USA > Georgia > Floyd County > Rome > A history of Rome and Floyd County, State of Georgia, United States of America; including numerous incidents of more than local interest, 1540-1922, Volume I > Part 27
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"Duck was found dead on the en- suing morning, murdered, it is be- lieved, by the friends of Murphy. Neither man, it is thought, was drunk.
"Is it not manifest from the many outrages of the kind that it is the set- tled determination of Ross' myrmidons to silence opposition by the knife of the assassin, and unless they are kept in awe by the Guard will go far to ex- ecute their hellish purpose?"
In 1835 (or 1837) an atrocity that was typical of the others committed in the section occurred in Floyd County near the Polk line. The body of Eze- kiel Blatchford (or Braselton), a land trader from Hall County, was discov- ered in a lime sink; he had been mur- dered, it was believed. A single gold button was found on one of his coat sleeves, and it was of odd design, prob- ably having been worked out of a nug-
get extracted by the wearer from a gold mine in Hall. With the button as a clue, the local authorities and friends of the deceased went to work. The police in Indian Territory arrest- ed two Indians wearing bottons similar to the one found on the sleeve. Bar- ney Swimmer and Terrapin were brought back to Rome, were given a fair trial at the old court house, found guilty of murder and sentenced by Judge Owen H. Kenan, of Newnan, to die by hanging. This was the first capital punishment meted out to In- dians in Floyd County, and it was a coincidence that a cousin of the mur- dered man, Win. Smith, who was serv- ing temporarily as sheriff, should have met the duty of sending them to their happy hunting grounds. The hanging took place at a tree at Broad Street and Ninth Avenue, and was wit- nessed by practically everybody in the town, and by hundreds from the coun- ty. Several hours before the Indians were due to have been hung they re- quested permission to take a last swim where the Etowah and the Oostanaula join. This was the place they had often swum as boys. Judge Kenan granted the request, and a strong guard watch- ed them from the various banks. They thanked the court and the officers for the privilege, and went to their death with the courage of Stoics. It was said that Terrapin was full of whis- key during his trial and up to the time of his execution .**
A LETTER FULL OF NEWS .- The following letter from Geo. M. Lavender, trading post man at Major Ridge's up the Oostanaula, gives a picture of pioneer life around Rome : ** Major Ridge's Ferry, May 3, 1836. Mr. John Ridge:
Dear Sir: I have received but one letter from you since your departure, and that was received some time since and should have written you, but ex- pected, for some weeks back, that you were on your way home. I have con- eluded from the last letters received from you that you remain at Wash- ington some time yet.
I have but little news of impor- tance to communicate to you. Mrs. Betsy Waitic, consort of Stand Waitie, Esq., died four or five days since from the delivery of a child,
* Authority : Hilliard Horry Wimpee. Virgil A. Stewart stated that the name of the In- dians' victim was White. Mrs. Robt. Battey stated his name was Braselton. The name Eze- kiel Buffington appears on the real estate rec- ords of that period at the courthouse. The name Blatehford was taken from an account in 1889 by Belle K. Abbott, written for The Atlanta Constitution.
** At Rome: Cherokee Indians, Congressional Documents (1835-6), Doc. 120, p. 593.
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which also died, it is said. She had medical aid, but died under great af- flictions .*
One of the emigrants, named Seek- atowwa, ** of Hightown, was shot two or there weeks ago by a white man at a little whiskey shop, one mile from Artsellers or Dun Steers, *** said to be an accident; he is, however, dead and no more.
Your family are all well and every- thing about your crop appears to be going on finely. Major Ridge's fam- ily are all well, and your mother is going on in her usual and fine way in making a crop, though frequently a little unwell, but no ways danger- ous. No person, except a Mr. Cox, has taken any of the cleared land; he has taken one-half of the long field on the west side of the river." She has lost none on the side we live.
Our season for planting has been very bad, owing to so much rain; but all appears to be getting on very well except the poor Cherokees, of which there is not a few who have been dis- possessed of their fields and dwellings, and turned out to seek refuge in Ala- bama and Tennessee, without any kind of support, moneyless and nothing to buy provisions. I know of a number of families destitute of provision, or money to buy it, and wandering and eating from them that has a little sub- sistence, and many of whom are emi- grants. The circumstance calls aloud on the authorities of Government for relief of these people. It seems im- possible for them to last through the season. Corn is scarce and worth $1 per bushel by the quantity, cash; flour could now be had, and bacon at toler- able moderate prices. You can scarce have any idea of the suffering your Cherokee friends are now encounter- ing. Every week we have lots of men hunting stolen property, and smoke houses robbed of bacon, and every kind of stealing going on.
Your friend Knitts, of Donehutta, received 120 lashes a few days ago, supposed to be concerned in robbing a smoke house; but I think he will be proved innocent.
I see my Cherokee friends, emi- grants, within this vicinity every week, inquiring what is doing at Washing- ton, and trying to find out what will be done as regards their perilous sit- uation.
Many families in our neighborhood would be glad to emigrate if the Gov- ernment would enable them to do so.
Please give my respects to the Ma- jor and all your delegation.
Respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. M. LAVENDER.
(Note: Referred to the Indian Of- fice by Major Ridge.)
CAVE SPRING INDIANS .- Now and then a roving band of Creek In- dians would descend upon the newly- created Floyd County to fight or treat with their ancient foes, the Cherokees. It was probably in 1832 that a group of them pitched camp close to the white settlement at Cave Spring, prepared to go into a pow-wow the next day with their more intelligent neighbors, whose camp was situated not a great hark away.
Among the old settlers living at Cave Spring then was William Smith, who removed to Rome two years later. Mr. Smith was away from home when the Creeks appeared, and his wife was badly frightened. The visitors look- ed so dark and villainous, and they crept about like snakes. When night came, Mrs. Smith gathered her baby Martha (Mrs. Robt. Battey) in her arms, and taking a negro nurse, stole out of the house into the underbrush, where, wrapped in shawls and an In- dian blanket, they spent the night. Mrs. Smith had feared the Creeks might break into her house during the night; they could be seen moving stealthily and keeping a close watch, but they attempted no outrage.
Included in the Cherokees at Cave Spring was a young fellow called Lit- tle Meat. He was in the habit of scaring wee Martha Smith now and then by appearing suddenly and grunt- ing "Ugh!" and at the same time lift- ing her up into his swarthy arms. He was a playful rascal and never meant any harm, but he nearly scared the lit- tle girl out of her wits many times. They called him Little Meat because he killed so many small birds and roasted them on a spit.
The country was wild, sparsely set- tled, full of bad Indians and adventur- ous whites, a few soldiers at isolated
*Should be Watie.
** Sukatowie's enrollment number was 633. He was of the Chickamaugee district and voted with Ross at the Rome council.
*** Probably intended for Dirtseller's, Chat- tooga County. A map dated 1810, in the Car- negie Library at Atlanta, places Hightown between the rivers where Rome now is. "High- tower" is probably a variation of "Hightown," and may have referred to an Indian signal station on the present Tower Hill.
**** Now part of the bottom land on the Linton A. Dean farm.
ANECDOTES AND REMINISCENCES
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posts, and here and there a rough In- dian trail that sufficed for a road. As settlers came in they were chosen by mutual consent for certain duties. William Smith was usually in "saddle and boots," prospecting a mine down the Coosa, trading in land up the Oostanaula, attending court at Living- ston, hence acted as "sheriff" before the county machinery had been set up (and perhaps afterward). On one oc- casion an Indian charged with a se- rious offense was caught and brought to Cave Spring behind Mr. Smith with hands tied. They rode a horse. There was no secure place to keep the In- dian, so Mr. Smith lashed him with rope to a bed-post at the foot of the bed, after which Mr. and Mrs. Smith retired, and Mr. Smith slept soundly.
Once several years later at the Forks Ferry, Rome, a sullen Indian provoked the wrath of Mr. Smith, who knocked the man unconscious with a heavy stick. The condition of the In- dian for a time was serious, and Mr. Smith, following the advice of friends that he should be careful of violence, went for a week to live with Philip W. Hemphill at the place now known as DeSoto Park. Most of the Indians were his friends, however, and they sent him word that no harm would come to him.
David Vann, the sub-chief, was the most powerful member of his tribe around Cave Spring, and Vann's Val- ley was named after him. On July 28, 1850, he was living temporarily at the Lake House, Cave Spring. He was very well educated and wrote a pleasing hand with occasional mis- spelt words, like most of the Indian leaders. He had two handsome, pleas- ant mannered sons called Cooey and Clem, who in 1851 were living in Grandsalem, Cherokee Nation, Arkan- sas, and about that time visited Dr. and Mrs. Robert Battey on Second Avenue on their way to a law school in Baltimore. Other sons were said to have been Augustus and Washing- ton, Under date of Aug. 27, 1850, Da- vid Vann wrote William Smith at Rome from Washington, D. C .:
"Dear Sir: I wrote to you some time since informing you that I would be glad to hear from you respecting our silver mine in Alabama, but have not yet received anything from you. Will you be kind enough to write me a few lines and let me know how you are getting along? I have determined to go that way when I leave here for home. I can not say when that will be. It may be some time in October.
I have no idea that I can get away before Congress adjourns & there is no time set yet for the adjournment of Congress, though I will let you know before I leave when I will be at your house. I wrote a few lines to Major Richardson a few days ago requesting him to save me some peech seed from my old orchard (those large white peeches). I have no news but what you see in the papers. Mr. Clay has got back this morning. He has been absent ever since his Compromise bill was defeated. The Senate has passed all the measures that he had in his Compromise bill separately with very slight alterations. Give my respects to your family and accept for your- self my best wishes for your health and prosperity.
Your friend and obt. svt., "DAVID VANN."
(In haste.)
Under date of July 28, 1850, Chief Vann wrote Mr. Smith from Washing- ton and stated that he was having some trouble getting his patent to 40 acres of land containing the silver mine, and adding:
"I presume the water is now low enough to examine the ford of the
5
MONTGOMERY M. FOLSOM, clever writer of verse, in his regalia as an officer of Cherokee Lodge 66 of Masons.
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A HISTORY OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY
creek. By looking in the ford you will find where old Campbell cut the hole in the rock and filled it up, and just below the ford he said there was a deep hole, evidently dug out by some person."
Shortly after this the two, accom- panied by Col. Cunningham M. Pen- nington, of Rome, visited the mine on Sand river, but failed to find anything of special interest.
From Rome, Feb. 2, 1851, Mr. Smith wrote David Vann at Grandsalem, Ark .:
"My apology for delaying to write you before this time is hardly suffi- cient excuse. I have been run to death of daylight and so tired of nights that I have put it off from time to time, till I have got through with the bridge and have some leisure.
"After you left Gunter's Landing, I went up to where they were to run their horse race; there I found all parties concerned in that lot we want- ed. I took Collins and fixed things with him to bring about the trade with D. A. Smith. He managed it as I di- rected it and I got the lot for $125 cash. ... Pennington is in high spirits, though he had very bad luck in the matter. He took some eight or ten pounds of the best ore we could get and took it to Washington, or I should have said started with it at Wilming- ton. He had his trunk stolen and lost his specimens and all his clothing and has never heard of them yet. He was on other business at Washington and has just returned. We will consult as soon as this awful cold weather breaks and make a thorough examina- tion and write you immediately. There is great excitement about it. I give them no satisfaction. I shall take a good geologist with me, D. A. White, of Savannah; he I have seen and he is anxious to accompany us over there. I shall lie low; it must count. I am in hopes you will be able to get the old man Campbell to come out with you soon. Don't count the expenses if you can prevail on him to come. It will do more good to have him here looking than anything. We must bare- ly let the people know he is here.
"Well, I have no news to write you more than you have seen by the pa- pers. Georgia has killed the Disun- ionist in the South. Our Convention was composed of the best talent in Georgia; there were but 18 Disunion- ists in the convention out of nearly 300 members. They have broken up all old party lines and left the Dis-
unionists to themselves, with Colquitt and Towns to manage; they are dead letters in Georgia; you can't get one of them to talk about it.
"What is to hinder Clem from com- ing? I think he would like to stay a year or two with us and read law with Judge Wright or Judge Under- wood.
"You have no idea how our town has grown in the last three months. They have built all around me clear to the railroad and back to the bridge. We have but a few lots left and I don't expect to keep them two weeks. It is a lively business at last, though it was a long time coming. My wife joins me in our love to your wife and children and says she remembers her kindness to her in bygone days. Ac- cept for yourself my best wishes.
"WM. SMITH."
DANCE AT CHIEFTAIN'S .-- Mrs. Jno. S. Prather (Susan Verdery), of Atlanta, who once lived at the old home of Major Ridge, contributes the following:
"It was evening and the night was bright, with a galaxy of stars bending their pale beams through a wealth of climbing roses, clinging woodbine and white star jessamines. Candle light sent a glimmer through the windows to the front porch, and shadows from the tall Colonial pillars fell across the mossy lawn. A swish of satin could be heard here and there and the gleam of white muslin and a more somber contrast of black broadcloth and white vests as the couples lined up for the dance.
"A scraping of the preliminary chords and the popping of a fiddle string made known that the plantation orchestra was nearly ready to begin its part of the performance. The two black fiddlers were the property of the owner of the mansion.
"Ah, there went the light footsteps in perfect unison with the music of the cotillion ! They danced for half an hour. Occasionally a couple for- sook the crowd and repaired to the veranda through the leafy screens of honeysuckle, there to exchange words of understanding and to pluck a nose- gay that carried its silent message straight to the heart.
"Milady sounded the gong; the danc- ing ceased and supper was enjoyed in the dining room. What a supper! Of quality and variety the choicest, and prepared after Aunt Lindy's favorite recipes. Then Augustus Nicholas Ver-
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dery, son of a French planter of the West Indies and master of the planta- tion, struck a martial air on his fine violin. The couples formed again, and the son of the house, Thos. Jefferson Verdery, and a fair young lady from Charleston led the gay company out into the ball room again. The colored fiddlers played 'Oh Miss Nancy, Don't You Cry! Your Sweetheart Will Come to You Bime By!'
"A specialty was introduced by Mr. Chas. De l'Aigle, of Augusta, whose polkas and schottisches set the young feet patting and young hearts palpi- tating; and Tom Verdery and his lit- tle sister, Susan, danced steps that en- joyed a wide vogue more than 50 years later.
"At 11 the guests climbed into the barge 'Mary Berrien' and were poled down the Oostanaula to Rome-all save the guests of the house. A lone figure drew into the shadow of a giant sycamore as the merrymakers passed. It darted near the mansion, peered in with a vengeful look and was swallow- ed in the gloom of the nearby forest. 'Twas an Indian woman left behind when her sister and brother redskins departed for the west, an inhabitant of a cave in the hills who had stolen down into the lowlands to gaze on the Cherokee retreat of the olden days with a prayer for the return of the tribe to its happy hunting grounds." *
CREEK CHIEF IS CAPTURED .- White's Historical Collections of Geor- gia (p. 151) and an old Rome news- paper clipping furnish data for an in- teresting story of the capture in 1835 of old Fosach Fixico, the Creek Indian chief, by Georgia and Alabama troop- ers, part of whom were recruited from the Coosa Valley near Rome. Historian White records: "Very soon after the ratification of the New Echota treaty, an apprehension was entertained by many citizens in Georgia that the party who had opposed the treaty would become hostile, and petitions for arms, troops and ammunition were presented to the Executive, and grant- ed. Orders were issued to Brig. Gen. James Hemphill to raise a battalion of militia and place them at Lesley's Ferry, on the Coosa River, for the pur- pose not only of keeping the Chero- kees in check, but also of preventing the Creeks from swarming into Geor- gia, which orders were executed, and the battalion was organized under the command of Gen. James Hemphill and Maj. Chas. H. Nelson. A part of the Cherokees were disarmed, and 500
muskets and accouterments were or- dered and sent to Cherokee County, in case of any hostile movements on the part of the Indians. These prep- arations on the part of Georgia, to- gether with the appearance of the Tennessee troops under Brig. Gen. Jno. E. Wool, of the United States army, quieted the fears of the citi- zens."
The clipping referred to states that Capt. Mitchell was placed in charge of the expedition down the Coosa, hav- ing heard that the Creeks were mov- ing down toward the Cherokee country from the head of Terrapin Creek, Ala., to excite their tribal cousins in the Valley of the Coosa. A scout, Fields, was sent out, and reported that the Indians were concentrated and ready to strike from the mountains at the head of Terrapin, which empties into the Coosa just below Centre, Cherokee County, Ala. Without waiting for re- inforcements, on scout duty or fur- lough, Capt. Mitchell left Rome with 20 men mounted on horseback and muleback, some with saddles, some with blankets and others riding bare- back. They galloped down the Ala- bama road through the Coosa Valley, gaining recruits with squirrel guns as they went. At dusk the command, now 120 men, was within six miles of the Indian camp, and at sunrise the next morning they were on the spot, ready for an attack. In the meantime, the good women of the neighborhood had sent in breakfast rations for all of the troopers. The expectation was that there would be a bloody fight. These Coosa farmers and Georgia Vol- unteers were determined to strike a telling blow in defense of their wives and children, and this determination was not any less sharp from the fact of their crude arms and scanty equip- ment.
About 200 warriors, practically naked and well daubed with paint, swarmed from their wigwams like bees, until a side of Craig's Moun- tain was well dotted with them. As the Georgia troops were about to close in, a clatter of hoofs was heard and up dashed Capt. Arnold with a com- pany of 60 cavalry from Jacksonville, Ala. Capt. Mitchell cried out: "No time for consultation; you fight to the right and occupy the creek above the camp!"
Capt. Arnold's men sped to the point indicated, while Capt. Mitchell's swept to the left, crossed Terrapin Creek, dismounted and deployed in skirmish line and approached to within 40 yards
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of the camp. Orders were not to fire until fired upon. Suddenly a long strip of white canvas was hoisted on a pole as a flag of truee, and an in- terpreter was sent out to declare, "I am directed by Chief Fosach Fixico to say that he is not hostile."
The Indian was ordered to return and direct that the chief appear in person. Fosach quickly appeared, the finest diked-out Indian ever seen be- fore or since; he wore a red and blue turban, with crimson and white war gown of velvet that extended to his knees, and hung profusely with beads and tassels of all kinds; his face and neek were ablaze with war paint. He came forward with an elastic and somewhat defiant step. As Capt. Mitchell met him a few paces in ad- vanee of the line, he repeated through his interpreter: "I am not hostile." Capt. Mitehell asked him if he surrend- ered, to which he replied: "I am not hostile, but if you require it, I do."
At this juncture Capt. Luckie dash- ed up with a troop of farmers from near the mouth of Terrapin Creek, ar- riving on the west side. He and Capt. Arnold were consulted and the terms of capitulation agreed upon. Fosach was to deliver all his arms to Capt. Luekie, who was to march the In- dians forth to Mardisville, whence they were to proceed under additional guard to Arkansas. Twenty-four hours was given for the red-skins to gather up their ponies, women and children. Such of the Coosa River Volunteers as wish- ed to remain with Capt. Luckie eould do so, and the others were free to re- turn to their homes. Five hundred muskets and aceouterments surrender- ed by the Indians were sent to Chero- kee County.
Shortly afterward, three cavalary companies from Floyd and one from Cherokee were organized into a bat- talion at Rome and were put in camp at Lashley's Ferry, eighteen miles be- low Rome, on the north side of the Coosa. These were under direction of Gen. Hemphill and under direct charge of Maj. Nelson and Capt. Mitchell. The command was known as the High- land Battalion, and was sworn into the United States service by Capt. Paine, U. S. A., and served until after most of the Indians had been removed to the west. On the resignation of Lieut. Carter, Joseph Watters was elected to the vacaney, and when Capt. Mitchell resigned, Watters was named in his place. This was undoubtedly the same Joseph Watters for whom
the Watters district of Floyd County was named.
RIDGE'S LUCKY SHOT .- The fol- lowing anecdote, summarized from the Cartersville Courant of Apr. 2, 1885, (by Judge Jno. W. H. Underwood) will show how a red-man would now and then befriend a pale-face:
"In old Pendleton District, South Carolina, lived Col. James Blair, a Revolutionary soldier, last commander of Oconee Station and one of the con- stables of Col. Benj. Cleveland, a hero of the Revolution, colloquially known as 'Old Roundabout.' For 20 years Col. Blair had rounded up Tories and thieves and had swung many a 'bad man' to the gate gallows in front of Col. Cleveland's plantation home.
"On this occasion, Col. Blair was following Wiley Hyde and Tom Phil- lips, half breed Indians who had stolen two fine horses from Benj. Mosely, who lived near Oconee Station. He was equipped with a horse in leash as well as his saddle animal, and two large horse pistols. At Reece's Spring, a mile east of the home of Major Ridge, the Cherokee chief, and two whoops and a holler from Ft. Jack- son, Col. Blair came upon the Indians, drinking at the spring. They were also fairly full of fire-water, and as he approached (having tethered his horses nearby), they covered him with their rifles.
"Col. Blair threw up his hands, but quickly said, 'Don't shoot! I am a friend with some good whiskey! Don't shoot a friend with some whiskey on his hip!'
"The Indians relented and began to question him in their maudlin way. He told them he wanted to join a crowd and go over into Vann's Valley and steal some horses. The suspicions of Wiley Hyde were aroused, and he said, 'Tom Phillips, you are a fool. He's from over the line, and he'll be shooting us full of holes in a minute. Let's kill him and throw him in the river.'
"Hyde raised his gun, cocked it and was about to crack down on Col. Blair's chest when 'Bang!' came from the nearby forest. Hyde fell face forward into the branch, and as he went down, Col. Blair seized his gun and covered Wiley Hyde, who threw up his hands.
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