sitting around the fire, on which + a pot of soap was boiling. Now, a pot of soap must be constantly stirred, + and for this the strong, muscular arms of Aunt Nancy were peculiarly + fitted. So she stirred the soap, and, as she stirred, told the youngsters + the latest news of the war. Presently one of her children chanced to + discover some one peeping through the crack of the chimney, eavesdropping. + By a gesture or a nod of the head Aunt Nancy was informed of what was + going on. She smiled, and grew more spirited in her talk, rattling away + and laughing as she gave exaggerated accounts of the recent defeats of the + Tories. As she talked, she stirred the bubbling soap, and kept her keen + eyes on the crack where the eavesdropper had been seen. Suddenly she + dashed a ladleful of boiling soap through the crack full into the face of + the intruder. It was so quickly and deftly done, that the eavesdropper had + no time to dodge the scalding stuff. He received the full benefit of it + Blinded and half crazed by the pain, he howled and screamed at a + tremendous rate. Aunt Nancy went out, and, after amusing herself at his + expense, bound him fast and held him prisoner. The probability is that the + next day she H tucked up her petticoats, shouldered her gun, and compelled + the unlucky Tory to ford the river ahead of her; and that, once on the + other side, she kept in constant communication with the Clarkes and with + other partisans of the American cause. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0012" id="linkimage-0012"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:25%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/079.jpg" alt="Aunt Nancy Hart 079 " /> + </div> + <p> + Her husband, whom she sometimes jokingly described as "a poor stick," + assisted her in her communications. A conch shell was kept at the spring, + some distance from the house. On this conch shell the children were taught + to blow the blasts that gave Mr. Hart information. One signal was, "The + enemy is at hand;" another was, "Keep close;" another, "Make tracks for + the swamp;" and still another was that he and his friends were wanted at + the cabin. + </p> + <p> + At the very darkest hour of the Revolution in Georgia, Aunt Nancy + performed one of her most remarkable feats,—one that brought into + play all the courage and devotion of her strong nature, and all the tact + and audacity that belonged to her character. + </p> + <p> + Brigadier General Andrew Williamson, with three hundred men, was encamped + near Augusta. When Charleston fell, this officer, who was already a + traitor, though his treachery had not been avowed, called his officers + together, and expressed the opinion that it would be foolish to further + resist the King. He therefore advised them to return to their homes, and + there accept the protection which would be offered them. He then abandoned + his command, which was immediately disbanded. Shortly afterwards Colonels + Brown and Garrison, two partisans of the King's army who had made + themselves notorious by their cruelty to Americans, seized Augusta. Brown + had been tarred and feathered in Augusta just before the breaking-out of + the Revolution, and he made the patriots of that town and of the country + roundabout pay dearly for the indignities that had been heaped upon him on + account of his loyalty to the Crown. He confiscated the property of the + patriots, and issued an order banishing all Whig families beyond the + borders of Georgia. + </p> + <p> + Raiding parties were sent into the region in the neighborhood of Augusta + to compel the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance to the King. One + of these parties entered the house of Colonel John Dooly, a gallant + officer, and murdered him in cold blood in the presence of his wife and + children. Colonel Dooly was the father of Judge Dooly, who became famous + in Georgia after the war. + </p> + <p> + A detachment of this murdering party found its way to Aunt Nancy Hart's + cabin. There were five Tories in the detachment, and Aunt Nancy received + them coldly enough. They told her they had come to inquire into the truth + of a report they had heard to the effect that she had aided a well-known + rebel to escape from a company of King's men by whom he was pursued. With + a twinkle of malice in her eyes, Aunt Nancy boldly declared that she had + aided her Liberty Boy to escape, and then she described the affair. + </p> + <p> + She said that one day she heard the gallop of a horse. Looking out, she + saw a horseman approaching, and at once knew him to be a Whig flying from + pursuers. She let down the bars near her cabin, told him to ride his horse + right through her house, in at the front door and out at the back, to take + to the swamp, and hide himself the best he could. She then put up the + bars, entered her house, closed the doors, and went about her business. In + a little while a party of Tories rode up, and called to her with some + rudeness. She muffled her head and face in a shawl, opened the door + slowly, and asked in a feeble voice who it was that wanted to pester a + sick, lone woman. The Tories said they had been pursuing a man, and had + traced him near her house. They wanted to know if any one had passed that + way. "I told 'em," said Aunt Nancy to the listening Tories, "that I had + seen a man on a sorrel horse turn out of the road into the woods a little + ways back. So they went back and took to the woods, and my Whig boy got + off safe and sound." + </p> + <p> + Naturally this story, boldly told, did not please the five Tories who + heard it; but something in the War Woman's eye prevented them from + offering her any personal injury. Instead, they ordered her to give them + something to eat. + </p> + <p> + "I never feed King's men if I can help it," she replied. "The scamps have + fixed me so that I can't feed my own family in a decent manner. They have + run off with all my pigs and poultry except that old gobbler you see in + the yard there." + </p> + <p> + "Well, you shall cook the old gobbler for us," exclaimed one who seemed to + be the leader of the party. Suiting the action to the word, he raised his + musket and shot the gobbler. One of his men brought it into the house and + gave it to Aunt Nancy, with orders to clean and cook it at once. This, of + course, made that stanch patriot very angry, and she gave the Tories a + violent tongue lashing. + </p> + <p> + It is probable that while she was dressing the turkey for the pot, the + Tories let some hint drop about the outrageous murder of Colonel John + Dooly, who was a warm friend of Aunt Nancy's. At any rate, she suddenly + changed her tactics. She ceased to storm and quarrel, the scowl left her + face, and she soon seemed to be in high good humor. She went about getting + the meal ready with great good will. She sent her little girl to the + spring after water, but told her to sound on the conch shell the signal to + "keep close," so that her husband and his neighbors who were with him + might know there were Tories in the cabin. + </p> + <p> + While the daughter was gone after water, one of the Tories volunteered to + take her place in helping to get everything ready. Aunt Nancy accepted his + services, and joked with him with great freedom and familiarity. Like all + women of spirit and independence, Aunt Nancy possessed a considerable fund + of humor, and it stood her in good stead now. She contrived to thoroughly + interest the Tories, and it was not long before they were in the most + jovial frame of mind imaginable. They had expected to find a bad-tempered, + ill-conditioned woman; and they were agreeably surprised when they found, + instead, a woman who could match their rude jests, and make herself + thoroughly entertaining. + </p> + <p> + The Tories had brought a jug with them, and they were so pleased with Aunt + Nancy's seeming friendliness that they invited her to drink with them. + "I'll take one swig with you," said Aunt Nancy, "if it kills every cow on + the Island," meaning a neck of land at the junction of river and creek + where the Whig families of the neighborhood pastured their cattle and hid + them. The Tories laughed and drank, and then they laughed and drank again. + They kept this up until the old gobbler had been cooked to Aunt Nancy's + satisfaction; and by the time they were ready to sit down to table they + were in a very merry mood indeed. + </p> + <p> + They had stacked their arms within easy reach of where they had been + sitting and drinking; but Aunt Nancy had moved her table to the middle of + the floor, so as to be able to walk around it on all sides while waiting + on the Tories. In helping the men to the turkey and other eatables that + she had prepared, she frequently came between them and their muskets. The + Tories had hardly begun to eat before they called for water. Aunt Nancy, + expecting this, had used up in cooking all that had been brought: + consequently her daughter had to take the piggin and go to the spring + after a fresh supply. She went with instructions to signal her father, and + the neighbors who were with him, to come immediately to the cabin. While + her daughter was at the spring, Aunt Nancy managed to pull off one of the + boards that filled the space between the logs of the house, and through + this crack she slipped two of the muskets. She was slipping the third + through when her movements caught the eye of one of the Tories. Instantly + the men sprang to their feet, but Aunt Nancy was now in her element. Quick + as a flash she clapped the musket to her shoulder, and threatened to shoot + the first man that approached her. The men, knowing her reputation as a + fighter, and awed by her appearance, hesitated. At last one bolder than + the rest began to advance toward her. She fired promptly, and at the + report of the gun the man fell dead on the floor. + </p> + <p> + Before the others could recover from their consternation, Aunt Nancy had + seized another musket, and held it in readiness to fire again. Her + daughter had now returned from the spring with the information that her + father and his neighbors would soon arrive. Directed by her mother, the + girl took the remaining musket and carried it out of the house. The + Tories, seeing that no time was to be lost in recovering their arms, + proposed to rush upon Aunt Nancy in a body and overpower her. But the War + Woman was equal to the occasion. She fired again, and brought down another + Tory. As she did so, the daughter, acting on her orders, handed her + another musket. Then, taking position in the doorway, she called on the + men to "surrender their ugly Tory carcasses to a Whig woman." + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0013" id="linkimage-0013"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/085.jpg" alt="Aunt Nancy Captures the Tories 085 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + The Tories agreed to surrender, and wanted to shake hands to make the + bargain binding; but Aunt Nancy kept her position in the doorway until her + husband and his friends made their appearance. The Whigs wanted to shoot + the Tories; but Aunt Nancy, whose blood was up, declared that shooting was + too good for them. "They've murdered John Dooly," she exclaimed; "now let + them hang for it!" Thereupon the Tories were taken out and hanged. The + tree from which they swung was still standing as late as 1838, and was + often pointed out by old people who had lived through the troubled times + of the Revolution. + </p> + <p> + One day Aunt Nancy met a Tory going along the highway. She engaged him in + conversation, diverted his attention, and suddenly seized his gun and + wrenched it away from him. She then ordered him to take up the line of + march for a fort not far distant. Not daring to disobey, the man marched + before her, as many others had been compelled to do, and she turned him + over to the commander of the fort. + </p> + <p> + When Augusta was in the hands of the British, and their raiding parties + had been driven in by the Americans under Colonel Elijah Clarke, it became + necessary for that commander to get some positive information in regard to + the intentions of the British. At this juncture Aunt Nancy came to the + rescue. She disguised herself as a man, and went boldly into the British + camp. She remained there for several days, pretending to be crazy. In this + way she secured a great deal of important information, and made haste to + carry it to Colonel Clarke. + </p> + <p> + Aunt Nancy was once left in a fort with several other women and a number + of small children, her own among the rest. The men had gone out in search + of supplies. They had not expected an attack, and had left only one of + their number, a young man, to protect the women and children. Suddenly a + party of Tories and Indians made its appearance, and surrounded the fort, + which was nothing more than a stockade. The yelling of the savages threw + all the women and children into the utmost confusion,—all except + Aunt Nancy. That wonderful woman, who never knew what fear was, only + became more energetic in the face of danger. There was a small cannon in + the fort, but it was not in position to reach the enemy with its fire. + After trying her best to lift the cannon into position, Aunt Nancy + remembered the young man who had been left in the fort, and looked about + for him; but he was not to be seen. A close search discovered him hiding + under a cowhide. Aunt Nancy pulled him out by the heels, and vowed she + would make mince-meat of him unless he helped her to move the cannon. The + fellow knew perfectly well that Aunt Nancy was not to be trifled with when + her blood was up. He gave her the necessary assistance. She aimed the + cannon and fired it, and the Tories and savages promptly took to their + heels. + </p> + <p> + On another occasion when the river was high, it became necessary for the + Americans on the Georgia side to know what was going on on the Carolina + side; but no one could be induced to venture across. Hearing of the + difficulty, Aunt Nancy promptly undertook to go. + </p> + <p> + The freshet had swept away all the boats, but to Aunt Nancy this was a + trifling matter. She found a few logs, tied them together with grapevines, + and on this raft made the voyage across the river. She gathered the + necessary information, and made haste to communicate it to the Georgia + troops. + </p> + <p> + Aunt Nancy was the mother of eight children,—six sons and two + daughters. Her eldest daughter, Sally, married a man named Thompson, who + was as quicktempered as his mother-in-law. After the war, Aunt Nancy moved + to Brunswick. Sally and her husband followed a year or two later. In + passing through Burke County, they camped for the night by the roadside. + The next morning Thompson ordered a white man, who had been hired as a + teamster, to perform some duty. Thompson's tone was so peremptory that the + man returned an insolent answer, and refused. In a fit of rage, Thompson + drew his sword, and severed the man's head from his body with one swinging + stroke. He then drove the team himself until he came to the first house, + where he gave information that he had cut off a fellow's head at the camp + down the road, and that they "had best go and bury him." He then drove on, + but was overtaken, arrested, and lodged in jail at Waynesboro. As soon as + Aunt Nancy heard of the trouble, she made her appearance in the upcountry + again. Within a few days after her return, the jail was found open one + morning, and Thompson was gone. Speaking of this afterwards, Aunt Nancy + was heard to exclaim,— + </p> + <p> + "Drat 'em! that's the way with 'em all. When they get into trouble, they + always send for me!" + </p> + <p> + Not long after this episode, Mr. Benjamin Hart died. Aunt Nancy mourned + his loss for a while, and then married a young man. Then, as the saying + is, she "pulled up stakes," and moved to what is now the State of Alabama, + on the Tombigbee. There she had the French and the Spaniards for + neighbors, and she felt at home with neither race. She was bluntly, + emphatically, and unaffectedly American. To add to her troubles, a big + rain flooded the river, destroyed her crops, and surrounded her house. + This, with the French and Spaniards, was too much for her. She returned to + Georgia, but, finding her old home occupied by others, she settled in + Edgefield, S.C. + </p> + <p> + A Methodist society was formed in her neighborhood, and its influence + became so active that Aunt Nancy's conscience began to trouble her. She + listened to the preaching of the Word from a distance until she became + worried about her future state. She went to the meetinghouse, but found + the door closed against intruders. The deacon and members were holding a + class meeting. The closed door was no obstacle to Aunt Nancy. She cut the + fastening and walked in without ceremony. Once in, she found what she + wanted. She became an enthusiastic Methodist, and is said to have fought + Satan and sin as manfully as she fought the Tories and the British. + </p> + <p> + When Governor George R. Gilmer of Georgia was in Congress, in 1828-29, the + members were very anxious to attract the notice of General Jackson, who + had been elected President. A proposal was made to fill the vacant niches + in the rotunda with paintings descriptive of the battle of New Orleans and + the general's other victories. Governor Gilmer offered as an amendment a + resolution to fill one of the niches with a painting of Aunt Nancy Hart + wading Broad River, her petticoats held up with one hand, a musket in the + other, and driving three Tories before her, to deliver them up to Colonel + Elijah Clarke. + </p> + <p> + Governor Gilmer's proposition was a more sensible one than he intended it + to be. Georgia has perpetuated Aunt Nancy's name by calling a county after + her; but the Republic owes something to her memory. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + TWO SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. + </h2> + <p> + The pen of the historian is not always as impartial as it should be. It + has its spites and prejudices; and it frequently happens that the men who + wield the pen with which history is written, have their whims, their + likes, and their dislikes. It is certain that two of the hardest fighters + in the War for Independence—two of the most distinguished officers + that Georgia gave to the cause—have had tardy justice done to their + valor. The names of these men are General James Jackson and General Elijah + Clarke. The independence and the individuality of these men stand clearly + out in all the records that we have of them, and it is no doubt true that + these qualities made them to some degree unpopular with those who inspired + the early chroniclers of the Revolution in the South. Neither of these + officers was capable of currying favor with his superiors, or of doing + injustice to the humblest of his comrades. They were not seekers after the + bubble reputation, but had their minds and all their energies bent on + liberating Georgia and her sister Colonies. + </p> + <p> + General James Jackson was born in the county of Devon, England. He came to + this country in 1772, landing at Savannah penniless and almost friendless. + He began the study of law; but when the Liberty Boys began their movement + for resisting British oppression, he placed his books on their shelves, + and gave himself entirely to the cause of the people. When only nineteen + years old, he was one of the volunteers that fired the British armed + vessels sent to attack Savannah by water, while Major Maitland and Major + Grant attacked it by land. The crews of these vessels were compelled to + escape without their clothes and arms. General Jackson served in the lower + part of Georgia until the fall of Savannah in 1778, when he and his friend + John Milledge made their way to the patriot troops, commanded by General + Moultrie. Such was the condition of these men, both of whom afterwards + became governors of Georgia, that they were compelled to make the greater + part of their journey barefoot and in rags. Their appearance was so much + against them that they were arrested as spies by some American soldiers, + and would have been hanged but for the timely arrival of a gentleman who + knew them. + </p> + <p> + General Jackson was at the siege of Savannah, and, after the disastrous + result of that affair, returned to South Carolina. The victory of the + Americans at Blackstock's House, in South Carolina, was almost wholly due + to the Georgians who were there. Sumter commanded at the beginning of the + action, but a severe wound compelled him to retire from the field. The + command then devolved upon the oldest Georgia officer, General John + Twiggs, who was assisted by Jackson, Clarke, and Chandler. In this + engagement Tarleton, the famous leader of the British dragoons, was + defeated for the first time, and he was never able to recover the prestige + he had lost. Tarleton fled from the field, and Jackson was ordered to + pursue him. It was owing only to the fleetness of his horse that Tarleton + escaped. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0014" id="linkimage-0014"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:31%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/093.jpg" alt="General James Jackson 093 " /> + </div> + <p> + At the battle of The Cow-pens, Jackson again distinguished himself. "Major + Jackson," says General Andrew Pickens, "by his example, and firm, active + conduct, did much to animate the soldiers and insure the success of the + day. He ran the utmost risk of his life in seizing the colors of the 71st + British Regiment, and afterwards introducing Major Mc-Arthur, commanding + officer of the British Infantry, as a prisoner of war to General Morgan." + His services brought him to the attention of General Greene, and he was + sent on a tour of difficult duty through North Carolina. He was so + successful in this, that the commanding general authorized him to raise a + partisan legion of infantry and cavalry for service in Georgia. By means + of his native eloquence, which was said to be almost irresistible, he + succeeded in raising the legion in a very short time. Wherever he + addressed the people, there were loud cries of "Liberty and Jackson + forever!" When his legion had been organized, he was appointed lieutenant + colonel. His dragoons were clothed and armed by themselves, with the + exception of their pistols. Their coats were made of dressed deerskins, + and faced with the little blue that could be procured. + </p> + <p> + Just before the siege of Augusta, Jackson was called upon to employ his + eloquence in preventing the militia from giving up in despair and + returning to their homes. These men were utterly worn out. Being ignorant + men, they could see no ray of hope. They lacked every necessary of life. + Jackson roused their drooping spirits, restored their hopes, and revived + their old-time enthusiasm. At the siege of Augusta these men fought + fiercely. Jackson himself led one of the advance parties. After the + surrender of the town, he was ordered to level the fortifications, and he + was appointed commandant. He was afterwards ordered to take position + midway between Augusta and Savannah. While he held this position, a + conspiracy was formed in the infantry to kill him in his bed. A soldier + named Davis, who waited in the commander's tent, suspected that something + was wrong. So he mingled among the men, and applied many harsh epithets to + Jackson. Thinking to make Davis useful to them, the conspirators told him + their plans, which he made haste to lay before his superior officer. + Shortly afterwards the infantry were drawn up in line, and the ringleaders + in the conspiracy arrested, tried, and executed. + </p> + <p> + After the war the Legislature gave Davis a horse, saddle, and bridle, and + five hundred acres of land, as a reward for his fidelity. + </p> + <p> + Jackson was with General Wayne in his Georgia campaign, and was intrusted + by him with many hazardous duties. When Savannah surrendered, General + Wayne issued an order in which he said, "Lieutenant Colonel Jackson, in + consideration of his severe and fatiguing service in the advance, is to + receive the key of Savannah, and is allowed to enter the western gate." + </p> + <p> + In 1786, Jackson was made brigadier general, and had command of the forces + operating against the Indians. Between 1788 and 1806 General Jackson held + almost every high office within the gift of the people of the State,—member + of the Legislature, governor when only thirty-one years old, member of the + first Congress held under the Federal Constitution, member of the State + Constitutional Convention, presidential elector, and United States + senator. + </p> + <p> + With General Jackson in many of his engagements was General Elijah Clarke, + who in many respects was the most remarkable soldier that Georgia + contributed to the War for Independence. With fairer opportunities than he + had, he would have made a great commander. He had small knowledge of + tactics, but he had what is better,—the skill to take advantage of + quickly passing events, and the coolness that made him complete master of + all his resources. He was a man of the most striking characteristics, and + he came out of the war with many bitter enemies among those with whom he + came in contact. This feeling was perpetuated by the political campaigns + in which his son, John Clarke, took part after the war. A trace of this is + to be seen in the sketch which Governor Gilmer gives to Elijah Clarke in + his curious book entitled "Georgians." It is undoubtedly true that Elijah + Clarke was ignorant of what is called book knowledge, but he was not much + worse off in this respect than the famous Confederate General Forrest, who + is thought by some high military critics to have been the most remarkable + commander on the Southern side in the civil war. Elijah Clarke, as well as + General Forrest, had something that served them a better turn than a mere + knowledge of books. They had a thorough knowledge of men, and a quick eye + for the situations that follow each other so rapidly in a skirmish or + battle. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0015" id="linkimage-0015"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/097.jpg" alt="Elijah Clarke 097 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Elijah Clarke was born in North Carolina, but moved to Georgia in 1774. He + was among the first of the inhabitants of Upper Georgia to take up the + cause of American independence; and his example, for he was a notable man + even in private life, did much to solidify and strengthen those who leaned + to that cause. When the British troops marched from the coast into Upper + Georgia, Elijah thought the time had come to take his gun from the rack + over the door, and make at least some show of resistance. His courage, and + the firmness and decision of his character, made him the natural leader of + those of his neighbors whose sympathies were with the Liberty Boys in + other parts of the State, and he soon found himself a commander without + commission or title. He cared less for these things than for the + principles of liberty for which he was fighting. + </p> + <p> + For a while Elijah Clarke and his followers fought as partisan rangers, + but he soon drew around him a compact and disciplined body of men who were + ready to go wherever he might lead them. He did not confine his efforts to + his new neighborhood We hear of him with Howe's ill-fated expedition + against East Florida, where, at Alligator Creek, he was asked to perform + the impossible feat of storming with a troop of horse a camp intrenched + behind logs and brushwood. He was no doubt amazed at the stupidity of + General Howe in issuing such an order, but he attempted to carry it out + with his usual courage. He did succeed in floundering over the logs with + his troops, but he came to a ditch that was too wide for his horses to + leap, and too deep to be ridden through. At this moment he and his men + were saluted with a heavy fire from the enemy, and they were compelled to + retire in confusion. In this attempt Elijah Clarke was shot through the + thigh. Later he was in South Carolina, at Blackstocks, and at The Cowpens. + </p> + <p> + In some quarters an effort has been made to blacken the reputation of + General Clarke by comparing his treatment of the Tories with the mild and + humane policy pursued by Francis Marion. There was, indeed, some + misunderstanding between the two men in regard to the methods that might + be adopted. The policy of Marion was undoubtedly the correct one, so far + as South Carolina was concerned; but if the Tories in that Province had + been guilty of the crimes committed by their brethren in Wilkes and the + surrounding region, General Marion's policy would not have been very + different from that of General Clarke. The Tories with whom Clarke was + familiar were guilty of murder, rapine, pillage, and incendiarism. The + Tories in South Carolina were kept under by the presence of Marion and his + men. Clarke went wherever his services were needed; and during his + absence, the Tories of the Broad River region were free to commit every + excess. Marion refused to leave the region where he made his name famous, + and thus kept the Tories in constant fear and dread. + </p> + <p> + Who shall say that Marion would not have been as ready to exterminate the + Tories as Clarke was, or that Clarke would not have been as humane as + Marion, if each of these distinguished patriots had been in the other's + place? + </p> + <p> + At the battle of Kettle Creek, in what is now Wilkes County, Elijah Clarke + distinguished himself by his readiness and skill as a commander. The + Americans under Colonel Pickens were in pursuit of the British under + Colonel Boyd. Their line of march was the order of battle, and following + the vanguard came the right and left wings. The left wing was commanded by + Elijah Clarke. The center was led by Colonel Pickens, who was in command + of the expedition. Colonel Boyd, the British commander, appeared to be + unconscious of pursuit. He had halted on a farm on the north side of + Kettle Creek. His horses were left to forage on the young cane that grew + on the edge of the swamp; and his men were slaying cattle and parching + corn, preparing for a feast after their short rations. The British + encampment was formed near the creek, on a piece of open ground flanked on + two sides by a canebrake. Colonel Boyd was in utter ignorance of the + approach of the Americans, who advanced at once to the attack. The British + colonel formed his line in the rear of his encampment, and there received + the assault. The battle was hotly contested for more than an hour, and + then the Tories retreated through the swamp. + </p> + <p> + Elijah Clarke, seeing a piece of rising ground on the farther side of the + creek, on which he suspected the Loyalists would try to form, ordered the + left wing to follow him, and was about to cross the stream when his horse + was shot under him. Mounting another, he soon crossed the creek, followed + by not more than a fourth of his division. There had been some mistake in + sending the order along the line. Clarke gained the hill that had + attracted his eye just in time to attack Major Spurgen, a brave British + officer, who was forming his command. The firing attracted the notice of + the rest of Clarke's division, and they soon joined their leader. Pickens + and Dooly also pressed through the swamp, and the battle was renewed with + great vigor. For a while the result was in doubt, but at the end the + Americans held the hill. The Tories fled in all directions, leaving + seventy dead on the field, and seventy-five wounded and captured. Of the + Americans, nine were slain, and twenty-three wounded. To Elijah Clarke + must be given the credit for this victory, which, coming at the time it + did, revived the hopes and courage of the Liberty Boys in all parts of the + country. + </p> + <p> + The Tories, on the other hand, were so depressed by it, that many of them + left that part of the State, and those who remained became comparatively + quiet. The situation was so encouraging, that many of the people of + Georgia, who had been driven from their homes by the cruelty of the + Tories, returned with their families. They were not long left in peace, + however. The British and the Tories had their active agents among the + Creeks and Cherokees, urging these tribes to take up arms and attack the + Americans. In view of this, Clarke was sent to guard the frontier forts. + Then the Tories again began to pillage and devastate the Broad River + region. Some of the crimes they committed would have disgraced savages. + Clarke's house was burned, and his family ordered to leave the State. Mrs. + Clarke and her two daughters started on their perilous journey with + nothing but a small pony of little value, and even this was taken from + them before they had gone very far. This only served to renew the activity + of Clarke in behalf of the American cause. He defeated the Tories wherever + he met them; and if he gave them no quarter, it was because they had shown + no mercy to the Americans. The savage character of the warfare waged by + the Tories against men, women, and children, must ever stand as an + explanation and as an excuse for the fierce spirit displayed by Clarke and + the Americans who lived in the Broad River region. + </p> + <p> + In the battle near Musgrove's Mill, Clarke defeated the British, killing + sixty-three men, and wounding and capturing one hundred. During the battle + he was twice severely wounded on the head and neck; and once he was + surrounded by the enemy, captured, and placed in charge of two men. One of + these he knocked down with a blow of his fist, and the other fled. At one + time, acting without orders, he was near taking Augusta, and was only + prevented by the desire of his men to see their families. After this he + returned to Wilkes County, where he was compelled to take under his + protection nearly four hundred women and children who had been driven from + their homes by the savage Tories. He resolved to carry these to a place of + safety, and, with a sufficient guard, set out for Kentucky. Cornwallis, + hearing of this movement, and taking for granted that it was a retreat, + sent one hundred men under Captain Ferguson to cut Clarke off, the + supposition being that the great partisan fighter would march through + South Carolina, but he had re-crossed the mountains in the Piedmont + region. Hearing of this movement, Clarke detached Major Chandler and + Captain Johnston with thirty men to take part in the operations against + Ferguson. Thus it was the pursuit of Clarke that brought on the memorable + battle of Kings Mountain, which resulted in a great victory for the cause + of American independence; and although Clarke was not there in person, his + heroic spirit animated the brave men who won the day. + </p> + <p> + He was the first to teach the militia to stand against the bayonets of the + British; and at Blackstocks, in South Carolina, at the head of his Wilkes + riflemen, he charged and drove the British light infantry in an open + field,—a movement that turned the enemy's right flank, and insured + the victory of the Americans. At the siege of Augusta, Clarke had + anticipated the movement of Colonel "Light Horse Harry" Lee, and had + confined the British garrison to their works for weeks before Colonel + Lee's arrival. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the Revolution, Clarke led the movement against the + Indians. He defeated the Creeks in the battle of Jacks Creek. After peace + was declared, Clarke, who had been made a general by a grateful State, + settled on lands that had been reserved to the Indians. For this he has + been criticised very severely; but it is curious that the policy for which + he was attacked, shortly afterwards became the policy of the whole people. + The States and the United States have made treaties with the Indians, only + to break them. Having personal knowledge of the Indians, and having been + made the victim of some of their raids, he had no respect for them or for + their rights. To this view the whole country afterwards came, and the red + men disappeared before it. + </p> + <p> + It will be well to bear in mind, that, whatever failings he may have had, + there was not a more heroic figure in the Revolution than General Elijah + Clarke. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A WAR OF EXTERMINATION. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0016" id="linkimage-0016"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/104.jpg" alt="A War of Extermination 104 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Some of the barbarous features of the Revolutionary War in Georgia have + been briefly noted. + </p> + <p> + History has turned her eyes away from the more horrible details; but by + reading between the lines, and taking advantage of the hints and + suggestions, it is not hard to get a tolerably fair idea of the methods + that were pursued on both sides. Even Colonel Charles C. Jones, jun., + whose "History of Georgia" is thus far the most complete that has been + written, touches lightly on the cruelties practiced in the efforts of the + British and Tories to wrest Upper Georgia from the control of the + Americans. There are matters that History cannot deal with and maintain + her dignity. + </p> + <p> + There can be no doubt that the British and the Tories began their + cruelties without considering the results to which their acts would lead. + It is an easy matter at this late day to see how naturally the war, in the + region tributary to Augusta, degenerated into a series of crimes and + barbarities foul enough to cause History to hold her hands before her + eyes. When Colonel Campbell, assisted by Colonel Brown, advanced to attack + Augusta, it was the only American post that had not surrendered to the + King's men, and its capture would complete the subjugation of Georgia from + a military point of view. The city fell without a struggle, and the + American forces retreated across the river. It was natural that the + British, and the Tories who were acting with them, should take advantage + of this victory to bring the whole region above and around Augusta to + terms. The sooner this was done, the sooner would all Georgia be restored + to her relations with his Majesty George III. No time was to be lost. + Therefore Colonel Campbell, the British commander, tarried in Augusta but + a few days. He left Colonel Brown in charge, and marched in the direction + of Wilkes County. Those of the inhabitants who had Tory sympathies were to + be encouraged; but those who were disaffected were to be dealt with + summarily, so as to put an end, at once and forever, to the disloyalty + that had been active in that region. This plan was carried out promptly + and violently. The severest punishment was the portion of those who + refused to take the oath of allegiance. Plunder and the torch were the + portions of those who chanced to be away from home, fighting for their + country. Their helpless wives and children were left homeless, and + destitute of provisions. Fortunately a great many stanch Liberty Boys had + carried their families, their household effects, and their cattle, into + South Carolina as soon as they heard of the fall of Augusta; but many had + remained at home, and the sufferings of these were severe. + </p> + <p> + Another explanation of the extreme cruelty with which the war in Upper + Georgia was waged after the fall of Augusta, was the fact that Colonel + Brown, who had been left in command by Colonel Campbell, had some old + scores to settle. At the very beginning of the struggle he had been + arrested in Augusta by some of the Liberty Boys, tarred and feathered, and + paraded through the public streets, on account of his outspoken loyalty to + the King. Still another reason was the fact that Daniel McGirth, who had + been maltreated by an American officer, was among the officers who had + accompanied Colonel Brown. McGirth held every American responsible for the + treatment he had received, and he spared few that fell into his hands. + Thus, between the anxiety of the British to conquer Georgia completely, + and the desires of Brown and McGirth to revenge themselves, the Americans + in Upper Georgia were made the victims of the most inhuman barbarities. + </p> + <p> + The Americans under Elijah Clarke lost no time in retaliating, and thus + was begun a contest that may be aptly described as a war of extermination. + Clarke was enabled to defeat the British and the Tories wherever they + opposed him on anything like equal terms, and this fact added to the rigor + with which they treated the Americans who were so unfortunate as to fall + into their hands. Shortly after the affair at Musgrove's Mill, in which + Clarke defeated the British and the Tories, Lord Cornwallis addressed a + circular letter to the officers commanding the advanced posts. He + declared, "The inhabitants of the Provinces who have subscribed to and + taken part in this revolt shall be punished with the utmost rigor; and + also those who will not turn out shall be imprisoned, and their whole + property taken from them or destroyed. I have ordered," he goes on to say, + "in the most positive manner, that every militiaman who has borne arms + with us, and afterwards joined the enemy, shall be immediately hanged. I + desire you will take the most vigorous measures to punish the rebels in + the district in which you command, and that you obey in the strictest + manner the directions I have given in this letter relative to the + inhabitants in this country." + </p> + <p> + Here was authority broad enough to cover every crime that the British and + the Tories might see fit to commit, and they stretched it to the utmost + limit. They burned houses and destroyed property. They insulted and + inhumanly treated women and children. They hanged the innocent. They went + about the country practicing every barbarity that their savage and + bloodthirsty natures could suggest. It was no wonder that the Americans + retaliated whenever they had the opportunity. It was no wonder that Elijah + Clarke, naturally independent and irritable, should fail to see the + justice or necessity of treating the Tories he captured as prisoners of + war. + </p> + <p> + The situation of the Americans became so serious that Clarke determined to + strike a heavy blow. He returned from Carolina to Wilkes County in + September, 1780, and in two days succeeded in placing in the field three + hundred and fifty men. With this force, strengthened by eighty men + recruited in Carolina, he boldly marched on Augusta. The movement was so + unexpected, that, but for the fact that the advance guard fell in with an + Indian camp which it was compelled to attack, Colonel Brown would have + been taken completely by surprise. But the retreating Indians gave him + notice, and he took refuge with his command in a strong building known as + the White House. The siege began on the 14th. By daylight on the 16th + Clarke had succeeded in cutting the garrison off from its water supply. + The sufferings of the men, especially the wounded, became most intense. + The Americans could hear their cries for water and for medical aid. Brown + appears to have been as brave as he was cruel. Though he was shot through + both thighs, he remained at the head of his men; and his great courage + sustained the spirits of his followers. Clarke summoned him to surrender + on the 17th. He not only refused, but warned the American commander that + the demonstration he was making against the King's men would bring + destruction to the western part of Georgia. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile some of Clarke's men had gone to visit their families, and + others were more interested in securing plunder than in forwarding the + cause of independence. Colonel Brown, as soon as he heard of the approach + of the Americans, had sent several messengers by different routes to + inform Colonel Cruger of the state of affairs. Cruger, who was in Carolina + at Ninety-six, promptly set his men in motion, and on the morning of the + 18th appeared on the bank of the Savannah, opposite Augusta. Under the + circumstances, Clarke was compelled to retreat. He had suffered a loss of + sixty, killed and wounded. In retreating, he was compelled to leave + twenty-nine of his wounded men behind. Among these was Captain Ashby, one + of the bravest and most humane of the officers of the American army. This + unfortunate officer and the men with him fell into the hands of the enemy. + Colonel Brown was so severely wounded that he was unable to move about; so + he ordered Captain Ashby and twelve of the wounded prisoners to be hanged + on the staircase of the White House, where he might see their sufferings + and gloat over their agonies. These men were cruelly strangled before + Brown's eyes. But their fate was a happy one compared with that of their + wounded companions. Those men were turned over to the red savages, who + were the allies of the British. The Indians received the prisoners with + howls of delight, and began at once to torture them in every conceivable + way. They formed a circle, and marched around the Americans, cutting and + slashing them with their knives. The end of the unfortunates was most + horrible. They were ripped with knives, scalped, and then burned. No + doubt, Colonel Brown enjoyed this scene more thoroughly than he did the + tame and commonplace spectacle of strangling Captain Ashby and his + companions. + </p> + <p> + Before raising the siege, Elijah Clarke paroled the officers and men whom + he had captured,—fifty-six men, all told. This fact is mentioned to + show that the Georgia militia had not then begun those acts of retaliation + which have attracted the notice of historians. They had had, as we know, + abundant provocation; but after the horrible crimes perpetrated by Brown + reached their ears, they threw off all restraint. Self-preservation is the + first law of nature, and the men who acted with Elijah Clarke thought that + the best way to preserve the lives of themselves and their families was to + destroy the Tories as fast as they caught them. The fact is chronicled by + Colonel Jones, and it is worth noting, that the officers and men paroled + by Clarke, in utter disregard of their obligations, took up their arms as + soon as the Americans had departed. The probability is that they were + driven to this by the commands of Brown. + </p> + <p> + It is well known, that, as soon as Clarke and his men had retreated, + Colonel Brown sent detachments of troops in all directions, with orders to + arrest all persons who had taken part in the siege, or who had sympathized + with the efforts of the Americans to recapture Augusta. Under this + sweeping order, men of all ages and conditions were dragged from their + homes and thrown into prison. Those who were suspected of taking part in + the siege, or of belonging to Clarke's command, were seized and hanged out + of hand. Old men, no longer able to bear arms, were imprisoned for + welcoming the return of members of their families who had fought on the + American side. One instance out of many that might be cited was the arrest + of the father of Captains Samuel and James Alexander. In the + seventy-eighth year of his age, this old man was arrested at his home, + tied to the tail of a cart, and dragged forty miles in two days. When + caught leaning against the cart to rest his feeble limbs, he was whipped + by the driver. It was at this time that in the region round about Augusta + the hopes of the patriots grew very faint. The women and children + assembled, and begged Elijah Clarke to take them out of the country; and + in response to the appeals of these defenseless ones, he undertook the + movement that culminated in the glorious victory of Kings Mountain. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0017" id="linkimage-0017"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/111.jpg" alt="Old Man Whipped at the Tail of a Cart 111 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + The winter of 1780 was the darkest hour of the Revolution in Upper + Georgia. There was no trade. Farming was at a low ebb. The schoolhouses + were closed. Many of the patriots had carried off their families. Many had + gone with Elijah Clarke to Kentucky. The patriots had betaken themselves + to South Carolina, though the services they rendered there have been + slurred over by the historians of that State. + </p> + <p> + When General Greene began his Southern campaign, and gradually rid South + Carolina of the British and the Tory element, the patriots of Upper + Georgia ventured to return to their homes. Captain McCall, who was among + them, says, in his history, that they returned in parties of ten and + twelve, so as to attract as little attention as possible. They appointed + Dennis's Mill, on Little River, as a place of meeting. "When these small + parties entered the settlements where they had formerly lived," says + Captain McCall, "general devastation was presented to view; their aged + fathers and their youthful brothers had been murdered; their decrepit + grandfathers were incarcerated in prisons where most of them had been + suffered to perish in filth, famine, or disease; and their mothers, wives, + sisters, and young children had been robbed, insulted, and abused, and + were found by them in temporary huts more resembling a savage camp than a + civilized habitation." Though Captain McCall was an eyewitness of some of + the scenes he describes, the picture he draws might seem to be too highly + colored were it not supplemented by a great mass of evidence. One more + instance out of many may be given. In a skirmish with the Americans under + Colonel Harden, Brown captured several prisoners. Among them was a youth + only seventeen years old named Rannal McKay, the son of a widow who was a + refugee from Darien. Being told that her son was a prisoner in the hands + of Brown, Widow McKay, providing herself with some refreshments that she + thought might suit the taste of the British commander, went to Brown's + headquarters, and begged that her son might be set free. The cruel wretch + accepted the present she had brought him, but refused even to let her see + her son, and caused the sentinels to put her out of the camp by force. + Next day young McKay and four other prisoners were taken out of the rail + pen in which they had been confined. By Brown's order they were hanged + upon a gallows until they were nearly strangled. They were then cut down + and turned over to the tender mercies of the Indians, by whom they were + mutilated, scalped, and finally murdered in the most savage manner. + </p> + <p> + The cruelty of Colonel Brown and the Tories acting under him was so + unbearable that the patriots of that region felt that their existence + depended on the capture of Augusta. They decided on an aggressive movement + when they met again at Dennis's Mill, on Little River. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Clarke, who was suffering from the results of smallpox, was too + feeble to lead them. His place was taken for the time by Lieutenant + Colonel Micajah Williamson; and on the 16th of April, 1781, the Americans + moved to the vicinity of Augusta. They were there reënforced by a + detachment from southern Georgia under Colonel Baker, and by a number of + recruits from Burke County. A few days afterwards they were joined by some + Carolina militiamen under Colonel Hammond and Major Jackson. + </p> + <p> + With this force, Colonel Williamson took up a position twelve hundred + yards from the British works, and fortified his camp. The Americans were + compelled to wait nearly a month for the aid they expected from General + Greene. The militia, worn out with waiting for the reënforcements, were + about to withdraw from the camp in despair, when Jackson, that truly great + Georgian, made them an address full of the most passionate and patriotic + eloquence, and this appeal changed their purpose. Jackson's voice was + afterwards heard in the halls of Congress; but we may be sure that he was + never more in earnest or more truly eloquent than when he pleaded with the + faint-hearted Americans to stand to their cause and their arms. Jackson's + address revived their courage; and when, on the 15th of May, Elijah Clarke + rode into camp, restored to health and accompanied by one hundred fresh + recruits, the confidence of the militiamen was fully renewed. + </p> + <p> + It was at this time that General Pickens and "Light Horse Harry" Lee (the + father of General Robert E. Lee) were ordered by General Greene to march + on Augusta and capture that post When Lee reached the neighborhood of + Augusta, he learned, from a party of light horse which he had sent on + ahead to collect prisoners and gain information, that the annual royal + present intended for the Indians had arrived at Fort Galphin, some + distance below Augusta. The present comprised blankets, liquor, salt, + small arms, powder, and ball. There was a great lack of these articles in + the American camp, and Lee resolved to capture them. The supplies were so + valuable, that Brown, the British commander, had sent two companies from + Augusta to garrison Fort Galphin. This was the situation when "Light Horse + Harry" arrived on the ground. The British in Augusta had not yet + discovered his approach, and promptness was necessary. Leaving Eaton's + battalion, the artillery, and the footsore men of the legion, to follow + more slowly, Lee mounted a detachment of infantry behind his dragoons, and + made a forced march to Fort Galphin. + </p> + <p> + This point he reached on the 21st of May, 1781. The weather was extremely + hot, and for miles the troopers and their horses had been unable to find a + drop of water: consequently neither the men nor the animals were in a + condition to make the attack when the command was brought to a halt under + the pines that skirted the field surrounding the fort. The British within + the fort were resting quietly, and were not aware that an enemy was at + hand. A prompt and decisive movement was necessary; and when his men and + horses had rested a little while, Lee dismounted the militiamen he had + brought with him, and ordered them to make a demonstration against the + fort on the side opposite the position he had taken. This famous commander + reasoned, that, as soon as the militiamen appeared before the fort, the + garrison would sally from the stockade. The militia would retreat, the + garrison pursuing, and he would seize upon that moment to assault and + capture the post left defenseless. To carry out this plan, Captain Rudolph + (who was supposed to be some great general in disguise), with a detachment + of picked infantry, was held in readiness to rush upon the fort; while the + rest of the troops, supported by the dragoons, were placed where they + could shield the militia from the pursuit of the British. + </p> + <p> + The affair took place just as Lee had foreseen. The garrison sallied out + to the attack. The militia, before making a show of resistance, began a + retreat. The garrison gave pursuit. Captain Rudolph dashed across the + field, and captured the fort without any trouble, The end came, when the + militia rallied, and the foot soldiers and dragoons closed around the + soldiers of the garrison. During the engagement the Americans lost one man + from sunstroke. The enemy lost only three or four men. The rest, together + with the valuable stores in the stockade, fell into the hands of the + patriots. + </p> + <p> + Following this successful affair, which was of more importance than it + seems now to be, Lee formed a junction with General Pickens; and these two + then joined their forces with those of Clarke, who commanded the Georgia + militia, and the siege of Augusta began. The first movement was the + capture of Fort Grierson, so called in honor of the man who commanded its + garrison. Grierson, hard pressed, threw open the gates of the fort, and + endeavored to escape. Thirty of his men were killed, and forty-five + wounded and captured. Grierson was made a prisoner, but was killed by a + Georgia rifleman. He was as cruel and vindictive as Brown himself. He was + a monster who had made himself odious to the followers of Clarke. In his + history, Captain McCall strongly hints that Grierson was shot by one of + the sons of the aged Mr. Alexander, who had been made prisoner and dragged + to Augusta tied to the tail of a cart. A reward was offered for + information that would lead to the arrest of the man who shot Grierson, + but the reward was never claimed. The whole army probably knew who had + fired the fatal shot, and no doubt the commanders knew, but their + knowledge was not official. No further notice was taken of the matter. + </p> + <p> + The capture of Fort Grierson cheered the hearts of the besiegers, and gave + them renewed courage. Fort Cornwallis was next invested. This stronghold + was commanded by Colonel Brown himself, who was as bold as he was cruel. + He was mean enough to expose to the American fire the aged Mr. Alexander + and other unfortunate patriots who had long been held as prisoners. + Captain Samuel Alexander commanded one of the companies close to the fort, + and could see and recognize his venerable father, who had been placed in + an exposed position by Brown. + </p> + <p> + It is not necessary to describe all the events of the siege. Brown held + out as long as he could, but was finally compelled to surrender. On the + 5th of June, 1781, Brown, with three hundred men, marched out of Fort + Cornwallis, and that stronghold was immediately taken possession of by + Captain Rudolph. A strong guard was detailed by the American commanders, + to protect Brown from the just anger of the Georgia soldiers, under + Clarke, Williamson, and Jackson. To insure his safety, he was carried to + the quarters of "Light Horse Harry" Lee. The next day he and a few of his + officers were paroled and sent down the river in charge of a party of + infantry instructed to guard him. Ramsay, in his "History of the + Revolution of South Carolina," says that Brown was recognized at Silver + Bluff by Mrs. McKay, who thus addressed him: "Colonel Brown, in the late + day of your prosperity I visited your camp, and on my knees supplicated + for the life of my son; but you were deaf to my entreaties. You hanged + him, though a beardless youth, before my face. These eyes have seen him + scalped by the savages under your immediate command, and for no better + reason than that his name was McKay. As you are now prisoner to the + leaders of my country, for the present I lay aside all thoughts of + revenge; but when you resume your sword, I will go five hundred miles to + demand satisfaction at the point of it, for the murder of my son." The + probability is that Mrs. McKay used no such stately language. No doubt she + walked up to Brown, shook her finger in his face, and exclaimed, "You + miserable villain! I can't get at you now; but if the day ever comes, I'll + flay you alive for the murder of my poor boy." + </p> + <p> + The fall of Augusta was received with rejoicings by the patriots + everywhere, and the British and the Tories were correspondingly depressed. + Men who had been overawed by the cruelty of the Tories, now came out + boldly for the cause of independence, and the forces of the Americans were + rapidly strengthened. Preparations were made for an aggressive campaign in + Georgia by the Liberty Boys; and in this purpose they had the active aid + and sympathy of General Greene, whose skill and ability as a commander + were not greater than the wisdom he displayed in dealing with the people. + </p> + <p> + In January, 1782, General Greene ordered General Anthony Wayne to take + charge of the campaign in Georgia. At the same time he wrote a letter to + Governor Martin that displays better than any document now extant the + sagacity and conservatism that were the basis of General Greene's + character and the source of his great success as a commander. "I cannot + help recommending to your Excellency," he wrote to the governor of + Georgia, "to open a door for the disaffected in your State to come in, + with particular exceptions. It is better to save than to destroy, + especially when we are obliged to expose good men to destroy bad. It is + always dangerous to push people to a state of desperation; and the + satisfaction of revenge has but a momentary existence, and is commonly + succeeded by pity and remorse. The practice of plundering, which, I am + told, has been too much indulged with you, is very destructive to the + morals and manners of the people. Habits and dispositions founded on this + practice soon grow obstinate, and are difficult to restrain; indeed, it is + the most direct way of undermining all government, and, never fails to + bring the laws into contempt, for people will not stop at the barriers + which were first intended to bound them after having tasted the sweets of + possessing property by the easy mode of plunder. The preservation of + morals and an encouragement to honest industry should be the first objects + of government. Plundering is the destruction of both. I wish the cause of + liberty may never be tarnished with inhumanity, nor the morals of people + bartered in exchange for wealth." This letter was intended to put an end + to the war of extermination that the Tories of Upper Georgia had begun, + and to prevent the patriots from carrying out their plans of revenge. The + letter did great good. It was turned over to the Legislature by the + governor, and thus made public; and its sentiments were taken to heart by + hundreds who had suffered the most cruel wrongs at the hands of the + Tories. General Greene's letter was also made the basis of two + proclamations, both issued by the governor after conference with General + Wayne. One opened the door to disaffected Georgians who might desire to + return to the ranks of the republicans, and the other was addressed to the + Hessian troops who had already begun to sympathize with the Salzburghers + at Ebenezer. Stevens, in his "History of Georgia," says that many citizens + who had been compelled from various reasons to seek protection under the + British Government, and who had even joined the armies of the enemy, took + advantage of the proclamation which referred to them, returned to their + State allegiance, and joined the forces of General Wayne, where they + proved their sincerity by making the most zealous efforts to merit the + pardon and protection that had been promised them by the governor. + </p> + <p> + After a brilliant campaign, lasting from January to July, 1782, General + Wayne, assisted by Elijah Clarke, James Jackson, and other bold spirits + who had never suffered the fires of liberty to go out in Georgia, cleared + the State of the British. Savannah was occupied on the 11th of July, the + keys having been surrendered to James Jackson. This was the end of British + rule in Georgia. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A NEGRO PATRIOT. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0018" id="linkimage-0018"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/122.jpg" alt="A Negro Patriot 122 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Along with the emigrants from North Carolina who first settled Wilkes + County, there came a man named Aycock. He brought with him a mulatto boy + named Austin. This boy passed as Aycock's slave; but when the conflict + between the Liberty Boys and the Tories in that part of the country became + desperate,—when the patriots were fighting for their lives as well + as for the liberties of their country,—Aycock's neighbors called on + him to do his part. According to all accounts, Aycock was not much of a + warrior. His sympathies were with his liberty-loving neighbors; but his + enthusiasm did not invite him to expose himself to the fire of musketry. + It is said that he joined the neighbors, and strove to be a faithful + militiaman, but he was in a state of constant fear. Governor Gilmer says + of Aycock, that, from the time he was required to fight, he saw a terrible + Tory constantly pointing a loaded gun at him. His alarm finally became so + extreme that he offered as his substitute the mulatto boy Austin, who had + then grown to be a stout and serviceable lad. + </p> + <p> + Objection was made that Austin was a slave, and could not therefore be + received as a soldier. At this, Aycock acknowledged that Austin was no + slave; that, although he was a mulatto, he had been born free. This fact + was made so clear to the patriots, that they willingly received Austin as + a soldier, and he was mustered into the service under the name of Austin + Dabney. He fought under Elijah Clarke, being under the command of Colonel + John Dooly, who was afterwards so foully murdered by the Tories. Of all + the brave men that fought under the heroic Clarke, there was none braver + than Austin Dabney, none that did better service. + </p> + <p> + He was in the battle of Kettle Creek, and was foremost among those who + followed Clarke. Toward the close of this the bloodiest battle fought in + Georgia between the patriots and Tories, Austin Dabney was shot through + the thigh, and so dangerously wounded that he became a cripple for life. + He was taken by his comrades to the house of a Mr. Harris, where he was + carefully nursed until his wound healed. He was not able to do military + duty after that, but he devoted himself to Harris and his family more + faithfully than any slave could have done. It may be said of him that + gratitude became the ruling passion of his heart. + </p> + <p> + After the Americans had won their independence, and peace with it, Austin + Dabney became prosperous. Being a quick-witted man, with an instinct for + business, he accumulated property. He finally moved to Madison County, + taking with him his benefactor and family, to whose wants and desires he + continued to minister with as much devotion as he displayed at the + beginning of his service. It was in Madison County that Austin Dabney + became noted for his fondness for horse-racing. He attended all the races + in the neighboring counties. He was the owner of some of the finest race + horses to be found in the country; and such was his popularity, that he + always found prominent men to stand for him. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after he removed to Madison County, he received a pension from the + United States Government. He sent Harris's oldest son to school, and + afterwards to college. When the young man graduated from Franklin College, + now the State University, Austin Dabney supported him while he studied law + with Hon. Stephen Upson at Lexington, Oglethorpe County. When young Harris + was undergoing his examination for admission to the bar, Austin Dabney + stood leaning against the railing that inclosed the court, listening to + the proceedings with great anxiety. When the young man was sworn in, and + was shaking hands with the members of the bar, Austin, unable to control + himself, burst into a flood of tears, happy that he had been able to make + a gentleman of the son of the man who had nursed him so long and patiently + while his wound was healing. + </p> + <p> + When the public lands in Georgia were distributed among the people by + lottery, the Legislature gave to Austin Dabney a lot of land in Walton + County. The next year the voters of Madison County were in a condition + bordering on distraction, being divided into Dabney and anti-Dabney + parties. Austin had not been permitted to have a chance in the lottery + with other soldiers of the Revolution. Consequently Stephen Upson, one of + Georgia's most prominent men at that time, employed his influence with + such effect that a law was passed giving Dabney a valuable lot. One of the + members of the Legislature from Madison County voted for this law. At the + next election the constituents of this member divided themselves into two + parties, one faction indorsing the vote, and the other denouncing it. + Those who denounced the vote did it on the ground that it was an indignity + to white men for a mulatto to be put on an equality with them in the + distribution of the public land, though, as Governor Gilmer bluntly puts + it, not one of them had served his country so long or so well. Governor + Gilmer, from whose writings all facts about Austin Dabney are taken, tells + a very interesting anecdote about him. In order to collect the pension + which the United States Government allowed on account of his broken thigh, + Austin went once a year to Savannah. Once when he was on his way to draw + what was due him, he fell in with Colonel Wiley Pope, his neighbor, who + was also journeying to Savannah. They were very intimate and social on the + road, and until they found themselves in the streets of Savannah. When + they reached the fashionable part of the city, Colonel Pope observed to + his companion that he was a sensible man, and knew the prejudices that + prevented them from associating together in the city. Austin Dabney + replied that he understood it very well, and with that he checked his + horse and fell in the rear of Colonel Pope after the fashion of a servant + following his master. Their way led them in front of the house of General + James Jackson, who was at that time governor of the State. The governor + was standing in his door at the time. Colonel Pope passed on unrecognized, + but, chancing to glance around, he saw Governor Jackson run from the house + into the street to greet Austin Dabney. The governor seized the negro's + hand, shook it heartily, drew him from his horse, and carried him into the + house, where he remained a welcome guest during his stay in the city. + Colonel Pope (so Governor Gilmer says) used to tell this story with great + glee, but owned that he felt put out when he realized, that, whilst he was + a stranger at a tavern, Austin Dabney was the honored guest of the + governor of the State. The explanation was, that Governor Jackson had seen + Dabney's courage and patriotism tested on the field of battle, and he knew + that beneath the tawny skin of the mulatto there beat the heart of a true + man. + </p> + <p> + Austin Dabney was always popular with those who knew of his services in + the Revolutionary War. Governor Gilmer says that he was one of the best + Chroniclers of the stirring events of that period. His memory was + retentive, his understanding good, and he had a gift of description + possessed by few. He moved to the land the State had given him, taking + with him the family of the man who had nursed him. He continued to serve + them while he lived, faithful to the end, and when he died left them the + property he had accumulated. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE YAZOO FRAUD + </h2> + <p> + Some writers on the early history of Georgia have been under the + impression that the speculation known as the Yazoo Fraud had its beginning + in the efforts of General Elijah Clarke and his followers to settle on the + Indian reservation lying west of the Oconee River; but this is not the + case at all. General Clarke's movement was the result of an enterprise + which was aimed against the Spaniards; and, though the facts have no real + connection with the Yazoo speculation, they may be briefly told here, + especially since Stevens, in his "History of Georgia," turns them all + topsy-turvy. + </p> + <p> + Genet was the first envoy sent to represent the wild and revolutionary + republic of France,—the republic of Robespierre and the Jacobins. He + represented, as well as any man could, the ideas and purposes of those who + had wrought such havoc in France. He was meddlesome, wrong-headed, + unreasonable, and bold with it all. He sailed from France in a ship which + he commanded himself; and instead of going straight to Philadelphia (then + the seat of government), where his business called him, he landed at + Charleston in South Carolina. War was then pending between France and + Spain; and Genet, after landing in Charleston, found ready sympathizers in + the French Huguenots of South Carolina, and indeed in all those who had + fought for American liberty. There were two reasons why the fiery appeals + of Genet to the people of Carolina to take up arms against Spain were + received enthusiastically. One was, that the Spaniards in Florida had been + at constant war with the people of Georgia and Carolina, and had committed + many crimes and depredations. The other was, that the people felt grateful + to France for the aid she had given the American Colonies in their efforts + to shake off the yoke of Great Britain. + </p> + <p> + Genet's plan was to raise in this country an army large enough to seize + the Spanish possessions in Florida, and to reconquer Louisiana. For the + reasons stated, Genet found the people enthusiastic in favor of his + enterprise. The enthusiasm was intense. It crossed the Savannah, and found + General Elijah Clarke, with his strong nature and active sympathies, ready + to embrace it. His military prestige in the South commended him to Genet + as the man to lead the military enterprise against the Spanish settlements + in the South. Accordingly he was given command of the army that was to be + raised, and was made a major general in the French service with a pay of + ten thousand dollars. + </p> + <p> + Having secured a commander whose courage and resources in the field could + be depended on, Genet went from Charleston to Philadelphia overland, + stirring up sympathy for his enterprise and enlisting men. His success was + greater than he had dreamed of. He found but one thing in his way, and + that was the firmness and vigilance of George Washington. This great man + set his face sternly against the project; but such was the enthusiasm of + the people—artfully stirred by Genet, who was as accomplished as he + was unscrupulous,—that a French party was formed. Genet took + advantage of the formation of this party to arouse prejudice against + Washington; and such was his success, that John Adams, who was afterwards + President, says that there was a multitude of men in Philadelphia ready to + drive Washington from the executive chair. + </p> + <p> + A considerable army was raised, recruits reported to General Clarke from + the Ohio River to the St. Mary's, and everything was ready for action. At + that moment the heavy hand of Washington descended on the enterprise. The + recall of Genet was demanded, the French party went to pieces, the project + collapsed, and Elijah Clarke was left without resources, surrounded by a + considerable force of men who had come at his bidding to take part in the + attack on the Spanish possessions. These men were on his hands, expecting + the fulfillment of promises that had been made to them. What was to be + done? It was at this critical period that the eyes of General Clarke + turned to the Indian reservation west of the Oconee. He marched his men to + these lands, and took possession. He, and those who engaged in the + movement for settling the lands, had risked their lives for their country + on a hundred battlefields. They thought that the lands that had been + claimed by the King belonged to those who had conquered the King's armies. + They were right in principle, but wrong in action. The lands that had + belonged to the King now belonged to the people, not as individuals, but + as a corporate body,—to the whole people represented by the State + government. These principles had not been made as clear by discussion in + General Clarke's day as they have been made since. He engaged in no + speculation. He boldly settled the lands, and was prepared to boldly hold + his position. The settlement was made in 1794. On the 28th of July, + Governor George Matthews issued a proclamation forbidding the settlement, + and likewise directed one of the judges to issue a warrant for the + general's arrest. At the Superior Court of Wilkes County, Clarke + surrendered himself to the judge, who referred the case to the county + justices. These judges made a decision, setting forth the fact that Elijah + Clarke had surrendered himself into custody; that, being desirous to do + speedy justice to the State as well as to the party charged, they had + proceeded to maturely consider the case; and that after examining the laws + of the State, and the treaties made and laws passed by the United States, + they gave it as their "decided and unanimous opinion that the said Elijah + Clarke be and is hereby discharged." Encouraged by this decision, General + Clarke returned to his settlement with the intention of holding the lands; + but finally both the Federal and the State governments moved against him, + and he abandoned the enterprise. The policy that Clarke began in settling + the Indian lands without regard to the rights of the savage has since + become the policy of the government. It is not a wholesome policy, nor is + it authorized by the moral or civil law; but it has been unblushingly + carried out nevertheless. + </p> + <p> + The Yazoo Fraud was a far different matter. The very name of it was + foreign to Georgia. It was borrowed from the Indian name of a small stream + which empties itself into the Mississippi River. When the Colony of + Georgia was first settled, the land granted to Oglethorpe was described as + lying along the Savannah River, extending southward along the coast to the + Altamaha, and from the head waters of these rivers westward to "the South + Seas." Afterwards Great Britain changed the line which he had established. + She carried the boundary line of West Florida, a part of her possessions, + higher up. The new line started from the Mississippi at the mouth of the + Yazoo River, and ran due east to the Chattahoochee at a point near where + the town of West Point now stands. As the upper boundary of British West + Florida this line came to be known as the Yazoo line, and the country + above and below it to an indefinite extent came to be known as the Yazoo + country. No boundary can now be fixed to the region then known as the + Yazoo country. At the close of the Revolutionary War, Great Britain made a + treaty which has been interpreted as vesting in the United States and in + Georgia the right and title to these lands, reaching from the + Chattahoochee to the Yazoo River, and extending on each side of this line + to a distance that has never been estimated. + </p> + <p> + The Yazoo Fraud itself had a somewhat vague beginning. From the best + information that can now be obtained, it may be said that it was set on + foot in 1789, shortly after the close of the Revolution, by a sharper who + was famous in that day. He was known as Thomas Washington, but his real + name was Walsh. Washington, or Walsh, is described as being a very + extraordinary man. He had fought in the service of Georgia, but he had the + instinct of a speculator; and when the war was ended, he gave himself up + to the devices of those who earn their living by their wits. He was a man + of good address, and his air of candor succeeded in deceiving all whom he + met. Those who dealt with him always had the worst of the bargain. + </p> + <p> + When Washington, or Walsh, began to operate in Georgia through agents, he + found the way already prepared for him. The War for Independence had + barely closed, when certain individuals, most of them men of some + influence, began to look on our Western possessions with a greedy eye. + They had an idea of securing these lands and setting up a new government,—a + sort of Western empire. To further their designs they began by forming + themselves into an association called the "Combined Society," the members + of which were bound to secrecy by oaths and other solemn pledges. The + purpose of the Combined Society became known, and the force of public + opinion compelled the members to disband. Some of them were men of + aristocratic pretensions. + </p> + <p> + Thus Washington, or Walsh, found a great many sympathetic people in + Georgia. He was too well known in the State to undertake any scheme to + which his name was attached: so he worked through an agent, a man named + Sullivan. This man Sullivan had been a captain in the patriot army; but he + had headed the Philadelphia mob which insulted Congress, and he was + compelled to flee to the Mississippi to save his neck. When the old + Congress went out, Sullivan felt free to return. He came to Georgia, + representing, or pretending to represent, the Virginia Yazoo Company, of + which the celebrated Patrick Henry was a member, and made application to + the State Legislature for the purchase of the Western lands. Sullivan's + description of the Yazoo lands was so glowing that another company was + formed in Georgia. Some of the members of the new company formerly + belonged to the Combined Society, but others were men of good standing. + This company employed active agents; but no corrupt means were used so far + as is now known, though some members of the General Assembly were + interested. The efforts of the company were successful. Their act was + passed, and the sale made. Immediately the people began to oppose the + scheme, and to demand the repeal of the act The demand grew into a State + issue, and the new Legislature declared the sale null and void. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0019" id="linkimage-0019"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/134.jpg" alt="The Yazoo Scheme 134 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + For a while the land grabbers were quiet; but in 1794 it seemed to the + most eager of the speculators that the time had come for them to make + another effort to secure the rich Western lands that belonged to the + State. They were evidently afraid, that, unless they made haste to get + hold of the lands, the people's Legislature would divide them out or sell + them to the Federal Government. So they formed another conspiracy, and + this time they laid their plans very deep. Acting on the principle that + every man has his price, they managed, by bribery and other underhanded + schemes, to win the sympathy and support of some of the most prominent men + in the State,—men whose names seemed to be far above suspicion. Some + of the highest judges lent their aid to the land grabbers. Members of + Congress were concerned in the scheme. Generals and other high officers of + the militia took part in it. Nothing was left undone that was calculated + to win the support of men who, up to that time, had enjoyed and deserved + the confidence and respect of the State. The extent of the bribery and + corruption that existed would be altogether beyond belief if the records + were not left to show it. The swindlers were both bold and cunning, and in + one way or another sought to win the support of all the leading men in the + State. And they came very close to succeeding. + </p> + <p> + The Legislature held its session in Augusta at that time; and while the + Yazoo land sale was up for discussion, the agents of the land grabbers + swarmed around it, coaxing, bribing, and bullying the people's + representatives. Among these agents was a judge of the Supreme Court of + the United States, from Pennsylvania, with twenty-five thousand dollars in + his hands. There was a judge of the United States District Court for + Georgia, paying shares in the land company for the votes of members. A + United States senator from Georgia, James Gunn, who had neglected to + return to his post of duty in Congress, was seen bullying members with a + loaded whip, to secure their support for the land-sale scheme. A judge of + the State courts was also present, with other prominent citizens, + buttonholing the members of the Legislature, offering them shares, + sub-shares, and half sub-shares to secure their votes. General James + Jackson, who was then a United States senator from Georgia, was told by a + prominent judge of the State that he might have any number of acres he + pleased up to half a million, without the payment of a dollar, if he would + use his influence in behalf of the corrupt schemes of the land grabbers. + In reply, General Jackson said he had fought for the people of Georgia; + that the land belonged to them and to their children; and that, should the + conspirators succeed, he, for one, would hold the sale to be void. Many + weak men in the Legislature were intimidated by threats; and some who + could not be persuaded to vote for the sale, were paid to go home, and + remain away from the Legislature. + </p> + <p> + In this way the representatives of the people were persuaded and bribed to + support the scheme of the land grabbers. In 1795 the bill was passed, + selling to four companies—the Georgia Company, the Georgia + Mississippi Company, the Upper Mississippi Company, and the Tennessee + Company—thirty-five million acres of land for $500,000. Nothing was + now wanting to complete the fraud but the signature of the governor. If he + put his name to the bill, it became a law. If he refused to sign it, the + scheme of the swindlers would fail. General George Matthews was the + governor at that time, and, though two of his sons had been made members + of the land-grabbing companies, it was hoped that he would refuse to sign + the bill. The hope was justified by the fact that he had refused to sign a + similar bill, and had given some very good reasons for it. It was known, + too, that he was a man of great courage, and honest in his intentions; but + the influence brought to bear on him was too great. His judgment was + weakened by the clamor of the prominent men around him, who had become the + paid agents of the swindlers. He resisted for some time, but finally + agreed to sign the bill. The secretary of Governor Matthews, a man named + Urquhart, tried to prevent the signing of the bill by working on the + governor's superstitions. He dipped the pen in oil, thinking that when + Matthews came to write with it, and found that the ink refused to flow, he + would take it as an omen that the bill should not be signed. The governor + was startled, when, after several efforts, he found the pen would not + write; but he was not a man to let so trifling a matter stand in his way. + He directed his secretary to make another pen, and with this he made the + land-steal bill a law. By a stroke he made the bill a law, and also signed + away his own popularity and influence. The people of Georgia never trusted + him afterwards; and he left the State, finding it unpleasant and + uncomfortable to live among those who had lost their respect for him. Yet + no charge of corruption was ever made against him. + </p> + <p> + When the people learned that the Yazoo Fraud had become a law, they rose + up as one man to denounce it. Those who lived in the neighborhood of + Augusta determined to put to death the men who had betrayed them. They + marched to the legislative halls, and were only prevented from carrying + out their threats by the persuasion of the small minority of the members + that had refused to be coaxed, bullied, or bribed into voting for the + Yazoo Fraud. But the indignation of the people continued to grow as they + learned of the corrupt methods that had been employed to pass the measure. + Meetings were held in every county; and public opinion became so strong + that those who had voted for the Yazoo Fraud found it dangerous to remain + in the State. A senator from Hancock County became so alarmed that he fled + to South Carolina. He was followed by one of his neighbors, found in a + lonely cabin at night, and shot to death. Except in one or two counties, + the men who voted for the Yazoo Fraud were compelled to hide themselves + until the anger of the people had cooled. + </p> + <p> + In his "Sketches of the First Settlers of Upper Georgia," Governor George + R. Gilmer tells a little story that will serve to show the state of + feeling in Georgia at that time. After the Yazoo Fraud was passed, the + people of the counties held indignation meetings. A meeting was called in + Oglethorpe County, and on the morning of the day, a citizen on his way to + town stopped at the gate of a neighbor to wait until he could get ready to + go. The man who was getting ready was named Miles Jennings. The citizen, + waiting, saw Mr. Jennings put a rope in his pocket. + </p> + <p> + "What is that for?" the citizen asked. + </p> + <p> + "To hang Musgrove!" replied Mr. Jennings, Musgrove being the name of the + member of the Legislature. + </p> + <p> + When the two neighbors arrived at the courthouse, all the people had + assembled. Mr. Jennings hitched his horse and went into the crowd, pulled + the rope from his pocket, and, holding it above his head where all could + see it, cried out,— + </p> + <p> + "Neighbors! this rope is to hang Musgrove, who sold the people's land for + a bribe!" + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0020" id="linkimage-0020"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:32%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/138.jpg" alt="Rope to Hang Musgrove 138 " /> + </div> + <p> + The words of Jennings and the sight of the rope made the people furious. + Musgrove had been given a hint by Jennings's neighbor, and he had made + good his escape. But for that, no human power could have saved him. + </p> + <p> + The whole State was in a condition of excitement that is hard to describe. + Grand juries made presentments, county and town meetings passed + resolutions, and petitions were sent from hand to hand, and signed by + hundreds of people. A State convention, called to alter the constitution, + had been chosen to meet in May, 1795, but the members had been chosen at + the same time that the members of the corrupt Legislature had been + elected; and a majority of them had been "tarred with the same stick," as + the saying goes. The presentments, resolutions, and petitions crowded so + fast upon the convention, that it was decided to postpone the changing of + the constitution to a time when the people were in a better humor. The + convention referred all the papers it had received to the next + Legislature, and adjourned in some confusion. + </p> + <p> + This added to the excitement and anger of the people. They were in doubt + how to act. Delay would give the land grabbers time to sell the lands they + had secured through bribery and corruption. But whom could the people + trust? They had been betrayed by many of their highest judges, by one of + their United States senators, and by a large majority of their + Legislature. A great many believed that all the powers of government had + come to an end. + </p> + <p> + During the troubled times of the Revolution it had been the custom of + military officers having the confidence of the people to convene the + Legislative Assembly when an emergency seemed to call for it. In the midst + of their doubt and confusion, the people applied to General Twiggs, the + senior major general, to convene the Legislature in order that action + might be taken before the swindlers sold the lands they had obtained by + fraud; but General Twiggs refused to act in a case in which he had no + clear right and power, so the people remained for the time being without a + remedy. + </p> + <p> + From the very beginning of this scheme to defraud the people of the State, + it had been bitterly opposed by General James Jackson, who was + representing Georgia in the United States Senate. He denounced it in the + Senate. He corresponded with the most eminent men in the State, he wrote + to the newspapers, and in every possible way held up to the scorn and + contempt of the public the men who were trying to defraud the State of its + rich Western lands. On the other hand, the conspirators left nothing + undone to injure the reputation of General Jackson. His character was + attacked, and his life was several times threatened. As early as the + spring of 1795, he took occasion in full Senate, and in the presence of + General James Gunn (the Georgia senator who was representing the + swindlers), to denounce the scheme as "a speculation of the darkest + character and of deliberate villany." + </p> + <p> + By his bold, even violent opposition to the Yazoo sale, General Jackson + had made himself the leader of the people. Therefore in 1795, while he was + still senator, many of the people requested him to resign, so that he + might use his influence and great talents in bringing about the repeal of + the obnoxious law. He tendered his resignation at once, and returned home. + He was elected a member of the Legislature, and devoted all his time and + all his energy to blotting out the odious law. He became a member of the + committee appointed to investigate the means used to pass the law, and + under his leadership the whole scandalous affair was probed to the bottom. + </p> + <p> + In electing the new Legislature, the only issue was Yazoo and anti-Yazoo. + The people were successful in electing men who favored the repeal of the + law. There was no other business before the General Assembly until this + matter was disposed of. The body was flooded with the petitions and + remonstrances that had been sent to the convention. The Legislature had + met in January, 1795. At once a day was set to "consider the state of the + Republic." On that day the petitions and presentments were considered, and + referred to a committee, of which General Jackson was appointed chairman. + On the 22d of January the committee reported not only that the act was + unconstitutional, but that fraud had been practiced to secure its passage. + On these grounds they declared that the act was a nullity, and not binding + on the people of the State. + </p> + <p> + The bill declaring the sale void was drawn up by General Jackson. It + passed both Houses by large majorities, and was signed by Governor Irwin. + The feeling of the Legislature was so strong, that, after the Yazoo act + had been repealed, it was decided to destroy all the records and documents + relating to the corruption. By order of the two Houses a fire was kindled + in the public square of Louisville, which was then the capital. The + enrolled act that had been secured by fraud was brought out by the + secretary of state, and by him delivered to the President of the Senate + for examination. That officer delivered the act to the Speaker of the + House. The Speaker in turn passed it to the clerk, who read the title of + the act and the other records, and then, committing them to the flames, + cried out in a loud voice, "God save the State and preserve her rights, + and may every attempt to injure them perish as these wicked and corrupt + acts now do!" + </p> + <p> + The flames in which the records were burned were kindled by means of a sun + glass, so that it might be truly said that fire came down from heaven to + destroy the evidences of corruption. There is a tradition that when the + officers of the State had met to destroy the records, an old man, a + stranger to all present, rode through the multitude, and made his way to + where the officials stood. Lifting up his voice, he declared, that, feeble + as he was, he had come there to see an act of justice performed, but he + thought the fire in which the records of corruption were to be destroyed + should come from heaven. The people watched him in silence. He drew from + his bosom with trembling hands a sun glass, and in this way burned the + papers. Then, says tradition, the white-haired old man mounted his horse + and rode away, and was never seen again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GEORGE MATTHEWS AND JOHN CLARKE. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0021" id="linkimage-0021"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/143.jpg" alt="George Matthews and John Clarke 143 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + In giving the history of the Yazoo Fraud, mention has been made of General + George Matthews, who was governor at the time, and who was compelled to + leave the State because he had been persuaded to sign the bill. General + Matthews was one of the most remarkable characters of his time. Governor + Gilmer has drawn a very interesting portrait of him. It is not a pleasing + picture in some respects, but it gives a very interesting glimpse of a man + who in his day was one of the strongest characters in the State. + </p> + <p> + He was the son of an Irishman named John Matthews, who settled in western + Virginia in 1737. George Matthews began to fight the Indians at an age + when most boys are at school. In 1761 the Indians attacked and murdered a + family not far from his father's home. He heard the guns, and thought that + a shooting match was going on. With some companions of his own age, he + rode forward to join in the sport; but the youngsters saw the dead bodies + of their neighbors lying in the yard where they had been left by the + murderous savages, and at once turned their horses' heads and fled. They + were not a moment too soon; for the Indians, who had been lying in ambush, + rose and fired at the boys. Matthews had a narrow escape; for a bullet cut + off the wisp of hair (known as a queue) that hung dangling from the back + of his head. The danger that he had passed through, and the sight of his + murdered neighbors, roused young Matthews to action. He collected a party + of men, put himself at the head of them, followed and overtook the + savages, and killed nine of their number. + </p> + <p> + In the greatest battle that ever took place between the Virginians and the + Indians, Matthews commanded a company, and bore a very conspicuous part. + The battle took place at the junction of the Ohio River with the Kanawha, + on what was called Point Pleasant. The fight began at sunrise, and was + kept up all day, with no great success on either side. The Indians held + their ground, and refused to give way before the most stubborn attacks of + the Virginians. Near sundown, Matthews, with two other captains, made a + strategic movement. The three companies were withdrawn from the battle. + Out of sight of the enemy, they got into the bed of a creek. Hidden by the + banks of the stream, they marched to the rear of the Indians, and from + this point made an attack. The movement had been so cleverly carried out, + that the savages were taken completely by surprise, and driven across the + Ohio. + </p> + <p> + Early in the Revolutionary War, General Washington, who knew well the + value of the training Matthews had received on the frontier, ordered him + and the regiment which he commanded to join the main army. He took part in + the battle of the Brandywine; and at the battle of Germantown he led his + regiment against the British opposing him, drove them back, and pushed on + to the center of the town, where he captured a regiment of the enemy. + Shortly after this, while engaged in a skirmish, his courage led him too + close to the British. He was knocked down, severely wounded by a bayonet + thrust, and taken prisoner. He was sent to the British prison ship in New + York Harbor. He was there treated with so much cruelty that he appealed to + his government for relief. In response to that appeal, Thomas Jefferson, + who was then governor of Virginia, wrote him a personal letter, in which + he said, "We know that the ardent spirit and hatred of tyranny which + brought you into your present situation will enable you to bear up against + it with the firmness which has distinguished you as a soldier, and look + forward with pleasure to the day when events shall take place against + which the wounded spirit of your enemies will find no comfort, even from + reflections on the most refined of the cruelties with which they have + glutted themselves." + </p> + <p> + General Matthews was not exchanged until the close of the war. He then + joined the Southern army under General Greene, and commanded the Third + Virginia Regiment. While in the South, he bought a tract of land on Broad + River, known as the Goose Pond. He settled there with his family in 1784. + The fame he had won as a soldier made General Matthews at that time the + principal man in Georgia. He was elected governor in 1786. When his term + expired, he was sent to Congress. In 1794-95 he was again made governor; + and it was at this time, that, contrary to all expectations, he was + prevailed on to sign the Yazoo Act. No charge of corruption was ever made + against him. No thief or swindler was ever bold enough to try to bribe + such a high-spirited and fearless man. But excitement in the State ran so + high, that General Matthews was ruined so far as his influence was + concerned. He left Georgia, and never afterwards made the State his home + for any long period. + </p> + <p> + In 1811 a lot of runaway negroes, ruffians, and lawless men congregated in + Florida in such numbers that they were able to get control of affairs. + They formed a government of their own, and then petitioned the United + States to make Florida one of their territories. President Madison + appointed General Matthews the agent of the United States to negotiate + with the "constituted authorities" for the annexation of Florida. General + Matthews made a treaty with those who were in control of Florida; but + Spain protested, and the President finally declared that the treaty had + not been made with the "constituted authorities." + </p> + <p> + General Matthews was not a learned man (he knew nothing of books), and he + could not understand the fuss that was made over the term "constituted + authorities." He became very angry with the President, said that that + officer had a cowardly fear of Spain and Great Britain, and declared that + he would go to Washington to "thrash" the President. He actually set out + on that errand; but the fatigue and exposure which he had experienced in + Florida, and the high state of excitement under which he labored, threw + him into a fever while he was on his journey to Washington, and he died in + Augusta in March, 1812. + </p> + <p> + Previous to his Florida appointment, General Matthews had been nominated + to be governor of the Territory of Mississippi by President Adams; but the + opposition was so great that the President withdrew the nomination. When + General Matthews heard of this, he promptly set out for Philadelphia to + call the President to account. He rode to Mr. Adams's house, gave a loud + knock on the door, and told the servant he wished to see the President. + The servant said the President was engaged; but General Matthews bristled + with anger at the bare thought that any man, even the President, could be + engaged in any business more important than talking to George Matthews, + late colonel of the Virginia line, and governor of the State of Georgia. + Therefore he told the servant to go at once and tell the President that a + gentleman wished to speak to him; and he added, that, if the message was + not carried at once, the servant would find his head taken from his + shoulders. General Matthews wore his Revolutionary sword and cocked hat, + and he succeeded in convincing the servant that he was not to be trifled + with. He was promptly admitted into the presence of Mr. Adams, and, with + the touch of Irish brogue he had caught from his father, he made himself + and his business known. He introduced himself, and then said to the + President,— + </p> + <p> + "Now, sir, I understand that you nominated me to the Senate of these + United States, to be governor of the Territory of Mississippi, and that + afterwards you took back the nomination. Sir, if you had known me, you + would not have taken the nomination back. If you did not know me, you + should not have nominated me to so important an office. Now, sir, unless + you can satisfy me, your station as President of these United States shall + not screen you from my vengeance." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Adams at once made himself agreeable, for he had nothing but good will + for the stanch Georgia Federalist. The outcome of the meeting was that the + President promised to appoint the general's son John to be supervisor of + the revenue, and this promise he carried out. + </p> + <p> + Governor Gilmer, in his racy reminiscences of the people who settled in + the Broad River region, draws an interesting portrait of General Matthews. + He describes him as a short, thick man, with stout legs, on which he stood + very straight. "He carried his head rather thrown back. His features were + full and bluff, his hair light red, and his complexion fair and florid. He + admitted no superior but General Washington. He spoke of his services to + his country as unsurpassed except by those of his great chief. He wore a + three-cornered cocked hat, top boots, a shirt full ruffled at the bosom + and wrists, and sometimes a long sword at his side. To listen to his talk + about himself, his children, and his affairs, one would have thought that + he was but a puff of wind. Trade or talk of history with him, and he was + found to be one of the shrewdest of men. Fight with him, and he never + failed to act the hero. He was unlearned. He spelled 'coffee' + k-a-u-g-h-p-h-y. He wrote 'Congress' with a K." + </p> + <p> + When it is considered that he had small opportunity to train himself in + any direction except rough fighting, General Matthews must be regarded as + one of the most remarkable men of his time. + </p> + <p> + Another remarkable man who figured largely in both the military and + political history of the State was General John Clarke, son of the famous + Elijah Clarke. John Clarke became a soldier in the Revolutionary War when + a mere boy. He had followed his father to camp, and remained with him. He + took part in many skirmishes; but at the battle of Kettle Creek, in Wilkes + County, he distinguished himself by his coolness and courage. He fought + through the war. He was made a lieutenant at sixteen years of age, and + when the war ended he was a major. After the war he was made a brigadier, + and then a major general of the militia. After aiding to run the British + out of the State, and subduing the Tories, General Clarke turned his + attention to the Indians. At the battle of Jacks Creek, in Walton County, + in 1787, he greatly distinguished himself, having charge of one of the + wings of the Georgia forces. + </p> + <p> + It was natural that a man raised in camp, and brought up in the midst of + the rough and tough elements that are collected together there, should + possess qualities not calculated to fit him for the polite transactions + that take place in drawing rooms and parlors. General Clarke's + self-reliance was extreme. Having commanded men from the time he was + sixteen, it was natural that his temper and his manners should be + offensive, to some extent, to those who were not thoughtful enough to make + due allowance for these things. It thus happened that when peace came, + John Clarke's methods and practices made him many bitter enemies. On the + other hand, the sterling qualities of his character made him many strong + friends. + </p> + <p> + Coming out of the war with neither trade nor profession, and with only the + rudiments of an education, John Clarke was compelled to turn his attention + to politics. With him politics was simply a modified form of war. He had + never given any quarter to the Tories, and he gave small quarter to his + political enemies. But he was as faithful to his friends in politics as he + had been to the cause of American liberty. He was uncompromising, whether + dealing with friends or enemies, and his temper was such that he regarded + his opponents as his personal enemies. Of his political career, mention + will be made in another place. It is sufficient to say that a quarrel he + had with a judge divided the people of the State into two parties, and the + contest between them was carried on for several years. The prejudices that + sprang up in that contest lasted for more than a generation, and strong + traces of them are to be found in estimates of General Clarke's character + written long after he was dead. + </p> + <p> + Only a man of the strongest character, and possessing the most remarkable + qualities, could have made such a marked impression on the political + history of a commonwealth. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + AFTER THE REVOLUTION. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0022" id="linkimage-0022"> + <!-- IMG --></a> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="After the Revolution 152 (127K)" src="images/152.jpg" + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + The Revolution came to an end in Georgia when, on the 11th of July, 1782, + Savannah was taken possession of by the American troops under General + Anthony Wayne. It ended for the whole country when, on the 30th of + November of the same year, the treaty of peace was signed at Paris between + the United States and Great Britain. The King of Great Britain + acknowledged the independence of the Thirteen States, and declared them + free and sovereign. This was a very happy event for the country, and had + been long looked forward to by the people, sometimes doubtfully, but + always hopefully. + </p> + <p> + But the great victory that had been won found the people of Georgia + prostrate. The little property that they possessed when the war began had + either been spent in maintaining the struggle, or well-nigh destroyed by + the raids of the British and Tories. In the larger communities of Savannah + and Augusta, the citizens had the resources of trade and commerce to fall + back on, but in the smaller settlements and rural districts the condition + of the inhabitants bordered on destitution. + </p> + <p> + At the time that Savannah was surrendered to the American troops, there + was almost a famine in the land. The soldiers were without shoes, and + sometimes they were without supplies. The crops were short on account of + the lack of farmers. The condition of the people was quite as bad as that + of the troops, especially when the disbanded militia returned to their + homes. Houses, barns, and fences had been burned; stock and cattle had + been slaughtered or driven away; and there was a great lack of even the + necessities of life. + </p> + <p> + But those whose energy and spirit upheld them through the long struggle + for independence were not the men to surrender to the hard circumstances + that surrounded them. They went to work as bravely as they had fought; and + the sacrifices they made to peace were almost as severe, though not so + bloody, as those they had made to war. Slowly, but surely and steadily, + they reclaimed their waste farms. Slowly, but surely and steadily, they + recovered from the prostration that the war had brought on their + industries. Slowly, but surely and steadily, the people worked their way + back to comparative prosperity. There may have been a few drones in the + towns, but there were no idle hands in the country places. + </p> + <p> + The men built for their families comfortable log cabins; and these, with + their clean sanded floors, are still the fashion in some parts of Georgia. + This done, they went about the business of raising crops, and stocking + their farms with cattle. The women and children were just as busy. In + every cabin could be heard the hum of the spinning wheel, and the thump of + the old hand loom. While the men were engaged in their outdoor work, the + women spun, wove, and made the comfortable jeans clothes that were the + fashion; while the girls plaited straw, and made hats and bonnets, and in + many other ways helped the older people. In a little while peddlers from + the more northern States began to travel through Georgia with their + various wares, some with pewter plates and spoons, and some with clocks. + The peddlers traveled in wagons instead of carrying their packs on their + backs, and in this way brought a great deal of merchandise to the State. + </p> + <p> + As was natural, the political development of Georgia was much more rapid + than its industrial progress. In January, 1783, Lyman Hall was elected + governor. He was distinguished for the patriotic stand he took at the very + beginning of the controversy between the Colony and the King. The + Legislature met in Savannah after the evacuation of the town by the + British; but it was so far from the central and upper portions of the + State, and there was so much dissatisfaction among the people on this + account, that in May Augusta was made the capital. In that town the + General Assembly met July 8, 1783. Measures were at once taken to seize + land, and confiscate the property of those Royalists who had lived in + Georgia. This property was sold for the benefit of the public. In November + of the same year a new cession of land was obtained from the Creek nation + by treaty. This was divided into the counties of Franklin and Washington, + and the land distributed in bounties to the soldiers of the war. + </p> + <p> + It is worthy of note that about this time, when the State had hardly begun + to recover from the effects of the war, the representatives of the people + began to move in the matter of education. The Constitution of 1777 had + declared that "schools shall be erected in each county, and supported by + the general expense of the State." On the 31st of July, 1783, the + Legislature appropriated one thousand acres of land to each county for the + support of free schools. In 1784, a short time after the notification of + the treaty of peace, the Legislature passed an act appropriating forty + thousand acres of land for the endowment of a college or university. A + year later the charter for this university was granted; and the preamble + of the act declares it to be the policy of the State to foster education + in the most liberal way. It so happened that some of the provisions that + had been made for public education were not carried out at once, and the + people of the various settlements established schools of their own. Many + of the best teachers of the country came to Georgia from the more northern + States; and some of them won a reputation that has lasted to this day. + Later, more than one of these teachers established schools that became + famous all over the country. In this way the reign of the "old field + schoolmaster" began, and continued for many years. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0023" id="linkimage-0023"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/156.jpg" alt="Early Cultivation of Cotton 156 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + The people had been cultivating cotton on a small scale before 1791; but + the staple was so difficult to handle, that the planting was limited. + Those who grew it were compelled to separate the seed from the lint by + hand, and this was so tedious that few people would grow it. But in 1793, + Eli Whitney, who was living on the plantation of General Greene, near + Savannah, invented the cotton gin. The machine was a very awkward and + cumbrous affair compared with the gins of the present day; but in that day + and time, and for many years after, the Whitney was sufficient for the + needs of the people. It was one of the most important inventions that have + ever been made. It gave to the commerce of the world a staple commodity + that is in universal demand, and it gave to the people of the South their + most valuable and important crop. But for this timely invention, the + cultivation of cotton would have been confined to the narrowest limits. + The gin proved to be practicable, and it came into use very quickly. The + farmers prospered, and gradually increased the cotton crop. + </p> + <p> + The population also increased very rapidly. The rich lands were purchased + and settled on by farmers from Virginia and the Carolinas. The colony that + had been planted by Oglethorpe had never ventured very far from the + seacoast. A few probably followed the course of the Savannah River, and + made their homes in that region; but the people brought over by Oglethorpe + were not of the stuff that pioneers are made of. The experience they had + undergone in the mother country had tamed them to such a degree that they + had no desire to brave the future in the wilderness. Adventures of that + kind were left for the hardy North Carolinians and Virginians who first + settled what was then known as Upper Georgia. After the Revolution, this + tide of immigration increased very rapidly, and it was still further + swelled by the profits that the Whitney gin enabled the planters of + Georgia to make out of their cotton crops. + </p> + <p> + The settling of Georgia began with the charitable scheme of Oglethorpe. + The making of Georgia began when the North Carolinians and Virginians + began to open up the Broad River region to the north of Augusta. It was + due to the desperate stand taken by these hardy pioneers that Georgia + continued the struggle for American independence. To Upper Georgia came + some of the best families from Virginia and North Carolina,—the + Grattons, the Lewises, the Clarkes, the Strothers, the Crawfords, the + Reeses, the Harrises, the Andrewses, the Taliaferros (pronounced + Tollivers), the Campbells, the Barnetts, the Toombses, the Doolys, and + many other families whose names have figured in the history of the + country. Here also settled James Jack, the sturdy patriot who volunteered + to carry the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence to Philadelphia. The + Congress then in session chose to shut its eyes to that declaration, but + it was the basis and framework of the Declaration afterwards written by + Thomas Jefferson. + </p> + <p> + After the Revolution, when the Cherokees went on the warpath, the Virginia + settlement was in a state of great alarm. Men, women, and children met + together, and decided that it would be safer to camp in the woods in a + body at night rather than run the risk of being burned to death in houses + that they could not defend. They went into the depths of the woods and + made an encampment. One night while they were around a fire, cooking their + supper, suddenly the report of a gun was heard, and then there was a cry + of "Indians!" The men seized their guns; but they hardly knew where to + turn, or what to do. Suddenly a lad who had not lost his head emptied a + bucket of water on the fire. This was the thing to do, but no one else had + thought of it. The name of the lad was Meriwether Lewis. He went into the + regular army, became the private secretary of President Jefferson, and was + selected to head the party that explored the Territory of Louisiana, which + had been bought from France. Meriwether Lewis selected for his companion + Captain Clark, an old army friend and comrade. Leading the party, Lewis + and his friend Clark left St. Louis, and pushed westward to the Pacific + coast, through dangers and obstacles that few men would have cared to + meet. The famous expedition of Lewis and Clark has now become a part of + the history of the country. Lewis took possession of the Pacific coast in + the name of the United States. There was a controversy with Great Britain + some years afterwards as to the title of Oregon, but that which Lewis and + Clark had established was finally acknowledged to be the best. + </p> + <p> + Meriwether Lewis won a name in history because the opportunity came to + him. His name is mentioned here because he was a representative of the men + who settled Upper Georgia,—the men who kept the fires of liberty + alive in the State, and who, after helping to conquer the British and the + Tories, became the conquerors of the wilderness that lay to the west of + them. From Wilkes, Burke, Elbert, and the region where Clarke and his men + had fought, the tide of emigration slowly moved across the State, settling + Greene, Hancock, Baldwin, Putnam, Morgan, Jasper, Butts, Monroe, Coweta, + Upson, Pike, Meriwether, Talbot, Harris, and Muscogee counties. + </p> + <p> + Some of the more adventurous crossed the Chattahoochee into Alabama, and + on into the great Mississippi Valley and beyond. Their descendants live in + every part of the South; and Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas have had + Georgians for their governors, and their senators and representatives in + Congress,—men who were descended from the Virginia and North + Carolina immigrants. One of the most brilliant of these was Mirabeau B. + Lamar, scholar, statesman, and soldier, the president of Texas when that + Territory had declared itself a free and an independent republic. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE COTTON GIN. + </h2> + <p> + Brief mention has been made of Whitney's invention of the cotton gin. The + event was of such world-wide importance that the story should be told + here. Whitney, the inventor of the gin, was born in Massachusetts in 1765, + in very poor circumstances. While the War of the Revolution was going on, + he was earning his living by making nails by hand. He was such an apt + mechanic that he was able to make and save enough money to pay his way + through Yale College, where he graduated in 1792. In that year he engaged + himself to come to Georgia as a private tutor in the family of a gentleman + of Savannah; but when he reached that city, he found that the place had + been filled. + </p> + <p> + While in Savannah, Whitney attracted the attention of the widow of General + Nathanael Greene, who lived at Mulberry Grove, on the river at no great + distance from the city. Mrs. Greene invited the young man to make his home + on her plantation. He soon found opportunity to show his fine mechanical + genius, and Mrs. Greene became more interested in him than ever. + </p> + <p> + The story goes, that soon after the young man had established himself on + the Mulberry Grove Plantation, several Georgia planters were dining with + Mrs. Greene. During their conversation the difficulty of removing the seed + from the cotton fiber was mentioned, and the suggestion was made that this + might be done by machinery. At this Mrs. Greene mentioned the skill and + ingenuity of young Whitney, and advised her guests that he should be given + the problem to solve. This advice was followed. The planters had a talk + with the young man, and explained to him the difficulty which they found + in separating the seed from the lint. + </p> + <p> + At that time one pound of lint cotton was all that a negro woman could + separate from the seed in a day; and the more cotton the planters raised, + the deeper they got in debt. The close of the war had found them in a + state of the utmost poverty, so that they had been compelled to mortgage + their lands in order to get money on which to begin business. Cotton was + the only product of the farm for which there was any constant demand; but, + owing to the labor of separating the lint from the seed, it could not be + raised at a profit. Thus, in 1791, the number of pounds exported from the + South to Europe amounted to only about 379 bales of 500 pounds each. + </p> + <p> + When the planters went to Whitney with their problem, he was entirely + ignorant of the whole matter. He knew nothing of cotton or of cotton + planting; but he at once set himself at work. He made a careful study of + the cotton plant. He shut himself in a room with some uncleaned cotton, + and worked at his task during a whole winter. He made his own tools at the + plantation blacksmith shop; and all day long, and sometimes far into the + night, he could be heard hammering and sawing away. + </p> + <p> + In 1793 he called together the planters who had asked him to solve the + problem, and showed them the machine, which he called a cotton gin. When + they saw it work, their surprise and delight knew no bounds. They knew at + once that the problem had been solved by the young genius from + Massachusetts. Little calculation was needed to show them that the cotton + gin could clean as much cotton in a day as could be cleaned on a + plantation during a whole winter. What before had been the work of a + hundred hands for several months could now be completed in a few days. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0024" id="linkimage-0024"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:28%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/163.jpg" + alt="Whitney and his Cotton Gin 163 " /> + </div> + <p> + But it seems to be the fate of the majority of those who make wonderful + inventions never to enjoy the full benefits of the work of their genius. + Eli Whitney was not an exception to the general rule. While he was working + on his cotton gin, rumors of it went abroad; and by the time it was + completed, public expectation was on tiptoe. When the machine was + finished, it was shown to only a few people; but the fact, of such immense + importance to the people of the State, was soon known throughout the + State, and the planters impatiently waited for the day when they would be + able to put it in use. + </p> + <p> + One night the building in which Whitney's cotton gin was concealed was + broken into, ransacked, and the machine carried off. It was a bold + robbery, and a very successful one. The inventor made haste to build + another gin; but before he could get his model completed, and obtain a + patent right to the invention, the machine had been manufactured at + various points in the South by other parties, and was in operation on + several plantations. Whitney formed a partnership with a gentleman who had + some capital, and went to Connecticut to manufacture his gin; but he was + compelled to spend all the money he could make, fighting lawsuits. His + patent had been infringed, and those who sought to rob him of the fruits + of his labor took a bold stand. The result of all this was, that the + inventor never received any just compensation for a machine that + revolutionized the commerce of the country, and added enormously to the + power and progress of the Republic. Lord Macaulay said that Eli Whitney + did more to make the United States powerful than Peter the Great did to + make the Russian Empire dominant. Robert Fulton declared that Arkwright, + Watt, and Whitney were the three men that did more for mankind than any of + their contemporaries. This is easy to believe, when we remember that while + the South shipped 6 bags of cotton to England in 1786, and only 379 in + 1791, ten years after the cotton gin came into use, 82,000 bales were + exported. The very importance of Whitney's invention made it immensely + profitable for the vicious and the depraved to seize and appropriate the + inventor's rights. These robberies were upheld by those who were anxious + to share in the profits; and political demagogues made themselves popular + by misrepresenting Whitney, and clamoring against the law that was + intended to protect him. It was only by means of this clamor, half + political and wholly dishonest, that the plain rights of Whitney could be + denied and justice postponed. His invention was entirely new. It was + distinct from every other. It had no connection with and no relation to + any other invention that had been made. It stood alone, and there could be + no difficulty whatever in identifying it. And yet Whitney had just this + difficulty. In his efforts to prove that he was the inventor of the cotton + gin, and that he was entitled to a share of the immense profits that those + who used it were reaping, he had to travel thousands of miles, and spend + thousands of dollars in appearing before Legislatures and in courts that + denied him justice. The life of his patent had nearly expired before any + court finally enforced his right, and Congress refused to grant him an + extension beyond the fourteen years that had then nearly expired. + Associations and combinations had been formed for the purpose of + defrauding Whitney, and these were represented by the ablest lawyers that + could be hired. It is no wonder that Whitney, in writing to Robert Fulton, + a brother inventor, declared that the troubles he had to contend with were + the result of a lack of desire on the part of mankind to see justice done. + The truth is, his invention was of such prime importance that the public + fought for its possession, and justice and honesty were for the moment + lost sight of. At one time but a few men in Georgia were bold enough to go + into court and testify to the simplest facts within their knowledge; and + Whitney himself says, that in one instance he had the greatest difficulty + in proving that the machine had been used in Georgia, although at that + very moment three, separate gins were at work within fifty yards of the + building in which the court sat. They were all so near, that the rattle + and hum of the machinery could be heard from the court-house steps. + </p> + <p> + In December, 1807, a judge was found to affirm the rights of Whitney under + his patent. The judge's name was Johnson; and in his decision he said, + "The whole interior of the Southern States was languishing, and its + inhabitants emigrating for want of some object to engage their attention + and employ their industry, when the invention of this machine at once + opened views to them which set the whole country in active motion. From + childhood to age it has presented to us a lucrative employment. + Individuals who were depressed with poverty, and sunk in idleness, have + suddenly risen to wealth and respectability. Our debts have been paid off. + Our capital has increased, and our lands have trebled themselves in value. + We cannot express the weight of the obligation which the country owes to + this invention. The extent of it cannot now be seen." + </p> + <p> + The language of the learned judge was high-flown; but he was a just judge, + and he had a faint and glimmering idea of the real importance of this + remarkable invention. It was a very simple affair. The principle came to + Whitney in a flash, and he had a model constructed within ten days after + the despairing planters had gone to him with their problem. But it may be + doubted whether any other individual, by one simple invention, ever did so + much for the progress and enrichment of human interests, and for the + welfare and the comfort of the human race. This little machine made the + agriculture of the South the strongest and the richest in the world, and + gave to this section a political power that was for years supreme in the + nation, and was only surrendered as the result of a long and exhausting + war. By means of the cotton gin, towns and cities have sprung up, and a + vast network of railways has been built; and yet the most that Whitney + received was a royalty on his gin in North Carolina, and a donation of + fifty thousand dollars from the State of South Carolina. In Georgia his + right to his invention was stolen, and all that he got out of it was a + number of costly lawsuits. + </p> + <p> + After struggling for five years against the overwhelming odds that avarice + and greed had mustered to aid them, Whitney turned his attention in + another direction, and made a still more remarkable display of his genius. + This part of his career does not belong directly to the history of + Georgia, but it is interesting enough to be briefly recorded here. The + United States Government was in want of arms, and this want various + contractors had failed to meet. Through the influence of the secretary of + the treasury, Whitney was given a contract to make ten thousand muskets at + $13.40 apiece. He had no capital, no works, no machinery, no tools, no + skilled workmen, no raw material. In creating a part of these and + commanding the rest, he called into play an inventive genius, the extent + of which must always excite wonder and admiration. + </p> + <p> + Within ten years he created his own works, and invented and made his own + tools, invented and made his own machinery. More than this, he invented + and applied a wholly new principle of manufacture,—a principle that + has done more to advance human industry and increase wealth all over the + world than any other known effort of the human mind to solve material + problems. He invented and developed the principle or system of making the + various parts of a musket or any other complex manufactured article, such + as the sewing machine, so absolutely uniform as to be interchangeable. + This principle has been carried out in hundreds of thousands of different + ways. It has entered into and become a feature of a vast range of + manufactures. The principle was established by a series of inventions as + wonderful as any that the human mind ever conceived, so that Whitney has + been aptly called the Shakespeare of invention. His inventions remain + practically unchanged. After ninety years of trial, they are found to be + practically perfect. + </p> + <p> + It was his peculiar gift to be able to convey into inanimate machinery the + skill that a human being could acquire only after years of study and + practice. + </p> + <p> + It is almost like belittling the greatest of marvels to call it a stroke + of genius. He made it possible for the most ordinary laborer to accomplish + a hundred times as much in an hour, and with the most exquisite + perfection, as a skilled laborer could accomplish in a day. + </p> + <p> + On these wonderful inventions Whitney took out no patents. He gave them + all to the public. In this way he revenged himself on those who had + successfully robbed him of the fruits of his labor and genius in the + invention of the cotton gin. Perhaps if he had been more justly treated in + Georgia, he might have set up his works in this State, and this fact might + have made the South the seat of great manufacturing industries. Who knows? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SOME GEORGIA INVENTIONS. + </h2> + <p> + The credit of inventing the steamboat is by general consent given to + Robert Fulton. Every schoolboy is taught that such is the case, and yet + the fact is at least very doubtful. There is preserved among the papers in + the Archives of Georgia a document that indicates, that, while Robert + Fulton has won the credit for an invention that has revolutionized the + commerce of the world, the real inventor may have been William Longstreet + of Augusta, an uncle of General James B. Longstreet, and the father of + Judge A. B. Longstreet, author of "Georgia Scenes." On the 26th of + September, 1790, William Longstreet sent the following letter to Edward + Telfair, who was then governor of Georgia:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Sir,—I make no doubt but you have heard of my steamboat + and as often heard it laughed at. But in this I have only + shared the fate of all other projectors, for it has + uniformly been the custom of every country to ridicule even + the greatest inventions until use has proved their utility. + + My not reducing my scheme to practice has been a little + unfortunate for me, I confess, and perhaps for the people in + general, but until very lately I did not think that either + artists or material could be had in the place sufficient. + However, necessity, that grand science of invention, has + furnished me with an idea of perfecting my plans almost + entirely with wooden materials, and by such workmen as may + be got here, and from a thorough confidence of its success, + I have presumed to ask your assistance and patronage. + + Should it succeed agreeable to my expectations, I hope I + shall discover that source of duty which such favors always + merit, and should it not succeed, your reward must lay with + other unlucky adventurers. + + For me to mention to you all the advantages arising from + such a machine would be tedious, and, indeed, quite + unnecessary, Therefore I have taken the liberty to state in + this plain and humble manner my wish and opinion, which I + hope you will excuse, and I will remain, either with or + without approbation, + + Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant, + + William Longstreet. +</pre> + <p> + There are two features of this letter that ought to attract attention. One + is that William Longstreet has the name of "steamboat" as pat as if the + machine were in common use. The second is his allusion to the fact that + his conception of a boat to be propelled by steam was so well known as to + be noised abroad. + </p> + <p> + Credit is sometimes given to John Fitch, who, it is said, invented a boat + propelled by steam, that carried passengers on the Delaware River in 1787. + An Englishman named Symington is said to have run a steamboat in 1801, + while Robert Fulton's success was delayed until 1806. All these men have + received credit for their efforts to benefit humanity, but history is + silent in regard to William Longstreet. In one book about Georgia the + remark is made that "James Longstreet is said to have invented the + steamboat in 1793," but in this instance neither the name nor the date is + correct. + </p> + <p> + In old St. Paul's churchyard in Augusta there is a tombstone which bears + the inscription, "Sacred to the memory of William Longstreet, who departed + this life September 1, 1814, aged 54 years, 10 months, and 26 days." Below + this runs the pleasant legend, "All the days of the afflicted are evil, + but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." We are thus left + to infer that William Longstreet was a man of a merry heart; and that fact + is certified to by the cleverness with which his son, the author of + "Georgia Scenes," has preserved for us some of the quaint characters that + lived and moved and had their being on the borders of Georgia society + directly after the Revolution. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0025" id="linkimage-0025"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:34%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/172.jpg" + alt="William Longstreet and his Steamboat 172 " /> + </div> + <p> + Being an inventor, a man of ingenious ideas, and somewhat ambitious of + serving the public in that way, William Long-street certainly had need of + a merry heart; for, as he himself says, the way of the projector is hard. + The term itself is used in Georgia to this day to express a certain sort + of good-natured contempt. Go into the country places and ask after some + acquaintance who has not prospered in a worldly way, and the answer will + be, "Oh, he's just a prodjikin around." + </p> + <p> + It is certain that William Longstreet knew that steam could be used as a + motive power long before it was so applied; and because he employed a good + deal of his time in trying to discover the principle, he was ridiculed by + his neighbors and friends, and the more thoughtless among them didn't know + whether he was a crank, a half-wit, or a "luny." From all accounts, he was + a modest, shy, retiring man, though a merry one. He had but little money + to devote to the experiments he wished to make, and in this was not + different from the great majority of inventors. + </p> + <p> + For a long time Longstreet's zeal and enthusiasm attracted the attention + of a few of his wealthy friends, and these furnished him such money as he + wanted; but no very long time was needed to convince those who were + spending their money that the idea of propelling a boat by steam, instead + of by sails or oars, was ridiculous. Longstreet made many experiments, but + he had not hit upon the method of applying the principle he had in mind: + consequently his rich friends closed their purses, and left him entirely + to his own resources. A newspaper publication, in giving some of the facts + in regard to Longstreet's efforts, says that he and his steamboat were + made the subject of a comic song:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Can you row the boat ashore, + Billy boy, Billy boy? + Can you row the boat ashore, + Gentle Billy? + + Can you row the boat ashore + Without a paddle or an oar, + Billy boy?" +</pre> + <p> + Though he had failed many times, Longstreet was not disheartened. He + continued his experiments, and at last succeeded in making a toy boat, + which he exhibited to a few friends. His idea at this time, it seems, was + not to construct a steamboat, but merely to convince some of his friends + that steam could be used as a motive power. But in this he was not very + successful. His toy boat did all that he wanted it to do; but his friends + declared, that while steam might be used to move a small boat, it could + never be used to move a large one. The experience of a new generation + showed that there was one wise man in Augusta and a great many fools. + Nevertheless William Longstreet determined to show that a large boat could + be moved by a large amount of steam as easily as a small boat could be + moved by a small volume. + </p> + <p> + Now, while he was making his experiments; and trying to overcome the + difficulties that presented themselves, Robert Fulton was living in Paris + with Joel Barlow. He was in Paris when Napoleon became first consul. At + that time he was experimenting with his diving boat and submarine torpedo. + Napoleon was so much interested in this work that he gave Fulton ten + thousand francs to carry it on. The inventor was in France in 1803 when + Napoleon organized his army for the invasion of England. He was surrounded + by influential friends, and he had money at his command. + </p> + <p> + Compared with William Longstreet, Robert Fulton was "in clover." + Longstreet was compelled to work without money, and in the midst of a + community whose curiosity had developed into criticism and ridicule. Thus + it was not until 1806 that he succeeded in completing a steamboat that + would accommodate twenty or twenty-five persons. He went on board, + accompanied by such of his friends as he could persuade, and in the + presence of a curious and doubting crowd the first real steamboat was + launched on the Savannah River. Some of the friends of those on board, + feeling anxious for their safety if the "contraption" should explode, + secured a skiff, and followed the steamboat at a safe distance, ready to + pick up such of the passengers as might survive when the affair had blown + to pieces. Longstreet headed the boat down the river, and went in that + direction for several miles. Then he turned the head of the little boat + upstream; and, although the current was swift, he carried his passengers + back to the wharf, and several miles above. + </p> + <p> + From that hour William Longstreet became a man of some consequence in the + community. Those who had ridiculed him now sang his praises, and those who + had doubted that steam could be used as a motive power were now convinced. + His friends tried hard to get him to go to Washington and secure the + benefits of a patent for his invention; but he persistently refused to + take any steps to profit by the results of his genius, or indeed to make + his invention known. His constant reply to all those who tried to persuade + him to go to Washington was, that he had carried on his experiments simply + to prove the truth of his theory to his own satisfaction, and to convince + those whose respect he coveted that he was neither a fool nor a crank. + </p> + <p> + Some of his friends and admirers were themselves preparing to go to + Washington in behalf of the inventor, but they had put off their journey + until the year after the exhibition was made in Augusta, and at that time + they heard that Robert Fulton had exhibited his steamboat "Clermont" on + the Hudson River. They then gave up their design, and William Longstreet + continued to remain in the seclusion that was so pleasant to him. + </p> + <p> + It is a noteworthy fact, that twelve years after William Longstreet made + his successful experiments on the Savannah River, Georgia enterprise + built, launched, and managed the first steamship that ever crossed the + ocean. This great enterprise was organized in Savannah in 1818. The + Georgia Company contracted to have the ship built in New York; and when + completed, it was named the "Savannah." The vessel was finished and + brought to Savannah in April, 1819. In May the steamship left Savannah + bound for Liverpool. From Liverpool it went to St. Petersburg, and then + returned to Savannah, having made the voyage in fifty days. + </p> + <p> + The first sewing machine was invented by Rev. Frank R. Goulding, a + Georgian who has won fame among the children of the land as the author of + "The Young Marooners." He invented the sewing machine for the purpose of + lightening the labors of his wife; and she used it for some years before + some other genius invented it, or some traveler stole the idea and + improved on it. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Crawford W. Long, in 1842, when twenty-seven years of age, performed + the first painless surgical operation that is known to history. In 1839, + Velpeau of Paris declared that the attempts to find some agent by which to + prevent pain in surgical operations was nothing less than chimerical; and + as late as 1846 Sir Benjamin Brodie said, "Physicians and surgeons have + been looking in vain, from the days of Hippocrates down to the present + time, for the means of allaying or preventing bodily pain." And yet three + years after the declaration of Velpeau, and four years before the + statement of Sir Benjamin Brodie, the young Georgia physician had removed + a tumor from the neck of a patient, and that patient had felt no pain. + </p> + <p> + The story is very interesting. Dr. Crawford W. Long was born in + Danielsville, Madison County, Ga., on the 1st of November, 1815. He + graduated at the University of Georgia, studied medicine, and graduated at + the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. He then went to + Jefferson, Jackson County, where he opened an office, and practiced + medicine for many years. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0026" id="linkimage-0026"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:33%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/177.jpg" alt="Laughing Gas 177 " /> + </div> + <p> + In those days the young men living in the country districts, for want of + something better to amuse them, were in the habit of inhaling + nitrous-oxide gas, or, as it was then popularly known, "laughing gas." The + young people would gather together, and some of them would inhale the gas + until they came under its influence. The result was in most cases very + amusing. Some would laugh, some would cry, and all in various ways would + carry out the peculiarities of their characters and dispositions. Thus, if + a young man had an inward inclination to preach, he would, under the + influence of "laughing gas," proceed to deliver a sermon. As these + "laughing-gas" parties were exhilarating to the young people who inhaled + the gas, and amusing to those who were spectators, they became very + popular. + </p> + <p> + But it was not always easy to secure the gas. On one occasion a company of + young men went to Dr. Long's office and asked him to make them a supply of + "laughing gas." There was no apparatus in the office suitable for making + it, but Dr. Long told the young men that the inhalation of sulphuric ether + would have the same effect. He had become acquainted with this property of + ether while studying medicine in Philadelphia. The young men and their + friends were so well pleased with the effects of ether inhalation, that + "ether parties" became fashionable in that section, as well as in other + parts of the State. At these ether parties, Dr. Long noticed that persons + who received injuries while under its influence felt no pain. On one + occasion a young man received an injury to his ankle joint that disabled + him for several days, and he told Dr. Long that he did not feel the + slightest pain until the effects of the ether had passed off. Observing + these facts, Dr. Long was led to believe that surgical operations might be + performed without pain. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Long's theory was formed in 1841, but he waited for some time before + testing it, in the hope that a case of surgery of some importance—the + amputation of an arm or a leg—might fall in his practice. On the + 30th of March, 1842, Dr. Long removed a tumor from the neck of Mr. James + M. Venable. On the 6th of June, the same year, another small tumor was + removed from the neck of the same patient, and both operations were + painless. Mr. Venable inhaled sulphuric ether, and the effect of it was to + render him insensible to the pain of cutting out the tumors. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Long had told Mr. Venable that he would charge little or nothing for + removing the tumors under the influence of ether. The bill rendered for + both operations amounted to $4.50; but, small as the bill was, it + represented the discovery and application of ether in surgical practice,—one + of the greatest boons to mankind. Up to that time no patient under the + surgeon's knife had ever been able to escape the horror and pain of an + operation. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Long did not at once print the facts about his discovery. He wanted to + make assurance doubly sure. He waited in the hope of having an important + case of surgery under his charge, such as the amputation of a leg or an + arm. But these cases, rare at any time, were still rarer at that time, + especially in the region where Dr. Long practiced. He finally satisfied + himself, however, of the importance of his discovery, but, having waited + until 1846, found that at least three persons—Wells, Jackson, and + Morton—had hit on the same discovery, and had made publication of + it. Morton patented ether under the name of "Letheon," and in October, + 1846, administered it to a patient in the Massachusetts General Hospital. + </p> + <p> + In 1844, Horace Wells, a native of Vermont, discovered that the inhalation + of nitrous-oxide gas produces anaesthesia. He was a dentist. He gave it to + his patients, and was able to perform dental operations without causing + pain. Thus we may see how the case stands. Long produced anaesthesia in + 1842; that is to say, he caused his patients to inhale sulphuric ether in + that year, whenever he had a painful operation to perform, and in each + case the operation was painless. + </p> + <p> + In 1846, when the surgeons of the Massachusetts General Hospital performed + painless operations on patients, after administering to them Morton's + patented "Letheon," which was his name for sulphuric ether, there came + about a great war of pamphlets, and it ended tragically. Long had never + made any secret of the substance which he used. He gave information of it + to all the surgeons and doctors with whom he came in contact; and he was + not in any way concerned in the conflict that was carried on by Jackson, + Morton, and Wells. He simply gathered together the facts of his discovery, + proved that he was the first physician to perform painless operations in + surgery, and that was the end of it so far as he was concerned. + </p> + <p> + Wells became insane, and committed suicide in New York in 1848. Morton + died in New York City of congestion of the brain. Jackson ended his days + in an insane asylum. + </p> + <p> + In Boston a monument has been erected to the discoverer of anaesthesia. + The name of Crawford W. Long should stand first upon it, and should be + followed by the names of Wells, Morton, and Jackson. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE EARLY PROGRESS OF THE STATE. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0027" id="linkimage-0027"> + <!-- IMG --></a> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="181 (101K)" src="images/181.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + After the invention of the cotton gin, the progress of the people and the + development of the agriculture of the State went forward very rapidly. The + population began to increase. The movement of families from Virginia and + North Carolina grew constantly larger. In Virginia, and in settled + portions of North Carolina, it was found that the soil and climate were + not favorable to the growth of the cotton plant: consequently hundreds of + families left their homes in these States, and came to Georgia. + </p> + <p> + When Oglethorpe settled the Colony, the charter under which he acted + prohibited the introduction and use of negro slaves in the Colony. It is + hard to say at this late day whether this portion of the charter was + dictated by feelings of humanity, especially when we remember that in + those days, and in most of the Colonies, there were many white people—men, + women, and children—employed and used as slaves. From the very + first, many of the Georgia colonists were anxious to introduce negro + slaves, but the trustees firmly refused to allow it. There was a strong + party in favor of introducing negroes, and those who opposed the movement + presently found themselves in a very small and unpopular minority. By 1748 + the excitement over the question had grown so great, that those colonists + who were opposed to negro slavery were compelled to abandon their + position. Rev. Mr. Whitefield, the eloquent preacher, had already bought + and placed negro slaves at his Orphan House at Bethesda, near Savannah. + The colonists had also treated this part of the charter with contempt. + They pretended to hire negroes' homes in South Carolina for a hundred + years, or during life. They paid the "hire" in advance, the sum being the + full value of the slaves. Finally negroes were bought openly from traders + in Savannah. Some of them were seized; but a majority of the magistrates + were in favor of the introduction of negroes, and they were able to + postpone legal decisions from time to time. + </p> + <p> + Rev. George Whitefield, whose wonderful eloquence has made his name + famous, and Hon. James Habersham, had great influence with the trustees; + and it was mainly due to their efforts that the colonists were legally + allowed to purchase and use negro slaves. Mr. Habersham affirmed that the + Colony could not prosper without slave labor. Rev. Mr. Whitefield, on the + other hand, was in favor of negro slavery on the broad ground of + philanthropy. He boldly declared that it would be of great advantage to + the African to be brought from his barbarous surroundings and placed among + civilized Christians. When we remember what has happened, who can deny + that the remark of the eloquent preacher was not more to the purpose, and + nearer to the truth, than some of the modern statements about American + slavery? What really happened (as any one may discover by looking into + impartial history) was, that thousands of negroes who had been captured in + battle, and made slaves of in their own country, were taken from that dark + land and brought into the light of Christian civilization. Their + condition, mentally and morally, was so improved, that, in little more + than a century after White-field made his statement, the government of the + United States ventured to make citizens of them. The contrast between + their condition and that of the negroes who remained in Africa is so + startling, that a well-known abolitionist, writing twenty years after + emancipation, has described slavery as a great university, which the + negroes entered as barbarians, and came out of as Christians and citizens. + </p> + <p> + The efforts of the Colony to secure a repeal of the act prohibiting + slavery were successful. The trustees in London concluded that it would be + better to permit slavery, with such restrictions and limitations as might + be proper, than to permit the wholesale violations that were then going + on; and so in 1749 the colonists of Georgia were allowed by law to own and + use negro slaves. + </p> + <p> + Thus, when the cotton gin came fairly into use, slavery had been legally + allowed in Georgia for nearly half a century. The rest of the Colonies had + long enjoyed that privilege. The cotton gin, therefore, had a twofold + effect,—it increased the cotton crop and the value of the lands, and + it also increased the use of negro slaves. The Virginians and North + Carolinians, who came to Georgia, brought their slaves with them; and the + Georgians, as their crops became profitable, laid out their surplus cash + in buying more negroes. The slave trade became very prosperous, and both + Old England and New England devoted a large amount of capital and + enterprise to this branch of commerce. + </p> + <p> + As the population increased, and the cotton crop became more valuable, the + demand for land became keener. To this fact was due the intense excitement + kindled by the Yazoo Fraud in 1794. The cotton gin had been introduced the + year before, and the people were beginning to see and appreciate the + influence the invention would have on their prosperity. Instead of selling + land to speculators, they wanted to keep it for themselves and children, + or at least to get something like its real value. + </p> + <p> + The cotton gin had increased not only the demand for negro slaves, but + also the demand for land; and indirectly it was the cause of the various + troubles the State had with the Indians after the close of the War for + Independence. The troubles with the Indians also led finally to serious + misunderstandings between the United States Government and that of + Georgia. In May, 1796, a treaty was made between the United States and the + Creeks. This treaty created some indignation among the people, and was + denounced as an interference by the General Government with State affairs. + The lands which the Indians ceded to the United States were a part of the + Territory of Georgia, and the transaction gave rise to much discussion and + considerable bad feeling. + </p> + <p> + In ten years, from 1790 to 1800, the population in Georgia had increased + more than eighty thousand. During the next ten years the increase in the + population was more than ninety thousand. This increase meant a still + greater demand for farm lands. Westward the Territory of Georgia extended + to the Mississippi River. The agitation which began over this rich + possession when the Yazoo Fraud was attempted, was kept up until 1800, + when Georgia appointed four of her most prominent citizens to meet with + commissioners appointed by the United States; and settle all questions + that had arisen. The result was, that Georgia ceded to the General + Government all her lands belonging to the State, south of Tennessee and + west of the Chattahoochee River. These lands were to be sold, and out of + the proceeds the State was to receive $1,250,-000. It was also provided + that the United States, at its own expense, should extinguish the Indian + titles to the lands held by the Creeks between the forks of the Oconee and + Ocmulgee rivers, and that in like manner the General Government should + extinguish the Indian title to all the other lands within the State of + Georgia. Under this agreement, and the Indian treaty based upon it, nearly + all of the lands lying between the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers were opened + up for occupation and cultivation. + </p> + <p> + All the Territory of Georgia was looked upon by the people as a public + domain, belonging to the State for distribution among the citizens. The + lands east of the Oconee were divided among the people under the plan + known as the "Head Right System." By this system every citizen was allowed + to choose, and survey to suit himself, a body of unoccupied land. This + done, he received a title called a "head right land warrant," which was + issued to him when he paid a small fee and a nominal price for the land. + If no one had previously appropriated the same land, the warrant was his + title. But much confusion arose in the distribution of titles, and serious + disputes grew out of it. The poorer sections of land were neglected, and + only the most fertile sections surveyed. + </p> + <p> + When the lands west of the Oconee were acquired, the clumsy Head Right + System was given up for what is known as the "Land Lottery System." "All + free white males, twenty-one years of age or older, every married man with + children under age, widows with children, and all families of orphan + minors," were allowed to draw in the lottery. Lists of these persons were + made out in each count, and sent to the governor. The lottery was drawn + under the management of five responsible persons. The tickets to be drawn + were marked with the numbers of the land lots, and these were put into + boxes with numerous blanks. Those who were fortunate enough to draw + numbered tickets were entitled to plats and grants of their lots, signed + by the governor. + </p> + <p> + The lots were not all of the same size. Some contained 202 1/2 acres, + others 490 acres. Twelve months after the drawing was completed, the + fortunate person was required to pay into the State treasury four dollars + for every hundred acres contained in his lot. + </p> + <p> + Many of those who had the good fortune to draw prizes in the land-lottery + scheme paid the necessary amount of money, and received titles to their + land lots; but many others neglected to pay in the money, and thus + forfeited their titles. + </p> + <p> + It has been said that the land hunger of the people at this time was both + selfish and sordid; but if we come to look at the matter closely, + selfishness is behind much of the material progress that the world has + made. The selfishness of individuals is not more conspicuous than the + selfishness of communities, commonwealths, and nations. In history we find + the rumseller, the land grabber, and the speculator following hard upon + the heels of the missionary. The selfishness of nations is frequently + given the name of "patriotism," and rightly so, since it is a movement for + the good of all. + </p> + <p> + When Georgia had fairly begun to recover from the disastrous results of + the War for Independence, the troubles that resulted in the War of 1812 + began to make themselves felt. France and England were at war; and the + United States Government tried to remain neutral, giving aid to neither + the one nor the other. But this was not pleasing to either of these great + powers. Both were interested in the trade and commerce of this country, + and both issued orders affecting American affairs. The United States + resented the interference, and protested against it Great Britain, with an + arrogance made bitter by the remembrance of her humiliating defeat at the + hands of a few feeble Colonies, replied to the American protest, declaring + that American ships would still be searched, and American sailors + impressed into the service of the British, wherever found on the high + seas. In 1807 a British man-of-war fired on an American merchant vessel as + it was leaving harbor. Three men were killed, eighteen wounded, and four + sailors seized. This outrage inflamed the whole country, and in December + of that year Congress passed a law preventing American vessels from + leaving their ports to trade with foreign nations. This law was deeply + resented by the New England States, and they held at Hartford, Conn., the + first secession convention that ever met in this country. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0028" id="linkimage-0028"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:32%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/188.jpg" + alt="British Impressement of Americans 188 " /> + </div> + <p> + Georgia was foremost among the States to denounce and resist the + aggressive acts of Great Britain. In 1808 the Legislature sent an address + to the President of the United States, approving the measures he had + taken, and declared that the people of Georgia were strong in their + independence, and proud of their government, and that they would never + wish to see the lives and property of their brethren exposed to the insult + and rapacity of a foreign power; but if the war should come, they would, + in proportion to their number and resources, give zealous aid to the + government of their choice. + </p> + <p> + The British, meanwhile, made arrangements to force a cotton trade with + Georgia and South Carolina, and for the purpose fitted out a number of + vessels of from ten to fifteen guns each. These vessels were to be + employed in opening the ports of Georgia and Carolina. A war brig anchored + at Tybee, and two of its officers went to Savannah. When they had made + known their purpose, they were peremptorily ordered away. They returned to + their vessel and put to sea; but as they were leaving, they fired at a + pilot boat in the harbor, and committed other outrages. + </p> + <p> + This incident and others aroused the indignation of the people. The + Legislature passed resolutions, addressed to the President of the United + States, declaring that all hope of a peaceful termination of the + difficulty had been lost, that the duty of the United States was to + maintain its sovereign rights against the despots of Europe, and that the + citizens of Georgia would ever be found in readiness to assert the rights + and support the dignity of the country whenever called on by the General + Government. By the time the treaty of peace was made, the day before + Christmas in 1814, the war spirit in Georgia had been roused to the + highest pitch by the numerous outrages committed by the Indian allies of + the British. + </p> + <p> + But the story of the Indian troubles belongs to a chapter by itself. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE CREEKS AND THE CREEK WAR + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0029" id="linkimage-0029"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/191.jpg" alt="The Creek War 191 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + If all the stories of the troubles of the early settlers of Georgia with + the Indians could be written out, they would fill a very large book. All + the whites with whom the red men came in contact in Georgia were not as + just, as generous, and as unselfish as James Edward Oglethorpe. On the + other hand, not all the Indians with whom the whites had dealings were as + wise and as honest as old Tomochichi. Consequently misunderstandings + arose, and prejudices grew and developed. This was greatly helped by + dishonest traders and speculators, who were keen to take advantage of the + ignorance of the Indians. + </p> + <p> + The controlling influence among the Indians in Georgia was the Creek + Confederacy (or nation); and this, in turn, was practically controlled by + the Muscogees. + </p> + <p> + North of the Creeks, Broad River being the dividing line, lived the + Cherokees, a nation even more warlike than the Creeks. The impression made + upon the Indians by Oglethorpe and some of his more prudent successors, + made them the strong friends of the British. Of course, the red men were + unable to appreciate the merits of the quarrel between the Georgia + settlers and King George: but, even if matters had been different, they + would probably have remained on friendly terms with the Royalists; for + Governor Wright, who was a wise as well as a good man, took great pains, + when the Liberty Boys began their agitations against the Crown, to + conciliate the Indians, and to show them that the King was their friend. + What was known as "the royal presents" were promptly sent from England, + and promptly delivered to and distributed among the Indians. The governor + sent for the chiefs, and had conferences with them; so that when the + Revolution began, the Upper and the Lower Creeks, and the Cherokees as + well, were the firm friends of the British. During the Revolution, as we + have already seen, they made constant and unprovoked attacks on the + patriots, burning their houses, carrying off their cattle, and murdering + their helpless women and children. These raids were continued even after + the Americans had compelled Great Britain to recognize their independence, + and hundreds of incidents might be given to show the ferocity with which + the savages attacked the whites. In many cases the settlements were + compelled to build stockades, in which the people took shelter, for safety + as well as defense, whenever there was an alarm. + </p> + <p> + On one occasion shortly after the close of the war, the Indians attacked + the family of a man named William Tyner, who was living in what is known + as Elbert County. Tyner himself was absent, and his family was entirely + without protection. Mrs. Tyner was killed, the brains of her youngest + child were dashed out against a tree, and another child was scalped and + left for dead. A young boy named Noah, the son of Mr. Tyner, escaped in + the general confusion, and hid himself in a hollow tree. This tree was for + many years known as "Noah's Ark." Mary and Tamar, two daughters, were + suffered to live; but the Indians carried them off to the Coweta towns on + the Chattahoochee. These children remained with the Indians several years. + John Manack, an Indian trader, saw them there, and purchased Mary. He then + brought her to Elbert County, and afterwards made her his wife. He + returned to the Indian nation shortly afterwards, and tried to purchase + Tamar; but, as she was useful to the Indians in bringing wood and fuel for + their fires, they refused to sell her. When Manack went away, an old + Indian woman, who was fond of Tamar, learned that the Indians, suspecting + the girl was preparing to escape, had decided to burn her at the stake. + The old woman helped her to escape by providing her with provisions and a + canoe. She also gave Tamar directions how to go down the Chattahoochee. By + day the fleeing girl hid herself in the thick swamps along the banks of + the river, and by night she floated down the river in her canoe. She + finally reached Apalachicola Bay, took passage on a vessel, and shortly + afterwards arrived at Savannah. Here she was assisted to her home in + Elbert County by the citizens. She married a man named Hunt, and no doubt + many of her descendants are still living in Georgia. + </p> + <p> + There was once an Indian village in Troup County, on the west bank of the + Chattahoochee, where the Indians who lived on the Alabama side of the + river were in the habit of meeting before and after their raids upon the + white settlements. Before the raids they would meet there to arrange their + programme; and afterwards they would assemble at the village to count the + scalps they had taken, dispose of their prisoners, and divide the spoils. + On one occasion, after a very destructive raid into the white settlements, + the Indians returned to this village, and began to celebrate the success + with which they had been able to creep upon the settlements at dead of + night, murder the unsuspecting whites, burn their dwellings, and drive off + their horses and cattle. This time, however, the Indians had been followed + by a few hundred men, under the leadership of General David Adams, who was + at that time a major in the militia, and a scout. Major Adams had taken + part in the closing scenes of the Revolution when quite a young man. When + the Creeks renewed their depredations after the war, Major Adams, both as + a scout and as a leader, fought the Indians with such success as to win + distinction. + </p> + <p> + He followed the Indians on this occasion with a few hundred men, who had + volunteered to accompany him. His pursuit was not active. The men under + him were not seasoned soldiers; and even if they had been, the force of + Indians was too large to justify an attack. Major Adams followed the + Indians in the hope that he and his men would find an opportunity to + surprise them. The Indians marched straight for the village on the west + bank of the Chattahoochee, about eight miles beyond the point where La + Grange now stands. At this village, which was the central point of the + Lower Creek nation at that time, there were many Indians—men, women, + and children—awaiting the return of the raiders. It was in the late + afternoon when they reached the village, and as the sun went down they + began the celebration of their victories; and in this they were joined by + the Indians, who had been waiting for their return. + </p> + <p> + Major Adams had halted his command a few miles from the river, where he + waited until night fell. He then advanced silently to the banks of the + stream, which was not so wide that he and his men could not see the + Indians dancing around their fires, and hear their whoops and yells. On + one bank stood the men whose families and friends had been murdered; on + the opposite shore, and almost within a stone's throw, the red murderers + danced and howled in savage delight. + </p> + <p> + For half the night, at least, the orgies were kept up by the Indians; but + at last they grew weary of the song and dance. Their fires slowly died + out, and there came a moment when the whites, who were watching and + waiting, could hear nothing but the murmur of the flowing water, as it + rippled over the shoals or lapped the bank. The time had come to strike a + blow, if a blow was to be struck. It was characteristic of Major Adams, + that, instead of sending one of his little party to find out the position + of the village and its surroundings, so as to be able to make a swift, + sudden, and an effective attack, he himself proposed to go. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0030" id="linkimage-0030"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/197.jpg" alt="Major Adams Scouting and Indian Camp 197 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + It was a hazardous undertaking, and required a bold heart to undertake it. + Major Adams knew there was a ford near the point where his men lay. The + trail led into the river; but, once in the river, it was lost. He had to + find the ford for himself, and it proved to be a very narrow and difficult + one. It led in a direct line across the river nearly halfway, and then + turned down the stream in an oblique direction. A part of the ford was + over a slippery shoal. At some points the water was knee-deep, at others + it was chin-deep. + </p> + <p> + With great difficulty Major Adams reached the opposite bank in safety. The + paths leading from the ford into the swamp that lay between the Indian + village and the river were so numerous that the stout-hearted scout hardly + knew which one to take. He chose one almost at random, and, after + following it through the thick underbrush, he found that it had led him + some distance below the village. He followed the margin of the swamp back + again, and soon found himself in the outskirts of the village. There he + paused to listen. A dog somewhere in the settlement barked uneasily and + sleepily. + </p> + <p> + Pushing forward, but moving with the utmost caution, Major Adams soon + found himself in the center of the village. In every hut the Indians were + sleeping; and, in addition to these, the ground seemed to be covered with + warriors, who lay stretched out and snoring, their rifles and tomahawks + within easy reach. The brave Georgian went through the village from one + end to the other. Once a huge Indian, near whom he was passing, raised + himself on his elbow, grasped his gun, and looked carefully in every + direction. Having satisfied himself, he lay down, and was soon snoring + again. Fortunately, Major Adams had seen the Indian stir, and sank to the + ground near a group of sleeping warriors, where he remained until he was + sure the savage was asleep. + </p> + <p> + He had examined every point of attack and defense in the village, and was + returning to the river, when he saw a pony tethered to a sapling. Thinking + that the little animal would be able to find the ford without trouble, and + could thus be used as a safe guide, Major Adams resolved to capture it. He + approached the pony with that intention, but not until too late did he + discover that it had a bell hung on its neck. The pony, frightened at the + sight of a white man, broke the rope by which he was tied, and went + scampering through the village, arousing and alarming warriors, squaws, + children, and dogs with the jingling bell. + </p> + <p> + At the sound of the bell, Major Adams knew that there would be a + tremendous uproar in the village, and he made an instant rush toward the + river, but soon found himself entangled in the briers and thick underbrush + of the swamp. It was fortunate that he missed the path leading to the + ford; for a party of Indians ran in that direction, either to catch the + pony, or to find out whether they were about to be attacked. Some of them + passed within a few feet of the spot where Major Adams stood. + </p> + <p> + In a short time the Indians returned to the village, and it was not long + before everything was as quiet and as peaceful as before the uproar. Major + Adams, instead of hunting for the path, made his way directly to the + river, slipped into the water, and swam straight across to the opposite + bank. He soon found his men, and told them of his adventure and of the + plans he had matured. Up to this moment he had been second in command. A + colonel of militia was with the party, and it was his right to be the + leader of the expedition; but now the men declared that they would cross + the river under the leadership of no one but Adams. It was Adams or + nobody; and the militia colonel, as gracefully as he could, yielded to the + demand. + </p> + <p> + Major Adams led the volunteers safely across the treacherous ford and into + the Indian town. The surprise was complete. Scarcely a warrior escaped. + The women and children were spared as far as possible, but the village was + burned to the ground. In retreating from that point, which was the center + of the famous Muscogee nation, Major Adams made long marches during the + day, and camped without fires at night, and in this way brought his + command out of the Indian country without the loss of a man. + </p> + <p> + But Adams's excursion to the center of the Muscogee (or Creek) nation did + not settle matters. The troubles continued. The temper of the people was + not improved by the efforts of the United States Government to take + affairs into its own hands. In some instances the agents of the General + Government sought to stir up active strife between the people of the State + and the Indians, and it was their habit to belittle the State government + by speaking of it contemptuously before the Indians. In many instances the + United States stepped in between the agents of the State and the Indians, + and prevented settlements and treaties that would have been of lasting + benefit to both the whites and the Indians. This was not due to any + purpose or desire of the General Government to trample on the rights of + the State, but grew altogether out of the folly of the agents, who wanted + to put on airs and advertise their importance. + </p> + <p> + In 1796 there was a treaty of peace arranged between the Creek nation and + the United States. Three commissioners represented the General Government, + and Georgia also had three present; but the business was conducted without + regard to the wishes of the Georgia commissioners, and, as the + commissioners thought, without regard to the interests of the State. + Seagrove was the name of the agent representing the General Government at + that time, and his attitude toward Georgia was not calculated to give the + Indians any respect for the commonwealth. After the treaty was signed, + General James Jackson, on the part of Georgia, made an eloquent speech, in + which he showed that the Creeks had not faithfully observed the treaties + they had made with the State. He exhibited two schedules of property which + they had stolen, amounting in value to $110,000, and demanded its + restoration. When General Jackson had concluded, one of the prominent + chiefs of the Creeks remarked that he could fill more paper than Jackson + showed with a list of outrages of the Georgians upon his people. There was + something more than a grain of truth in this; but on that very account the + Indians and the Georgians should have been allowed to settle their + difficulties in their own way, without the interference of the United + States. + </p> + <p> + The result of the treaty at Coleraine, in 1796, was, that the Georgia + agents were offended with Seagrove (the Indian agent for the United + States), offended with the Indians, and displeased with the United States + commissioners. To these last the Georgians presented a protest in which + the Federal commissioners were accused of disregarding the interests of + Georgia. Charges were brought against Seagrove, who, it was claimed, had + influenced the Creeks not to cede the lands as far as the Ocmulgee. A + bitter controversy grew out of this. It was, in fact, very nearly the + beginning of the discussion that has continued from that day to this, in + some shape or other, over the rights of the States and the power of the + General Government. Pickett, in his "History of Alabama and Georgia," says + that General Jackson, and Seagrove the Indian agent, became enemies, and + afterwards fought a duel. + </p> + <p> + Other treaties were made with the Creeks up to 1806, but all these were + violated when the Indians became the allies of the British during the War + of 1812. It is only fair to the Indians to say that the leader in whom + they placed the greatest confidence was a man who for many years nourished + hot resentment against the United States, and especially against Georgia. + This man was General Alexander McGillivray, who became famous as an + opponent of the Americans and the Georgians in all their efforts to come + to a just, fair, and peaceable understanding with the Creeks. + </p> + <p> + As has been stated, when the War of 1812 began, the Creeks became the + allies of the British, and the attacks they made on the unprotected + settlements were so numerous and so serious as to call for some action on + the part of the General Government. In September, 1813, Congress called + for a levy of Georgia troops, and, the State authorities ordered 3,600 men + to assemble at Camp Hope, near Fort Hawkins, on the Ocmulgee River. The + ruins of Fort Hawkins may be seen to this day on the Ocmulgee, in the city + of Macon. + </p> + <p> + The men who assembled at Camp Hope were volunteers, and all eager for + service. The command of this force fell to General John Floyd, who made + haste to take charge, and endeavored to make arrangements for taking the + field at once. He found his men assembled according to orders, and all + anxious to be led against the hostile Indians. But the little army could + not march. The Federal Government had failed to supply the necessary + funds. What is called "red tape" stood in the way of prompt action. A + dispute arose. Federal officials placed the blame on the contractors who + were to furnish supplies, and the contractors placed it on the officials, + who had failed to furnish the necessary money. While this dispute was + raging, General Floyd, who was a brave and gallant spirit, applied to the + State Legislature, then in session, for a loan of $20,000. The request was + granted, and he was able to equip his troops, procure supplies, and march + into the country of the Creeks, by the middle or latter part of November. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the hostile Creeks had already challenged Georgia and begun + their attack. On the 30th of August, seven hundred and twenty-five Creek + Indians attacked Fort Mims on the Chattahoochee. The attack was as sudden + as it was unexpected. It was made at twelve o'clock in the day, and the + inmates of the fort were taken entirely by surprise. The savages massacred + nearly three hundred men, women, and children in the most cruel manner. + This horrible outrage spread consternation on the frontier, and aroused + indignation in all parts of the country. Hundreds of frontier settlers + fled from their homes, and sought safety in the more thickly settled + regions. + </p> + <p> + It was owing to this massacre that the troops commanded by General Floyd + were called out. This active and energetic leader began his campaign by + building a line of forts and blockhouses from the Ocmulgee to the Alabama + River, and in this way completely protected the northern part of the State + from invasion by the Creeks. General Floyd accomplished this work in spite + of the failure of the United States officials to supply with provisions + and transportation the troops they had called out. + </p> + <p> + He completed his line of defense by building Fort Mitchell. Leaving a + sufficient garrison in this fort, General Floyd placed himself at the head + of nine hundred and fifty men, and marched on Autossee, one of the most + populous towns of the Creek nation, situated on the left bank of the + Tallapoosa River, and near the town of Tallassee, which was nearly as + large. The distance from Fort Mitchell to Autossee was sixty miles, and + General Floyd made it by forced night marches, resting his troops during + the day. He was accompanied on this expedition by General William + Mcintosh, the famous Indian chief, who led four hundred friendly Creeks. + </p> + <p> + Arriving at Autossee and Tallassee at daybreak on the 29th of November, + 1813, General Floyd arranged and ordered a simultaneous attack on both + towns. By nine o'clock the Indians had been defeated and driven from the + towns, and their houses burned. Four hundred houses were burned, with all + the provisions and stock. Two hundred Indians were killed, including the + kings of both towns. The pipe which the old chief of Tallassee had smoked + at a treaty forty years before, was taken and presented to the governor, + who placed it in the executive office of the State Capitol. Eleven whites + were killed, and fifty-four wounded; among them, General Floyd himself, + who had received a ball in the knee early in the fight. He refused to have + his wound dressed, and continued on horseback, directing his troops, until + after the battle was over. He never entirely recovered from the effects of + this wound. After the towns had been entirely destroyed, the troops + returned to Fort Mitchell, having marched a hundred and twenty miles in + bitter cold weather, and fought a severe engagement on five days' + provisions. + </p> + <p> + In January, 1814, General Floyd heard that the Upper Creeks had collected + in great force at the Indian town of Hothlewaulee. By that time his wound + had so far healed that he was able to ride a horse, and he determined to + make an attack on the town. For this purpose he detached from the troops + at Fort Mitchell a force of fifteen hundred men. The weather was cold, and + the winter rains had so obstructed the roads that the troops found the + march a weary and a difficult one; but they pressed on, nevertheless, + cheered by the energy and enthusiasm of their gallant leader. They marched + to within fifteen or twenty miles of the town, and there encamped. Between + midnight and day a large body of Indians, led by the warrior Weather-ford + and Colonel Woodbine, an English officer, attacked General Floyd's camp. + His troops were taken by surprise, but they were not demoralized. They had + been fighting for six months, and were seasoned to all the dangers of + Indian warfare. Above all, they had a leader who possessed in a wonderful + degree a genius for war. + </p> + <p> + No sooner had the alarm been sounded than General Floyd rallied his little + army, formed it in a square, the baggage in the center, and held the + savages at bay until daylight. There was no faltering in any part of the + line or on any side of the square. The dauntless courage of Floyd himself + seemed to control every man, down to the humblest private. When day + dawned, a charge was sounded, and Floyd's troops drove the Indians before + them at the point of the bayonet. Within a quarter of an hour after the + charge was made, the battle was won. The loss of the Indians was never + discovered, as they had an opportunity to carry off their killed and + wounded up to the moment the charge was sounded. Seventeen Georgians were + killed, and a hundred and thirty-two wounded. Floyd's camp was known as + Camp Defiance, but in the official report the fight is called the battle + of Chalibbee. The attack was made on Floyd in order to prevent a junction + between his troops and those of General Andrew Jackson, who was fighting + the Indians in the lower part of Alabama. The result of the fight made a + junction unnecessary; and shortly afterwards the term for which Floyd's + Georgia troops had enlisted expired, and they were discharged. + </p> + <p> + In 1814, when peace was declared between the United States and Great + Britain, the Creeks remained quiet for some time. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + TWO FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS. + </h2> + <p> + Among the Indian leaders who made Georgia the scene of their operations, + the most celebrated were General Alexander McGillivray and General William + Mcintosh. If these men had been born and brought up among the whites, both + of them would have won lasting renown. They possessed the energy and the + genius: all they lacked was the opportunity to direct their gifts into + channels that would have benefited humanity. + </p> + <p> + Alexander McGillivray was one of the most remarkable men of his time, + whether we regard him as a leader of the Indians or simply as an + individual. His father, Lachlan McGillivray, being a lad of adventurous + turn, ran away from a home in Scotland where he enjoyed all the advantages + and comforts that wealth could give him, took passage on a ship bound for + South Carolina, and shortly afterwards landed at Charleston. Wandering + about in that city, and enjoying the sights that were new to his + experience, he soon found himself in the suburbs of the city. There he + found the headquarters of the Indian traders, who came to Charleston with + their pack horses to carry merchandise of all kinds to the red men. One of + these traders persuaded young McGillivray to go with him. His Scotch eye + and mind were quick to appreciate the possibilities of this new business, + and in a few years he became one of the most enterprising and prosperous + of the Indian traders. He pushed his trade farther than any of his + predecessors had ever dared to go. He went, indeed, to the neighborhood of + Fort Toulouse. A few miles above that fort, where Wetumpka, Ala., now + stands, he met Sehoy Marchand, a beautiful girl of about sixteen years. + This girl was the daughter of Captain Marchand, who had commanded at Fort + Toulouse, but who had been killed by his own soldiers in August, 1722. The + soldiers rose against the officers of the garrison on account of the + failure of France to forward money and supplies to the troops in her + American settlement. The girl's mother was a Creek woman of the tribe of + The Wind, the most powerful and influential family in the Creek nation. + The young Scotchman fell in love with the dark-haired maiden, and she fell + in love with the blue-eyed Scotchman, with his fair skin and red hair. + Lachlan McGillivray built him a trading house on the Coosa, not far away, + and soon married Sehoy, and carried her home. He became very wealthy. He + owned two plantations on the Savannah River, which were well stocked with + negroes, and stores filled with merchandise in both Savannah and Augusta. + When Lachlan McGillivray's son Alexander reached the age of fourteen, he + was carried to Savannah and placed at school, and in a few years was made + a clerk in a counting-house at Savannah. + </p> + <p> + But the humdrum business of buying, selling, and adding up long rows of + tiresome figures, did not please him, and so he neglected his duties to + read books, mainly histories. His father, taking the advice of friends, + placed young Alexander under the tutorship of a clergyman in Charleston, + where the lad learned Latin and Greek, and in that way became well + grounded in what our dear old grandfathers called polite literature. But + one day word came to the young man that the chiefs of the Creek nation, + who were getting into trouble with the people of Georgia, were waiting for + the moment when he, as a descendant of the tribe of The Wind, should + return and take charge of the affairs of the nation. So he departed + suddenly from Charleston, and turned his horse's head toward the + wilderness. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0031" id="linkimage-0031"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:22%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/208.jpg" + alt="Mcgillavray Joins the Indians 208 " /> + </div> + <p> + On his way to the Creek nation, he fell in with Leclerc Mil-fort, an + adventurous Frenchman, who afterwards wrote a book of travels, and was + made a general of brigade by Napoleon. Milfort married one of + McGillivray's sisters, was made Tustenug-gee (or grand war chief), and was + the right-hand man of his powerful brother-in-law. The first that was + heard of McGillivray after he left Charleston, he was presiding at a grand + national council of the Creeks at the town of Coweta on the Chattahoochee. + When Alexander arrived among the Creeks, Colonel Tait of the British army + was stationed on the Coosa, and he used all his tact and influence to + prevail upon the young man to take the side of the English in the war that + was then going on between the Colonies and the mother country. To this end + Colonel Tait pursued McGillivray with attentions, loaded him with favors, + and finally caused him to be given the rank and pay of a colonel in the + army. The result was that the great chief was throughout the war devoted + to the cause of the British. This would have been natural in any event, + for his father was a stanch Royalist. During the war, McGillivray + frequently acted in concert with the notorious Daniel McGirth, sometimes + leading his Indians in person; but his main dependence was on his + brother-in-law Milfort, who was possessed of the most daring spirit. + McGillivray preferred to plan and engage in intrigue, which gave the + remarkable powers of his mind full play. + </p> + <p> + There is no doubt that the authorities of Georgia made a great mistake, + after the war, in neglecting to win the friendship of McGillivray. Such a + course would have prevented much suffering and bloodshed. The father of + the great chief, Lachlan McGillivray, was living in Savannah at the close + of the Revolution; and when the British were compelled to evacuate the + city, he scraped together an immense amount of money and other valuables, + and sailed for Scotland. He abandoned his plantations and negroes, in the + hope that his wife and three children might be permitted to inherit them; + but the Georgians confiscated the whole of the valuable estate, and thus + the Creek leader had another reason for entertaining a bitter prejudice + against the Whigs. + </p> + <p> + The result was, that until the day of his death, which occurred in 1792, + he succeeded in baffling all the efforts of the Federal and State + authorities to come to an understanding with the Creek nation. He was + perhaps the most accomplished diplomat in the country,—a veritable + Talleyrand, able to cope with the most distinguished statesmen among the + Americans. Such of his letters as have been preserved do not suffer by + comparison with the writings of even the greatest of the Americans. The + most of these depended on a stately and scholarly diction to attract + attention. McGillivray paid little regard to diction; but his letters + possess the distinction of style, and in this particular but one American + writer can be compared to him,—Benjamin Franklin. There is, in fact, + a modern touch and flavor about McGillivray's letters that even the + writings of Franklin do not possess. He wrote thus to Andrew Pickens, who + had addressed him on behalf of the United States Government:— + </p> + <p> + "When we found that the American independence was confirmed by the peace, + we expected that the new government would soon have taken some steps to + make up the differences that subsisted between them and the Indians during + the war, to have taken them under their protection and confirmed to them + their hunting grounds. Such a course would have reconciled the minds of + the Indians, and secured the States their friendship, as they considered + your people their natural allies. The Georgians, whose particular interest + it was to conciliate the friendship of this nation, have acted in all + respects to the contrary. I am sorry to observe that violence and + prejudice have taken the place of good policy and reason in all their + proceedings with us. They attempted to avail themselves of our supposed + distressed situation. Their talks to us breathed nothing but vengeance, + and, being entirely possessed with the idea that we were wholly at their + mercy, they never once reflected that colonies of a powerful monarch were + nearly surrounding us, to whom, in any extremity, we might apply for + succor and protection, and who, to answer some ends of their policy, might + grant it to us. However, we yet deferred any such proceeding, still + expecting that we could bring them to a true sense of their interest; but + still finding no alteration in their conduct towards us, we sought the + protection of Spain, and treaties of friendship and alliance were mutually + entered into; they guaranteeing our hunting grounds and territory, and + granting us a free trade in the ports of the Floridas. + </p> + <p> + "How the boundary and limits between the Spaniards and the States will be + determined, a little time will show, as I believe that matter is now on + foot. However, we know our limits and the extent of our hunting grounds. + As a free nation, we have applied, as we had a right to do, for + protection, and obtained it. We shall pay no attention to any limits that + may prejudice our claims, that were drawn by an American and confirmed by + a British negotiator. Yet, notwithstanding we have been obliged to adopt + these measures for our preservation, and from real necessity, we sincerely + wish to have it in our power to be on the same footing with the States as + before the late unhappy war, to effect which is entirely in your power. We + want nothing from you but justice. We want our hunting grounds preserved + from encroachments. They have been ours from the beginning of time, and I + trust that, with the assistance of our friends, we shall be able to + maintain them against every attempt to take them from us." + </p> + <p> + Undoubtedly McGillivray was unscrupulous, and the probability is that he + was mercenary; but such charges may be brought against some of the ablest + men who have figured in history. When all is said, the fact remains that + Alexander McGillivray was one of the most accomplished and ingenious of + the politicians of his time. If he had been on the side of the whites, and + had managed their interests with the skill and ability which he displayed + in behalf of the Creeks, history would have written him down as a great + statesman. It was only by an accidental suit at law that some of his most + characteristic letters were brought to light; but those that have been + rescued from oblivion show that in wielding the pen he was more than a + match for the many able men who corresponded with him. + </p> + <p> + In September, 1789, Washington sent General Andrew Pickens, with three + other commissioners, to treat with McGillivray. They found the great chief + at Rock Landing, on the Oconee, with two thousand Creek warriors, where he + had been encamped more than a week. The Indian camp was on the western + bank of the river. The commissioners pitched their tents on the eastern + bank. They were received by McGillivray with great courtesy. Everything + progressed favorably, so much so that the commissioners read to the + assembled chiefs a copy of the treaty which they had drawn up. This treaty + was all in favor of the whites. The Indians were offered no equivalent for + the terms proposed. It is worthy of note that Andrew Pickens wholly + dissented from the terms of the proposed treaty. He knew that the Indians + would have to be paid for the valuable land which the Georgians were then + cultivating in the neighborhood of the Oconee, and the commissioners had + been advised by the Federal authorities to pay for these lands. + McGillivray broke up his encampment and retired to the Ocmulgee, nor could + he be induced at that time to renew the negotiations. + </p> + <p> + President Washington was urged by the Georgia delegation in Congress to + declare war against the Creeks, and this indeed was his first impulse; but + when he found, from a careful estimate, that the expenses of such a war + would amount to fifteen millions of dollars, he prudently gave up the + idea. He took the matter in hand in a more conservative way. He appointed + Colonel Marinus Willett a secret agent to visit Mc-Gillivray, and urge him + to visit President Washington in New York. In this Colonel Willett was + entirely successful. Accompanied by McGillivray and a number of the + leading men of the Creeks, Willett set out on his return journey. At + Guilford Court House, McGillivray attracted great attention on account of + a very pathetic incident that occurred there some years before. A man + named Brown had been killed by the Creeks, and his wife and children + captured and made slaves. Their unfortunate condition came to the notice + of Alexander McGillivray, and, as he had done in the case of many other + captive white women and children, he paid their ransom and redeemed them + from slavery. He maintained them at his house for over a year, and finally + assisted them to return to their friends. Mrs. Brown, hearing that + McGillivray had arrived, went to see him. At that moment he was in the + courthouse, the center of a large assembly of ladies and gentlemen who had + gathered to pay their respects. But this was no obstacle to Mrs. Brown. + She rushed through the assembly, and, in a flood of tears, expressed her + gratitude to him for saving her life and the lives of her children. She + also expressed her strong admiration for his character. + </p> + <p> + In due course, McGillivray arrived in New York, where he was treated with + great consideration. He had long private conferences with Washington and + other officials of the government, and was finally induced to make a + treaty which was satisfactory to the United States, and would have been + satisfactory to Georgia if it had been carried out, but in fact the terms + of it were never fulfilled. While in New York, McGillivray made a secret + treaty with Washington, a fact that was not discovered for many years. It + provided, that after two years from date (August, 1790) the commerce of + the Creek nation should be carried on through the ports of the United + States, and in the mean time through the present channels; that a number + of chiefs of the Creeks and of the Seminole nation should be paid one + hundred dollars a year each, and be furnished with handsome medals; that + the United States should feed, clothe, and educate Creek youth at the + North, not exceeding five at one time; and that Alexander McGillivray + should be constituted agent of the United States, with the rank of + brigadier general, and the pay of twelve hundred dollars a year. In 1792, + McGillivray was a British colonel, an American brigadier general, an agent + of the United States, and an agent of Spain. This extraordinary man died + in Pensacola on the 17th of February, having been seized with a fatal + illness while returning from one of his plantations on Little River in + Putnam or Baldwin. + </p> + <p> + Another famous Creek was General William Mcintosh, a half-breed. His + father was Captain William Mcintosh, and his mother was an Indian of + unmixed blood. He was not so brilliant a man intellectually as + McGillivray; but he had a native force of character, and an inborn sense + of justice, that McGillivray seems to have been a stranger to. History + tells us little enough of Mcintosh, but that little is all to his credit. + Almost from the days of Oglethorpe, there were two parties in the Creek + nation, and the issue on which they divided was the treatment that should + be accorded to the whites. The party division was geographical as well as + political. The Upper Creeks, living upon the Alabama, Coosa, and + Tallapoosa rivers, were not present at the Coweta town when James + Oglethorpe treated with the Lower Creeks in August, 1730. At that time + they were under the influence of the French, and afterwards they sought + the protection of the Spaniards. They refused to recognize any of the + treaties made by the Lower Creeks with the English, and the great body of + them remained to the end the bitter enemies of the Georgians. On the other + hand, the majority of the Lower Creeks were friendly with the English from + the days of Oglethorpe; and that friendship continued, with but few + interruptions, down to the days of Governor Troup. + </p> + <p> + Now, McGillivray, in his day and time, represented the Upper Creeks of the + Tallapoosa country and their policy, while William Mcintosh represented + the Lower Creeks of the Coweta country and their policy. The division in + the Creek nation was so serious, that, when the Upper Creeks took sides + with the British in the War of 1812, they found themselves opposed in the + field by a large party of Lower Creeks under the command of Mcintosh. + Thus, at the battle of Autossee, William Mcintosh led a large band of + Lower Creeks against those who were making war on the whites. He made + himself so conspicuous in that affair, that General Floyd mentions him in + the official report of the battle. + </p> + <p> + The treaty at Indian Spring, and the results that followed, cannot be + clearly understood unless we bear in mind the political differences that + existed between the Upper and the Lower Creeks. The Creek chiefs and the + commissioners met at Indian Spring on the 15th of February, 1825. The + chiefs and warriors of the Upper Creeks declared that no treaty could be + made for a cession of lands, and on the night of the 11th they went home. + On the 12th a treaty was signed with the Mcintosh party. Colonel John A. + Crowell, agent for the Creek Indians, sent a letter to the secretary of + war, in which he declared that the treaty was in direct opposition to the + letter and spirit of the instructions to the commissioners; but the treaty + was sent to Washington, and was ratified on the 3d of March, 1825. When + the Indians of the Upper Creeks and their party learned that the treaty + had been ratified, they became very much excited. Mcintosh and his party + went to Milledgeville, and told the governor that they expected violent + treatment at the hands of the Upper Creeks. They begged the protection of + the State and of the United States, and this was promised them. + </p> + <p> + Out of this treaty grew a very serious conflict between the Federal and + State governments. After a good deal of discussion, the President asked + Congress to reconsider the treaty of Indian Spring, and presented a new + one as a substitute, which was ratified and proclaimed; but popular + indignation ran so high in Georgia, that Governor Troup felt justified in + paying no attention to this new treaty. He proceeded to carry out the + terms of the Indian Spring treaty. Charges were brought against Crowell, + the Indian agent. The governor informed T. P. Andrews, the special agent, + that he would hold no further correspondence with him. The conduct of + General Gaines had been such that Governor Troup requested the Federal + Government to recall, arrest, and punish him. In 1826 the State + Legislature declared that the attempt to repeal the treaty of Indian + Spring by the substitution of another treaty was illegal and + unconstitutional. In September, 1826, Governor Troup ordered the districts + ceded by the treaty of Indian Spring to be surveyed. When the Indians + complained of this, the secretary of war wrote to Governor Troup that the + President felt himself compelled to employ all the means under his control + to maintain the faith of the nation by carrying the treaty into effect, + meaning the treaty made at Washington, and intended to be a substitute for + the Indian Spring treaty. In his reply, Governor Troup declared that he + would feel it to be his duty to resist to the utmost any military attack + which the President of the United States should think proper to make upon + the Territory, the people, or the sovereignty of Georgia. "From the first + decisive act of hostility," he wrote to the secretary of war, "you will be + considered and treated as a public enemy. You have referred me, as the + rule of my conduct, to the treaty of Washington. In turn I refer you to + the treaty of prior date and prior ratification, concluded at the Indian + Spring." + </p> + <p> + The President issued orders that the surveyors appointed by the State be + prosecuted. Governor Troup thereupon ordered the proper officers, in every + instance of complaint made of the arrest of any surveyor, to take all + necessary and legal measures to effect their liberation, and to bring to + justice all the parties concerned in such arrests, as violators of the + peace and personal security of the State. He also ordered the major + generals of the militia to hold the various regiments and battalions in + readiness to repel any hostile invasion of the State. But no acts of + violence were committed. The surveyors were not arrested, the surveys were + made, and the lands ceded by the treaty of Indian Spring were divided by + lottery in 1827. + </p> + <p> + The Upper Creeks, who had always been unfriendly to the Georgians, were so + angry at the signing of the treaty of Indian Spring, that they determined + to assassinate General William Mcintosh. They had never forgiven him for + leading his party of Lower Creeks against them in the campaign that was + made necessary by the terrible massacre of Fort Mims, and they now + determined to rid themselves of him at once and forever. + </p> + <p> + We have seen that General Mcintosh, and his party of Lower Creeks, + suspecting that an attack would be made on them by the powerful tribes on + the Tallapoosa, went to Milledgeville to beg the governor to protect them. + Protection was promised, but never given. Meanwhile the Upper Creeks held + a secret council, and selected a hundred and seventy of the boldest + warriors in the nation to murder Mcintosh. They marched in the most + cautious way. They reached the neighborhood of Mcintosh's home, and + concealed themselves, to wait for night to fall. About sundown, or a + little before, the Indians saw from their hiding place two persons riding + along a trail. One was Mcintosh, and the other a man named Hawkins, who + had married one of Mcintosh's daughters. It would have been an easy matter + for the savages to have killed Mcintosh at this time; but they had made up + their minds to kill him upon his own premises, so that his blood might + stain the land that had been granted him by the State. While still in + sight of the men who had been sent to slay him, Mcintosh bade Hawkins good + evening, wheeled his horse, and rode back on the trail toward his home. + Although he was now alone, the Indians would not kill him. They had fixed + up a different plan, and they carried it out. + </p> + <p> + Before dark the Indians gathered together a supply of "fat lightwood," as + the resinous pine was called. This they split into convenient length, and + made up into three bundles to be carried on the backs of their warriors. + They remained hidden within half a mile of Mcintosh's house till three + o'clock in the morning, and then silently and swiftly marched to the + place. They had taken along with them a man named James Hutton to act as + interpreter, the reason for this being that Mcintosh was in the habit of + entertaining travelers. + </p> + <p> + It was to be Hutton's duty to assure such as might be found there that + they would not be disturbed in any manner. Guests of Mcintosh were + commonly lodged in an outhouse in the yard; and Hutton, accompanied by two + Indians, went to this building to see who might be sleeping there. They + found a peddler in one bed, and Chilly, a son of General Mcintosh, in + another. + </p> + <p> + Young Mcintosh, as if instinctively understanding the nature of the visit, + sprang from the bed and leaped out at a window. He was fired upon by the + Indians, but was not touched, and succeeded in making his escape. The + peddler was nearly scared out of his wits; but his pack of goods was + removed to a place of safety, and the house in which he had been sleeping + was soon in flames. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0032" id="linkimage-0032"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/220.jpg" alt="Indian Attack 220 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + Meanwhile most of the Indians had surrounded Mcintosh's house, and torches + of the fat pine were used to set it on fire. The red men danced around the + burning building, yelling, and crying out, "Mcintosh, we have come, we + have come! We told you if you sold the land to the Georgians we would + come. Now we have come!" At the first alarm Mcintosh had barricaded his + front door. He stood near it; and when it was broken down, he fired upon + his assailants. At that moment, one of his firmest friends, Toma + Tustenuggee, who had thrown himself upon the party at the door, fell on + the threshold, riddled with bullets. General Mcintosh then retreated to + the second story with four guns, which he continued to fire from the + windows. + </p> + <p> + The flames drove him from the second story to the first floor again. He + fought bravely to the end, but was soon compelled to expose himself to the + fire of his enemies. He fell to the floor, pierced by many bullets, and + was dragged into the yard by his heels. He breathed defiance to the last, + and was finally stabbed to death. After this savage deed, the Indians + plundered the houses, killed such cattle as they could find, and committed + other outrages. A small party of the Indians had followed Hawkins the + evening before. His house was surrounded about daybreak the next morning, + and he was ordered to come out. He refused, and defended himself the best + he could; but he was finally taken prisoner and tied, until the fate of + Mcintosh was known. Then he was murdered, and his body thrown into the + river near where he lived. The Indians marched back to the Tallapoosa + country with the scalps of these unfortunate men. Mcintosh's scalp was + suspended from a pole in the public square of Ocfuskee, and young and old + danced around it with shouts of joy. + </p> + <p> + General Mcintosh was a cousin of Governor Troup, being the son of Governor + Troup's uncle, Captain William Mcintosh, who was frequently on the + Chattahoochee before the breaking-out of the Revolution. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + REMOVAL OF THE CHEROKEES. + </h2> + <p> + When Georgia had begun to recover its breath, after the difficulties with + the Creeks, the people had time to discover that they had a much more + serious problem to deal with in the Cherokee nation, which occupied all + the northwestern portion of the State. Those who mingled thrift with their + benevolence, and had the courage to think about the future of the whites + as well as the future of the savages, thought that both ends would be + attained by making a permanent settlement for the Indians beyond the + Mississippi River. Those whose benevolence was a mixture of sentimentality + and romantic misinformation thought the Indians ought to be left where + contact with the whites would tend to civilize and Christianize them. + Consequently there were two parties to the discussion, and a good deal of + practical selfishness at the bottom of it all. There used to be an old + song running in this wise,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "All I want in this creation, + Is a pretty little wife and a big plantation + Away up yonder in the Cherokee nation,"— +</pre> + <p> + and this song no doubt represented the real feeling behind the whole + matter. The big plantation was what was really wanted. At the same time it + should not be forgotten that it was for the benefit of the Indians as well + as the whites that they should be settled in a section where they would + remain undisturbed. This policy has been proven by time to be the true + one. + </p> + <p> + Travelers and romancers have done no end of harm by exalting the Indian + character, covering up its faults, and exaggerating its merits. Romance + has made great heroes of the Indians; but in the whole history of the red + men, so far as it has been faithfully chronicled, the names of the Indians + of unmixed blood who are worth remembering can be counted on the fingers + of two hands. + </p> + <p> + Sequoia, or George Guess, who invented the Cherokee alphabet, was the + grandson of a white man. This invention, however, was a very remarkable + achievement, and it is worthy of a word here. Sequoia was altogether + illiterate. He could neither write nor speak English, but he saw that the + whites could talk with each other by means of pieces of paper. So he set + himself to work to examine his own language. He found that sixty + monosyllables could be so combined as to represent every word in the + Cherokee language, and for each of these syllables he formed a character. + Many of these characters were taken from an English spelling book which he + managed to get hold of. Some are Greek characters, and others are letters + of the English alphabet turned upside down; but each character in the + Cherokee alphabet stands for a monosyllable. It happened, too, from the + structure of the Cherokee language or dialect, that the syllabic alphabet + is also in the nature of a grammar; so that those who know the language by + ear, and master the alphabet, can at once read and write. Owing to the + extreme simplicity of this system, it can be acquired in a few days. Some + have learned it even in one day. Thus it happened that the Cherokees, who + were at the beginning of one year ignorant and illiterate, had become in + the course of a few months able to read and write their own language. They + accomplished this without going to school, and without expense of time or + money. + </p> + <p> + This curious and useful invention is dwelt on here because it stands + alone. The Indian grandson of a white man remains to-day the only man, in + the long history of the aborigines, who has done anything for the real and + lasting benefit of his race. + </p> + <p> + When the people of Georgia insisted on the removal of that nation to the + Far West, the Cherokees were neither better nor worse than the rest of the + Indians. Some of the half-breeds had indeed begun to put on the airs of + civilization, and many of them had put off their barbarian garbs; but from + time to time they gave evidence that contact with the whites had only + whetted their savage appetites for cruelty. The Indian in Cooper's novels + and the Indian in real life are two different creatures. They were tall + and straight because they refused to do manual labor. The drudgery was + left to the women, who hoed the corn when at home, and carried the burdens + when the warriors were moving about. They cultivated the passion of + revenge. Those who know them best have declared in a thousand ways that + they never found in the red men any solid substantial, or agreeable + quality. They were brave, but so is a bulldog. + </p> + <p> + There is no wonder that Georgia wanted to get rid of them as neighbors. + The people showed their anxiety in this matter when, in 1802, they + conveyed to the United States Government all the valuable lands that now + form the States of Alabama and Mississippi; the consideration being that + the General Government would secure from the Indians, and open up to + settlement, the lands which they then held in the State. In 1808 the + Cherokees asked the United States to allow them to examine the public land + west of the Mississippi, and, if pleased, to settle on it. Permission was + given, and the Cherokees sent a party to explore the lands. The country + suited them so well that many of the Indians emigrated at once. The + General Government thus had an opportunity to carry out the contract of + 1802, but failed to do so. It had another opportunity in 1814, when the + conquered Creeks sued for peace. The General Government had the right to + demand of them the cession of the land they occupied in Georgia. Instead, + it took land in Alabama, which it sold for its own benefit. + </p> + <p> + And so the matter went on from year to year, and the people waited + patiently; for they had become aware, from costly experience, that one of + the prices they have to pay for popular government is the occasional rule + of the political demagogue. + </p> + <p> + In 1827, when the people of Georgia began to grow restive under the + failure of the government to carry out its contracts, the Cherokees had + declared themselves to be an independent state. They had their own printed + constitution and code of laws. So that here in the limits of Georgia there + were three governments going on at one and the same time. The United + States prohibited any person from settling on Indian territory, or trading + with any Indian, without a special license from the proper authority. In + addition to this, the State of Georgia had found it necessary to extend + her criminal courts over the Cherokee territory, in order to protect her + own citizens. + </p> + <p> + The half-breeds among the Cherokees were very shrewd and unscrupulous. + They had caused some of their tribe to take possession of lands ceded to + Georgia by the Creeks, and in this way sought to add confusion to the + discussion that was then going on. The Indians took possession by force. + They were armed and painted, and led by Chief Ridge. Fourteen or fifteen + houses were burned by these savages, and the white women and children were + left exposed to the weather, the ground being covered with snow. + </p> + <p> + The great trouble with the Cherokees then and afterwards was, that the + government of their nation had fallen into the hands of half-breeds, whose + education only gave them fresh opportunities to gain wealth and power at + the expense of the rest of the tribe. They owned trading houses, big + plantations, numbers of slaves, had charge of the ferries, and controlled + all the traffic between the whites and the Indians. As these half-breeds + became wealthier, the rest of the tribe became poorer. They had forsaken + their primitive habits and customs, and taken up those of the most + depraved whites who lived among them. It is worthy of note that the most + progressive spirits among the Cherokees were in favor of emigration beyond + the Mississippi. The leaders of this party were natives of unmixed blood, + who saw that the control of the corrupt half-breeds was carrying the + nation to ruin. Several of these leaders were waylaid and shot down by the + agents of those whose policy they were opposing. The alarm in some + sections was very great. The citizens met, and adopted resolutions + requesting the government to station troops at suitable points, for the + protection of the lives and property of the whites and friendly Indians. + </p> + <p> + Under an act of the Legislature, a body of militia had been organized, + under the name of the "Georgia Guard." It was the duty of the Guard to + protect the citizens of Georgia and the friendly Cherokees. John Howard + Payne, the famous author of "Home, Sweet Home," was arrested by this + Guard. The poet was traveling among the Cherokees for information, and was + no doubt ignorant of the state of feeling then existing. He was finally + suspected by the vigilant Georgia Guard of writing improper papers. He had + been seen making notes, and when he was arrested his papers were searched. + The commander of the Georgia Guard, Colonel William N. Bishop, reported to + the governor that he had examined some of Mr. Payne's papers, and found + some very improper and indiscreet statements about the President, the + government, and the State authorities, and many bitter remarks concerning + Cherokee matters. Evidently, Colonel Bishop was of the opinion, that, + while a politician or a newspaper editor might be allowed to indulge in + improper and indiscreet statements about Presidents and other public men, + a poet had no such rights. But the colonel finally discharged Mr. Payne + from custody, and the very foolish proceeding was condemned by a + resolution of the General Assembly. + </p> + <p> + In 1835 two parties had developed in the Cherokee nation. One was in favor + of removal to the Western lands, and the other was opposed to removal. + John Ridge headed the removal party, and John Ross the opposition. In + February of that year these men went to Washington at the head of + deputations, and entered into negotiations with the General Government. + After a great deal of talk, excitement, confusion, and trouble, the + Cherokee people finally concluded to hold a meeting at Red Clay in + October, 1835. There was a good deal of angry feeling between those of the + Cherokees who were in favor of a treaty of removal and those who were + opposed to it. Major Ridge, John Ridge, and David Vann were impeached for + holding opinions contrary to those held by the Cherokee authorities. On + the other hand, many of those in favor of removal met, and passed + resolutions, in which they declared that their people could not prosper in + the midst of a white population, and that, while they loved the lands of + their fathers, and would leave the place of their birth with regret, they + considered that it would be better to become exiles than to submit to the + laws of the State. + </p> + <p> + At the Red Clay meeting, arrangements were made for discussing with the + United States authorities the terms of a treaty of removal. The Ross party + was still violently opposed to removal. John Ross, the leader of this + party, was only one fourth Indian, the other three fourths being Scotch + and American. Ross was very shrewd and thrifty, and had accumulated a + great deal of property, with the prospect of accumulating more. He had + many sympathizers and admirers in all parts of the country. It seems to + have been thought a wonderful thing in that day, that a man one quarter + Indian should be able to read and write English, and make political + speeches. When everything had been arranged for the final treaty, and + while negotiations were going forward, Ross and his party put an end to + them, and went to Washington, where they hoped to delay matters. But the + Ridge party met the United States commissioners at New Echota on the 21st + of December, 1835, according to appointment, and on the 29th the treaty + was concluded. On May 23, 1836, it was ratified. + </p> + <p> + By the terms of this treaty, the Cherokees, in consideration of the sum of + five million dollars, relinquished all claims to lands east of the + Mississippi. In addition to the money to be paid, they were to receive + seven million acres of land west of the Mississippi. Should this territory + be found to be insufficient, the United States, in consideration of five + hundred thousand dollars, was to convey to them an additional body of + land. The land thus granted was not to be included within the limits of + any State at any future time. The Cherokees were guaranteed protection + against domestic strife and foreign enemies, and it was provided that the + tribe should be entitled to a delegate in the House of Representatives + whenever Congress passed a law to that effect. The United States + authorities were to remove the Cherokees to their new homes, and to + provide for their support for one year after they were settled. There were + other provisions, all in favor of the Cherokees. The Indians were to be + removed within two years after the ratification of the treaty. + </p> + <p> + Ross, and other leaders opposed to removal, had gone to Washington. While + there they were informed, by Major Ridge and others, of the treaty at New + Echota. Ross refused to make any reply to the communication, but tried to + make a new treaty. He was told that he could not be received to make a new + treaty. The attitude of the Ross party, together with certain threats that + had been made by their followers, led many citizens of Georgia to believe + that the Indians opposed to removal would, in accordance with their + character and history, revenge themselves by making night attacks on the + unprotected people. Consequently those most likely to be the victims of + such attacks petitioned the governor for arms, ammunition, and troops; and + these petitions were granted. A battalion of militia was raised, and + placed at Lashley's Ferry on the Coosa River, with orders to keep the + Cherokees in check, and also to prevent the Creeks from coming into + Georgia. Many of the Cherokees were disarmed; and five hundred muskets, + with ammunition, were sent into Cherokee County, for the use of the people + in the event of any hostile movement on the part of the Indians. + </p> + <p> + The State of Georgia was to take possession of the territory ceded by the + treaty on the twenty-fourth day of May, 1838, and the military were got in + readiness for removing the Indians. General Scott, of the United States + army, called on the governor of Georgia for two regiments, and to this + call there was a prompt response. By the 18th of May enough men had + arrived at New Echota, where the troops were to assemble, to organize a + regiment; and on the morning of the 24th the troops took up the line of + march for the purpose of collecting the Indians. This continued until the + 3d of June, when the troops and the Indians started for Ross's Landing on + the Tennessee River. About fifteen hundred Indians had been collected by + the Georgia troops, and these troops were then dismissed from the service + of the United States. + </p> + <p> + The rest of the work was done by the regular army, which, being divided + into small detachments, went about the Cherokee country, making prisoners + of family after family, and carrying them to the camps. The most careful + arrangements had been made to prevent cruelty or disorder, and there has + never been any complaint as to the manner in which the troops performed + their duty. Nearly the whole nation had been gathered into camps by the + end of June. At that time some of the Indians began their march to the + West; but the great body of the tribe, fourteen thousand in number, did + not begin their westward journey until September, owing to the hot + weather. Every arrangement that could be suggested was made for the + comfort of the Indians in their march; but from May, when the removal + began, to the time when the last company had completed its journey, more + than four thousand persons died. + </p> + <p> + One year afterwards, on the 22d of June, 1839, Major Ridge, John Ridge, + and Elias Boudinot, all of whom had taken an active part in negotiating + the treaty of removal, were assassinated. + </p> + <p> + Since their removal the Cherokees have prospered to a greater extent than + any other Indian tribe. They have a government of their own, flourishing + schools, and books and newspapers printed in their own language. It is the + only tribe of American Indians that has shown any desire or ability to + share in the benefits of civilization. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BEGINNING OF PARTIES IN GEORGIA. + </h2> + <p> + The first serious political division in Georgia after the Revolution had a + very curious beginning. There is always, of course, a division among the + people on great public questions as they arise. But the War of the + Revolution had so solidified public sentiment that nothing occurred to jar + it until the Yazoo Fraud created some division. Even then public sentiment + was so overwhelmingly opposed to the sale of the lands to the speculators, + that the few who favored it were not numerous nor respectable enough to be + called a party. + </p> + <p> + On the 24th of February, 1806, Mr. Josiah Glass, having come all the way + from North Carolina in search of a Mr. Robert Clary, went to the town of + Sparta with a warrant which he requested Judge Charles Tait to indorse. + This Judge Tait did in due form. The warrant was for negro stealing, and + was directed against Mr. Robert Clary. Mr. Clary was arrested by Mr. + Josiah Glass in Washington County, and was carried to Greene County + Superior Court. On the first day of the court, Mr. Josiah Glass wrote a + letter to Judge Tait, and requested him to attend, and take the + examination of a man then in his custody, who would make confessions + highly interesting to the State and the United States. Judge Tait, + accompanied by Squire Oliver Skinner, attended that night, and took a part + of the confessions of Mr. Robert Clary, and completed them the following + night. Then he gave Mr. Josiah Glass a certified copy of the same to take + with him to North Carolina, to which State he was taking Mr. Robert Clary, + on a warrant charging him with negro stealing. + </p> + <p> + Now, it seems that the warrant against Clary was merely intended as a + scheme to get him to North Carolina to testify against a man named + Collins. History has suppressed the confessions made by Mr. Robert Clary; + but it is certain that they contained a most offensive charge against + General John Clarke, whose patriotic services in behalf of the people + during the Revolution gave him great fame and popularity. No sooner did + John Clarke hear of this affair than he proceeded to act with his usual + promptness. When he learned the particulars about the taking of the + affidavit at night, he at once jumped to the conclusion that he had been + made the victim of a conspiracy. There had been some disagreement between + him and Hon. William H. Crawford; and as Judge Tait had been the partner + of Mr. Crawford, and was his firm friend,—for Crawford was a man + great enough to command and deserve friends,—General Clarke + suspected that Clary and Glass had been made tools of to damage his + reputation. General Clarke acted at once. He presented a memorial to the + Legislature, making certain charges against Judge Tait with respect to the + taking of the "dark-lantern affidavits," as they were called by his + friends. The Legislature found, as it ought to have done, that the charges + made in the memorial of General Clarke were unsupported by fact or + evidence. In the very nature of things, it could not be shown that an + honorable judge of the Superior Court of Georgia, in certifying to an + affidavit containing the confession of a mere adventurer, was engaged in a + conspiracy; but the question with which General Clarke had to deal was, + how did the offensive and malicious matter, contained in an affidavit + taken by a judge and one witness at night, become public property? If + General Clarke had been a more thoroughgoing politician, he would have + found a better way to confound his enemies than that which he adopted; but + he was deeply wounded by a foul charge made at night, and put in + circulation by means of nods and winks and whispers. His first recourse + was to the Legislature, consequently it had the effect of strengthening + both his friends and his enemies. His friends were indignant at the action + of the Legislature. His enemies professed to be astonished that arrogance + should fly so high as to bring before the Legislature unfounded charges + against a judge of the superior courts. + </p> + <p> + The legislative record is not as full as it might be. There was something + behind the Clary business that does not appear on the records of the House + and Senate. General Clarke wrote a pamphlet entitled "A Legacy for My + Children," in which, according to Judge Garnett Andrews (see + "Reminiscences of an Old Georgia Lawyer"), the matter of his memorial to + the Legislature is differently stated. According to Judge Andrews, who + bases his authority on General Clarke's pamphlet and on the testimony of + those who were familiar with the facts, Clary was arrested and carried + before Judge Tait on a charge of stealing horses. Clary charged General + Clarke with complicity. Mr. Crawford was the prosecuting attorney. General + Clarke accused Judge Tait and Mr. Crawford with instigating Clary to make + the charge. + </p> + <p> + The truth seems to be, that Clary, knowing the differences that existed + between these distinguished men, sought to help his own case by making the + charge against General Clarke, and that the latter was quite ready to + believe that his two opponents had originated the charges for the purpose + of doing him a mortal injury. Feeling assured of the justice of his cause, + he appealed to the Legislature. This failing, he took the matter into his + own hands. He challenged Mr. Crawford, shot him through the wrist, and + then challenged him again. A little later, cantering along a street in + Milledgeville on his fine sorrel horse, General Clarke saw Judge Tait + before him in a sulky. He spurred his horse forward, and laid his whip + across the judge's shoulders two or three times. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0033" id="linkimage-0033"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/238.jpg" alt="General Clarke Whips Judge Tait 237 " + width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + These events created great excitement throughout the State. There had + already been controversy and division caused by the duel between Mr. + Crawford and Van Allen, a cousin of President Van Buren, and at that time + attorney-general of the State. Van Allen was killed; and there was a great + controversy in Georgia, in consequence, as to who was right and who was + wrong. This excitement became furious in the course of the contest between + Clarke and Crawford. Crawford was fortunately lifted out of it by being + made a United States senator in 1807. His distinguished career afterwards + is well known. He was minister to France, secretary of the treasury, + Vice-President of the United States, and would have been elected President + but for reports circulated throughout the country that he had been + stricken down with a fatal illness. But the contest between the Clarke and + Crawford parties continued to rage. Whatever issue the Clarke men were + favorable to, the Crawford men opposed. Whatever scheme the Clarke men + suggested, the Crawford men fought. There was nothing polite about the + contest. People who wore gloves pulled them off. In cold weather the + voters were warm, and in hot weather they were steaming. The contest went + on before elections, and was kept up with just as much energy after + elections. No vote could settle it, and no success could quiet it. It was + in the nature of a political squabble, covering the whole State, dividing + districts, counties, cities, towns, villages, settlements, beats, + crossroads groceries, and families. It was a knock-down-and-drag-out + fight, in which hair pulling, gouging, and biting were allowed. + </p> + <p> + While Crawford was advancing step by step in national politics, his party + in Georgia took up George M. Troup, one of the most brilliant and + aggressive men in the State. The contest had been going on for twenty + years when Troup came upon the scene, in 1830, as a candidate for + governor. He had been a member of the State Legislature, a representative + in Congress, and a United States senator: therefore in 1820, when he was + nominated for governor by the Crawford party, he was ripe in experience. + He was forty years old, and full of the fire and energy that marked his + whole career. The Crawford party now became the Troup party, and the + contests that followed were the most exciting that ever took place in the + State before, or that have ever taken place since. + </p> + <p> + At that time the General Assembly elected the governor, the people + selecting members favorable to the candidates they preferred. As the + result of the first campaign between the Clarke and Troup parties, General + John Clarke was elected by a majority of thirteen legislative votes. When + Governor Clarke's term expired, he was again opposed by Troup, and was + again elected, but this time by a majority of only two legislative votes. + In 1823, Matthew Talbot represented the Clarke party, but was defeated by + Troup. In 1825, General Clarke again entered the contest. The election was + no longer in the hands of the Legislature, but was by popular vote. + Governor Troup's treatment of the Indian question, and the firm stand he + had taken in favor of the rights of the State, had materially increased + his influence, and he was elected over Clarke by a majority of 683 votes. + </p> + <p> + Curious to relate, the old Clarke party became the Union party, and in + 1840 was the Democratic party. The Crawford party became the States Rights + party, and in 1840 was the Whig party. Such was the evolution of parties + in Georgia. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A QUEER CASE. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0034" id="linkimage-0034"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/241.jpg" alt="A Queer Case 241 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + A very queer, not to say mysterious case, was brought to trial in Jones + County in 1837, at the April term of the Superior Court. It has had no + parallel in Georgia before or since, and had none in any other country, so + far as the present writer is aware, until the celebrated Tichborne case + was brought to trial in England a few years ago. The Bunkley case created + quite as much excitement, and caused quite as much division in public + opinion in Georgia, as the Tichborne case did in England. + </p> + <p> + Jesse L. Bunkley belonged to a good family in Jones County, and when he + came of age would have fallen heir to an estate worth forty thousand + dollars. An effort was made to give him all the advantages of education, + but these he refused to accept. He was a wild boy, and was fonder of wild + company than of his books. He went to school for a while in Eatonton, but + got into some scrape there and ran away. He was afterwards sent to + Franklin College, now the State University, where he entered the grammar + school. Such discipline as they had in those days was irksome to young + Bunkley, and he soon grew tired of it. He left the college, and, after + roving about for a while, returned to his home in Jones County. In his + twentieth year, 1825, being well supplied with money, he left his home for + the purpose of traveling. He went to the Southwest, and in that year wrote + to his mother from New Orleans. + </p> + <p> + No other letter was received from him during that year or the next, and in + 1827 word was brought to Jones County that Jesse Bunkley was dead. The + rumor, for it seems to have been nothing more, was regarded by the family + as true. At any rate, no attempt was made to investigate it. Jesse was the + black sheep of the family; he had been away from home a good deal; his + conduct when at home had not been such as to commend him to the affections + of his people; and his mother had married a third husband, a man named + Lowther: consequently the vague news of the young man's death was probably + received with a feeling of relief. There was always a probability that + such a wild and dissipated youngster would come to some bad end; but with + his death that probability ceased to be even a possibility, and so, no + doubt with a sigh of relief, young Bunkley's people put aside the memory + of him. He was dead and buried. Those who survived him were more than + willing to take the care and trouble of managing the estate which young + Bunkley would have inherited had he returned and claimed it. + </p> + <p> + But in 1833, Major Smith of Jones County received a letter purporting to + be from Jesse L. Bunkley, and it related to matters that both Smith and + Bunkley were familiar with. In December, 1833, Mrs. Lowther, his mother, + received a letter from a person claiming to be her son Jesse. The letter + was dated at the New Orleans prison. It appears from this letter that the + family of Bunkley had already taken steps to disown the person who had + written to Major Smith, and who claimed to be Jesse Bunkley. The letter to + Mrs. Lowther was very awkwardly written. It was misspelled, and bore no + marks of punctuation; and yet it is just such a letter as might be written + by a man who took no interest in his books when a schoolboy, and had had + no occasion to look into them or to handle a pen. He said in this letter + that he wrote to convince his mother that he was her own child, though it + appeared that she wished to disown him. This, he declared in his awkward + way, he knew no reason for, unless it was on account of his past folly. He + then went on to relate some facts about the family and his own school + days. The mother did not answer this letter, because, as she said + afterwards on the witness stand, she did not consider that it was from her + son. She was satisfied, she said, that the letter was not in her son's + handwriting. + </p> + <p> + The person claiming to be Jesse L. Bunkley reached Jones County some time + afterwards. His case, in the nature of things, excited great public + interest. Hundreds of people who had known Jesse recognized him in this + claimant. On the other hand, hundreds who had also known Bunkley when a + boy failed to recognize him in the claimant. Meanwhile those who had + charge of the Bunkley property took prompt action. They went before the + grand jury, and had the claimant indicted for cheating and swindling; and + thus began the celebrated case of the State against Elijah Barber, alias + Jesse L. Bunkley. + </p> + <p> + The claimant came to Jones County in 1836, was indicted in that year, and + his case was brought to trial in the Superior Court in April, 1837. A + great deal of time was taken up in the investigation. More than one + hundred and thirty witnesses were examined. Ninety-eight, the majority of + these being disinterested persons, declared that they believed the + claimant to be an impostor. More than forty disinterested persons declared + under oath that they believed the claimant to be Jesse L. Bunkley, and the + majority of these last witnesses had known Bunkley long and intimately. + </p> + <p> + The efforts of the prosecution were directed to showing that the man + claiming to be Jesse Bunkley was in reality Elijah Barber, who in 1824-25 + was a wagoner who hauled lumber from Grace's Mill near Macon, who was also + known in Upson County, and who had served in the Florida war. Some of the + witnesses who had never known Bunkley recognized the claimant as a man who + had called himself Barber. Some of the witnesses who had known Jesse from + his boyhood testified that they recognized the claimant as Bunkley on + sight. Bunkley had various scars on his face, neck, and body. The claimant + exhibited all these to the jury. One of the witnesses remembered that + Bunkley bore the marks of a snake bite on one of his legs. The claimant + immediately showed these marks. Hundreds of questions had been put to the + claimant to test his memory. A great many he answered correctly, a great + many others he failed to answer; but his replies to all vital questions + were wonderfully clear and satisfactory. The jury was out but a short time + before it returned, bringing in a verdict of guilty; and the claimant was + sentenced to the penitentiary, where he served out his term. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0035" id="linkimage-0035"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/245.jpg" alt="The Bunkley Trial 245 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + This verdict and sentence settled the case in law, but it remained as + unsettled as ever in the public mind. The writer of this has heard it + discussed on more than one occasion among old ladies and gentlemen who + knew Bunkley, and who saw the claimant; and, without exception, they + declared that the verdict of the jury was cruelly unjust. + </p> + <p> + And yet, if any wrong was done, Bunkley himself was to blame for it. Being + a young man of fortune and of the fairest prospects, he owed it to + himself, his family, his friends, and to society at large, to become a + good citizen, so that his ample means might be properly employed. Instead + of that, he became a rowdy and a rioter, spending his days and his nights + in evil company and in dissipation. If the claimant in this mysterious + case was really Jesse Bunkley, it may be said of him that his sins had + found him out. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GEORGIA WIT AND HUMOR. + </h2> + <p> + The wit and humor of Georgia stand by themselves. They have no counterpart + in any other section of the country. Many attempts have been made to + imitate them, but there is always something lacking. The flavor, the + "bouquet," the aroma, is gone. The sun, the soil, the air, and even the + spring water, seem to have something to do with it. Just what, nobody + knows. Wit and humor are elusive,—they are unsubstantial. On the + other hand, the Georgia watermelon is something solid. It may be handled + and felt. It may be "thumped" and "plugged" and tested. Those who know + what a watermelon is and should be, know that there is none to compare + with the melons that are grown in Georgia, no matter what the variety. The + same may be said of the wit and humor that belong to Georgia. An old man—Uncle + Tom Norris he was called, on account of his gray hairs—was once + heard to say (speaking professionally), "Let me clap a drop of the + low-wines to my tongue, and I'll tell you what branch the fire was kindled + on." He was a distiller, and knew his business. One need not be an expert + to say the same of Georgia humor. It is almost possible to tell the very + militia district in which it originated. It carries not only the flavor, + but the color. + </p> + <p> + For a hundred years Georgia has remained the most democratic part of the + country. The sons of the richest men were put in the fields to work side + by side with the negroes, and were thus taught to understand the + importance of individual effort that leads to personal independence. It + thus happened that there was a cordial, and even an affectionate, + understanding between the slaves and their owners, that perhaps had no + parallel elsewhere. The poorer whites had no reason to hold their heads + down because they had to work for their living. The richest slave owners + did not feel themselves above those who had few negroes or none. When a + man called his neighbor "Colonel," or "Judge," it was to show his respect, + nothing more. For the rest, the humblest held their heads as high as the + richest, and were as quick, perhaps quicker, in a quarrel. + </p> + <p> + The Virginians and North Carolinians who settled in the Broad River region + intermarried, and spread out over middle Georgia. Those who were not akin + were bound to each other by ties of long acquaintanceship; but the + homogeneousness of the people, complete and thorough as it was, was not + marked by any monotony. On the contrary, character and individuality ran + riot, appearing in such strange and attractive shapes as to puzzle and + bewilder even those who were familiar with the queer manifestations. Every + settlement had its peculiarities, and every neighborhood boasted of its + humorist,—its clown, whose pranks and jests were limited by no + license. Out of this has grown a literature which, in some of its + characteristics, is not matched elsewhere on the globe; but that which has + been preserved by printing is not comparable, either in volume or merit, + with the great body of humor that has perished because of the lack of some + one industrious enough to chronicle it. + </p> + <p> + One of the most perfect types of the Georgia humorist was the late John M. + Dooly. Judge Dooly was a remarkable man in other respects, but it is his + wonderful fund of humor that has made his name famous in Georgia and + throughout the country. It has been told in these pages how Colonel John + Dooly was dragged from his bed by the Tories and murdered. This Colonel + Dooly was the father of John M., who was hid under the bed when the Tories + dragged his father out and murdered him. It might be supposed that such an + event would have a tendency to give a boy a very serious view of life. + Judge Dooly's views were no doubt serious enough; but they were + overwhelmed and overpowered by a temperament which found cause for + laughter in almost every person and passing event, and was the cause of + innocent mirth in others. + </p> + <p> + Judge Dooly was born in what he called the "Dark Corner" of Lincoln + County, which had not then been cut off from Wilkes. After the murder of + his father, the family was left in poverty. When he went to Washington, + the county seat of Wilkes County, to read law with Mr. Matthews, the + clothes he wore were in such a condition that he was compelled to confine + himself to the office in the daytime. He was very poor and very bright. + Old people who knew him when a boy, described him to Judge Garnett Andrews + as "a sallow, piney-woods-looking lad." "Piney-woods people" was the local + name for the tackies, the clay eaters, the no-accounts, that had settled + about on the poorer lands in that section of Georgia, and given themselves + over to thriftlessness for good and all. But young Dooly had that within + him which made him superior to the conditions and limitations of poverty. + Apart from his remarkable gift of humor, he had a native brilliancy of + mind that gave him an easy mastery over the principles of law that he + found in the books. He was admitted to the bar in 1798, and was + immediately successful as a lawyer. His education had been limited to that + which he found in the "old field schools," and in that day they were not + of the best; but such a mind as his needed only the rudiments, the rest + came as by instinct. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0036" id="linkimage-0036"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width: 22%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/250.jpg" alt="Judge Dooly 250 " /> + </div> + <p> + Judge Dooly was not a student while practicing at the bar. He had + thoroughly mastered the principles, the groundwork, of the law; and his + mind, as logical as it was brilliant, fitted these principles to every + case he had charge of. His love of humor, and his fondness for the society + of those who preferred fun and frolic, placed many temptations in his way, + and some of these he did not always resist; but the faults he had were the + faults of the time in which he lived, the faults of the society in which + he was brought up and by which he was surrounded. Judge Dooly has been + described by a contemporary as having a large head, with a bold, high + forehead, heavy eyebrows, prominent nose, a small compressed mouth, and + large, vivid, sparkling eyes, which, when the spirit of humor had + possession of him, illuminated his countenance as if an electric battery + were in play. + </p> + <p> + On one occasion, Judge Dooly had been challenged by Judge Tait,—the + same Judge Tait who had made himself so obnoxious to General John Clarke. + Judge Tait had a wooden leg; and Judge Dooly, in replying to the + challenge, referred to this fact, and said he did not think they could + fight on equal terms. He hoped his refusal would not be interpreted as a + reflection on the misfortunes of Judge Tait. This reply made Judge Tait + more indignant than ever. He wrote a severe reply, suggesting to Judge + Dooly that his refusal to fight was the result of cowardice rather than a + desire not to shed the blood of an unfortunate cripple. In answer to this + insinuation, Judge Dooly declared boldly that he was ready to fight his + adversary on anything like equal terms. He announced that he would meet + Judge Tait anywhere, on any day, and exchange a shot with him, provided he + (Judge Dooly) was allowed to stand on the field of honor with one leg in a + bee-gum! The bee-gums of that day were made of sections of hollow trees. + Naturally this remarkable proposition made Judge Tait madder than ever, + and he wrote to Judge Dooly that he intended to publish him as a coward. + Judge Dooly calmly informed Judge Tait by letter that he had no sort of + objection to the publication, provided it was at Tait's expense. He + declared, that, for his part, he would rather fill a dozen newspapers than + one coffin. These unexpected strokes of humor disarmed the anger of Judge + Tait, and set the whole State in a roar. They did more: they cleared the + political atmosphere, and took the edge off of party rancor, which was at + that time very fierce and keen. + </p> + <p> + Once, when dining at a public table, Dooly said something or did something + to irritate Major Freeman Walker. The latter, remarking that he had borne + with the liberties taken by Judge Dooly quite long enough, said he + proposed to resent them then and there. The attack on his feelings had + been made in public, and he proposed to resent it in public. Seizing a + chair, he advanced on Judge Dooly. The judge seized a carving knife, and + braced himself for defense. Several gentlemen caught hold of the judge to + prevent him from using the knife, while only one held Major Walker. + Surveying the scene, Judge Dooly calmly remarked, "Gentlemen, one of you + will be sufficient to prevent me from doing any mischief. The rest of you + had better hold Walker." The explosion that this remark created put even + Major Walker in good humor, and he and the judge settled their differences + in the most amiable and rational manner. + </p> + <p> + When the Legislature passed severe laws against gaming, Judge Dooly + enforced them rigidly. Some of the gamblers were brought to trial and + fined, and others were only saved from arrest by the fact that they kept + out of the way when court was in session. + </p> + <p> + But one night in Washington, Wilkes County, after the judge had been + holding court all the week and had closed the term, he went to his room in + the hotel and made all preparations to retire. He had barely settled + himself in bed, when he heard a noise in an adjoining room, and soon + discovered that a game of faro was going on. The noise disturbed him so, + that he dressed himself, went to the room, and told the players, that, + having tried all legal methods to break them up, and failed, he was now + determined to try another plan. He thereupon seated himself at the table, + and before the night was spent broke the bank. He then told the gamblers + to clear out, and be more careful in future how they interfered with the + court. + </p> + <p> + Once when sitting up late at night, trying a very complicated case, the + sheriff voluntarily placed on the bench beside the judge a small pitcher + half filled with toddy. When he had finished the toddy, the judge called + to the officer, "Mr. Sheriff, fetch in some more water out of the same + spring." A murder case was once tried before him. The point in the case + was whether the prisoner had shot in self-defense. There was a good deal + said by the lawyers about the right to shoot. The jury, intending to + justify the prisoner, brought in this verdict: "The prisoner has a right + to shoot." When this verdict was read to the court, the judge held up his + hands in pretended alarm, and cried out, "Mr. Sheriff, don't let him shoot + this way!" + </p> + <p> + A story is told of Judge Dooly and Tom Peter Carnes, another rare + humorist, that fairly illustrates the statement made in the beginning of + this chapter in regard to the plain and democratic character of the people + who settled Middle Georgia. Dooly and his friend Carnes were traveling to + court, having gone without breakfast in order to be up and on their way at + an early hour. At last they reached the place where they were to get + breakfast, and called for it with some show of impatience. The lady of the + house, however, was in no hurry. She said that they should have breakfast + the moment Charles came. So she called for Charles, blew the horn for + Charles, and finally sent for Charles. When Charles put in an appearance, + the two travelers found that he was a big negro, so black and fat that he + fairly glistened when the sun shone on him. Naturally Dooly and Carnes + were surprised. They were still more surprised when the negro's mistress + said in a coaxing tone, "Now, Charles, I do wish you would sit down and + let the gentlemen eat, as they are in a hurry to go to court." Charles + didn't like so much company; but he finally sat down to the table, on + which there was a big bowl of clabber, three "hunks" of corn bread, and + three pewter spoons. "Now, Charles," said the woman, "do eat, and then the + gentlemen will begin." Making the best of the situation, and somewhat + enjoying the humor of it, Dooly and Carnes sat down at the table and began + to eat. Carnes shook his big spoon at the negro, and cried out, "Now, + Charles, you must spoony on your own side;" and he kept on warning him, + "Spoony on your own side, Charles, spoony on your own side." The two + lawyers ate until Charles's spoon began to make raids on their side of the + bowl, and then they abandoned the feast to him and went on their way. + </p> + <p> + A landlord of a hotel, having heard some of the lawyers, among them Judge + Dooly, bragging about the toothsomeness of a baked pig they had tasted, + probably at Milledgeville during the session of the Legislature, concluded + that he would surprise and please them by having something in that line + himself. + </p> + <p> + He was either ignorant or ill-advised; for, instead of baking a suckling + pig, he roasted a half-grown pig, stuffed him, put an apple in his mouth, + and stood him upon his stumps in a dish. In those days the seat of honor + at the head of the hotel table was reserved for the judge of the court At + the head of the table Mr. Pig was placed, facing Judge Dooly's seat. The + judge and the lawyers came in, sat down, and ate dinner in comparative + silence. They were overawed by Mr. Pig. Though the carving knife lay + handy, and the landlord and his wife were watching with impatience and + uneasiness to see what the lawyers would say when they had tasted this + particular roast pig, no one dared to touch it. At supper Mr. Pig was + still standing defiantly in his place. He presided at every meal during + the day following. On the morning of the second day, when Judge Dooly came + to the table, Mr. Pig was in his old position. Thereupon the judge bowed + to him gravely. "Good-morning, sir!" he said. "I am afraid you have lost + your appetite, seeing you have not eaten that apple yet. I presume you are + tired attending court.—Mr. Sheriff, you may discharge him on his own + recognizance, until court in course, seeing we shall have no further use + for him at this session, and return him the thanks of the court for his + prompt and faithful attendance." + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0037" id="linkimage-0037"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:34%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/255.jpg" alt="The Roast Pig 255 " /> + </div> + <p> + Judge Dooly was a member of the Clarke party; but on one occasion, when he + was a candidate for reëlection to the judgeship of the northern circuit, + some of the Clarke men declared that Governor Troup's warlike message was + an evidence that he was mad. Judge Dooly made the comment, "If he is mad, + I wish the same mad dog that bit him would bite me." This happy remark + came to the ears of the Troup men in the Legislature, and it so pleased + them that they put an end to all opposition to the judge in the election. + </p> + <p> + Judge Dooly was one of the most charitable of men. He once refused to give + alms to an unfortunate woman in Savannah, and the refusal haunted him all + his life He declared that it taught him never to let Satan cheat him out + of another opportunity to help the unfortunate; that he had determined to + err on the safe side ever after. + </p> + <p> + Just before he died, a friend called to ask after his condition. His reply + was that he had a bad cold without any cough to suit it. And so, humor + bubbling from his lips to the last, there passed away, on the 26th of May, + 1827, the rarest humorist that Georgia, the especial mother of humorists, + has ever produced. Judge Dooly had a humor that was as illuminating as it + was enlivening. It stirred to laughter or it moved to tears, according as + this wonderful man chose to direct it. + </p> + <p> + A great deal of the humor that originated in Georgia has been printed in + books. We find it in Judge Long-street's "Georgia Scenes," in Major + Jones's "Travels," in Colonel Richard Malcolm Johnston's "Stories of + Georgia Life," and in other volumes that have attracted public attention. + But the best of it has been lost. It originated when the lawyers were + riding about on horseback or in buggies from court to court, and tradition + has only preserved a small part of it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SLAVERY AND SECESSION. + </h2> + <p> + The dispute over slavery, which had been going on for many years, grew + furious in 1850; and its fury increased until, in 1860-61, it culminated + in the secession of the Southern States from the Union. Some of those who + have written the history of the secession movement contend that slavery + had little or nothing to do with the matter; that the South seceded + because the North had refused to grant her people their rights guaranteed + under the Constitution. This is true as far as it goes; but the fact + remains, that secession and the war grew out of the efforts of the + abolitionists of the North, and those who sympathized with them, to keep + slavery out of the Territories, and to prevent the new States then forming + from becoming slave States. There is no doubt that these efforts were + illegal and unconstitutional; and yet, in the minds of those who made + them, constitutionality was not a sufficient excuse for slavery, which, + whatever might be its political status, was morally wrong: that is to say, + they believed that such a wrong as slavery could not be justified by paper + constitutions and the like. Some of the more extreme abolitionists of the + North were just as ready to secede from the Union that recognized slavery + as the Southerners were to break up a Union whose constitutional + guaranties meant nothing. + </p> + <p> + It must be borne in mind that the antislavery movement began in the South. + While slavery was in full blast both North and South, Thomas Jefferson, + the greatest political leader the South has ever produced, was at the head + of an emancipation movement, and in all parts of the South there were men + whose minds revolted at the possibilities that swarmed about human + slavery. Georgia was the only one of the Original Thirteen Colonies in + which slavery was prohibited, and we have seen how this prohibition was + repealed at the demand of the planters. Seven Northern States, finding + slavery unprofitable, abolished the system, and a majority of the slaves + were sold to the Southern States. But the emancipation movement went on in + the South. There were more than fifty thousand free negroes in Virginia in + 1856, and there were a great many in Georgia. A number of planters in + Georgia, the most prominent among them being Alfred Cuthbert, emancipated + their slaves, and arranged to send them to Liberia. + </p> + <p> + Nevertheless the invention of the cotton gin did more to strengthen the + cause of slavery than all other events combined. It became more profitable + than ever to own slaves; and in this way, and on this account, all the + cotton-growing States became interested in the system. They had the excuse + not only that slavery was profitable, but that self-interest combined with + feelings of humanity to make it a patriarchal institution. And such, in + fact, it was. It is to the glory of the American character and name, that + never before in the history of the world was human slavery marked by such + mildness, such humanity, as that which characterized it in the United + States. + </p> + <p> + But all such considerations as these, as well as the moral objections to + slavery of any sort, humane or cruel, were lost sight of in the great + controversy that grew so furious in 1850. In that controversy some of + Georgia's ablest men took part,—men who were famous as statesmen all + over the country. There were Alexander H. Stephens, who afterwards became + the Vice-President of the Confederacy; Robert Toombs, whose fiery and + impetuous character and wonderful eloquence made him a man of mark; Howell + Cobb, who was speaker of the House of Representatives; Herschel V. + Johnson, who was a candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with Stephen + A. Douglas in 1860; Benjamin H. Hill, who was just then coming into + prominence; and Joseph E. Brown, whose influence on the political history + of the State has been more marked than that of any other individual. + </p> + <p> + The controversy growing out of the slavery question became so warm that it + led to the breaking-up of parties in 1850. Stephens and Toombs, who had + been Whigs, united with Howell Cobb, who was a Democrat. Other Southern + Whigs united under the name of the American party. At the North the Whigs + either joined the Republican party or united with the American party. The + spirit of disunion was rampant in all parts of the South. In Georgia the + Legislature had called a State convention, and a great effort was made by + some of the politicians to commit the State to secession. Both Toombs and + Stephens were strong Union men, and they opposed the spirit and purpose of + the call for the convention. The speeches that Toombs had made in Congress + were garbled by the newspapers, and he was made to appear as favoring + immediate secession. He made short work of that scheme, however. He + returned to Georgia in the fall of 1850, and immediately began one of the + most extraordinary campaigns that has ever taken place in the State. He + was in the prime of life. His fiery energy, his boldness, his + independence, and his dauntless courage, were in full flower. He took + issue with what seemed to be the unanimous sentiment of the State. He + declared that the call for the convention had dishonored the State. He + sent out a ringing address to the people, urging the South to stand by the + Constitution and the laws in good faith. + </p> + <p> + By the time the convention was held, the efforts of Toombs, supplemented + by those of Stephens and other conservative men, had turned the tide of + disunion. Whigs united with Democrats. When the returns of the election + were made known, it was found that a large majority of the members were + for the Union. "With no memory of past differences," said Toombs, + "careless of the future, I am ready to unite with any portion or all of my + countrymen in defense of the integrity of the Republic." So it was that + the convention met, and adopted what is known in our political history as + "The Georgia Platform." This platform said that Georgia held the American + Union secondary in importance to the rights and principles it was bound to + perpetuate; that, as the Thirteen Colonies found union impossible without + compromise, the thirty-one of that day would yield somewhat in the + conflict of opinion and policy, to preserve the Union; that Georgia had + maturely considered the action of Congress in adopting the compromise + measures, and, while she did not wholly approve that action, would abide + by it as a permanent adjustment of this sectional controversy; that the + State would in future resist, even to the disruption of the Union, any act + prohibiting slavery in the Territories, or a refusal to admit a slave + State into the Union. + </p> + <p> + Thus the Union was saved in 1850 by the very man who had been charged with + trying to break it up. The eyes of the whole South were turned to Georgia + during that campaign; and when the people, under the leadership of Toombs, + Stephens, and Howell Cobb, voted to save the Union, the tide of disunion + was turned everywhere. The Georgia platform was made the platform of the + constitutional Union party in the Southern States. In Mississippi, Henry + S. Foote, the Union candidate, defeated Jefferson Davis for governor. The + action of Georgia strengthened the Union sentiment in all parts of the + country. + </p> + <p> + For a while the situation was secure and satisfactory; but, in the nature + of things, this could not last. The politicians were busy while the people + were asleep. The Know-nothing party sprang up in a night, and divided the + people again; and in Congress the slavery discussion was renewed with + extreme bitterness over the bills to admit the Territories of Kansas and + Nebraska as States. This controversy was even more exciting than that + which resulted in the Compromise Laws of 1850. Following close upon this + agitation came John Brown's raid into Virginia, and his attack on Harpers + Ferry. In ordinary times this raid would have been regarded with contempt + by the Southern people. It was a ridiculous affair,—the act of a man + who had worked himself up into a frenzy of folly. If the people themselves + had not been influenced by passion cunningly played on by the smaller + politicians in both sections, poor old John Brown would not have been + regarded as a murderer by the South nor as a martyr by the North. He would + have been an object of pity to the sensible men of both sections. + </p> + <p> + But the state of public opinion was such at that time, that this + ridiculous venture of a crazy old man was a tremendous shock to the South. + It contributed more largely than any other event to alarm the people of + this section, and to turn their minds to secession as a relief from, and a + remedy for, such attacks upon the peace and good order of society. It was + a great stimulant to those who had long been in favor of disunion, as well + as to those at the North who were ready to get rid of slavery by violence. + Following this raid, public opinion both North and South became so + violently agitated, that the voices of conservative men could not be heard + above the storm. It was the hour of the agitator and the extremist, and + they made the most of it. The Democratic Convention, to nominate a + candidate for President and Vice-President, met in Charleston on the 23d + of April, 1860, and remained in session until the second day of May. The + confused state of public opinion was shown by the turbulent division in + that convention. + </p> + <p> + At a moment when the wise men of the Democratic party, or of any party, + ought to have taken hold of affairs and made their influence felt, they + seemed to be unequal to the occasion. The members of the convention could + not agree, and the body adjourned to meet in Baltimore. But the division + continued and grew wider. The differences could not be settled. One + faction nominated Douglas and Johnson, and the other nominated + Breckinridge and Lane. The result was the election of Lincoln and Hamlin + as the candidates of the Republican party. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0038" id="linkimage-0038"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:30%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/264.jpg" alt="Georgia Politics 264 " /> + </div> + <p> + In Georgia three of the ablest men still stood for the Union,—Alexander + H. Stephens, Herschel V. Johnson, and Benjamin H. Hill. But they were + unable to stem the tide. The vote of the State for members of the + convention that passed the ordinance of secession showed a majority of + only thirteen thousand for disunion; but Toombs, Thomas R. R. Cobb, Howell + Cobb, and others seized the advantage that events gave them, and, in a + whirlwind of passion, swept aside all the arguments and appeals of the + more conservative men. But, of all those who were in favor of secession, + Toombs was at that time the most powerful and influential. He so managed + matters in Congress as to make the secession of Georgia follow the + inevitable failure of measures that he proposed in that body. + </p> + <p> + With the people of the South, and indeed with the people of the whole + country, divided between three parties, the election of a Republican + candidate was a foregone conclusion. Following this came secession, with + all the terrible disasters of a war in which the South could not have + hoped to succeed if reason and common sense had ruled. If the South had + fought for her constitutional rights in the Union and under the old flag, + the result might have been different. She would have had the active + sympathy and support of that large and influential body of Northern men + who were sincerely anxious to see the terms of the Constitution faithfully + carried out. But disunion was more than these constitutional Democrats + could stand. Daniel Webster had solidified their love for the Union, and + no consideration of party could affect it. + </p> + <p> + The course of the South, considering all that was involved, should have + been conservative; but it was not. It is perfectly well known now that + Abraham Lincoln was willing to sacrifice the abolition party on the altar + of the Union. He was prompt to announce his policy in this respect. But + secession came, and with it came the doom of slavery. That all was ordered + by Providence, it would be foolish to deny; and yet it is impossible not + to regret the great sacrifice of blood and treasure that was demanded by + the unhappy war that followed secession. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FARMER BOY OF GADDISTOWN. + </h2> + <p> + In 1857, when Bob Toombs was looking after his large landed possessions in + Texas, and bringing the squatters to terms, he received a letter from one + of his political friends, announcing that the Democratic State Convention + had adjourned after nominating Joseph E. Brown as a candidate for + governor. Toombs was traveling with a party of friends, and to one of them + he read the letter. Then in a dazed way he asked, "Who is Joe Brown?" His + friend knew no more about Joe Brown than Senator Toombs did, and all the + way home the travelers were puzzling themselves with the question, "Who is + Joe Brown?" They were destined to find out; for the convention that + nominated Joe Brown for governor brought to the front in Georgia politics + one of the most remarkable men the State has ever known. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after his return to Georgia from Texas, Toombs was compelled to + meet Joe Brown to consult in regard to the details of the campaign in + which both were interested. It must have been an interesting meeting. It + was as if Prince Charlie and Cromwell had met to arrange a campaign. It + was a meeting between Puritan and Cavalier. Toombs was full-blooded, + hotheaded, impetuous, imperious. Joe Brown was pale, angular, awkward, + cold, and determined. It was as if in a new land the old issues had been + buried. Toombs was a man of the people, but in his own way, and it was a + princely and a dashing way. Brown was a man of the people, but in the + people's way; and it was a cold, calculating, determined, and common-sense + way. Howell Cobb had written to Toombs to go to the aid of Brown, + expressing a fear that the nominee, being a new and an untried man, would + not be able to hold his own against Ben Hill, who was the candidate of the + American or Know-nothing party for governor. So the dashing and gallant + senator sought out the new and unknown Democratic candidate for governor, + and had a conference with him. Toombs found the young man strangely cold + and placid, and yet full of the determination that martyrs are made of. He + found that Joe Brown had already mapped out and arranged the plans for his + campaign, and the more experienced politicians saw nothing to change in + them. They were marked by shrewdness and sagacity, and covered every + detail of party organization. This was satisfactory; but how could the + young man sustain himself on the stump against such a speaker as Ben Hill, + who, although a young man, was a speaker of great force and power? Toombs + thought it would be better to meet Hill himself, and he started out with + that purpose; but when he heard Joe Brown make two or three speeches, and + saw the tremendous effect he produced on the minds of the audiences that + assembled to hear him, the older campaigner went home, satisfied that + young Brown needed no instruction and no coaching in the difficult art of + influencing the people and winning their votes. + </p> + <p> + The personal history and career of Joseph E. Brown should be studied by + every ambitious boy in the land, especially by those who imagine they + cannot succeed because they lack opportunities that money and friends + would obtain for them. From 1857 to the close of the war, and after, the + political history of Joe Brown is the history of the State; but that + history, attractive as it is, is not so interesting as his struggle to + make a name for himself in the world. Joseph E. Brown was born in Pickens + County, South Carolina, and was the eldest of eleven children. His family + was English. His grandfather fought manfully against the British and + Tories in the Revolutionary War. His father fought under Andrew Jackson + during the War of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans on the 8th of + January, 1815. + </p> + <p> + Joe Brown was born in 1821. His parents were not so well off as to be able + to send the lad continuously to school as he grew up. He had to "take his + chances." He was compelled to work in the fields in season, and was + permitted to go to school only when there was nothing for him to do on the + little farm. He did farm labor from the time he was eight until he reached + the age of nineteen, and the schooling he had received was only of the + most haphazard kind. + </p> + <p> + Before he was grown, his father moved from South Carolina into Georgia, + settling in Union County, near a little valley named Gaddistown. Up to + this time, though young Brown was nineteen years of age, he had learned + nothing but reading, writing, and arithmetic, and very little of these. He + was now compelled to work harder than ever. Settling in a new country, and + on new land that had to be cleared before it would yield a crop, the + Browns had as much as they could do to get the farm in order in time for + the planting season; and in this severe work, Joseph E., being the eldest + son, was the chief reliance of the family. He had a pair of small steers + with which he plowed; and when he wasn't plowing on the farm, he was + hauling wood and butter and vegetables to the small market at Dahlonega, + and taking back in truck and trade some necessary article for the family. + In this way he learned the lessons of patience, self-control, and tireless + industry that all boys ought to learn, because they are not only the basis + of content and happiness, but of all success. + </p> + <p> + When Joe Brown was twenty years old, his father allowed him to seek an + education. All he could do for the industrious and ambitious boy was to + give him his blessing and the yoke of steers with which he had been + plowing. With these young Brown returned to South Carolina and entered an + academy in Anderson district He gave the steers for eight months' board, + and went into debt for the tuition fee. In the fall of 1841 he returned to + Georgia and taught school for three months, and with the money he received + for this he paid for the schooling he had gone in debt for. He returned to + the Carolina academy in 1842, and went into debt not only for his + schooling, but for his board. His patience and his untiring industry + enabled him to make such rapid progress that within two years he had + fitted himself to enter an advanced class in college. But the lack of + means prevented him from entering college. Instead he returned to Georgia + and opened a school at Canton, Cherokee County. He opened this school with + six pupils, and the number rapidly increased to sixty, so that he was able + in a short time to settle the debts he had made in Carolina. He taught + school all day, and at night and on Saturdays devoted himself to the study + of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1845, and was at once successful. He + made no pretense of oratory; but his simple and unpretending style, his + homely and direct way of putting a case, and his faculty of applying the + test of common sense to all questions, were as successful with juries as + they afterwards proved to be with the people; and before the people he was + irresistible. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0039" id="linkimage-0039"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/270.jpg" alt="Joe Brown and his Steers 270 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + But he was not yet through with his studies. A friend advanced him the + money necessary to enter the Law School of Yale; and there, from October, + 1845, to June, 1846, when he graduated, he took the lead in all his + classes, and had time to attend lectures in other departments of the + college. He returned home, began active practice, and was soon prosperous. + He became a State senator, and was afterwards made a judge of the superior + courts. + </p> + <p> + When the Democratic Convention met in Milledgeville in 1857, for the + purpose of nominating a candidate for governor, it had so many popular + candidates to choose from, and these candidates had so many and such + strong friends, that the members found it impossible to agree on a man. A + great many ballots were taken, and there was a good deal of "log-rolling" + and "buttonholing," as the politicians call it, on behalf of the various + candidates by their special friends. But all this did no good. There was a + deadlock. No one of the candidates was able to obtain a two-thirds + majority, which, according to Democratic law, was the number necessary to + a nomination. Twenty-one ballots had been taken with no result, and the + convention had been in session three days. Finally it was decided to + appoint a special committee made up of three delegates from each + congressional district. It was the duty of this committee to name a + candidate on whom the convention could agree. When this committee retired, + it was proposed that a ballot be taken, each committeeman writing the name + of the candidate of his choice on a slip of paper, and depositing the slip + in a hat. This was done; but before the ballots were counted, Judge Linton + Stephens, a brother of Alexander H., stated that such a formality was not + necessary. He thereupon moved that Judge Joseph E. Brown of Cherokee be + selected as the compromise man, and that his name be reported to the + convention. This was agreed to unanimously, and Joseph E. Brown was + nominated; and yet, if the written ballots had been counted, it would have + been found that Alfred H. Colquitt, who afterwards became so distinguished + in Georgia, had been nominated by the committee. He received a majority of + one of the written ballots when they were afterwards counted through + curiosity. Twenty-three years later, Colquitt, who was then governor, made + Joseph E. Brown a United States senator under circumstances that aroused + strong opposition, and immediately afterwards Brown aided Colquitt to a + reelection in one of the bitterest contests the State has ever witnessed. + </p> + <p> + The unexpected nomination of Brown by the convention of 1857 introduced + into State politics the most potent element that it had ever known. The + nomination, surprising as it was, was not half so surprising as some of + the results that have followed it. At the moment the convention nominated + him, Joe Brown was tying wheat in one of his fields near Canton, in + Cherokee County. He was then judge of the Blue Ridge Circuit; and on the + day that his name was placed before the Democratic Convention at + Milledgeville, he had returned home. After dinner he went out into his + farm to see how his men were getting on. He had four men cutting wheat + with cradles, and he found the binders very much behind. About half-past + two o'clock he pulled off his coat and ordered the binders to keep up with + him. It was on the 15th of June, 1857. The weather was very warm, but he + kept at work all the afternoon. About sundown he went home, and was + preparing to bathe, when a neighbor, who had been to Marietta and heard + the news, rode to his house and told him about the nomination, which had + been made at three o'clock that afternoon. Telling about the incident + afterwards, Joe Brown, with a twinkle in his eye, said that he had heard + that a good many men were anxious to buy that wheat field, so as to have + an opportunity to tie wheat in it while a nominating convention was in + session. + </p> + <p> + The great majority of the people of the State were as much puzzled about + Joe Brown as Toombs was. Either they had not heard of him before, or they + had forgotten him. In those days a man who made a reputation in the + Cherokee country was not known to the rest of the State for a long time. + The means of communication were slow and uncertain. But the whole State + found him out just as Toombs did. He was prompt to begin the campaign. + Toombs had already left the Whig party, and was acting with the Democrats. + Stephens had left the Whigs, but had not become a Democrat. He was an + Independent. He was, as he expressed it, "toting his own skillet." Ben + Hill was Joe Brown's opponent, and these two met in debate before the + people on two or three occasions. It was thought at first that Mr. Hill + had the advantage of the tall and ungainly candidate from Cherokee, but + the end of the contest showed that the advantage was all the other way. + Mr. Hill was a man of very marked ability. He was one of the few good + speakers who could write well, and one of the few fine writers who could + speak well. He had courage, he had wit, he had learning, he had eloquence; + he had everything, in fact, to attract popular approval and entice a + popular following; but somehow, and until the very latest years of his + life, he fell far short of being a popular idol. He was showy and + effective before a mixed crowd, he never failed to attract applause, and + it was supposed that Brown was making a losing campaign; but the campaign + was going just the other way. Hill, in the course of his discussion, said + hundreds of things that the people applauded; while Brown said hundreds of + things that the people remembered, and carried home with them, and thought + over. Joe Brown was not only a man of the people, but a man of the country + people; and he pleased the city people who had formerly lived in the + country. The result of the campaign was that Know-nothingism was buried + out of sight in Georgia. Joe Brown was elected by more than ten thousand + majority, and the Democratic majority in the Legislature was overwhelming. + </p> + <p> + Although he was only thirty-six years old when he became governor, the + people began to call him "Old Judg<i>ment</i>." This was due no less to + his peculiar gift of hard common sense than to his peculiar pronunciation. + His speech and his ways were "countrified," and they remained so all the + days of his life. His voice was not musical, and he had a peculiar + drawling intonation, which, if it had been a little more nasal, would have + been an exact reproduction of the tone and manner of the Down-east Yankee. + He shared these peculiarities with hundreds of the descendants of the + Puritans who settled in the mountains of East Tennessee and North Georgia. + He had no wish for the luxuries of life; and though he lived comfortably, + he never, even when by close economy he had accumulated one of the largest + fortunes in Georgia, cared to live finely. He was a plain man at first and + a plain man at last, always temperate, industrious, and economical. + </p> + <p> + His term of office in the governor's chair was for two years, and at the + end of that time he had almost entirely remolded and refashioned his + party. He had stamped his own personality and character upon it, and it + became in truth and in fact the party of the people,—the common + people. In his management of State affairs he had introduced the plain + business methods suggested by common sense; he dispensed with all + unnecessary officials; he shook off all the hangers-on; he uprooted all + personal schemes: so that when the time came to nominate a man to succeed + him, it was found that the people had no other choice. His party thought + of no other name. + </p> + <p> + The year of Joe Brown's second nomination, as we have seen, was the year + that witnessed John Brown's ridiculous raid into Virginia. The people of + the South, however, thought it was a very serious matter, and the people + of Georgia were not different from those of the rest of the South. Some + very wise men allowed themselves to be led away by their passions. Even + Joe Brown, as Alexander Stephens once said, "tucked his judgment under the + bed" for the time being. Back of the indignation created by the John Brown + raid was the unconfessed and half-formed fear that the Northern + abolitionists would send their agents to the South and organize a negro + insurrection. Many of the Southern people remembered the horrors of San + Domingo, and there was a vague and an undefined but constant dread that + such a rising of the blacks would take place in the South. But there never + was any such danger in Georgia. The relations between the slaves and their + masters were too friendly and familiar to make such an uprising possible. + The abolitionists did send agents to the South to stir the negroes to + rebellion, and some of them came to Georgia, but in every instance their + mission became known to the whites through the friendliness of the blacks. + There was always some negro ready to tell his master's family when the + abolition agents made their appearance. Still the people resented to the + utmost the spirit that moved certain so-called philanthropists of the + North to endeavor to secure the freedom of the negroes by means of the + torch and midnight murder. + </p> + <p> + Consequently in 1859, when Joe Brown was nominated for governor the second + time, the people were greatly stirred. Sectional feeling ran high. In that + year began the active movement that led to secession and the civil war. If + all our statesmen had been as wise as Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hill, war would + have been averted. Slavery itself, in the very nature of things, was + doomed. It had accomplished its providential mission. It had civilized and + christianized millions of savages who had been redeemed from slavery in + their own land. It had justified its own ends, and would have passed away + in good time, no matter what compromise may have been made. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hill were opposed to secession. They were for + fighting, if there must be a fight, in the Union, and this was the true + policy. For a while the people of Georgia were earnestly in favor of this; + but the efforts of the abolitionists to stir the negroes to insurrection, + and the inflammatory appeals of some of the leading men, led them to + oppose a policy which was at once just, wise, and considerate. Even Joseph + E. Brown, cool, calculating, placid, and not easily-swayed by emotion, + became a disunionist, demonstrating once again that beneath the somber and + calm exterior of the Puritan is to be found a nature as combative and as + unyielding as that which marks the Cavalier. + </p> + <p> + Joe Brown was reelected in 1859, and did everything in his power as + governor to hasten the event of secession. The National Democratic + Convention met in Charleston, and the meeting showed that the differences + between the Democrats could not be settled; and it so happened, that, + while the South was opposed by the solid and rapidly growing Republican + party, the people of the South were divided among themselves. What is most + remarkable, the people of the South, after making the election of the + Republican candidate certain by dividing among themselves, seemed to be + amazed at the result. In some instances county meetings were held in + Georgia, and resolutions sent to the Legislature declaring the election of + Lincoln and Hamlin "a violation of national comity." Nothing could show + more clearly that the minds of the voters were upset. + </p> + <p> + On Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union, and the event was + made the occasion for great rejoicing by the secession element in Georgia. + Bonfires were kindled, guns were fired, and people seemed to be wild with + enthusiasm. Georgia did not secede until Jan. 19, 1861; but Governor Brown + did not wait for that event. He committed the first overt act of the war. + He seized Fort Pulaski, on the Savannah, Jan. 3, 1861. + </p> + <p> + On the 22d of January, ten cases of muskets belonging to a firm in Macon + were seized by the New York police after they had been placed on board a + vessel. Governor Brown sent a telegram to Governor Morgan, demanding the + release of these arms. Governor Morgan hesitated some time before he made + any response. Meanwhile, Governor Brown waited three days, and then + ordered the seizure of every ship in the harbor of Savannah belonging to + citizens of New York. Two brigs, two barks, and a schooner were seized and + held by the State troops. When this seizure was made known, Governor Brown + received official notification that the arms had been released. He + therefore ordered the release of the vessels. But when the agents of the + Macon firm made an effort to get the arms, they were refused. Promptly + Governor Brown seized other vessels, and caused them to be advertised for + sale. + </p> + <p> + This was merely the beginning of those greater events that cast a shadow + over the whole country. The farmer boy of Gaddistown was reelected + governor in 1861, and continued to hold the office until 1865. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GEORGIA IN THE WAR. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0040" id="linkimage-0040"> + <!-- IMG --></a> <br /> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img alt="279 (138K)" src="images/279.jpg" width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p> + When the Southern Confederacy was organized at Montgomery, Ala., there was + great enthusiasm all over the South, especially in Georgia; and this + feeling kept up until the State had given to the Confederate armies a + hundred and twenty thousand soldiers, twenty thousand more than its voting + population. By reason of the fame and number of its public men, Georgia + had a controlling influence in the organization of the new government. + Howell Cobb was president of the convention of the seceded States that met + in Montgomery on the fourth day of February, 1861; and it is well known + that the convention itself was in favor of making Robert Toombs president + of the provisional government that was there formed. Mr. Toombs, however, + expressly forbade the use of his name. The Georgia delegates then + concluded to support Jefferson Davis of Mississippi for president, and + Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia for vice-president. + </p> + <p> + Only a few men doubted that the South would conquer the North, and among + these was Herschel V. Johnson. There was an idea abroad, that one + Southerner could whip a dozen Northerners. Nobody knows how this idea got + out, nor why the absurdity of it was not plain to all; but the newspapers + were full of it, and the speech makers insisted on it so roundly that the + people began to believe it. One orator declared that he could take one + company of "Southrons," arm them with popguns, and run a regiment of + Yankees out of the country. Another stated that he would be willing to + drink all the blood that would be shed as the result of secession. It is + said that both of these orators were asked for an explanation by their + constituents after the war was over. The first said that the reason he + didn't run the Yankees out of the country with popguns was because they + wouldn't fight that way. The second one, who had promised to drink all the + blood, said that exposure in camp had interfered with his digestion, and + his appetite wasn't as good as it ought to be. + </p> + <p> + At this time and afterwards there was an overwhelming sentiment in favor + of the Union in some parts of North Georgia. The people of that section + had few slaves, and the arguments in favor of the protection of slavery in + the Territories did not appeal to them: consequently they were opposed to + secession. There was but one thing that prevented serious trouble between + these Union men and the State government, and that was the fact that Joe + Brown was governor. He knew the North Georgians thoroughly, and he knew + precisely how to deal with them. General Harrison W. Riley, a leading + citizen of Lumpkin County, declared that he intended to seize the mint at + Dahlonega, and hold it for the United States. This threat was telegraphed + to Governor Brown by some of the secession leaders in that part of the + State, and they appealed to him to send troops to Dahlonega at once, and + seize the mint by force. But the governor knew Riley and the people of + North Georgia too well to make any show of force. He knew that any such + demonstration would excite sympathy for Riley, and inflame the Union + sentiment there.. So Governor Brown wrote to some of Riley's friends, + telling them what he had heard, and saying that he had known General Riley + too long, and had too high an opinion of his good sense and patriotism, to + believe the report. At the same time the governor informed the + superintendent of the mint that the State of Georgia now held that + institution. The superintendent said he was willing to act under the + orders of the governor. + </p> + <p> + At Jasper, the county seat of Pickens County, the feeling of loyalty to + the Union was very strong. The delegate from that county to the State + convention had refused to sign his name to the ordinance of secession. + Soon after the State had seceded, the citizens of Jasper planted a pole, + and raised on it a United States flag, and kept it floating there for + several weeks in open defiance of the Confederate and State authorities. + This was an event to be delicately handled. The slightest mistake would + have created a state of feeling in North Georgia that would have given no + end of trouble during the whole war. But the Union flag floating in + Pickens County irritated the rest of the State; and hundreds of appeals + were made to Governor Brown to send troops to Jasper, and have the flag + taken down by force. To these appeals he made but one response, and then + turned a deaf ear to all criticism. "Let the flag float there," he said. + "It floated over our fathers, and we all love the flag now. We have only + been compelled to lay it aside by the injustice that has been practiced + under its folds. If the people of Pickens desire to hang it out and keep + it there, let them do so. I shall send no troops to interfere with it." + </p> + <p> + While this wise management on the part of Governor Brown did not change + the sentiments of the Union men of North Georgia, it prevented any serious + outbreak, and kept them soothed and quieted throughout the war. Matters + were managed differently in East Tennessee; and the result was, that the + Union men of that section went into the business of bushwhacking, and + created a great deal of trouble. While Governor Brown exercised authority + without regard for precedent, the time and the occasion being without + precedent, he was very wise and very prudent in meeting such emergencies + as those that arose in North Georgia. + </p> + <p> + By the time the election for governor came on, Joe Brown had aroused a + good deal of opposition. He had had a controversy with the Confederate + authorities because the latter had enrolled troops from Georgia without + first making a requisition on the governor. He had seized several cargoes + of salt which the speculators had been holding for higher prices. There + was at that early day, and all during the war, a salt famine in the South. + The farmers found it difficult to save their meat, owing to the scarcity + of salt. It is a curious fact, that, when the famine was at its height, a + pound of salt was worth a pound of silver. Foreseeing this famine, a great + many shrewd business men had laid in large stocks of salt, storing it + about in large warehouses in different parts of the State. They were about + to realize immense fortunes out of the sufferings of the people, when + Governor Brown stepped in and seized all the salt the State authorities + could lay hands on, and prohibited the shipment of the article out of the + State. The Legislature afterwards came to the support of the governor; but + if the matter had been discussed in the Legislature in advance of the + action of the executive, the speculators would have had timely notice, and + the State authorities would have found no salt to seize. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0041" id="linkimage-0041"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figright" style="width:33%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/284.jpg" alt="The Salt Famine 284 " /> + </div> + <p> + This salt famine was almost as serious as any result of the war, and it + hung over the State until the close of the contest. In thousands of + instances the planters who had been prodigal of salt before the war, dug + up the dirt floors of their smokehouses, and managed to extract a small + supply of the costly article. The Legislature was compelled to organize a + salt bureau, and for that purpose half a million dollars was appropriated. + The State, in self-defense, took into its own hands the monopoly of + manufacturing salt and of distributing it to the people. + </p> + <p> + The next difficulty with which the people of Georgia had to contend was + the Conscription Act. This act passed the Confederate Congress in April, + 1862. It had been recommended by Mr. Davis in a special message, and + Congress promptly passed it. Nobody in Georgia could understand why such a + law had been recommended, or why it had passed. It was the most ruinous + blunder of the Confederate Government during the war. If such a law was + necessary, it showed that the Confederacy had fallen to pieces. If it was + not necessary, its enactment was a stupendous piece of folly; and such it + turned out to be. Under the last call for troops for Confederate service, + Governor Brown had no difficulty in furnishing eighteen regiments. He + could have gone on furnish ing troops as long as there was any fighting + material left in the State; but as soon as the Conscript Act went into + operation, the ardor of the people sensibly cooled. The foolish law not + only affected the people at home, but hurt the army in the field. It was a + reflection on the patriotism of the whole Southern population. The law was + the occasion of a controversy between Governor Brown and President Davis, + in which Brown, in the nature of things, had a decided advantage; for the + Conscript Act wiped out the whole theory of State rights, on which the + people of the South depended to justify secession. But Georgia did not + stand in the way of the law. It was enforced, and the terms of its + enforcement did the work of disorganization more thoroughly than the hard + times and the actual war were doing it. + </p> + <p> + In March, 1863, the governor issued a proclamation convening the + Legislature in special session to discuss the subject of bread. This was a + very important subject at that time. In his message, the governor said + that the time had come for the farmers to raise bread instead of cotton. + He also laid before the Legislature' the reports of the distribution of + the fund of two and a half millions of dollars for the support of the + indigent families of soldiers. These reports showed what havoc the war had + created among the people of a State which, not much more than two years + before, was one of the most prosperous in the country. The fund had been + distributed among more than eighty-four thousand people. Of this number, + about forty-six thousand were children, twenty-four thousand were + kinswomen of poor living soldiers, eight thousand were orphans, four + thousand were widows of dead soldiers, and five hundred were soldiers + disabled in service. Governor Brown, out of his own barn, gave the people + of Cherokee County four thousand dollars' worth of corn. These events show + the straits to which the people had been reduced by two years of actual + war. + </p> + <p> + It should be borne in mind, however, that the people had to fight the + Union army in front, and the speculators and extortioners in the rear. + Governor Brown tried hard to make the lives of this latter class entirely + miserable, and he succeeded in a way that delighted the people. Wherever + he could get his hands on a speculator or extortioner, he shook him up. He + made many seizures, and confiscated the hoards of a great many men who had + influence with some of the newspapers; and in this way life in the State + was made almost as exciting as the experience of the soldiers at the + front. + </p> + <p> + In 1863, Governor Brown wanted to retire from office. The strain on his + health and strength had been very severe, and he felt that he was breaking + down. He wanted to make Toombs, who was then a general in the army, his + successor. But Brown's friends insisted that he should make the race. The + public opinion of Georgia and of the whole South insisted on it. So he + became a candidate for a fourth term. He had two opponents,—Joshua + Hill, who had been a strong Union man; and Timothy Furlow, who was an + ardent secessionist and a strong supporter of the Confederate + administration; but Governor Brown was elected by a large majority over + both candidates. + </p> + <p> + The war went steadily on, and during the year 1864 Georgia became the + battle ground,—the strategic point. This fact the Union commanders + realized very early, and began their movements accordingly. Virginia was + merely the gateway to the Confederacy, but Georgia was very near the + center of its vitality. This was shown by the fact that when Atlanta fell, + and Sherman began his destructive march to the sea, it was known on all + sides that the Confederate Government was doomed. This movement, strange + to say, was hastened by the Confederate authorities. General Joseph E. + Johnston, one of the greatest commanders of the war, was removed at a + critical moment, when his well-disciplined army had reached Atlanta. He + was ordered from Richmond to turn his army over to the command of General + Hood, and within a very few days the fate of the Confederacy had been + decided. Hood at once ordered an attack on Sherman's lines. He was + repulsed, and then compelled to evacuate the city. General Sherman + detached General Thomas from his main army to follow Hood on his march + toward the Tennessee, and moved across the State to Savannah. Within a + very few months thereafter the war was brought to a close. Colonel I. W. + Avery, in his "History of Georgia," says that on the thirty-first day of + December, 1864, one dollar in gold was worth forty-nine dollars in + Confederate money. The private soldier received eleven dollars of this + money for a month's service. He could buy a pound of meat with his month's + pay. He could buy a drink of whisky, and have one dollar left over. With + four months' pay he could buy a bushel of wheat. General Toombs once + humorously declared that a negro pressman worked all day printing money, + and then until nine o'clock at night to pay himself off. There was a grain + of truth in this humor,—just enough to picture the situation as by a + charcoal sketch. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A DARING ADVENTURE. + </h2> + <p> + On the 12th day of April, 1862, the anniversary of the firing on Fort + Sumter by the Confederates, a passenger train pulled out of the old car + shed in Atlanta. It was a "mixed" train, being composed of three freight + cars, a baggage car, and the passenger coaches. The train started from + Atlanta at an early hour, arrived at Marietta about daylight, and stopped + at Big Shanty, about seven miles north of Marietta, for breakfast. At + Marietta, early as the hour was, quite a crowd of passengers were waiting + to take the train. This excited no remark. There was a good deal of travel + and traffic on the State Road at that time, for it was the key to the + Confederacy—the one artery that connected the army at the front with + its source of supplies. + </p> + <p> + The conductor of the train was Captain William A. Fuller, of Atlanta. + Captain Fuller's title was not one of courtesy. He was a captain in the + Confederate Army, on detached service. The engineer in charge of the + locomotive was Jeff Cain. Mr. Antony Murphy, an employee of the road, was + also on the train. At Big Shanty the passengers were allowed twenty + minutes for breakfast, but the train men were in the habit of dispatching + their meal a little quicker than this, so as to see that everything about + the locomotive was shipshape when the conductor tapped the bell. Captain + Fuller, sitting at a table near a window, had a full view of the train. He + had hardly begun to eat before he saw the locomotive (the now famous + "General") and the three freight cars pull out, and heard the gong sound + as the cord snapped. He rose instantly and rushed from the breakfast room, + followed by Engineer Cain and Antony Murphy. He saw the "General" going at + full speed up the road with three freight cars attached. Without + hesitation Captain Fuller started after the flying train on foot, followed + by Cain and Murphy. Hundreds of soldiers were idling about the station. + They had no idea what was taking place. They thought either that the + locomotive had been carried up the track to take on or leave a freight + car, or that some practical joker was playing a prank. They showed their + enjoyment of the situation by laughing and cheering loudly when Captain + Fuller, followed by Engineer Cain and Mr. Murphy, started after the + "General "on foot. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0042" id="linkimage-0042"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="figleft" style="width:32%;"> + <img width="100%" src="images/289.jpg" alt="Capture of the Locomotive 289 " /> + </div> + <p> + The locomotive had been captured, and had the plan of its captors been + successful, a paralyzing, perhaps a fatal, blow would have been struck at + the Confederacy. The way the capture had come about was this: Early in + 1862 the Federal commanders planned an advance on Chattanooga; but the + fact that stood in their way was, that at various points along the line of + railroad leading from Atlanta to Chattanooga, Confederate troops had been + posted: consequently the moment an advance on Chattanooga was made, + soldiers and war supplies could be hurried forward to the relief of the + city. It was General Mitchell of the Federal army who planned the advance; + and it was J. J. Andrews, an active spy in the Union service, who planned + a raid by means of which it was intended to burn the bridges on the road + north of Marietta, cut the telegraph wires, and thus destroy for a time + the lines of transportation and communication between Atlanta and + Chattanooga, and make the capture of the last-named point an easy matter. + Andrews suggested to General Mitchell that a party of bold men could make + their way to a station on the Western and Atlantic Railway (called the + State Road because it was owned by the State), capture a locomotive, and + then steam towards Chattanooga, burning the bridges and cutting the + telegraph lines as they went along. Although there seemed to be small + chance for the success of such a daring adventure, General Mitchell gave + his consent to it, agreeing to pay Andrews sixty thousand dollars if he + succeeded. To aid him, Andrews was allowed to select a number of young men + who had already made a reputation in the Federal army for intelligence and + bravery. + </p> + <p> + There were twenty-four men in this small expedition when it started for + Chattanooga. They were under the command of Andrews, who was a tall, + handsome man with a long black beard. He was cold, impassive, and had the + air of one who is born to command. He was bold as a lion, and never once + lost his coolness, his firmness, or his decision. He and his men pretended + to be Kentuckians who had become disgusted with the Lincoln government and + were making their way South, where they might find more congenial company + than that of the ardent Union men who were their neighbors at home. This + story was plausible on the face of it, for many Southern sympathizers had + fled from Tennessee and Kentucky when the Federals began to take + possession of those sections. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and his men tramped southward more than a hundred miles before + they reached Chattanooga. Before going into that city, they divided into + smaller squads, and all but two succeeded in eluding guards, sentinels, + and patrols, and passing into the town. They left Chattanooga on a train + bound for Atlanta, buying tickets for Marietta. They reached Marietta in + safety, and went to different hotels for the night. They had arranged to + meet again at four o'clock the next morning and take the north-bound + train. Two of the men were not called by the clerk of the hotel at which + they stopped: consequently they overslept, and their companions had to go + on without them when the train arrived. They had learned that Big Shanty + had no telegraph office, and that it was a breakfast station. At that + point Andrews determined to capture the locomotive. It was not long before + the brakeman put his head in at the door of the car and yelled out, "Big + Shanty! Twenty minutes for breakfast!" + </p> + <p> + Andrews and his men looked out of the windows of the car as the train drew + up at the station, and the sight they saw was not calculated to make them + feel certain of success. Opposite the station was a field covered with the + tents of soldiers, and in and around the station thousands of soldiers + were loitering and standing about. When the train stopped, Andrews, the + leader, and Knight, an engineer who had come with the party, rose and left + the coach on the side opposite the depot, and went to the locomotive, + which they found empty. They also saw that the track was clear. Andrews + and Knight then walked back until they came to the last of the three box + cars. Andrews told his engineer to uncouple the baggage car from the box + car, and then wait for him. Knight did as he was told, while Andrews + walked leisurely back to the passenger coach, opened the door, and said + quietly, "Now is our time, boys! Come on!" + </p> + <p> + The men rose at once and went out of the coach. Knight, as soon as he saw + them coming, climbed into the locomotive, cut the bell rope, and stood + with his hand on the throttle, waiting for the word. Andrews stood near + the locomotive, and motioned with his hand for the men to get into the box + cars, the doors of which were slid back. All the men were now in the box + cars except Andrews, Knight, and another engineer named Brown, who ran + forward and climbed into the locomotive. While this was going on, a + sentinel stood within half a dozen yards of the train, but he had no idea + what was occurring. Andrews gave the signal to go ahead. Instantly Knight + pulled the throttle valve open, and the locomotive started forward with a + jerk. It went puffing and snorting out of Big Shanty without let or + hindrance. + </p> + <p> + But the train had not gone very far before the speed of the locomotive + began to slacken. The fire in the furnace refused to burn, and the steam + was low. While the engineer was trying to discover what was wrong, Andrews + ordered the men to cut the telegraph wire and tear up a rail from the + track. By the time the rail had been torn up and the wire cut, the + engineer had discovered that the dampers of the fire box were closed. With + these open, the boiler began to make steam again, and the locomotive was + soon rattling over the rails once more. It was the intention of Andrews to + run the captured train on the time of the regular passenger train, so that + he would have only one train to meet and pass before reaching the Resaca + River, where he intended to burn the bridge. This done, it would have been + an easy matter to burn the bridges over the Chickamauga. This crooked + stream winds about the valleys so unexpectedly, and in such curious + fashion, that the railroad crosses it eleven times within a few miles. + These eleven bridges Andrews intended to burn as he went along, and then + he would not fear pursuit. His success seemed to be certain. + </p> + <p> + The captured locomotive, an old-fashioned machine with a big heavy + smokestack, went clanking and clattering along the road, and reeling and + rumbling through the towns, dragging after it the three box cars + containing the men whom Andrews had brought with him. After passing a + station, the locomotive would be stopped and the wire cut. When the train + reached Cassville, wood and water were running low, and a stop was made to + get a fresh supply. The doors of the box cars were closed, and the men + inside could not be seen. The station agent at this place was very + inquisitive. He wanted to know why so small and insignificant a freight + train was running on the time of the morning passenger train. Andrews + promptly told the agent that the train was not a freight, but an express, + and that it was carrying three cars of gunpowder to Beauregard. The agent + believed the story, and furnished Andrews with a train schedule. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0043" id="linkimage-0043"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/295.jpg" alt="Tearing up the Rails 295 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + From Cassville the distance to Kingston was seven miles, and at that point + a freight train was to be passed. When Andrews reached the place, he found + that the freight had not arrived. He therefore switched his train into a + siding to wait for the freight train, and repeated his powder story for + the benefit of the inquisitive. When the freight arrived, he saw that it + carried a red flag. This meant another train was on the road. After + another long half hour's wait, the second freight train came in sight, and + Andrews was dismayed to see another red flag displayed. The railroad men + said another train was following. The men on the captured train were + compelled to wait more than an hour. To those shut up in the box cars this + was a very trying time. They had no means of knowing what had happened, or + what was about to happen, until Knight, the engineer, found an opportunity + to saunter by and tell them what the trouble was. At the end of an hour + the long wait was over. The freight trains had passed, and the captured + locomotive, dragging the box cars, went swiftly out of Kingston. A short + distance beyond, the usual stop was made, and the wires cut An attempt was + made to tear up the track by some of the men, while others loaded the box + cars with railroad ties. While engaged in this work, the men heard the + screaming whistle of a locomotive in full pursuit. They were more than + amazed: they were paralyzed. If a pursuing locomotive had sprung out of + the ground at their feet with a full head of steam on, they could not have + been more astonished. They had just passed three freight trains headed in + the opposite direction, and now here was a pursuing locomotive coming + after them at full speed, and with a full head of steam on. Making one + spasmodic effort, they broke the rail they were trying to tear up. + </p> + <p> + Reaching Adairsville, Andrews and his men found that the passenger train + had not arrived. But it was no time for waiting. They resolved to take + every chance. The engineer had orders to send the locomotive along at full + speed. He was very willing to do this. Calhoun was nine miles away, and if + that station could be reached before the passenger train left, all would + be well; if not, there was danger of a collision. But Andrews took all the + chances. The throttle of the locomotive was pulled wide open, and the + train started so suddenly and so swiftly that the men in the box cars were + thrown from their feet. The distance to Calhoun was nine miles, and the + train bearing Andrews and his men made it in seven minutes and a half,—pretty + swift traveling, when it is remembered that the track was full of short + curves, and not in the best condition. + </p> + <p> + As the locomotive neared Calhoun, Engineer Knight gave several loud blasts + on the whistle; and it was well he did so, for the passenger train had + just begun to pull out of Calhoun on its way to Adairsville. If the + whistle had been blown a moment later than it was, the passenger train + would have been under full headway, and the signal would not have been + heard; but the passenger train had just begun to move, and was going + slowly. The whistle was heard, and the engineer backed his train to + Calhoun again. But when Andrews and his men arrived, they found a new + difficulty in the way. The passenger train was such a long one that the + rear end blocked the track. Andrews tried to get the conductor to move on + to Adairsville and there meet the upbound passenger train; but that + official was too badly scared by the danger he had just escaped to take + any more chances, and he refused to budge until the other train should + arrive. This would be fatal to the plans of Andrews, and that bold + adventurer made up his mind that the time had come for force to be used. + The conductor was finally persuaded to allow Andrews to go ahead with his + powder train. He ran a little more than a mile beyond Calhoun, stopped his + train, ordered the wire cut and another rail torn up. While they were + busily engaged in this work, they were both amazed and alarmed to see a + locomotive approaching from the direction of Calhoun. They had only bent + the rail, and were compelled to leave it and get out of the way of their + pursuers. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and his men were bold and intrepid, even reckless; but the man who + had charge of the pursuit had all these qualities and more. Captain Fuller + was possessed of an energy and a determination that allowed nothing to + stand in their way. + </p> + <p> + We have seen how Captain Fuller sprang from the breakfast table at Big + Shanty, and went running after the flying locomotive. Engineer Jeff Cain + and Mr. Murphy followed after. The soldiers loitering about the station + laughed and cheered at the queer spectacle of a conductor giving chase on + foot to his locomotive which, with a part of his train, was running away + under a full head of steam. All of Captain Fuller's energies were aroused + to their highest pitch, and he easily distanced his companions. He ran + fully three miles, and then came upon a squad of section hands who had + been engaged in repairing the track. They were now very much excited. The + captured locomotive had stopped with them long enough for the men on the + box cars to seize all their tools and cut the telegraph wire, being + careful to take away about fifty feet, so that the wire could not be + promptly joined. From the demoralized section hands Captain Fuller learned + of the number of men on the locomotive, and was given reason to suspect + that they were Federals in disguise. The section hands had what was then + called a pole car, a small affair which they pushed with poles from point + to point. It had been derailed to make way for the up passenger train. + Conductor Fuller had it lifted upon the track, and then debated with + himself as to whether he should go back for his engineer, Jeff Cain, who, + with Mr. Antony Murphy, had been left far behind. Concluding that it would + be well to have his engineer with him, Captain Fuller pressed some of the + section hands into service, and pushed down the road the way he had come, + going more than a mile before he met Cain and Murphy. Once on the old hand + car, Captain Fuller turned and again began the pursuit as energetically as + before, although he knew that valuable time had been lost. Something of + their leader's energy and dauntless spirit was imparted to the men with + him, and they made tolerable speed with the pole car; but, suddenly, while + they were poling along at a great rate, the car tumbled from the track. + They had now come to the place where the would-be bridge burners had torn + up the first rail. The pursuers were not hurt by the fall. They jumped to + their feet, pushed the car over the obstruction, and were soon on their + way again, going even more rapidly than before. In this way the pursuit + led by Captain Fuller came to Etowah Station. Here he found the old + "Yonah," a locomotive belonging to the Mark A. Cooper Iron Works. The + "Yonah" was a superannuated engine, but Captain Fuller pressed it and its + crew into his service. The rickety old "Yonah" seemed to enter into the + spirit of the pursuit, for the distance to Kingston—thirteen miles—was + made in twelve minutes. + </p> + <p> + As Andrews and his men had been delayed at Kingston for more than an hour + waiting for the freight trains to allow him to pass, the pursuers, led by + Captain Fuller, arrived at Kingston only ten minutes after the raiders + left. The tracks were crowded with these freight trains when the "Yonah" + arrived, and Captain Fuller saw at a glance that the locomotive would be + of no further service in the chase. He leaped from the engine, and ran + about two miles to the north angle of the Rome railway, where he knew he + would find the locomotive of the Rome road standing at this hour. He + pressed the engine and crew into service, and again took up the pursuit of + the fleeing raiders. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and his men, in the meantime, had stopped and loaded their box + cars with old cross-ties and discarded rails These they began to throw out + of the rear end of their hindmost car as a measure of safety. They did not + suspect pursuit at this time, but they took the precaution to obstruct the + track in this manner. Six miles north of Kingston the raiders stopped and + tore up several rails. Captain Fuller rode on the pilot of his engine, and + removed such of the obstructions as were not knocked off by the + cowcatcher. + </p> + <p> + When Captain Fuller reached the point where the rails had been removed, + his locomotive was useless. But his blood was now up. He abandoned the + engine, and ran on foot towards Adairsville, where he knew he would find a + through freight train. In fact he met it after he had run about three + miles, flagged it down, reversed it, and carried it back to Adairsville. + There, taking the engine, tender forward, with its crew, he renewed the + pursuit. The locomotive was run at an extraordinary rate of speed; but + Captain Fuller felt it to be his duty to ride on the bumper of the tender, + a precarious position even when there is no danger of obstructions. Beyond + Calhoun, Andrews and his men stopped to cut the telegraph wire and tear up + more rails. They had pried a rail above the stringers when they heard the + pursuing locomotive, and saw it rounding a curve half a mile away. They + scrambled into their cars in a hurry, leaving the rail bent but not + removed. Captain Fuller saw the bent rail, but he had also seen the game, + and he allowed his engine to be driven over it under a full head of steam. + </p> + <p> + From this point the chase was the most thrilling and reckless of which + there is any record. Andrews resorted to his old trick of dropping + cross-ties, but he soon saw that this would not do. Then he uncoupled one + of his box cars. Captain Fuller picked it up, and pushed it ahead. Andrews + uncoupled another. This was served the same way, and at Resaca the cars + were run on a siding. The "General," commanded by Andrews, was now + forward, with one car, while the "Texas," commanded by Captain Fuller, and + driven by Peter Bracken, was running tender forward, with Fuller standing + on the brake board, or bumper. The locomotives were about evenly matched. + Both had five-foot ten-inch drivers, and both were running under all the + pressure their boilers could carry. + </p> + <p> + All thought of danger was lost sight of. The pursued had no time to hatch + any scheme calculated to delay pursuit. The pursuers forgot to look for + obstructions. On one side it was capture or die; on the other it was + escape at all hazards. The people of the towns and villages through which + the road passes knew not what to make of the spectacle. Before they could + recover from the surprise of seeing a locomotive with one box car dash + wildly past the station, they were struck dumb with amazement by the sight + of another locomotive thundering by, tender forward, a tall man standing + on the bumper and clinging to the brake rod. + </p> + <p> + They were going at a terrific rate of speed, but Peter Bracken, the brave + engineer of the "Texas," knew his locomotive so well, and handled her with + such a nice eye for her weak as well as her strong points, that the + pursuers gradually shortened the distance between them and the raiders. + The "General" was a good locomotive in its day and time, but it was in + unfamiliar hands. Any locomotive engineer will tell you that a man must be + thoroughly acquainted with his machine, and somewhat in love with it to + boot, to get the best speed out of it, when speed is necessary. + </p> + <p> + The raiders were pushed so closely that they soon found it necessary to + abandon their engine and car. Three miles north of Ringgold, they slowed + down a little, and, seizing a favorable opportunity, tumbled out, and fled + through the woods in all directions. It might be supposed that Captain + Fuller would be satisfied with recapturing his locomotive, which was in + all respects a remarkable achievement. But he had other views. He knew + that there would be no safety for the road with the bridge burners at + large, and so he made up his mind to be satisfied with nothing less than + their capture. In passing through Ringgold, three miles back, he had + noticed a company of militia drilling in an old field. So he sent word to + the commanding officer by his engineer, Peter Bracken (who, with his + fireman, took the two locomotives back to Ringgold), to mount his men as + promptly as possible, and join in the chase of the fugitives. This message + dispatched, Captain Fuller and two of his men, Fleming Cox and Alonzo + Martin, ran into the woods after the fleeing raiders. Jeff Cain, the + engineer of the "General," had been left with the Rome locomotive. Mr. + Antony Murphy remained in the chase until the "General" was recaptured, + and returned to Ringgold with the two locomotives. + </p> + <p> + All the raiders were caught and imprisoned. Andrews was known to be a spy, + and he, with seven of his men who could establish no connection with the + Federal army in any branch of the service, was hanged. Six escaped, and + made their way to the Federal lines. The rest were regularly exchanged. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps those that were hanged deserved a better fate. They were brave to + recklessness, and were engaged in the boldest adventure of the war. Their + scheme was most skillfully planned, and courageously undertaken, and if it + had succeeded,—if the bridges had been burned and the door of the + Confederate granaries closed,—the result would have been what it was + when Sherman, with a large army, and at the sacrifice of many men and much + treasure, closed the State Road to the Confederates in Virginia. + </p> + <p> + Andrews and his men came near accomplishing, by one bold stroke, pretty + much all that Sherman accomplished in crippling the Confederates. It was + only by the merest chance that they had such a man as Captain Fuller to + oppose them. If they had arrived at Marietta the day before or the day + after, the probability is that they would have succeeded in their daring + venture. Captain Fuller was more than the equal of Andrews in all those + qualities that sustain men in moments of great emergency, and greatly his + superior in those moral acquirements that lead men to take risks and make + sacrifices on behalf of their convictions, and in the line of their duty. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. + </h2> + <p> + The people of the State had not recovered from the chaos and confusion + into which they had been thrown by Sherman's march to the sea, when the + news came that Lee had surrendered in Virginia, and General Joseph E. + Johnston (who had been restored to his command) in North Carolina. Thus a + sudden and violent end had been put to all hopes of establishing a + separate government. General Sherman, who was as relentless in war as he + was pacific and gentle when the war was over, had, in coming to terms with + General Johnston, advanced the theory that the South never had dissolved + the Union, and that the States were restored to their old places the + moment they laid down their arms. This theory was not only consistent with + the views of the Union men of the North, but with the nature and character + of the Republic itself. But in the short and common-sense cut that Sherman + had made to a solution, he left the politicians out in the cold, and they + cried out against it as a hideous and ruthless piece of assumption on the + part of a military man to attempt to have any opinions after the war was + over. Any settlement that left the politicians out in the cold was not to + be tolerated. Some of these gentlemen had a very big and black crow to + pick with the South. Some of them, in the course of the long debate over + slavery, had had their feelings hurt by Southern men; and although these + wrangles had been purely personal and individual, the politicians felt + that the whole South ought to be humiliated still further. + </p> + <p> + The politicians would have been entirely harmless if the life of President + Lincoln had been spared. During the war, Mr. Lincoln was greatly + misunderstood even at the North; but it is now the general verdict of + history, that, take him for all in all, he was beyond all comparison the + greatest man of his time, the one man who, above all others, was best + fitted to bring the people of the two sections together again, and to make + the Union a more perfect Union than ever before. But unfortunately Mr. + Lincoln fell by the hands of an assassin, and never had an opportunity to + carry out the great policy of pacification which could only have been + sustained at that time by his great influence, by his patience, that was + supreme, and by his wisdom, that has proved to be almost infallible in + working out the salvation of the Union. After Lee's surrender, the + interests of the South could have sustained no severer blow than the death + of Lincoln. His successor, Andrew Johnson, was a well-meaning man, but a + very narrow-minded one in some respects, and a very weak one in others. It + is but justice to him to say that he did his best to carry out Lincoln's + policy of pacification, and his failure was no greater than that of any + other leading politician of his time would have been. + </p> + <p> + It would be impossible to describe the condition of the people at this + time. There was no civil law in operation, and the military government + that had been established was not far-reaching enough to restrain violence + of any sort. The negroes had been set free, and were supported by means of + a "freedmen's bureau." They were free, and yet they wanted some practical + evidence of it. To obtain this, they left the plantations on which they + had been born, and went tramping about the country in the most restless + and uneasy manner. + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0044" id="linkimage-0044"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/306.jpg" alt="The Negroes Freed 306 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + A great many of them believed that freedom meant idleness, such as they + had seen white folks indulge in. The country negroes flocked to the towns + and cities in great numbers, and the freedmen's bureau, active as its + agents were, had a great deal more than it could attend to. Such peace and + order as existed was not maintained by any authority, but grew naturally + out of the awe that had come over both whites and blacks at finding their + condition and their relations so changed. The whites could hardly believe + that slavery no longer existed. The negroes had grave doubts as to whether + they were really free. To make matters worse, a great many small + politicians, under pretense of protecting the negroes, but really to + secure their votes, began a crusade against the South in Congress, the + like of which can hardly be found paralleled outside of our own history. + The people of the South found out long ago that the politicians of the + hour did not represent the intentions and desires of the people of the + North; and there is much comfort and consolation to be got out of that + fact, even at this late day. But at that time the bitterest dose of + reconstruction was the belief that the best opinion of the North sustained + the ruinous policy that had been put in operation. + </p> + <p> + The leading men of the State were all disfranchised,—deprived of the + privilege of voting, a privilege that was freely conferred on the negroes. + A newspaper editor in Macon was imprisoned, and his paper suppressed, for + declaring, in regard to taking the amnesty oath, that he had to "fortify + himself for the occasion with a good deal of Dutch courage." The wife of + General Toombs was ordered by an assistant commissioner of the freedmen's + bureau to vacate her home with only two weeks' provisions, the grounds of + the order being that the premises were "abandoned property," and, as such, + were to be seized, and applied to the uses of the freedmen's bureau. The + superior officer of this assistant commissioner, being a humane and kindly + man, revoked the order. + </p> + <p> + These were the days when the carpet-bagger and the scalawag flourished,—the + camp followers of the Northern army, who wanted money and office; and the + native-born Southerner, who wanted office and money. There is no doubt + that the indignities heaped on the people led to acts of retaliation that + nothing else could excuse; but they were driven to desperation. It seemed, + in that hour, that their liberties had been entirely withdrawn. Governor + Brown, who had formerly been so popular, was denounced because he advised + Georgians to accept the situation. He, with other wise men, thought it was + a waste of time and opportunity to discuss constitutional questions at a + moment when the people were living under bayonet rule. Joe Brown's plan + was to accept the situation, and then get rid of it as quickly as + possible. Ben Hill's plan was to fight it to the last. There was a fierce + controversy between these two leaders; and such strong expressions were + used on both sides, that General Pope made them the subject of a curious + letter to his commander in chief, General Grant. + </p> + <p> + General Pope seemed to be afraid that war was about to break out again, + and he assumed charge of everything. He removed and appointed mayors of + cities, solicitors, and sheriffs. He closed the State University because a + student made a speech which was in effect a defense of civil law. After a + while the general said he would reopen the institution if the press of the + State would say nothing about the affair. In 1867, General Pope ordered an + election to be held for delegates to a State convention. The polls were + kept open five days, and voters were allowed to vote in any precinct in + any county upon their making oath that they were entitled to vote. The + convention met, but, in the nature of things, could not be a + representative body. Thousands of the best and most representative men of + the State were not allowed to vote, and thousands of other good men + refused to take part in an election held under the order of a military + commander: consequently, when the convention met, its membership was made + up of the political rag-tag-and-bobtail of that day. There were a few good + men in the body, but they had little influence over the ignorant negroes + and vicious whites who had taken advantage of their first and last + opportunity to hold office. + </p> + <p> + The authority of this convention was not recognized by the State + government, and this contest gave rise to a fresh conflict between the + State officials and the military dictators who had been placed over them. + The convention needed money to pay its expenses, and passed an ordinance + directing the treasurer of the State to pay forty thousand dollars for + this purpose to the disbursing officer of the convention. General Pope + issued an order to the treasurer to pay this amount. The treasurer + declined to pay out the money, for the simple reason that he was forbidden + by law to pay out money except on an order or warrant drawn by the + governor, and sanctioned by the comptroller general. + </p> + <p> + About this time General Meade was appointed to rule in Georgia in place of + General Pope, and he found this matter unsettled when he took charge. So + he wrote to Governor Jenkins, and requested him to draw his warrant on the + treasury for forty thousand dollars. The governor could find no authority + in law for paying over this sum, and he therefore refused. But civil + government was not of much importance to the military at that time; so, + when he had received the governor's letter, General Meade drew a sheet of + paper before him, called for pen and ink, and issued "General Order No. + 8," in which the announcement is made that "the following-named officers + are <i>detailed for duty</i> in the district of Georgia: Brevet Brigadier + General Thomas H. Ruger, Colonel 33d Infantry, <i>to be Governor of the + State of Georgia</i>; Brevet Captain Charles F. Rockwell, Ordnance Corps + U. S. Army, <i>to be Treasurer of the State of Georgia</i>." + </p> + <p> + In this way the rag-tag-and-bobtail convention got its money, but it got + also the hatred and contempt of the people; and the Republican party,—the + party that had been molded and made by the wise policy of Lincoln,—by + indorsing these foolish measures of reconstruction, and putting its + influence behind the outrages that were committed in the name of + "loyalty," aroused prejudices in the minds of the Southern people that + have not died away to this day. Some of the more vicious of the + politicians of that epoch organized what was known as "The Union League." + It was a secret political society, and had branches in every county of the + State. Through the medium of this secret organization, the basest + deception was practiced on the ignorant negroes. They were solemnly told + that their old masters were making arrangements to reënslave them, and all + sorts of incendiary suggestions were made to them. It was by means of this + secret society that the negroes were made to believe that they would be + entitled to forty acres and a mule for voting for the candidates of the + carpet-baggers. + </p> + <p> + The effect of all this was to keep the blacks in a constant state of + turmoil. They were too uneasy to settle down to work, and too suspicious + to enter into contracts with the whites: so they went wandering about the + State from town to town and from county to county, committing all sorts of + crimes. As the civil system had been entirely overthrown by the military, + there was neither law nor order; and this condition was very seriously + aggravated by the incendiary teachings of The Union League. The people, + therefore, in some parts of the South, offset this secret society with + another, which was called the "Ku Klux Klan." This organization was + intended to prevent violence and to restore order in communities; but the + spirit of it was very frequently violated by lawless persons, who, acting + in the name of the "Klan," subjected defenseless negroes to cruel + treatment. + </p> + <p> + There is no darker period in the history of the State than that of + reconstruction. The tax payers were robbed in the most reckless way, and + the rights of citizens were entirely disregarded. Even when the Republican + Congress, responsive to the voice of conservative Northern opinion, turned + its back on the carpet-bag government of Georgia, these men made a + tremendous effort to extend their rule unlawfully. The carpet-bag + Legislature was in session three hundred and twenty-eight days, and cost + the State nearly one million dollars; whereas the cost of legislation from + 1853 to 1862, nine years, was not nine hundred thousand dollars. In one + year the State Road took in a million dollars and a half; and of this + immense sum, only forty-five thousand dollars was paid into the treasury. + Added to this, the road had been run into debt to the amount of six + hundred thousand dollars, and it had been run down to such an extent that + five hundred thousand was needed to place it in good condition. + </p> + <p> + During this trying period, Joseph E. Brown, who had been so popular with + the people, was under a cloud. He had advised accepting the reconstruction + measures in the first instance, so that they might be carried out by men + who had the confidence and the esteem of the State; but this wise + proposition brought upon his head only reproaches and abuse. The public + mind was in such a state of frenzied uneasiness, the result of carpetbag + robbery and recklessness, that the people would listen to no remedy except + passionate defiance and denunciation. When the name of Brown was mentioned + only as a handle of abuse, Benjamin H. Hill became the leader and the idol + of the people. When, in 1870, Hill issued an address declaring that the + reconstruction must be accepted by the people, he was at once made the + object of the most violent attacks. But Brown was right in 1864, and Hill + was right in 1870, and the people were wrong. They paid dearly for their + blindness in the wrongs imposed on them by men who were neither + Republicans nor reconstructionists at heart, but public plunderers. + </p> + <p> + In 1871 the carpet-bag government began to totter. The governor left the + State, and staid away so long that the State treasurer, a man of stern + integrity, refused to pay warrants that were not signed by a resident + governor. Finally the governor returned, but almost immediately resigned. + In a short time the real representatives of the people took charge of + affairs, and since that time the State has been in a highly prosperous + condition. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + "THE NEW SOUTH" + </h2> + <p> + When the people of Georgia had once more gained control of their State + government, the political tempest that had been raging slowly quieted + down. A pot that has been boiling furiously doesn't grow cool in a moment, + but it ceases almost instantly to boil; and though it may cool slowly, it + cools surely. There was not an end of prejudice and unreason the moment + the people had disposed of those who were plundering them, but prejudice + began to lose its force as soon as men had the opportunity to engage in + calm discussion, and to look forward hopefully to the future. In the midst + of bayonet and carpet-bag rule, the State could not make any real + progress. It is only during a time of peace and contentment that the + industrial forces of a community begin to display their real energy. + </p> + <p> + No State in the South had suffered so severely as Georgia during the war. + She placed in the field more than a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers,—twenty + thousand more than her voting population at the beginning of the war. The + taxable wealth of the State in 1867 was more than four hundred and + eighty-one millions less than it was in 1861,—a loss of more than + three fourths. After the reconstruction period, all the State had to show, + in return for the treasure that had been squandered by the carpet-bag + politicians, was a few poorly equipped railroads that had been built on + the State's credit. In some instances railroad bonds were indorsed when + there was no road to show for them; in others, bonds were issued in behalf + of the same road under different names; so that the people lost by fraud + as much or more than the amount of improvement that had been made. The + "developers" who had connected themselves with the bayonet administration + were much more interested in "developing" their own private interests than + they were in developing the resources of the State. + </p> + <p> + But when the bayonet administration had been driven out, not less by + Northern opinion, which had become disgusted with the reckless dishonesty + that was practiced under the name of republicanism, than by the energetic + opposition of all good citizens of the State, there came a welcome end to + the bitter controversy that had been going on. The fierce rancor and + prejudice that had been aroused gradually died out; so that in 1872, + shortly after the State had been rescued from misrule, Horace Greeley, the + great abolition editor, received in Georgia a majority of more than + seventy-one thousand votes over the straight-out Democratic candidate. + This, more than any other event, showed the improving temper of the + people, and their willingness to make compromises and concessions for the + purpose of restoring the Union and burying the spirit of sectionalism. + </p> + <p> + With this improved temper there came an improvement in the material + conditions of the State. Free negro labor was a problem which the planters + had to meet. For a time it presented many difficulties. It was hard to + make and enforce contracts with the negroes, who had been demoralized and + made suspicious by The Union League and by the harsh and unjustifiable + acts of men who acted under the name, but not under the authority, of the + Ku Klux Klan. But gradually all these difficulties were overcome. The + negroes settled down to work, and with them a good many white men who had + been left adrift by the fortunes of war and the prostration of industries. + This vast change was not brought about in a day or a month, or even in a + year, but was the gradual outgrowth of a bitter feeling,—the slow + awakening to the fact that matters were not as bad on a better + acquaintance as they had seemed. There was, of course, the negro problem; + but the wiser men soon saw that this problem, such as it was, would settle + itself sooner or later. The result was that everybody began to take a day + off from politics occasionally, and devote themselves to the upbuilding of + the resources of the State. + </p> + <p> + At first, and for several years, the negro problem seemed to be a very + serious matter indeed. All the statesmen, all the politicians, all the + historians, and all the newspaper editors, discussed it morning, noon, and + night for a long time. Some wanted it settled one way, and some another. + At the North the men who had indorsed and approved the bayonet governments + of the South thought that laws ought to be passed giving the negroes + social equality with the whites. Finally a compromise was made with what + is called the "Civil Rights Law," which was intended to give the negroes + the same privileges at the hotels, theaters, and other public places, that + the whites had. The Northern politicians pretended to believe that the + efforts they were making were for the benefit of the negroes, though no + doubt the majority of them knew better. Of course, the Southern people + resisted the pressure thus brought to bear by the Northern sectionalists, + and the result was what might have been expected. The condition of the + negro was made more uncomfortable than ever, and the color line was more + closely drawn. To show how shortsighted the politicians were and are, it + is only necessary to call attention to one fact, and it is this: that + while the Civil Rights Law has kept negroes out of public places both + North and South, they ride on the street cars side by side with the white + people, and it frequently happens that an old negro woman who comes into a + crowded car is given a seat by some Southerner who has tender + recollections of his negro "mammy." + </p> + <p> + <a name="linkimage-0045" id="linkimage-0045"> + <!-- IMG --></a> + </p> + <div class="fig" style="width:80%"> + <img src="images/318.jpg" alt="Streetcar in the South 318 " width="100%" /><br /> + </div> + <p> + It is worthy of note, that while the politicians on both sides were + fighting the shadows that the "negro problem" called up, the problem was + solving itself in the only way that such vast problems can be settled in + the order of Providence,—by the irresistible elements of time and + experience. A great deal of misery, suffering, and discontent would have + been spared to both races, if, after the war, the conservative men of the + North had either insisted on the policy that Abraham Lincoln had mapped + out, or had said to the pestiferous politicians who were responsible for + carpet-bag rule, "Hands off!" No doubt some injustice would have been done + to individuals if the North had permitted the negroes to work out their + political salvation alone, but the race itself would be in a better + condition every way than it is today; for outside interference has worked + untold damage and hardship to the negro. It has given him false ideas of + the power and purpose of government, and it has blinded his eyes to the + necessity of individual effort. It is by individual effort alone that the + negro race must work out its destiny. This is the history of the white + race, and it must be the history of all races that move forward. + </p> + <p> + When Georgia, with the rest of the Southern States, had passed safely + through the reconstruction period, the people, as has been seen, found + themselves facing new conditions and new possibilities. Slavery had been + abolished utterly and forever; and wise men breathed freer when they saw + that a great obstacle to progress and development had been abolished with + it. Instinctively everybody felt that here was cause for congratulation. A + few public men, bolder than the rest, looking out on the prospect, thanked + God that slavery was no more. They expected to be attacked for such + utterances, but they were applauded; and it was soon discovered, much to + the surprise of everybody, that the best sentiment of the South was + heartily glad that slavery was out of the way. Thus, with new conditions, + new prospects, and new hopes,—with a new fortune, in fact,—it + was natural that some lively prophet should lift up his voice and cry, + "Behold the New South!" + </p> + <p> + And it was and is the new South,—the old South made new by events; + the old South with new channels, in which its Anglo-Saxon energies may + display themselves; the old South with new possibilities of greatness, + that would never have offered themselves while slavery lasted. After these + hopes, and in pursuit of these prospects, Georgia has led the way. + Hundreds of miles of new railroads have been built in her borders since + the dark days of reconstruction, hundreds of new factories have been + built, immense marble beds and granite quarries have been put in + operation, new towns have sprung into existence, and in thousands of new + directions employment has been given to labor and capital. In short, the + industrial progress the State has made since 1870 is more than double that + of the previous fifty years. + </p> + <p> + It was natural, that, out of the new conditions, new men should arise; + and, as if in response to the needs of the hour and the demands of the + people, there arose a man who, with no selfish ends to serve and no + selfish ambition to satisfy, was able to touch the hearts of the people of + both sections, and to subdue the spirit of sectionalism that was still + rampant long after the carpetbag governments in the South had been + overthrown by the force of public opinion. That man was Henry Woodfin + Grady. He took up his public work in earnest in 1876, though he had been + preparing for it since the day that he could read a school history. In + that year he became one of the editors of the "Atlanta Constitution," and + at once turned his attention to the situation in which his State had been + left by the war, and by the rapacity of those who had come into power by + means of the bayonet. Whether he used his tongue or pen, the public soon + found out that he had control of that mysterious power which moves men. + Whether he wrote or whether he spoke, he had the gift and the inspiration + of eloquence; and from first to last he could never be induced to use this + great gift for his personal advancement, nor could he be induced to accept + a political office. With a mind entirely sincere and unselfish, he + addressed himself to the work of restoring unity between the North and + South, and to putting an end to the sectional strife which the politicians + were skillfully using to further their own schemes. He was asked to be a + United States senator, and refused; he was asked to be a congressman, and + refused. For the rest, he could have had any office within the gift of the + people of Georgia; but he felt that he could serve the State and the South + more perfectly in the way that he had himself mapped out. He felt that the + time had come for some one to say a bold and manly word in behalf of the + American Union in the ear of the South, and to say a bold and manly word + in behalf of the South in the ear of the North. He began this work, and + carried it on as a private citizen; and the result was, that, though he + died before he had reached the prime of his life, he had won a name and a + popularity in all parts of the country, both North and South, that no + other private citizen had ever before succeeded in winning. + </p> + <p> + It was Henry Grady that gave the apt name of "The New South" to the spirit + that his tireless energy and enthusiasm had called from the dark depths of + reconstruction. Of this spirit, and the movement that sprang from it, he + was the prophet, the pioneer, the promoter. He saw the South poor in the + midst of the most abundant resources that Providence ever blessed a people + with, and he turned aside from politics to point them out. He saw the + people going about in deep despair, and he gave them the cue of hope, and + touched them with his own enthusiasm. He saw the mighty industrial forces + lying dormant, and his touch awoke them to life. He saw great enterprises + languishing, and he called the attention of capital to them. Looking + farther afield, he saw the people of two great sections forgetting + patriotism and duty, and reviving the prejudices and issues that had led + to the war, and that had continued throughout the war; and he went about + among them, speaking words of peace and union,—appealing to the + spirit of patriotism which held the Northern and Southern people together + when they were building the Republic, when they stood side by side amid + the sufferings of Valley Forge, and when they saw the army of a mighty + monarch surrender to the valor of American soldiers at Yorktown. With the + enthusiasm of a missionary and the impetuous zeal of an evangelist, he + went about rebuking the politicians, and preaching in behalf of peace, + union, and genuine patriotism. + </p> + <p> + Such was the mission of Henry W. Grady, and the work that he did will live + after him. "The New South" will cease to be hew, but the people will never + cease to owe him a debt of gratitude for the work that he did in urging + forward the industrial progress of this region, and in making peace + between the sections. He was the builder, the peacemaker. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Stories Of Georgia, by Joel Chandler Harris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF GEORGIA *** + +***** This file should be named 24728-h.htm or 24728-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/7/2/24728/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories Of Georgia + 1896 + +Author: Joel Chandler Harris + +Release Date: March 2, 2008 [EBook #24728] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF GEORGIA *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +STORIES OF GEORGIA + +By Joel Chandler Harris + +Copyright, 1896, by American Book Company + + + + +PREFACE. + +In preparing the pages that follow, the writer has had in view the +desirability of familiarizing the youth of Georgia with the salient +facts of the State's history in a way that shall make the further study +of that history a delight instead of a task. The ground has been gone +over before by various writers, but the narratives that are here retold, +and the characterizations that are here attempted, have not been brought +together heretofore. They lie wide apart in volumes that are little +known and out of print. + +The stories and the characterizations have been grouped together so +as to form a series of connecting links in the rise and progress of +Georgia; yet it must not be forgotten that these links are themselves +connected with facts and events in the State's development that are +quite as interesting, and of as far-reaching importance, as those that +have been narrated here. Some such suggestion as this, it is hoped, +will cross the minds of young students, and lead them to investigate for +themselves the interesting intervals that lie between. + +It is unfortunately true that there is no history of Georgia in which +the dry bones of facts have been clothed with the flesh and blood of +popular narrative. Colonel Charles C. Jones saw what was needed, +and entered upon the task of writing the history of the State with +characteristic enthusiasm. He had not proceeded far, however, when the +fact dawned upon his mind that such a work as he contemplated must be +for the most part a labor of love. He felt the influence of cold neglect +from every source that might have been expected to afford him aid and +encouragement. He was almost compelled to confine himself to a bare +recital of facts, for he had reason to know that, at the end of his +task, public inappreciation was awaiting him. + +And yet it seems to the present writer that every person interested +in the growth and development of the republic should turn with eager +attention to a narrative embodying the events that have marked the +progress of Georgia. It was in this State that some of the most +surprising and spectacular scenes of the Revolution took place. In one +corner of Georgia those who were fighting for the independence of the +republic made their last desperate stand; and if they had surrendered to +the odds that faced them, the battle of King's Mountain would never have +been fought, Greene's southern campaign would have been crippled, and +the struggle for liberty in the south would have ended in smoke. + +It is to illustrate the larger events that these stories have been +written; and while some of them may seem far away from this point of +view, they all have one common purpose and tend to one common end. + + + + +STORIES OF GEORGIA. + + + + +A SEARCH FOR TREASURE. + +[Illustration: De Soto 014] + +So far as written records tell us, Hernando de Soto and his companions +in arms were the first white men to enter and explore the territory now +known on the map as the State of Georgia. Tradition has small voice in +the matter, but such as it has tells another story. There are hints that +other white men ventured into this territory before De Soto and his men +beheld it. General Oglethorpe, when he came to Georgia with his gentle +colony, which had been tamed and sobered by misfortune and ill luck, +was firmly of the opinion that Sir Walter Raleigh, the famous soldier, +sailor, and scholar, had been there before him. So believing, the +founder of the Georgian Colony carried with him Sir Walter's diary. He +was confirmed in his opinion by a tradition, among the Indians of the +Yamacraw tribe, that Raleigh had landed where Savannah now stands. +There are also traditions in regard to the visits of other white men +to Georgia. These traditions may be true, or they may be the results +of dreams, but it is certain that De Soto and his picked company of +Spaniards were the first to march through the territory that is now +Georgia. The De Soto expedition was made up of the flower of Spanish +chivalry,--men Used to war, and fond of adventure. Some of them were +soldiers, anxious to win fame by feats of arms in a new land; some were +missionaries, professing an anxiety for the souls of such heathen as +they might encounter, but even these men were not unfamiliar with the +use of the sword; some were physicians, as ready to kill as to heal; +some were botanists, who knew as much about the rapier and the poniard +as they did about the stamens, pistils, and petals of the flowers; +and some were reporters, men selected to write the history of the +expedition. As it turned out, these reporters were entirely faithful +to their trust They told all that happened with a fidelity that +leaves nothing to be desired. The record they have left shows that the +expedition was bent on finding gold and other treasures. + +On the 30th of May, 1539, De Soto's expedition landed at Tampa Bay, +Fla., and his men pitched their tents on the beach. The army was not +a large one; but it was made up of chosen men, who were used to the +dangers of war, and who, as stated before, were fond of adventure. There +was but one gray head in the expedition: therefore, though the army was +a small one, it was the most enthusiastic and warlike array that had +ever been seen in the New World. The soldiers wore rich armor, and +the cavalry rode gayly caparisoned horses. The army was accompanied by +slaves and mules to bear the burdens. It had artillery and other weapons +of war; handcuffs, neck collars, and chains for prisoners; crucibles for +refining gold; bloodhounds, greyhounds, and a drove of hogs. + +For nearly a year the little army of De Soto wandered about in Florida, +ransacking the burying grounds of the Indians in search of treasures, +and committing such other depredations as were common to the +civilization of that age. When inquiries were made for gold, the +Indians always pointed toward the north; and, following these hints, +the expedition pursued its way through Florida, wandering about in the +swamps and slashes, but always held together by the enthusiasm of the +men and their hopes of securing rich spoils. + +On the 3d of March, 1540, De Soto's army left Anhayca, which is said to +have been near the site of Tallahassee, and marched northward. Before +leaving the Spaniards seized from the Indians a large supply of maize +(now commonly known as corn), and appropriated whatever else struck +their fancy. They had spent some time with the Indians at this town of +Anhayca, and had sent out parties that committed depredations wherever +an Indian settlement could be found. They made slaves of many Indians, +treating them with more severity than they treated their beasts of +burden. It is no wonder, therefore, that the Indians, discovering the +greed of the Spaniards for gold, should have spread rumors that large +quantities of the yellow metal were to be found farther north. + +Reports came to the Spaniards of a wonderful Indian queen who reigned +at a place called Yupaha, a settlement as large as a city. One day an +Indian boy, who had been brought to camp with other prisoners, told the +Spaniards a good deal about this great Indian queen. He said that she +ruled not only her own people, but all the neighboring chiefs, and as +far as the Indian settlements extended. The boy told the Spaniards that +all the Indians paid tribute to this great queen, and sent her fine +presents of clothing and gold. De Soto and his men cared nothing about +fine clothing. They were greedy only for gold and precious stones. They +asked the Indian boy many questions, and he answered them all. He +told how the gold was taken from the earth, and how it was melted and +refined. His description was so exact that the Spaniards no longer +had any doubt. Their spirits rose mightily, and, after robbing and +plundering the Indians who had fed and sheltered them during the winter +months, they broke up their camp and moved northward. + +Four days after leaving Tallahassee, the Spaniards came to a deep river, +which Colonel C. C. Jones, jun., in his "History of Georgia," says was +the Ocklockonnee, very close to the southwest boundary of Georgia. Two +days later they came to an Indian village from which the inhabitants +fled, but a little later a squad of five soldiers was set upon by the +Indians hiding near the encampment. One of the Spaniards was killed, +while three others were badly wounded. De Soto left this Indian village +on the 11th of March, and presently came to a piece of country which the +Spanish historian describes as a desert. But it was not a desert then, +and it is not a desert now. It was really a pine barren, such as may +be seen to this day in what is called the wire-grass region of southern +Georgia. In these barrens the soil is sandy and the land level, +stretching away for miles. De Soto and his men saw the primeval pines; +but these have long since disappeared, and their places are taken by +pines of a smaller growth. On the 21st of March, the Spaniards came to +the Ocmulgee River, near which they found an Indian town called Toalli. + +There will always be a dispute about the route followed by De Soto in +his march. This dispute is interesting, but not important. Some say that +the expedition moved parallel with the coast until the Savannah River +was reached, at a point twenty-five miles below Augusta; but it is just +as probable that the route, after reaching the Ocmulgee, was along the +banks of that stream and in a northwesterly direction. + +At Toalli the Indians had summer and winter houses to live in, and they +had storehouses for their maize. The women wore blankets or shawls made +of the fiber of silk grass, and the blankets were dyed vermilion or +black. Thenceforward the Indians whom the Spaniards met with were of a +higher order of intelligence, and of a more industrious turn, than those +left behind in Florida and along the southern boundary of Georgia. + +As De Soto marched along, he seized Indians and made guides of them, +or made prisoners and held them until he was furnished with guides and +interpreters. He also announced to the Indians that he was the Child of +the Sun, who had been sent to seek out the greatest Prince and Princess. +This made a great impression on the Indians, many of whom were sun +worshipers. + +Many times during the march the Spaniards were on the point of +starvation, and the account of their sufferings as set forth in the +history of the expedition is intended to be quite pathetic. We need +not pause to shed any tears over these things, for the sufferings the +Spaniards endured were nothing compared to the sufferings they inflicted +on the Indians. They murdered and robbed right and left, and no doubt +the Indians regarded them as demons rather than Christians. More +than once when the Spaniards were wandering aimlessly about in the +wilderness, they were found by the Indians and saved from starvation. In +turn the simple-minded natives were treated with a harshness that would +be beyond belief if the sickening details were not piously set forth by +the Spanish historian of the expedition. + +[Illustration: Indian Queen 020] + +About the 28th of April the expedition reached the neighborhood of +Cutifachiqui, having been told by three Indians whom they had taken, +that the queen of that province knew of the approach of the Spaniards, +and was awaiting them at her chief town just across the river. As De +Soto came to the shore of the stream, four canoes started from the +opposite side. One of them contained a kinswoman of the queen, who +had been selected to invite the Spaniards to enter the town. Shortly +afterwards the queen came forth from the town, seated on a palanquin or +litter, which was borne by the principal men. Coming to the water side, +the queen entered a canoe, over the stern of which was stretched an +awning to shelter her from the sun. + +Under this awning she reclined on cushions; and thus, in company with +her chiefs, and attended by many of her people in canoes, she crossed +the river to meet De Soto. She landed, and gave the Spaniard a gracious +welcome. As an offering of peace and good will, she took from her neck +a long string of pearls, and gave the gems to De Soto. She also gave him +many shawls and finely dressed deerskins. The Spaniard acknowledged the +beautiful gifts by taking from his hand a gold ring set with a ruby, and +placing it upon one of the queen's fingers. + +The old historian pretends that De Soto and his men were very much +impressed by the dignity and courtesy of the Indian queen. She was the +first woman ruler they had met in their wanderings. She was tall, finely +formed, and had great beauty of countenance. She was both gracious and +graceful. All this is set down in the most pompous way by the Spanish +chroniclers; but the truth seems to be that De Soto and his men cared +nothing for the courtesy and hospitality of the queen, and that they +were not moved by her beauty and kindness. The Spaniards crossed the +river in canoes furnished by the queen's people, and found themselves +surrounded by the most hospitable Indians they had yet seen. They were +supplied with everything the land afforded, and rested in comfortable +wigwams under the shade of mulberry trees. The soldiers were so +delighted with the situation, that they were anxious to form a +settlement there; but De Soto refused to forget the only object of +the expedition, which was to search for gold and other treasures. His +determination had the desired effect His men recovered their energies. +While enjoying the hospitality of the queen, they found out the burial +places of her people, and gathered from the graves, according to the +statement of the Spanish historian, "three hundred and fifty weight of +pearls, and figures of babies and birds, made from iridescent shells." + +The mother of the queen lived not far from the town where the Spaniards +were quartered, and, as she was said to be the owner of many fine +pearls, De Soto expressed a desire to see her. Upon hearing this, the +queen sent twelve of her principal men to beg her mother to come to +see the white strangers and the wonderful animals they had brought +with them; but the mother of the queen was very shrewd. She rebuked the +messengers, and sent them back with some sharp words for her daughter; +and though De Soto did his best to capture the woman, he was never able +to carry out his purpose. + +He then turned his attention to a temple that stood on the side of +a deserted settlement which had formerly been the chief town of the +queen's people. This temple, as described by the Spanish chronicler, +was more than one hundred steps long by forty broad, the walls high in +proportion, and the roof elevated so as to allow the water to run off. +On the roof were various shells arranged in artistic order, and the +shells were connected by strings of pearls. These pearls extended from +the top of the roof to the bottom in long festoons, and the sun shining +on them produced a very brilliant effect. At the door of the temple were +twelve giant-like statues made of wood. These figures were so ferocious +in their appearance, that the Spaniards hesitated for some time before +they could persuade themselves to enter the temple. The statues were +armed with clubs, maces, copper axes, and pikes ornamented with copper +at both ends. In the middle of the temple were three rows of chests, +placed one upon another in the form of pyramids. Each pyramid consisted +of five or six chests, the largest at the bottom, and the smallest at +the top. These chests, the Spanish chroniclers say, were filled with +pearls, the largest containing the finest pearls, and the smallest only +seed pearls. + +It is just as well to believe a little of this as to believe a great +deal. It was an easy matter for the survivors of the expedition to +exaggerate these things, and they probably took great liberties with +the facts; but there is no doubt that the Indians possessed many pearls. +Mussels like those from which they took the gems are still to be found +in the small streams and creeks of Georgia, and an enterprising +boy might even now be able to find a seed pearl if he sought for it +patiently. + +It is not to be doubted that rich stores of pearls were found. Some were +distributed to the officers and men; but the bulk of them, strange to +say, were left undisturbed, to await the return of the Spaniards another +day. De Soto was still intent on searching for gold, and he would hear +of nothing else. He would neither settle among the queen's people for a +season, nor return to Tampa with the great store of pearls discovered. +Being a resolute man and of few words, he had his way, and made +preparations to journey farther north to the province called Chiaha, +which was governed by a great Indian king. The conduct of the Spaniards +had been so cruel during their stay at Cutifachiqui, that the queen had +come to regard them with fear and hatred, and she refused to supply +them with guides and burden bearers. De Soto thereupon placed her under +guard; and when he took up his march for Chiaha, the queen who had +received him with so much grace, dignity, and hospitality, was compelled +to accompany him on foot, escorted by her female attendants. The old +Spanish chronicler is moved to remark that "it was not so good usage +as she deserved for the good will she shewed and the good entertainment +that she had made him." This was the return the Spanish leader made +to the queen who had received and entertained his army,--to seize her, +place her under guard, and compel her to accompany his expedition on +foot. + +One reason why De Soto made the queen his prisoner and carried her with +the expedition was to use her influence in controlling the Indians along +his line of march. The result was all that he could have expected. In +all the towns through which the Spaniards passed, the queen commanded +the Indians to carry the burdens of the army; and thus they went for a +hundred leagues, the Indians obeying the queen without question. After a +march of seven days, De Soto arrived at the province of Chelaque, which +was the country of the Cherokees. Here the soldiers added to their +stores of provisions, and renewed their march; and on May 15 they +arrived in the province of Xualla, the chief town of which is supposed +to have been situated in the Nacoochee valley. Inclining his course +westwardly from the Nacoochee valley, De Soto set out for Guaxule, which +marked the limit of the queen's dominion, and which has been identified +as Old Town, in Murray County. On this march the queen made her escape, +taking with her a cane box filled with large pearls of great value. This +box had been borne by one of the queen's attendants up to the moment +when she disappeared from the Spanish camp. De Soto made every effort +to recapture the queen. No doubt the bloodhounds, which formed a part of +the expedition, were called in to aid in the search; but it was all to +no purpose. The queen hid herself as easily as a young partridge hides, +and neither men nor dogs could find her. De Soto went on his way, +deploring the loss of the valuable pearls. + +From Nacoochee to Murray County the march was fatiguing. The route lay +over mountains as well as valleys. One of the foot soldiers, Juan Terron +(his folly has caused history to preserve his name), grew so weary on +this march, that he drew from his wallet a linen bag containing six +pounds of pearls. Calling to a cavalryman, Juan Terron offered him the +bag of pearls if he would carry them. The cavalryman refused the offer, +and told his comrade to keep them. But Juan Terron would not have it so. +He untied the bag, whirled it around his head, and scattered the pearls +in all directions. This done, he replaced the empty bag in his wallet, +and marched on, leaving his companions amazed at his folly. Thirty of +the pearls were recovered by the soldiers. The gems were of great size, +and perfect in every particular; and it was estimated that the six +pounds of pearls would have fetched six thousand ducats in Spain (over +twelve thousand dollars). The folly of the foot soldier gave rise to +a saying in the army, that is no doubt current in Spain to this +day,--"There are no pearls for Juan Terron," which means that a fool +makes no profits. + +Continuing their march, the Spaniards came to the town of Chiaha,--a +site that is now occupied by the flourishing city of Rome. De Soto +remained at Chiaha a month, sending out exploring expeditions in search +of the much-coveted gold. They found traces of the precious metal, but +nothing more. On the 1st of July, 1540, De Soto left Chiaha, going down +the valley of the Coosa. His expedition was organized by the spirit of +greed. It spread desolation wherever it went, and it ended in disaster +and despair. De Soto himself found a grave in the waters of the +Mississippi, and the survivors who made their way back home were broken +in health and spirits. + +An attempt has been made to throw a halo of romance over this march +of the Spaniards through the wilderness of the New World, but there +is nothing romantic or inspiring about it. It was simply a search for +riches, in which hundreds of lives were most cruelly sacrificed, and +thousands of homes destroyed. + + + + +OGLETHORPE AND HIS GENTLE COLONY + +General James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of the Colony of Georgia, +was among the few really good and great men that history tells us of. +We need to keep a close eye on the antics of history. She places the +laurels of fame in the hands of butchers, plunderers, and adventurers, +and even assassins share her favors; so that, if we are going to enjoy +the feast that history offers us, we must not inquire too closely into +the characters of the men whom she makes heroes of. We find, when we +come to look into the matter, that but few of those who figured as the +great men of the world have been entirely unselfish; and unselfishness +is the test of a man who is really good and great. Judged by this test, +General Oglethorpe stands among the greatest men known to history. + +He had served in the army with distinction, as his father had before +him. He was on the staff of the great soldier Eugene of Savoy, and +under that commander made himself conspicuous by his fidelity and +fearlessness. A story is told of him that is interesting, if not +characteristic. While serving under Eugene, he one day found himself +sitting at table with a prince of Wuertemberg. He was a beardless +youngster, and the prince thought to have some sport with him. Taking up +a glass of wine, the prince gave it a fillip, so that a little flew in +Oglethorpe's face. The young Englishman, looking straight at the prince, +and smiling, said, "My prince, that is only a part of the joke as the +English know it: I will show you the whole of it." With that he threw a +glassful of wine in the prince's face. An old general who sat by laughed +dryly, and remarked, "He did well, my prince: you began it." + +[Illustration: Oglethorpe 028] + +Born in 1689, Oglethorpe entered the English army when twenty-one years +of age. In 1714 he became captain lieutenant of the first troop of the +queen's guards. He shortly afterwards joined Eugene on the continent, +and remained with that soldier until the peace of 1718. On the death of +his brother, he succeeded to the family estate in England. In 1722 he +was elected to Parliament from Haslemere, county of Surrey, and +this borough he represented continuously for thirty-two years. His +parliamentary career was marked by wise prudence and consistency; +and his sympathies were warmly enlisted for the relief of unfortunate +soldiers, and in securing reform in the conduct of prisons. In this way +Oglethorpe became a philanthropist, and, without intending it, attracted +the attention of all England. Pope, the poet, eulogizes his "strong +benevolence of soul." + +In that day and time, men were imprisoned for debt in England. The +law was brutal, and those who executed it were cruel. There was no +discrimination between fraud and misfortune. The man who was unable to +pay his debts was judged to be as criminal as the man who, though able, +refused to pay. Both were thrown into the same prison, and subjected +to the same hardships. In "Little Dorrit," Charles Dickens has told +something of those unfortunates who were thrown into prison for debt. + +There was apparently nothing too atrocious to be sanctioned by the +commercial ambition of the English. It armed creditors with the power to +impose the most cruel burdens upon their debtors, and it sanctioned the +slave trade. Many crimes have been committed to promote the commercial +supremacy of Great Britain, and on that blind policy was based the law +which suffered innocent debtors to be deprived of their liberty and +thrown into prison. + +This condition of affairs Oglethorpe set himself to reform; and while +thus engaged, he became impressed with the idea that many of the +unfortunates, guilty of no crime, and of respectable connections, might +benefit themselves, relieve England of the shame of their imprisonment, +and confirm and extend the dominion of the mother country in the New +World, by being freed from the claims of those to whom they owed money, +on condition that they would consent to become colonists in America. +To this class were to be added recruits from those who, through lack +of work and of means, were likely to be imprisoned on account of their +misfortunes. Oglethorpe was also of the opinion that men of means, +enterprise, and ambition could be enlisted in the cause; and in this he +was not mistaken. + +He had no hope whatever of personal gain or private benefit. The plan +that he had conceived was entirely for the benefit of the unfortunate, +based on broad and high ideas of benevolence; and so thoroughly was this +understood, that Oglethorpe had no difficulty whatever in securing +the aid of men of wealth and influence. A charter or grant from the +government was applied for, in order that the scheme might have the +sanction and authority of the government. Accordingly a charter was +granted, and the men most prominent in the scheme of benevolence were +incorporated under the name of "The Trustees for establishing the +Colony of Georgia in America." Georgia in America, was, under the terms +of the charter, a pretty large slice of America. It embraced all that +part of the continent lying between the Savannah and Altamaha rivers, +and extending westerly from the heads of these rivers in direct lines to +the South Seas; so that the original territory of Georgia extended from +ocean to ocean. + +In aid of this enterprise, Oglethorpe not only contributed largely from +his private means, and solicited contributions from his wealthy friends, +but wrote a tract in which he used arguments that were practical as well +as ingenious. + +On the 17th of November, 1732, all arrangements having been completed, +the "Anne" set sail for the Colony of Georgia, accompanied by +Oglethorpe, who furnished his own cabin, and laid in provisions not +only for himself, but for his fellow-passengers. On the 13th of January, +1733, the "Anne" anchored in Charleston harbor. From Charleston the +vessel sailed to Port Royal; and the colonists were soon quartered +in the barracks of Beaufort-town, which had been prepared for their +reception. Oglethorpe left the colonists at Beaufort, and, in company +with Colonel William Bull, proceeded to the Savannah River. He went up +this stream as far as Yamacraw Bluff, which he selected as the site of +the settlement he was about to make. He marked out the town, and named +it Savannah. The site was a beautiful one in Oglethorpe's day, and it is +still more beautiful now. The little settlement that the founder of the +Colony marked out has grown into a flourishing city, and art has added +its advantages to those of nature to make Savannah one of the most +beautiful cities in the United States. + +Close by the site which Oglethorpe chose for his colony was an Indian +village occupied by the Yamacraws,--a small tribe, of which Tomochichi +was chief. At this point, too, was a trading post, which had been +established by a white man named John Musgrove. This man had married a +half-breed woman whose Indian name was Coosaponakesee, but who was +known as Mary Musgrove. In order to insure the friendly reception of his +little colony and its future safety, Oglethorpe went to the village and +had a talk with Tomochichi. Mary Musgrove not only acted as interpreter, +but used her influence, which was very great, in favor of her husband's +countrymen. This was fortunate, for the Indians were very uneasy when +they learned that a colony of whites was to be established near their +village, and some of them even threatened to use force to prevent it; +but Oglethorpe's friendly attitude, and Mary Musgrove's influence, at +last persuaded them to give their consent. They made an agreement to +cede the necessary land, and promised to receive the colonists in a +friendly manner. Oglethorpe returned to Beaufort when he had concluded +this treaty, and the Sunday following his return was celebrated as a day +of thanksgiving. After religious services there was a barbecue, which, +history tells us, consisted of four fat hogs, turkeys, fowls English +beef, a hogshead of punch, a hogshead of beer, and a quantity of wine. + +[Illustration: Mary Musgrove 032] + +On the 30th of January, 1733, the immigrants set sail from Beaufort, and +on the afternoon of the next day they arrived at Yamacraw Bluff. On the +site of the town that had already been marked off, they pitched four +tents large enough to accommodate all the people. Oglethorpe, after +posting his sentinels, slept on the ground under the shelter of the +tall pines, near the central watch fire. As a soldier should, he slept +soundly. He had planted the new Colony, and thus far all had gone well +with him and with those whose interests he had charge of. + +To bring these colonists across the ocean, and place them in a position +where they might begin life anew, was not a very difficult undertaking; +but to plant a colony amongst savages already suspicious of the whites, +and to succeed in obtaining their respect, friendship, and aid, was +something that required wisdom, courage, prudence, and large experience. +This Oglethorpe did; and it is to his credit, that, during the time he +had charge of the Colony, he never in any shape or form took advantage +of the ignorance of the Indians. His method of dealing with them was +very simple. He conciliated them by showing them that the whites could +be just, fair, and honorable in their dealings; and thus, in the very +beginning, he won the friendship of those whose enmity to the little +Colony would have proved ruinous. + +Providence favored Oglethorpe in this matter. He had to deal with an +Indian chief full of years, wisdom, and experience. This was Tomochichi, +who was at the head of the Yamacraws. From this kindly Indian the +Georgia Colony received untold benefits. He remained the steadfast +friend of the settlers, and used his influence in their behalf in every +possible way, and on all occasions. Although he was a very old man, +he was strong and active, and of commanding presence. He possessed +remarkable intelligence; and this, added to his experience, made him one +of the most remarkable of the Indians whose names have been preserved +in history. There was something of a mystery about him that adds to the +interest which his active friendship for the whites has given to his +name. He belonged to the tribe of Lower Creeks; but for some reason or +other, he, with a number of his tribemen, had been banished. The cause +of his exile has never been made known; but at this late day it may be +guessed that he became disgusted with the factional disputes among the +Creeks, and sought in another part of the territory the peace and repose +to which his years of service had entitled him; and that when he had +taken this step, the factions which he had opposed succeeded in having +him banished. Some such theory as this is necessary to account for the +tributes that were paid to his character and influence by the Creek +chiefs who assembled at Savannah to make a treaty with Oglethorpe. +Tomochichi was ninety-one years old when the Georgia Colony was founded, +and he had gathered about him a number of disaffected Creeks and +Yemassees, known as the tribe of the Yamacraws. When the Creeks came to +Savannah to meet Oglethorpe, the greatest of their chiefs said that +he was related to Tomochichi, who was a good man, and had been a great +warrior. + +Thus, with Oglethorpe to direct it, and with Tomochichi as its friend, +the little Georgia Colony was founded, and, as we shall see, thrived and +flourished. + + + + +THE EMPRESS OF GEORGIA + +When Oglethorpe landed at Yamacraw Bluff, he was greatly aided in +his efforts to conciliate the Indians by the wife of John Musgrove, a +half-breed woman whose Indian name was Coosaponakesee. She was known by +the colonists as Mary Musgrove, and her friendship for the whites was +timely and fortunate. She was Oglethorpe's interpreter in his first +interview with Tomochichi. She was very friendly and accommodating, +giving aid to Oglethorpe and his colony in every possible way. Finding +that she had great influence, and could be made very useful to the +colonists, Oglethorpe employed her as interpreter, and paid her yearly +one hundred pounds sterling, which in that day was equal to a great deal +more than five hundred dollars; but Mary Musgrove earned all that was +paid her, and more. She used all her influence in behalf of the whites. +She aided in concluding treaties, and also in securing warriors from +the Creek nation in the war that occurred between the colonists and the +Spaniards who occupied Florida. + +General Oglethorpe had a sincere friendship for Mary Musgrove, and his +influence over her was such that she never refused a request he made. +If Oglethorpe had remained in Georgia, it is probable that the curious +episode in which Mary took a leading part would never have occurred. + +Oglethorpe left Georgia on the 23d of July, 1743, and never returned. +John Musgrove died shortly afterwards, and Mary married a man named +Matthews, who also died. She then married a man named Thomas Bosomworth, +who had been chaplain to Oglethorpe's regiment. In 1743, before +Oglethorpe's departure, Bosomworth had been commissioned to perform all +religious and ecclesiastical affairs in Georgia. Previous to that he had +accepted a grant of lands, and had taken up his abode in the Colony. He +appears to have been a pompous and an ambitious person, with just enough +learning to make him dangerous. + +Before Mary Musgrove married Bosomworth she had never ceased to labor +for the good of the Colony. No sacrifice was too great for her to make +in behalf of her white friends. It is true, she had not been fully +paid for her services; but she had faith in the good intentions of +the government, and was content. In 1744, a year after Oglethorpe's +departure from the Colony, Mary married Bosomworth, and after that her +conduct was such as to keep the whites in constant fear of massacre and +extermination. + +In 1745, Thomas Bosomworth went to England and informed the trustees +of the Georgia Company that he intended to give up his residence in the +Georgia Colony. The next year he returned to Georgia, and violated +the regulations of the trustees by introducing six negro slaves on the +plantation of his wife near the Altamaha River. This action was at once +resented; and President Stephens, who had succeeded Oglethorpe in the +management of the Colony's affairs, was ordered to have the negro slaves +removed from the territory of Georgia. This was done, and from that time +forth Bosomworth and his wife began to plot against the peace and +good order of the Georgia Colony. He used the influence of his wife to +conciliate the Indians, and secure their sympathy and support. While +this was going on, he was busy in preparing a claim against the +government of the Colony for the services rendered and losses sustained +by his wife, which he valued at five hundred pounds sterling. In +her name he also claimed possession of the islands of Ossabaw, St. +Catharine, and Sapelo, and of a tract of land near Savannah which in +former treaties had been reserved to the Indians. + +Bosomworth was shrewd enough not to act alone. In some mysterious way, +not clearly told in history, he secured the sympathy and support of +Major William Horton, commander of Oglethorpe's regiment stationed at +Frederica, and other officers. Colonel Heron, who succeeded Major Horton +as commander of the regiment in 1747, was likewise gained over to the +cause of the Bosomworths. By the connivance of this officer, a body +of Indians, with Malatche at their head, marched to Frederica for a +conference. At this conference Malatche made a speech in which he told +of the services which his sister Mary had rendered the colonists, and +requested that a messenger be sent to England to tell the King that he, +Malatche, was emperor of all the Creeks. He declared, also, that Mary, +his sister, was confided in by the whole Creek nation, and that the +nation had decided to abide by her will and desire. + +Bosomworth saw the necessity of pushing the matter forward, and so +he suggested to Malatche the importance of having himself crowned as +emperor by those who were with him. Accordingly a paper was drawn up +giving to Malatche full authority as emperor. This done, Bosomworth was +quick to procure from the Creek emperor a deed of conveyance to +Thomas and Mary Bosomworth of the islands of Ossabaw, Sapelo, and St. +Catharine. + +Matters went on peaceably for a while; but Bosomworth was active and +energetic, and his wife appears to have been entirely under his control. +He bought on credit a great number of cattle from planters in South +Carolina, and these he placed on the islands that had been given him +by Malatche. When his debts fell due, he was unable to pay them. Rather +than surrender the property for which he was unable to pay, he suggested +to his wife that she take the title of an independent empress. It is +doubtful if she knew what an empress was; but she had an idea, that, if +she claimed to be one, she would be able to buy some red calico at the +nearest store, as well as an extra bottle of rum. So she fell eagerly +into the Rev. Mr. Bosom-worth's plans. She sent word to the Creeks that +she had suddenly become a genuine empress, and called a meeting of the +big men of the nation. The big men assembled; and Mary made a speech, +in which she insisted that she was the Empress of Georgia. She must have +been a pretty good talker; for the Indians became very much excited, and +pledged themselves to stand by her to the last drop of their blood. + +Having thus obtained the support of the Indians, Mary set out for +Savannah, accompanied by a large body of them. She sent before her a +messenger to inform the president of the Province that she had become +empress over the whole territory belonging to the Upper and Lower +Creeks; that she was on her way to demand the instant surrender of all +the lands that had belonged to Doth nations; and that, if there should +be any serious opposition to her demands, the settlement would be +attacked and destroyed. + +[Illustration: Empress Mary 039] + +It was a dark hour for the colonists, who were vastly outnumbered by the +Indians. The president and council were disturbed by the bold threats +made by Mary Bosomworth. Their first plan was to meet the Indians +peaceably, and, by gentle measures, find an opportunity to seize Mary +Bosomworth and ship her to England. In the town of Savannah there were +only one hundred and seventy men able to bear arms. The president of +the Province sent a messenger to Mary, while she and her followers were +still several miles distant, warning her to give up her wild scheme. +Mary sent back a message expressing her contempt for the Colony and its +officials. Thereupon the president of the Province determined to put +the best possible face on the matter, and receive Mary and her savage +followers boldly. Accordingly the militia was ordered under arms; and as +the Indians entered the town, they were stopped by Colonel Noble Jones, +who, at the head of a company of horse, demanded to know whether they +came with friendly or hostile intentions. He received no satisfactory +answer to his demand, whereupon he informed the Indians that they must +ground their arms, as he had orders not to permit an armed man +among them to set foot within the town. The Indians submitted to the +unexpected demand, but with great reluctance. + +Having grounded their arms, the Indians were allowed to enter the town. +They marched in regular order, headed by Thomas Bosomworth, who, decked +out in full canonical robes, with Mary by his side, was followed by +the various chiefs according to their rank. The army of Indians made a +formidable appearance as they marched into the town, and the inhabitants +were terror-stricken at the sight. They marched to the parade ground, +where they found the militia drawn up to receive them. Here they were +saluted with fifteen guns, and then conducted to the president's house. +When the Indians were assembled there, Thomas and Mary Bosomworth were +ordered to withdraw. Then the president and council asked the Indian +chiefs in a friendly manner why they visited the town in so large a +body, not having been sent for by any person in lawful authority. The +Indians replied that Mary, their empress, was to speak for them, and +that they would abide by what she said. They had heard that she was to +be made a prisoner and sent across the great waters, and they wanted to +know why they were to lose their queen. They said they intended no harm +to the whites, and begged that their arms might be restored to them. +Then, after talking with Bosomworth and his wife, they would return and +settle all public affairs. Their arms were restored to them, but orders +were given that on no account should any ammunition be issued until the +true purpose of their visit was made known. + +The Indians then had a conference with Mary Bosomworth, and on the +following day began to conduct themselves riotously, running up and down +the streets like madmen. As all the men were obliged to perform guard +duty, the women were compelled to remain alone in their houses. They +were in a constant state of terror and alarm, expecting every moment to +be set upon and killed by the unruly savages. While the confusion was at +its worst, a rumor was circulated that the Indians had cut off the head +of the president of the council. The report was false; but the colonists +were in such a state of excitement, that they could scarcely be +restrained from firing on the Indians. The situation was very critical. +Great prudence was necessary in order to prevent bloodshed, and save the +town from destruction. + +At this crisis orders were given to the militia to lay hold of Thomas +Bosomworth, and place him in close confinement. When this order was +carried out, Mary became frantic, and made threats of vengeance against +the whole Colony. She cursed General Oglethorpe, declared that his +treaties were fraudulent, and ordered the colonists to depart from her +territory. She raved furiously, and claimed control over the entire +earth. But while engaged in cutting up these extraordinary capers, she +kept an eye on the leading men among the Indians, who she knew could be +easily bribed. + +The president of the Province, finding that nothing could be done with +the Indians while they remained under the influence of their so-called +empress, caused Mary to be privately arrested, and placed her under +guard with her husband. When this was done, quiet was at once restored. +The Indians ceased to be boisterous. When the time seemed to be ripe, +the president of the Province employed men acquainted with the Creek +language to entertain the chiefs and their warriors in the friendliest +way. A feast was prepared; and in the midst of it the chiefs were told +that Bosomworth had become involved in debt, and was anxious to secure +not only all the lands of the Creeks, but also a large share of the +bounty paid to them by the King of England, so that he might be able to +pay his creditors in Carolina. He was also told that the King's presents +were intended only for the Indians; that the lands near the town were +reserved for them for their encampments; that the sea islands were +reserved for them to hunt upon when they should come to bathe in the +salt waters; and that neither Mary nor her husband had any right to +these lands, which were the common property of the Creek nations. + +For the moment this policy was successful. Even Malatche, Mary's +brother, seemed to be satisfied; and many of the chiefs declared that +they were convinced that Bosomworth had deceived them, and that they +would trust him no more. But Malatche, at his own request, had another +talk with Thomas and Mary Bosomworth, and was again won over to support +their wild pretensions; so that, when the Indians were gathered together +to receive their shares of the royal bounty, Malatche stood up in the +midst of them, and delivered a most violent speech in favor of the +claims of Mary as the Empress of Georgia. He declared that she had three +thousand warriors at her command, and that every man of them would take +up arms in her defense. At the conclusion of his speech, Malatche drew +forth a paper and presented it to the president of the council This +paper was merely the sum and substance of Malatche's speech; and it +was so clearly the production of Bosomworth, that the effect was far +different from what the Indians had expected. The astonishment of the +president and council was so apparent, that Malatche begged to have the +paper again, so that he might deliver it to the person from whom he had +received it. + +It was important that another conference should be had with the Indians. +Accordingly they were called together again; and the president of the +Province made an address, recalling to their minds the fact that when +General Oglethorpe and his colony landed in Georgia, they found Mary, +then the wife of John Musgrove, living in a hut at Yamacraw; that at +that time she was comparatively poor and friendless, being neglected +and despised by the Creeks, and going about in rags; that General +Oglethorpe, finding that she could speak both the English and the Creek +tongues, employed her as an interpreter, gave her rich clothes, and made +her a woman of some consequence; that she was respected by the colonists +until she married Thomas Bosomworth, but from that time forth they no +longer had any confidence in her; that she had no lands of her own; and +that General Oglethorpe had no treaty with her, but dealt with the old +and wise leaders of the Creeks, who voluntarily surrendered their waste +lands to the whites. The president then went on to show that Mary's +claims had been invented by Thomas Bosomworth as an easy means of +paying a debt of four hundred pounds which he owed in South Carolina for +cattle, and that his quarrel with the colonists was due to the fact +that they had refused to give him a third part of the royal bounty which +belonged by right to the Indians. + +At this point the Creek chiefs begged the president to stop. They had +heard enough to convince them, they said, and now they wanted to smoke +the pipe of peace. Apparently this was a happy ending to a very serious +dispute. But at the very moment when everything was serene, Mary +Bosomworth made her appearance amongst those who were patching up their +differences. She had escaped from her guards, and, having secured a +supply of rum, now made her appearance drunk and furious. She filled the +air with threats. The president told her, that, unless she ceased her +efforts to poison the minds of the Indians, he would again order her +into close confinement. Thereupon Mary turned to Malatche and told him +what the president had said. In a rage, Malatche seized his arms, and, +calling to the rest of the Indians to do the same, dared the whites to +touch the empress. The uproar was great. Every Indian had his tomahawk +in his hand, and the council expected nothing less than instant death. + +At this moment, Captain Noble Jones, who commanded the guard, ordered +the Indians to deliver up their arms. The savages were overawed by the +coolness and courage of this intrepid officer. They yielded up their +arms, and Mary was shut in a private room, and a guard set over her. +There she was securely kept, and while the Indians remained she had no +further communication with them. Her husband was then sent for, and +the president and council tried to reason with him; but he remained +obstinate, declaring that he would stand up for his wife's rights to +the last. Finding Bosomworth unreasonable, the council caused him to +be seized and confined. This done, the authorities then set about +persuading the Indians to leave the town peaceably and return to their +own settlements. This the savages did after a while, leaving Savannah in +small parties until all were gone. + +Finding himself no longer supported by the Indians, Thomas Bosomworth +at last repented of his folly. He wrote to the president and council, +apologizing for his wanton conduct. He acknowledged the title of his +wife to be groundless, and relinquished all claim to the lands of the +Province. Though his offense had been serious, the colonists pardoned +him, and thus ended the career of Coosaponakesee as Empress of Georgia. + +And yet, after all, the Rev. Thomas Bosomworth had his way. Mary seems +to have lived long; and her husband pressed her claims in London, +so that, when Henry Ellis was made governor of the Province, he was +authorized, in 1759, to sell the islands of Ossabaw and Sapelo, as well +as other Indian lands near Savannah, and out of the moneys received to +settle the demands of the Bosomworths, and to give them a title to +the Island of St. Catharine, which they had settled and improved. Mary +Bosomworth was given four hundred and fifty pounds for goods she had +expended in the King's service, and it was provided also that she should +be allowed sixteen hundred and fifty pounds for her services as agent. +In addition, she was given two thousand pounds, the sum for which +Ossabaw and Sapelo sold at auction. A grant of St. Catharine Island was +also made to Mary Bosomworth; so that it may be considered that she was +richly rewarded for the many good turns she did the colonists in +her better days, before her mind had been poisoned by the Rev. Mr. +Bosomworth. + + + + +THE LIBERTY BOYS. + +[Illustration: The Liberty Boys 048] + +In 1765, what is known as the Stamp Act was passed by the Parliament of +Great Britain, in spite of all the protests made by the agents of +the Colonies. The people of the Colonies felt that taxation without +representation was an exercise of power not to be tolerated. + +The Stamp Act itself was a very small matter; but many of the American +Colonies had been setting up claims of independence in various matters. +As Benjamin Franklin said, the British nation was provoked by these +claims of independence, and all parties proposed by this piece of +legislation to settle the question once for all. While the agents of the +Colonies, and among them Franklin, protested against the Stamp Act, none +of them supposed that it would be met by armed resistance; and yet the +terms of the act were insolent and sweeping. It was provided that if the +stamps were not used, "marriages would be null and void, notes of +hand valueless, ships at sea prizes to the first captors, suits at +law impossible, transfers of real estate invalid, inheritances +irreclaimable." In spite of these sweeping terms, Benjamin Franklin did +not doubt that the act would be carried into effect, and other patriotic +Americans thought that the colonists should submit. Even James Otis of +Boston, who was afterwards among the first to advocate the calling of an +American congress to deliberate upon the propriety of the acts of Great +Britain, was of this opinion. + +The Georgia authorities regarded the stamp duty as just as any that +could be generally imposed on the Colonies, though the manner of +imposing it greatly inspired alarm. But while the other Colonies were +hesitating, a voice was heard in Virginia. Patrick Henry, speaking +for the Virginians, made an eloquent protest against the law, and his +boldness kindled into flames the spirit of opposition that had been +smoldering in all the Colonies. The Sons of Liberty were organized +North and South. In Georgia they were known as "Liberty Boys." "Liberty, +property, and no stamps!" was the cry, and it was a cry that stirred the +country from one end to the other. + +The congress suggested by James Otis of Boston assembled on Monday, the +7th of October, 1765, Georgia had no delegates in the congress, but +was represented by a messenger who was sent to obtain a copy of the +proceedings. Such representation was not because the Colony of Georgia +failed to sympathize with the purpose for which the congress was called, +but was entirely due to the influence and popularity of Governor Wright, +the royal governor, who was not only a good man personally, but wise, +prudent, and far-seeing. Owing to his exertions, Georgia was not +represented in the person of delegates. The speaker of the Georgia +House of Assembly had indeed called a convention of the members for the +purpose of selecting delegates to the Colonial Congress called to meet +in New York, and sixteen members had responded to the call; but such +was the influence of Governor Wright, that these members of the assembly +were prevailed upon not to send delegates to the congress. But they +could not be prevented from preparing and sending a response to the +Massachusetts invitation. They had resolved, they said, to support +heartily every measure that might be suggested for the support of the +common rights of the Colonies. + +We learn from the letters of Governor Wright, written to the Earl of +Halifax, that it was as much as he could do (and he was a very active +as well as a very wise governor) to prevail on the people to maintain at +least the outward show of loyalty to the King. And he was not successful +even in this, for he informs another correspondent (Mr. Secretary +Conway) on the 31st of January, 1766, that the same spirit of "sedition, +or rather rebellion, which first appeared at Boston," had reached +Georgia, and that he had been constantly engaged for the space of three +months in trying to convince the people that they ought to submit to the +King's authority until they could point out their grievances and apply +for redress in a constitutional way. Governor Wright also states to +the same correspondent that he has had much trouble in preserving from +destruction at the hands of the people the stamp papers that had been +forwarded for the collection of the tax. He received "incendiary" +letters; he had to issue proclamations against riots and "tumultuous +and unlawful assemblies;" and he had also to take measures against the +Liberty Boys, who began to have private meetings, and who had formed +themselves into a society to oppose and prevent the distribution of the +stamp papers. + +In short, the good governor was kept in a constant state of alarm lest +the Liberty Boys should seize some advantage and cause his Majesty the +King of England to have a moment of grief. The Liberty Boys were so +active, and made so many threatening demonstrations, that Governor +Wright was driven to what he describes as extreme measures. He was +compelled to send the obnoxious stamp papers to a place of safety to +prevent the people from destroying them; and when he had the papers +securely hidden, he was compelled to place men on duty day and night to +protect the precious stamps. He was obliged to send a posse of men to +protect the stamp distributer by hiding him, and was then moved to send +him into the country for a season, in order to avoid the resentment of +the people; and then, after all his trouble, the good governor found +that the people had determined not to apply for any papers, stamped +or unstamped, until the King had acted on the petitions sent from the +Colonies. No wonder that he was moved to call it "a wretched situation." +It was indeed a wretched situation for one who had no higher ideas of +duty than to continue to serve the King and oppose the interests of the +people. + +There was something more of an uproar in South Carolina than in Georgia; +but the truth of history appears to be that the resistance offered to +the Stamp Act in Georgia was much more serious than that displayed in +Carolina. Although Governor Wright used all his influence to support the +act, the people exercised so much vigilance in watching the stamp papers +and the officer sent to issue them, that none of the papers found their +way into use. + +The Colonies were bordering on a state of revolution, when, through the +influence of the Earl of Chatham, the Stamp Act was repealed. There +was great rejoicing among the people, and a general manifestation of a +renewal of loyalty to the mother country. But the seeds of dissension +had been sown. The Stamp Act unnecessary and uncalled for, had given the +people cause to ponder over their real relations to the Crown; and out +of the discussion that had taken place arose a spirit of independence +that grew and thrived and spread day by day. + +In short, the repeal of the Stamp Act gave the people of the Colonies +only momentary satisfaction. Their success in securing its repeal +gave them a new taste for liberty of action, and a new sense of their +importance as individuals. But King George III. was never satisfied with +the repeal of the Stamp Act of 1765. He declared that it had wounded +the Majesty of England. It fretted him, and the irritation that he felt +extended like a contagion to his cabinet. When the Earl of Chatham died, +there was no statesman to take his place. The mantle of his office fell +on Charles Townshend, who was more anxious to please the King than to +secure good government to the people of the Colonies. He was anxious +for the British Government to assert with vigor its right to govern the +Colonies as it saw fit. + +Meanwhile the spirit of independence in the Colonies continued to assert +itself more openly day by day, and the determination grew among them +not to submit to taxation without representation in Parliament. The +organization of Sons of Liberty and Liberty Boys grew and spread both +North and South. One of the most fruitful causes of discontent was the +fact that Georgia and the other Colonies were compelled to depend upon +the will of the British Government in all matters. Every act passed by +a colonial assembly must receive the sanction of the British Parliament +before it became a law. Petitions were disregarded. Frequently there +was a delay of two years between the passage of an act by the Colonial +General Assembly and its ratification. But every measure had to receive +the approval of the Crown. While the affairs of the country were in this +peculiar condition, the people became more and more dissatisfied. + +It is now known that Governor James Wright, loyal to the King as he +proved himself to be, was fully sensible of the injustice to which +the Colonies were compelled to submit. On the 15th of August, 1769, he +addressed a letter to the Earl of Hillsborough, which was not read until +fifteen months after it was written. In this letter the governor warned +the British cabinet that the Colonies would never submit to taxation +without representation. There was no disaffection, he said, toward the +King or the royal family, but simply a determination on the part of the +people to stand on their rights. But the governor's letter lay unread +for fifteen months, and there was no reply to the numerous petitions +sent from the Colonies. At last the Americans determined to appeal to +the pockets instead of to the sentiments of the people of Great Britain. +They determined to import no goods whatever that could be manufactured +or produced at home. + +This determination, instead of causing the British people to conciliate +the Americans by securing the repeal of unfriendly laws, turned the +popular opinion against the Colonies; and this feeling was intensified +by the Boston Tea Party. A bill was passed by both Houses of the British +Parliament to close the port of Boston, and the discussion of the +measure gave an opportunity to some of the statesmen of the mother +country to show their spite. Another law was passed, limiting and +cutting down the power of the representative assembly of Massachusetts, +and providing that town meetings should not be held except on permission +in writing from the royal governor. Another act was passed, giving the +governor of the Province the power to send to Great Britain or to other +Colonies persons indicted for murder or charged with capital crimes +committed in aiding the government of Massachusetts. These acts, +intended to humiliate the Colonies, had the effect of inflaming them, +and the Liberty Boys grew in numbers and determination. + +[Illustration: Tondee's Tavern 055] + +On the 20th of July, 1774, "The Georgia Gazette," published at Savannah, +contained an invitation to the people of the Province to meet at +Tondee's Tavern on the 27th of July to take into consideration the +unjust laws that had been passed by the British Parliament. The cause +of Massachusetts was the cause of all. The meeting was held, and stood +adjourned to the 10th of August, in order to give all the parishes an +opportunity to be represented by delegates. Governor Wright, loyal to +the last, issued a proclamation warning the people of the Province to +avoid attending the meeting; but the proclamation was disregarded, and a +meeting of the people of the Province was held at Tondee's Tavern on +the 10th of August, 1774. Resolutions were adopted, declaring that +his Majesty's subjects in America owed the same allegiance, and were +entitled to the same rights and privileges, as their fellow-subjects +in Great Britain; that the act lately passed for blockading the port +of Boston was contrary to the British constitution; that the act for +abolishing the charter of Massachusetts Bay tended to the subversion of +American rights; that the Parliament of Great Britain had not, nor ever +had, the right to tax his Majesty's American subjects; and that every +demand for the support of government should be by requisition made to +the several houses of representatives. The resolutions covered all the +grievances of the people of the Colonies. + +Meanwhile, Governor Wright was not idle. He called a convention of +Royalists, which met, and signed a protest against the resolutions. +Copies of this protest were made, and sent into all the parishes, by the +governor's friends. Under pressure, many timid men who were really in +sympathy with the Liberty Boys signed the protest. The signatures of +dead men were used, and other frauds practiced, in order to make the +demonstration in favor of the King sufficient to overawe those who +had pledged themselves to American independence. In all this, Governor +Wright was aided by the fact that the only newspaper in the Province, +"The Georgia Gazette," was under his control. He was also aided by the +geographical situation of Georgia, and by his own personal popularity. +He had made a good governor. He had worked as hard for the prosperity +and progress of the Province as he now worked to prevent the people from +joining the movement for independence. + +The governor was successful to the extent that he was able to prevent +Georgia from sending duly accredited representatives to the First +Continental Congress; and this fact has been taken by some writers of +history to mean that the spirit of liberty and independence was not as +earnest and as enthusiastic in Georgia as in the other Provinces. Later, +when Georgia was overrun by British and Tory influences, and appeared to +be conquered, ill-natured critics recalled the fact that her people were +slow to join hands with those who advocated resistance to tyranny. + +When the South Carolina delegates to the First Continental Congress +returned to their homes, bearing with them copies of the Declaration of +Colonial Rights, the Liberty Boys of Georgia renewed their movement with +great zeal. Copies of the Declaration were distributed throughout the +Province. The result was, that the Liberty Boys grew steadily stronger +in numbers, and more defiant in action. An idea of the situation at this +time may be gathered from a letter written by Governor Wright to the +Earl of Dartmouth on the 13th of December, 1774. He declared that the +spirit of independence, or, as he called it, the spirit of enthusiasm, +which many were possessed of before, "is raised to such a height of +frenzy, that God knows what the consequences may be, or what man or +whose property may escape their resentment." + +No doubt the amiable governor misunderstood the situation. What he +regarded as "frenzy" was merely the eager desire and the determination +of the Liberty Boys of Georgia to redeem themselves in the eyes of their +brethren in the other Colonies. They were humiliated by their failure to +send representatives to the Continental Congress, and they endeavored to +redeem themselves by increased zeal and enthusiasm. + +They arranged to hold a provincial congress in Savannah on the 18th +of January, 1775. Governor Wright, on hearing of this, determined to +convene the Provincial General Assembly on the same day, hoping and +believing that this would prevent a meeting of the Provincial Congress, +or greatly hamper its action. But the governor was mistaken. The +General Assembly met in response to the call, and so did the Provincial +Congress. Governor Wright addressed the members, declaring to them the +danger of the situation, and imploring them to be prudent and loyal. +The upper house of the General Assembly made a response agreeable to the +governor's expectations, but the lower house gave to its address a tone +of independence that was not at all pleasing to the King's officer. He +showed his displeasure, and placed a serious obstacle in the way of the +Liberty Boys by adjourning the General Assembly until the 9th of the +following May. The Assembly had met on the 18th of January, and was +adjourned on the 10th of February; so that the Liberty Boys, who made up +a majority of the lower house, had no time to appoint delegates to the +Philadelphia congress soon to be held, nor to take any official action +in behalf of the independence of Georgia. + +Governor Wright's plans were certainly very shrewdly laid. His +adjournment of the General Assembly not only hampered the Provincial +Congress (or convention) that had met at Savannah simultaneously with +the legislature, but threw the delegates into confusion and disorder, +and was the means of causing the convention to adjourn without taking +such action as the friends of liberty hoped for. All that it did was +to elect three representatives to the Philadelphia congress. This +was something, but it was not enough. The Liberty Boys expected +the Provincial Convention to adopt all the measures and resolutions +suggested by the Continental Congress. They therefore felt mortified +when the convention adjourned, and left Georgia still outside the +continental association. + +This event was a serious embarrassment to the other Colonies, and +aroused the anger of those friends of liberty who were unable to +understand the peculiar conditions that surrounded the movement for +independence in Georgia. The friends of liberty in South Carolina were +so indignant, that they denounced the Georgians "as unworthy the +rights of freemen, and as inimical to the liberties of their country." +Throughout the Colonies, the partisans of American independence were +deeply wounded by the apparent hesitation of the Georgians, while the +Royalists were delighted. + +Though the Provincial Convention remained in session only seven days +before adjourning, the delegates of St. John's Parish had withdrawn from +the body. These delegates insisted on an emphatic indorsement of the +acts of the Continental Congress, and they retired as soon as they +found there would be some difficulty in bringing some of the hesitating +members to their way of thinking. They retired, and selected Dr. Lyman +Hall to represent St. John's in the Philadelphia congress. He took his +seat in that body, and although he cast no vote, he made his voice heard +in the discussions. + +In spite of all the drawbacks which the Liberty Boys in Georgia had +experienced, their enthusiasm did not cool. They never ceased their +efforts, and the independence movement continued to grow. The public +mind became more and more inflamed with resentment against the tyranny +of King George and his Parliament, as the people heard of the progress +of events in the more northern Colonies. By the 10th of May the people +of Savannah had heard of the shedding of American blood by British +troops at Lexington and Concord. As the news spread from parish to +parish, the people became aroused, and the response of public sentiment +was all that American patriots could expect. + +[Illustration: Seisure of Ammunition in Savannah 060] + +The first response of the Liberty Boys at Savannah was to seize the +ammunition stored in the magazine. This event occurred on the night of +the 11th of May, and was planned and carried out by the members of the +Council of Safety. About six hundred pounds of powder fell into the +hands of the Liberty Boys. Some was sent to South Carolina, and the rest +was hidden in the garrets and cellars of the patriots who had seized it. +Tradition says that some of this powder was sent to Massachusetts, where +it was used by the patriots who drove the British before them at the +battle of Bunker Hill. + +Other events occurred that showed the temper of the Liberty Boys. On the +4th of June, when Governor Wright came to fire salutes in honor of King +George's birthday, he found the cannon had been spiked, dismounted, and +rolled to the bottom of the bluff. On the 5th of June the first liberty +pole in the Colony was set up at Savannah. A young man named Hopkins, +who spoke contemptuously of the members of the Committee of Public +Safety was seized by a mob, tarred and feathered, placed in an +illuminated cart, and paraded up and down the streets of Savannah. + +As the days went by, the independence movement in Georgia became more +enthusiastic, the Liberty Boys more active. The first vessel armed and +equipped for naval warfare during the Revolution was fitted up by +the Liberty Boys of Georgia under the authority of the Provincial +Convention, which had assembled in Savannah on the 4th of July, 1775. +This event is interesting. The Carolina Committee of Safety had heard +that a British ship had sailed for Georgia with a cargo of powder +intended for the Indians and for the use of the Royalists. The +Carolinians at once resolved to capture the ship and seize the cargo. +To that end, two barges, manned by forty well-armed men, were embarked +from Beaufort, and went to the mouth of the Savannah River, where they +encamped on a point that commanded a full view of Tybee Lighthouse. The +Provincial Convention, hearing of this expedition, offered to assist the +officers in every way possible. There was an armed British schooner in +the river at that time; and the Liberty Boys of Savannah determined to +join forces with the Carolinians at Tybee, and effect her capture. For +this purpose a schooner was equipped by the Provincial Convention, and +placed under command of Captain Bowen and Joseph Habersham. This vessel +was armed with ten carriage guns and swivels, and carried fifty men. The +British armed vessel was not inclined to enter into a contest, but, +when the Georgia schooner appeared, weighed anchor and sailed away. The +schooner then took position beyond the harbor bar, and waited for the +ship carrying the cargo of powder. She had not long to wait. On the 10th +of July, 1775, the powder ship, commanded by Captain Maitland, made her +appearance. Before entering Tybee Inlet, however, Captain Maitland saw +the armed schooner. Suspecting that he was about to fall into a trap, he +brought his vessel round, tacked, and stood out to sea. But he had gone +too far. The Georgia schooner gave chase, and soon overtook and captured +the ship. It was a fortunate capture for the Colonies. Five thousand +pounds of powder were sent to Philadelphia, and nine thousand fell to +the share of Georgia. + +The convention that commissioned the first armed vessel of the +Revolution did more important work than this. It placed the Province +of Georgia in political union with her sister Colonies, and gave her +fellowship with those struggling Provinces. She was welcomed into the +United Colonies with joyful demonstrations by the Continental Congress. +By the 15th of April, 1776, the Liberty Boys in Georgia were so strong +that Governor Wright had taken refuge on one of the King's vessels at +Tybee; and on that date the patriots took full charge of the government +of the Province. Archibald Bulloch was the first republican president of +Georgia. + +This is how the Liberty Boys took the Province of Georgia from his +Majesty the King, and made a free and independent government. Their +struggle did not end here, but the details of that struggle must be left +to history to relate. + + + + +A GROUP OF CHARACTERS + +The Revolutionary War in Georgia developed some very romantic figures, +which are known to us rather by tradition than by recorded history. +First among them, on the side of the patriots, was Robert Sallette. +Neither history nor tradition gives us the place of his birth or the +date of his death; yet it is known that he played a more important part +in the struggle in the Colony than any man who had no troops at his +command. He seems to have slipped mysteriously on the scene at the +beginning of the war. He fought bravely, even fiercely, to the end, +and then, having nothing else to do, slipped away as mysteriously as +he came. "In Liberty County," says history, "there lived during the +Revolution a man by the name of Robert Sallette, distinguished for +his opposition to the Tories. It is not known with certainty to what +particular command he was attached. He appears to have been a sort of +roving character, doing things in his own way." Here is the mystery of +romance to begin with. Here is the wanderer,--the character so dear to +the imagination of youth. + +"The Tories," says history further, "stood very much in dread of him; +and well they might, for never had they a more, formidable foe." Here, +then, is the hero and the wanderer combined in one person, and +that person fighting for the holiest cause in which man can take up +arms,--the rights and liberties of the people. What more could be asked? + +Curious as we may be to know something of the personal history of Robert +Sallette, it is not to be found chronicled in the books. The French +twist to his name makes it probable that he was a descendant of those +unfortunate Acadians who, years before, had been stripped of their lands +and possessions in Nova Scotia by the British, their houses and barns +burned, and they themselves transported away from their homes. They were +scattered at various points along the American coast. Some were landed +at Philadelphia, and some were carried to Louisiana. Four hundred were +sent to Georgia. The British had many acts of cruelty to answer for in +those days, but none more infamous than this treatment of the gentle and +helpless Acadians. It stands in history to-day a stain upon the British +name. + +Another fact that leads to the belief that Robert Sallette was a +descendant of the unfortunate Acadians was the ferocity with which he +pursued the British and the Tories. The little that is told about +him makes it certain that he never gave quarter to the enemies of his +country. + +His name was a terror to the Tories. One of them, a man of considerable +means, offered a reward of one hundred guineas to any person who would +bring him the head of Robert Sallette. The Tory had never seen Sallette, +but his alarm was such that he offered a reward large enough to tempt +some one to assassinate the daring partisan. When Sallette heard of the +reward, he disguised himself as a farmer, and provided himself with +a pumpkin, which he placed in a bag. With the bag swinging across his +shoulder, he made his way to the house of the Tory. He was invited in, +and deposited the bag on the floor beside him, the pumpkin striking the +boards with a thump. + +[Illustration: The head of Robert Sallette 066] + +"I have brought you the head of Robert Sallette," said he. "I hear that +you have offered a reward of one hundred guineas for it." + +"Where is it?" asked the Tory. + +"I have it with me," replied Sallette, shaking the loose end of the bag. +"Count me out the money and take the head." + +The Tory, neither doubting nor suspecting, counted out the money, and +placed it on the table. + +"Now show me the head," said he. + +Sallette removed his hat, tapped himself on the forehead, and said, +"Here is the head of Robert Sallette!" + +The Tory was so frightened that he jumped from the room, and Sallette +pocketed the money and departed. + +On one occasion Robert Sallette is known to have spared the lives of two +Tories, at least for a little while. Once when he and Andrew Walthour +(for whom Walthourville in Georgia is named) and another man were riding +along a narrow trail late in the afternoon, they met three other +riders whom they suspected to be Tories. The plan that Sallette and his +companions adopted to capture the men was very simple. Andrew Walthour, +who was riding in front, was to pass the first and second men, Robert +Sallette to pass the first. As Walthour came to the third man when +Sallette had come to the second, and their companion to the first, the +Liberty Boys seized the guns of the three simultaneously. The men had no +opportunity either to fight or escape. + +"Dismount, gentlemen!" said Sallette. Then he addressed himself to the +leader. "What is your name?" + +In reply to this, a fictitious name was given, as Sallette and his +companions afterwards found out. + +"Where is your camp?" asked Sallette. + +"We are from over the river," answered the man, meaning the Altamaha. + +"Where did you cross?" + +"At Beards Ferry." This was where the Whigs and the Liberty Boys were +most numerous. + +"That is not true!" exclaimed Sallette. + +Then he turned to the second man, asked the same questions, and received +the same replies. He turned to the third man, asked the same questions, +and received the same replies. + +"If you do not tell me the truth," exclaimed Sallette to this last man, +"I'll cut off your head!" + +The man persisted, and Sallette was as good as his word. The others +begged for their lives, and declared that they would guide Sallette +straight to their camp. This they did; and Sallette, aided by his +prisoners, captured a large party of Tories. + +Once when Robert Sallette and Andrew Walthour were marching with the +advance guard of the American troops, they suddenly met the advance +guard of the British. A short but sharp skirmish followed, during which +a very large man of the British guard was killed. Observing that the +dead man wore a pair of good boots, Sallette determined to get them. +While he was pulling them off in the midst of a furious fire from the +enemy, his companions called out to him to come away or he would surely +be killed. "I must have the boots!" cried Sallette to his companions. "I +want them for little John Way!" + +Here was fun in the midst of tragedy; for it is said that little John +Way could have put both his feet and his fists into one of the boots. + +One day Sallette dressed himself up as a British officer and accepted +an invitation to dine with a party of the enemy. Suddenly, in the midst +of the toasting and drinking, Sallette drew his sword, killed the men +who sat to the right and left of him, sprang on his horse, and rode off +unhurt, though he was in such a hurry that he had no time to throw the +bridle reins over the horse's head. + +At the White House, near Sunbury, Major Baker, of the patriot army, with +thirty men, attacked and defeated a party of Tories under command of +Captain Goldsmith. + +Among the slain was Lieutenant Gray, whose head was almost severed from +his body by a stroke of Robert Sallette's sword. + +On many occasions, when a battle was in progress, Sallette would detach +himself from the American army, gain the rear of the enemy, and kill +many men before he was discovered. If this brave man was indeed a +descendant of the Acadians, he avenged the wrongs of many of his +countrymen. + +Another character who attracted attention during the War of the +Revolution was Patrick Carr, whose hatred of the Tories made his name +celebrated among the Liberty Boys of Georgia. Paddy Carr, as he was +called, lived and died in Jefferson County. He was born in Ireland, but +came to Georgia before the Revolution. When the independence movement +began, he threw himself into it with all the ardor of his race. Owing to +the cruelty of the Tories, he conceived a special hatred against them. +He showed them no quarter. History gives but a word or two to his +achievements, but tradition still keeps his name alive in the region +where he operated. Like Sallette, he was an independent partisan; but, +unlike Sallette, his operations were among those who could remember well +enough, but who would not take the trouble to preserve the particulars +of even the least of his exploits. We know that Patrick Carr lived. We +know that he became famous where recklessness and daring were common. +But that is nearly all we know. It is said of him that during the war he +killed one hundred Tories with his own hands. Once, when praised for his +bravery, he smiled and shook his head, saying that he would have made +a very good soldier, but the Lord had given him a heart that was too +merciful. He no doubt remembered the atrocities of the Tories in the +section that is now Jefferson, Columbia, Burke, and Wilkes counties. The +cruelties they committed in that region during the Revolution have no +parallel in civilized warfare. + +Among the adventurous characters of that time, on the side of the +British, Daniel McGirth stands easily first. The history of his career +during the war is a strange one. He was born in South Carolina, +and entered into the struggle against the British with the utmost +enthusiasm. He was a brave man, a hard fighter, and one of the most +active of those who took up arms against the King. He was an expert +woodsman, and was at home in the saddle. He was assigned to duty as a +scout, and was better equipped for that service, perhaps, than any man +in the American army. The ease with which he secured information of the +enemy's movements and plans, and the energy that marked his movements, +made his services of great value to the patriot cause. This was not +thoroughly appreciated by some of the officers under whom McGirth acted. + +He brought with him into the army a mare which he called "The Gray +Goose." She is said to have been an elegant animal, and McGirth was +very proud of her. With this mare under him, he always felt safe +from pursuit. One of the American officers, who was a good judge of +horseflesh, and who probably wanted to "cut a dash," as the saying is, +saw this beautiful mare, and coveted her. Finding that McGirth scorned +all offers to sell her, the officer adopted various means to obtain her. +These efforts were resisted by McGirth, mainly on the ground that the +mare was his own private property, and that she was essential to the +duties he was called on to perform. Failing to gain his ends in this +way, the officer continued to worry McGirth in other ways. He no doubt +did something to rouse the ire of the scout, who was an irritable man, +and who felt the importance of the service he was rendering to the +cause. It is not now known how McGirth insulted the officer,--whether +in a moment of passion he struck him, or whether he merely used rough +language to him. + +Whatever the offense, McGirth was placed under arrest, tried by a +court-martial, found guilty of violating the articles of war, and +sentenced to be whipped. He received this punishment, and was placed +in confinement again, where he was to remain until he received another +whipping. While thus held, he saw his mare picketed near the camp, and +he immediately resolved to escape. He was successful in this. Once free, +he secured The Gray Goose, leaped into the saddle, turned around, and, +in the face of his pursuers, pronounced threats of vengeance against all +the Americans for his ill treatment. + +There is no doubt that he was illtreated; but if he had not been an +ignorant man, he would not have pronounced against the cause of liberty +on account of the treatment he received at the hands of individuals. +But the savage in his nature was aroused, and he carried out his fierce +threats to the fullest extent. For the time being, he attached himself +to another American command; but at the first opportunity he deserted +to the enemy, and became the scourge and terror of those who opposed the +British cause. He spared none. His field extended from the Florida line +to the Savannah River, in what is now Elbert County, and far into South +Carolina. He appeared when least expected, and carried destruction with +him. His mare became as noted as her master. In what was then Upper +Georgia, she was known as "The Bald-faced Pony." On many an occasion +he owed his life to the fleetness of his mare. But his vengeance was +never satisfied: it was always active, and thirsting for the blood of +the American patriot. The whim of the officer to possess McGirth's mare +was a foolish one at best. It was the cause of great public and private +suffering. + +[Illustration: McGirth and his mare 072] + +When South Carolina was rescued from the British, McGirth retreated +into Georgia, and finally into Florida. When the Spaniards regained +possession of that territory, he became subject to their laws. For some +reason or other he was thrown into one of the dungeons of the old fort +at St. Augustine, where he was confined for five years. When released, +his health was broken, and it was with great difficulty that he managed +to return to Sumter District, in South Carolina, where his wife lived. + +A very queer and eccentric character in the Revolution was Captain Rory +Mcintosh, of Mallow. Though Rory was a kinsman of General Lachlan and +Colonel John Mcintosh, who were among the most active Liberty Boys in +Georgia, he took up arms for the King, and a very devoted Tory he was. +His eccentricities would have been called whims if he had not stuck +to them with such constancy. He was a Highlander and a follower of the +Stuarts. How and why he became loyal to the new line of British kings, +history does not state; but his clan had a chief, and he no doubt +thought that every government ought to have a monarch. When the +Revolution began, he was over sixty years of age, and was living +comfortably on his plantation at Mallow; but he volunteered, and fought +through the war. + +A story is told of Rory Mcintosh that once when the Spaniards held +East Florida, he carried to St Augustine a drove of cattle. He received +payment in dollars, which he placed in a canvas bag behind him on his +horse. When near his home, the bag gave way, and a part of the money +fell out. He secured what was left and rode on, paying no attention to +that which had fallen from the bag. When in need of money some years +after, he returned to the place where the dollars had spilled, picked +up as many as he wanted, and went back home. Whenever he could, he went +about accompanied by a piper. Rory was a tall, finely formed man,'with +bristling whiskers and a ruddy complexion: consequently when he appeared +on parade, he attracted great attention. + +[Illustration: Captain Rory McIntosh 074] + +In 1778 two expeditions were sent from St. Augustine for the purpose +of attacking Savannah,--one by sea, and one by land under command of +Lieutenant Colonel Prevost. This land expedition had been joined by +Captain Roderick Mcintosh, in the capacity of a volunteer. He attached +himself particularly to the infantry company commanded by Captain +Murray. When the British laid siege to Sunbury and the fort, Captain +Murray's company was in the line near the fort. One morning when Captain +Rory had had a dram too much, he determined to sally out and summon +the fort to surrender. His comrades tried to restrain him, but he was +determined. Finally he strutted out, a drawn claymore in his hand, with +his trusty slave Jim. He approached the fort and cried out,-- + +"Surrender, you miscreants! How dare you presume to resist his Majesty's +arms?" + +Colonel Mcintosh, who commanded the fort, saw at once the condition of +Captain Rory, and forbade the men to fire. Then he threw open the gate, +and said,-- + +"Walk in, Mr. Mcintosh, and take possession." + +"No," cried Rory, "I'll not trust myself among such vermin. I order you +to surrender!" + +At that moment a rifle was fired by some one in the fort, and the ball +passed through Captain Rory's face from side to side under the eyes. +He fell backwards, but immediately recovered, and stood on his feet +flourishing his claymore. Then he began to walk backward, his face to +the fort. Several shots were fired at him, and Jim called out,-- + +"Run, massa, run! dey kill you!" + +"Run!" cried Rory scornfully. "You may run, but I belong to a race that +never runs!" + +It was at the siege of Sunbury that Colonel Mcintosh, when summoned by +Colonel Prevost to surrender the fort, sent back the reply, "Come and +take it!" + + + + +AUNT NANCY HART. + +There lived in Georgia, during the Revolutionary struggle, the most +remarkable woman in some respects that the country has produced. To find +her match, we shall have to go to the fables that are told about the +Amazons. The Liberty Boys called her Aunt Nancy Hart. The Indians, +struck by her wonderful feats in behalf of her country, called her "The +War Woman;" and there is a creek in Elbert County, where she lived, that +was named by the Indians "War Woman's Creek." + +There are other heroines to whom history has paid more attention, and +whose deeds have been celebrated in song and story; but not one of them +was more devoted to the high cause of freedom, or more courageous, or +depended less on aid from others, than Aunt Nancy Hart. In this last +respect, the War Woman of Georgia stands alone in history, just as she +stood alone when the Tories were waging a war of extermination, sparing +neither women nor children, in the region in which she lived. Invention +and fable have kindly come to the aid of the most famous of the world's +heroines, but neither fable nor invention has touched the character or +the deeds of this heroine of the Revolution. She stands out on the +pages of history rough, uncouth, hot-tempered, unmanageable, uneducated, +impolite, ugly, and sharp-tongued; but, as her friends said of her, +"What a honey of a patriot she was!" She loved the Liberty Boys as well +as she loved her own children. It has been said that she was cruel; but +this charge may as well be put out of sight. Before passing upon it, +we should have to know what the War Woman's eyes had seen, and +what terrible revelations her ears had heard. Standing for American +independence in a region that swarmed with Tories, whose murderous deeds +never have been and never will be fully set forth, Aunt Nancy Hart had +to defend her own hearthstone and her own children. + +The maiden name of this remarkable woman was Morgan, and she was born in +North Carolina. She married Benjamin Hart, a brother of Colonel Thomas +Hart of Kentucky. Thomas Hart was the father of the wife of Henry Clay, +and the uncle of the celebrated Thomas Hart Benton. Aunt Nancy and her +husband moved to Georgia with the North Carolina emigrants, and settled +on Broad River, in what is now Elbert County. She was nearly six feet +high, and very muscular,--the result of hard work. She had red hair, +and it is said that she was cross-eyed, but this has been denied on +good authority. It matters little. Her eyes were keen enough to pierce +through all Tory disguises, and that was enough for her. It is certain +that her courage and her confidence kept alive the spark of liberty +in hearts that would otherwise have smothered it, and was largely +responsible for kindling it into the flame that finally swept the +British out of that section, and subdued the Tories. When the Whigs and +patriots who had been her neighbors were compelled to flee before the +murderous Tories, she refused to go with them, but stood her ground and +never ceased to speak her sentiments boldly. Nothing but the wholesome +dread with which she had inspired them prevented the Tories from +murdering her and her children. When General Elijah Clarke moved the +women and children of the Broad River region to an asylum in Kentucky, +and the Liberty Boys had taken refuge in South Carolina, Aunt Nancy Hart +remained at home, and for a long and dismal period she was unprotected +save by her own remarkable courage. + +At that period the houses were built of logs, and the chimneys were +built of sticks plastered with clay. They were called "stack chimneys." +One evening Aunt Nancy and her children were sitting around the fire, on +which a pot of soap was boiling. Now, a pot of soap must be constantly +stirred, and for this the strong, muscular arms of Aunt Nancy were +peculiarly fitted. So she stirred the soap, and, as she stirred, told +the youngsters the latest news of the war. Presently one of her children +chanced to discover some one peeping through the crack of the chimney, +eavesdropping. By a gesture or a nod of the head Aunt Nancy was informed +of what was going on. She smiled, and grew more spirited in her talk, +rattling away and laughing as she gave exaggerated accounts of the +recent defeats of the Tories. As she talked, she stirred the bubbling +soap, and kept her keen eyes on the crack where the eavesdropper had +been seen. Suddenly she dashed a ladleful of boiling soap through the +crack full into the face of the intruder. It was so quickly and deftly +done, that the eavesdropper had no time to dodge the scalding stuff. He +received the full benefit of it Blinded and half crazed by the pain, +he howled and screamed at a tremendous rate. Aunt Nancy went out, +and, after amusing herself at his expense, bound him fast and held +him prisoner. The probability is that the next day she H tucked up her +petticoats, shouldered her gun, and compelled the unlucky Tory to ford +the river ahead of her; and that, once on the other side, she kept in +constant communication with the Clarkes and with other partisans of the +American cause. + +[Illustration: Aunt Nancy Hart 079] + +Her husband, whom she sometimes jokingly described as "a poor stick," +assisted her in her communications. A conch shell was kept at the +spring, some distance from the house. On this conch shell the children +were taught to blow the blasts that gave Mr. Hart information. One +signal was, "The enemy is at hand;" another was, "Keep close;" another, +"Make tracks for the swamp;" and still another was that he and his +friends were wanted at the cabin. + +At the very darkest hour of the Revolution in Georgia, Aunt Nancy +performed one of her most remarkable feats,--one that brought into play +all the courage and devotion of her strong nature, and all the tact and +audacity that belonged to her character. + +Brigadier General Andrew Williamson, with three hundred men, was +encamped near Augusta. When Charleston fell, this officer, who was +already a traitor, though his treachery had not been avowed, called his +officers together, and expressed the opinion that it would be foolish +to further resist the King. He therefore advised them to return to their +homes, and there accept the protection which would be offered them. He +then abandoned his command, which was immediately disbanded. Shortly +afterwards Colonels Brown and Garrison, two partisans of the King's army +who had made themselves notorious by their cruelty to Americans, seized +Augusta. Brown had been tarred and feathered in Augusta just before the +breaking-out of the Revolution, and he made the patriots of that town +and of the country roundabout pay dearly for the indignities that +had been heaped upon him on account of his loyalty to the Crown. He +confiscated the property of the patriots, and issued an order banishing +all Whig families beyond the borders of Georgia. + +Raiding parties were sent into the region in the neighborhood of Augusta +to compel the inhabitants to take the oath of allegiance to the King. +One of these parties entered the house of Colonel John Dooly, a gallant +officer, and murdered him in cold blood in the presence of his wife and +children. Colonel Dooly was the father of Judge Dooly, who became famous +in Georgia after the war. + +A detachment of this murdering party found its way to Aunt Nancy Hart's +cabin. There were five Tories in the detachment, and Aunt Nancy received +them coldly enough. They told her they had come to inquire into the +truth of a report they had heard to the effect that she had aided a +well-known rebel to escape from a company of King's men by whom he +was pursued. With a twinkle of malice in her eyes, Aunt Nancy boldly +declared that she had aided her Liberty Boy to escape, and then she +described the affair. + +She said that one day she heard the gallop of a horse. Looking out, she +saw a horseman approaching, and at once knew him to be a Whig flying +from pursuers. She let down the bars near her cabin, told him to ride +his horse right through her house, in at the front door and out at the +back, to take to the swamp, and hide himself the best he could. She then +put up the bars, entered her house, closed the doors, and went about her +business. In a little while a party of Tories rode up, and called to her +with some rudeness. She muffled her head and face in a shawl, opened +the door slowly, and asked in a feeble voice who it was that wanted to +pester a sick, lone woman. The Tories said they had been pursuing a man, +and had traced him near her house. They wanted to know if any one had +passed that way. "I told 'em," said Aunt Nancy to the listening Tories, +"that I had seen a man on a sorrel horse turn out of the road into the +woods a little ways back. So they went back and took to the woods, and +my Whig boy got off safe and sound." + +Naturally this story, boldly told, did not please the five Tories who +heard it; but something in the War Woman's eye prevented them from +offering her any personal injury. Instead, they ordered her to give them +something to eat. + +"I never feed King's men if I can help it," she replied. "The scamps +have fixed me so that I can't feed my own family in a decent manner. +They have run off with all my pigs and poultry except that old gobbler +you see in the yard there." + +"Well, you shall cook the old gobbler for us," exclaimed one who seemed +to be the leader of the party. Suiting the action to the word, he raised +his musket and shot the gobbler. One of his men brought it into the +house and gave it to Aunt Nancy, with orders to clean and cook it at +once. This, of course, made that stanch patriot very angry, and she gave +the Tories a violent tongue lashing. + +It is probable that while she was dressing the turkey for the pot, the +Tories let some hint drop about the outrageous murder of Colonel John +Dooly, who was a warm friend of Aunt Nancy's. At any rate, she suddenly +changed her tactics. She ceased to storm and quarrel, the scowl left +her face, and she soon seemed to be in high good humor. She went about +getting the meal ready with great good will. She sent her little girl +to the spring after water, but told her to sound on the conch shell the +signal to "keep close," so that her husband and his neighbors who were +with him might know there were Tories in the cabin. + +While the daughter was gone after water, one of the Tories volunteered +to take her place in helping to get everything ready. Aunt Nancy +accepted his services, and joked with him with great freedom and +familiarity. Like all women of spirit and independence, Aunt Nancy +possessed a considerable fund of humor, and it stood her in good stead +now. She contrived to thoroughly interest the Tories, and it was not +long before they were in the most jovial frame of mind imaginable. They +had expected to find a bad-tempered, ill-conditioned woman; and they +were agreeably surprised when they found, instead, a woman who could +match their rude jests, and make herself thoroughly entertaining. + +The Tories had brought a jug with them, and they were so pleased with +Aunt Nancy's seeming friendliness that they invited her to drink with +them. "I'll take one swig with you," said Aunt Nancy, "if it kills every +cow on the Island," meaning a neck of land at the junction of river and +creek where the Whig families of the neighborhood pastured their cattle +and hid them. The Tories laughed and drank, and then they laughed and +drank again. They kept this up until the old gobbler had been cooked to +Aunt Nancy's satisfaction; and by the time they were ready to sit down +to table they were in a very merry mood indeed. + +They had stacked their arms within easy reach of where they had been +sitting and drinking; but Aunt Nancy had moved her table to the middle +of the floor, so as to be able to walk around it on all sides while +waiting on the Tories. In helping the men to the turkey and other +eatables that she had prepared, she frequently came between them and +their muskets. The Tories had hardly begun to eat before they called for +water. Aunt Nancy, expecting this, had used up in cooking all that had +been brought: consequently her daughter had to take the piggin and go +to the spring after a fresh supply. She went with instructions to signal +her father, and the neighbors who were with him, to come immediately to +the cabin. While her daughter was at the spring, Aunt Nancy managed to +pull off one of the boards that filled the space between the logs of the +house, and through this crack she slipped two of the muskets. She was +slipping the third through when her movements caught the eye of one of +the Tories. Instantly the men sprang to their feet, but Aunt Nancy +was now in her element. Quick as a flash she clapped the musket to her +shoulder, and threatened to shoot the first man that approached her. The +men, knowing her reputation as a fighter, and awed by her appearance, +hesitated. At last one bolder than the rest began to advance toward her. +She fired promptly, and at the report of the gun the man fell dead on +the floor. + +Before the others could recover from their consternation, Aunt Nancy +had seized another musket, and held it in readiness to fire again. Her +daughter had now returned from the spring with the information that her +father and his neighbors would soon arrive. Directed by her mother, +the girl took the remaining musket and carried it out of the house. The +Tories, seeing that no time was to be lost in recovering their arms, +proposed to rush upon Aunt Nancy in a body and overpower her. But the +War Woman was equal to the occasion. She fired again, and brought down +another Tory. As she did so, the daughter, acting on her orders, handed +her another musket. Then, taking position in the doorway, she called on +the men to "surrender their ugly Tory carcasses to a Whig woman." + +[Illustration: Aunt Nancy captures the Tories 085] + +The Tories agreed to surrender, and wanted to shake hands to make the +bargain binding; but Aunt Nancy kept her position in the doorway until +her husband and his friends made their appearance. The Whigs wanted +to shoot the Tories; but Aunt Nancy, whose blood was up, declared that +shooting was too good for them. "They've murdered John Dooly," she +exclaimed; "now let them hang for it!" Thereupon the Tories were taken +out and hanged. The tree from which they swung was still standing as +late as 1838, and was often pointed out by old people who had lived +through the troubled times of the Revolution. + +One day Aunt Nancy met a Tory going along the highway. She engaged him +in conversation, diverted his attention, and suddenly seized his gun and +wrenched it away from him. She then ordered him to take up the line of +march for a fort not far distant. Not daring to disobey, the man marched +before her, as many others had been compelled to do, and she turned him +over to the commander of the fort. + +When Augusta was in the hands of the British, and their raiding parties +had been driven in by the Americans under Colonel Elijah Clarke, it +became necessary for that commander to get some positive information +in regard to the intentions of the British. At this juncture Aunt Nancy +came to the rescue. She disguised herself as a man, and went boldly into +the British camp. She remained there for several days, pretending to be +crazy. In this way she secured a great deal of important information, +and made haste to carry it to Colonel Clarke. + +Aunt Nancy was once left in a fort with several other women and a number +of small children, her own among the rest. The men had gone out in +search of supplies. They had not expected an attack, and had left only +one of their number, a young man, to protect the women and children. +Suddenly a party of Tories and Indians made its appearance, and +surrounded the fort, which was nothing more than a stockade. The +yelling of the savages threw all the women and children into the utmost +confusion,--all except Aunt Nancy. That wonderful woman, who never knew +what fear was, only became more energetic in the face of danger. There +was a small cannon in the fort, but it was not in position to reach +the enemy with its fire. After trying her best to lift the cannon into +position, Aunt Nancy remembered the young man who had been left in +the fort, and looked about for him; but he was not to be seen. A close +search discovered him hiding under a cowhide. Aunt Nancy pulled him +out by the heels, and vowed she would make mince-meat of him unless he +helped her to move the cannon. The fellow knew perfectly well that Aunt +Nancy was not to be trifled with when her blood was up. He gave her the +necessary assistance. She aimed the cannon and fired it, and the Tories +and savages promptly took to their heels. + +On another occasion when the river was high, it became necessary for the +Americans on the Georgia side to know what was going on on the Carolina +side; but no one could be induced to venture across. Hearing of the +difficulty, Aunt Nancy promptly undertook to go. + +The freshet had swept away all the boats, but to Aunt Nancy this was +a trifling matter. She found a few logs, tied them together with +grapevines, and on this raft made the voyage across the river. She +gathered the necessary information, and made haste to communicate it to +the Georgia troops. + +Aunt Nancy was the mother of eight children,--six sons and two +daughters. Her eldest daughter, Sally, married a man named Thompson, +who was as quicktempered as his mother-in-law. After the war, Aunt Nancy +moved to Brunswick. Sally and her husband followed a year or two later. +In passing through Burke County, they camped for the night by the +roadside. The next morning Thompson ordered a white man, who had been +hired as a teamster, to perform some duty. Thompson's tone was so +peremptory that the man returned an insolent answer, and refused. In a +fit of rage, Thompson drew his sword, and severed the man's head from +his body with one swinging stroke. He then drove the team himself until +he came to the first house, where he gave information that he had cut +off a fellow's head at the camp down the road, and that they "had best +go and bury him." He then drove on, but was overtaken, arrested, +and lodged in jail at Waynesboro. As soon as Aunt Nancy heard of the +trouble, she made her appearance in the upcountry again. Within a few +days after her return, the jail was found open one morning, and +Thompson was gone. Speaking of this afterwards, Aunt Nancy was heard to +exclaim,-- + +"Drat 'em! that's the way with 'em all. When they get into trouble, they +always send for me!" + +Not long after this episode, Mr. Benjamin Hart died. Aunt Nancy mourned +his loss for a while, and then married a young man. Then, as the saying +is, she "pulled up stakes," and moved to what is now the State of +Alabama, on the Tombigbee. There she had the French and the Spaniards +for neighbors, and she felt at home with neither race. She was bluntly, +emphatically, and unaffectedly American. To add to her troubles, a big +rain flooded the river, destroyed her crops, and surrounded her house. +This, with the French and Spaniards, was too much for her. She returned +to Georgia, but, finding her old home occupied by others, she settled in +Edgefield, S.C. + +A Methodist society was formed in her neighborhood, and its influence +became so active that Aunt Nancy's conscience began to trouble her. She +listened to the preaching of the Word from a distance until she became +worried about her future state. She went to the meetinghouse, but found +the door closed against intruders. The deacon and members were holding +a class meeting. The closed door was no obstacle to Aunt Nancy. She cut +the fastening and walked in without ceremony. Once in, she found what +she wanted. She became an enthusiastic Methodist, and is said to have +fought Satan and sin as manfully as she fought the Tories and the +British. + +When Governor George R. Gilmer of Georgia was in Congress, in 1828-29, +the members were very anxious to attract the notice of General Jackson, +who had been elected President. A proposal was made to fill the vacant +niches in the rotunda with paintings descriptive of the battle of New +Orleans and the general's other victories. Governor Gilmer offered as an +amendment a resolution to fill one of the niches with a painting of Aunt +Nancy Hart wading Broad River, her petticoats held up with one hand, +a musket in the other, and driving three Tories before her, to deliver +them up to Colonel Elijah Clarke. + +Governor Gilmer's proposition was a more sensible one than he intended +it to be. Georgia has perpetuated Aunt Nancy's name by calling a county +after her; but the Republic owes something to her memory. + + + + +TWO SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. + +The pen of the historian is not always as impartial as it should be. It +has its spites and prejudices; and it frequently happens that the men +who wield the pen with which history is written, have their whims, +their likes, and their dislikes. It is certain that two of the hardest +fighters in the War for Independence--two of the most distinguished +officers that Georgia gave to the cause--have had tardy justice done +to their valor. The names of these men are General James Jackson and +General Elijah Clarke. The independence and the individuality of these +men stand clearly out in all the records that we have of them, and it +is no doubt true that these qualities made them to some degree unpopular +with those who inspired the early chroniclers of the Revolution in the +South. Neither of these officers was capable of currying favor with his +superiors, or of doing injustice to the humblest of his comrades. They +were not seekers after the bubble reputation, but had their minds and +all their energies bent on liberating Georgia and her sister Colonies. + +General James Jackson was born in the county of Devon, England. He +came to this country in 1772, landing at Savannah penniless and almost +friendless. He began the study of law; but when the Liberty Boys began +their movement for resisting British oppression, he placed his books +on their shelves, and gave himself entirely to the cause of the people. +When only nineteen years old, he was one of the volunteers that fired +the British armed vessels sent to attack Savannah by water, while Major +Maitland and Major Grant attacked it by land. The crews of these vessels +were compelled to escape without their clothes and arms. General Jackson +served in the lower part of Georgia until the fall of Savannah in 1778, +when he and his friend John Milledge made their way to the patriot +troops, commanded by General Moultrie. Such was the condition of these +men, both of whom afterwards became governors of Georgia, that they +were compelled to make the greater part of their journey barefoot and in +rags. Their appearance was so much against them that they were arrested +as spies by some American soldiers, and would have been hanged but for +the timely arrival of a gentleman who knew them. + +General Jackson was at the siege of Savannah, and, after the disastrous +result of that affair, returned to South Carolina. The victory of the +Americans at Blackstock's House, in South Carolina, was almost wholly +due to the Georgians who were there. Sumter commanded at the beginning +of the action, but a severe wound compelled him to retire from the +field. The command then devolved upon the oldest Georgia officer, +General John Twiggs, who was assisted by Jackson, Clarke, and Chandler. +In this engagement Tarleton, the famous leader of the British dragoons, +was defeated for the first time, and he was never able to recover the +prestige he had lost. Tarleton fled from the field, and Jackson was +ordered to pursue him. It was owing only to the fleetness of his horse +that Tarleton escaped. + +[Illustration: General James Jackson 093] + +At the battle of The Cow-pens, Jackson again distinguished himself. +"Major Jackson," says General Andrew Pickens, "by his example, and firm, +active conduct, did much to animate the soldiers and insure the success +of the day. He ran the utmost risk of his life in seizing the colors of +the 71st British Regiment, and afterwards introducing Major Mc-Arthur, +commanding officer of the British Infantry, as a prisoner of war to +General Morgan." His services brought him to the attention of General +Greene, and he was sent on a tour of difficult duty through North +Carolina. He was so successful in this, that the commanding general +authorized him to raise a partisan legion of infantry and cavalry for +service in Georgia. By means of his native eloquence, which was said +to be almost irresistible, he succeeded in raising the legion in a very +short time. Wherever he addressed the people, there were loud cries of +"Liberty and Jackson forever!" When his legion had been organized, he +was appointed lieutenant colonel. His dragoons were clothed and armed by +themselves, with the exception of their pistols. Their coats were made +of dressed deerskins, and faced with the little blue that could be +procured. + +Just before the siege of Augusta, Jackson was called upon to employ +his eloquence in preventing the militia from giving up in despair +and returning to their homes. These men were utterly worn out. Being +ignorant men, they could see no ray of hope. They lacked every necessary +of life. Jackson roused their drooping spirits, restored their hopes, +and revived their old-time enthusiasm. At the siege of Augusta these men +fought fiercely. Jackson himself led one of the advance parties. After +the surrender of the town, he was ordered to level the fortifications, +and he was appointed commandant. He was afterwards ordered to take +position midway between Augusta and Savannah. While he held this +position, a conspiracy was formed in the infantry to kill him in +his bed. A soldier named Davis, who waited in the commander's tent, +suspected that something was wrong. So he mingled among the men, and +applied many harsh epithets to Jackson. Thinking to make Davis useful to +them, the conspirators told him their plans, which he made haste to lay +before his superior officer. Shortly afterwards the infantry were drawn +up in line, and the ringleaders in the conspiracy arrested, tried, and +executed. + +After the war the Legislature gave Davis a horse, saddle, and bridle, +and five hundred acres of land, as a reward for his fidelity. + +Jackson was with General Wayne in his Georgia campaign, and was +intrusted by him with many hazardous duties. When Savannah surrendered, +General Wayne issued an order in which he said, "Lieutenant Colonel +Jackson, in consideration of his severe and fatiguing service in the +advance, is to receive the key of Savannah, and is allowed to enter the +western gate." + +In 1786, Jackson was made brigadier general, and had command of the +forces operating against the Indians. Between 1788 and 1806 General +Jackson held almost every high office within the gift of the people of +the State,--member of the Legislature, governor when only thirty-one +years old, member of the first Congress held under the Federal +Constitution, member of the State Constitutional Convention, +presidential elector, and United States senator. + +With General Jackson in many of his engagements was General Elijah +Clarke, who in many respects was the most remarkable soldier +that Georgia contributed to the War for Independence. With fairer +opportunities than he had, he would have made a great commander. He had +small knowledge of tactics, but he had what is better,--the skill to +take advantage of quickly passing events, and the coolness that made him +complete master of all his resources. He was a man of the most striking +characteristics, and he came out of the war with many bitter enemies +among those with whom he came in contact. This feeling was perpetuated +by the political campaigns in which his son, John Clarke, took part +after the war. A trace of this is to be seen in the sketch which +Governor Gilmer gives to Elijah Clarke in his curious book entitled +"Georgians." It is undoubtedly true that Elijah Clarke was ignorant of +what is called book knowledge, but he was not much worse off in this +respect than the famous Confederate General Forrest, who is thought by +some high military critics to have been the most remarkable commander +on the Southern side in the civil war. Elijah Clarke, as well as General +Forrest, had something that served them a better turn than a mere +knowledge of books. They had a thorough knowledge of men, and a quick +eye for the situations that follow each other so rapidly in a skirmish +or battle. + +[Illustration: Elijah Clarke 097] + +Elijah Clarke was born in North Carolina, but moved to Georgia in 1774. +He was among the first of the inhabitants of Upper Georgia to take +up the cause of American independence; and his example, for he was a +notable man even in private life, did much to solidify and strengthen +those who leaned to that cause. When the British troops marched from the +coast into Upper Georgia, Elijah thought the time had come to take +his gun from the rack over the door, and make at least some show of +resistance. His courage, and the firmness and decision of his character, +made him the natural leader of those of his neighbors whose sympathies +were with the Liberty Boys in other parts of the State, and he soon +found himself a commander without commission or title. He cared less +for these things than for the principles of liberty for which he was +fighting. + +For a while Elijah Clarke and his followers fought as partisan rangers, +but he soon drew around him a compact and disciplined body of men who +were ready to go wherever he might lead them. He did not confine his +efforts to his new neighborhood We hear of him with Howe's ill-fated +expedition against East Florida, where, at Alligator Creek, he was asked +to perform the impossible feat of storming with a troop of horse a camp +intrenched behind logs and brushwood. He was no doubt amazed at the +stupidity of General Howe in issuing such an order, but he attempted to +carry it out with his usual courage. He did succeed in floundering over +the logs with his troops, but he came to a ditch that was too wide for +his horses to leap, and too deep to be ridden through. At this moment he +and his men were saluted with a heavy fire from the enemy, and they were +compelled to retire in confusion. In this attempt Elijah Clarke was shot +through the thigh. Later he was in South Carolina, at Blackstocks, and +at The Cowpens. + +In some quarters an effort has been made to blacken the reputation of +General Clarke by comparing his treatment of the Tories with the mild +and humane policy pursued by Francis Marion. There was, indeed, some +misunderstanding between the two men in regard to the methods that might +be adopted. The policy of Marion was undoubtedly the correct one, so far +as South Carolina was concerned; but if the Tories in that Province had +been guilty of the crimes committed by their brethren in Wilkes and the +surrounding region, General Marion's policy would not have been very +different from that of General Clarke. The Tories with whom Clarke was +familiar were guilty of murder, rapine, pillage, and incendiarism. The +Tories in South Carolina were kept under by the presence of Marion and +his men. Clarke went wherever his services were needed; and during his +absence, the Tories of the Broad River region were free to commit +every excess. Marion refused to leave the region where he made his name +famous, and thus kept the Tories in constant fear and dread. + +Who shall say that Marion would not have been as ready to exterminate +the Tories as Clarke was, or that Clarke would not have been as humane +as Marion, if each of these distinguished patriots had been in the +other's place? + +At the battle of Kettle Creek, in what is now Wilkes County, Elijah +Clarke distinguished himself by his readiness and skill as a commander. +The Americans under Colonel Pickens were in pursuit of the British under +Colonel Boyd. Their line of march was the order of battle, and following +the vanguard came the right and left wings. The left wing was commanded +by Elijah Clarke. The center was led by Colonel Pickens, who was in +command of the expedition. Colonel Boyd, the British commander, appeared +to be unconscious of pursuit. He had halted on a farm on the north side +of Kettle Creek. His horses were left to forage on the young cane that +grew on the edge of the swamp; and his men were slaying cattle and +parching corn, preparing for a feast after their short rations. The +British encampment was formed near the creek, on a piece of open ground +flanked on two sides by a canebrake. Colonel Boyd was in utter ignorance +of the approach of the Americans, who advanced at once to the attack. +The British colonel formed his line in the rear of his encampment, and +there received the assault. The battle was hotly contested for more than +an hour, and then the Tories retreated through the swamp. + +Elijah Clarke, seeing a piece of rising ground on the farther side +of the creek, on which he suspected the Loyalists would try to form, +ordered the left wing to follow him, and was about to cross the stream +when his horse was shot under him. Mounting another, he soon crossed +the creek, followed by not more than a fourth of his division. There had +been some mistake in sending the order along the line. Clarke gained the +hill that had attracted his eye just in time to attack Major Spurgen, a +brave British officer, who was forming his command. The firing attracted +the notice of the rest of Clarke's division, and they soon joined their +leader. Pickens and Dooly also pressed through the swamp, and the battle +was renewed with great vigor. For a while the result was in doubt, +but at the end the Americans held the hill. The Tories fled in all +directions, leaving seventy dead on the field, and seventy-five wounded +and captured. Of the Americans, nine were slain, and twenty-three +wounded. To Elijah Clarke must be given the credit for this victory, +which, coming at the time it did, revived the hopes and courage of the +Liberty Boys in all parts of the country. + +The Tories, on the other hand, were so depressed by it, that many +of them left that part of the State, and those who remained became +comparatively quiet. The situation was so encouraging, that many of the +people of Georgia, who had been driven from their homes by the cruelty +of the Tories, returned with their families. They were not long left in +peace, however. The British and the Tories had their active agents among +the Creeks and Cherokees, urging these tribes to take up arms and attack +the Americans. In view of this, Clarke was sent to guard the frontier +forts. Then the Tories again began to pillage and devastate the Broad +River region. Some of the crimes they committed would have disgraced +savages. Clarke's house was burned, and his family ordered to leave +the State. Mrs. Clarke and her two daughters started on their perilous +journey with nothing but a small pony of little value, and even this was +taken from them before they had gone very far. This only served to renew +the activity of Clarke in behalf of the American cause. He defeated +the Tories wherever he met them; and if he gave them no quarter, it was +because they had shown no mercy to the Americans. The savage character +of the warfare waged by the Tories against men, women, and children, +must ever stand as an explanation and as an excuse for the fierce spirit +displayed by Clarke and the Americans who lived in the Broad River +region. + +In the battle near Musgrove's Mill, Clarke defeated the British, killing +sixty-three men, and wounding and capturing one hundred. During the +battle he was twice severely wounded on the head and neck; and once he +was surrounded by the enemy, captured, and placed in charge of two men. +One of these he knocked down with a blow of his fist, and the other +fled. At one time, acting without orders, he was near taking Augusta, +and was only prevented by the desire of his men to see their families. +After this he returned to Wilkes County, where he was compelled to take +under his protection nearly four hundred women and children who had been +driven from their homes by the savage Tories. He resolved to carry +these to a place of safety, and, with a sufficient guard, set out for +Kentucky. Cornwallis, hearing of this movement, and taking for granted +that it was a retreat, sent one hundred men under Captain Ferguson to +cut Clarke off, the supposition being that the great partisan fighter +would march through South Carolina, but he had re-crossed the mountains +in the Piedmont region. Hearing of this movement, Clarke detached +Major Chandler and Captain Johnston with thirty men to take part in +the operations against Ferguson. Thus it was the pursuit of Clarke that +brought on the memorable battle of Kings Mountain, which resulted in +a great victory for the cause of American independence; and although +Clarke was not there in person, his heroic spirit animated the brave men +who won the day. + +He was the first to teach the militia to stand against the bayonets of +the British; and at Blackstocks, in South Carolina, at the head of his +Wilkes riflemen, he charged and drove the British light infantry in an +open field,--a movement that turned the enemy's right flank, and insured +the victory of the Americans. At the siege of Augusta, Clarke had +anticipated the movement of Colonel "Light Horse Harry" Lee, and had +confined the British garrison to their works for weeks before Colonel +Lee's arrival. + +At the close of the Revolution, Clarke led the movement against the +Indians. He defeated the Creeks in the battle of Jacks Creek. After +peace was declared, Clarke, who had been made a general by a grateful +State, settled on lands that had been reserved to the Indians. For this +he has been criticised very severely; but it is curious that the policy +for which he was attacked, shortly afterwards became the policy of the +whole people. The States and the United States have made treaties +with the Indians, only to break them. Having personal knowledge of the +Indians, and having been made the victim of some of their raids, he had +no respect for them or for their rights. To this view the whole country +afterwards came, and the red men disappeared before it. + +It will be well to bear in mind, that, whatever failings he may have +had, there was not a more heroic figure in the Revolution than General +Elijah Clarke. + + + + +A WAR OF EXTERMINATION. + +[Illustration: A War of Extermination 104] + +Some of the barbarous features of the Revolutionary War in Georgia have +been briefly noted. + +History has turned her eyes away from the more horrible details; but +by reading between the lines, and taking advantage of the hints and +suggestions, it is not hard to get a tolerably fair idea of the methods +that were pursued on both sides. Even Colonel Charles C. Jones, jun., +whose "History of Georgia" is thus far the most complete that has been +written, touches lightly on the cruelties practiced in the efforts of +the British and Tories to wrest Upper Georgia from the control of the +Americans. There are matters that History cannot deal with and maintain +her dignity. + +There can be no doubt that the British and the Tories began their +cruelties without considering the results to which their acts would +lead. It is an easy matter at this late day to see how naturally the +war, in the region tributary to Augusta, degenerated into a series of +crimes and barbarities foul enough to cause History to hold her hands +before her eyes. When Colonel Campbell, assisted by Colonel Brown, +advanced to attack Augusta, it was the only American post that had +not surrendered to the King's men, and its capture would complete the +subjugation of Georgia from a military point of view. The city fell +without a struggle, and the American forces retreated across the river. +It was natural that the British, and the Tories who were acting with +them, should take advantage of this victory to bring the whole region +above and around Augusta to terms. The sooner this was done, the sooner +would all Georgia be restored to her relations with his Majesty George +III. No time was to be lost. Therefore Colonel Campbell, the British +commander, tarried in Augusta but a few days. He left Colonel Brown +in charge, and marched in the direction of Wilkes County. Those of the +inhabitants who had Tory sympathies were to be encouraged; but those who +were disaffected were to be dealt with summarily, so as to put an end, +at once and forever, to the disloyalty that had been active in that +region. This plan was carried out promptly and violently. The severest +punishment was the portion of those who refused to take the oath of +allegiance. Plunder and the torch were the portions of those who chanced +to be away from home, fighting for their country. Their helpless +wives and children were left homeless, and destitute of provisions. +Fortunately a great many stanch Liberty Boys had carried their families, +their household effects, and their cattle, into South Carolina as soon +as they heard of the fall of Augusta; but many had remained at home, and +the sufferings of these were severe. + +Another explanation of the extreme cruelty with which the war in Upper +Georgia was waged after the fall of Augusta, was the fact that Colonel +Brown, who had been left in command by Colonel Campbell, had some old +scores to settle. At the very beginning of the struggle he had been +arrested in Augusta by some of the Liberty Boys, tarred and feathered, +and paraded through the public streets, on account of his outspoken +loyalty to the King. Still another reason was the fact that Daniel +McGirth, who had been maltreated by an American officer, was among the +officers who had accompanied Colonel Brown. McGirth held every American +responsible for the treatment he had received, and he spared few that +fell into his hands. Thus, between the anxiety of the British to conquer +Georgia completely, and the desires of Brown and McGirth to revenge +themselves, the Americans in Upper Georgia were made the victims of the +most inhuman barbarities. + +The Americans under Elijah Clarke lost no time in retaliating, and +thus was begun a contest that may be aptly described as a war of +extermination. Clarke was enabled to defeat the British and the Tories +wherever they opposed him on anything like equal terms, and this fact +added to the rigor with which they treated the Americans who were so +unfortunate as to fall into their hands. Shortly after the affair at +Musgrove's Mill, in which Clarke defeated the British and the Tories, +Lord Cornwallis addressed a circular letter to the officers commanding +the advanced posts. He declared, "The inhabitants of the Provinces who +have subscribed to and taken part in this revolt shall be punished +with the utmost rigor; and also those who will not turn out shall be +imprisoned, and their whole property taken from them or destroyed. I +have ordered," he goes on to say, "in the most positive manner, that +every militiaman who has borne arms with us, and afterwards joined the +enemy, shall be immediately hanged. I desire you will take the most +vigorous measures to punish the rebels in the district in which you +command, and that you obey in the strictest manner the directions I have +given in this letter relative to the inhabitants in this country." + +Here was authority broad enough to cover every crime that the British +and the Tories might see fit to commit, and they stretched it to the +utmost limit. They burned houses and destroyed property. They insulted +and inhumanly treated women and children. They hanged the innocent. They +went about the country practicing every barbarity that their savage and +bloodthirsty natures could suggest. It was no wonder that the Americans +retaliated whenever they had the opportunity. It was no wonder that +Elijah Clarke, naturally independent and irritable, should fail to see +the justice or necessity of treating the Tories he captured as prisoners +of war. + +The situation of the Americans became so serious that Clarke determined +to strike a heavy blow. He returned from Carolina to Wilkes County in +September, 1780, and in two days succeeded in placing in the field +three hundred and fifty men. With this force, strengthened by eighty men +recruited in Carolina, he boldly marched on Augusta. The movement was so +unexpected, that, but for the fact that the advance guard fell in with +an Indian camp which it was compelled to attack, Colonel Brown would +have been taken completely by surprise. But the retreating Indians gave +him notice, and he took refuge with his command in a strong building +known as the White House. The siege began on the 14th. By daylight on +the 16th Clarke had succeeded in cutting the garrison off from its water +supply. The sufferings of the men, especially the wounded, became most +intense. The Americans could hear their cries for water and for medical +aid. Brown appears to have been as brave as he was cruel. Though he was +shot through both thighs, he remained at the head of his men; and his +great courage sustained the spirits of his followers. Clarke summoned +him to surrender on the 17th. He not only refused, but warned the +American commander that the demonstration he was making against the +King's men would bring destruction to the western part of Georgia. + +Meanwhile some of Clarke's men had gone to visit their families, and +others were more interested in securing plunder than in forwarding +the cause of independence. Colonel Brown, as soon as he heard of the +approach of the Americans, had sent several messengers by different +routes to inform Colonel Cruger of the state of affairs. Cruger, who was +in Carolina at Ninety-six, promptly set his men in motion, and on the +morning of the 18th appeared on the bank of the Savannah, opposite +Augusta. Under the circumstances, Clarke was compelled to retreat. He +had suffered a loss of sixty, killed and wounded. In retreating, he was +compelled to leave twenty-nine of his wounded men behind. Among these +was Captain Ashby, one of the bravest and most humane of the officers +of the American army. This unfortunate officer and the men with him fell +into the hands of the enemy. Colonel Brown was so severely wounded that +he was unable to move about; so he ordered Captain Ashby and twelve of +the wounded prisoners to be hanged on the staircase of the White House, +where he might see their sufferings and gloat over their agonies. These +men were cruelly strangled before Brown's eyes. But their fate was a +happy one compared with that of their wounded companions. Those men were +turned over to the red savages, who were the allies of the British. The +Indians received the prisoners with howls of delight, and began at once +to torture them in every conceivable way. They formed a circle, and +marched around the Americans, cutting and slashing them with their +knives. The end of the unfortunates was most horrible. They were ripped +with knives, scalped, and then burned. No doubt, Colonel Brown enjoyed +this scene more thoroughly than he did the tame and commonplace +spectacle of strangling Captain Ashby and his companions. + +Before raising the siege, Elijah Clarke paroled the officers and men +whom he had captured,--fifty-six men, all told. This fact is mentioned +to show that the Georgia militia had not then begun those acts of +retaliation which have attracted the notice of historians. They had +had, as we know, abundant provocation; but after the horrible crimes +perpetrated by Brown reached their ears, they threw off all restraint. +Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and the men who acted +with Elijah Clarke thought that the best way to preserve the lives of +themselves and their families was to destroy the Tories as fast as they +caught them. The fact is chronicled by Colonel Jones, and it is worth +noting, that the officers and men paroled by Clarke, in utter disregard +of their obligations, took up their arms as soon as the Americans +had departed. The probability is that they were driven to this by the +commands of Brown. + +It is well known, that, as soon as Clarke and his men had retreated, +Colonel Brown sent detachments of troops in all directions, with orders +to arrest all persons who had taken part in the siege, or who had +sympathized with the efforts of the Americans to recapture Augusta. +Under this sweeping order, men of all ages and conditions were dragged +from their homes and thrown into prison. Those who were suspected of +taking part in the siege, or of belonging to Clarke's command, were +seized and hanged out of hand. Old men, no longer able to bear arms, +were imprisoned for welcoming the return of members of their families +who had fought on the American side. One instance out of many that +might be cited was the arrest of the father of Captains Samuel and +James Alexander. In the seventy-eighth year of his age, this old man +was arrested at his home, tied to the tail of a cart, and dragged forty +miles in two days. When caught leaning against the cart to rest his +feeble limbs, he was whipped by the driver. It was at this time that +in the region round about Augusta the hopes of the patriots grew very +faint. The women and children assembled, and begged Elijah Clarke to +take them out of the country; and in response to the appeals of these +defenseless ones, he undertook the movement that culminated in the +glorious victory of Kings Mountain. + +[Illustration: Old man whipped at the tail of a cart 111] + +The winter of 1780 was the darkest hour of the Revolution in Upper +Georgia. There was no trade. Farming was at a low ebb. The schoolhouses +were closed. Many of the patriots had carried off their families. +Many had gone with Elijah Clarke to Kentucky. The patriots had betaken +themselves to South Carolina, though the services they rendered there +have been slurred over by the historians of that State. + +When General Greene began his Southern campaign, and gradually rid South +Carolina of the British and the Tory element, the patriots of Upper +Georgia ventured to return to their homes. Captain McCall, who was among +them, says, in his history, that they returned in parties of ten and +twelve, so as to attract as little attention as possible. They appointed +Dennis's Mill, on Little River, as a place of meeting. "When these small +parties entered the settlements where they had formerly lived," says +Captain McCall, "general devastation was presented to view; their aged +fathers and their youthful brothers had been murdered; their decrepit +grandfathers were incarcerated in prisons where most of them had been +suffered to perish in filth, famine, or disease; and their mothers, +wives, sisters, and young children had been robbed, insulted, and +abused, and were found by them in temporary huts more resembling a +savage camp than a civilized habitation." Though Captain McCall was +an eyewitness of some of the scenes he describes, the picture he draws +might seem to be too highly colored were it not supplemented by a great +mass of evidence. One more instance out of many may be given. In a +skirmish with the Americans under Colonel Harden, Brown captured several +prisoners. Among them was a youth only seventeen years old named Rannal +McKay, the son of a widow who was a refugee from Darien. Being told that +her son was a prisoner in the hands of Brown, Widow McKay, providing +herself with some refreshments that she thought might suit the taste of +the British commander, went to Brown's headquarters, and begged that +her son might be set free. The cruel wretch accepted the present she +had brought him, but refused even to let her see her son, and caused the +sentinels to put her out of the camp by force. Next day young McKay and +four other prisoners were taken out of the rail pen in which they had +been confined. By Brown's order they were hanged upon a gallows until +they were nearly strangled. They were then cut down and turned over to +the tender mercies of the Indians, by whom they were mutilated, scalped, +and finally murdered in the most savage manner. + +The cruelty of Colonel Brown and the Tories acting under him was so +unbearable that the patriots of that region felt that their existence +depended on the capture of Augusta. They decided on an aggressive +movement when they met again at Dennis's Mill, on Little River. + +Colonel Clarke, who was suffering from the results of smallpox, was +too feeble to lead them. His place was taken for the time by Lieutenant +Colonel Micajah Williamson; and on the 16th of April, 1781, the +Americans moved to the vicinity of Augusta. They were there reenforced +by a detachment from southern Georgia under Colonel Baker, and by a +number of recruits from Burke County. A few days afterwards they were +joined by some Carolina militiamen under Colonel Hammond and Major +Jackson. + +With this force, Colonel Williamson took up a position twelve hundred +yards from the British works, and fortified his camp. The Americans were +compelled to wait nearly a month for the aid they expected from General +Greene. The militia, worn out with waiting for the reenforcements, were +about to withdraw from the camp in despair, when Jackson, that truly +great Georgian, made them an address full of the most passionate and +patriotic eloquence, and this appeal changed their purpose. Jackson's +voice was afterwards heard in the halls of Congress; but we may be sure +that he was never more in earnest or more truly eloquent than when he +pleaded with the faint-hearted Americans to stand to their cause and +their arms. Jackson's address revived their courage; and when, on +the 15th of May, Elijah Clarke rode into camp, restored to health +and accompanied by one hundred fresh recruits, the confidence of the +militiamen was fully renewed. + +It was at this time that General Pickens and "Light Horse Harry" Lee +(the father of General Robert E. Lee) were ordered by General Greene to +march on Augusta and capture that post When Lee reached the neighborhood +of Augusta, he learned, from a party of light horse which he had sent on +ahead to collect prisoners and gain information, that the annual royal +present intended for the Indians had arrived at Fort Galphin, some +distance below Augusta. The present comprised blankets, liquor, salt, +small arms, powder, and ball. There was a great lack of these articles +in the American camp, and Lee resolved to capture them. The supplies +were so valuable, that Brown, the British commander, had sent two +companies from Augusta to garrison Fort Galphin. This was the situation +when "Light Horse Harry" arrived on the ground. The British in Augusta +had not yet discovered his approach, and promptness was necessary. +Leaving Eaton's battalion, the artillery, and the footsore men of the +legion, to follow more slowly, Lee mounted a detachment of infantry +behind his dragoons, and made a forced march to Fort Galphin. + +This point he reached on the 21st of May, 1781. The weather was +extremely hot, and for miles the troopers and their horses had been +unable to find a drop of water: consequently neither the men nor the +animals were in a condition to make the attack when the command was +brought to a halt under the pines that skirted the field surrounding +the fort. The British within the fort were resting quietly, and were +not aware that an enemy was at hand. A prompt and decisive movement was +necessary; and when his men and horses had rested a little while, Lee +dismounted the militiamen he had brought with him, and ordered them to +make a demonstration against the fort on the side opposite the position +he had taken. This famous commander reasoned, that, as soon as the +militiamen appeared before the fort, the garrison would sally from the +stockade. The militia would retreat, the garrison pursuing, and he would +seize upon that moment to assault and capture the post left defenseless. +To carry out this plan, Captain Rudolph (who was supposed to be some +great general in disguise), with a detachment of picked infantry, was +held in readiness to rush upon the fort; while the rest of the troops, +supported by the dragoons, were placed where they could shield the +militia from the pursuit of the British. + +The affair took place just as Lee had foreseen. The garrison sallied out +to the attack. The militia, before making a show of resistance, began +a retreat. The garrison gave pursuit. Captain Rudolph dashed across the +field, and captured the fort without any trouble, The end came, when the +militia rallied, and the foot soldiers and dragoons closed around the +soldiers of the garrison. During the engagement the Americans lost one +man from sunstroke. The enemy lost only three or four men. The rest, +together with the valuable stores in the stockade, fell into the hands +of the patriots. + +Following this successful affair, which was of more importance than it +seems now to be, Lee formed a junction with General Pickens; and these +two then joined their forces with those of Clarke, who commanded the +Georgia militia, and the siege of Augusta began. The first movement +was the capture of Fort Grierson, so called in honor of the man who +commanded its garrison. Grierson, hard pressed, threw open the gates of +the fort, and endeavored to escape. Thirty of his men were killed, and +forty-five wounded and captured. Grierson was made a prisoner, but was +killed by a Georgia rifleman. He was as cruel and vindictive as Brown +himself. He was a monster who had made himself odious to the followers +of Clarke. In his history, Captain McCall strongly hints that Grierson +was shot by one of the sons of the aged Mr. Alexander, who had been made +prisoner and dragged to Augusta tied to the tail of a cart. A reward +was offered for information that would lead to the arrest of the man who +shot Grierson, but the reward was never claimed. The whole army probably +knew who had fired the fatal shot, and no doubt the commanders knew, +but their knowledge was not official. No further notice was taken of the +matter. + +The capture of Fort Grierson cheered the hearts of the besiegers, and +gave them renewed courage. Fort Cornwallis was next invested. This +stronghold was commanded by Colonel Brown himself, who was as bold as +he was cruel. He was mean enough to expose to the American fire the aged +Mr. Alexander and other unfortunate patriots who had long been held as +prisoners. Captain Samuel Alexander commanded one of the companies close +to the fort, and could see and recognize his venerable father, who had +been placed in an exposed position by Brown. + +It is not necessary to describe all the events of the siege. Brown held +out as long as he could, but was finally compelled to surrender. On the +5th of June, 1781, Brown, with three hundred men, marched out of Fort +Cornwallis, and that stronghold was immediately taken possession of by +Captain Rudolph. A strong guard was detailed by the American commanders, +to protect Brown from the just anger of the Georgia soldiers, under +Clarke, Williamson, and Jackson. To insure his safety, he was carried +to the quarters of "Light Horse Harry" Lee. The next day he and a few of +his officers were paroled and sent down the river in charge of a party +of infantry instructed to guard him. Ramsay, in his "History of the +Revolution of South Carolina," says that Brown was recognized at Silver +Bluff by Mrs. McKay, who thus addressed him: "Colonel Brown, in the late +day of your prosperity I visited your camp, and on my knees supplicated +for the life of my son; but you were deaf to my entreaties. You hanged +him, though a beardless youth, before my face. These eyes have seen him +scalped by the savages under your immediate command, and for no better +reason than that his name was McKay. As you are now prisoner to the +leaders of my country, for the present I lay aside all thoughts of +revenge; but when you resume your sword, I will go five hundred miles to +demand satisfaction at the point of it, for the murder of my son." The +probability is that Mrs. McKay used no such stately language. No doubt +she walked up to Brown, shook her finger in his face, and exclaimed, +"You miserable villain! I can't get at you now; but if the day ever +comes, I'll flay you alive for the murder of my poor boy." + +The fall of Augusta was received with rejoicings by the patriots +everywhere, and the British and the Tories were correspondingly +depressed. Men who had been overawed by the cruelty of the Tories, now +came out boldly for the cause of independence, and the forces of the +Americans were rapidly strengthened. Preparations were made for an +aggressive campaign in Georgia by the Liberty Boys; and in this purpose +they had the active aid and sympathy of General Greene, whose skill and +ability as a commander were not greater than the wisdom he displayed in +dealing with the people. + +In January, 1782, General Greene ordered General Anthony Wayne to take +charge of the campaign in Georgia. At the same time he wrote a letter +to Governor Martin that displays better than any document now extant +the sagacity and conservatism that were the basis of General Greene's +character and the source of his great success as a commander. "I cannot +help recommending to your Excellency," he wrote to the governor of +Georgia, "to open a door for the disaffected in your State to come +in, with particular exceptions. It is better to save than to destroy, +especially when we are obliged to expose good men to destroy bad. It +is always dangerous to push people to a state of desperation; and the +satisfaction of revenge has but a momentary existence, and is commonly +succeeded by pity and remorse. The practice of plundering, which, I am +told, has been too much indulged with you, is very destructive to the +morals and manners of the people. Habits and dispositions founded +on this practice soon grow obstinate, and are difficult to restrain; +indeed, it is the most direct way of undermining all government, and, +never fails to bring the laws into contempt, for people will not stop at +the barriers which were first intended to bound them after having tasted +the sweets of possessing property by the easy mode of plunder. The +preservation of morals and an encouragement to honest industry should be +the first objects of government. Plundering is the destruction of both. +I wish the cause of liberty may never be tarnished with inhumanity, nor +the morals of people bartered in exchange for wealth." This letter was +intended to put an end to the war of extermination that the Tories of +Upper Georgia had begun, and to prevent the patriots from carrying out +their plans of revenge. The letter did great good. It was turned over +to the Legislature by the governor, and thus made public; and its +sentiments were taken to heart by hundreds who had suffered the most +cruel wrongs at the hands of the Tories. General Greene's letter was +also made the basis of two proclamations, both issued by the governor +after conference with General Wayne. One opened the door to disaffected +Georgians who might desire to return to the ranks of the republicans, +and the other was addressed to the Hessian troops who had already +begun to sympathize with the Salzburghers at Ebenezer. Stevens, in his +"History of Georgia," says that many citizens who had been compelled +from various reasons to seek protection under the British Government, +and who had even joined the armies of the enemy, took advantage of the +proclamation which referred to them, returned to their State allegiance, +and joined the forces of General Wayne, where they proved their +sincerity by making the most zealous efforts to merit the pardon and +protection that had been promised them by the governor. + +After a brilliant campaign, lasting from January to July, 1782, General +Wayne, assisted by Elijah Clarke, James Jackson, and other bold spirits +who had never suffered the fires of liberty to go out in Georgia, +cleared the State of the British. Savannah was occupied on the 11th of +July, the keys having been surrendered to James Jackson. This was the +end of British rule in Georgia. + + + + +A NEGRO PATRIOT. + +[Illustration: A Negro Patriot 122] + +Along with the emigrants from North Carolina who first settled Wilkes +County, there came a man named Aycock. He brought with him a mulatto boy +named Austin. This boy passed as Aycock's slave; but when the conflict +between the Liberty Boys and the Tories in that part of the country +became desperate,--when the patriots were fighting for their lives as +well as for the liberties of their country,--Aycock's neighbors called +on him to do his part. According to all accounts, Aycock was not much +of a warrior. His sympathies were with his liberty-loving neighbors; +but his enthusiasm did not invite him to expose himself to the fire of +musketry. It is said that he joined the neighbors, and strove to be a +faithful militiaman, but he was in a state of constant fear. Governor +Gilmer says of Aycock, that, from the time he was required to fight, he +saw a terrible Tory constantly pointing a loaded gun at him. His alarm +finally became so extreme that he offered as his substitute the mulatto +boy Austin, who had then grown to be a stout and serviceable lad. + +Objection was made that Austin was a slave, and could not therefore be +received as a soldier. At this, Aycock acknowledged that Austin was no +slave; that, although he was a mulatto, he had been born free. This fact +was made so clear to the patriots, that they willingly received Austin +as a soldier, and he was mustered into the service under the name of +Austin Dabney. He fought under Elijah Clarke, being under the command of +Colonel John Dooly, who was afterwards so foully murdered by the Tories. +Of all the brave men that fought under the heroic Clarke, there was none +braver than Austin Dabney, none that did better service. + +He was in the battle of Kettle Creek, and was foremost among those who +followed Clarke. Toward the close of this the bloodiest battle fought in +Georgia between the patriots and Tories, Austin Dabney was shot through +the thigh, and so dangerously wounded that he became a cripple for life. +He was taken by his comrades to the house of a Mr. Harris, where he was +carefully nursed until his wound healed. He was not able to do military +duty after that, but he devoted himself to Harris and his family more +faithfully than any slave could have done. It may be said of him that +gratitude became the ruling passion of his heart. + +After the Americans had won their independence, and peace with it, +Austin Dabney became prosperous. Being a quick-witted man, with an +instinct for business, he accumulated property. He finally moved to +Madison County, taking with him his benefactor and family, to whose +wants and desires he continued to minister with as much devotion as he +displayed at the beginning of his service. It was in Madison County +that Austin Dabney became noted for his fondness for horse-racing. He +attended all the races in the neighboring counties. He was the owner of +some of the finest race horses to be found in the country; and such was +his popularity, that he always found prominent men to stand for him. + +Shortly after he removed to Madison County, he received a pension from +the United States Government. He sent Harris's oldest son to school, +and afterwards to college. When the young man graduated from Franklin +College, now the State University, Austin Dabney supported him while +he studied law with Hon. Stephen Upson at Lexington, Oglethorpe County. +When young Harris was undergoing his examination for admission to the +bar, Austin Dabney stood leaning against the railing that inclosed the +court, listening to the proceedings with great anxiety. When the young +man was sworn in, and was shaking hands with the members of the bar, +Austin, unable to control himself, burst into a flood of tears, happy +that he had been able to make a gentleman of the son of the man who had +nursed him so long and patiently while his wound was healing. + +When the public lands in Georgia were distributed among the people by +lottery, the Legislature gave to Austin Dabney a lot of land in Walton +County. The next year the voters of Madison County were in a condition +bordering on distraction, being divided into Dabney and anti-Dabney +parties. Austin had not been permitted to have a chance in the lottery +with other soldiers of the Revolution. Consequently Stephen Upson, one +of Georgia's most prominent men at that time, employed his influence +with such effect that a law was passed giving Dabney a valuable lot. +One of the members of the Legislature from Madison County voted for +this law. At the next election the constituents of this member divided +themselves into two parties, one faction indorsing the vote, and the +other denouncing it. Those who denounced the vote did it on the ground +that it was an indignity to white men for a mulatto to be put on an +equality with them in the distribution of the public land, though, as +Governor Gilmer bluntly puts it, not one of them had served his country +so long or so well. Governor Gilmer, from whose writings all facts about +Austin Dabney are taken, tells a very interesting anecdote about him. In +order to collect the pension which the United States Government allowed +on account of his broken thigh, Austin went once a year to Savannah. +Once when he was on his way to draw what was due him, he fell in with +Colonel Wiley Pope, his neighbor, who was also journeying to Savannah. +They were very intimate and social on the road, and until they found +themselves in the streets of Savannah. When they reached the fashionable +part of the city, Colonel Pope observed to his companion that he was +a sensible man, and knew the prejudices that prevented them from +associating together in the city. Austin Dabney replied that he +understood it very well, and with that he checked his horse and fell in +the rear of Colonel Pope after the fashion of a servant following +his master. Their way led them in front of the house of General James +Jackson, who was at that time governor of the State. The governor was +standing in his door at the time. Colonel Pope passed on unrecognized, +but, chancing to glance around, he saw Governor Jackson run from the +house into the street to greet Austin Dabney. The governor seized the +negro's hand, shook it heartily, drew him from his horse, and carried +him into the house, where he remained a welcome guest during his stay in +the city. Colonel Pope (so Governor Gilmer says) used to tell this story +with great glee, but owned that he felt put out when he realized, that, +whilst he was a stranger at a tavern, Austin Dabney was the honored +guest of the governor of the State. The explanation was, that Governor +Jackson had seen Dabney's courage and patriotism tested on the field +of battle, and he knew that beneath the tawny skin of the mulatto there +beat the heart of a true man. + +Austin Dabney was always popular with those who knew of his services in +the Revolutionary War. Governor Gilmer says that he was one of the +best Chroniclers of the stirring events of that period. His memory was +retentive, his understanding good, and he had a gift of description +possessed by few. He moved to the land the State had given him, taking +with him the family of the man who had nursed him. He continued to serve +them while he lived, faithful to the end, and when he died left them the +property he had accumulated. + + + + +THE YAZOO FRAUD + +Some writers on the early history of Georgia have been under the +impression that the speculation known as the Yazoo Fraud had its +beginning in the efforts of General Elijah Clarke and his followers to +settle on the Indian reservation lying west of the Oconee River; but +this is not the case at all. General Clarke's movement was the result +of an enterprise which was aimed against the Spaniards; and, though the +facts have no real connection with the Yazoo speculation, they may +be briefly told here, especially since Stevens, in his "History of +Georgia," turns them all topsy-turvy. + +Genet was the first envoy sent to represent the wild and revolutionary +republic of France,--the republic of Robespierre and the Jacobins. He +represented, as well as any man could, the ideas and purposes of those +who had wrought such havoc in France. He was meddlesome, wrong-headed, +unreasonable, and bold with it all. He sailed from France in a +ship which he commanded himself; and instead of going straight to +Philadelphia (then the seat of government), where his business called +him, he landed at Charleston in South Carolina. War was then pending +between France and Spain; and Genet, after landing in Charleston, found +ready sympathizers in the French Huguenots of South Carolina, and indeed +in all those who had fought for American liberty. There were two reasons +why the fiery appeals of Genet to the people of Carolina to take up +arms against Spain were received enthusiastically. One was, that the +Spaniards in Florida had been at constant war with the people of Georgia +and Carolina, and had committed many crimes and depredations. The other +was, that the people felt grateful to France for the aid she had given +the American Colonies in their efforts to shake off the yoke of Great +Britain. + +Genet's plan was to raise in this country an army large enough to seize +the Spanish possessions in Florida, and to reconquer Louisiana. For +the reasons stated, Genet found the people enthusiastic in favor of his +enterprise. The enthusiasm was intense. It crossed the Savannah, +and found General Elijah Clarke, with his strong nature and active +sympathies, ready to embrace it. His military prestige in the South +commended him to Genet as the man to lead the military enterprise +against the Spanish settlements in the South. Accordingly he was given +command of the army that was to be raised, and was made a major general +in the French service with a pay of ten thousand dollars. + +Having secured a commander whose courage and resources in the field +could be depended on, Genet went from Charleston to Philadelphia +overland, stirring up sympathy for his enterprise and enlisting men. His +success was greater than he had dreamed of. He found but one thing in +his way, and that was the firmness and vigilance of George Washington. +This great man set his face sternly against the project; but such was +the enthusiasm of the people--artfully stirred by Genet, who was as +accomplished as he was unscrupulous,--that a French party was formed. +Genet took advantage of the formation of this party to arouse prejudice +against Washington; and such was his success, that John Adams, who +was afterwards President, says that there was a multitude of men in +Philadelphia ready to drive Washington from the executive chair. + +A considerable army was raised, recruits reported to General Clarke from +the Ohio River to the St. Mary's, and everything was ready for action. +At that moment the heavy hand of Washington descended on the enterprise. +The recall of Genet was demanded, the French party went to pieces, +the project collapsed, and Elijah Clarke was left without resources, +surrounded by a considerable force of men who had come at his bidding +to take part in the attack on the Spanish possessions. These men were on +his hands, expecting the fulfillment of promises that had been made to +them. What was to be done? It was at this critical period that the eyes +of General Clarke turned to the Indian reservation west of the Oconee. +He marched his men to these lands, and took possession. He, and those +who engaged in the movement for settling the lands, had risked their +lives for their country on a hundred battlefields. They thought that +the lands that had been claimed by the King belonged to those who had +conquered the King's armies. They were right in principle, but wrong +in action. The lands that had belonged to the King now belonged to +the people, not as individuals, but as a corporate body,--to the whole +people represented by the State government. These principles had not +been made as clear by discussion in General Clarke's day as they have +been made since. He engaged in no speculation. He boldly settled the +lands, and was prepared to boldly hold his position. The settlement was +made in 1794. On the 28th of July, Governor George Matthews issued a +proclamation forbidding the settlement, and likewise directed one of +the judges to issue a warrant for the general's arrest. At the Superior +Court of Wilkes County, Clarke surrendered himself to the judge, who +referred the case to the county justices. These judges made a decision, +setting forth the fact that Elijah Clarke had surrendered himself into +custody; that, being desirous to do speedy justice to the State as well +as to the party charged, they had proceeded to maturely consider the +case; and that after examining the laws of the State, and the treaties +made and laws passed by the United States, they gave it as their +"decided and unanimous opinion that the said Elijah Clarke be and +is hereby discharged." Encouraged by this decision, General Clarke +returned to his settlement with the intention of holding the lands; but +finally both the Federal and the State governments moved against +him, and he abandoned the enterprise. The policy that Clarke began in +settling the Indian lands without regard to the rights of the savage has +since become the policy of the government. It is not a wholesome +policy, nor is it authorized by the moral or civil law; but it has been +unblushingly carried out nevertheless. + +The Yazoo Fraud was a far different matter. The very name of it was +foreign to Georgia. It was borrowed from the Indian name of a small +stream which empties itself into the Mississippi River. When the +Colony of Georgia was first settled, the land granted to Oglethorpe was +described as lying along the Savannah River, extending southward along +the coast to the Altamaha, and from the head waters of these rivers +westward to "the South Seas." Afterwards Great Britain changed the line +which he had established. She carried the boundary line of West Florida, +a part of her possessions, higher up. The new line started from the +Mississippi at the mouth of the Yazoo River, and ran due east to the +Chattahoochee at a point near where the town of West Point now stands. +As the upper boundary of British West Florida this line came to be known +as the Yazoo line, and the country above and below it to an indefinite +extent came to be known as the Yazoo country. No boundary can now be +fixed to the region then known as the Yazoo country. At the close of +the Revolutionary War, Great Britain made a treaty which has been +interpreted as vesting in the United States and in Georgia the right +and title to these lands, reaching from the Chattahoochee to the Yazoo +River, and extending on each side of this line to a distance that has +never been estimated. + +The Yazoo Fraud itself had a somewhat vague beginning. From the best +information that can now be obtained, it may be said that it was set on +foot in 1789, shortly after the close of the Revolution, by a sharper +who was famous in that day. He was known as Thomas Washington, but his +real name was Walsh. Washington, or Walsh, is described as being a very +extraordinary man. He had fought in the service of Georgia, but he +had the instinct of a speculator; and when the war was ended, he gave +himself up to the devices of those who earn their living by their +wits. He was a man of good address, and his air of candor succeeded in +deceiving all whom he met. Those who dealt with him always had the worst +of the bargain. + +When Washington, or Walsh, began to operate in Georgia through agents, +he found the way already prepared for him. The War for Independence +had barely closed, when certain individuals, most of them men of some +influence, began to look on our Western possessions with a greedy +eye. They had an idea of securing these lands and setting up a new +government,--a sort of Western empire. To further their designs they +began by forming themselves into an association called the "Combined +Society," the members of which were bound to secrecy by oaths and other +solemn pledges. The purpose of the Combined Society became known, and +the force of public opinion compelled the members to disband. Some of +them were men of aristocratic pretensions. + +Thus Washington, or Walsh, found a great many sympathetic people in +Georgia. He was too well known in the State to undertake any scheme to +which his name was attached: so he worked through an agent, a man named +Sullivan. This man Sullivan had been a captain in the patriot army; but +he had headed the Philadelphia mob which insulted Congress, and he was +compelled to flee to the Mississippi to save his neck. When the old +Congress went out, Sullivan felt free to return. He came to Georgia, +representing, or pretending to represent, the Virginia Yazoo Company, of +which the celebrated Patrick Henry was a member, and made application to +the State Legislature for the purchase of the Western lands. Sullivan's +description of the Yazoo lands was so glowing that another company +was formed in Georgia. Some of the members of the new company formerly +belonged to the Combined Society, but others were men of good standing. +This company employed active agents; but no corrupt means were used so +far as is now known, though some members of the General Assembly were +interested. The efforts of the company were successful. Their act was +passed, and the sale made. Immediately the people began to oppose the +scheme, and to demand the repeal of the act The demand grew into a State +issue, and the new Legislature declared the sale null and void. + +[Illustration: The Yazoo Scheme 134] + +For a while the land grabbers were quiet; but in 1794 it seemed to the +most eager of the speculators that the time had come for them to make +another effort to secure the rich Western lands that belonged to the +State. They were evidently afraid, that, unless they made haste to get +hold of the lands, the people's Legislature would divide them out or +sell them to the Federal Government. So they formed another conspiracy, +and this time they laid their plans very deep. Acting on the principle +that every man has his price, they managed, by bribery and other +underhanded schemes, to win the sympathy and support of some of the +most prominent men in the State,--men whose names seemed to be far +above suspicion. Some of the highest judges lent their aid to the land +grabbers. Members of Congress were concerned in the scheme. Generals +and other high officers of the militia took part in it. Nothing was left +undone that was calculated to win the support of men who, up to that +time, had enjoyed and deserved the confidence and respect of the +State. The extent of the bribery and corruption that existed would be +altogether beyond belief if the records were not left to show it. The +swindlers were both bold and cunning, and in one way or another sought +to win the support of all the leading men in the State. And they came +very close to succeeding. + +The Legislature held its session in Augusta at that time; and while the +Yazoo land sale was up for discussion, the agents of the land grabbers +swarmed around it, coaxing, bribing, and bullying the people's +representatives. Among these agents was a judge of the Supreme Court of +the United States, from Pennsylvania, with twenty-five thousand dollars +in his hands. There was a judge of the United States District Court for +Georgia, paying shares in the land company for the votes of members. A +United States senator from Georgia, James Gunn, who had neglected to +return to his post of duty in Congress, was seen bullying members with a +loaded whip, to secure their support for the land-sale scheme. A judge +of the State courts was also present, with other prominent citizens, +buttonholing the members of the Legislature, offering them shares, +sub-shares, and half sub-shares to secure their votes. General James +Jackson, who was then a United States senator from Georgia, was told by +a prominent judge of the State that he might have any number of acres he +pleased up to half a million, without the payment of a dollar, if he +would use his influence in behalf of the corrupt schemes of the land +grabbers. In reply, General Jackson said he had fought for the people of +Georgia; that the land belonged to them and to their children; and that, +should the conspirators succeed, he, for one, would hold the sale to be +void. Many weak men in the Legislature were intimidated by threats; and +some who could not be persuaded to vote for the sale, were paid to go +home, and remain away from the Legislature. + +In this way the representatives of the people were persuaded and bribed +to support the scheme of the land grabbers. In 1795 the bill was passed, +selling to four companies--the Georgia Company, the Georgia +Mississippi Company, the Upper Mississippi Company, and the Tennessee +Company--thirty-five million acres of land for $500,000. Nothing was now +wanting to complete the fraud but the signature of the governor. If he +put his name to the bill, it became a law. If he refused to sign it, +the scheme of the swindlers would fail. General George Matthews was the +governor at that time, and, though two of his sons had been made members +of the land-grabbing companies, it was hoped that he would refuse to +sign the bill. The hope was justified by the fact that he had refused to +sign a similar bill, and had given some very good reasons for it. It +was known, too, that he was a man of great courage, and honest in his +intentions; but the influence brought to bear on him was too great. His +judgment was weakened by the clamor of the prominent men around him, who +had become the paid agents of the swindlers. He resisted for some time, +but finally agreed to sign the bill. The secretary of Governor Matthews, +a man named Urquhart, tried to prevent the signing of the bill by +working on the governor's superstitions. He dipped the pen in oil, +thinking that when Matthews came to write with it, and found that the +ink refused to flow, he would take it as an omen that the bill should +not be signed. The governor was startled, when, after several efforts, +he found the pen would not write; but he was not a man to let so +trifling a matter stand in his way. He directed his secretary to make +another pen, and with this he made the land-steal bill a law. By a +stroke he made the bill a law, and also signed away his own popularity +and influence. The people of Georgia never trusted him afterwards; and +he left the State, finding it unpleasant and uncomfortable to live among +those who had lost their respect for him. Yet no charge of corruption +was ever made against him. + +When the people learned that the Yazoo Fraud had become a law, they rose +up as one man to denounce it. Those who lived in the neighborhood of +Augusta determined to put to death the men who had betrayed them. They +marched to the legislative halls, and were only prevented from carrying +out their threats by the persuasion of the small minority of the members +that had refused to be coaxed, bullied, or bribed into voting for the +Yazoo Fraud. But the indignation of the people continued to grow as +they learned of the corrupt methods that had been employed to pass the +measure. Meetings were held in every county; and public opinion +became so strong that those who had voted for the Yazoo Fraud found it +dangerous to remain in the State. A senator from Hancock County became +so alarmed that he fled to South Carolina. He was followed by one of his +neighbors, found in a lonely cabin at night, and shot to death. Except +in one or two counties, the men who voted for the Yazoo Fraud were +compelled to hide themselves until the anger of the people had cooled. + +In his "Sketches of the First Settlers of Upper Georgia," Governor +George R. Gilmer tells a little story that will serve to show the state +of feeling in Georgia at that time. After the Yazoo Fraud was passed, +the people of the counties held indignation meetings. A meeting was +called in Oglethorpe County, and on the morning of the day, a citizen on +his way to town stopped at the gate of a neighbor to wait until he could +get ready to go. The man who was getting ready was named Miles Jennings. +The citizen, waiting, saw Mr. Jennings put a rope in his pocket. + +"What is that for?" the citizen asked. + +"To hang Musgrove!" replied Mr. Jennings, Musgrove being the name of the +member of the Legislature. + +When the two neighbors arrived at the courthouse, all the people had +assembled. Mr. Jennings hitched his horse and went into the crowd, +pulled the rope from his pocket, and, holding it above his head where +all could see it, cried out,-- + +"Neighbors! this rope is to hang Musgrove, who sold the people's land +for a bribe!" + +[Illustration: Rope to hang Musgrove 138] + +The words of Jennings and the sight of the rope made the people furious. +Musgrove had been given a hint by Jennings's neighbor, and he had made +good his escape. But for that, no human power could have saved him. + +The whole State was in a condition of excitement that is hard to +describe. Grand juries made presentments, county and town meetings +passed resolutions, and petitions were sent from hand to hand, and +signed by hundreds of people. A State convention, called to alter the +constitution, had been chosen to meet in May, 1795, but the members had +been chosen at the same time that the members of the corrupt Legislature +had been elected; and a majority of them had been "tarred with the same +stick," as the saying goes. The presentments, resolutions, and petitions +crowded so fast upon the convention, that it was decided to postpone the +changing of the constitution to a time when the people were in a better +humor. The convention referred all the papers it had received to the +next Legislature, and adjourned in some confusion. + +This added to the excitement and anger of the people. They were in doubt +how to act. Delay would give the land grabbers time to sell the lands +they had secured through bribery and corruption. But whom could the +people trust? They had been betrayed by many of their highest judges, +by one of their United States senators, and by a large majority of their +Legislature. A great many believed that all the powers of government had +come to an end. + +During the troubled times of the Revolution it had been the custom of +military officers having the confidence of the people to convene the +Legislative Assembly when an emergency seemed to call for it. In the +midst of their doubt and confusion, the people applied to General +Twiggs, the senior major general, to convene the Legislature in order +that action might be taken before the swindlers sold the lands they had +obtained by fraud; but General Twiggs refused to act in a case in which +he had no clear right and power, so the people remained for the time +being without a remedy. + +From the very beginning of this scheme to defraud the people of the +State, it had been bitterly opposed by General James Jackson, who was +representing Georgia in the United States Senate. He denounced it in the +Senate. He corresponded with the most eminent men in the State, he wrote +to the newspapers, and in every possible way held up to the scorn and +contempt of the public the men who were trying to defraud the State of +its rich Western lands. On the other hand, the conspirators left nothing +undone to injure the reputation of General Jackson. His character was +attacked, and his life was several times threatened. As early as the +spring of 1795, he took occasion in full Senate, and in the presence +of General James Gunn (the Georgia senator who was representing the +swindlers), to denounce the scheme as "a speculation of the darkest +character and of deliberate villany." + +By his bold, even violent opposition to the Yazoo sale, General Jackson +had made himself the leader of the people. Therefore in 1795, while he +was still senator, many of the people requested him to resign, so that +he might use his influence and great talents in bringing about the +repeal of the obnoxious law. He tendered his resignation at once, and +returned home. He was elected a member of the Legislature, and devoted +all his time and all his energy to blotting out the odious law. He +became a member of the committee appointed to investigate the means used +to pass the law, and under his leadership the whole scandalous affair +was probed to the bottom. + +In electing the new Legislature, the only issue was Yazoo and +anti-Yazoo. The people were successful in electing men who favored +the repeal of the law. There was no other business before the General +Assembly until this matter was disposed of. The body was flooded with +the petitions and remonstrances that had been sent to the convention. +The Legislature had met in January, 1795. At once a day was set to +"consider the state of the Republic." On that day the petitions and +presentments were considered, and referred to a committee, of which +General Jackson was appointed chairman. On the 22d of January the +committee reported not only that the act was unconstitutional, but that +fraud had been practiced to secure its passage. On these grounds they +declared that the act was a nullity, and not binding on the people of +the State. + +The bill declaring the sale void was drawn up by General Jackson. It +passed both Houses by large majorities, and was signed by Governor +Irwin. The feeling of the Legislature was so strong, that, after the +Yazoo act had been repealed, it was decided to destroy all the records +and documents relating to the corruption. By order of the two Houses a +fire was kindled in the public square of Louisville, which was then the +capital. The enrolled act that had been secured by fraud was brought out +by the secretary of state, and by him delivered to the President of the +Senate for examination. That officer delivered the act to the Speaker +of the House. The Speaker in turn passed it to the clerk, who read the +title of the act and the other records, and then, committing them to the +flames, cried out in a loud voice, "God save the State and preserve her +rights, and may every attempt to injure them perish as these wicked and +corrupt acts now do!" + +The flames in which the records were burned were kindled by means of +a sun glass, so that it might be truly said that fire came down from +heaven to destroy the evidences of corruption. There is a tradition that +when the officers of the State had met to destroy the records, an old +man, a stranger to all present, rode through the multitude, and made +his way to where the officials stood. Lifting up his voice, he declared, +that, feeble as he was, he had come there to see an act of justice +performed, but he thought the fire in which the records of corruption +were to be destroyed should come from heaven. The people watched him in +silence. He drew from his bosom with trembling hands a sun glass, and in +this way burned the papers. Then, says tradition, the white-haired old +man mounted his horse and rode away, and was never seen again. + + + + +GEORGE MATTHEWS AND JOHN CLARKE. + +[Illustration: George Matthews and John Clarke 143] + +In giving the history of the Yazoo Fraud, mention has been made of +General George Matthews, who was governor at the time, and who was +compelled to leave the State because he had been persuaded to sign the +bill. General Matthews was one of the most remarkable characters of his +time. Governor Gilmer has drawn a very interesting portrait of him. +It is not a pleasing picture in some respects, but it gives a very +interesting glimpse of a man who in his day was one of the strongest +characters in the State. + +He was the son of an Irishman named John Matthews, who settled in +western Virginia in 1737. George Matthews began to fight the Indians at +an age when most boys are at school. In 1761 the Indians attacked and +murdered a family not far from his father's home. He heard the guns, and +thought that a shooting match was going on. With some companions of his +own age, he rode forward to join in the sport; but the youngsters saw +the dead bodies of their neighbors lying in the yard where they had been +left by the murderous savages, and at once turned their horses' heads +and fled. They were not a moment too soon; for the Indians, who had +been lying in ambush, rose and fired at the boys. Matthews had a narrow +escape; for a bullet cut off the wisp of hair (known as a queue) that +hung dangling from the back of his head. The danger that he had passed +through, and the sight of his murdered neighbors, roused young Matthews +to action. He collected a party of men, put himself at the head of them, +followed and overtook the savages, and killed nine of their number. + +In the greatest battle that ever took place between the Virginians and +the Indians, Matthews commanded a company, and bore a very conspicuous +part. The battle took place at the junction of the Ohio River with the +Kanawha, on what was called Point Pleasant. The fight began at sunrise, +and was kept up all day, with no great success on either side. The +Indians held their ground, and refused to give way before the most +stubborn attacks of the Virginians. Near sundown, Matthews, with two +other captains, made a strategic movement. The three companies were +withdrawn from the battle. Out of sight of the enemy, they got into the +bed of a creek. Hidden by the banks of the stream, they marched to the +rear of the Indians, and from this point made an attack. The movement +had been so cleverly carried out, that the savages were taken completely +by surprise, and driven across the Ohio. + +Early in the Revolutionary War, General Washington, who knew well the +value of the training Matthews had received on the frontier, ordered him +and the regiment which he commanded to join the main army. He took part +in the battle of the Brandywine; and at the battle of Germantown he +led his regiment against the British opposing him, drove them back, and +pushed on to the center of the town, where he captured a regiment of the +enemy. Shortly after this, while engaged in a skirmish, his courage led +him too close to the British. He was knocked down, severely wounded by +a bayonet thrust, and taken prisoner. He was sent to the British prison +ship in New York Harbor. He was there treated with so much cruelty that +he appealed to his government for relief. In response to that appeal, +Thomas Jefferson, who was then governor of Virginia, wrote him a +personal letter, in which he said, "We know that the ardent spirit and +hatred of tyranny which brought you into your present situation +will enable you to bear up against it with the firmness which has +distinguished you as a soldier, and look forward with pleasure to the +day when events shall take place against which the wounded spirit of +your enemies will find no comfort, even from reflections on the most +refined of the cruelties with which they have glutted themselves." + +General Matthews was not exchanged until the close of the war. He then +joined the Southern army under General Greene, and commanded the Third +Virginia Regiment. While in the South, he bought a tract of land on +Broad River, known as the Goose Pond. He settled there with his family +in 1784. The fame he had won as a soldier made General Matthews at that +time the principal man in Georgia. He was elected governor in 1786. When +his term expired, he was sent to Congress. In 1794-95 he was again made +governor; and it was at this time, that, contrary to all expectations, +he was prevailed on to sign the Yazoo Act. No charge of corruption was +ever made against him. No thief or swindler was ever bold enough to try +to bribe such a high-spirited and fearless man. But excitement in +the State ran so high, that General Matthews was ruined so far as his +influence was concerned. He left Georgia, and never afterwards made the +State his home for any long period. + +In 1811 a lot of runaway negroes, ruffians, and lawless men congregated +in Florida in such numbers that they were able to get control of +affairs. They formed a government of their own, and then petitioned +the United States to make Florida one of their territories. President +Madison appointed General Matthews the agent of the United States to +negotiate with the "constituted authorities" for the annexation of +Florida. General Matthews made a treaty with those who were in control +of Florida; but Spain protested, and the President finally declared that +the treaty had not been made with the "constituted authorities." + +General Matthews was not a learned man (he knew nothing of books), +and he could not understand the fuss that was made over the term +"constituted authorities." He became very angry with the President, said +that that officer had a cowardly fear of Spain and Great Britain, and +declared that he would go to Washington to "thrash" the President. He +actually set out on that errand; but the fatigue and exposure which he +had experienced in Florida, and the high state of excitement under +which he labored, threw him into a fever while he was on his journey to +Washington, and he died in Augusta in March, 1812. + +Previous to his Florida appointment, General Matthews had been nominated +to be governor of the Territory of Mississippi by President Adams; but +the opposition was so great that the President withdrew the nomination. +When General Matthews heard of this, he promptly set out for +Philadelphia to call the President to account. He rode to Mr. Adams's +house, gave a loud knock on the door, and told the servant he wished +to see the President. The servant said the President was engaged; but +General Matthews bristled with anger at the bare thought that any man, +even the President, could be engaged in any business more important +than talking to George Matthews, late colonel of the Virginia line, and +governor of the State of Georgia. Therefore he told the servant to go at +once and tell the President that a gentleman wished to speak to him; +and he added, that, if the message was not carried at once, the servant +would find his head taken from his shoulders. General Matthews wore his +Revolutionary sword and cocked hat, and he succeeded in convincing the +servant that he was not to be trifled with. He was promptly admitted +into the presence of Mr. Adams, and, with the touch of Irish brogue he +had caught from his father, he made himself and his business known. He +introduced himself, and then said to the President,-- + +"Now, sir, I understand that you nominated me to the Senate of these +United States, to be governor of the Territory of Mississippi, and that +afterwards you took back the nomination. Sir, if you had known me, you +would not have taken the nomination back. If you did not know me, you +should not have nominated me to so important an office. Now, sir, unless +you can satisfy me, your station as President of these United States +shall not screen you from my vengeance." + +Mr. Adams at once made himself agreeable, for he had nothing but good +will for the stanch Georgia Federalist. The outcome of the meeting was +that the President promised to appoint the general's son John to be +supervisor of the revenue, and this promise he carried out. + +Governor Gilmer, in his racy reminiscences of the people who settled +in the Broad River region, draws an interesting portrait of General +Matthews. He describes him as a short, thick man, with stout legs, on +which he stood very straight. "He carried his head rather thrown back. +His features were full and bluff, his hair light red, and his complexion +fair and florid. He admitted no superior but General Washington. He +spoke of his services to his country as unsurpassed except by those of +his great chief. He wore a three-cornered cocked hat, top boots, a shirt +full ruffled at the bosom and wrists, and sometimes a long sword at +his side. To listen to his talk about himself, his children, and his +affairs, one would have thought that he was but a puff of wind. Trade +or talk of history with him, and he was found to be one of the shrewdest +of men. Fight with him, and he never failed to act the hero. He was +unlearned. He spelled 'coffee' k-a-u-g-h-p-h-y. He wrote 'Congress' with +a K." + +When it is considered that he had small opportunity to train himself in +any direction except rough fighting, General Matthews must be regarded +as one of the most remarkable men of his time. + +Another remarkable man who figured largely in both the military and +political history of the State was General John Clarke, son of the +famous Elijah Clarke. John Clarke became a soldier in the Revolutionary +War when a mere boy. He had followed his father to camp, and remained +with him. He took part in many skirmishes; but at the battle of Kettle +Creek, in Wilkes County, he distinguished himself by his coolness and +courage. He fought through the war. He was made a lieutenant at sixteen +years of age, and when the war ended he was a major. After the war he +was made a brigadier, and then a major general of the militia. After +aiding to run the British out of the State, and subduing the Tories, +General Clarke turned his attention to the Indians. At the battle +of Jacks Creek, in Walton County, in 1787, he greatly distinguished +himself, having charge of one of the wings of the Georgia forces. + +It was natural that a man raised in camp, and brought up in the midst of +the rough and tough elements that are collected together there, should +possess qualities not calculated to fit him for the polite transactions +that take place in drawing rooms and parlors. General Clarke's +self-reliance was extreme. Having commanded men from the time he was +sixteen, it was natural that his temper and his manners should be +offensive, to some extent, to those who were not thoughtful enough to +make due allowance for these things. It thus happened that when peace +came, John Clarke's methods and practices made him many bitter enemies. +On the other hand, the sterling qualities of his character made him many +strong friends. + +Coming out of the war with neither trade nor profession, and with only +the rudiments of an education, John Clarke was compelled to turn his +attention to politics. With him politics was simply a modified form of +war. He had never given any quarter to the Tories, and he gave small +quarter to his political enemies. But he was as faithful to his friends +in politics as he had been to the cause of American liberty. He was +uncompromising, whether dealing with friends or enemies, and his temper +was such that he regarded his opponents as his personal enemies. Of +his political career, mention will be made in another place. It is +sufficient to say that a quarrel he had with a judge divided the people +of the State into two parties, and the contest between them was carried +on for several years. The prejudices that sprang up in that contest +lasted for more than a generation, and strong traces of them are to be +found in estimates of General Clarke's character written long after he +was dead. + +Only a man of the strongest character, and possessing the most +remarkable qualities, could have made such a marked impression on the +political history of a commonwealth. + + + + + +AFTER THE REVOLUTION. + +[Illustration: After the Revolution 152] + +The Revolution came to an end in Georgia when, on the 11th of July, +1782, Savannah was taken possession of by the American troops under +General Anthony Wayne. It ended for the whole country when, on the 30th +of November of the same year, the treaty of peace was signed at Paris +between the United States and Great Britain. The King of Great Britain +acknowledged the independence of the Thirteen States, and declared them +free and sovereign. This was a very happy event for the country, and +had been long looked forward to by the people, sometimes doubtfully, but +always hopefully. + +But the great victory that had been won found the people of Georgia +prostrate. The little property that they possessed when the war +began had either been spent in maintaining the struggle, or well-nigh +destroyed by the raids of the British and Tories. In the larger +communities of Savannah and Augusta, the citizens had the resources of +trade and commerce to fall back on, but in the smaller settlements +and rural districts the condition of the inhabitants bordered on +destitution. + +At the time that Savannah was surrendered to the American troops, there +was almost a famine in the land. The soldiers were without shoes, and +sometimes they were without supplies. The crops were short on account +of the lack of farmers. The condition of the people was quite as bad as +that of the troops, especially when the disbanded militia returned to +their homes. Houses, barns, and fences had been burned; stock and cattle +had been slaughtered or driven away; and there was a great lack of even +the necessities of life. + +But those whose energy and spirit upheld them through the long struggle +for independence were not the men to surrender to the hard circumstances +that surrounded them. They went to work as bravely as they had fought; +and the sacrifices they made to peace were almost as severe, though +not so bloody, as those they had made to war. Slowly, but surely and +steadily, they reclaimed their waste farms. Slowly, but surely and +steadily, they recovered from the prostration that the war had brought +on their industries. Slowly, but surely and steadily, the people worked +their way back to comparative prosperity. There may have been a few +drones in the towns, but there were no idle hands in the country places. + +The men built for their families comfortable log cabins; and these, +with their clean sanded floors, are still the fashion in some parts of +Georgia. This done, they went about the business of raising crops, and +stocking their farms with cattle. The women and children were just as +busy. In every cabin could be heard the hum of the spinning wheel, and +the thump of the old hand loom. While the men were engaged in their +outdoor work, the women spun, wove, and made the comfortable jeans +clothes that were the fashion; while the girls plaited straw, and made +hats and bonnets, and in many other ways helped the older people. In +a little while peddlers from the more northern States began to travel +through Georgia with their various wares, some with pewter plates and +spoons, and some with clocks. The peddlers traveled in wagons instead +of carrying their packs on their backs, and in this way brought a great +deal of merchandise to the State. + +As was natural, the political development of Georgia was much more rapid +than its industrial progress. In January, 1783, Lyman Hall was elected +governor. He was distinguished for the patriotic stand he took at the +very beginning of the controversy between the Colony and the King. The +Legislature met in Savannah after the evacuation of the town by the +British; but it was so far from the central and upper portions of the +State, and there was so much dissatisfaction among the people on this +account, that in May Augusta was made the capital. In that town the +General Assembly met July 8, 1783. Measures were at once taken to seize +land, and confiscate the property of those Royalists who had lived +in Georgia. This property was sold for the benefit of the public. In +November of the same year a new cession of land was obtained from the +Creek nation by treaty. This was divided into the counties of Franklin +and Washington, and the land distributed in bounties to the soldiers of +the war. + +It is worthy of note that about this time, when the State had hardly +begun to recover from the effects of the war, the representatives of +the people began to move in the matter of education. The Constitution +of 1777 had declared that "schools shall be erected in each county, and +supported by the general expense of the State." On the 31st of July, +1783, the Legislature appropriated one thousand acres of land to each +county for the support of free schools. In 1784, a short time after +the notification of the treaty of peace, the Legislature passed an +act appropriating forty thousand acres of land for the endowment of a +college or university. A year later the charter for this university was +granted; and the preamble of the act declares it to be the policy of the +State to foster education in the most liberal way. It so happened that +some of the provisions that had been made for public education were +not carried out at once, and the people of the various settlements +established schools of their own. Many of the best teachers of the +country came to Georgia from the more northern States; and some of them +won a reputation that has lasted to this day. Later, more than one +of these teachers established schools that became famous all over the +country. In this way the reign of the "old field schoolmaster" began, +and continued for many years. + +[Illustration: Early Cultivation of Cotton 156] + +The people had been cultivating cotton on a small scale before 1791; but +the staple was so difficult to handle, that the planting was limited. +Those who grew it were compelled to separate the seed from the lint by +hand, and this was so tedious that few people would grow it. But in +1793, Eli Whitney, who was living on the plantation of General Greene, +near Savannah, invented the cotton gin. The machine was a very awkward +and cumbrous affair compared with the gins of the present day; but in +that day and time, and for many years after, the Whitney was sufficient +for the needs of the people. It was one of the most important inventions +that have ever been made. It gave to the commerce of the world a staple +commodity that is in universal demand, and it gave to the people of the +South their most valuable and important crop. But for this timely +invention, the cultivation of cotton would have been confined to the +narrowest limits. The gin proved to be practicable, and it came into use +very quickly. The farmers prospered, and gradually increased the cotton +crop. + +The population also increased very rapidly. The rich lands were +purchased and settled on by farmers from Virginia and the Carolinas. The +colony that had been planted by Oglethorpe had never ventured very far +from the seacoast. A few probably followed the course of the Savannah +River, and made their homes in that region; but the people brought +over by Oglethorpe were not of the stuff that pioneers are made of. The +experience they had undergone in the mother country had tamed them +to such a degree that they had no desire to brave the future in the +wilderness. Adventures of that kind were left for the hardy North +Carolinians and Virginians who first settled what was then known as +Upper Georgia. After the Revolution, this tide of immigration increased +very rapidly, and it was still further swelled by the profits that the +Whitney gin enabled the planters of Georgia to make out of their cotton +crops. + +The settling of Georgia began with the charitable scheme of Oglethorpe. +The making of Georgia began when the North Carolinians and Virginians +began to open up the Broad River region to the north of Augusta. It was +due to the desperate stand taken by these hardy pioneers that Georgia +continued the struggle for American independence. To Upper Georgia +came some of the best families from Virginia and North Carolina,--the +Grattons, the Lewises, the Clarkes, the Strothers, the Crawfords, +the Reeses, the Harrises, the Andrewses, the Taliaferros (pronounced +Tollivers), the Campbells, the Barnetts, the Toombses, the Doolys, +and many other families whose names have figured in the history of +the country. Here also settled James Jack, the sturdy patriot who +volunteered to carry the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence to +Philadelphia. The Congress then in session chose to shut its eyes to +that declaration, but it was the basis and framework of the Declaration +afterwards written by Thomas Jefferson. + +After the Revolution, when the Cherokees went on the warpath, the +Virginia settlement was in a state of great alarm. Men, women, and +children met together, and decided that it would be safer to camp in +the woods in a body at night rather than run the risk of being burned to +death in houses that they could not defend. They went into the depths +of the woods and made an encampment. One night while they were around a +fire, cooking their supper, suddenly the report of a gun was heard, and +then there was a cry of "Indians!" The men seized their guns; but they +hardly knew where to turn, or what to do. Suddenly a lad who had not +lost his head emptied a bucket of water on the fire. This was the +thing to do, but no one else had thought of it. The name of the lad +was Meriwether Lewis. He went into the regular army, became the private +secretary of President Jefferson, and was selected to head the party +that explored the Territory of Louisiana, which had been bought from +France. Meriwether Lewis selected for his companion Captain Clark, an +old army friend and comrade. Leading the party, Lewis and his friend +Clark left St. Louis, and pushed westward to the Pacific coast, through +dangers and obstacles that few men would have cared to meet. The famous +expedition of Lewis and Clark has now become a part of the history of +the country. Lewis took possession of the Pacific coast in the name of +the United States. There was a controversy with Great Britain some years +afterwards as to the title of Oregon, but that which Lewis and Clark had +established was finally acknowledged to be the best. + +Meriwether Lewis won a name in history because the opportunity came to +him. His name is mentioned here because he was a representative of the +men who settled Upper Georgia,--the men who kept the fires of liberty +alive in the State, and who, after helping to conquer the British and +the Tories, became the conquerors of the wilderness that lay to the west +of them. From Wilkes, Burke, Elbert, and the region where Clarke and his +men had fought, the tide of emigration slowly moved across the State, +settling Greene, Hancock, Baldwin, Putnam, Morgan, Jasper, Butts, +Monroe, Coweta, Upson, Pike, Meriwether, Talbot, Harris, and Muscogee +counties. + +Some of the more adventurous crossed the Chattahoochee into Alabama, and +on into the great Mississippi Valley and beyond. Their descendants live +in every part of the South; and Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas have had +Georgians for their governors, and their senators and representatives in +Congress,--men who were descended from the Virginia and North Carolina +immigrants. One of the most brilliant of these was Mirabeau B. Lamar, +scholar, statesman, and soldier, the president of Texas when that +Territory had declared itself a free and an independent republic. + + + + +THE COTTON GIN. + +Brief mention has been made of Whitney's invention of the cotton gin. +The event was of such world-wide importance that the story should be +told here. Whitney, the inventor of the gin, was born in Massachusetts +in 1765, in very poor circumstances. While the War of the Revolution was +going on, he was earning his living by making nails by hand. He was such +an apt mechanic that he was able to make and save enough money to pay +his way through Yale College, where he graduated in 1792. In that year +he engaged himself to come to Georgia as a private tutor in the family +of a gentleman of Savannah; but when he reached that city, he found that +the place had been filled. + +While in Savannah, Whitney attracted the attention of the widow of +General Nathanael Greene, who lived at Mulberry Grove, on the river at +no great distance from the city. Mrs. Greene invited the young man to +make his home on her plantation. He soon found opportunity to show his +fine mechanical genius, and Mrs. Greene became more interested in him +than ever. + +The story goes, that soon after the young man had established himself on +the Mulberry Grove Plantation, several Georgia planters were dining with +Mrs. Greene. During their conversation the difficulty of removing the +seed from the cotton fiber was mentioned, and the suggestion was made +that this might be done by machinery. At this Mrs. Greene mentioned the +skill and ingenuity of young Whitney, and advised her guests that he +should be given the problem to solve. This advice was followed. The +planters had a talk with the young man, and explained to him the +difficulty which they found in separating the seed from the lint. + +At that time one pound of lint cotton was all that a negro woman could +separate from the seed in a day; and the more cotton the planters +raised, the deeper they got in debt. The close of the war had found them +in a state of the utmost poverty, so that they had been compelled to +mortgage their lands in order to get money on which to begin business. +Cotton was the only product of the farm for which there was any constant +demand; but, owing to the labor of separating the lint from the seed, +it could not be raised at a profit. Thus, in 1791, the number of pounds +exported from the South to Europe amounted to only about 379 bales of +500 pounds each. + +When the planters went to Whitney with their problem, he was entirely +ignorant of the whole matter. He knew nothing of cotton or of cotton +planting; but he at once set himself at work. He made a careful study of +the cotton plant. He shut himself in a room with some uncleaned cotton, +and worked at his task during a whole winter. He made his own tools at +the plantation blacksmith shop; and all day long, and sometimes far into +the night, he could be heard hammering and sawing away. + +In 1793 he called together the planters who had asked him to solve the +problem, and showed them the machine, which he called a cotton gin. When +they saw it work, their surprise and delight knew no bounds. They +knew at once that the problem had been solved by the young genius from +Massachusetts. Little calculation was needed to show them that the +cotton gin could clean as much cotton in a day as could be cleaned on +a plantation during a whole winter. What before had been the work of a +hundred hands for several months could now be completed in a few days. + +[Illustration: Whitney and his Cotton Gin 163] + +But it seems to be the fate of the majority of those who make wonderful +inventions never to enjoy the full benefits of the work of their genius. +Eli Whitney was not an exception to the general rule. While he was +working on his cotton gin, rumors of it went abroad; and by the time it +was completed, public expectation was on tiptoe. When the machine was +finished, it was shown to only a few people; but the fact, of such +immense importance to the people of the State, was soon known throughout +the State, and the planters impatiently waited for the day when they +would be able to put it in use. + +One night the building in which Whitney's cotton gin was concealed +was broken into, ransacked, and the machine carried off. It was a bold +robbery, and a very successful one. The inventor made haste to build +another gin; but before he could get his model completed, and obtain +a patent right to the invention, the machine had been manufactured at +various points in the South by other parties, and was in operation on +several plantations. Whitney formed a partnership with a gentleman who +had some capital, and went to Connecticut to manufacture his gin; but he +was compelled to spend all the money he could make, fighting lawsuits. +His patent had been infringed, and those who sought to rob him of the +fruits of his labor took a bold stand. The result of all this was, that +the inventor never received any just compensation for a machine that +revolutionized the commerce of the country, and added enormously to the +power and progress of the Republic. Lord Macaulay said that Eli Whitney +did more to make the United States powerful than Peter the Great did to +make the Russian Empire dominant. Robert Fulton declared that Arkwright, +Watt, and Whitney were the three men that did more for mankind than any +of their contemporaries. This is easy to believe, when we remember that +while the South shipped 6 bags of cotton to England in 1786, and only +379 in 1791, ten years after the cotton gin came into use, 82,000 +bales were exported. The very importance of Whitney's invention made +it immensely profitable for the vicious and the depraved to seize and +appropriate the inventor's rights. These robberies were upheld by those +who were anxious to share in the profits; and political demagogues made +themselves popular by misrepresenting Whitney, and clamoring against +the law that was intended to protect him. It was only by means of this +clamor, half political and wholly dishonest, that the plain rights +of Whitney could be denied and justice postponed. His invention was +entirely new. It was distinct from every other. It had no connection +with and no relation to any other invention that had been made. It stood +alone, and there could be no difficulty whatever in identifying it. And +yet Whitney had just this difficulty. In his efforts to prove that he +was the inventor of the cotton gin, and that he was entitled to a share +of the immense profits that those who used it were reaping, he had to +travel thousands of miles, and spend thousands of dollars in appearing +before Legislatures and in courts that denied him justice. The life +of his patent had nearly expired before any court finally enforced +his right, and Congress refused to grant him an extension beyond +the fourteen years that had then nearly expired. Associations and +combinations had been formed for the purpose of defrauding Whitney, and +these were represented by the ablest lawyers that could be hired. It is +no wonder that Whitney, in writing to Robert Fulton, a brother inventor, +declared that the troubles he had to contend with were the result of a +lack of desire on the part of mankind to see justice done. The truth is, +his invention was of such prime importance that the public fought for +its possession, and justice and honesty were for the moment lost sight +of. At one time but a few men in Georgia were bold enough to go into +court and testify to the simplest facts within their knowledge; +and Whitney himself says, that in one instance he had the greatest +difficulty in proving that the machine had been used in Georgia, +although at that very moment three, separate gins were at work within +fifty yards of the building in which the court sat. They were all so +near, that the rattle and hum of the machinery could be heard from the +court-house steps. + +In December, 1807, a judge was found to affirm the rights of Whitney +under his patent. The judge's name was Johnson; and in his decision he +said, "The whole interior of the Southern States was languishing, and +its inhabitants emigrating for want of some object to engage their +attention and employ their industry, when the invention of this machine +at once opened views to them which set the whole country in active +motion. From childhood to age it has presented to us a lucrative +employment. Individuals who were depressed with poverty, and sunk in +idleness, have suddenly risen to wealth and respectability. Our debts +have been paid off. Our capital has increased, and our lands have +trebled themselves in value. We cannot express the weight of the +obligation which the country owes to this invention. The extent of it +cannot now be seen." + +The language of the learned judge was high-flown; but he was a just +judge, and he had a faint and glimmering idea of the real importance of +this remarkable invention. It was a very simple affair. The principle +came to Whitney in a flash, and he had a model constructed within ten +days after the despairing planters had gone to him with their problem. +But it may be doubted whether any other individual, by one simple +invention, ever did so much for the progress and enrichment of human +interests, and for the welfare and the comfort of the human race. This +little machine made the agriculture of the South the strongest and the +richest in the world, and gave to this section a political power that +was for years supreme in the nation, and was only surrendered as the +result of a long and exhausting war. By means of the cotton gin, towns +and cities have sprung up, and a vast network of railways has been +built; and yet the most that Whitney received was a royalty on his gin +in North Carolina, and a donation of fifty thousand dollars from the +State of South Carolina. In Georgia his right to his invention was +stolen, and all that he got out of it was a number of costly lawsuits. + +After struggling for five years against the overwhelming odds that +avarice and greed had mustered to aid them, Whitney turned his attention +in another direction, and made a still more remarkable display of his +genius. This part of his career does not belong directly to the history +of Georgia, but it is interesting enough to be briefly recorded here. +The United States Government was in want of arms, and this want various +contractors had failed to meet. Through the influence of the secretary +of the treasury, Whitney was given a contract to make ten thousand +muskets at $13.40 apiece. He had no capital, no works, no machinery, no +tools, no skilled workmen, no raw material. In creating a part of these +and commanding the rest, he called into play an inventive genius, the +extent of which must always excite wonder and admiration. + +Within ten years he created his own works, and invented and made his own +tools, invented and made his own machinery. More than this, he invented +and applied a wholly new principle of manufacture,--a principle that +has done more to advance human industry and increase wealth all over the +world than any other known effort of the human mind to solve material +problems. He invented and developed the principle or system of making +the various parts of a musket or any other complex manufactured +article, such as the sewing machine, so absolutely uniform as to be +interchangeable. This principle has been carried out in hundreds of +thousands of different ways. It has entered into and become a feature of +a vast range of manufactures. The principle was established by a series +of inventions as wonderful as any that the human mind ever conceived, +so that Whitney has been aptly called the Shakespeare of invention. His +inventions remain practically unchanged. After ninety years of trial, +they are found to be practically perfect. + +It was his peculiar gift to be able to convey into inanimate machinery +the skill that a human being could acquire only after years of study and +practice. + +It is almost like belittling the greatest of marvels to call it a +stroke of genius. He made it possible for the most ordinary laborer +to accomplish a hundred times as much in an hour, and with the most +exquisite perfection, as a skilled laborer could accomplish in a day. + +On these wonderful inventions Whitney took out no patents. He gave them +all to the public. In this way he revenged himself on those who had +successfully robbed him of the fruits of his labor and genius in the +invention of the cotton gin. Perhaps if he had been more justly treated +in Georgia, he might have set up his works in this State, and this fact +might have made the South the seat of great manufacturing industries. +Who knows? + + + + +SOME GEORGIA INVENTIONS. + +The credit of inventing the steamboat is by general consent given to +Robert Fulton. Every schoolboy is taught that such is the case, and yet +the fact is at least very doubtful. There is preserved among the papers +in the Archives of Georgia a document that indicates, that, while Robert +Fulton has won the credit for an invention that has revolutionized +the commerce of the world, the real inventor may have been William +Longstreet of Augusta, an uncle of General James B. Longstreet, and the +father of Judge A. B. Longstreet, author of "Georgia Scenes." On the +26th of September, 1790, William Longstreet sent the following letter to +Edward Telfair, who was then governor of Georgia:-- + + Sir,--I make no doubt but you have heard of my steamboat + and as often heard it laughed at. But in this I have only + shared the fate of all other projectors, for it has + uniformly been the custom of every country to ridicule even + the greatest inventions until use has proved their utility. + + My not reducing my scheme to practice has been a little + unfortunate for me, I confess, and perhaps for the people in + general, but until very lately I did not think that either + artists or material could be had in the place sufficient. + However, necessity, that grand science of invention, has + furnished me with an idea of perfecting my plans almost + entirely with wooden materials, and by such workmen as may + be got here, and from a thorough confidence of its success, + I have presumed to ask your assistance and patronage. + + Should it succeed agreeable to my expectations, I hope I + shall discover that source of duty which such favors always + merit, and should it not succeed, your reward must lay with + other unlucky adventurers. + + For me to mention to you all the advantages arising from + such a machine would be tedious, and, indeed, quite + unnecessary, Therefore I have taken the liberty to state in + this plain and humble manner my wish and opinion, which I + hope you will excuse, and I will remain, either with or + without approbation, + + Your Excellency's most obedient and very humble servant, + + William Longstreet. + +There are two features of this letter that ought to attract attention. +One is that William Longstreet has the name of "steamboat" as pat as if +the machine were in common use. The second is his allusion to the fact +that his conception of a boat to be propelled by steam was so well known +as to be noised abroad. + +Credit is sometimes given to John Fitch, who, it is said, invented a +boat propelled by steam, that carried passengers on the Delaware River +in 1787. An Englishman named Symington is said to have run a steamboat +in 1801, while Robert Fulton's success was delayed until 1806. All these +men have received credit for their efforts to benefit humanity, but +history is silent in regard to William Longstreet. In one book about +Georgia the remark is made that "James Longstreet is said to have +invented the steamboat in 1793," but in this instance neither the name +nor the date is correct. + +In old St. Paul's churchyard in Augusta there is a tombstone which +bears the inscription, "Sacred to the memory of William Longstreet, who +departed this life September 1, 1814, aged 54 years, 10 months, and +26 days." Below this runs the pleasant legend, "All the days of the +afflicted are evil, but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual +feast." We are thus left to infer that William Longstreet was a man of a +merry heart; and that fact is certified to by the cleverness with which +his son, the author of "Georgia Scenes," has preserved for us some of +the quaint characters that lived and moved and had their being on the +borders of Georgia society directly after the Revolution. + +[Illustration: William Longstreet and his Steamboat 172] + +Being an inventor, a man of ingenious ideas, and somewhat ambitious of +serving the public in that way, William Long-street certainly had need +of a merry heart; for, as he himself says, the way of the projector +is hard. The term itself is used in Georgia to this day to express a +certain sort of good-natured contempt. Go into the country places and +ask after some acquaintance who has not prospered in a worldly way, and +the answer will be, "Oh, he's just a prodjikin around." + +It is certain that William Longstreet knew that steam could be used as +a motive power long before it was so applied; and because he employed +a good deal of his time in trying to discover the principle, he was +ridiculed by his neighbors and friends, and the more thoughtless among +them didn't know whether he was a crank, a half-wit, or a "luny." From +all accounts, he was a modest, shy, retiring man, though a merry one. He +had but little money to devote to the experiments he wished to make, and +in this was not different from the great majority of inventors. + +For a long time Longstreet's zeal and enthusiasm attracted the attention +of a few of his wealthy friends, and these furnished him such money as +he wanted; but no very long time was needed to convince those who +were spending their money that the idea of propelling a boat by steam, +instead of by sails or oars, was ridiculous. Longstreet made many +experiments, but he had not hit upon the method of applying the +principle he had in mind: consequently his rich friends closed their +purses, and left him entirely to his own resources. A newspaper +publication, in giving some of the facts in regard to Longstreet's +efforts, says that he and his steamboat were made the subject of a comic +song:-- + + "Can you row the boat ashore, + Billy boy, Billy boy? + Can you row the boat ashore, + Gentle Billy? + + Can you row the boat ashore + Without a paddle or an oar, + Billy boy?" + +Though he had failed many times, Longstreet was not disheartened. He +continued his experiments, and at last succeeded in making a toy boat, +which he exhibited to a few friends. His idea at this time, it seems, +was not to construct a steamboat, but merely to convince some of his +friends that steam could be used as a motive power. But in this he was +not very successful. His toy boat did all that he wanted it to do; but +his friends declared, that while steam might be used to move a small +boat, it could never be used to move a large one. The experience of a +new generation showed that there was one wise man in Augusta and a great +many fools. Nevertheless William Longstreet determined to show that +a large boat could be moved by a large amount of steam as easily as a +small boat could be moved by a small volume. + +Now, while he was making his experiments; and trying to overcome the +difficulties that presented themselves, Robert Fulton was living in +Paris with Joel Barlow. He was in Paris when Napoleon became first +consul. At that time he was experimenting with his diving boat and +submarine torpedo. Napoleon was so much interested in this work that +he gave Fulton ten thousand francs to carry it on. The inventor was +in France in 1803 when Napoleon organized his army for the invasion of +England. He was surrounded by influential friends, and he had money at +his command. + +Compared with William Longstreet, Robert Fulton was "in clover." +Longstreet was compelled to work without money, and in the midst of a +community whose curiosity had developed into criticism and ridicule. +Thus it was not until 1806 that he succeeded in completing a steamboat +that would accommodate twenty or twenty-five persons. He went on board, +accompanied by such of his friends as he could persuade, and in the +presence of a curious and doubting crowd the first real steamboat was +launched on the Savannah River. Some of the friends of those on board, +feeling anxious for their safety if the "contraption" should explode, +secured a skiff, and followed the steamboat at a safe distance, ready +to pick up such of the passengers as might survive when the affair had +blown to pieces. Longstreet headed the boat down the river, and went in +that direction for several miles. Then he turned the head of the little +boat upstream; and, although the current was swift, he carried his +passengers back to the wharf, and several miles above. + +From that hour William Longstreet became a man of some consequence in +the community. Those who had ridiculed him now sang his praises, and +those who had doubted that steam could be used as a motive power were +now convinced. His friends tried hard to get him to go to Washington and +secure the benefits of a patent for his invention; but he persistently +refused to take any steps to profit by the results of his genius, or +indeed to make his invention known. His constant reply to all those who +tried to persuade him to go to Washington was, that he had carried +on his experiments simply to prove the truth of his theory to his own +satisfaction, and to convince those whose respect he coveted that he was +neither a fool nor a crank. + +Some of his friends and admirers were themselves preparing to go to +Washington in behalf of the inventor, but they had put off their journey +until the year after the exhibition was made in Augusta, and at +that time they heard that Robert Fulton had exhibited his steamboat +"Clermont" on the Hudson River. They then gave up their design, and +William Longstreet continued to remain in the seclusion that was so +pleasant to him. + +It is a noteworthy fact, that twelve years after William Longstreet made +his successful experiments on the Savannah River, Georgia enterprise +built, launched, and managed the first steamship that ever crossed the +ocean. This great enterprise was organized in Savannah in 1818. The +Georgia Company contracted to have the ship built in New York; and when +completed, it was named the "Savannah." The vessel was finished and +brought to Savannah in April, 1819. In May the steamship left Savannah +bound for Liverpool. From Liverpool it went to St. Petersburg, and then +returned to Savannah, having made the voyage in fifty days. + +The first sewing machine was invented by Rev. Frank R. Goulding, a +Georgian who has won fame among the children of the land as the author +of "The Young Marooners." He invented the sewing machine for the purpose +of lightening the labors of his wife; and she used it for some years +before some other genius invented it, or some traveler stole the idea +and improved on it. + +Dr. Crawford W. Long, in 1842, when twenty-seven years of age, performed +the first painless surgical operation that is known to history. In 1839, +Velpeau of Paris declared that the attempts to find some agent by which +to prevent pain in surgical operations was nothing less than chimerical; +and as late as 1846 Sir Benjamin Brodie said, "Physicians and surgeons +have been looking in vain, from the days of Hippocrates down to the +present time, for the means of allaying or preventing bodily pain." And +yet three years after the declaration of Velpeau, and four years before +the statement of Sir Benjamin Brodie, the young Georgia physician had +removed a tumor from the neck of a patient, and that patient had felt no +pain. + +The story is very interesting. Dr. Crawford W. Long was born in +Danielsville, Madison County, Ga., on the 1st of November, 1815. He +graduated at the University of Georgia, studied medicine, and graduated +at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. He then +went to Jefferson, Jackson County, where he opened an office, and +practiced medicine for many years. + +[Illustration: Laughing Gas 177] + +In those days the young men living in the country districts, for want +of something better to amuse them, were in the habit of inhaling +nitrous-oxide gas, or, as it was then popularly known, "laughing gas." +The young people would gather together, and some of them would inhale +the gas until they came under its influence. The result was in most +cases very amusing. Some would laugh, some would cry, and all in +various ways would carry out the peculiarities of their characters and +dispositions. Thus, if a young man had an inward inclination to preach, +he would, under the influence of "laughing gas," proceed to deliver a +sermon. As these "laughing-gas" parties were exhilarating to the young +people who inhaled the gas, and amusing to those who were spectators, +they became very popular. + +But it was not always easy to secure the gas. On one occasion a company +of young men went to Dr. Long's office and asked him to make them a +supply of "laughing gas." There was no apparatus in the office suitable +for making it, but Dr. Long told the young men that the inhalation of +sulphuric ether would have the same effect. He had become acquainted +with this property of ether while studying medicine in Philadelphia. +The young men and their friends were so well pleased with the effects +of ether inhalation, that "ether parties" became fashionable in that +section, as well as in other parts of the State. At these ether parties, +Dr. Long noticed that persons who received injuries while under its +influence felt no pain. On one occasion a young man received an injury +to his ankle joint that disabled him for several days, and he told Dr. +Long that he did not feel the slightest pain until the effects of the +ether had passed off. Observing these facts, Dr. Long was led to believe +that surgical operations might be performed without pain. + +Dr. Long's theory was formed in 1841, but he waited for some time before +testing it, in the hope that a case of surgery of some importance--the +amputation of an arm or a leg--might fall in his practice. On the 30th +of March, 1842, Dr. Long removed a tumor from the neck of Mr. James +M. Venable. On the 6th of June, the same year, another small tumor was +removed from the neck of the same patient, and both operations were +painless. Mr. Venable inhaled sulphuric ether, and the effect of it was +to render him insensible to the pain of cutting out the tumors. + +Dr. Long had told Mr. Venable that he would charge little or nothing for +removing the tumors under the influence of ether. The bill rendered +for both operations amounted to $4.50; but, small as the bill was, +it represented the discovery and application of ether in surgical +practice,--one of the greatest boons to mankind. Up to that time no +patient under the surgeon's knife had ever been able to escape the +horror and pain of an operation. + +Dr. Long did not at once print the facts about his discovery. He wanted +to make assurance doubly sure. He waited in the hope of having an +important case of surgery under his charge, such as the amputation of +a leg or an arm. But these cases, rare at any time, were still rarer at +that time, especially in the region where Dr. Long practiced. He finally +satisfied himself, however, of the importance of his discovery, but, +having waited until 1846, found that at least three persons--Wells, +Jackson, and Morton--had hit on the same discovery, and had made +publication of it. Morton patented ether under the name of "Letheon," +and in October, 1846, administered it to a patient in the Massachusetts +General Hospital. + +In 1844, Horace Wells, a native of Vermont, discovered that the +inhalation of nitrous-oxide gas produces anaesthesia. He was a dentist. +He gave it to his patients, and was able to perform dental operations +without causing pain. Thus we may see how the case stands. Long produced +anaesthesia in 1842; that is to say, he caused his patients to inhale +sulphuric ether in that year, whenever he had a painful operation to +perform, and in each case the operation was painless. + +In 1846, when the surgeons of the Massachusetts General Hospital +performed painless operations on patients, after administering to them +Morton's patented "Letheon," which was his name for sulphuric ether, +there came about a great war of pamphlets, and it ended tragically. +Long had never made any secret of the substance which he used. He gave +information of it to all the surgeons and doctors with whom he came in +contact; and he was not in any way concerned in the conflict that was +carried on by Jackson, Morton, and Wells. He simply gathered together +the facts of his discovery, proved that he was the first physician to +perform painless operations in surgery, and that was the end of it so +far as he was concerned. + +Wells became insane, and committed suicide in New York in 1848. Morton +died in New York City of congestion of the brain. Jackson ended his days +in an insane asylum. + +In Boston a monument has been erected to the discoverer of anaesthesia. +The name of Crawford W. Long should stand first upon it, and should be +followed by the names of Wells, Morton, and Jackson. + +[Illustration: Early Progress of the State 181] + + + + +THE EARLY PROGRESS OF THE STATE. + +After the invention of the cotton gin, the progress of the people +and the development of the agriculture of the State went forward very +rapidly. The population began to increase. The movement of families from +Virginia and North Carolina grew constantly larger. In Virginia, and +in settled portions of North Carolina, it was found that the soil +and climate were not favorable to the growth of the cotton plant: +consequently hundreds of families left their homes in these States, and +came to Georgia. + +When Oglethorpe settled the Colony, the charter under which he acted +prohibited the introduction and use of negro slaves in the Colony. It +is hard to say at this late day whether this portion of the charter was +dictated by feelings of humanity, especially when we remember that +in those days, and in most of the Colonies, there were many white +people--men, women, and children--employed and used as slaves. From +the very first, many of the Georgia colonists were anxious to introduce +negro slaves, but the trustees firmly refused to allow it. There was a +strong party in favor of introducing negroes, and those who opposed +the movement presently found themselves in a very small and unpopular +minority. By 1748 the excitement over the question had grown so great, +that those colonists who were opposed to negro slavery were compelled to +abandon their position. Rev. Mr. Whitefield, the eloquent preacher, had +already bought and placed negro slaves at his Orphan House at Bethesda, +near Savannah. The colonists had also treated this part of the charter +with contempt. They pretended to hire negroes' homes in South Carolina +for a hundred years, or during life. They paid the "hire" in advance, +the sum being the full value of the slaves. Finally negroes were +bought openly from traders in Savannah. Some of them were seized; but +a majority of the magistrates were in favor of the introduction of +negroes, and they were able to postpone legal decisions from time to +time. + +Rev. George Whitefield, whose wonderful eloquence has made his name +famous, and Hon. James Habersham, had great influence with the trustees; +and it was mainly due to their efforts that the colonists were legally +allowed to purchase and use negro slaves. Mr. Habersham affirmed that +the Colony could not prosper without slave labor. Rev. Mr. Whitefield, +on the other hand, was in favor of negro slavery on the broad ground of +philanthropy. He boldly declared that it would be of great advantage +to the African to be brought from his barbarous surroundings and placed +among civilized Christians. When we remember what has happened, who +can deny that the remark of the eloquent preacher was not more to the +purpose, and nearer to the truth, than some of the modern statements +about American slavery? What really happened (as any one may discover by +looking into impartial history) was, that thousands of negroes who had +been captured in battle, and made slaves of in their own country, +were taken from that dark land and brought into the light of Christian +civilization. Their condition, mentally and morally, was so improved, +that, in little more than a century after White-field made his +statement, the government of the United States ventured to make citizens +of them. The contrast between their condition and that of the negroes +who remained in Africa is so startling, that a well-known abolitionist, +writing twenty years after emancipation, has described slavery as a +great university, which the negroes entered as barbarians, and came out +of as Christians and citizens. + +The efforts of the Colony to secure a repeal of the act prohibiting +slavery were successful. The trustees in London concluded that it would +be better to permit slavery, with such restrictions and limitations as +might be proper, than to permit the wholesale violations that were then +going on; and so in 1749 the colonists of Georgia were allowed by law to +own and use negro slaves. + +Thus, when the cotton gin came fairly into use, slavery had been legally +allowed in Georgia for nearly half a century. The rest of the Colonies +had long enjoyed that privilege. The cotton gin, therefore, had a +twofold effect,--it increased the cotton crop and the value of the +lands, and it also increased the use of negro slaves. The Virginians and +North Carolinians, who came to Georgia, brought their slaves with them; +and the Georgians, as their crops became profitable, laid out their +surplus cash in buying more negroes. The slave trade became very +prosperous, and both Old England and New England devoted a large amount +of capital and enterprise to this branch of commerce. + +As the population increased, and the cotton crop became more valuable, +the demand for land became keener. To this fact was due the intense +excitement kindled by the Yazoo Fraud in 1794. The cotton gin had been +introduced the year before, and the people were beginning to see and +appreciate the influence the invention would have on their prosperity. +Instead of selling land to speculators, they wanted to keep it for +themselves and children, or at least to get something like its real +value. + +The cotton gin had increased not only the demand for negro slaves, but +also the demand for land; and indirectly it was the cause of the various +troubles the State had with the Indians after the close of the War for +Independence. The troubles with the Indians also led finally to serious +misunderstandings between the United States Government and that of +Georgia. In May, 1796, a treaty was made between the United States and +the Creeks. This treaty created some indignation among the people, and +was denounced as an interference by the General Government with State +affairs. The lands which the Indians ceded to the United States were a +part of the Territory of Georgia, and the transaction gave rise to much +discussion and considerable bad feeling. + +In ten years, from 1790 to 1800, the population in Georgia had increased +more than eighty thousand. During the next ten years the increase in the +population was more than ninety thousand. This increase meant a still +greater demand for farm lands. Westward the Territory of Georgia +extended to the Mississippi River. The agitation which began over this +rich possession when the Yazoo Fraud was attempted, was kept up until +1800, when Georgia appointed four of her most prominent citizens to +meet with commissioners appointed by the United States; and settle all +questions that had arisen. The result was, that Georgia ceded to the +General Government all her lands belonging to the State, south of +Tennessee and west of the Chattahoochee River. These lands were to be +sold, and out of the proceeds the State was to receive $1,250,-000. It +was also provided that the United States, at its own expense, should +extinguish the Indian titles to the lands held by the Creeks between +the forks of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers, and that in like manner the +General Government should extinguish the Indian title to all the other +lands within the State of Georgia. Under this agreement, and the Indian +treaty based upon it, nearly all of the lands lying between the Oconee +and Ocmulgee rivers were opened up for occupation and cultivation. + +All the Territory of Georgia was looked upon by the people as a public +domain, belonging to the State for distribution among the citizens. The +lands east of the Oconee were divided among the people under the plan +known as the "Head Right System." By this system every citizen was +allowed to choose, and survey to suit himself, a body of unoccupied +land. This done, he received a title called a "head right land warrant," +which was issued to him when he paid a small fee and a nominal price +for the land. If no one had previously appropriated the same land, the +warrant was his title. But much confusion arose in the distribution of +titles, and serious disputes grew out of it. The poorer sections of land +were neglected, and only the most fertile sections surveyed. + +When the lands west of the Oconee were acquired, the clumsy Head Right +System was given up for what is known as the "Land Lottery System." "All +free white males, twenty-one years of age or older, every married man +with children under age, widows with children, and all families of +orphan minors," were allowed to draw in the lottery. Lists of these +persons were made out in each count, and sent to the governor. The +lottery was drawn under the management of five responsible persons. The +tickets to be drawn were marked with the numbers of the land lots, and +these were put into boxes with numerous blanks. Those who were fortunate +enough to draw numbered tickets were entitled to plats and grants of +their lots, signed by the governor. + +The lots were not all of the same size. Some contained 202 1/2 acres, +others 490 acres. Twelve months after the drawing was completed, the +fortunate person was required to pay into the State treasury four +dollars for every hundred acres contained in his lot. + +Many of those who had the good fortune to draw prizes in the +land-lottery scheme paid the necessary amount of money, and received +titles to their land lots; but many others neglected to pay in the +money, and thus forfeited their titles. + +It has been said that the land hunger of the people at this time was +both selfish and sordid; but if we come to look at the matter closely, +selfishness is behind much of the material progress that the world has +made. The selfishness of individuals is not more conspicuous than the +selfishness of communities, commonwealths, and nations. In history we +find the rumseller, the land grabber, and the speculator following +hard upon the heels of the missionary. The selfishness of nations is +frequently given the name of "patriotism," and rightly so, since it is a +movement for the good of all. + +When Georgia had fairly begun to recover from the disastrous results of +the War for Independence, the troubles that resulted in the War of 1812 +began to make themselves felt. France and England were at war; and the +United States Government tried to remain neutral, giving aid to neither +the one nor the other. But this was not pleasing to either of these +great powers. Both were interested in the trade and commerce of this +country, and both issued orders affecting American affairs. The United +States resented the interference, and protested against it Great +Britain, with an arrogance made bitter by the remembrance of her +humiliating defeat at the hands of a few feeble Colonies, replied to the +American protest, declaring that American ships would still be searched, +and American sailors impressed into the service of the British, wherever +found on the high seas. In 1807 a British man-of-war fired on an +American merchant vessel as it was leaving harbor. Three men were +killed, eighteen wounded, and four sailors seized. This outrage inflamed +the whole country, and in December of that year Congress passed a law +preventing American vessels from leaving their ports to trade with +foreign nations. This law was deeply resented by the New England States, +and they held at Hartford, Conn., the first secession convention that +ever met in this country. + +[Illustration: British Impressement of Americans 188] + +Georgia was foremost among the States to denounce and resist the +aggressive acts of Great Britain. In 1808 the Legislature sent an +address to the President of the United States, approving the measures he +had taken, and declared that the people of Georgia were strong in their +independence, and proud of their government, and that they would never +wish to see the lives and property of their brethren exposed to the +insult and rapacity of a foreign power; but if the war should come, they +would, in proportion to their number and resources, give zealous aid to +the government of their choice. + +The British, meanwhile, made arrangements to force a cotton trade with +Georgia and South Carolina, and for the purpose fitted out a number +of vessels of from ten to fifteen guns each. These vessels were to +be employed in opening the ports of Georgia and Carolina. A war brig +anchored at Tybee, and two of its officers went to Savannah. When they +had made known their purpose, they were peremptorily ordered away. They +returned to their vessel and put to sea; but as they were leaving, they +fired at a pilot boat in the harbor, and committed other outrages. + +This incident and others aroused the indignation of the people. The +Legislature passed resolutions, addressed to the President of the +United States, declaring that all hope of a peaceful termination of +the difficulty had been lost, that the duty of the United States was to +maintain its sovereign rights against the despots of Europe, and that +the citizens of Georgia would ever be found in readiness to assert the +rights and support the dignity of the country whenever called on by the +General Government. By the time the treaty of peace was made, the day +before Christmas in 1814, the war spirit in Georgia had been roused +to the highest pitch by the numerous outrages committed by the Indian +allies of the British. + +But the story of the Indian troubles belongs to a chapter by itself. + + + + + +THE CREEKS AND THE CREEK WAR + +[Illustration: The Creek War 191] + +If all the stories of the troubles of the early settlers of Georgia with +the Indians could be written out, they would fill a very large book. All +the whites with whom the red men came in contact in Georgia were not as +just, as generous, and as unselfish as James Edward Oglethorpe. On the +other hand, not all the Indians with whom the whites had dealings were +as wise and as honest as old Tomochichi. Consequently misunderstandings +arose, and prejudices grew and developed. This was greatly helped by +dishonest traders and speculators, who were keen to take advantage of +the ignorance of the Indians. + +The controlling influence among the Indians in Georgia was the Creek +Confederacy (or nation); and this, in turn, was practically controlled +by the Muscogees. + +North of the Creeks, Broad River being the dividing line, lived the +Cherokees, a nation even more warlike than the Creeks. The impression +made upon the Indians by Oglethorpe and some of his more prudent +successors, made them the strong friends of the British. Of course, the +red men were unable to appreciate the merits of the quarrel between +the Georgia settlers and King George: but, even if matters had been +different, they would probably have remained on friendly terms with the +Royalists; for Governor Wright, who was a wise as well as a good man, +took great pains, when the Liberty Boys began their agitations against +the Crown, to conciliate the Indians, and to show them that the King was +their friend. What was known as "the royal presents" were promptly +sent from England, and promptly delivered to and distributed among the +Indians. The governor sent for the chiefs, and had conferences with +them; so that when the Revolution began, the Upper and the Lower Creeks, +and the Cherokees as well, were the firm friends of the British. +During the Revolution, as we have already seen, they made constant and +unprovoked attacks on the patriots, burning their houses, carrying off +their cattle, and murdering their helpless women and children. These +raids were continued even after the Americans had compelled Great +Britain to recognize their independence, and hundreds of incidents +might be given to show the ferocity with which the savages attacked the +whites. In many cases the settlements were compelled to build stockades, +in which the people took shelter, for safety as well as defense, +whenever there was an alarm. + +On one occasion shortly after the close of the war, the Indians attacked +the family of a man named William Tyner, who was living in what is known +as Elbert County. Tyner himself was absent, and his family was entirely +without protection. Mrs. Tyner was killed, the brains of her youngest +child were dashed out against a tree, and another child was scalped and +left for dead. A young boy named Noah, the son of Mr. Tyner, escaped in +the general confusion, and hid himself in a hollow tree. This tree was +for many years known as "Noah's Ark." Mary and Tamar, two daughters, +were suffered to live; but the Indians carried them off to the Coweta +towns on the Chattahoochee. These children remained with the Indians +several years. John Manack, an Indian trader, saw them there, and +purchased Mary. He then brought her to Elbert County, and afterwards +made her his wife. He returned to the Indian nation shortly afterwards, +and tried to purchase Tamar; but, as she was useful to the Indians in +bringing wood and fuel for their fires, they refused to sell her. When +Manack went away, an old Indian woman, who was fond of Tamar, learned +that the Indians, suspecting the girl was preparing to escape, had +decided to burn her at the stake. The old woman helped her to escape +by providing her with provisions and a canoe. She also gave Tamar +directions how to go down the Chattahoochee. By day the fleeing girl hid +herself in the thick swamps along the banks of the river, and by +night she floated down the river in her canoe. She finally reached +Apalachicola Bay, took passage on a vessel, and shortly afterwards +arrived at Savannah. Here she was assisted to her home in Elbert County +by the citizens. She married a man named Hunt, and no doubt many of her +descendants are still living in Georgia. + +There was once an Indian village in Troup County, on the west bank of +the Chattahoochee, where the Indians who lived on the Alabama side of +the river were in the habit of meeting before and after their raids upon +the white settlements. Before the raids they would meet there to arrange +their programme; and afterwards they would assemble at the village to +count the scalps they had taken, dispose of their prisoners, and divide +the spoils. On one occasion, after a very destructive raid into the +white settlements, the Indians returned to this village, and began to +celebrate the success with which they had been able to creep upon the +settlements at dead of night, murder the unsuspecting whites, burn their +dwellings, and drive off their horses and cattle. This time, however, +the Indians had been followed by a few hundred men, under the leadership +of General David Adams, who was at that time a major in the militia, +and a scout. Major Adams had taken part in the closing scenes of +the Revolution when quite a young man. When the Creeks renewed their +depredations after the war, Major Adams, both as a scout and as a +leader, fought the Indians with such success as to win distinction. + +He followed the Indians on this occasion with a few hundred men, who had +volunteered to accompany him. His pursuit was not active. The men under +him were not seasoned soldiers; and even if they had been, the force +of Indians was too large to justify an attack. Major Adams followed the +Indians in the hope that he and his men would find an opportunity to +surprise them. The Indians marched straight for the village on the west +bank of the Chattahoochee, about eight miles beyond the point where La +Grange now stands. At this village, which was the central point of the +Lower Creek nation at that time, there were many Indians--men, women, +and children--awaiting the return of the raiders. It was in the late +afternoon when they reached the village, and as the sun went down they +began the celebration of their victories; and in this they were joined +by the Indians, who had been waiting for their return. + +Major Adams had halted his command a few miles from the river, where he +waited until night fell. He then advanced silently to the banks of the +stream, which was not so wide that he and his men could not see the +Indians dancing around their fires, and hear their whoops and yells. On +one bank stood the men whose families and friends had been murdered; on +the opposite shore, and almost within a stone's throw, the red murderers +danced and howled in savage delight. + +For half the night, at least, the orgies were kept up by the Indians; +but at last they grew weary of the song and dance. Their fires slowly +died out, and there came a moment when the whites, who were watching and +waiting, could hear nothing but the murmur of the flowing water, as it +rippled over the shoals or lapped the bank. The time had come to strike +a blow, if a blow was to be struck. It was characteristic of Major +Adams, that, instead of sending one of his little party to find out the +position of the village and its surroundings, so as to be able to make a +swift, sudden, and an effective attack, he himself proposed to go. + +[Illustration: Major Adams scouting and Indian camp 197] + +It was a hazardous undertaking, and required a bold heart to undertake +it. Major Adams knew there was a ford near the point where his men lay. +The trail led into the river; but, once in the river, it was lost. He +had to find the ford for himself, and it proved to be a very narrow and +difficult one. It led in a direct line across the river nearly halfway, +and then turned down the stream in an oblique direction. A part of the +ford was over a slippery shoal. At some points the water was knee-deep, +at others it was chin-deep. + +With great difficulty Major Adams reached the opposite bank in safety. +The paths leading from the ford into the swamp that lay between the +Indian village and the river were so numerous that the stout-hearted +scout hardly knew which one to take. He chose one almost at random, and, +after following it through the thick underbrush, he found that it had +led him some distance below the village. He followed the margin of +the swamp back again, and soon found himself in the outskirts of the +village. There he paused to listen. A dog somewhere in the settlement +barked uneasily and sleepily. + +Pushing forward, but moving with the utmost caution, Major Adams soon +found himself in the center of the village. In every hut the Indians +were sleeping; and, in addition to these, the ground seemed to be +covered with warriors, who lay stretched out and snoring, their rifles +and tomahawks within easy reach. The brave Georgian went through the +village from one end to the other. Once a huge Indian, near whom he +was passing, raised himself on his elbow, grasped his gun, and looked +carefully in every direction. Having satisfied himself, he lay down, +and was soon snoring again. Fortunately, Major Adams had seen the Indian +stir, and sank to the ground near a group of sleeping warriors, where he +remained until he was sure the savage was asleep. + +He had examined every point of attack and defense in the village, and +was returning to the river, when he saw a pony tethered to a sapling. +Thinking that the little animal would be able to find the ford without +trouble, and could thus be used as a safe guide, Major Adams resolved +to capture it. He approached the pony with that intention, but not until +too late did he discover that it had a bell hung on its neck. The pony, +frightened at the sight of a white man, broke the rope by which he was +tied, and went scampering through the village, arousing and alarming +warriors, squaws, children, and dogs with the jingling bell. + +At the sound of the bell, Major Adams knew that there would be a +tremendous uproar in the village, and he made an instant rush toward +the river, but soon found himself entangled in the briers and thick +underbrush of the swamp. It was fortunate that he missed the path +leading to the ford; for a party of Indians ran in that direction, +either to catch the pony, or to find out whether they were about to be +attacked. Some of them passed within a few feet of the spot where Major +Adams stood. + +In a short time the Indians returned to the village, and it was not long +before everything was as quiet and as peaceful as before the uproar. +Major Adams, instead of hunting for the path, made his way directly +to the river, slipped into the water, and swam straight across to the +opposite bank. He soon found his men, and told them of his adventure +and of the plans he had matured. Up to this moment he had been second in +command. A colonel of militia was with the party, and it was his right +to be the leader of the expedition; but now the men declared that they +would cross the river under the leadership of no one but Adams. It was +Adams or nobody; and the militia colonel, as gracefully as he could, +yielded to the demand. + +Major Adams led the volunteers safely across the treacherous ford and +into the Indian town. The surprise was complete. Scarcely a warrior +escaped. The women and children were spared as far as possible, but the +village was burned to the ground. In retreating from that point, which +was the center of the famous Muscogee nation, Major Adams made long +marches during the day, and camped without fires at night, and in this +way brought his command out of the Indian country without the loss of a +man. + +But Adams's excursion to the center of the Muscogee (or Creek) nation +did not settle matters. The troubles continued. The temper of the people +was not improved by the efforts of the United States Government to take +affairs into its own hands. In some instances the agents of the General +Government sought to stir up active strife between the people of the +State and the Indians, and it was their habit to belittle the State +government by speaking of it contemptuously before the Indians. In many +instances the United States stepped in between the agents of the State +and the Indians, and prevented settlements and treaties that would have +been of lasting benefit to both the whites and the Indians. This was not +due to any purpose or desire of the General Government to trample on the +rights of the State, but grew altogether out of the folly of the agents, +who wanted to put on airs and advertise their importance. + +In 1796 there was a treaty of peace arranged between the Creek nation +and the United States. Three commissioners represented the General +Government, and Georgia also had three present; but the business was +conducted without regard to the wishes of the Georgia commissioners, +and, as the commissioners thought, without regard to the interests of +the State. Seagrove was the name of the agent representing the General +Government at that time, and his attitude toward Georgia was not +calculated to give the Indians any respect for the commonwealth. After +the treaty was signed, General James Jackson, on the part of Georgia, +made an eloquent speech, in which he showed that the Creeks had not +faithfully observed the treaties they had made with the State. He +exhibited two schedules of property which they had stolen, amounting in +value to $110,000, and demanded its restoration. When General Jackson +had concluded, one of the prominent chiefs of the Creeks remarked that +he could fill more paper than Jackson showed with a list of outrages of +the Georgians upon his people. There was something more than a grain of +truth in this; but on that very account the Indians and the Georgians +should have been allowed to settle their difficulties in their own way, +without the interference of the United States. + +The result of the treaty at Coleraine, in 1796, was, that the Georgia +agents were offended with Seagrove (the Indian agent for the United +States), offended with the Indians, and displeased with the United +States commissioners. To these last the Georgians presented a protest +in which the Federal commissioners were accused of disregarding the +interests of Georgia. Charges were brought against Seagrove, who, it was +claimed, had influenced the Creeks not to cede the lands as far as the +Ocmulgee. A bitter controversy grew out of this. It was, in fact, very +nearly the beginning of the discussion that has continued from that day +to this, in some shape or other, over the rights of the States and the +power of the General Government. Pickett, in his "History of Alabama +and Georgia," says that General Jackson, and Seagrove the Indian agent, +became enemies, and afterwards fought a duel. + +Other treaties were made with the Creeks up to 1806, but all these were +violated when the Indians became the allies of the British during the +War of 1812. It is only fair to the Indians to say that the leader in +whom they placed the greatest confidence was a man who for many years +nourished hot resentment against the United States, and especially +against Georgia. This man was General Alexander McGillivray, who became +famous as an opponent of the Americans and the Georgians in all their +efforts to come to a just, fair, and peaceable understanding with the +Creeks. + +As has been stated, when the War of 1812 began, the Creeks became the +allies of the British, and the attacks they made on the unprotected +settlements were so numerous and so serious as to call for some action +on the part of the General Government. In September, 1813, Congress +called for a levy of Georgia troops, and, the State authorities ordered +3,600 men to assemble at Camp Hope, near Fort Hawkins, on the Ocmulgee +River. The ruins of Fort Hawkins may be seen to this day on the +Ocmulgee, in the city of Macon. + +The men who assembled at Camp Hope were volunteers, and all eager for +service. The command of this force fell to General John Floyd, who made +haste to take charge, and endeavored to make arrangements for taking the +field at once. He found his men assembled according to orders, and all +anxious to be led against the hostile Indians. But the little army could +not march. The Federal Government had failed to supply the necessary +funds. What is called "red tape" stood in the way of prompt action. A +dispute arose. Federal officials placed the blame on the contractors +who were to furnish supplies, and the contractors placed it on the +officials, who had failed to furnish the necessary money. While this +dispute was raging, General Floyd, who was a brave and gallant spirit, +applied to the State Legislature, then in session, for a loan of +$20,000. The request was granted, and he was able to equip his troops, +procure supplies, and march into the country of the Creeks, by the +middle or latter part of November. + +Meanwhile the hostile Creeks had already challenged Georgia and begun +their attack. On the 30th of August, seven hundred and twenty-five +Creek Indians attacked Fort Mims on the Chattahoochee. The attack was as +sudden as it was unexpected. It was made at twelve o'clock in the day, +and the inmates of the fort were taken entirely by surprise. The savages +massacred nearly three hundred men, women, and children in the most +cruel manner. This horrible outrage spread consternation on the +frontier, and aroused indignation in all parts of the country. Hundreds +of frontier settlers fled from their homes, and sought safety in the +more thickly settled regions. + +It was owing to this massacre that the troops commanded by General Floyd +were called out. This active and energetic leader began his campaign +by building a line of forts and blockhouses from the Ocmulgee to the +Alabama River, and in this way completely protected the northern part of +the State from invasion by the Creeks. General Floyd accomplished this +work in spite of the failure of the United States officials to supply +with provisions and transportation the troops they had called out. + +He completed his line of defense by building Fort Mitchell. Leaving a +sufficient garrison in this fort, General Floyd placed himself at the +head of nine hundred and fifty men, and marched on Autossee, one of the +most populous towns of the Creek nation, situated on the left bank of +the Tallapoosa River, and near the town of Tallassee, which was nearly +as large. The distance from Fort Mitchell to Autossee was sixty miles, +and General Floyd made it by forced night marches, resting his troops +during the day. He was accompanied on this expedition by General William +Mcintosh, the famous Indian chief, who led four hundred friendly Creeks. + +Arriving at Autossee and Tallassee at daybreak on the 29th of November, +1813, General Floyd arranged and ordered a simultaneous attack on both +towns. By nine o'clock the Indians had been defeated and driven from the +towns, and their houses burned. Four hundred houses were burned, with +all the provisions and stock. Two hundred Indians were killed, including +the kings of both towns. The pipe which the old chief of Tallassee had +smoked at a treaty forty years before, was taken and presented to the +governor, who placed it in the executive office of the State Capitol. +Eleven whites were killed, and fifty-four wounded; among them, General +Floyd himself, who had received a ball in the knee early in the fight. +He refused to have his wound dressed, and continued on horseback, +directing his troops, until after the battle was over. He never entirely +recovered from the effects of this wound. After the towns had been +entirely destroyed, the troops returned to Fort Mitchell, having marched +a hundred and twenty miles in bitter cold weather, and fought a severe +engagement on five days' provisions. + +In January, 1814, General Floyd heard that the Upper Creeks had +collected in great force at the Indian town of Hothlewaulee. By that +time his wound had so far healed that he was able to ride a horse, +and he determined to make an attack on the town. For this purpose he +detached from the troops at Fort Mitchell a force of fifteen hundred +men. The weather was cold, and the winter rains had so obstructed the +roads that the troops found the march a weary and a difficult one; but +they pressed on, nevertheless, cheered by the energy and enthusiasm of +their gallant leader. They marched to within fifteen or twenty miles of +the town, and there encamped. Between midnight and day a large body +of Indians, led by the warrior Weather-ford and Colonel Woodbine, an +English officer, attacked General Floyd's camp. His troops were taken by +surprise, but they were not demoralized. They had been fighting for six +months, and were seasoned to all the dangers of Indian warfare. Above +all, they had a leader who possessed in a wonderful degree a genius for +war. + +No sooner had the alarm been sounded than General Floyd rallied his +little army, formed it in a square, the baggage in the center, and held +the savages at bay until daylight. There was no faltering in any part +of the line or on any side of the square. The dauntless courage of Floyd +himself seemed to control every man, down to the humblest private. When +day dawned, a charge was sounded, and Floyd's troops drove the Indians +before them at the point of the bayonet. Within a quarter of an hour +after the charge was made, the battle was won. The loss of the Indians +was never discovered, as they had an opportunity to carry off their +killed and wounded up to the moment the charge was sounded. Seventeen +Georgians were killed, and a hundred and thirty-two wounded. Floyd's +camp was known as Camp Defiance, but in the official report the fight is +called the battle of Chalibbee. The attack was made on Floyd in order +to prevent a junction between his troops and those of General Andrew +Jackson, who was fighting the Indians in the lower part of Alabama. The +result of the fight made a junction unnecessary; and shortly afterwards +the term for which Floyd's Georgia troops had enlisted expired, and they +were discharged. + +In 1814, when peace was declared between the United States and Great +Britain, the Creeks remained quiet for some time. + + + + +TWO FAMOUS INDIAN CHIEFS. + +Among the Indian leaders who made Georgia the scene of their operations, +the most celebrated were General Alexander McGillivray and General +William Mcintosh. If these men had been born and brought up among the +whites, both of them would have won lasting renown. They possessed the +energy and the genius: all they lacked was the opportunity to direct +their gifts into channels that would have benefited humanity. + +Alexander McGillivray was one of the most remarkable men of his time, +whether we regard him as a leader of the Indians or simply as an +individual. His father, Lachlan McGillivray, being a lad of adventurous +turn, ran away from a home in Scotland where he enjoyed all the +advantages and comforts that wealth could give him, took passage on +a ship bound for South Carolina, and shortly afterwards landed at +Charleston. Wandering about in that city, and enjoying the sights that +were new to his experience, he soon found himself in the suburbs of the +city. There he found the headquarters of the Indian traders, who came to +Charleston with their pack horses to carry merchandise of all kinds to +the red men. One of these traders persuaded young McGillivray to go with +him. His Scotch eye and mind were quick to appreciate the possibilities +of this new business, and in a few years he became one of the most +enterprising and prosperous of the Indian traders. He pushed his trade +farther than any of his predecessors had ever dared to go. He went, +indeed, to the neighborhood of Fort Toulouse. A few miles above that +fort, where Wetumpka, Ala., now stands, he met Sehoy Marchand, a +beautiful girl of about sixteen years. This girl was the daughter of +Captain Marchand, who had commanded at Fort Toulouse, but who had been +killed by his own soldiers in August, 1722. The soldiers rose against +the officers of the garrison on account of the failure of France to +forward money and supplies to the troops in her American settlement. +The girl's mother was a Creek woman of the tribe of The Wind, the most +powerful and influential family in the Creek nation. The young Scotchman +fell in love with the dark-haired maiden, and she fell in love with the +blue-eyed Scotchman, with his fair skin and red hair. Lachlan +McGillivray built him a trading house on the Coosa, not far away, and +soon married Sehoy, and carried her home. He became very wealthy. He +owned two plantations on the Savannah River, which were well stocked +with negroes, and stores filled with merchandise in both Savannah and +Augusta. When Lachlan McGillivray's son Alexander reached the age of +fourteen, he was carried to Savannah and placed at school, and in a few +years was made a clerk in a counting-house at Savannah. + +But the humdrum business of buying, selling, and adding up long rows of +tiresome figures, did not please him, and so he neglected his duties to +read books, mainly histories. His father, taking the advice of friends, +placed young Alexander under the tutorship of a clergyman in Charleston, +where the lad learned Latin and Greek, and in that way became well +grounded in what our dear old grandfathers called polite literature. But +one day word came to the young man that the chiefs of the Creek nation, +who were getting into trouble with the people of Georgia, were waiting +for the moment when he, as a descendant of the tribe of The Wind, should +return and take charge of the affairs of the nation. So he departed +suddenly from Charleston, and turned his horse's head toward the +wilderness. + +[Illustration: McGillavray joins the Indians 208] + +On his way to the Creek nation, he fell in with Leclerc Mil-fort, an +adventurous Frenchman, who afterwards wrote a book of travels, and +was made a general of brigade by Napoleon. Milfort married one of +McGillivray's sisters, was made Tustenug-gee (or grand war chief), and +was the right-hand man of his powerful brother-in-law. The first that +was heard of McGillivray after he left Charleston, he was presiding at +a grand national council of the Creeks at the town of Coweta on the +Chattahoochee. When Alexander arrived among the Creeks, Colonel Tait of +the British army was stationed on the Coosa, and he used all his tact +and influence to prevail upon the young man to take the side of the +English in the war that was then going on between the Colonies and +the mother country. To this end Colonel Tait pursued McGillivray with +attentions, loaded him with favors, and finally caused him to be given +the rank and pay of a colonel in the army. The result was that the great +chief was throughout the war devoted to the cause of the British. +This would have been natural in any event, for his father was a stanch +Royalist. During the war, McGillivray frequently acted in concert with +the notorious Daniel McGirth, sometimes leading his Indians in person; +but his main dependence was on his brother-in-law Milfort, who was +possessed of the most daring spirit. McGillivray preferred to plan and +engage in intrigue, which gave the remarkable powers of his mind full +play. + +There is no doubt that the authorities of Georgia made a great mistake, +after the war, in neglecting to win the friendship of McGillivray. Such +a course would have prevented much suffering and bloodshed. The father +of the great chief, Lachlan McGillivray, was living in Savannah at the +close of the Revolution; and when the British were compelled to evacuate +the city, he scraped together an immense amount of money and other +valuables, and sailed for Scotland. He abandoned his plantations and +negroes, in the hope that his wife and three children might be permitted +to inherit them; but the Georgians confiscated the whole of the valuable +estate, and thus the Creek leader had another reason for entertaining a +bitter prejudice against the Whigs. + +The result was, that until the day of his death, which occurred in +1792, he succeeded in baffling all the efforts of the Federal and State +authorities to come to an understanding with the Creek nation. He was +perhaps the most accomplished diplomat in the country,--a veritable +Talleyrand, able to cope with the most distinguished statesmen among the +Americans. Such of his letters as have been preserved do not suffer by +comparison with the writings of even the greatest of the Americans. The +most of these depended on a stately and scholarly diction to attract +attention. McGillivray paid little regard to diction; but his letters +possess the distinction of style, and in this particular but one +American writer can be compared to him,--Benjamin Franklin. There is, +in fact, a modern touch and flavor about McGillivray's letters that +even the writings of Franklin do not possess. He wrote thus to +Andrew Pickens, who had addressed him on behalf of the United States +Government:-- + +"When we found that the American independence was confirmed by the +peace, we expected that the new government would soon have taken some +steps to make up the differences that subsisted between them and the +Indians during the war, to have taken them under their protection +and confirmed to them their hunting grounds. Such a course would have +reconciled the minds of the Indians, and secured the States their +friendship, as they considered your people their natural allies. The +Georgians, whose particular interest it was to conciliate the friendship +of this nation, have acted in all respects to the contrary. I am sorry +to observe that violence and prejudice have taken the place of good +policy and reason in all their proceedings with us. They attempted to +avail themselves of our supposed distressed situation. Their talks to us +breathed nothing but vengeance, and, being entirely possessed with the +idea that we were wholly at their mercy, they never once reflected that +colonies of a powerful monarch were nearly surrounding us, to whom, in +any extremity, we might apply for succor and protection, and who, to +answer some ends of their policy, might grant it to us. However, we yet +deferred any such proceeding, still expecting that we could bring them +to a true sense of their interest; but still finding no alteration +in their conduct towards us, we sought the protection of Spain, and +treaties of friendship and alliance were mutually entered into; they +guaranteeing our hunting grounds and territory, and granting us a free +trade in the ports of the Floridas. + +"How the boundary and limits between the Spaniards and the States will +be determined, a little time will show, as I believe that matter is +now on foot. However, we know our limits and the extent of our hunting +grounds. As a free nation, we have applied, as we had a right to do, +for protection, and obtained it. We shall pay no attention to any +limits that may prejudice our claims, that were drawn by an American +and confirmed by a British negotiator. Yet, notwithstanding we have +been obliged to adopt these measures for our preservation, and from real +necessity, we sincerely wish to have it in our power to be on the same +footing with the States as before the late unhappy war, to effect which +is entirely in your power. We want nothing from you but justice. We want +our hunting grounds preserved from encroachments. They have been ours +from the beginning of time, and I trust that, with the assistance of our +friends, we shall be able to maintain them against every attempt to take +them from us." + +Undoubtedly McGillivray was unscrupulous, and the probability is that +he was mercenary; but such charges may be brought against some of the +ablest men who have figured in history. When all is said, the fact +remains that Alexander McGillivray was one of the most accomplished and +ingenious of the politicians of his time. If he had been on the side of +the whites, and had managed their interests with the skill and ability +which he displayed in behalf of the Creeks, history would have written +him down as a great statesman. It was only by an accidental suit at law +that some of his most characteristic letters were brought to light; but +those that have been rescued from oblivion show that in wielding the +pen he was more than a match for the many able men who corresponded with +him. + +In September, 1789, Washington sent General Andrew Pickens, with three +other commissioners, to treat with McGillivray. They found the great +chief at Rock Landing, on the Oconee, with two thousand Creek warriors, +where he had been encamped more than a week. The Indian camp was on the +western bank of the river. The commissioners pitched their tents on the +eastern bank. They were received by McGillivray with great courtesy. +Everything progressed favorably, so much so that the commissioners read +to the assembled chiefs a copy of the treaty which they had drawn up. +This treaty was all in favor of the whites. The Indians were offered +no equivalent for the terms proposed. It is worthy of note that Andrew +Pickens wholly dissented from the terms of the proposed treaty. He knew +that the Indians would have to be paid for the valuable land which the +Georgians were then cultivating in the neighborhood of the Oconee, and +the commissioners had been advised by the Federal authorities to pay +for these lands. McGillivray broke up his encampment and retired to +the Ocmulgee, nor could he be induced at that time to renew the +negotiations. + +President Washington was urged by the Georgia delegation in Congress to +declare war against the Creeks, and this indeed was his first impulse; +but when he found, from a careful estimate, that the expenses of such +a war would amount to fifteen millions of dollars, he prudently gave +up the idea. He took the matter in hand in a more conservative way. He +appointed Colonel Marinus Willett a secret agent to visit Mc-Gillivray, +and urge him to visit President Washington in New York. In this Colonel +Willett was entirely successful. Accompanied by McGillivray and a number +of the leading men of the Creeks, Willett set out on his return journey. +At Guilford Court House, McGillivray attracted great attention on +account of a very pathetic incident that occurred there some years +before. A man named Brown had been killed by the Creeks, and his wife +and children captured and made slaves. Their unfortunate condition came +to the notice of Alexander McGillivray, and, as he had done in the case +of many other captive white women and children, he paid their ransom and +redeemed them from slavery. He maintained them at his house for over a +year, and finally assisted them to return to their friends. Mrs. Brown, +hearing that McGillivray had arrived, went to see him. At that moment +he was in the courthouse, the center of a large assembly of ladies +and gentlemen who had gathered to pay their respects. But this was no +obstacle to Mrs. Brown. She rushed through the assembly, and, in a flood +of tears, expressed her gratitude to him for saving her life and the +lives of her children. She also expressed her strong admiration for his +character. + +In due course, McGillivray arrived in New York, where he was treated +with great consideration. He had long private conferences with +Washington and other officials of the government, and was finally +induced to make a treaty which was satisfactory to the United States, +and would have been satisfactory to Georgia if it had been carried out, +but in fact the terms of it were never fulfilled. While in New York, +McGillivray made a secret treaty with Washington, a fact that was not +discovered for many years. It provided, that after two years from date +(August, 1790) the commerce of the Creek nation should be carried on +through the ports of the United States, and in the mean time through +the present channels; that a number of chiefs of the Creeks and of the +Seminole nation should be paid one hundred dollars a year each, and +be furnished with handsome medals; that the United States should feed, +clothe, and educate Creek youth at the North, not exceeding five at one +time; and that Alexander McGillivray should be constituted agent of the +United States, with the rank of brigadier general, and the pay of twelve +hundred dollars a year. In 1792, McGillivray was a British colonel, an +American brigadier general, an agent of the United States, and an +agent of Spain. This extraordinary man died in Pensacola on the 17th of +February, having been seized with a fatal illness while returning from +one of his plantations on Little River in Putnam or Baldwin. + +Another famous Creek was General William Mcintosh, a half-breed. His +father was Captain William Mcintosh, and his mother was an Indian +of unmixed blood. He was not so brilliant a man intellectually as +McGillivray; but he had a native force of character, and an inborn sense +of justice, that McGillivray seems to have been a stranger to. History +tells us little enough of Mcintosh, but that little is all to his +credit. Almost from the days of Oglethorpe, there were two parties in +the Creek nation, and the issue on which they divided was the +treatment that should be accorded to the whites. The party division was +geographical as well as political. The Upper Creeks, living upon the +Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa rivers, were not present at the Coweta +town when James Oglethorpe treated with the Lower Creeks in August, +1730. At that time they were under the influence of the French, and +afterwards they sought the protection of the Spaniards. They refused to +recognize any of the treaties made by the Lower Creeks with the English, +and the great body of them remained to the end the bitter enemies of +the Georgians. On the other hand, the majority of the Lower Creeks +were friendly with the English from the days of Oglethorpe; and that +friendship continued, with but few interruptions, down to the days of +Governor Troup. + +Now, McGillivray, in his day and time, represented the Upper Creeks +of the Tallapoosa country and their policy, while William Mcintosh +represented the Lower Creeks of the Coweta country and their policy. The +division in the Creek nation was so serious, that, when the Upper Creeks +took sides with the British in the War of 1812, they found themselves +opposed in the field by a large party of Lower Creeks under the command +of Mcintosh. Thus, at the battle of Autossee, William Mcintosh led a +large band of Lower Creeks against those who were making war on the +whites. He made himself so conspicuous in that affair, that General +Floyd mentions him in the official report of the battle. + +The treaty at Indian Spring, and the results that followed, cannot be +clearly understood unless we bear in mind the political differences that +existed between the Upper and the Lower Creeks. The Creek chiefs and the +commissioners met at Indian Spring on the 15th of February, 1825. The +chiefs and warriors of the Upper Creeks declared that no treaty could +be made for a cession of lands, and on the night of the 11th they went +home. On the 12th a treaty was signed with the Mcintosh party. Colonel +John A. Crowell, agent for the Creek Indians, sent a letter to the +secretary of war, in which he declared that the treaty was in direct +opposition to the letter and spirit of the instructions to the +commissioners; but the treaty was sent to Washington, and was ratified +on the 3d of March, 1825. When the Indians of the Upper Creeks and their +party learned that the treaty had been ratified, they became very much +excited. Mcintosh and his party went to Milledgeville, and told the +governor that they expected violent treatment at the hands of the +Upper Creeks. They begged the protection of the State and of the United +States, and this was promised them. + +Out of this treaty grew a very serious conflict between the Federal and +State governments. After a good deal of discussion, the President asked +Congress to reconsider the treaty of Indian Spring, and presented a +new one as a substitute, which was ratified and proclaimed; but popular +indignation ran so high in Georgia, that Governor Troup felt justified +in paying no attention to this new treaty. He proceeded to carry out the +terms of the Indian Spring treaty. Charges were brought against Crowell, +the Indian agent. The governor informed T. P. Andrews, the special +agent, that he would hold no further correspondence with him. The +conduct of General Gaines had been such that Governor Troup requested +the Federal Government to recall, arrest, and punish him. In 1826 the +State Legislature declared that the attempt to repeal the treaty of +Indian Spring by the substitution of another treaty was illegal and +unconstitutional. In September, 1826, Governor Troup ordered the +districts ceded by the treaty of Indian Spring to be surveyed. When the +Indians complained of this, the secretary of war wrote to Governor Troup +that the President felt himself compelled to employ all the means under +his control to maintain the faith of the nation by carrying the treaty +into effect, meaning the treaty made at Washington, and intended to be +a substitute for the Indian Spring treaty. In his reply, Governor Troup +declared that he would feel it to be his duty to resist to the utmost +any military attack which the President of the United States should +think proper to make upon the Territory, the people, or the sovereignty +of Georgia. "From the first decisive act of hostility," he wrote to the +secretary of war, "you will be considered and treated as a public +enemy. You have referred me, as the rule of my conduct, to the treaty +of Washington. In turn I refer you to the treaty of prior date and prior +ratification, concluded at the Indian Spring." + +The President issued orders that the surveyors appointed by the State +be prosecuted. Governor Troup thereupon ordered the proper officers, in +every instance of complaint made of the arrest of any surveyor, to take +all necessary and legal measures to effect their liberation, and to +bring to justice all the parties concerned in such arrests, as violators +of the peace and personal security of the State. He also ordered +the major generals of the militia to hold the various regiments and +battalions in readiness to repel any hostile invasion of the State. But +no acts of violence were committed. The surveyors were not arrested, the +surveys were made, and the lands ceded by the treaty of Indian Spring +were divided by lottery in 1827. + +The Upper Creeks, who had always been unfriendly to the Georgians, +were so angry at the signing of the treaty of Indian Spring, that they +determined to assassinate General William Mcintosh. They had never +forgiven him for leading his party of Lower Creeks against them in the +campaign that was made necessary by the terrible massacre of Fort Mims, +and they now determined to rid themselves of him at once and forever. + +We have seen that General Mcintosh, and his party of Lower Creeks, +suspecting that an attack would be made on them by the powerful tribes +on the Tallapoosa, went to Milledgeville to beg the governor to protect +them. Protection was promised, but never given. Meanwhile the Upper +Creeks held a secret council, and selected a hundred and seventy of the +boldest warriors in the nation to murder Mcintosh. They marched in the +most cautious way. They reached the neighborhood of Mcintosh's home, +and concealed themselves, to wait for night to fall. About sundown, or +a little before, the Indians saw from their hiding place two persons +riding along a trail. One was Mcintosh, and the other a man named +Hawkins, who had married one of Mcintosh's daughters. It would have been +an easy matter for the savages to have killed Mcintosh at this time; but +they had made up their minds to kill him upon his own premises, so that +his blood might stain the land that had been granted him by the State. +While still in sight of the men who had been sent to slay him, Mcintosh +bade Hawkins good evening, wheeled his horse, and rode back on the trail +toward his home. Although he was now alone, the Indians would not kill +him. They had fixed up a different plan, and they carried it out. + +Before dark the Indians gathered together a supply of "fat lightwood," +as the resinous pine was called. This they split into convenient length, +and made up into three bundles to be carried on the backs of their +warriors. They remained hidden within half a mile of Mcintosh's house +till three o'clock in the morning, and then silently and swiftly marched +to the place. They had taken along with them a man named James Hutton to +act as interpreter, the reason for this being that Mcintosh was in the +habit of entertaining travelers. + +It was to be Hutton's duty to assure such as might be found there that +they would not be disturbed in any manner. Guests of Mcintosh were +commonly lodged in an outhouse in the yard; and Hutton, accompanied by +two Indians, went to this building to see who might be sleeping there. +They found a peddler in one bed, and Chilly, a son of General Mcintosh, +in another. + +Young Mcintosh, as if instinctively understanding the nature of the +visit, sprang from the bed and leaped out at a window. He was fired upon +by the Indians, but was not touched, and succeeded in making his escape. +The peddler was nearly scared out of his wits; but his pack of goods +was removed to a place of safety, and the house in which he had been +sleeping was soon in flames. + +[Illustration: Indian Attack 220] + +Meanwhile most of the Indians had surrounded Mcintosh's house, and +torches of the fat pine were used to set it on fire. The red men danced +around the burning building, yelling, and crying out, "Mcintosh, we have +come, we have come! We told you if you sold the land to the Georgians +we would come. Now we have come!" At the first alarm Mcintosh had +barricaded his front door. He stood near it; and when it was broken +down, he fired upon his assailants. At that moment, one of his firmest +friends, Toma Tustenuggee, who had thrown himself upon the party at the +door, fell on the threshold, riddled with bullets. General Mcintosh then +retreated to the second story with four guns, which he continued to fire +from the windows. + +The flames drove him from the second story to the first floor again. He +fought bravely to the end, but was soon compelled to expose himself to +the fire of his enemies. He fell to the floor, pierced by many bullets, +and was dragged into the yard by his heels. He breathed defiance to +the last, and was finally stabbed to death. After this savage deed, the +Indians plundered the houses, killed such cattle as they could find, +and committed other outrages. A small party of the Indians had followed +Hawkins the evening before. His house was surrounded about daybreak the +next morning, and he was ordered to come out. He refused, and defended +himself the best he could; but he was finally taken prisoner and tied, +until the fate of Mcintosh was known. Then he was murdered, and his body +thrown into the river near where he lived. The Indians marched back +to the Tallapoosa country with the scalps of these unfortunate men. +Mcintosh's scalp was suspended from a pole in the public square of +Ocfuskee, and young and old danced around it with shouts of joy. + +General Mcintosh was a cousin of Governor Troup, being the son of +Governor Troup's uncle, Captain William Mcintosh, who was frequently on +the Chattahoochee before the breaking-out of the Revolution. + + + + +REMOVAL OF THE CHEROKEES. + +When Georgia had begun to recover its breath, after the difficulties +with the Creeks, the people had time to discover that they had a much +more serious problem to deal with in the Cherokee nation, which occupied +all the northwestern portion of the State. Those who mingled thrift with +their benevolence, and had the courage to think about the future of +the whites as well as the future of the savages, thought that both +ends would be attained by making a permanent settlement for the Indians +beyond the Mississippi River. Those whose benevolence was a mixture of +sentimentality and romantic misinformation thought the Indians ought +to be left where contact with the whites would tend to civilize +and Christianize them. Consequently there were two parties to the +discussion, and a good deal of practical selfishness at the bottom of it +all. There used to be an old song running in this wise,-- + + "All I want in this creation, + Is a pretty little wife and a big plantation + Away up yonder in the Cherokee nation,"-- + +and this song no doubt represented the real feeling behind the whole +matter. The big plantation was what was really wanted. At the same time +it should not be forgotten that it was for the benefit of the Indians as +well as the whites that they should be settled in a section where they +would remain undisturbed. This policy has been proven by time to be the +true one. + +Travelers and romancers have done no end of harm by exalting the Indian +character, covering up its faults, and exaggerating its merits. Romance +has made great heroes of the Indians; but in the whole history of the +red men, so far as it has been faithfully chronicled, the names of the +Indians of unmixed blood who are worth remembering can be counted on the +fingers of two hands. + +Sequoia, or George Guess, who invented the Cherokee alphabet, was the +grandson of a white man. This invention, however, was a very remarkable +achievement, and it is worthy of a word here. Sequoia was altogether +illiterate. He could neither write nor speak English, but he saw that +the whites could talk with each other by means of pieces of paper. So +he set himself to work to examine his own language. He found that sixty +monosyllables could be so combined as to represent every word in +the Cherokee language, and for each of these syllables he formed a +character. Many of these characters were taken from an English spelling +book which he managed to get hold of. Some are Greek characters, and +others are letters of the English alphabet turned upside down; but +each character in the Cherokee alphabet stands for a monosyllable. It +happened, too, from the structure of the Cherokee language or dialect, +that the syllabic alphabet is also in the nature of a grammar; so that +those who know the language by ear, and master the alphabet, can at once +read and write. Owing to the extreme simplicity of this system, it can +be acquired in a few days. Some have learned it even in one day. Thus +it happened that the Cherokees, who were at the beginning of one year +ignorant and illiterate, had become in the course of a few months able +to read and write their own language. They accomplished this without +going to school, and without expense of time or money. + +This curious and useful invention is dwelt on here because it stands +alone. The Indian grandson of a white man remains to-day the only man, +in the long history of the aborigines, who has done anything for the +real and lasting benefit of his race. + +When the people of Georgia insisted on the removal of that nation to the +Far West, the Cherokees were neither better nor worse than the rest of +the Indians. Some of the half-breeds had indeed begun to put on the airs +of civilization, and many of them had put off their barbarian garbs; but +from time to time they gave evidence that contact with the whites had +only whetted their savage appetites for cruelty. The Indian in Cooper's +novels and the Indian in real life are two different creatures. They +were tall and straight because they refused to do manual labor. The +drudgery was left to the women, who hoed the corn when at home, and +carried the burdens when the warriors were moving about. They cultivated +the passion of revenge. Those who know them best have declared in +a thousand ways that they never found in the red men any solid +substantial, or agreeable quality. They were brave, but so is a bulldog. + +There is no wonder that Georgia wanted to get rid of them as neighbors. +The people showed their anxiety in this matter when, in 1802, they +conveyed to the United States Government all the valuable lands that now +form the States of Alabama and Mississippi; the consideration being that +the General Government would secure from the Indians, and open up to +settlement, the lands which they then held in the State. In 1808 the +Cherokees asked the United States to allow them to examine the public +land west of the Mississippi, and, if pleased, to settle on it. +Permission was given, and the Cherokees sent a party to explore +the lands. The country suited them so well that many of the Indians +emigrated at once. The General Government thus had an opportunity to +carry out the contract of 1802, but failed to do so. It had another +opportunity in 1814, when the conquered Creeks sued for peace. The +General Government had the right to demand of them the cession of the +land they occupied in Georgia. Instead, it took land in Alabama, which +it sold for its own benefit. + +And so the matter went on from year to year, and the people waited +patiently; for they had become aware, from costly experience, that one +of the prices they have to pay for popular government is the occasional +rule of the political demagogue. + +In 1827, when the people of Georgia began to grow restive under the +failure of the government to carry out its contracts, the Cherokees +had declared themselves to be an independent state. They had their own +printed constitution and code of laws. So that here in the limits of +Georgia there were three governments going on at one and the same +time. The United States prohibited any person from settling on Indian +territory, or trading with any Indian, without a special license from +the proper authority. In addition to this, the State of Georgia had +found it necessary to extend her criminal courts over the Cherokee +territory, in order to protect her own citizens. + +The half-breeds among the Cherokees were very shrewd and unscrupulous. +They had caused some of their tribe to take possession of lands ceded +to Georgia by the Creeks, and in this way sought to add confusion to the +discussion that was then going on. The Indians took possession by force. +They were armed and painted, and led by Chief Ridge. Fourteen or fifteen +houses were burned by these savages, and the white women and children +were left exposed to the weather, the ground being covered with snow. + +The great trouble with the Cherokees then and afterwards was, that the +government of their nation had fallen into the hands of half-breeds, +whose education only gave them fresh opportunities to gain wealth +and power at the expense of the rest of the tribe. They owned trading +houses, big plantations, numbers of slaves, had charge of the ferries, +and controlled all the traffic between the whites and the Indians. As +these half-breeds became wealthier, the rest of the tribe became poorer. +They had forsaken their primitive habits and customs, and taken up those +of the most depraved whites who lived among them. It is worthy of note +that the most progressive spirits among the Cherokees were in favor +of emigration beyond the Mississippi. The leaders of this party were +natives of unmixed blood, who saw that the control of the corrupt +half-breeds was carrying the nation to ruin. Several of these leaders +were waylaid and shot down by the agents of those whose policy they were +opposing. The alarm in some sections was very great. The citizens met, +and adopted resolutions requesting the government to station troops at +suitable points, for the protection of the lives and property of the +whites and friendly Indians. + +Under an act of the Legislature, a body of militia had been organized, +under the name of the "Georgia Guard." It was the duty of the Guard to +protect the citizens of Georgia and the friendly Cherokees. John Howard +Payne, the famous author of "Home, Sweet Home," was arrested by this +Guard. The poet was traveling among the Cherokees for information, and +was no doubt ignorant of the state of feeling then existing. He was +finally suspected by the vigilant Georgia Guard of writing improper +papers. He had been seen making notes, and when he was arrested his +papers were searched. The commander of the Georgia Guard, Colonel +William N. Bishop, reported to the governor that he had examined some +of Mr. Payne's papers, and found some very improper and indiscreet +statements about the President, the government, and the State +authorities, and many bitter remarks concerning Cherokee matters. +Evidently, Colonel Bishop was of the opinion, that, while a politician +or a newspaper editor might be allowed to indulge in improper and +indiscreet statements about Presidents and other public men, a poet +had no such rights. But the colonel finally discharged Mr. Payne from +custody, and the very foolish proceeding was condemned by a resolution +of the General Assembly. + +In 1835 two parties had developed in the Cherokee nation. One was in +favor of removal to the Western lands, and the other was opposed +to removal. John Ridge headed the removal party, and John Ross the +opposition. In February of that year these men went to Washington at +the head of deputations, and entered into negotiations with the General +Government. After a great deal of talk, excitement, confusion, and +trouble, the Cherokee people finally concluded to hold a meeting at Red +Clay in October, 1835. There was a good deal of angry feeling between +those of the Cherokees who were in favor of a treaty of removal and +those who were opposed to it. Major Ridge, John Ridge, and David Vann +were impeached for holding opinions contrary to those held by the +Cherokee authorities. On the other hand, many of those in favor of +removal met, and passed resolutions, in which they declared that their +people could not prosper in the midst of a white population, and that, +while they loved the lands of their fathers, and would leave the place +of their birth with regret, they considered that it would be better to +become exiles than to submit to the laws of the State. + +At the Red Clay meeting, arrangements were made for discussing with the +United States authorities the terms of a treaty of removal. The Ross +party was still violently opposed to removal. John Ross, the leader of +this party, was only one fourth Indian, the other three fourths +being Scotch and American. Ross was very shrewd and thrifty, and had +accumulated a great deal of property, with the prospect of accumulating +more. He had many sympathizers and admirers in all parts of the country. +It seems to have been thought a wonderful thing in that day, that a man +one quarter Indian should be able to read and write English, and make +political speeches. When everything had been arranged for the final +treaty, and while negotiations were going forward, Ross and his party +put an end to them, and went to Washington, where they hoped to delay +matters. But the Ridge party met the United States commissioners at New +Echota on the 21st of December, 1835, according to appointment, and on +the 29th the treaty was concluded. On May 23, 1836, it was ratified. + +By the terms of this treaty, the Cherokees, in consideration of the sum +of five million dollars, relinquished all claims to lands east of the +Mississippi. In addition to the money to be paid, they were to receive +seven million acres of land west of the Mississippi. Should this +territory be found to be insufficient, the United States, in +consideration of five hundred thousand dollars, was to convey to them +an additional body of land. The land thus granted was not to be included +within the limits of any State at any future time. The Cherokees were +guaranteed protection against domestic strife and foreign enemies, and +it was provided that the tribe should be entitled to a delegate in the +House of Representatives whenever Congress passed a law to that effect. +The United States authorities were to remove the Cherokees to their new +homes, and to provide for their support for one year after they were +settled. There were other provisions, all in favor of the Cherokees. The +Indians were to be removed within two years after the ratification of +the treaty. + +Ross, and other leaders opposed to removal, had gone to Washington. +While there they were informed, by Major Ridge and others, of the treaty +at New Echota. Ross refused to make any reply to the communication, but +tried to make a new treaty. He was told that he could not be received to +make a new treaty. The attitude of the Ross party, together with certain +threats that had been made by their followers, led many citizens +of Georgia to believe that the Indians opposed to removal would, in +accordance with their character and history, revenge themselves by +making night attacks on the unprotected people. Consequently those most +likely to be the victims of such attacks petitioned the governor for +arms, ammunition, and troops; and these petitions were granted. A +battalion of militia was raised, and placed at Lashley's Ferry on the +Coosa River, with orders to keep the Cherokees in check, and also to +prevent the Creeks from coming into Georgia. Many of the Cherokees were +disarmed; and five hundred muskets, with ammunition, were sent into +Cherokee County, for the use of the people in the event of any hostile +movement on the part of the Indians. + +The State of Georgia was to take possession of the territory ceded by +the treaty on the twenty-fourth day of May, 1838, and the military were +got in readiness for removing the Indians. General Scott, of the United +States army, called on the governor of Georgia for two regiments, and to +this call there was a prompt response. By the 18th of May enough men had +arrived at New Echota, where the troops were to assemble, to organize a +regiment; and on the morning of the 24th the troops took up the line of +march for the purpose of collecting the Indians. This continued until +the 3d of June, when the troops and the Indians started for Ross's +Landing on the Tennessee River. About fifteen hundred Indians had been +collected by the Georgia troops, and these troops were then dismissed +from the service of the United States. + +The rest of the work was done by the regular army, which, being +divided into small detachments, went about the Cherokee country, making +prisoners of family after family, and carrying them to the camps. The +most careful arrangements had been made to prevent cruelty or disorder, +and there has never been any complaint as to the manner in which the +troops performed their duty. Nearly the whole nation had been gathered +into camps by the end of June. At that time some of the Indians began +their march to the West; but the great body of the tribe, fourteen +thousand in number, did not begin their westward journey until +September, owing to the hot weather. Every arrangement that could be +suggested was made for the comfort of the Indians in their march; but +from May, when the removal began, to the time when the last company had +completed its journey, more than four thousand persons died. + +One year afterwards, on the 22d of June, 1839, Major Ridge, John Ridge, +and Elias Boudinot, all of whom had taken an active part in negotiating +the treaty of removal, were assassinated. + +Since their removal the Cherokees have prospered to a greater extent +than any other Indian tribe. They have a government of their own, +flourishing schools, and books and newspapers printed in their own +language. It is the only tribe of American Indians that has shown any +desire or ability to share in the benefits of civilization. + + + + +THE BEGINNING OF PARTIES IN GEORGIA. + +The first serious political division in Georgia after the Revolution had +a very curious beginning. There is always, of course, a division among +the people on great public questions as they arise. But the War of the +Revolution had so solidified public sentiment that nothing occurred to +jar it until the Yazoo Fraud created some division. Even then public +sentiment was so overwhelmingly opposed to the sale of the lands to +the speculators, that the few who favored it were not numerous nor +respectable enough to be called a party. + +On the 24th of February, 1806, Mr. Josiah Glass, having come all the way +from North Carolina in search of a Mr. Robert Clary, went to the town of +Sparta with a warrant which he requested Judge Charles Tait to indorse. +This Judge Tait did in due form. The warrant was for negro stealing, +and was directed against Mr. Robert Clary. Mr. Clary was arrested by +Mr. Josiah Glass in Washington County, and was carried to Greene County +Superior Court. On the first day of the court, Mr. Josiah Glass wrote +a letter to Judge Tait, and requested him to attend, and take the +examination of a man then in his custody, who would make confessions +highly interesting to the State and the United States. Judge Tait, +accompanied by Squire Oliver Skinner, attended that night, and took +a part of the confessions of Mr. Robert Clary, and completed them the +following night. Then he gave Mr. Josiah Glass a certified copy of the +same to take with him to North Carolina, to which State he was taking +Mr. Robert Clary, on a warrant charging him with negro stealing. + +Now, it seems that the warrant against Clary was merely intended as +a scheme to get him to North Carolina to testify against a man named +Collins. History has suppressed the confessions made by Mr. Robert +Clary; but it is certain that they contained a most offensive charge +against General John Clarke, whose patriotic services in behalf of the +people during the Revolution gave him great fame and popularity. No +sooner did John Clarke hear of this affair than he proceeded to act with +his usual promptness. When he learned the particulars about the taking +of the affidavit at night, he at once jumped to the conclusion that +he had been made the victim of a conspiracy. There had been some +disagreement between him and Hon. William H. Crawford; and as Judge +Tait had been the partner of Mr. Crawford, and was his firm friend,--for +Crawford was a man great enough to command and deserve friends,--General +Clarke suspected that Clary and Glass had been made tools of to damage +his reputation. General Clarke acted at once. He presented a memorial to +the Legislature, making certain charges against Judge Tait with respect +to the taking of the "dark-lantern affidavits," as they were called by +his friends. The Legislature found, as it ought to have done, that the +charges made in the memorial of General Clarke were unsupported by fact +or evidence. In the very nature of things, it could not be shown that +an honorable judge of the Superior Court of Georgia, in certifying to an +affidavit containing the confession of a mere adventurer, was engaged +in a conspiracy; but the question with which General Clarke had to +deal was, how did the offensive and malicious matter, contained in +an affidavit taken by a judge and one witness at night, become public +property? If General Clarke had been a more thoroughgoing politician, he +would have found a better way to confound his enemies than that which he +adopted; but he was deeply wounded by a foul charge made at night, and +put in circulation by means of nods and winks and whispers. His first +recourse was to the Legislature, consequently it had the effect of +strengthening both his friends and his enemies. His friends were +indignant at the action of the Legislature. His enemies professed to +be astonished that arrogance should fly so high as to bring before the +Legislature unfounded charges against a judge of the superior courts. + +The legislative record is not as full as it might be. There was +something behind the Clary business that does not appear on the records +of the House and Senate. General Clarke wrote a pamphlet entitled "A +Legacy for My Children," in which, according to Judge Garnett Andrews +(see "Reminiscences of an Old Georgia Lawyer"), the matter of his +memorial to the Legislature is differently stated. According to Judge +Andrews, who bases his authority on General Clarke's pamphlet and on the +testimony of those who were familiar with the facts, Clary was arrested +and carried before Judge Tait on a charge of stealing horses. Clary +charged General Clarke with complicity. Mr. Crawford was the prosecuting +attorney. General Clarke accused Judge Tait and Mr. Crawford with +instigating Clary to make the charge. + +The truth seems to be, that Clary, knowing the differences that existed +between these distinguished men, sought to help his own case by making +the charge against General Clarke, and that the latter was quite ready +to believe that his two opponents had originated the charges for the +purpose of doing him a mortal injury. Feeling assured of the justice +of his cause, he appealed to the Legislature. This failing, he took the +matter into his own hands. He challenged Mr. Crawford, shot him through +the wrist, and then challenged him again. A little later, cantering +along a street in Milledgeville on his fine sorrel horse, General Clarke +saw Judge Tait before him in a sulky. He spurred his horse forward, and +laid his whip across the judge's shoulders two or three times. + +[Illustration: General Clarke whips Judge Tait 237] + +These events created great excitement throughout the State. There had +already been controversy and division caused by the duel between Mr. +Crawford and Van Allen, a cousin of President Van Buren, and at that +time attorney-general of the State. Van Allen was killed; and there was +a great controversy in Georgia, in consequence, as to who was right +and who was wrong. This excitement became furious in the course of the +contest between Clarke and Crawford. Crawford was fortunately lifted out +of it by being made a United States senator in 1807. His distinguished +career afterwards is well known. He was minister to France, secretary of +the treasury, Vice-President of the United States, and would have been +elected President but for reports circulated throughout the country that +he had been stricken down with a fatal illness. But the contest between +the Clarke and Crawford parties continued to rage. Whatever issue the +Clarke men were favorable to, the Crawford men opposed. Whatever scheme +the Clarke men suggested, the Crawford men fought. There was nothing +polite about the contest. People who wore gloves pulled them off. +In cold weather the voters were warm, and in hot weather they were +steaming. The contest went on before elections, and was kept up with +just as much energy after elections. No vote could settle it, and no +success could quiet it. It was in the nature of a political squabble, +covering the whole State, dividing districts, counties, cities, towns, +villages, settlements, beats, crossroads groceries, and families. It +was a knock-down-and-drag-out fight, in which hair pulling, gouging, and +biting were allowed. + +While Crawford was advancing step by step in national politics, his +party in Georgia took up George M. Troup, one of the most brilliant and +aggressive men in the State. The contest had been going on for twenty +years when Troup came upon the scene, in 1830, as a candidate +for governor. He had been a member of the State Legislature, a +representative in Congress, and a United States senator: therefore in +1820, when he was nominated for governor by the Crawford party, he was +ripe in experience. He was forty years old, and full of the fire and +energy that marked his whole career. The Crawford party now became the +Troup party, and the contests that followed were the most exciting +that ever took place in the State before, or that have ever taken place +since. + +At that time the General Assembly elected the governor, the people +selecting members favorable to the candidates they preferred. As the +result of the first campaign between the Clarke and Troup parties, +General John Clarke was elected by a majority of thirteen legislative +votes. When Governor Clarke's term expired, he was again opposed by +Troup, and was again elected, but this time by a majority of only two +legislative votes. In 1823, Matthew Talbot represented the Clarke party, +but was defeated by Troup. In 1825, General Clarke again entered the +contest. The election was no longer in the hands of the Legislature, but +was by popular vote. Governor Troup's treatment of the Indian question, +and the firm stand he had taken in favor of the rights of the State, had +materially increased his influence, and he was elected over Clarke by a +majority of 683 votes. + +Curious to relate, the old Clarke party became the Union party, and +in 1840 was the Democratic party. The Crawford party became the States +Rights party, and in 1840 was the Whig party. Such was the evolution of +parties in Georgia. + + + + +A QUEER CASE. + +[Illustration: A Queer Case 241] + +A very queer, not to say mysterious case, was brought to trial in Jones +County in 1837, at the April term of the Superior Court. It has had no +parallel in Georgia before or since, and had none in any other country, +so far as the present writer is aware, until the celebrated Tichborne +case was brought to trial in England a few years ago. The Bunkley case +created quite as much excitement, and caused quite as much division in +public opinion in Georgia, as the Tichborne case did in England. + +Jesse L. Bunkley belonged to a good family in Jones County, and when +he came of age would have fallen heir to an estate worth forty thousand +dollars. An effort was made to give him all the advantages of education, +but these he refused to accept. He was a wild boy, and was fonder +of wild company than of his books. He went to school for a while in +Eatonton, but got into some scrape there and ran away. He was afterwards +sent to Franklin College, now the State University, where he entered the +grammar school. Such discipline as they had in those days was irksome to +young Bunkley, and he soon grew tired of it. He left the college, and, +after roving about for a while, returned to his home in Jones County. +In his twentieth year, 1825, being well supplied with money, he left his +home for the purpose of traveling. He went to the Southwest, and in that +year wrote to his mother from New Orleans. + +No other letter was received from him during that year or the next, and +in 1827 word was brought to Jones County that Jesse Bunkley was dead. +The rumor, for it seems to have been nothing more, was regarded by the +family as true. At any rate, no attempt was made to investigate it. +Jesse was the black sheep of the family; he had been away from home a +good deal; his conduct when at home had not been such as to commend +him to the affections of his people; and his mother had married a third +husband, a man named Lowther: consequently the vague news of the young +man's death was probably received with a feeling of relief. There was +always a probability that such a wild and dissipated youngster would +come to some bad end; but with his death that probability ceased to +be even a possibility, and so, no doubt with a sigh of relief, young +Bunkley's people put aside the memory of him. He was dead and buried. +Those who survived him were more than willing to take the care and +trouble of managing the estate which young Bunkley would have inherited +had he returned and claimed it. + +But in 1833, Major Smith of Jones County received a letter purporting to +be from Jesse L. Bunkley, and it related to matters that both Smith and +Bunkley were familiar with. In December, 1833, Mrs. Lowther, his mother, +received a letter from a person claiming to be her son Jesse. The letter +was dated at the New Orleans prison. It appears from this letter that +the family of Bunkley had already taken steps to disown the person who +had written to Major Smith, and who claimed to be Jesse Bunkley. The +letter to Mrs. Lowther was very awkwardly written. It was misspelled, +and bore no marks of punctuation; and yet it is just such a letter +as might be written by a man who took no interest in his books when a +schoolboy, and had had no occasion to look into them or to handle a pen. +He said in this letter that he wrote to convince his mother that he was +her own child, though it appeared that she wished to disown him. This, +he declared in his awkward way, he knew no reason for, unless it was on +account of his past folly. He then went on to relate some facts about +the family and his own school days. The mother did not answer this +letter, because, as she said afterwards on the witness stand, she did +not consider that it was from her son. She was satisfied, she said, that +the letter was not in her son's handwriting. + +The person claiming to be Jesse L. Bunkley reached Jones County some +time afterwards. His case, in the nature of things, excited great public +interest. Hundreds of people who had known Jesse recognized him in this +claimant. On the other hand, hundreds who had also known Bunkley when +a boy failed to recognize him in the claimant. Meanwhile those who had +charge of the Bunkley property took prompt action. They went before the +grand jury, and had the claimant indicted for cheating and swindling; +and thus began the celebrated case of the State against Elijah Barber, +alias Jesse L. Bunkley. + +The claimant came to Jones County in 1836, was indicted in that year, +and his case was brought to trial in the Superior Court in April, 1837. +A great deal of time was taken up in the investigation. More than one +hundred and thirty witnesses were examined. Ninety-eight, the majority +of these being disinterested persons, declared that they believed +the claimant to be an impostor. More than forty disinterested persons +declared under oath that they believed the claimant to be Jesse L. +Bunkley, and the majority of these last witnesses had known Bunkley long +and intimately. + +The efforts of the prosecution were directed to showing that the man +claiming to be Jesse Bunkley was in reality Elijah Barber, who in +1824-25 was a wagoner who hauled lumber from Grace's Mill near Macon, +who was also known in Upson County, and who had served in the Florida +war. Some of the witnesses who had never known Bunkley recognized the +claimant as a man who had called himself Barber. Some of the witnesses +who had known Jesse from his boyhood testified that they recognized the +claimant as Bunkley on sight. Bunkley had various scars on his face, +neck, and body. The claimant exhibited all these to the jury. One of the +witnesses remembered that Bunkley bore the marks of a snake bite on one +of his legs. The claimant immediately showed these marks. Hundreds of +questions had been put to the claimant to test his memory. A great many +he answered correctly, a great many others he failed to answer; but his +replies to all vital questions were wonderfully clear and satisfactory. +The jury was out but a short time before it returned, bringing in a +verdict of guilty; and the claimant was sentenced to the penitentiary, +where he served out his term. + +[Illustration: The Bunkley Trial 245] + +This verdict and sentence settled the case in law, but it remained as +unsettled as ever in the public mind. The writer of this has heard it +discussed on more than one occasion among old ladies and gentlemen who +knew Bunkley, and who saw the claimant; and, without exception, they +declared that the verdict of the jury was cruelly unjust. + +And yet, if any wrong was done, Bunkley himself was to blame for it. +Being a young man of fortune and of the fairest prospects, he owed it to +himself, his family, his friends, and to society at large, to become +a good citizen, so that his ample means might be properly employed. +Instead of that, he became a rowdy and a rioter, spending his days and +his nights in evil company and in dissipation. If the claimant in this +mysterious case was really Jesse Bunkley, it may be said of him that his +sins had found him out. + + + + +GEORGIA WIT AND HUMOR. + +The wit and humor of Georgia stand by themselves. They have no +counterpart in any other section of the country. Many attempts have been +made to imitate them, but there is always something lacking. The flavor, +the "bouquet," the aroma, is gone. The sun, the soil, the air, and +even the spring water, seem to have something to do with it. Just what, +nobody knows. Wit and humor are elusive,--they are unsubstantial. On the +other hand, the Georgia watermelon is something solid. It may be handled +and felt. It may be "thumped" and "plugged" and tested. Those who know +what a watermelon is and should be, know that there is none to compare +with the melons that are grown in Georgia, no matter what the variety. +The same may be said of the wit and humor that belong to Georgia. An old +man--Uncle Tom Norris he was called, on account of his gray hairs--was +once heard to say (speaking professionally), "Let me clap a drop of +the low-wines to my tongue, and I'll tell you what branch the fire was +kindled on." He was a distiller, and knew his business. One need not +be an expert to say the same of Georgia humor. It is almost possible to +tell the very militia district in which it originated. It carries not +only the flavor, but the color. + +For a hundred years Georgia has remained the most democratic part of the +country. The sons of the richest men were put in the fields to work +side by side with the negroes, and were thus taught to understand the +importance of individual effort that leads to personal independence. +It thus happened that there was a cordial, and even an affectionate, +understanding between the slaves and their owners, that perhaps had no +parallel elsewhere. The poorer whites had no reason to hold their heads +down because they had to work for their living. The richest slave owners +did not feel themselves above those who had few negroes or none. When +a man called his neighbor "Colonel," or "Judge," it was to show his +respect, nothing more. For the rest, the humblest held their heads as +high as the richest, and were as quick, perhaps quicker, in a quarrel. + +The Virginians and North Carolinians who settled in the Broad River +region intermarried, and spread out over middle Georgia. Those who were +not akin were bound to each other by ties of long acquaintanceship; but +the homogeneousness of the people, complete and thorough as it was, was +not marked by any monotony. On the contrary, character and individuality +ran riot, appearing in such strange and attractive shapes as to puzzle +and bewilder even those who were familiar with the queer manifestations. +Every settlement had its peculiarities, and every neighborhood boasted +of its humorist,--its clown, whose pranks and jests were limited by +no license. Out of this has grown a literature which, in some of its +characteristics, is not matched elsewhere on the globe; but that which +has been preserved by printing is not comparable, either in volume or +merit, with the great body of humor that has perished because of the +lack of some one industrious enough to chronicle it. + +One of the most perfect types of the Georgia humorist was the late John +M. Dooly. Judge Dooly was a remarkable man in other respects, but it is +his wonderful fund of humor that has made his name famous in Georgia and +throughout the country. It has been told in these pages how Colonel John +Dooly was dragged from his bed by the Tories and murdered. This Colonel +Dooly was the father of John M., who was hid under the bed when the +Tories dragged his father out and murdered him. It might be supposed +that such an event would have a tendency to give a boy a very serious +view of life. Judge Dooly's views were no doubt serious enough; but they +were overwhelmed and overpowered by a temperament which found cause for +laughter in almost every person and passing event, and was the cause of +innocent mirth in others. + +Judge Dooly was born in what he called the "Dark Corner" of Lincoln +County, which had not then been cut off from Wilkes. After the murder of +his father, the family was left in poverty. When he went to Washington, +the county seat of Wilkes County, to read law with Mr. Matthews, the +clothes he wore were in such a condition that he was compelled to +confine himself to the office in the daytime. He was very poor and +very bright. Old people who knew him when a boy, described him to Judge +Garnett Andrews as "a sallow, piney-woods-looking lad." "Piney-woods +people" was the local name for the tackies, the clay eaters, the +no-accounts, that had settled about on the poorer lands in that section +of Georgia, and given themselves over to thriftlessness for good and +all. But young Dooly had that within him which made him superior to the +conditions and limitations of poverty. Apart from his remarkable gift of +humor, he had a native brilliancy of mind that gave him an easy mastery +over the principles of law that he found in the books. He was admitted +to the bar in 1798, and was immediately successful as a lawyer. His +education had been limited to that which he found in the "old field +schools," and in that day they were not of the best; but such a mind as +his needed only the rudiments, the rest came as by instinct. + +[Illustration: Judge Dooly 250] + +Judge Dooly was not a student while practicing at the bar. He had +thoroughly mastered the principles, the groundwork, of the law; and his +mind, as logical as it was brilliant, fitted these principles to every +case he had charge of. His love of humor, and his fondness for the +society of those who preferred fun and frolic, placed many temptations +in his way, and some of these he did not always resist; but the faults +he had were the faults of the time in which he lived, the faults of the +society in which he was brought up and by which he was surrounded. Judge +Dooly has been described by a contemporary as having a large head, +with a bold, high forehead, heavy eyebrows, prominent nose, a small +compressed mouth, and large, vivid, sparkling eyes, which, when the +spirit of humor had possession of him, illuminated his countenance as if +an electric battery were in play. + +On one occasion, Judge Dooly had been challenged by Judge Tait,--the +same Judge Tait who had made himself so obnoxious to General John +Clarke. Judge Tait had a wooden leg; and Judge Dooly, in replying to the +challenge, referred to this fact, and said he did not think they could +fight on equal terms. He hoped his refusal would not be interpreted as a +reflection on the misfortunes of Judge Tait. This reply made Judge Tait +more indignant than ever. He wrote a severe reply, suggesting to Judge +Dooly that his refusal to fight was the result of cowardice rather than +a desire not to shed the blood of an unfortunate cripple. In answer to +this insinuation, Judge Dooly declared boldly that he was ready to fight +his adversary on anything like equal terms. He announced that he would +meet Judge Tait anywhere, on any day, and exchange a shot with him, +provided he (Judge Dooly) was allowed to stand on the field of honor +with one leg in a bee-gum! The bee-gums of that day were made of +sections of hollow trees. Naturally this remarkable proposition made +Judge Tait madder than ever, and he wrote to Judge Dooly that he +intended to publish him as a coward. Judge Dooly calmly informed Judge +Tait by letter that he had no sort of objection to the publication, +provided it was at Tait's expense. He declared, that, for his part, he +would rather fill a dozen newspapers than one coffin. These unexpected +strokes of humor disarmed the anger of Judge Tait, and set the whole +State in a roar. They did more: they cleared the political atmosphere, +and took the edge off of party rancor, which was at that time very +fierce and keen. + +Once, when dining at a public table, Dooly said something or did +something to irritate Major Freeman Walker. The latter, remarking that +he had borne with the liberties taken by Judge Dooly quite long enough, +said he proposed to resent them then and there. The attack on his +feelings had been made in public, and he proposed to resent it in +public. Seizing a chair, he advanced on Judge Dooly. The judge seized a +carving knife, and braced himself for defense. Several gentlemen caught +hold of the judge to prevent him from using the knife, while only one +held Major Walker. Surveying the scene, Judge Dooly calmly remarked, +"Gentlemen, one of you will be sufficient to prevent me from doing any +mischief. The rest of you had better hold Walker." The explosion that +this remark created put even Major Walker in good humor, and he and the +judge settled their differences in the most amiable and rational manner. + +When the Legislature passed severe laws against gaming, Judge Dooly +enforced them rigidly. Some of the gamblers were brought to trial and +fined, and others were only saved from arrest by the fact that they kept +out of the way when court was in session. + +But one night in Washington, Wilkes County, after the judge had been +holding court all the week and had closed the term, he went to his room +in the hotel and made all preparations to retire. He had barely settled +himself in bed, when he heard a noise in an adjoining room, and soon +discovered that a game of faro was going on. The noise disturbed him so, +that he dressed himself, went to the room, and told the players, that, +having tried all legal methods to break them up, and failed, he was +now determined to try another plan. He thereupon seated himself at the +table, and before the night was spent broke the bank. He then told the +gamblers to clear out, and be more careful in future how they interfered +with the court. + +Once when sitting up late at night, trying a very complicated case, the +sheriff voluntarily placed on the bench beside the judge a small pitcher +half filled with toddy. When he had finished the toddy, the judge called +to the officer, "Mr. Sheriff, fetch in some more water out of the same +spring." A murder case was once tried before him. The point in the case +was whether the prisoner had shot in self-defense. There was a good deal +said by the lawyers about the right to shoot. The jury, intending to +justify the prisoner, brought in this verdict: "The prisoner has a right +to shoot." When this verdict was read to the court, the judge held up +his hands in pretended alarm, and cried out, "Mr. Sheriff, don't let him +shoot this way!" + +A story is told of Judge Dooly and Tom Peter Carnes, another rare +humorist, that fairly illustrates the statement made in the beginning +of this chapter in regard to the plain and democratic character of the +people who settled Middle Georgia. Dooly and his friend Carnes were +traveling to court, having gone without breakfast in order to be up and +on their way at an early hour. At last they reached the place where they +were to get breakfast, and called for it with some show of impatience. +The lady of the house, however, was in no hurry. She said that they +should have breakfast the moment Charles came. So she called for +Charles, blew the horn for Charles, and finally sent for Charles. When +Charles put in an appearance, the two travelers found that he was a big +negro, so black and fat that he fairly glistened when the sun shone on +him. Naturally Dooly and Carnes were surprised. They were still more +surprised when the negro's mistress said in a coaxing tone, "Now, +Charles, I do wish you would sit down and let the gentlemen eat, as they +are in a hurry to go to court." Charles didn't like so much company; +but he finally sat down to the table, on which there was a big bowl of +clabber, three "hunks" of corn bread, and three pewter spoons. "Now, +Charles," said the woman, "do eat, and then the gentlemen will begin." +Making the best of the situation, and somewhat enjoying the humor of it, +Dooly and Carnes sat down at the table and began to eat. Carnes shook +his big spoon at the negro, and cried out, "Now, Charles, you must +spoony on your own side;" and he kept on warning him, "Spoony on your +own side, Charles, spoony on your own side." The two lawyers ate until +Charles's spoon began to make raids on their side of the bowl, and then +they abandoned the feast to him and went on their way. + +A landlord of a hotel, having heard some of the lawyers, among them +Judge Dooly, bragging about the toothsomeness of a baked pig they had +tasted, probably at Milledgeville during the session of the Legislature, +concluded that he would surprise and please them by having something in +that line himself. + +He was either ignorant or ill-advised; for, instead of baking a suckling +pig, he roasted a half-grown pig, stuffed him, put an apple in his +mouth, and stood him upon his stumps in a dish. In those days the seat +of honor at the head of the hotel table was reserved for the judge of +the court At the head of the table Mr. Pig was placed, facing Judge +Dooly's seat. The judge and the lawyers came in, sat down, and ate +dinner in comparative silence. They were overawed by Mr. Pig. Though +the carving knife lay handy, and the landlord and his wife were watching +with impatience and uneasiness to see what the lawyers would say when +they had tasted this particular roast pig, no one dared to touch it. At +supper Mr. Pig was still standing defiantly in his place. He presided at +every meal during the day following. On the morning of the second day, +when Judge Dooly came to the table, Mr. Pig was in his old position. +Thereupon the judge bowed to him gravely. "Good-morning, sir!" he said. +"I am afraid you have lost your appetite, seeing you have not eaten that +apple yet. I presume you are tired attending court.--Mr. Sheriff, you +may discharge him on his own recognizance, until court in course, seeing +we shall have no further use for him at this session, and return him the +thanks of the court for his prompt and faithful attendance." + +[Illustration: The Roast Pig 255] + +Judge Dooly was a member of the Clarke party; but on one occasion, +when he was a candidate for reelection to the judgeship of the northern +circuit, some of the Clarke men declared that Governor Troup's warlike +message was an evidence that he was mad. Judge Dooly made the comment, +"If he is mad, I wish the same mad dog that bit him would bite me." This +happy remark came to the ears of the Troup men in the Legislature, and +it so pleased them that they put an end to all opposition to the judge +in the election. + +Judge Dooly was one of the most charitable of men. He once refused to +give alms to an unfortunate woman in Savannah, and the refusal haunted +him all his life He declared that it taught him never to let Satan cheat +him out of another opportunity to help the unfortunate; that he had +determined to err on the safe side ever after. + +Just before he died, a friend called to ask after his condition. His +reply was that he had a bad cold without any cough to suit it. And so, +humor bubbling from his lips to the last, there passed away, on the 26th +of May, 1827, the rarest humorist that Georgia, the especial mother +of humorists, has ever produced. Judge Dooly had a humor that was as +illuminating as it was enlivening. It stirred to laughter or it moved to +tears, according as this wonderful man chose to direct it. + +A great deal of the humor that originated in Georgia has been printed +in books. We find it in Judge Long-street's "Georgia Scenes," in Major +Jones's "Travels," in Colonel Richard Malcolm Johnston's "Stories +of Georgia Life," and in other volumes that have attracted public +attention. But the best of it has been lost. It originated when the +lawyers were riding about on horseback or in buggies from court to +court, and tradition has only preserved a small part of it. + + + + +SLAVERY AND SECESSION. + +The dispute over slavery, which had been going on for many years, grew +furious in 1850; and its fury increased until, in 1860-61, it culminated +in the secession of the Southern States from the Union. Some of those +who have written the history of the secession movement contend that +slavery had little or nothing to do with the matter; that the South +seceded because the North had refused to grant her people their rights +guaranteed under the Constitution. This is true as far as it goes; but +the fact remains, that secession and the war grew out of the efforts of +the abolitionists of the North, and those who sympathized with them, to +keep slavery out of the Territories, and to prevent the new States then +forming from becoming slave States. There is no doubt that these efforts +were illegal and unconstitutional; and yet, in the minds of those who +made them, constitutionality was not a sufficient excuse for slavery, +which, whatever might be its political status, was morally wrong: that +is to say, they believed that such a wrong as slavery could not be +justified by paper constitutions and the like. Some of the more extreme +abolitionists of the North were just as ready to secede from the Union +that recognized slavery as the Southerners were to break up a Union +whose constitutional guaranties meant nothing. + +It must be borne in mind that the antislavery movement began in the +South. While slavery was in full blast both North and South, Thomas +Jefferson, the greatest political leader the South has ever produced, +was at the head of an emancipation movement, and in all parts of the +South there were men whose minds revolted at the possibilities that +swarmed about human slavery. Georgia was the only one of the Original +Thirteen Colonies in which slavery was prohibited, and we have seen +how this prohibition was repealed at the demand of the planters. Seven +Northern States, finding slavery unprofitable, abolished the system, +and a majority of the slaves were sold to the Southern States. But the +emancipation movement went on in the South. There were more than fifty +thousand free negroes in Virginia in 1856, and there were a great many +in Georgia. A number of planters in Georgia, the most prominent among +them being Alfred Cuthbert, emancipated their slaves, and arranged to +send them to Liberia. + +Nevertheless the invention of the cotton gin did more to strengthen +the cause of slavery than all other events combined. It became more +profitable than ever to own slaves; and in this way, and on this +account, all the cotton-growing States became interested in the system. +They had the excuse not only that slavery was profitable, but +that self-interest combined with feelings of humanity to make it a +patriarchal institution. And such, in fact, it was. It is to the glory +of the American character and name, that never before in the history of +the world was human slavery marked by such mildness, such humanity, as +that which characterized it in the United States. + +But all such considerations as these, as well as the moral objections +to slavery of any sort, humane or cruel, were lost sight of in the great +controversy that grew so furious in 1850. In that controversy some of +Georgia's ablest men took part,--men who were famous as statesmen all +over the country. There were Alexander H. Stephens, who afterwards +became the Vice-President of the Confederacy; Robert Toombs, whose fiery +and impetuous character and wonderful eloquence made him a man of mark; +Howell Cobb, who was speaker of the House of Representatives; Herschel +V. Johnson, who was a candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with +Stephen A. Douglas in 1860; Benjamin H. Hill, who was just then coming +into prominence; and Joseph E. Brown, whose influence on the political +history of the State has been more marked than that of any other +individual. + +The controversy growing out of the slavery question became so warm that +it led to the breaking-up of parties in 1850. Stephens and Toombs, +who had been Whigs, united with Howell Cobb, who was a Democrat. Other +Southern Whigs united under the name of the American party. At the North +the Whigs either joined the Republican party or united with the American +party. The spirit of disunion was rampant in all parts of the South. +In Georgia the Legislature had called a State convention, and a great +effort was made by some of the politicians to commit the State to +secession. Both Toombs and Stephens were strong Union men, and they +opposed the spirit and purpose of the call for the convention. +The speeches that Toombs had made in Congress were garbled by the +newspapers, and he was made to appear as favoring immediate secession. +He made short work of that scheme, however. He returned to Georgia in +the fall of 1850, and immediately began one of the most extraordinary +campaigns that has ever taken place in the State. He was in the prime +of life. His fiery energy, his boldness, his independence, and his +dauntless courage, were in full flower. He took issue with what seemed +to be the unanimous sentiment of the State. He declared that the call +for the convention had dishonored the State. He sent out a ringing +address to the people, urging the South to stand by the Constitution and +the laws in good faith. + +By the time the convention was held, the efforts of Toombs, supplemented +by those of Stephens and other conservative men, had turned the tide of +disunion. Whigs united with Democrats. When the returns of the election +were made known, it was found that a large majority of the members +were for the Union. "With no memory of past differences," said Toombs, +"careless of the future, I am ready to unite with any portion or all of +my countrymen in defense of the integrity of the Republic." So it was +that the convention met, and adopted what is known in our political +history as "The Georgia Platform." This platform said that Georgia held +the American Union secondary in importance to the rights and principles +it was bound to perpetuate; that, as the Thirteen Colonies found union +impossible without compromise, the thirty-one of that day would yield +somewhat in the conflict of opinion and policy, to preserve the Union; +that Georgia had maturely considered the action of Congress in adopting +the compromise measures, and, while she did not wholly approve that +action, would abide by it as a permanent adjustment of this sectional +controversy; that the State would in future resist, even to the +disruption of the Union, any act prohibiting slavery in the Territories, +or a refusal to admit a slave State into the Union. + +Thus the Union was saved in 1850 by the very man who had been charged +with trying to break it up. The eyes of the whole South were turned to +Georgia during that campaign; and when the people, under the leadership +of Toombs, Stephens, and Howell Cobb, voted to save the Union, the tide +of disunion was turned everywhere. The Georgia platform was made the +platform of the constitutional Union party in the Southern States. In +Mississippi, Henry S. Foote, the Union candidate, defeated Jefferson +Davis for governor. The action of Georgia strengthened the Union +sentiment in all parts of the country. + +For a while the situation was secure and satisfactory; but, in the +nature of things, this could not last. The politicians were busy while +the people were asleep. The Know-nothing party sprang up in a night, +and divided the people again; and in Congress the slavery discussion was +renewed with extreme bitterness over the bills to admit the Territories +of Kansas and Nebraska as States. This controversy was even more +exciting than that which resulted in the Compromise Laws of 1850. +Following close upon this agitation came John Brown's raid into +Virginia, and his attack on Harpers Ferry. In ordinary times this raid +would have been regarded with contempt by the Southern people. It was +a ridiculous affair,--the act of a man who had worked himself up into +a frenzy of folly. If the people themselves had not been influenced by +passion cunningly played on by the smaller politicians in both sections, +poor old John Brown would not have been regarded as a murderer by the +South nor as a martyr by the North. He would have been an object of pity +to the sensible men of both sections. + +But the state of public opinion was such at that time, that this +ridiculous venture of a crazy old man was a tremendous shock to the +South. It contributed more largely than any other event to alarm the +people of this section, and to turn their minds to secession as a relief +from, and a remedy for, such attacks upon the peace and good order of +society. It was a great stimulant to those who had long been in favor of +disunion, as well as to those at the North who were ready to get rid of +slavery by violence. Following this raid, public opinion both North and +South became so violently agitated, that the voices of conservative men +could not be heard above the storm. It was the hour of the agitator and +the extremist, and they made the most of it. The Democratic Convention, +to nominate a candidate for President and Vice-President, met in +Charleston on the 23d of April, 1860, and remained in session until the +second day of May. The confused state of public opinion was shown by the +turbulent division in that convention. + +At a moment when the wise men of the Democratic party, or of any party, +ought to have taken hold of affairs and made their influence felt, they +seemed to be unequal to the occasion. The members of the convention +could not agree, and the body adjourned to meet in Baltimore. But the +division continued and grew wider. The differences could not be settled. +One faction nominated Douglas and Johnson, and the other nominated +Breckinridge and Lane. The result was the election of Lincoln and Hamlin +as the candidates of the Republican party. + +[Illustration: Georgia Politics 264] + +In Georgia three of the ablest men still stood for the Union,--Alexander +H. Stephens, Herschel V. Johnson, and Benjamin H. Hill. But they were +unable to stem the tide. The vote of the State for members of the +convention that passed the ordinance of secession showed a majority +of only thirteen thousand for disunion; but Toombs, Thomas R. R. Cobb, +Howell Cobb, and others seized the advantage that events gave them, and, +in a whirlwind of passion, swept aside all the arguments and appeals +of the more conservative men. But, of all those who were in favor of +secession, Toombs was at that time the most powerful and influential. +He so managed matters in Congress as to make the secession of Georgia +follow the inevitable failure of measures that he proposed in that body. + +With the people of the South, and indeed with the people of the whole +country, divided between three parties, the election of a Republican +candidate was a foregone conclusion. Following this came secession, with +all the terrible disasters of a war in which the South could not have +hoped to succeed if reason and common sense had ruled. If the South +had fought for her constitutional rights in the Union and under the +old flag, the result might have been different. She would have had +the active sympathy and support of that large and influential body +of Northern men who were sincerely anxious to see the terms of the +Constitution faithfully carried out. But disunion was more than these +constitutional Democrats could stand. Daniel Webster had solidified +their love for the Union, and no consideration of party could affect it. + +The course of the South, considering all that was involved, should have +been conservative; but it was not. It is perfectly well known now that +Abraham Lincoln was willing to sacrifice the abolition party on the +altar of the Union. He was prompt to announce his policy in this +respect. But secession came, and with it came the doom of slavery. That +all was ordered by Providence, it would be foolish to deny; and yet it +is impossible not to regret the great sacrifice of blood and treasure +that was demanded by the unhappy war that followed secession. + + + + +THE FARMER BOY OF GADDISTOWN. + +In 1857, when Bob Toombs was looking after his large landed possessions +in Texas, and bringing the squatters to terms, he received a letter +from one of his political friends, announcing that the Democratic State +Convention had adjourned after nominating Joseph E. Brown as a candidate +for governor. Toombs was traveling with a party of friends, and to one +of them he read the letter. Then in a dazed way he asked, "Who is Joe +Brown?" His friend knew no more about Joe Brown than Senator Toombs did, +and all the way home the travelers were puzzling themselves with the +question, "Who is Joe Brown?" They were destined to find out; for the +convention that nominated Joe Brown for governor brought to the front +in Georgia politics one of the most remarkable men the State has ever +known. + +Shortly after his return to Georgia from Texas, Toombs was compelled to +meet Joe Brown to consult in regard to the details of the campaign in +which both were interested. It must have been an interesting meeting. It +was as if Prince Charlie and Cromwell had met to arrange a campaign. +It was a meeting between Puritan and Cavalier. Toombs was full-blooded, +hotheaded, impetuous, imperious. Joe Brown was pale, angular, awkward, +cold, and determined. It was as if in a new land the old issues had been +buried. Toombs was a man of the people, but in his own way, and it was +a princely and a dashing way. Brown was a man of the people, but in +the people's way; and it was a cold, calculating, determined, and +common-sense way. Howell Cobb had written to Toombs to go to the aid of +Brown, expressing a fear that the nominee, being a new and an untried +man, would not be able to hold his own against Ben Hill, who was the +candidate of the American or Know-nothing party for governor. So the +dashing and gallant senator sought out the new and unknown Democratic +candidate for governor, and had a conference with him. Toombs found the +young man strangely cold and placid, and yet full of the determination +that martyrs are made of. He found that Joe Brown had already mapped +out and arranged the plans for his campaign, and the more experienced +politicians saw nothing to change in them. They were marked by +shrewdness and sagacity, and covered every detail of party organization. +This was satisfactory; but how could the young man sustain himself on +the stump against such a speaker as Ben Hill, who, although a young +man, was a speaker of great force and power? Toombs thought it would be +better to meet Hill himself, and he started out with that purpose; +but when he heard Joe Brown make two or three speeches, and saw the +tremendous effect he produced on the minds of the audiences that +assembled to hear him, the older campaigner went home, satisfied that +young Brown needed no instruction and no coaching in the difficult art +of influencing the people and winning their votes. + +The personal history and career of Joseph E. Brown should be studied by +every ambitious boy in the land, especially by those who imagine they +cannot succeed because they lack opportunities that money and friends +would obtain for them. From 1857 to the close of the war, and after, +the political history of Joe Brown is the history of the State; but that +history, attractive as it is, is not so interesting as his struggle +to make a name for himself in the world. Joseph E. Brown was born in +Pickens County, South Carolina, and was the eldest of eleven children. +His family was English. His grandfather fought manfully against the +British and Tories in the Revolutionary War. His father fought under +Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, and was at the battle of New +Orleans on the 8th of January, 1815. + +Joe Brown was born in 1821. His parents were not so well off as to be +able to send the lad continuously to school as he grew up. He had to +"take his chances." He was compelled to work in the fields in season, +and was permitted to go to school only when there was nothing for him +to do on the little farm. He did farm labor from the time he was eight +until he reached the age of nineteen, and the schooling he had received +was only of the most haphazard kind. + +Before he was grown, his father moved from South Carolina into Georgia, +settling in Union County, near a little valley named Gaddistown. Up to +this time, though young Brown was nineteen years of age, he had learned +nothing but reading, writing, and arithmetic, and very little of +these. He was now compelled to work harder than ever. Settling in a new +country, and on new land that had to be cleared before it would yield a +crop, the Browns had as much as they could do to get the farm in order +in time for the planting season; and in this severe work, Joseph E., +being the eldest son, was the chief reliance of the family. He had a +pair of small steers with which he plowed; and when he wasn't plowing +on the farm, he was hauling wood and butter and vegetables to the small +market at Dahlonega, and taking back in truck and trade some necessary +article for the family. In this way he learned the lessons of patience, +self-control, and tireless industry that all boys ought to learn, +because they are not only the basis of content and happiness, but of all +success. + +When Joe Brown was twenty years old, his father allowed him to seek an +education. All he could do for the industrious and ambitious boy was +to give him his blessing and the yoke of steers with which he had been +plowing. With these young Brown returned to South Carolina and entered +an academy in Anderson district He gave the steers for eight months' +board, and went into debt for the tuition fee. In the fall of 1841 he +returned to Georgia and taught school for three months, and with the +money he received for this he paid for the schooling he had gone in debt +for. He returned to the Carolina academy in 1842, and went into debt not +only for his schooling, but for his board. His patience and his untiring +industry enabled him to make such rapid progress that within two years +he had fitted himself to enter an advanced class in college. But the +lack of means prevented him from entering college. Instead he returned +to Georgia and opened a school at Canton, Cherokee County. He opened +this school with six pupils, and the number rapidly increased to sixty, +so that he was able in a short time to settle the debts he had made +in Carolina. He taught school all day, and at night and on Saturdays +devoted himself to the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1845, +and was at once successful. He made no pretense of oratory; but his +simple and unpretending style, his homely and direct way of putting +a case, and his faculty of applying the test of common sense to all +questions, were as successful with juries as they afterwards proved to +be with the people; and before the people he was irresistible. + +[Illustration: Joe Brown and his Steers 270] + +But he was not yet through with his studies. A friend advanced him +the money necessary to enter the Law School of Yale; and there, from +October, 1845, to June, 1846, when he graduated, he took the lead in all +his classes, and had time to attend lectures in other departments of +the college. He returned home, began active practice, and was soon +prosperous. He became a State senator, and was afterwards made a judge +of the superior courts. + +When the Democratic Convention met in Milledgeville in 1857, for the +purpose of nominating a candidate for governor, it had so many popular +candidates to choose from, and these candidates had so many and such +strong friends, that the members found it impossible to agree on a +man. A great many ballots were taken, and there was a good deal of +"log-rolling" and "buttonholing," as the politicians call it, on behalf +of the various candidates by their special friends. But all this did no +good. There was a deadlock. No one of the candidates was able to obtain +a two-thirds majority, which, according to Democratic law, was the +number necessary to a nomination. Twenty-one ballots had been taken with +no result, and the convention had been in session three days. Finally +it was decided to appoint a special committee made up of three delegates +from each congressional district. It was the duty of this committee to +name a candidate on whom the convention could agree. When this committee +retired, it was proposed that a ballot be taken, each committeeman +writing the name of the candidate of his choice on a slip of paper, and +depositing the slip in a hat. This was done; but before the ballots were +counted, Judge Linton Stephens, a brother of Alexander H., stated that +such a formality was not necessary. He thereupon moved that Judge Joseph +E. Brown of Cherokee be selected as the compromise man, and that his +name be reported to the convention. This was agreed to unanimously, and +Joseph E. Brown was nominated; and yet, if the written ballots had +been counted, it would have been found that Alfred H. Colquitt, who +afterwards became so distinguished in Georgia, had been nominated by +the committee. He received a majority of one of the written ballots +when they were afterwards counted through curiosity. Twenty-three years +later, Colquitt, who was then governor, made Joseph E. Brown a United +States senator under circumstances that aroused strong opposition, and +immediately afterwards Brown aided Colquitt to a reelection in one of +the bitterest contests the State has ever witnessed. + +The unexpected nomination of Brown by the convention of 1857 introduced +into State politics the most potent element that it had ever known. The +nomination, surprising as it was, was not half so surprising as some +of the results that have followed it. At the moment the convention +nominated him, Joe Brown was tying wheat in one of his fields near +Canton, in Cherokee County. He was then judge of the Blue Ridge Circuit; +and on the day that his name was placed before the Democratic Convention +at Milledgeville, he had returned home. After dinner he went out into +his farm to see how his men were getting on. He had four men cutting +wheat with cradles, and he found the binders very much behind. About +half-past two o'clock he pulled off his coat and ordered the binders to +keep up with him. It was on the 15th of June, 1857. The weather was very +warm, but he kept at work all the afternoon. About sundown he went home, +and was preparing to bathe, when a neighbor, who had been to Marietta +and heard the news, rode to his house and told him about the nomination, +which had been made at three o'clock that afternoon. Telling about the +incident afterwards, Joe Brown, with a twinkle in his eye, said that he +had heard that a good many men were anxious to buy that wheat field, +so as to have an opportunity to tie wheat in it while a nominating +convention was in session. + +The great majority of the people of the State were as much puzzled about +Joe Brown as Toombs was. Either they had not heard of him before, or +they had forgotten him. In those days a man who made a reputation in the +Cherokee country was not known to the rest of the State for a long time. +The means of communication were slow and uncertain. But the whole State +found him out just as Toombs did. He was prompt to begin the campaign. +Toombs had already left the Whig party, and was acting with the +Democrats. Stephens had left the Whigs, but had not become a Democrat. +He was an Independent. He was, as he expressed it, "toting his own +skillet." Ben Hill was Joe Brown's opponent, and these two met in debate +before the people on two or three occasions. It was thought at first +that Mr. Hill had the advantage of the tall and ungainly candidate from +Cherokee, but the end of the contest showed that the advantage was all +the other way. Mr. Hill was a man of very marked ability. He was one +of the few good speakers who could write well, and one of the few +fine writers who could speak well. He had courage, he had wit, he had +learning, he had eloquence; he had everything, in fact, to attract +popular approval and entice a popular following; but somehow, and until +the very latest years of his life, he fell far short of being a popular +idol. He was showy and effective before a mixed crowd, he never failed +to attract applause, and it was supposed that Brown was making a losing +campaign; but the campaign was going just the other way. Hill, in +the course of his discussion, said hundreds of things that the +people applauded; while Brown said hundreds of things that the people +remembered, and carried home with them, and thought over. Joe Brown was +not only a man of the people, but a man of the country people; and +he pleased the city people who had formerly lived in the country. The +result of the campaign was that Know-nothingism was buried out of sight +in Georgia. Joe Brown was elected by more than ten thousand majority, +and the Democratic majority in the Legislature was overwhelming. + +Although he was only thirty-six years old when he became governor, the +people began to call him "Old Judg_ment_." This was due no less to his +peculiar gift of hard common sense than to his peculiar pronunciation. +His speech and his ways were "countrified," and they remained so all +the days of his life. His voice was not musical, and he had a peculiar +drawling intonation, which, if it had been a little more nasal, would +have been an exact reproduction of the tone and manner of the Down-east +Yankee. He shared these peculiarities with hundreds of the descendants +of the Puritans who settled in the mountains of East Tennessee and North +Georgia. He had no wish for the luxuries of life; and though he lived +comfortably, he never, even when by close economy he had accumulated one +of the largest fortunes in Georgia, cared to live finely. He was a plain +man at first and a plain man at last, always temperate, industrious, and +economical. + +His term of office in the governor's chair was for two years, and at +the end of that time he had almost entirely remolded and refashioned his +party. He had stamped his own personality and character upon it, and it +became in truth and in fact the party of the people,--the common people. +In his management of State affairs he had introduced the plain business +methods suggested by common sense; he dispensed with all unnecessary +officials; he shook off all the hangers-on; he uprooted all personal +schemes: so that when the time came to nominate a man to succeed him, it +was found that the people had no other choice. His party thought of no +other name. + +The year of Joe Brown's second nomination, as we have seen, was the year +that witnessed John Brown's ridiculous raid into Virginia. The people of +the South, however, thought it was a very serious matter, and the people +of Georgia were not different from those of the rest of the South. Some +very wise men allowed themselves to be led away by their passions. Even +Joe Brown, as Alexander Stephens once said, "tucked his judgment under +the bed" for the time being. Back of the indignation created by the John +Brown raid was the unconfessed and half-formed fear that the Northern +abolitionists would send their agents to the South and organize a negro +insurrection. Many of the Southern people remembered the horrors of San +Domingo, and there was a vague and an undefined but constant dread that +such a rising of the blacks would take place in the South. But there +never was any such danger in Georgia. The relations between the slaves +and their masters were too friendly and familiar to make such an +uprising possible. The abolitionists did send agents to the South to +stir the negroes to rebellion, and some of them came to Georgia, but +in every instance their mission became known to the whites through the +friendliness of the blacks. There was always some negro ready to tell +his master's family when the abolition agents made their appearance. +Still the people resented to the utmost the spirit that moved certain +so-called philanthropists of the North to endeavor to secure the freedom +of the negroes by means of the torch and midnight murder. + +Consequently in 1859, when Joe Brown was nominated for governor the +second time, the people were greatly stirred. Sectional feeling ran +high. In that year began the active movement that led to secession and +the civil war. If all our statesmen had been as wise as Mr. Stephens +and Mr. Hill, war would have been averted. Slavery itself, in the very +nature of things, was doomed. It had accomplished its providential +mission. It had civilized and christianized millions of savages who had +been redeemed from slavery in their own land. It had justified its own +ends, and would have passed away in good time, no matter what compromise +may have been made. + +Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hill were opposed to secession. They were for +fighting, if there must be a fight, in the Union, and this was the true +policy. For a while the people of Georgia were earnestly in favor +of this; but the efforts of the abolitionists to stir the negroes to +insurrection, and the inflammatory appeals of some of the leading +men, led them to oppose a policy which was at once just, wise, and +considerate. Even Joseph E. Brown, cool, calculating, placid, and not +easily-swayed by emotion, became a disunionist, demonstrating once again +that beneath the somber and calm exterior of the Puritan is to be +found a nature as combative and as unyielding as that which marks the +Cavalier. + +Joe Brown was reelected in 1859, and did everything in his power as +governor to hasten the event of secession. The National Democratic +Convention met in Charleston, and the meeting showed that the +differences between the Democrats could not be settled; and it so +happened, that, while the South was opposed by the solid and rapidly +growing Republican party, the people of the South were divided among +themselves. What is most remarkable, the people of the South, after +making the election of the Republican candidate certain by dividing +among themselves, seemed to be amazed at the result. In some instances +county meetings were held in Georgia, and resolutions sent to the +Legislature declaring the election of Lincoln and Hamlin "a violation of +national comity." Nothing could show more clearly that the minds of the +voters were upset. + +On Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union, and the event +was made the occasion for great rejoicing by the secession element in +Georgia. Bonfires were kindled, guns were fired, and people seemed to +be wild with enthusiasm. Georgia did not secede until Jan. 19, 1861; but +Governor Brown did not wait for that event. He committed the first overt +act of the war. He seized Fort Pulaski, on the Savannah, Jan. 3, 1861. + +On the 22d of January, ten cases of muskets belonging to a firm in Macon +were seized by the New York police after they had been placed on board a +vessel. Governor Brown sent a telegram to Governor Morgan, demanding +the release of these arms. Governor Morgan hesitated some time before he +made any response. Meanwhile, Governor Brown waited three days, and then +ordered the seizure of every ship in the harbor of Savannah belonging to +citizens of New York. Two brigs, two barks, and a schooner were seized +and held by the State troops. When this seizure was made known, Governor +Brown received official notification that the arms had been released. He +therefore ordered the release of the vessels. But when the agents of the +Macon firm made an effort to get the arms, they were refused. Promptly +Governor Brown seized other vessels, and caused them to be advertised +for sale. + +This was merely the beginning of those greater events that cast a shadow +over the whole country. The farmer boy of Gaddistown was reelected +governor in 1861, and continued to hold the office until 1865. + + + + +GEORGIA IN THE WAR. + +[Illustration: Georgia in the War 279] + +When the Southern Confederacy was organized at Montgomery, Ala., there +was great enthusiasm all over the South, especially in Georgia; and this +feeling kept up until the State had given to the Confederate armies +a hundred and twenty thousand soldiers, twenty thousand more than its +voting population. By reason of the fame and number of its public men, +Georgia had a controlling influence in the organization of the new +government. Howell Cobb was president of the convention of the seceded +States that met in Montgomery on the fourth day of February, 1861; +and it is well known that the convention itself was in favor of making +Robert Toombs president of the provisional government that was there +formed. Mr. Toombs, however, expressly forbade the use of his name. +The Georgia delegates then concluded to support Jefferson Davis of +Mississippi for president, and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia for +vice-president. + +Only a few men doubted that the South would conquer the North, and +among these was Herschel V. Johnson. There was an idea abroad, that one +Southerner could whip a dozen Northerners. Nobody knows how this idea +got out, nor why the absurdity of it was not plain to all; but the +newspapers were full of it, and the speech makers insisted on it so +roundly that the people began to believe it. One orator declared that he +could take one company of "Southrons," arm them with popguns, and run a +regiment of Yankees out of the country. Another stated that he would +be willing to drink all the blood that would be shed as the result +of secession. It is said that both of these orators were asked for an +explanation by their constituents after the war was over. The first +said that the reason he didn't run the Yankees out of the country with +popguns was because they wouldn't fight that way. The second one, who +had promised to drink all the blood, said that exposure in camp had +interfered with his digestion, and his appetite wasn't as good as it +ought to be. + +At this time and afterwards there was an overwhelming sentiment in favor +of the Union in some parts of North Georgia. The people of that section +had few slaves, and the arguments in favor of the protection of slavery +in the Territories did not appeal to them: consequently they were +opposed to secession. There was but one thing that prevented serious +trouble between these Union men and the State government, and that +was the fact that Joe Brown was governor. He knew the North Georgians +thoroughly, and he knew precisely how to deal with them. General +Harrison W. Riley, a leading citizen of Lumpkin County, declared that +he intended to seize the mint at Dahlonega, and hold it for the United +States. This threat was telegraphed to Governor Brown by some of the +secession leaders in that part of the State, and they appealed to him to +send troops to Dahlonega at once, and seize the mint by force. But the +governor knew Riley and the people of North Georgia too well to make any +show of force. He knew that any such demonstration would excite sympathy +for Riley, and inflame the Union sentiment there.. So Governor Brown +wrote to some of Riley's friends, telling them what he had heard, and +saying that he had known General Riley too long, and had too high an +opinion of his good sense and patriotism, to believe the report. At the +same time the governor informed the superintendent of the mint that the +State of Georgia now held that institution. The superintendent said he +was willing to act under the orders of the governor. + +At Jasper, the county seat of Pickens County, the feeling of loyalty to +the Union was very strong. The delegate from that county to the State +convention had refused to sign his name to the ordinance of secession. +Soon after the State had seceded, the citizens of Jasper planted a pole, +and raised on it a United States flag, and kept it floating there for +several weeks in open defiance of the Confederate and State authorities. +This was an event to be delicately handled. The slightest mistake would +have created a state of feeling in North Georgia that would have given +no end of trouble during the whole war. But the Union flag floating in +Pickens County irritated the rest of the State; and hundreds of appeals +were made to Governor Brown to send troops to Jasper, and have the flag +taken down by force. To these appeals he made but one response, and then +turned a deaf ear to all criticism. "Let the flag float there," he said. +"It floated over our fathers, and we all love the flag now. We have only +been compelled to lay it aside by the injustice that has been practiced +under its folds. If the people of Pickens desire to hang it out and keep +it there, let them do so. I shall send no troops to interfere with it." + +While this wise management on the part of Governor Brown did not change +the sentiments of the Union men of North Georgia, it prevented any +serious outbreak, and kept them soothed and quieted throughout the war. +Matters were managed differently in East Tennessee; and the result +was, that the Union men of that section went into the business of +bushwhacking, and created a great deal of trouble. While Governor Brown +exercised authority without regard for precedent, the time and the +occasion being without precedent, he was very wise and very prudent in +meeting such emergencies as those that arose in North Georgia. + +By the time the election for governor came on, Joe Brown had aroused a +good deal of opposition. He had had a controversy with the Confederate +authorities because the latter had enrolled troops from Georgia without +first making a requisition on the governor. He had seized several +cargoes of salt which the speculators had been holding for higher +prices. There was at that early day, and all during the war, a salt +famine in the South. The farmers found it difficult to save their meat, +owing to the scarcity of salt. It is a curious fact, that, when the +famine was at its height, a pound of salt was worth a pound of silver. +Foreseeing this famine, a great many shrewd business men had laid in +large stocks of salt, storing it about in large warehouses in different +parts of the State. They were about to realize immense fortunes out of +the sufferings of the people, when Governor Brown stepped in and seized +all the salt the State authorities could lay hands on, and prohibited +the shipment of the article out of the State. The Legislature afterwards +came to the support of the governor; but if the matter had been +discussed in the Legislature in advance of the action of the executive, +the speculators would have had timely notice, and the State authorities +would have found no salt to seize. + +[Illustration: The Salt Famine 284] + +This salt famine was almost as serious as any result of the war, and +it hung over the State until the close of the contest. In thousands of +instances the planters who had been prodigal of salt before the war, dug +up the dirt floors of their smokehouses, and managed to extract a small +supply of the costly article. The Legislature was compelled to +organize a salt bureau, and for that purpose half a million dollars was +appropriated. The State, in self-defense, took into its own hands the +monopoly of manufacturing salt and of distributing it to the people. + +The next difficulty with which the people of Georgia had to contend was +the Conscription Act. This act passed the Confederate Congress in April, +1862. It had been recommended by Mr. Davis in a special message, and +Congress promptly passed it. Nobody in Georgia could understand why +such a law had been recommended, or why it had passed. It was the most +ruinous blunder of the Confederate Government during the war. If such a +law was necessary, it showed that the Confederacy had fallen to pieces. +If it was not necessary, its enactment was a stupendous piece of +folly; and such it turned out to be. Under the last call for troops +for Confederate service, Governor Brown had no difficulty in furnishing +eighteen regiments. He could have gone on furnish ing troops as long as +there was any fighting material left in the State; but as soon as the +Conscript Act went into operation, the ardor of the people sensibly +cooled. The foolish law not only affected the people at home, but hurt +the army in the field. It was a reflection on the patriotism of the +whole Southern population. The law was the occasion of a controversy +between Governor Brown and President Davis, in which Brown, in the +nature of things, had a decided advantage; for the Conscript Act wiped +out the whole theory of State rights, on which the people of the South +depended to justify secession. But Georgia did not stand in the way of +the law. It was enforced, and the terms of its enforcement did the work +of disorganization more thoroughly than the hard times and the actual +war were doing it. + +In March, 1863, the governor issued a proclamation convening the +Legislature in special session to discuss the subject of bread. This was +a very important subject at that time. In his message, the governor said +that the time had come for the farmers to raise bread instead of cotton. +He also laid before the Legislature' the reports of the distribution of +the fund of two and a half millions of dollars for the support of the +indigent families of soldiers. These reports showed what havoc the war +had created among the people of a State which, not much more than two +years before, was one of the most prosperous in the country. The fund +had been distributed among more than eighty-four thousand people. +Of this number, about forty-six thousand were children, twenty-four +thousand were kinswomen of poor living soldiers, eight thousand were +orphans, four thousand were widows of dead soldiers, and five hundred +were soldiers disabled in service. Governor Brown, out of his own barn, +gave the people of Cherokee County four thousand dollars' worth of corn. +These events show the straits to which the people had been reduced by +two years of actual war. + +It should be borne in mind, however, that the people had to fight the +Union army in front, and the speculators and extortioners in the +rear. Governor Brown tried hard to make the lives of this latter class +entirely miserable, and he succeeded in a way that delighted the people. +Wherever he could get his hands on a speculator or extortioner, he shook +him up. He made many seizures, and confiscated the hoards of a great +many men who had influence with some of the newspapers; and in this way +life in the State was made almost as exciting as the experience of the +soldiers at the front. + +In 1863, Governor Brown wanted to retire from office. The strain on +his health and strength had been very severe, and he felt that he was +breaking down. He wanted to make Toombs, who was then a general in the +army, his successor. But Brown's friends insisted that he should make +the race. The public opinion of Georgia and of the whole South +insisted on it. So he became a candidate for a fourth term. He had two +opponents,--Joshua Hill, who had been a strong Union man; and Timothy +Furlow, who was an ardent secessionist and a strong supporter of the +Confederate administration; but Governor Brown was elected by a large +majority over both candidates. + +The war went steadily on, and during the year 1864 Georgia became the +battle ground,--the strategic point. This fact the Union commanders +realized very early, and began their movements accordingly. Virginia +was merely the gateway to the Confederacy, but Georgia was very near +the center of its vitality. This was shown by the fact that when Atlanta +fell, and Sherman began his destructive march to the sea, it was known +on all sides that the Confederate Government was doomed. This movement, +strange to say, was hastened by the Confederate authorities. General +Joseph E. Johnston, one of the greatest commanders of the war, was +removed at a critical moment, when his well-disciplined army had reached +Atlanta. He was ordered from Richmond to turn his army over to the +command of General Hood, and within a very few days the fate of +the Confederacy had been decided. Hood at once ordered an attack on +Sherman's lines. He was repulsed, and then compelled to evacuate the +city. General Sherman detached General Thomas from his main army to +follow Hood on his march toward the Tennessee, and moved across the +State to Savannah. Within a very few months thereafter the war was +brought to a close. Colonel I. W. Avery, in his "History of Georgia," +says that on the thirty-first day of December, 1864, one dollar in gold +was worth forty-nine dollars in Confederate money. The private soldier +received eleven dollars of this money for a month's service. He could +buy a pound of meat with his month's pay. He could buy a drink of +whisky, and have one dollar left over. With four months' pay he could +buy a bushel of wheat. General Toombs once humorously declared that +a negro pressman worked all day printing money, and then until nine +o'clock at night to pay himself off. There was a grain of truth in this +humor,--just enough to picture the situation as by a charcoal sketch. + + + + +A DARING ADVENTURE. + +On the 12th day of April, 1862, the anniversary of the firing on Fort +Sumter by the Confederates, a passenger train pulled out of the old car +shed in Atlanta. It was a "mixed" train, being composed of three freight +cars, a baggage car, and the passenger coaches. The train started +from Atlanta at an early hour, arrived at Marietta about daylight, +and stopped at Big Shanty, about seven miles north of Marietta, +for breakfast. At Marietta, early as the hour was, quite a crowd of +passengers were waiting to take the train. This excited no remark. There +was a good deal of travel and traffic on the State Road at that time, +for it was the key to the Confederacy--the one artery that connected the +army at the front with its source of supplies. + +The conductor of the train was Captain William A. Fuller, of Atlanta. +Captain Fuller's title was not one of courtesy. He was a captain in the +Confederate Army, on detached service. The engineer in charge of the +locomotive was Jeff Cain. Mr. Antony Murphy, an employee of the road, +was also on the train. At Big Shanty the passengers were allowed +twenty minutes for breakfast, but the train men were in the habit of +dispatching their meal a little quicker than this, so as to see that +everything about the locomotive was shipshape when the conductor tapped +the bell. Captain Fuller, sitting at a table near a window, had a +full view of the train. He had hardly begun to eat before he saw the +locomotive (the now famous "General") and the three freight cars pull +out, and heard the gong sound as the cord snapped. He rose instantly and +rushed from the breakfast room, followed by Engineer Cain and Antony +Murphy. He saw the "General" going at full speed up the road with +three freight cars attached. Without hesitation Captain Fuller started +after the flying train on foot, followed by Cain and Murphy. Hundreds of +soldiers were idling about the station. They had no idea what was taking +place. They thought either that the locomotive had been carried up the +track to take on or leave a freight car, or that some practical joker +was playing a prank. They showed their enjoyment of the situation by +laughing and cheering loudly when Captain Fuller, followed by Engineer +Cain and Mr. Murphy, started after the "General "on foot. + +[Illustration: Capture of the Locomotive 289] + +The locomotive had been captured, and had the plan of its captors been +successful, a paralyzing, perhaps a fatal, blow would have been struck +at the Confederacy. The way the capture had come about was this: Early +in 1862 the Federal commanders planned an advance on Chattanooga; but +the fact that stood in their way was, that at various points along the +line of railroad leading from Atlanta to Chattanooga, Confederate troops +had been posted: consequently the moment an advance on Chattanooga was +made, soldiers and war supplies could be hurried forward to the relief +of the city. It was General Mitchell of the Federal army who planned the +advance; and it was J. J. Andrews, an active spy in the Union service, +who planned a raid by means of which it was intended to burn the bridges +on the road north of Marietta, cut the telegraph wires, and thus destroy +for a time the lines of transportation and communication between Atlanta +and Chattanooga, and make the capture of the last-named point an easy +matter. Andrews suggested to General Mitchell that a party of bold men +could make their way to a station on the Western and Atlantic Railway +(called the State Road because it was owned by the State), capture a +locomotive, and then steam towards Chattanooga, burning the bridges and +cutting the telegraph lines as they went along. Although there seemed +to be small chance for the success of such a daring adventure, General +Mitchell gave his consent to it, agreeing to pay Andrews sixty thousand +dollars if he succeeded. To aid him, Andrews was allowed to select a +number of young men who had already made a reputation in the Federal +army for intelligence and bravery. + +There were twenty-four men in this small expedition when it started for +Chattanooga. They were under the command of Andrews, who was a tall, +handsome man with a long black beard. He was cold, impassive, and had +the air of one who is born to command. He was bold as a lion, and never +once lost his coolness, his firmness, or his decision. He and his men +pretended to be Kentuckians who had become disgusted with the Lincoln +government and were making their way South, where they might find more +congenial company than that of the ardent Union men who were their +neighbors at home. This story was plausible on the face of it, for many +Southern sympathizers had fled from Tennessee and Kentucky when the +Federals began to take possession of those sections. + +Andrews and his men tramped southward more than a hundred miles before +they reached Chattanooga. Before going into that city, they divided into +smaller squads, and all but two succeeded in eluding guards, sentinels, +and patrols, and passing into the town. They left Chattanooga on a train +bound for Atlanta, buying tickets for Marietta. They reached Marietta in +safety, and went to different hotels for the night. They had arranged +to meet again at four o'clock the next morning and take the north-bound +train. Two of the men were not called by the clerk of the hotel at which +they stopped: consequently they overslept, and their companions had to +go on without them when the train arrived. They had learned that Big +Shanty had no telegraph office, and that it was a breakfast station. At +that point Andrews determined to capture the locomotive. It was not long +before the brakeman put his head in at the door of the car and yelled +out, "Big Shanty! Twenty minutes for breakfast!" + +Andrews and his men looked out of the windows of the car as the train +drew up at the station, and the sight they saw was not calculated to +make them feel certain of success. Opposite the station was a field +covered with the tents of soldiers, and in and around the station +thousands of soldiers were loitering and standing about. When the train +stopped, Andrews, the leader, and Knight, an engineer who had come with +the party, rose and left the coach on the side opposite the depot, and +went to the locomotive, which they found empty. They also saw that the +track was clear. Andrews and Knight then walked back until they came to +the last of the three box cars. Andrews told his engineer to uncouple +the baggage car from the box car, and then wait for him. Knight did as +he was told, while Andrews walked leisurely back to the passenger coach, +opened the door, and said quietly, "Now is our time, boys! Come on!" + +The men rose at once and went out of the coach. Knight, as soon as he +saw them coming, climbed into the locomotive, cut the bell rope, and +stood with his hand on the throttle, waiting for the word. Andrews stood +near the locomotive, and motioned with his hand for the men to get into +the box cars, the doors of which were slid back. All the men were now in +the box cars except Andrews, Knight, and another engineer named Brown, +who ran forward and climbed into the locomotive. While this was going +on, a sentinel stood within half a dozen yards of the train, but he +had no idea what was occurring. Andrews gave the signal to go ahead. +Instantly Knight pulled the throttle valve open, and the locomotive +started forward with a jerk. It went puffing and snorting out of Big +Shanty without let or hindrance. + +But the train had not gone very far before the speed of the locomotive +began to slacken. The fire in the furnace refused to burn, and the +steam was low. While the engineer was trying to discover what was wrong, +Andrews ordered the men to cut the telegraph wire and tear up a rail +from the track. By the time the rail had been torn up and the wire +cut, the engineer had discovered that the dampers of the fire box were +closed. With these open, the boiler began to make steam again, and +the locomotive was soon rattling over the rails once more. It was +the intention of Andrews to run the captured train on the time of the +regular passenger train, so that he would have only one train to meet +and pass before reaching the Resaca River, where he intended to burn the +bridge. This done, it would have been an easy matter to burn the bridges +over the Chickamauga. This crooked stream winds about the valleys so +unexpectedly, and in such curious fashion, that the railroad crosses it +eleven times within a few miles. These eleven bridges Andrews intended +to burn as he went along, and then he would not fear pursuit. His +success seemed to be certain. + +The captured locomotive, an old-fashioned machine with a big heavy +smokestack, went clanking and clattering along the road, and reeling +and rumbling through the towns, dragging after it the three box cars +containing the men whom Andrews had brought with him. After passing +a station, the locomotive would be stopped and the wire cut. When the +train reached Cassville, wood and water were running low, and a stop was +made to get a fresh supply. The doors of the box cars were closed, and +the men inside could not be seen. The station agent at this place was +very inquisitive. He wanted to know why so small and insignificant a +freight train was running on the time of the morning passenger train. +Andrews promptly told the agent that the train was not a freight, but an +express, and that it was carrying three cars of gunpowder to Beauregard. +The agent believed the story, and furnished Andrews with a train +schedule. + +[Illustration: Tearing up the Rails 295] + +From Cassville the distance to Kingston was seven miles, and at that +point a freight train was to be passed. When Andrews reached the place, +he found that the freight had not arrived. He therefore switched his +train into a siding to wait for the freight train, and repeated his +powder story for the benefit of the inquisitive. When the freight +arrived, he saw that it carried a red flag. This meant another train +was on the road. After another long half hour's wait, the second freight +train came in sight, and Andrews was dismayed to see another red flag +displayed. The railroad men said another train was following. The men +on the captured train were compelled to wait more than an hour. To those +shut up in the box cars this was a very trying time. They had no means +of knowing what had happened, or what was about to happen, until Knight, +the engineer, found an opportunity to saunter by and tell them what the +trouble was. At the end of an hour the long wait was over. The freight +trains had passed, and the captured locomotive, dragging the box cars, +went swiftly out of Kingston. A short distance beyond, the usual stop +was made, and the wires cut An attempt was made to tear up the track by +some of the men, while others loaded the box cars with railroad ties. +While engaged in this work, the men heard the screaming whistle of +a locomotive in full pursuit. They were more than amazed: they were +paralyzed. If a pursuing locomotive had sprung out of the ground at +their feet with a full head of steam on, they could not have been more +astonished. They had just passed three freight trains headed in the +opposite direction, and now here was a pursuing locomotive coming +after them at full speed, and with a full head of steam on. Making one +spasmodic effort, they broke the rail they were trying to tear up. + +Reaching Adairsville, Andrews and his men found that the passenger train +had not arrived. But it was no time for waiting. They resolved to take +every chance. The engineer had orders to send the locomotive along at +full speed. He was very willing to do this. Calhoun was nine miles away, +and if that station could be reached before the passenger train left, +all would be well; if not, there was danger of a collision. But Andrews +took all the chances. The throttle of the locomotive was pulled wide +open, and the train started so suddenly and so swiftly that the men in +the box cars were thrown from their feet. The distance to Calhoun was +nine miles, and the train bearing Andrews and his men made it in seven +minutes and a half,--pretty swift traveling, when it is remembered that +the track was full of short curves, and not in the best condition. + +As the locomotive neared Calhoun, Engineer Knight gave several loud +blasts on the whistle; and it was well he did so, for the passenger +train had just begun to pull out of Calhoun on its way to Adairsville. +If the whistle had been blown a moment later than it was, the passenger +train would have been under full headway, and the signal would not have +been heard; but the passenger train had just begun to move, and was +going slowly. The whistle was heard, and the engineer backed his train +to Calhoun again. But when Andrews and his men arrived, they found a new +difficulty in the way. The passenger train was such a long one that the +rear end blocked the track. Andrews tried to get the conductor to move +on to Adairsville and there meet the upbound passenger train; but that +official was too badly scared by the danger he had just escaped to take +any more chances, and he refused to budge until the other train should +arrive. This would be fatal to the plans of Andrews, and that bold +adventurer made up his mind that the time had come for force to be used. +The conductor was finally persuaded to allow Andrews to go ahead with +his powder train. He ran a little more than a mile beyond Calhoun, +stopped his train, ordered the wire cut and another rail torn up. While +they were busily engaged in this work, they were both amazed and alarmed +to see a locomotive approaching from the direction of Calhoun. They had +only bent the rail, and were compelled to leave it and get out of the +way of their pursuers. + +Andrews and his men were bold and intrepid, even reckless; but the man +who had charge of the pursuit had all these qualities and more. Captain +Fuller was possessed of an energy and a determination that allowed +nothing to stand in their way. + +We have seen how Captain Fuller sprang from the breakfast table at Big +Shanty, and went running after the flying locomotive. Engineer Jeff Cain +and Mr. Murphy followed after. The soldiers loitering about the station +laughed and cheered at the queer spectacle of a conductor giving chase +on foot to his locomotive which, with a part of his train, was running +away under a full head of steam. All of Captain Fuller's energies were +aroused to their highest pitch, and he easily distanced his companions. +He ran fully three miles, and then came upon a squad of section hands +who had been engaged in repairing the track. They were now very much +excited. The captured locomotive had stopped with them long enough for +the men on the box cars to seize all their tools and cut the telegraph +wire, being careful to take away about fifty feet, so that the wire +could not be promptly joined. From the demoralized section hands Captain +Fuller learned of the number of men on the locomotive, and was given +reason to suspect that they were Federals in disguise. The section hands +had what was then called a pole car, a small affair which they pushed +with poles from point to point. It had been derailed to make way for the +up passenger train. Conductor Fuller had it lifted upon the track, +and then debated with himself as to whether he should go back for his +engineer, Jeff Cain, who, with Mr. Antony Murphy, had been left far +behind. Concluding that it would be well to have his engineer with +him, Captain Fuller pressed some of the section hands into service, and +pushed down the road the way he had come, going more than a mile before +he met Cain and Murphy. Once on the old hand car, Captain Fuller turned +and again began the pursuit as energetically as before, although he knew +that valuable time had been lost. Something of their leader's energy +and dauntless spirit was imparted to the men with him, and they made +tolerable speed with the pole car; but, suddenly, while they were poling +along at a great rate, the car tumbled from the track. They had now come +to the place where the would-be bridge burners had torn up the first +rail. The pursuers were not hurt by the fall. They jumped to their feet, +pushed the car over the obstruction, and were soon on their way again, +going even more rapidly than before. In this way the pursuit led by +Captain Fuller came to Etowah Station. Here he found the old "Yonah," a +locomotive belonging to the Mark A. Cooper Iron Works. The "Yonah" was +a superannuated engine, but Captain Fuller pressed it and its crew into +his service. The rickety old "Yonah" seemed to enter into the spirit of +the pursuit, for the distance to Kingston--thirteen miles--was made in +twelve minutes. + +As Andrews and his men had been delayed at Kingston for more than an +hour waiting for the freight trains to allow him to pass, the pursuers, +led by Captain Fuller, arrived at Kingston only ten minutes after the +raiders left. The tracks were crowded with these freight trains when the +"Yonah" arrived, and Captain Fuller saw at a glance that the locomotive +would be of no further service in the chase. He leaped from the engine, +and ran about two miles to the north angle of the Rome railway, where +he knew he would find the locomotive of the Rome road standing at this +hour. He pressed the engine and crew into service, and again took up the +pursuit of the fleeing raiders. + +Andrews and his men, in the meantime, had stopped and loaded their box +cars with old cross-ties and discarded rails These they began to throw +out of the rear end of their hindmost car as a measure of safety. They +did not suspect pursuit at this time, but they took the precaution +to obstruct the track in this manner. Six miles north of Kingston the +raiders stopped and tore up several rails. Captain Fuller rode on the +pilot of his engine, and removed such of the obstructions as were not +knocked off by the cowcatcher. + +When Captain Fuller reached the point where the rails had been removed, +his locomotive was useless. But his blood was now up. He abandoned the +engine, and ran on foot towards Adairsville, where he knew he would find +a through freight train. In fact he met it after he had run about three +miles, flagged it down, reversed it, and carried it back to Adairsville. +There, taking the engine, tender forward, with its crew, he renewed the +pursuit. The locomotive was run at an extraordinary rate of speed; +but Captain Fuller felt it to be his duty to ride on the bumper of +the tender, a precarious position even when there is no danger of +obstructions. Beyond Calhoun, Andrews and his men stopped to cut the +telegraph wire and tear up more rails. They had pried a rail above the +stringers when they heard the pursuing locomotive, and saw it rounding +a curve half a mile away. They scrambled into their cars in a hurry, +leaving the rail bent but not removed. Captain Fuller saw the bent rail, +but he had also seen the game, and he allowed his engine to be driven +over it under a full head of steam. + +From this point the chase was the most thrilling and reckless of which +there is any record. Andrews resorted to his old trick of dropping +cross-ties, but he soon saw that this would not do. Then he uncoupled +one of his box cars. Captain Fuller picked it up, and pushed it ahead. +Andrews uncoupled another. This was served the same way, and at Resaca +the cars were run on a siding. The "General," commanded by Andrews, +was now forward, with one car, while the "Texas," commanded by Captain +Fuller, and driven by Peter Bracken, was running tender forward, with +Fuller standing on the brake board, or bumper. The locomotives were +about evenly matched. Both had five-foot ten-inch drivers, and both were +running under all the pressure their boilers could carry. + +All thought of danger was lost sight of. The pursued had no time to +hatch any scheme calculated to delay pursuit. The pursuers forgot to +look for obstructions. On one side it was capture or die; on the other +it was escape at all hazards. The people of the towns and villages +through which the road passes knew not what to make of the spectacle. +Before they could recover from the surprise of seeing a locomotive with +one box car dash wildly past the station, they were struck dumb with +amazement by the sight of another locomotive thundering by, tender +forward, a tall man standing on the bumper and clinging to the brake +rod. + +They were going at a terrific rate of speed, but Peter Bracken, the +brave engineer of the "Texas," knew his locomotive so well, and handled +her with such a nice eye for her weak as well as her strong points, +that the pursuers gradually shortened the distance between them and the +raiders. The "General" was a good locomotive in its day and time, but +it was in unfamiliar hands. Any locomotive engineer will tell you that a +man must be thoroughly acquainted with his machine, and somewhat in +love with it to boot, to get the best speed out of it, when speed is +necessary. + +The raiders were pushed so closely that they soon found it necessary to +abandon their engine and car. Three miles north of Ringgold, they slowed +down a little, and, seizing a favorable opportunity, tumbled out, and +fled through the woods in all directions. It might be supposed that +Captain Fuller would be satisfied with recapturing his locomotive, which +was in all respects a remarkable achievement. But he had other views. He +knew that there would be no safety for the road with the bridge burners +at large, and so he made up his mind to be satisfied with nothing less +than their capture. In passing through Ringgold, three miles back, he +had noticed a company of militia drilling in an old field. So he sent +word to the commanding officer by his engineer, Peter Bracken (who, with +his fireman, took the two locomotives back to Ringgold), to mount his +men as promptly as possible, and join in the chase of the fugitives. +This message dispatched, Captain Fuller and two of his men, Fleming Cox +and Alonzo Martin, ran into the woods after the fleeing raiders. +Jeff Cain, the engineer of the "General," had been left with the Rome +locomotive. Mr. Antony Murphy remained in the chase until the "General" +was recaptured, and returned to Ringgold with the two locomotives. + +All the raiders were caught and imprisoned. Andrews was known to be a +spy, and he, with seven of his men who could establish no connection +with the Federal army in any branch of the service, was hanged. +Six escaped, and made their way to the Federal lines. The rest were +regularly exchanged. + +Perhaps those that were hanged deserved a better fate. They were brave +to recklessness, and were engaged in the boldest adventure of the war. +Their scheme was most skillfully planned, and courageously undertaken, +and if it had succeeded,--if the bridges had been burned and the door +of the Confederate granaries closed,--the result would have been what +it was when Sherman, with a large army, and at the sacrifice of many +men and much treasure, closed the State Road to the Confederates in +Virginia. + +Andrews and his men came near accomplishing, by one bold stroke, pretty +much all that Sherman accomplished in crippling the Confederates. It was +only by the merest chance that they had such a man as Captain Fuller to +oppose them. If they had arrived at Marietta the day before or the day +after, the probability is that they would have succeeded in their daring +venture. Captain Fuller was more than the equal of Andrews in all those +qualities that sustain men in moments of great emergency, and greatly +his superior in those moral acquirements that lead men to take risks and +make sacrifices on behalf of their convictions, and in the line of their +duty. + + + + +THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. + +The people of the State had not recovered from the chaos and confusion +into which they had been thrown by Sherman's march to the sea, when the +news came that Lee had surrendered in Virginia, and General Joseph E. +Johnston (who had been restored to his command) in North Carolina. Thus +a sudden and violent end had been put to all hopes of establishing a +separate government. General Sherman, who was as relentless in war as +he was pacific and gentle when the war was over, had, in coming to terms +with General Johnston, advanced the theory that the South never had +dissolved the Union, and that the States were restored to their old +places the moment they laid down their arms. This theory was not only +consistent with the views of the Union men of the North, but with +the nature and character of the Republic itself. But in the short +and common-sense cut that Sherman had made to a solution, he left the +politicians out in the cold, and they cried out against it as a hideous +and ruthless piece of assumption on the part of a military man to +attempt to have any opinions after the war was over. Any settlement that +left the politicians out in the cold was not to be tolerated. Some of +these gentlemen had a very big and black crow to pick with the South. +Some of them, in the course of the long debate over slavery, had had +their feelings hurt by Southern men; and although these wrangles had +been purely personal and individual, the politicians felt that the whole +South ought to be humiliated still further. + +The politicians would have been entirely harmless if the life of +President Lincoln had been spared. During the war, Mr. Lincoln was +greatly misunderstood even at the North; but it is now the general +verdict of history, that, take him for all in all, he was beyond all +comparison the greatest man of his time, the one man who, above all +others, was best fitted to bring the people of the two sections together +again, and to make the Union a more perfect Union than ever before. But +unfortunately Mr. Lincoln fell by the hands of an assassin, and never +had an opportunity to carry out the great policy of pacification which +could only have been sustained at that time by his great influence, by +his patience, that was supreme, and by his wisdom, that has proved to be +almost infallible in working out the salvation of the Union. After Lee's +surrender, the interests of the South could have sustained no severer +blow than the death of Lincoln. His successor, Andrew Johnson, was a +well-meaning man, but a very narrow-minded one in some respects, and a +very weak one in others. It is but justice to him to say that he did his +best to carry out Lincoln's policy of pacification, and his failure was +no greater than that of any other leading politician of his time would +have been. + +It would be impossible to describe the condition of the people at this +time. There was no civil law in operation, and the military government +that had been established was not far-reaching enough to restrain +violence of any sort. The negroes had been set free, and were supported +by means of a "freedmen's bureau." They were free, and yet they wanted +some practical evidence of it. To obtain this, they left the plantations +on which they had been born, and went tramping about the country in the +most restless and uneasy manner. + +[Illustration: The Negroes Freed 306] + +A great many of them believed that freedom meant idleness, such as they +had seen white folks indulge in. The country negroes flocked to the +towns and cities in great numbers, and the freedmen's bureau, active +as its agents were, had a great deal more than it could attend to. Such +peace and order as existed was not maintained by any authority, but grew +naturally out of the awe that had come over both whites and blacks at +finding their condition and their relations so changed. The whites could +hardly believe that slavery no longer existed. The negroes had grave +doubts as to whether they were really free. To make matters worse, a +great many small politicians, under pretense of protecting the negroes, +but really to secure their votes, began a crusade against the South in +Congress, the like of which can hardly be found paralleled outside of +our own history. The people of the South found out long ago that the +politicians of the hour did not represent the intentions and desires of +the people of the North; and there is much comfort and consolation to +be got out of that fact, even at this late day. But at that time the +bitterest dose of reconstruction was the belief that the best opinion of +the North sustained the ruinous policy that had been put in operation. + +The leading men of the State were all disfranchised,--deprived of +the privilege of voting, a privilege that was freely conferred on the +negroes. A newspaper editor in Macon was imprisoned, and his paper +suppressed, for declaring, in regard to taking the amnesty oath, that +he had to "fortify himself for the occasion with a good deal of Dutch +courage." The wife of General Toombs was ordered by an assistant +commissioner of the freedmen's bureau to vacate her home with only two +weeks' provisions, the grounds of the order being that the premises were +"abandoned property," and, as such, were to be seized, and applied +to the uses of the freedmen's bureau. The superior officer of this +assistant commissioner, being a humane and kindly man, revoked the +order. + +These were the days when the carpet-bagger and the scalawag +flourished,--the camp followers of the Northern army, who wanted money +and office; and the native-born Southerner, who wanted office and money. +There is no doubt that the indignities heaped on the people led to acts +of retaliation that nothing else could excuse; but they were driven +to desperation. It seemed, in that hour, that their liberties had been +entirely withdrawn. Governor Brown, who had formerly been so popular, +was denounced because he advised Georgians to accept the situation. He, +with other wise men, thought it was a waste of time and opportunity to +discuss constitutional questions at a moment when the people were living +under bayonet rule. Joe Brown's plan was to accept the situation, and +then get rid of it as quickly as possible. Ben Hill's plan was to +fight it to the last. There was a fierce controversy between these +two leaders; and such strong expressions were used on both sides, that +General Pope made them the subject of a curious letter to his commander +in chief, General Grant. + +General Pope seemed to be afraid that war was about to break out again, +and he assumed charge of everything. He removed and appointed mayors of +cities, solicitors, and sheriffs. He closed the State University because +a student made a speech which was in effect a defense of civil law. +After a while the general said he would reopen the institution if the +press of the State would say nothing about the affair. In 1867, General +Pope ordered an election to be held for delegates to a State convention. +The polls were kept open five days, and voters were allowed to vote +in any precinct in any county upon their making oath that they were +entitled to vote. The convention met, but, in the nature of things, +could not be a representative body. Thousands of the best and most +representative men of the State were not allowed to vote, and thousands +of other good men refused to take part in an election held under the +order of a military commander: consequently, when the convention met, +its membership was made up of the political rag-tag-and-bobtail of +that day. There were a few good men in the body, but they had little +influence over the ignorant negroes and vicious whites who had taken +advantage of their first and last opportunity to hold office. + +The authority of this convention was not recognized by the State +government, and this contest gave rise to a fresh conflict between the +State officials and the military dictators who had been placed over +them. The convention needed money to pay its expenses, and passed an +ordinance directing the treasurer of the State to pay forty thousand +dollars for this purpose to the disbursing officer of the convention. +General Pope issued an order to the treasurer to pay this amount. The +treasurer declined to pay out the money, for the simple reason that +he was forbidden by law to pay out money except on an order or warrant +drawn by the governor, and sanctioned by the comptroller general. + +About this time General Meade was appointed to rule in Georgia in place +of General Pope, and he found this matter unsettled when he took charge. +So he wrote to Governor Jenkins, and requested him to draw his warrant +on the treasury for forty thousand dollars. The governor could find no +authority in law for paying over this sum, and he therefore refused. +But civil government was not of much importance to the military at that +time; so, when he had received the governor's letter, General Meade drew +a sheet of paper before him, called for pen and ink, and issued +"General Order No. 8," in which the announcement is made that "the +following-named officers are _detailed for duty_ in the district of +Georgia: Brevet Brigadier General Thomas H. Ruger, Colonel 33d Infantry, +_to be Governor of the State of Georgia_; Brevet Captain Charles F. +Rockwell, Ordnance Corps U. S. Army, _to be Treasurer of the State of +Georgia_." + +In this way the rag-tag-and-bobtail convention got its money, but it +got also the hatred and contempt of the people; and the Republican +party,--the party that had been molded and made by the wise policy of +Lincoln,--by indorsing these foolish measures of reconstruction, and +putting its influence behind the outrages that were committed in the +name of "loyalty," aroused prejudices in the minds of the Southern +people that have not died away to this day. Some of the more vicious +of the politicians of that epoch organized what was known as "The Union +League." It was a secret political society, and had branches in every +county of the State. Through the medium of this secret organization, +the basest deception was practiced on the ignorant negroes. They +were solemnly told that their old masters were making arrangements to +reenslave them, and all sorts of incendiary suggestions were made to +them. It was by means of this secret society that the negroes were made +to believe that they would be entitled to forty acres and a mule for +voting for the candidates of the carpet-baggers. + +The effect of all this was to keep the blacks in a constant state of +turmoil. They were too uneasy to settle down to work, and too suspicious +to enter into contracts with the whites: so they went wandering about +the State from town to town and from county to county, committing all +sorts of crimes. As the civil system had been entirely overthrown by the +military, there was neither law nor order; and this condition was very +seriously aggravated by the incendiary teachings of The Union League. +The people, therefore, in some parts of the South, offset this secret +society with another, which was called the "Ku Klux Klan." This +organization was intended to prevent violence and to restore order +in communities; but the spirit of it was very frequently violated +by lawless persons, who, acting in the name of the "Klan," subjected +defenseless negroes to cruel treatment. + +There is no darker period in the history of the State than that of +reconstruction. The tax payers were robbed in the most reckless way, +and the rights of citizens were entirely disregarded. Even when the +Republican Congress, responsive to the voice of conservative Northern +opinion, turned its back on the carpet-bag government of Georgia, +these men made a tremendous effort to extend their rule unlawfully. The +carpet-bag Legislature was in session three hundred and twenty-eight +days, and cost the State nearly one million dollars; whereas the cost of +legislation from 1853 to 1862, nine years, was not nine hundred thousand +dollars. In one year the State Road took in a million dollars and a +half; and of this immense sum, only forty-five thousand dollars was paid +into the treasury. Added to this, the road had been run into debt to the +amount of six hundred thousand dollars, and it had been run down to +such an extent that five hundred thousand was needed to place it in good +condition. + +During this trying period, Joseph E. Brown, who had been so popular +with the people, was under a cloud. He had advised accepting the +reconstruction measures in the first instance, so that they might be +carried out by men who had the confidence and the esteem of the State; +but this wise proposition brought upon his head only reproaches and +abuse. The public mind was in such a state of frenzied uneasiness, the +result of carpetbag robbery and recklessness, that the people would +listen to no remedy except passionate defiance and denunciation. When +the name of Brown was mentioned only as a handle of abuse, Benjamin H. +Hill became the leader and the idol of the people. When, in 1870, Hill +issued an address declaring that the reconstruction must be accepted by +the people, he was at once made the object of the most violent attacks. +But Brown was right in 1864, and Hill was right in 1870, and the people +were wrong. They paid dearly for their blindness in the wrongs imposed +on them by men who were neither Republicans nor reconstructionists at +heart, but public plunderers. + +In 1871 the carpet-bag government began to totter. The governor left the +State, and staid away so long that the State treasurer, a man of stern +integrity, refused to pay warrants that were not signed by a resident +governor. Finally the governor returned, but almost immediately +resigned. In a short time the real representatives of the people took +charge of affairs, and since that time the State has been in a highly +prosperous condition. + + + + +"THE NEW SOUTH" + +When the people of Georgia had once more gained control of their State +government, the political tempest that had been raging slowly quieted +down. A pot that has been boiling furiously doesn't grow cool in a +moment, but it ceases almost instantly to boil; and though it may cool +slowly, it cools surely. There was not an end of prejudice and unreason +the moment the people had disposed of those who were plundering them, +but prejudice began to lose its force as soon as men had the opportunity +to engage in calm discussion, and to look forward hopefully to the +future. In the midst of bayonet and carpet-bag rule, the State could +not make any real progress. It is only during a time of peace and +contentment that the industrial forces of a community begin to display +their real energy. + +No State in the South had suffered so severely as Georgia during the +war. She placed in the field more than a hundred and twenty thousand +soldiers,--twenty thousand more than her voting population at the +beginning of the war. The taxable wealth of the State in 1867 was more +than four hundred and eighty-one millions less than it was in 1861,--a +loss of more than three fourths. After the reconstruction period, +all the State had to show, in return for the treasure that had been +squandered by the carpet-bag politicians, was a few poorly equipped +railroads that had been built on the State's credit. In some instances +railroad bonds were indorsed when there was no road to show for them; +in others, bonds were issued in behalf of the same road under different +names; so that the people lost by fraud as much or more than the amount +of improvement that had been made. The "developers" who had connected +themselves with the bayonet administration were much more interested in +"developing" their own private interests than they were in developing +the resources of the State. + +But when the bayonet administration had been driven out, not less +by Northern opinion, which had become disgusted with the reckless +dishonesty that was practiced under the name of republicanism, than by +the energetic opposition of all good citizens of the State, there came a +welcome end to the bitter controversy that had been going on. The fierce +rancor and prejudice that had been aroused gradually died out; so that +in 1872, shortly after the State had been rescued from misrule, Horace +Greeley, the great abolition editor, received in Georgia a majority of +more than seventy-one thousand votes over the straight-out Democratic +candidate. This, more than any other event, showed the improving temper +of the people, and their willingness to make compromises and concessions +for the purpose of restoring the Union and burying the spirit of +sectionalism. + +With this improved temper there came an improvement in the material +conditions of the State. Free negro labor was a problem which the +planters had to meet. For a time it presented many difficulties. It +was hard to make and enforce contracts with the negroes, who had been +demoralized and made suspicious by The Union League and by the harsh and +unjustifiable acts of men who acted under the name, but not under the +authority, of the Ku Klux Klan. But gradually all these difficulties +were overcome. The negroes settled down to work, and with them a good +many white men who had been left adrift by the fortunes of war and the +prostration of industries. This vast change was not brought about in a +day or a month, or even in a year, but was the gradual outgrowth of a +bitter feeling,--the slow awakening to the fact that matters were not as +bad on a better acquaintance as they had seemed. There was, of course, +the negro problem; but the wiser men soon saw that this problem, such +as it was, would settle itself sooner or later. The result was that +everybody began to take a day off from politics occasionally, and devote +themselves to the upbuilding of the resources of the State. + +At first, and for several years, the negro problem seemed to be a very +serious matter indeed. All the statesmen, all the politicians, all the +historians, and all the newspaper editors, discussed it morning, noon, +and night for a long time. Some wanted it settled one way, and some +another. At the North the men who had indorsed and approved the bayonet +governments of the South thought that laws ought to be passed giving the +negroes social equality with the whites. Finally a compromise was made +with what is called the "Civil Rights Law," which was intended to give +the negroes the same privileges at the hotels, theaters, and other +public places, that the whites had. The Northern politicians pretended +to believe that the efforts they were making were for the benefit of the +negroes, though no doubt the majority of them knew better. Of course, +the Southern people resisted the pressure thus brought to bear by +the Northern sectionalists, and the result was what might have been +expected. The condition of the negro was made more uncomfortable +than ever, and the color line was more closely drawn. To show how +shortsighted the politicians were and are, it is only necessary to call +attention to one fact, and it is this: that while the Civil Rights Law +has kept negroes out of public places both North and South, they ride +on the street cars side by side with the white people, and it frequently +happens that an old negro woman who comes into a crowded car is given +a seat by some Southerner who has tender recollections of his negro +"mammy." + +[Illustration: Streetcar in the South 318] + +It is worthy of note, that while the politicians on both sides were +fighting the shadows that the "negro problem" called up, the problem was +solving itself in the only way that such vast problems can be settled +in the order of Providence,--by the irresistible elements of time and +experience. A great deal of misery, suffering, and discontent would have +been spared to both races, if, after the war, the conservative men of +the North had either insisted on the policy that Abraham Lincoln +had mapped out, or had said to the pestiferous politicians who were +responsible for carpet-bag rule, "Hands off!" No doubt some injustice +would have been done to individuals if the North had permitted the +negroes to work out their political salvation alone, but the race itself +would be in a better condition every way than it is today; for outside +interference has worked untold damage and hardship to the negro. It has +given him false ideas of the power and purpose of government, and it +has blinded his eyes to the necessity of individual effort. It is by +individual effort alone that the negro race must work out its destiny. +This is the history of the white race, and it must be the history of all +races that move forward. + +When Georgia, with the rest of the Southern States, had passed safely +through the reconstruction period, the people, as has been seen, found +themselves facing new conditions and new possibilities. Slavery had been +abolished utterly and forever; and wise men breathed freer when they +saw that a great obstacle to progress and development had been +abolished with it. Instinctively everybody felt that here was cause for +congratulation. A few public men, bolder than the rest, looking out on +the prospect, thanked God that slavery was no more. They expected to be +attacked for such utterances, but they were applauded; and it was soon +discovered, much to the surprise of everybody, that the best sentiment +of the South was heartily glad that slavery was out of the way. Thus, +with new conditions, new prospects, and new hopes,--with a new fortune, +in fact,--it was natural that some lively prophet should lift up his +voice and cry, "Behold the New South!" + +And it was and is the new South,--the old South made new by events; +the old South with new channels, in which its Anglo-Saxon energies may +display themselves; the old South with new possibilities of greatness, +that would never have offered themselves while slavery lasted. After +these hopes, and in pursuit of these prospects, Georgia has led the way. +Hundreds of miles of new railroads have been built in her borders since +the dark days of reconstruction, hundreds of new factories have been +built, immense marble beds and granite quarries have been put in +operation, new towns have sprung into existence, and in thousands of new +directions employment has been given to labor and capital. In short, the +industrial progress the State has made since 1870 is more than double +that of the previous fifty years. + +It was natural, that, out of the new conditions, new men should arise; +and, as if in response to the needs of the hour and the demands of the +people, there arose a man who, with no selfish ends to serve and no +selfish ambition to satisfy, was able to touch the hearts of the people +of both sections, and to subdue the spirit of sectionalism that was +still rampant long after the carpetbag governments in the South had been +overthrown by the force of public opinion. That man was Henry Woodfin +Grady. He took up his public work in earnest in 1876, though he had been +preparing for it since the day that he could read a school history. In +that year he became one of the editors of the "Atlanta Constitution," +and at once turned his attention to the situation in which his State +had been left by the war, and by the rapacity of those who had come into +power by means of the bayonet. Whether he used his tongue or pen, the +public soon found out that he had control of that mysterious power which +moves men. Whether he wrote or whether he spoke, he had the gift and +the inspiration of eloquence; and from first to last he could never be +induced to use this great gift for his personal advancement, nor could +he be induced to accept a political office. With a mind entirely sincere +and unselfish, he addressed himself to the work of restoring unity +between the North and South, and to putting an end to the sectional +strife which the politicians were skillfully using to further their own +schemes. He was asked to be a United States senator, and refused; he was +asked to be a congressman, and refused. For the rest, he could have had +any office within the gift of the people of Georgia; but he felt that +he could serve the State and the South more perfectly in the way that he +had himself mapped out. He felt that the time had come for some one to +say a bold and manly word in behalf of the American Union in the ear of +the South, and to say a bold and manly word in behalf of the South in +the ear of the North. He began this work, and carried it on as a private +citizen; and the result was, that, though he died before he had reached +the prime of his life, he had won a name and a popularity in all parts +of the country, both North and South, that no other private citizen had +ever before succeeded in winning. + +It was Henry Grady that gave the apt name of "The New South" to the +spirit that his tireless energy and enthusiasm had called from the dark +depths of reconstruction. Of this spirit, and the movement that sprang +from it, he was the prophet, the pioneer, the promoter. He saw the South +poor in the midst of the most abundant resources that Providence ever +blessed a people with, and he turned aside from politics to point them +out. He saw the people going about in deep despair, and he gave them the +cue of hope, and touched them with his own enthusiasm. He saw the mighty +industrial forces lying dormant, and his touch awoke them to life. +He saw great enterprises languishing, and he called the attention of +capital to them. Looking farther afield, he saw the people of two great +sections forgetting patriotism and duty, and reviving the prejudices and +issues that had led to the war, and that had continued throughout +the war; and he went about among them, speaking words of peace and +union,--appealing to the spirit of patriotism which held the Northern +and Southern people together when they were building the Republic, when +they stood side by side amid the sufferings of Valley Forge, and when +they saw the army of a mighty monarch surrender to the valor of American +soldiers at Yorktown. With the enthusiasm of a missionary and the +impetuous zeal of an evangelist, he went about rebuking the politicians, +and preaching in behalf of peace, union, and genuine patriotism. + +Such was the mission of Henry W. Grady, and the work that he did will +live after him. "The New South" will cease to be hew, but the people +will never cease to owe him a debt of gratitude for the work that he did +in urging forward the industrial progress of this region, and in making +peace between the sections. He was the builder, the peacemaker. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Stories Of Georgia, by Joel Chandler Harris + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF GEORGIA *** + +***** This file should be named 24728.txt or 24728.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/7/2/24728/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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