USA > Georgia > Statistics of the state of Georgia : including an account of its natural, civil, and ecclesiastical history ; together with a particular description of each county, notices of the manners and customs of its aboriginal tribes, and a correct map of the state > Part 28
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CLIMATE .-- The climate is warm. The diseases are simi- lar to those of the adjacent counties.
MINERAL SPRING .-- There is a mineral spring on the Oc- mulgee river, 22 miles from Hawkinsville.
NAME .-- General Jared Irwin, after whom this county was named, was of Irish descent. His parents emigrated to Meck- lenburg county, North Carolina, and came to Georgia when he was about seven years old.
He served his country faithfully many years during the lat- ter part of the revolutionary war, and afterwards in campaigns on the Georgia frontiers, against the Indians. He at one time commanded a detachment of Georgia militia in the Creek country. In early life he lived in Burke county ; afterwards he removed to Washington county, which he often represent- ed in the Legislature. He was a Brigadier General of the mi- litia ; he was in the Convention for revising our State Consti- tution in 1789 ; in a Convention for the same purpose in 1795, and President of the Convention that formed the present Con- stitution in 1798. The Presidency of the Senate was fre- quently conferred upon him, at various periods, from 1790 to 1818, when he died. As Governor, in 1796, he had the hon- our of signing the Act rescinding the Yazoo Law. He was again Governor, from November 7, 1806, to November 9, 1809. At the close of the war of independence, he was a member of the first Legislature that convened under our present form of government.
He was a very pure man, and an excellent neighbour, whom all around him looked upon as a guide. Hospitality was his chief virtue. In every station he occupied he exhi- bited his devotion to the public good. In his manners he was affable, and in his disposition kind. In religion, he was a Con- gregationalist. To the poor and distressed he was a warm friend. He died at Union Hill, in Washington county, on the
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1st of March, 1818, aged 68 years. One of his sons, Jared Irwin, Jun., was at the first graduating class at Athens; and another, Capt. John Irwin, commanded a company of cavalry in the Creek war, under the heroic General John Floyd, dis- tinguishing himself at the battle of Autossie, and in other en- gagements .*
JACKSON.
BOUNDARIES, EXTENT .- Bounded N. W. by Hall, N. E. by Franklin, E. by Madison, S. by Clarke, W. by Walton and Gwinnett. It is 23 miles long and 18 wide ; square miles, 414.
RIVERS AND CREEKS .- The branches of the Oconee flow through this county. Big Sandy, Mulberry, Barber's, Curry's, Cider and Beach creeks, are some of the streams.
POST OFFICES .- Jefferson, Barber's Creek, Bascobel, Har- mony. Grove, Mulberry, Marcus, Maysville, Farmers' and Mechanics' Mills.
POPULATION, TAXES, REPRESENTATION .- The population in 1845 was 6,265 whites, and 2,728 blacks ; total, 8,993. Return of State tax for 1848 is $2,495 49. Sends two representatives to the Legislature.
TowN .-- Jefferson is the seat of justice, situated on the waters of the Oconee river ; has a brick court-house, jail, two hotels, one church, one academy, five stores, &c. Amount of goods sold per annum, $15,000. Distance from Milledgeville 87 miles, from Athens 13, from Gainesville 20, from Law -. renceville 30, from Carnesville 30, from Monroe 28, from Madison 40, and from Watkinsville 27. The town has de- clined in business within the last few years. It was made the county site in 1806, and incorporated in 1812.
MINERALS .- This county abounds with granite and quartz. Near Mr. Appleby's are found elegant crystallized quartz. Some iron is found ; soapstone, mica, asbestos and tourmaline.
CLIMATE, DISEASES, LONGEVITY .- The climate of Jackson
* Furnished by Col. J. W. Jackson.
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is favourable to health. The diseases are fevers and pneu- monia. Instances of longevity are not rare. Among others are Mr. Henry Angling, aged 80; Mr. Amos Stapler, 80 ; Mrs. Brown, over 100.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE .- The people of this county are not particularly noted for any one trait of character. They are on a par with many other sections of Georgia, as far as in- telligence is concerned. Newspapers are taken all over the county, but there is among the citizens a great lack of the spirit of enterprise and inquiry. Many of the ladies of this county are skilful with the needle. We have seen many spe- cimens of their silk, lace, &c., that reflect much honour upon their ingenuity and industry.
RELIGIOUS SECTS, EDUCATION .-- Baptists, Methodists, Pres- byterians, and Universalists. The interest in the subject of education is daily increasing, and there are some good schools.
MINERAL SPRINGS .- There is a mineral spring on the plant- ation of the Rev. Mr. Harrison, north of Jefferson.
NATURE OF SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, AND AVERAGE PRODUCT PER ACRE .- Much of the soil of this county is unproductive, although there are some good lands on the branches of the Oconee. The productions are cotton and the different grains. Cotton averages per acre 400 pounds ; corn 2} barrels per acre ; and wheat 7 bushels per acre.
NAME .- In attempting to give a history of the life of Ma- jor General James Jackson, to perpetuate whose memory this county received its name, according to the plan adopted in our biographical sketches, we frankly confess our inability to do him that justice which his valuable services most richly merit. We must therefore beg our readers to allow us to deviate from our rule in appropriating a larger space than is our custom to the life and services of this eminent patriot and soldier. Never had Georgia a more devoted friend, and to no man, we fearlessly affirm, does she owe so great a debt of gra- titude ; and yet, astonishing to say, there are thousands of our citizens wholly unacquainted with his history. It is the duty of Georgians to make themselves familiar with the character and actions of those gallant spirits who stood by their country in the hour of her greatest extremity, and who in the contest
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for freedom hazarded life, property, and interest. A knowledge of the sacrifices they made, and the hardships they endured, will teach us to value the blessings of a free government ; and, stimulated by their noble example, we shall always manfully re- sist any encroachment upon our liberties. The history of Mr. Jackson is the history of Georgia at eventful periods, as our memoir will fully show. It is not our object to attempt to prove that Mr. Jackson was faultless. We are free to confess that he had many faults. And who has not faults? That which we desire to prove to the citizens of Georgia is this- that if there be one worthy of the Revolution more entitled to their gratitude than another, this distinction belongs to General James Jackson.
He was born at Moreton Hampstead, in the county of Devon, England, September 21st, 1757. His father, like many other impartial Englishmen, was opposed to the attempts made by Parliament to restrain the liberties of the colonies, and in his family circle would often speak in commendable terms of the resistance of America. Jackson, who, from his infancy, had exhibited an abhorrence against oppression, would listen most attentively to the conversation of his father, and thus gradually imbibed a sympathy for the colonies, whose consti- tutional rights were so unjustly violated, and accordingly he resolved to leave England and take up his abode in America. He arrived in Savannah in 1772, when only fifteen years of age, penniless, and an entire stranger to every one except John Wereat, Esq., who had been intimate with his father in England. Samuel Farley, Esq., attorney at law, a gentleman whose legal attainments had secured him an extensive prac- tice, pleased with the talents and industry of the youth, re- ceived him into his office, and superintended his studies. But the times were exciting. People spoke their sentiments freely in regard to the differences between Great Britain and her colonies, and expressed opinions that the time had arrived when it became the latter to assume a hostile attitude. Jackson laid aside his law-books, and, with his bosom burning with the love of liberty, associated himself with that portion of the citizens who had resolved no longer to wear the chains of slavery. Such men as Bulloch, Houstoun, Jones, and Hall, encouraged
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the ambitious youth, because they saw in him, enthusiasm, courage, and talents. The first time that Jackson had an op- portunity of distinguishing himself was when an attack was proposed against Savannah, by a fleet of vessels commanded by Captain Barclay, aided by land forces under Majors Mait- land and Grant. The armed vessels grounded, and thus the expectations of the foe were defeated. A party of volunteers, among whom were John Morel, Thomas Hamilton, James Bryan, and James Jackson, then only nineteen years of age, proceeded to that part of the river where the vessels lay, and set them on fire, the crews, however, making their escape, with the loss of their clothes and arms. This affair gained him the approbation of his fellow-citizens, and upon the organization of a company of light infantry he was elected lieutenant, and afterwards captain ; but shortly afterwards resigned, from an impression that injustice had been done him by his colonel. About 1778, he was appointed brigade major, and the chroni- cles of this period speak highly of his military talents and fide- lity. In the battle at Medway, where General Scriven was killed, he commanded a party of volunteers, received a wound, and acquired fresh laurels for soldierlike conduct. After the fall of Savannah, in 1778, in company with his friend Mr. Milledge, he went to South Carolina, and joined the command of General Moultrie. During the progress of these sons of liberty, barefoot and clothed in rags, they were apprehended as spies by some American soldiers, and condemned to be hung. The gallows was actually prepared, and but for the timely arrival of Major Peter Deveaux, who accidentally heard of the transaction, these two patriots would have been exe- cuted. It is an incident worthy of notice, that both, at a sub- sequent period, became Governors of the State of Georgia, and successively Senators in Congress from that State. We are unable to say in what capacity he served under General Moul- trie ; but, whatever it was, we are sure that he was not want- ing in any of the attributes of a gallant and faithful soldier. In 1779, he was at the ill-fated siege of Savannah, attached, as it is thought, to the division of troops under Colonel Mar- bury. Here he exerted himself, with others of his brave asso- ciates, to recover the town. The result of that siege is well
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known. The Georgia soldiers did their duty, and many of them on that day sealed their devotion to liberty with their blood. Among the wounded was Lieutenant Edward Lloyd, a Georgian, who had his right arm carried away by a cannon- shot ; and Major Jackson, whilst aiding the surgeon in dress- ing the shattered stump, expressed to the wounded lieutenant his deep sympathy for the casualty which had happened to him; upon which the chivalrous Georgian observed, " that as bad as such a prospect presented to so young a man, he would rather be in his than in Captain Stedman's situation," an officer who had evinced cowardice or deserted his post on the morn- ing of the assault. Georgia being now in possession of the British army, many of its noble defenders were compelled to retreat to South Carolina, among whom was Major Jackson. In August, 1780, General Sumter was attacked at Blackstock's house by Col. Tarlton. Ramsey, Mills, Sims, and other Caro- lina historians, have given accounts of this engagement ; but in our opinion they have not done full justice to the Georgia troops, who acted a conspicuous part on that occasion.
In our memoir of General Twiggs, we have referred to this subject ; and desirous, we may say resolved (at least as far as our exertions can effect it), to give the meed of praise to the little corps of Georgians who were engaged in this battle, we here affirm that it can be proved by indubitable testimony, that Major Jackson was unsurpassed in this action by any officer ; that his support of Col. Elijah Clarke was conducted with skill and efficiency ; and that the men under his command displayed an intrepidity that would have done honour to vete- ran troops. Tarlton fled from the field, and Jackson was ordered to pursue him; but, owing to the fleetness of his steed, Tarlton made his escape with a loss of 30 to 40 horses, which Jackson brought back. The battle of the Cowpens gave Jack- son another opportunity of evincing his unconquerable desire to serve his country. The arduous duties of his office as Brigade Major were performed with his accustomed energy and skill. Gen. Andrew Pickens, who had the South Caro- lina and Georgia militia under his command at the battle of the Cowpens, bears the following testimony in favour of Ma- jor Jackson : " Major Jackson, by his example, and firm, active
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conduct, did much to animate the soldiers, and insure the suc- cess of the day. He ran the utmost risk of his life in seizing the colours of the 71st British regiment, and afterwards intro- ducing Major McArthur, commanding officer of the British infantry, as a prisoner of war, to Gen. Morgan." After this battle, he was engaged on a difficult tour of duty in North Carolina, which he executed in a manner so satisfactory to Gen. Greene,* that he authorized him to raise a partisan legion of infantry and cavalry, for service in Georgia. This he ac- complished in a short time, for few officers ever possessed to a greater extent the art of recruiting men. His eloquence on these occasions was powerful. When he described, in burn- ing words, the cruelties of the enemy, the perils and hard- ships of the Georgians -- and when he avowed his willingness to share every danger with them, the effect upon the crowds that he addressed was irresistible. Shouts of "Liberty and Jackson for ever," rent the air, and forthwith offers of en- listment came from hundreds of lips. Having organized his legion, he received Gen. Greene's commission as Lieut. Colonel commanding, which was afterwards confirmed by Congress. The appearance of his legion, when equipped, must have been singular, for in the Colonel's own description of them, he says : " My dragoons were clothed and armed by themselves, except pistols ; even their caps, boots, and spurs. Their coats were made of deer-skins, dressed, and turned up with the little blue cloth I could procure." But what was dress to such men? They possessed iron hearts. Speaking of the sufferings of his men, the Colonel says : "My whole corps for months were without any thing to quench their thirst but the common swamp water near Savannah, and for 48 hours together without bread, rice, or any thing like it." At the reduction of Augusta, Col. Jackson's services were of the most valuable character. Just before that event, the militia had begun to manifest signs of despondency. Overcome by long service, destitute of almost every necessary of life, and giving up all hope of succours
* He had been introduced to General Greene by General Morgan in a most shabby dress, for he was poor, and unable to purchase rich military clothing. It is said that his appearance was, to General Greene's eye, so remarkable. that he immediately formed a high opinion of him.
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from Gen. Greene's army, they had formed the resolution of retiring home. Jackson being informed of this state of feel- ing, instantly repaired to the camp, and, by his animating ad- dresses, quelled the tumult, and called upon them, in a manner peculiar to himself, not to tarnish the laurels which they had already gained, by deserting their country in a time of so much need. His interference was effectual. The drooping spirits of the militia were roused, and they resolved to bid defiance to their foes. Nobly did these men fight. Jackson's arrange- ments at the beginning of the attack upon Augusta, contribut- ed in a great degree to the success of the American arms. He led one of the advance parties, and performed other peril- ous duties with great honour to himself. After the surrender of the town, he received orders to level the fortifications, to collect as many men as possible, and join the army of Gen. Greene ; but, having marched about thirty miles, he found it impossible to reach the main army, and therefore returned to Augusta, of which he had been appointed commandant.
In July he was ordered to advance towards Savannah, and take post midway between this town and Augusta. It was here that a conspiracy was formed in his infantry to kill Col. Jackson in his bed, but happily it was discovered by a soldier who acted as his waiter, named Davis. This honourable man observing that something uncommon was going on in the camp, determined to find it out. To accomplish his object, he mingled among the men, and branded the Colonel with many opprobrious epithets. Supposing they might have a useful accomplice in Davis, the conspirators divulged their secret to him, which he immediately communicated to Col. Jackson. The infantry were drawn out, the ringleaders instantly arrested under a charge of cavalry, tried by a court martial, and executed. Davis was rewarded for his fidelity by the Legislature, with a gift of 500 acres of land, a horse, sad- dle and bridle. Before Col. Jackson with his legion reached Ebenezer, he had several skirmishes with the foe, in which he was generally victorious. On the 2d of November, 1781, he determined to surprise the British post at the Ogeechee ferry. His approach to the post was conducted with so much address, that it was not perceived until the demand was made upon it
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to surrender. The British commander was in the act of deliv- ering his sword to Col. Jackson, when Captain Goldsmith was killed by Captain Patrick Carr. This sanguinary action induced the commanding officer of the British to believe that the Americans designed to butcher his men in cold blood, and suddenly springing to a house which was the place of defence, he ordered his men to resume their arms and fight for their lives. The consequence was, that Jackson was compelled to abandon his enterprise. With his force much thinned, he proceeded about a mile, when he attacked a house in which were fifteen loyalists, commanded by Captain Howell ; and the whole party were either killed or taken prisoners. A few hours after this affair, he was attacked by a superior force, consisting of the whole British cavalry from Savannah, under Lieut. Col. Campbell, and compelled to retreat to a swamp; but not until he had killed or disabled as many of the foe as he had men under his own command. Efforts were made to dislodge him, but the Colonel could not be easily caught. Taking advantage of the night, he retreated towards Ebene- zer. Upon reaching Ebenezer, he was ordered by General Twiggs to retreat to Burke county, for the purpose of re- inforcements. After his force had been considerably aug- mented, he was for some time engaged in cutting off the foraging parties of the enemy. In February, 1782, General Anthony Wayne was ordered to Ebenezer, and Col. Jackson joined him. Between this period and the end of the war, he was incessantly employed in active duty. Wayne had the highest confidence in his skill and bravery, and accordingly, when any hazardous enterprise was to be accomplished, Jack- son was selected. On one occasion he was detached with thirty dragoons to destroy the rice on Governor Wright's plantation. Having performed this duty, in his retreat he passed through the camp of two hundred sick tories. Fortu- nate for this party that it fell into the hands of Col. Jackson ! Their atrocities had long merited punishment, but to the hon- our of our magnanimous soldier, he left them unmolested. On the 12th of July, 1782, the British evacuated Savannah, and Gen. Wayne honoured Col. Jackson with the distinction of receiving from the British the surrender and keys of the town.
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He entered it with his ever-faithful cavalry, having the proud satisfaction of being the first American officer who in actual command had been within its lines since its fall, in 1778. The following order will show in what estimation Col. Jackson was held by General Wayne, the commanding officer :
" HEAD QUARTERS AT GIBBONS'S, "July 10, 1782.
"As the enemy may be expected daily to evacuate the town, the troops will take care to be provided with a clean shift of linen, and to make themselves as respectable as possible for the occasion. The officers are particularly called upon to attend to this order, and see it executed in their respective corps. No followers of the army are to be permitted to enter the town until the main body has marched in. Lieut. Col. Jackson, in consideration of his severe and fatiguing service in the advance, is to receive the keys of Savannah, and is allowed to enter the western gate, keeping a patrol in town to apprehend stragglers who may steal in with the hope of plun- der. Marauders may assure themselves of the most severe and exemplary punishment."
After the war Col. Jackson took up his residence in Savan- nah, and married Miss Mary Charlotte Young, daughter of William Young, an ardent patriot, and devoted himself to the practice of the law, in which he soon became eminent. In July, 1782, the Legislature of Georgia, in consideration of his great and useful services to his country, presented him with a house and lot in the city of Savannah. When elected to the Legislature, with a magnanimity eminently characteristic of him, he laid aside his revolutionary animosity against some of the tories, who were greatly indebted to his exertions in pro- curing for them a release from the penalties of the confisca- tion acts. To induce him to advocate their restoration to citi- zenship, bribes were offered him by some, whose conduct in the war of the Revolution was marked by an extent of flagi- tiousness that admitted of no possible shadow of palliation ; but the high-minded patriot scorned every offer of this charac- ter. Sooner than he would have pleaded, for gold, the cause of treason, he would have submitted his head to the block. In 1784 he became Colonel of the 1st regiment, and in 1786 he
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received the commission of Brigadier General ; the duties of which were peculiarly arduous, having charge of the opera- tions against the Indians, who were then making inroads upon our southern settlements. When only 31 years of age he was elected, in 1788, Governor of Georgia, but for reasons which he deemed satisfactory he refused to serve. About this time he was made Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons, in Georgia, and honorary member of the State Society of the Cincinnati. In 1789 he was elected to represent the Eastern District in the first Congress held under the Federal Constitution. Between this period and 1806 he held almost every high office in Georgia, viz. : member of the Legislature, Major General member of the Convention that framed the present Constitution of the State, of which he wrote the greater part; Elector for President and Vice-President ; Governor, and Senator to Con- gress In all the offices with which his countrymen honoured him, he strictly conformed to what he considered right. It was natural to expect, in the incipient stages of our govern- ment, that men intrusted with responsible offices would ex- pose themselves to opposition and calumny ; and Mr. Jackson, for the fearless and conscientious discharge of his duty, expe- rienced a full share of misrepresentation and abuse : but, no- thing daunted, he persevered in every measure which he believed would advance the interests and reputation of Geor- gia, and this the people of Georgia acknowledged more than once. In the year 1791, General Anthony Wayne, who had become a citizen of Georgia, and possessed very justly the veneration of her people, was induced, doubtless with honest purposes in himself, yet certainly, perhaps unconsciously, by the instigations of Gen. Jackson's adversaries, to become a candidate in opposition, for the same district in Congress. An animated contest was waged before the people. Gen. Wayne was returned. Gen. Jackson presented himself before the House of Representatives, in February, 1792, contested the return, personally conducted his claim to the seat, and obtained a decision, awarded without a dissenting voice, that General Wayne was not entitled to retain it. By the casting vote of the Speaker alone, the House refused to declare Gen. Jackson elected. The concluding speech of Gen. Jackson is repre-
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. sented to have been a display of brilliant oratory, followed by long continued applause. " With these sentiments, Mr. Speaker," said he, in closing, "I submit the facts I have brought forward to the House, and with them I commit the rights of myself, the rights of the State of Georgia, and I had almost said the rights of the United States, to their decision ; and I beg leave to repeat, that a free representation was what we fought for ; a free representation was what we obtained ; a free representation is what our children should be taught to lisp, and our youths to relinquish only with their lives."
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