USA > Georgia > Wilkinson County > History of Wilkinson County > Part 7
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Fort Advance, 5th September, 1794.
Gentlemen :
Your favor of the 3d instant is now before me; accept my thanks for your information and attention to what may, if ever neglected, so materially injure our enterprise. I con- sider myself honored by meeting with the unanimous voice of all the officers belonging to the different garrisons. I shall always endeavor to acquit myself worthy of the command committed to my charge. The information you have received agrees with mine from Augusta. The artillery of Augusta. are ordered to be in readiness to march in eight or ten days, and one-third of the militia are directed to be draughted. It has been tried in Burke and Richmond counties, but quite unsuccessful; the troops declare they will not fight against us. I am happy to find the disposition of the people with you, so exactly agrees with my own friends' here; I believe it to be the general disposition of every garrison. I am deter- minately fixed to risk every thing, with my life, upon the is- sue, and for the success of the enterprise ; you will apply to the enclosed orders how to conduct yourselves with inimical individuals. In case of a body appearing, you will give me the earliest information. If you are summoned to surrender in the garrison, you must refuse, with a firmness ever ac- companying the brave. Inform those who apply, that, if you have done wrong, and the grand jury of the county have cognizance of your crime, you will cheerfully submit to be tried by a jury of your fellow-citizens. But you will con- sider any orders from the Secretary of War, to be unconsti- tutional; the Governor's proclamation, as determined in Wilkes, illegal. I am informed that Captain Fauche's troop are directed to stop men and supplies, crossing to the south side of the Oconee. They have no right to take hold of any private property whatever, and, for everything detained, to the value of one shilling, belonging to any adventurer, they shall suffer the penalty of the law. If such case should turn up, apply to a magistrate, and bind the party offending to the next superior court. To avoid disputes, it will be best to use a prudent precaution in every case. The president of the board of officers, E. Bradley, Esq., mentions my appointing a meeting of the committee of safety on Monday, the fifth of October ; if it is the first Monday of the month, that is the day on which our constitution requires them to meet. If two members meet, they may adjourn from day to day, until the
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whole or a majority of them can be convened. It is entirely out of my power to appoint the 22d of this month, or any other day, if it does not agree with the constitution ; you will attend to appointing your members for the committee on the 15th of this month, at the several garrisons. Meet the first Monday in next month, but, in case of the election as men- tioned, the members who cannot attend on Monday, meet on Tuesday or Wednesday, that is, those who first meet must adjourn from day to day, until they are convened. Must beg you to copy orders, and send them to the several garrisons above you.
Yours, etc., E. CLARKE.
NOTE .- You receive one petition, which will suit every- body but a real tory. Our own people and particular friends will subscribe them, with the addition of the office being opened to no persons but those who will become settlers. (I. A. p. 501.)
On September 23rd a detachment of Fauche's dragoons succeeded in capturing one of Clarke's lieutenants near Fort Advance and later in the day being reinforced. seized the landing opposite the fort and began cutting Clarke's lines of communications. On the 25th Fauche arrived with other reinforcements and two other prisoners fell into the hands of the Georgians.
In the meantime Brigadier-General Jared Irwin was ap- proaching with his forces. On the 26th he took up his line of march from Town Creek, nine miles from Fort Fidius, and proceeded to cross the Oconee and encamp near Fort Advance. On the same day Col. William Melton of the Greene county militia, who had won fame the year before as an Indian fighter when at the head of the Green county yeomenry he had carried the war into the very heart of the marauding Creek town, and made the Indians respect the strength of the Georgia militia having now with his com- mand formed a junction with Colonel Lamar and Ma- jor Adams and other officers of the militia arrived on the scene and crossing the river cut off all communication be- tween the beleaguered forts.
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Closer and closer the cordon of steel was being drawn around Clarke's forts. Up to now not a man had been killed or even wounded. On the 27th the Georgians were in position and ready to advance. Before the assault was ordered General Irwin made a last appeal to General Clarke, and urged him to march his men out with all the honors of war.
The supreme crisis of the life of Elijah Clarke had ar- rived. Absolutely devoid of fear, as had been so ably demonstrated in the scores of battles in which he had en- gaged in the struggle for liberty against British oppres- sion, no show of force could induce a surrender, provided that force was composed of enemies. To yield meant the crash of his dreams of glory and of the empire which had been almost within his grasp, dreams of a mighty nation that he would build in this, the choicest territories of the New World, dreams of marching at the head of conquer- ing armies into the lands of the enemies of his new nation.
But he was being confronted with a power against which he had not counted when he originated his plans. At most he had probably expected a Federal army to be sent against him-and he felt convinced he would be do- ing no wrong to resist such a force of a government which was not only oppressing the state of Georgia by its assump- tion of authority over the Indian lands but would be acting unconstitutionally in so doing. But instead of strange sol- diers, commanded by strange generals, there stood before him in battle array men whom he loved, the very men who had fought and bled with him in the battles of the Revolution, men whom he had provided with homes on the lands between the Ogeechee and the Oconee, through his Indian treaties, and by his certificates of Revolutionary service ; commanding these men was his beloved old com- rade-at-arms, Jared Irwin,-and above these men, there floated the banner of Georgia, the banner for which he had given his life blood on more than one battlefield and
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had devoted the best years of his life. Upon these he could not order his men to fire. For the first time in his life the grand old Revolutionary chieftain acknowledged defeat. The colors of his Republic bowed before the ban- ner of Georgia, and Clarke's men marched out of the fort.
Fort Defiance having now also surrendered, the torch was applied on the 28th of September. From garrison to garrison and from cabin to cabin the flames were spread. Clarke's settlers were scattered and today, tradition re- mains to tell the story of the Trans-Oconee Republic.
For a brief period, Clarke's star was in eclipse, but two years later he witnessed the utter disgrace of Matth- ew's administration. Could he have lived a few years longer than he did, he would have beheld his son, John Clarke, organizing his famous Clark party, and later as governor, guiding the affairs of state in the rapidly grow- ing city that had sprung up almost on the very ashes of Fort Defiance.
Note : The exact location of the Clarke's Forts seems to have been lost during the lapse of more than a century. However, a careful examination of Indian Affairs, Vol. I, gives us such data as permits us to fix the various places with some definiteness. We have seen that the main cross- ing of the Oconee in this section was at the Rock Landing and that a garrison was there until 1793 when Fort Fidius was built, and the garrison was moved to Fort Fidius. It is extremely probable that Fort Fidius was built for the health of the soldiers on a bluff a few hundred yards from Rock Landing when we take into con- sideration the fact that removal to any great distance would have very likely created some objection on the part of the state of Georgia, as this state was not feeling kindly to the federal government just now. We also find Sea- grove, the federal Indian agent, writing of Rock Landing and Fort Fidius as if they were one and the same place. (Ind. Affairs, Vol. 1, 408, 409. ) The fact that they were
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very close together is further shown on page 394 where it is stated that General Twiggs command crossed the Oconee near Rock Landing and on page 421 it was stated that they crossed at Fort Fidius.
Anyone driving along the Milledgeville and Tooms- boro Road between these creeks cannot but notice the suitableness of the level lands for the purpose of build- ing a city thereon. Clarke's sans culottes had their camp opposite the Rock Landing prior to their departure for Florida. (Ind. Affairs, Vol. I, p. 485.) Upon his return we thus find him building his metropolis on the lands op- posite Fort Fidius. Anyone selecting the site for a me- tropolis in this section would most assuredly choose these high, level lands.
Note : Data for the above obtained from Dr. E. M. Coulter's "Elijah Clarke's Foreign Intrigues and Trans- Oconee Republic"; Vol. 1, Indian Affairs; Vol. 1, Foreign Relations; Vol. II, Stevens' History of Georgia ; White's Statistics; Chappell's Miscellanies of Georgia.
CHAPTER XIII TRANS-OCONEE LANDS LAID OFF IN DISTRICTS
T THE propaganda set in motion for the purpose of re- moving Elijah Clarke, and providing for the taking possession of all the Indian lands east of the Chattahoo- chee by legal processes was soon to take the form of an enactment of the Legislature. A few months later when the Legislature met, so great was the demand for more lands on which the citizens of Georgia could settle, the act was passed, and on December 28, 1794, received Gov- ernor Matthews' signature.
It provided $20,000.00 for the purpose of extinguishing the Indian claims "should any there be," and the senators and representatives in Congress were directed to apply for a treaty to be held with the Indians for these lands.
The act provided that persons applying for these lands could obtain 300 acres headright, 50 acres for his wife and 50 acres for each child under 16 years of age. One of the requirements was that every person acquiring said lands must settle in said district within twelve months and cultivate at least one acre to every hundred acres granted him.
In order to encourage settlers still more to move on said lands the act exempted them from all taxes for four years.
The act further provided as follows :
"That the territory lying between the rivers Oconee, the branch thereof called the Apalachy, and the Ocmul- gee, shall be laid off into five districts, in the following manner, viz: All that part from the confluence of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers, up to a line to be run di- rectly from Carr's bluff, on the Oconee, to the place
(92)
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where the Cussetah path crosses the Ocmulgee river, shall form the first district: All that part lying between the said line, and a parallel line to be run directly from the mouth of Shoulderbone to the Ocmulgee river, shall form the second district : All that part lying between the said last mentioned line, and a parallel line to be run from the mouth of Jack's creek, on the Apalachy river, to where the same shall intersect the northernmost, or the main, branch of the Ocmulgee river, shall form the third dis- trict : All that part lying between the north and south branches of the Ocmulgee river, that is to say, from the fork thereof, up the said northern or main branch of the said Ocmulgee, to the place where the Bloody-trail crosses the same, thence a due west course to the Chatta- hoochee river, thence down the said river to a point on the same, from which a due east line shall strike the head or source of the main southernmost branch of the said Ocmulgee, thence down the same to the place of begin- ning, shall form the fourth district : And all the remaining part of the said territory shall form the fifth district.
"And be it further enacted, That his Excellency the Governor shall, previously to his issuing any warrant of survey to the citizens of this state, or any other person whatsoever, cause three thousand acres of land to be laid off on the south side of the Altamaha river, on the bluff lying nearest to the confluence of the Oconee and Ocmul- gee rivers; two thousand acres on the south side of the Oconee river, on the most advantageous bluff, near the Rock Landing; together with one thousand acres, in addi- tion to the foregoing in each of the districts contemplated by this act, in the most advantageous parts of the said districts, for public uses."
It was provided, however, that the act should not take effect until two months after a treaty should be made with the Indians.
There was now the prospect that this section which in
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later years would be Wilkinson county would be the most favored for development in the whole state. At the lower extremity near the confluence of the Oconee and the Oc- mulgee there would spring up a large city which would have the broad Altamaha as an artery of commerce. At the Rock Landing which was considered the head of navi- gation of the Oconee and also the converging point of so many Indian trails would be built another city. One of these would have undoubtedly been made the capital of Georgia. How great must have been the changes in the tale that history now tells of Wilkinson county had the dreams of the whole people of Georgia been realized in this effort to get possession of the lands of this section.
However, the enactment by the Georgia Legislature created much disturbance in the mind of President Wash- ington and upon getting information of it hastily sent a special message to Congress concerning both it, and the infamous Yazoo Act which was passed about the same time. In his message he stated, "These acts embrace an object of such magnitude and in their consequence may so deeply affect the peace and welfare of the United States that I thought it necessary now to lay them before Con- gress."
Congress immediately enacted laws prohibiting depre- dations against the lands of the Indians and authorizing the military forces of the United States to confine parties guilty of this offense.
The failure of the federal government to get any ces- sions of the lands in question from the Creeks for the time being, prevented the realization of the plans outlined in the act of the Georgia Legislature. However, complaints of the surveying of lands and the using of them by the white men were frequently made.
In the meantime the storm of disapproval over the Ya- zoo Act, which was in reality a supplemental act of the one in question was sweeping Georgia. Likewise, Congress
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was expressing its disapproval in the strongest of terms. Instead of pursuing the original course of attempting to get a great deal of the Indian lands, the efforts of the Georgians were now limited to procuring the lands lying between the Oconee and the Ocmulgee. The Governor, Senators and Congressmen approached President Wash- ington on the subject and a few months afterward he ap- pointed Benjamin Hawkins, George Clymer and Andrew Pickens as commissioners to bring about the treaty. No- tices were sent to the Creeks inviting them to meet at Colerain for a treaty and in 1796 it was held. The nego- tiations were a complete failure insofar as the acquisition of any lands was concerned. The Indians were determined to sell no more. All that the Commissioners could get the Indians to agree to was that the federal forts might be built on the Indian lands and a tract about five miles square on the Indian lands opposite Fort Fidius was set aside for a trading post and fort. The description of the tract recom- mended as a post as taken from the Journal of the Proceed- ings of the treaty is as follows :
"The Cowetas and Cussetahs visited us, to take leave.
"They requested that the President would cause the troops, at Fort Fidius, to be removed as soon as possible. That, after gaining the best information they could, from the hunters, who were present, they now came to recom- mend one place.
"There is a high bluff, a little below Fort Fidius, per- haps one mile below, on their lands. Two miles below this bluff, there is a creek, called Itchee-wam-otchee, and, about three miles above the bluff, there is another creek, called Thlock-laoso, or Fishing Creek, very valuable, al- ways, for fish, particularly for shad in the spring. The lands between the creeks is high and good, and, bordering on the creeks, covered with cane, and fine for stock. This is the fittest place for a military post, according to the in- formation which they have obtained.
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"The chiefs request, that, if this spot is selected by the President, the troops of the garrison, and those connected therewith, only, should be permitted to take fish out of the waters belonging to the Indians.
"There is another bluff, about one day's ride, or twenty- five miles, still higher up the river, and the same distance below the mouth of the Apalachy, or Tulapocka, where the old Oakfuskee path crosses the Oconee. They mention this, but cannot recommend it; it is not so high as the other, nor the lands so valuable; however, it is the best they now have any information of, and they thought they would inform us of it."
Although the War Department did not build Fort Wil- kinson on the bluff suggested by the Indians, yet it was built between the creeks and about three miles above the bluff they recommended. The fort was begun in the early part of 1797 and the garrison moved to that place, Col- onel Gaither commanding. Thus, according to the treaty, the tract of land five miles square was attached to the post. The store used as a trading post for the Indians was com- pleted in September.
The moving of the garrison from Fort Fidius now nec- essitated a change in the crossing of the river and the site just above the mouth of Camp Creek was selected.
CHAPTER XIV
THE HARRISON MASSACRE OF THE UCHEES
0 N October 28, 1795, an event occurred near Carr's Bluff which again threatened to plunge Georgia into a general Creek Indian War. A number of Indians had crossed the Oconee on a visit and was in one of the homes near the Bluff, apparently behaving themselves peaceably when Benjamin Harrison, Vessels and others gathered a band of settlers together and fell upon the Indians, mas- sacring seventeen, in cold blood, consisting of one Creek, four lower Creeks and twelve Uchees.
A storm of indignation swept the whole Creek nation at what they considered such an act of treachery on the part of the whites. On all sides rose the cry for vengeance, from tribe to tribe the bloody stick was borne by the fleet runners and at the appointed time the avengers were en route for Carr's Bluff. The Uchees were the most out- raged of any of the tribes. The Indians had learned that Harrison had led the expedition and although Harrison had built himself a stockade for the defense of his plan- tation, this did not deter the Indians from the attack. At dawn the attack was made in true Indian fashion, but to the disappointment of the Indians they found Har- rison gone. After burning his stockade they swooped down on Old Bushes Fort nearby, capturing that fort, killing one man and after killing cows and taking horses they returned to the Indian nation.
In the meantime the murder of the Indians by Harri- son had created such a revulsion of feeling on the part of the people of Georgia that the Indians were not blamed for their attack. The Legislature passed resolutions of re- gret at Harrison's act. He and a number of his men were arrested on the charge of murder. All these activities on the part of Georgia were made known to President
(97)
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Washington and to the Creek Indians, as the Treaty of Colerain which was then pending necessitated that the Creeks be placated as much as possible. Seagrove at once took up the matter with the Creek chieftains and got their promise to wait until Washington could be heard from be- fore taking further vengeance and at the same time prom- ising the Indians that the murderers would be executed.
The date set for the treaty to be held at Colerain being in June, 1796, hostilities now ceased. However, at the treaty they at once brought this question up, demanding redress. Numbers of the relatives of the murdered Indians were on hand expecting to see Harrison executed for the crime at this place.
John Galphin whose rascalities had caused him to be outlawed by the Americans and who was refused admit- tance into the meeting at Colerain now shrewdly used the Harrison Massacre as a means of getting himself recog- nized as a part of the convention. Having under his in- fluence a large band of young Indian braves who were at all times eager to do his bidding he came boldly into the Indian camp. The chiefs informed him of the fact that the American Commissioners had forbidden his coming to the convention. He served notice that if he went away he would carry his young men with him. The Indian chiefs at once realized the significance of this statement and that if he and his warriors rode away many of whom had friends killed by Harrison, the frontiers of Georgia would feel the weight of his displeasure. Hastily they went to the Commissioners and explained the situation and re- quested the Commissioners to permit Galphin to remain in their camp where they could keep an eye on him.
During the course of the proceedings at Colerain, the chiefs and friends of the towns which had lost Indians in the massacre made a second visit to the Commissioners, inquiring whether the murderers would be punished, giv- ing the Commissioners a full account of the occurrence,
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and stating that the letter from Seagrove which promised redress had caused them to suspend their usual mode of vengeance.
Next day "the Indian chiefs again visited the Commis- sioners to deliver a message from the children and near relations of the murdered men. They mentioned the dis- tressed condition of six young children and some others whose dependence for support was upon those who were killed: that besides this loss, some property was taken at the time, to which they had just claim : that they now applied for the property, the whole of which was not much, but, little as it was, it was of value to the relatives. If the murderers could be punished, this loss would be deemed of still less value, and they should never have mentioned it. But they hoped, as the commissioners came to see justice done, they would order this payment, and cause the chiefs to carry it and deliver it in their name to the relatives."
This request was agreed to but the next day the chiefs came again explaining the vexation of the relatives of the victims at there being no execution of Harrison, and asked advice as to what information they could give them. They agreed to follow the advice which should be sent them by President Washington, but urged that the guilty be pun- ished. They stated that they did not believe the murderer would ever be punished in Georgia and that they had no other reliance than on the justice of the President.
Vessels, one of the party charged with the crime, soon died but the courts delayed months and months any sem- blance of trial of the others. In the meantime the Uchees had not forgotten the massacre and in the spring of 1797 after having waited eighteen months for the courts of Washington county to try Harrison, they suddenly with- out warning fell upon the settlements near Long Bluff, a few miles above Carr's Bluff, killing a man named Brown and seriously wounding his wife, burned three houses, fences, etc.
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Benjamin Hawkins who had now been appointed the Indian Agent in the place of Seagrove at once demanded that the Creek chiefs punish the Uchees who had commit- ted these depredations. A meeting of the nation was called and certain chiefs, one of whom being Tustunnagau Emauthlau was appointed to execute the Uchees who committed the murder. (Note: This was the same Tus- tunnagau Emauthlau who was arrested for an offence in Oglethorpe county, confined in jail and while in the jail, a mob attempting to storm the jail was fired upon, some be- ing killed, by the Georgia militia protecting the Indian chieftain, who was later acquitted by a jury of that county. )
Upon hearing that the other Indians had decreed the death of those who had killed Brown, the Uchees deter- mined to resist any effort to carry it into effect. A civil war among the Creeks was now in prospect. At the same time letters from Deputy Agent Richard Thomas were being received stating that the Uchees were on the war- path against the frontiers of Washington and a few days later he wrote again that another man and woman had been killed near Long Bluff.
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