USA > Georgia > The bench and bar of Georgia: memoirs and sketches. With an appendix, containing a court roll from 1790-1857, etc., volume I > Part 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
No. 48. Letter to Gov. Early, informing him that part of the army had crossed the Ocmulgee at Hartford, and that the whole would be over as soon as one flat could transport them ; that sup- plies were scant and great deficiency in the quartermaster's de- partment ; no contractor; rations short. Intended to proceed, whether he had rations or not, &c. December 28, 1814.
No. 49. Letter to Maj. Gen. McIntosh, stating that the com- mand had crossed the river at Hartford, and that a detachment had opened the road and built bridges, so that the next day the march would begin, reaching first depôt in six days. Had no quartermaster-general, and only a forage-master to act for him. Without funds ; not more than one day's rations ahead, and some- times less ; no contractor. He would persevere in obedience to orders, whether he had supplies or not. December 30, 1814.
No. 50. Letter from Anthony Porter, Secretary to the Gover- nor, relative to tents, pistols, and other supplies, Capt. Thomas's cavalry, &c. December 30, 1814.
No. 51. To Major James Patton, ordering the first class of militia in the frontier-districts of Twiggs county to be in readiness to join the first class of Pulaski county, under the command of Capt. William H. Groce. December 23, 1814.
No.52. Report of Alexander McDonald, assistant forage-master, on the state of supplies, transportation of corn, &c. December 31, 1814.
No. 53. Letter from Capt. Richard H. Thomas, stating that he had applied to the Executive Department for tents, pistols, and swords for his troop. January 1, 1815.
No. 54. Letter from Wilson Navey, principal forage-master, ex- plaining certain irregularities, and that a better system would be observed in future. January 1, 1815.
No. 55. Letter from A. McDonald, giving the particulars of the accident at the ferry opposite Hartford, the sinking of the flat with public stores, &c. January 3, 1815.
No. 56. Orders to A. McDonald respecting transportation of
369
DAVID BLACKSHEAR.
tools, baggage, supplies, &c., and escort, when necessary. Janu- ary 3, 1815.
No. 57. Letter to A. McDonald, reminding him that, as agent for the quartermaster's department, it was his duty to make and repair bridges and roads, to build boats, &c. for the army. Janu- ary 4, 1815.
No. 58. Copy of a letter from Col. Hawkins to Gen. McIntosh, touching certain Indian murders and conduct of the British at Forbes's Store, vessels, troops, tampering with the Indians, &c. January 4, 1815.
No. 59. Letter to Col. Hawkins, requesting him to recommend some twenty Indians to act as guides, interpreters, spies and mes- sengers in the nation, for the use of the army, &c. January 5, 1815.
No. 60. Letter from Maj. Gen. McIntosh, regretting that he had ordered Gen. Blackshear's command to Flint River, as information from Mobile showed danger in that quarter. Forced marches were necessary. Go on, as the detachment, with the aid of Col. Haw- kins's Indian regiment, would subdue the hostile tribes, then for Gen. B. to proceed with his army direct to the Mobile territory to form a junction, &c. January 5, 1815.
No. 61. General orders to the command about firing on the Indians during the march, to avoid communicating the strength, route, or object of the army, and always to respect the bearer of a white flag. January 6, 1815.
No. 62. Letter from Gov. Early, enclosing copies from Generals McIntosh and Winchester, showing the imperious necessity for a change of route, and of marching at once to overtake Gen. McIntosh before he reached Mobile. Route to be left at discre- tion, &c. January 6, 1815.
No. 63. Letter to A. McDonald, notifying that the first 30,000 rations must be hauled from Hartford, and that on 13th inst. the second 30,000 will be on demand ; that a place of deposit must be built for the public stores, and a fort for defence on Flint River, &c. January 7, 1815.
No. 64. Report from A. McDonald that he had started four wagons, and would start five more next day, with provisions for the army and forage for the horses, from Hartford. January 7, 1815.
No. 65. Letter from Maj. Gen. McIntosh, giving intelligence received from one of his confidential Indians of the proceedings of the enemy at Forbes's Store; that the British had 13,000 VOL. I .- 24
370
MEMOIR OF GENERAL
troops near New Orleans, marching on that city, had laid Pass Christian in ashes; that Gen. Jackson had ordered all the free people of color to take up arms ; that eleven British, barges had been sunk, with their crews, and five American gunboats had been taken,-all rendering it necessary to call for a battalion from Gen. Blackshear's command to support Gen. Jackson, and then leave enough, with Col. Hawkins's reinforcement of 1000 warriors, to protect the Georgia frontier, &c. January 9, 1815.
No. 66. Orders to A. McDonald to have forthwith twenty-six empty wagons at the camp on Flint River (exclusive of those on the way) for transportation, &c. January 8, 1815.
No. 67. Letter from Gov. Early, countermanding the orders of Gen. McIntosh to march on Mobile, leaving the detachment to pursue the route it was going. January 10, 1815.
No. 68. Report of Wilson Navcy that he had shipped a boat- load [barge] of flour and corn to Fort Barrington for the army, when it shall reach there. January 10, 1815.
No. 69. Letter from Maj. Gen. McIntosh, approving the Gover- nor's orders, of 6th inst., to march for Mobile, and urging rapid movement for that purpose. Col. Hawkins to remain for the chastisement of the Seminoles or any other hostile Indians. January 11, 1815.
No. 70. Talk from Col. Hawkins, U. S. Agent, to be delivered by Gen. Blackshear to Jack Kennard, a half-breed, to render such service as the general may require, &c. January 11, 1815.
No. 71. Letter from Col. Hawkins by Coe-c-maut-lau, of Casse- tau, express, with despatches for the army, and with a talk to the chiefs of Am-mic-cul-le. January 11, 1815. (Scc No. 72.)
No. 73. Letter to Maj. Gen. McIntosh, reporting march from the Ocmulgee 31st ult., and arrival at Flint River on 6th inst., cutting and hauling timber for a fort, return of wagons to Hart- ford for supplies, when, on 8th inst., received the Governor's letter (No. 62) changing route from Appalachicola to Mobile; sickness of troops, &c. January 11, 1815.
No. 74. Letter from Gov. Early in relation to hospital-stores under the care of Maj. A. B. Fannin. January 12, 1815.
No. 75. Letter to Gen. Floyd, on march down the Altamaha for the defence of the seaboard. (Without datc.)
No. 76. Letter to Gov. Early, expressing regret at the unfounded rumors from Col. Hawkins's Indian runners about the British at Forbes's Store upon which the order of 9th, taking one battalion, was issued by Gen. McIntosh, and, after that, the imperative order
-
------
--- >
371
DAVID BLACKSHEAR.
of 11th to march with whole command for Mobile. The field clear, Col. Hawkins can keep as many of his Indians under pay and rations as he may think necessary, and then write and talk, and talk and write, to his satisfaction. January 14, 1815.
No. 77. Letter to Maj. Gen. McIntosh, recapitulating that on 12th inst. he received orders to co-operate with Col. Hawkins against the British and Indians on the frontier of Georgia. Now, just received two orders,-9th and 11th, -directing whole force to Mobile, pursuant to the Governor's order of 6th inst. Shall retrace steps and take your route at Fort Hawkins, to form junction for the defence of the Mobile country. January 14, 1815.
No. 78. Letter from Timothy Barnard, an educated and trusty half-breed Indian, sending a red man of Chehaw as express, with a letter from the Agency. January 14, 1815.
No. 79. Letter to Gov. Early, acknowledging receipt, on 14th inst., of imperative orders from Gen. McIntosh, dated 11th inst., to march with whole force to Mobile. Suggests that some changes are necessary, &c. January 15, 1815.
No. 80. Letter from Gov. Early, expressing regret at the fre- quent change of route; will have to send 500 troops on State ac- count to accomplish the object first in view, to be commanded by Maj. Freeman. January 16, 1815.
No. 81. Letter from Gov. Early, stating the crisis on the sea-board, -fifteen ships-of-the-line, seven frigates, and a number of smaller vessels, landing on Cumberland Island; that the British barges occupy all the sounds and inlets between St. Mary's and Bruns- wick ; from the necessity of the case, the proposed march to Mobile is countermanded, and Gen. Blackshear's whole force ordered to the point invaded,-the sca-coast of Georgia. January 19, 1815.
No. 82. Orders to Farish Carter, army-contractor, to keep 30,000 rations on hand monthly, and to cause no delay in the movement of the troops for want of provisions. January 21, 1815.
No. 83. Letter to Capt. Lane, directing the quartermaster- general's department to call on the ordnance-department for at least five hundred pounds of best powder and ten reams of car- tridge-paper, and forward to army on its march to Darien. Janu- ary 21, 1815.
No. 84. Letter to Maj. Gen. McIntosh, stating obedience to orders he had given, and that while on way by Hartford for Mobile the Governor's order turned the command in another direction. The peculiar state of things led to a breach of his
£
W
372
MEMOIR OF GENERAL
orders; but it was believed the course of his Excellency would be sanctioned. January 21, 1815.
No. 85. Letter to Gov. Early, notifying that last orders had been obeyed, and the army was marching for the seaboard,-the Governor assuming the responsibility of a breach of the major- general's orders. January 22, 1815.
No. 86. Letter from Maj. Gen. McIntosh at Fort Decatur compliments Col. Boothe in building boats for transportation down the Tallapoosa and Alabama Rivers to Mobile, and express- ing a hope that Gen. Blackshear's command will join in eight or ten days. Gen. Jackson had been skirmishing with the enemy near New Orleans, (battle of the 8th not then heard from.) January 22, 1815.
No. 87. Letter from Maj. Gen. McIntosh, urging forward, and expressing the hope that command would join him at the Tallapoosa by 5th or 6th February, when he expected to be ready to take boats for Mobile. January 23, 1815.
No. 88. Letter from Maj. A. B. Fannin, Deputy Quartermas- ter-General of the United States Army, respecting the delivery of rations at certain points, increased diligence of the subordinates in future, &c. January 24, 1815.
No. 89. Letter from Gov. Early, stating that all the country south of the Altamaha was in possession of the British; that the people had fled, and the militia and regulars had retreated across the river. It was supposed that the enemy intended to march by land on Savannah. Suggestions were made as to depôts, and the employment of vedettes to observe and inform as to their move- ments. January 25, 1815.
No. 90. Letter from Anthony Porter, Secretary to the Governor, sending a Savannah Republican of 17th instant, containing certain letters to Gen. Floyd, detailing the operations of the enemy near St. Mary's, &c. January 25, 1815.
No. 91. Letter from Anthony Porter, stating that he had sent by wagon four hundred pounds powder, a lot of cartridge-paper, and five boxes containing in all 14,850 musket-cartridges, for the command. January 25, 1815.
No. 92. Letter of A. McDonald, exculpating himself for delay in transportation, &c. January 22, 1815.
No. 93. Orders to the army-contractor for 100,000 complete rations, to be delivered at St. Savilla Bluff on the Altamaha. January 27, 1815.
No. 95. Letter to Gov. Early, detailing progress of the
·
F
373
DAVID BLACKSHEAR.
detachment, with remarks on the contractor and quartermaster- general's department; short of rations and forage. January 27, 1815.
No. 96. Letter from Gen. Floyd, noticing the conduct of the British in pillaging St. Mary's and destroying the fort and maga- zine at Point Peter, the seizure of all vessels in the waters of the St. Mary's. Force about two thousand, of which number four hun- dred are said to be black. The stations of troops and their officers are noticed as defending the coast. January 31, 1815.
No. 97. Letter to Gen. Floyd reporting advance, with de- tention occasionally from high waters and extensive swamps almost impassable from the great number of wagons flying from the in- vaded district. Force a little above eight hundred. The sick left at Hartford are beginning to join the army. February 2, 1815.
No. 98. Letter to Captain A. A. Massias, stating that command would arrive at Fort Barrington in the evening; that a feu-de-joie of nineteen guns had been fired at Fort Hawkins on the Monday previous, because of the victory gained by Gen. Jackson over the British at New Orleans. February 4, 1815.
No. 99. Orders from Gen. Floyd distributing troops at cer- tain stations, and placing Darien and its vicinity under the special protection of Gen. Blackshear. February 6, 1815.
No. 100. Letter from Gov. Early, stating that Gen. McIntosh had fully approved the diversion of the command from Mobile to the coast. February 8, 1815.
No. 101. Letter from Anthony Porter, enclosing commissions for officers in the command, to fill certain vacancies. February 8, 1815.
No. 102. Orders from Maj. Gen. Pinckney in regard to arrests by military authority, &c. February 8, 1815.
No. 103. Orders from Gen. Floyd, detaching from command one full company to join the local militia under Maj. Hopkins, for the purpose of preoccupying Sapelo Island in order to repel any hostile attempt of the enemy. February 12, 1815.
No. 104. Letter from Gen. Floyd, stating that it was confi- dently believed the preliminaries of peace had been signed at Ghent on 24th November, though it would be unwise and impolitic to rely on its probability. February 12, 1815.
No. 105. Orders from Maj. Gen. Pinckney to muster the first regiment, and part of second and thirtieth regiments, and certain companies of dragoons and militia. February 13, 1815.
No. 106. Letter to Gen. Floyd, giving information of certain
374
MEMOIR OF GENERAL
pillaging-parties of the British in the neighborhood of Darien. February 13, 1815.
No. 107. Orders from Maj. Gen. Pinckney, discharging cer- tain troops from the service of the United States. February 14, 1815.
No. 108. Letter of the Secretary of War to Gen. Pinckney, announcing that a treaty of peace was concluded between the United States and Great Britain at Ghent, on 24th December last, and that hostilities between the troops of the two countries should cease. February 14, 1815.
No. 109. Orders to the military-store keepers. February 16, 1815.
No. 110. Letter to Maj. Hopkins, notifying him of the official intelligence of peace, and ordering the troops under his command to be mustered, &c. February 25, 1815.
No. 111. Letter from Gen. Floyd, describing the celebration of the news of peace in Savannah,-the illuminations and music, military parade, and other rejoicing. February 25, 1815.
No. 112. Orders from Gen. Floyd, discharging the militia from the service of the United States within the State of Georgia, &c. &c. February 27, 1815.
Though not a part of the official communications relating to the war, two letters addressed to Gen. Blackshear, descriptive of the conduct of the British on the coast of Georgia, have been in- cluded in the papers connected with this memoir. One was from John Sawyer, Esq., dated January 27, 1815, and is marked No. 93; and the other was from Gen. John Houstoun McIntosh, dated April 2, 1815, and is marked No. 113,-both of which are interesting and worthy of perusal. The high sources from which they emanated sufficiently guarantee the facts.
The routes of the army, marches and countermarches, may be ascertained from the correspondence of which an abstract has been given. It is not necessary to dwell on the incidents of the cam- paign or of the character of Gen. Blackshear as a commander. That he acted wisely, promptly, and to the satisfaction of his supe- riors in authority, as well as to the people of Georgia, is fully shown by the following vote of thanks :-
IN SENATE, December 12, 1815.
On motion of Mr. Charlton :-
The late war with Great Britain being closed by an honorable peace imposes upon the Legislature of this State the duty of approving the conduct of those defenders of their country who deserve it, and who have not heretofore received the tribute of applause due to their services. And
-
-
375
DAVID BLACKSHEAR.
in tendering this public expression of Legislative thanks and gratitude, the General Assembly of this State are first attracted by the gallant and determined manner the late Major-General McIntosh, and the present Brigadier-General Blackshear, their officers and men, obeyed the call of the State, and promptly marched in the most inclement season to meet the enemy theu threatening a neighboring territory of the United States, und, with a zeal and patriotism highly honorable to this army, endeavored to meet the foe, in despite of danger or his discipline and superiority of numbers. Wherefore,
Be it Resolved, unanimously, by the Senate and House of Representa- tires of the General Assembly of the State of Georgia, That the Legisla- ture, for and in behalf of the free people of this State, render their thanks to the said Major-General McIntosh and Brigadier-General Blackshear, and the brave officers and soldiers under their command.
And whereas, during the late invasion of this State, an army was placed under the command of Brigadier-General John Floyd, who, as commander of the militia of this State, had under his orders various officers, soldiers. and volunteers, exerting themselves in defence of their insulted and invaded country, whose general conduct and bravery met the approbation of the said General Floyd :
Be it therefore Resolved, unanimously, by the authority aforesaid, That the thanks of this Legislature, acting for the free people of this State, be, and the same are hereby, tendered to the said General Floyd for his gallant and patriotic services, as also to the officers, soldiers, and volun- teers under his command, in the service lately performed in the eastern division of this State.
Be it further Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be presented by his Excellency the Governor to Major-General McIntosh, Brigadier- General Blackshear, and to General Floyd.
Approved, December 16, 1815.
OCONEE NAVIGATION.
At the close of the war, Gen. Blackshear returned to his farm in Laurens county. At the session of 1815 the Legislature appointed him a member of the Board of Commissioners for the Improvement of the Navigation of the Oconee River, to admit the passage of boats, from its junction with the Ocmulgee, to Milledgeville. This employment cost him much time and labor, without any other reward than the consciousness of having done what might be useful to the public. As the author, more than twenty-five years ago, had a brief official connection with the board, he submits the following documents, which will serve as a better explanation than any he could now give on the subject :-
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MILLEDGEVILLE, January 7, 1831.
SIR :- I enclose to you an order from this Department appointing you agent for the State, to complete the settlement with the commissioners of the Oconee River, (which has been in part effected by the former State Agent, Richard K. Ilines, Esq.,) in pursuance of resolutions of the
376
MEMOIR OF GENERAL
Legislature passed at its last session, a copy of which is also enclosed for your information and direction.
Very respectfully, yours, &c.,
GEORGE R. GILMER.
STEPHEN F. MILLER, Esq.
[ENCLOSURE.]
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, MILLEDGEVILLE, January 7, 1831.
Ordered, That Stephen F. Miller, Esq. be, and he is hereby, appointed agent for the State to complete the settlement with the commissioners of the Oconee River, (which has been in part effected by the former State Agent, Richard K. Hines, Esq.,) in pursuance of resolutions of the Legis- lature, approved December 23, 1830.
By the Governor :
MILLER GRIEVE,
Secretary Ex. Dep.
REPLY TO THE AGENT.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GEORGIA, MILLEDGEVILLE, February 17, 1831.
SIR :- Your letter of the 14th inst. has been received, and I have been instructed by the Governor to transmit to you the enclosed copy of Mr. Hines's report, a copy of the receipts given by the commissioners of the Oconce Navigation Association, and the copy of the report of the com- mittee of the late board, taken from their book of minutes at pages 35, 36, 37, and 38, referred to by Mr. Hines.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. H. PIERCE, Secretary Ex. Dep.
STEPHEN F. MILLER, Esq., Agent, &c.
Condensed view of the account accompanying R. K. Hines's Report as Agent for settling with the Oconee River Commissioners.
Appropriations. $20,000 00
Amount disbursed. $16,959 872
. Bank-stock
10,000 00
Notes for money loaned ...
6,106 643
Dividends on bank-stock ..
1,050 00
Notes for hire ... 776 42
Cash of R. A. Blount, Sec'y
459 43
Bank-stock.
10,000 00
Sale of Bias ...
455 00
Cash in treasury 1,400 00
Hire of public hands
2,760 36
Cash in hands State Agent 98 791
Interest on money loaned ..
616 943
$35,341 73}
$35,341 783
THE GOVERNOR'S COMMUNICATION.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GEORGIA, MILLEDGEVILLE, November 18, 1831.
TO THE SENATE :- I herewith lay before the General Assembly the report of Stephen F. Miller, Esq., the agent appointed for the State to complete a settlement with the Commissioners of the Oconee River, under the resolution of the General Assembly, passed on the 23d of December, 1830. WILSON LUMPKIN.
---
.
F
7
377
DAVID BLACKSHEAR.
AGENT'S REPORT.
MARION, November 1, 1831.
SIR :- The resolution of the Legislature passed 23d December, 1830, under which your Excellency appointed mne agent for the State to com- plete a settlement with the Commissioners of the Oconee River, left no particular direction how it should be carried into effect. In fixing a point of time at which to commence my labors, the report made in the Senate the 2d December, 1824, in which the funds and property of the association were ascertained up to that date, readily occurred to me as the most proper and conclusive. I have therefore limited my investigation from that time to the organization of the new board created by the act of 26th December, 1826, for the improvement of the Oconee River below Carter's Bridge, opposite Milledgeville, believing that I was foreclosed by the facts con- tained in that report from making inquiries beyond it. As the basis, then, upon which I have acted, I have charged the commissioners with having had "under their control eighteen working-hands, ten thousand dollars in bank-stock, five hundred and fifty-one dollars and forty-seven cents in notes, accounts, and attorneys' receipts, and one hundred and twenty dollars cash on hand" the 2d December, 1824, and the sum of three thousand dollars appropriated by act of the 22d December, 1825, together with the sum of two hundred and twenty-nine dollars and ninety- five cents received from Mr. John T. Rowland, in 1826, as a balance for hire of the public hands. These furnish the debits of the board, and by these I have made the settlement.
It may not be amiss to consider briefly the origin of the Oconee Navi- gation Association. The Legislature, by act of 16th December, 1815, appointed a board, consisting of five individuals, to improve the Oconee River, with authority to pursue such measures, under the direction of the Governor, as he might deem most proper to accomplish the object of the appropriation, thereby made, of ten thousand dollars ; in addition to which, the further sum of ten thousand dollars was allowed by act of the 19th December, 1817. By the act it became " the duty of the commissioners to make a fair, just, and regular return, every six months, to his Excel- lency the Governor, of all disbursements made by the commissioners, and of the progress made by them in clearing out the obstructions in the said river." When the commissioners ceased to obey this direction the agent has not been informed, but presumes it was complied with until the Legislature of 1824, when it was " Resolved, That said commissioners are entitled to the highest confidence for their strict attention and indefati- gable exertions in promoting the interest of the State so far as respects the improvement of said river." With this evidence before me, I felt bound to assume the state of the institution as presented in that report as the true basis to start upon. The commissioners have produced to me vouchers for all the expenditures made by them from the 2d December, 1824, to 1st February, 1827, about which latter time the new board went into operation ; and I herewith submit copies of all the vouchers thus produced, marked from 1 to 30 inclusive,-the commissioners desiring to retain the originals, which I agreed to return to them.
By the account-current herewith transmitted, it is shown that the com- missioners, in the time to which I have confined my examination, have had under their control the sum of thirteen thousand nine hundred and one dollars and forty-two cents, in disposable funds, including bank-stock, and that they have expended thirteen thousand five hundred and ninety-eight
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.