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 52
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The troop of cavalry, and the additional company of infantry which were authorised, will of course be discharged.
I have the honor to be, with high respect, your obedient servant,
PETER EARLY.
P.S .- Since writing the foregoing, I have had a conversation with Col. Hammond on the subject of your route. He suggests that, in case you should be considerably advanced toward Flint River, it would be advisa- ble for you to penetrate by Barnard's to Coweta. He states that wagons and carts have repeatedly gone from Barnard's to Coweta; that the route is over high sandy ground, and unobstructed by water-courses. He thinks that Barnard keeps a flat ; but adds, after the trial you have made, and with the means of information you possess, you can best judge for your- self. Barnard's is as near to Coweta as to the Creek Agency. If your boats are afloat, you might readily draw your supplies from them.
I only give you this as the suggestion of a man whom you know. He tells me he has travelled the route, and that families have moved along it to the Western country. You will be the best judge of your own move- ments. P. E. MAJOR-GENERAL MCINTOSH TO GOV. EARLY. (Copy.)
WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF CHATTACHOCHEE, January 1, 1815. SIR :- I enclose your Excellency copies of two letters I received yes- terday from Brigadier-General Winchester and Taylor.
You will therein discover the strength and efforts of the enemy to pos- sess himself of that seetion of the Union, and the solicitude of Gen. Win- chester for aid at this eritical juncture.
Hc refers me for particulars to a letter of the 13th ultimo, which, un- fortunately, I did not receive, as it would have determined me in a different course with respect to Gen. Blackshear's movements.
I am sorry, as circumstances have occurred, it had not been otherwise, as I believe no other enemy is in his route but a few Seminole Indians, not exceeding three hundred, which might have been subdued by one or two companies of foot and a troop of horse.
I have received information, which I believe to be correct, that Major Blue received from the Red Sticks or hostile Creeks who fled from Pensa- cola at the approach of Gen. Jackson's army, being situated on an island which they had recourse to as a temporary safety from pursuit. The mode of his acquiring this information was from two of his Choctaw Indians being sent out to endeavor to get some information of their situation, who spoke the Creek language. They met with two of them who had crossed over to the mainland in boats to kill cattle. The Choctaws appeared friendly until they acquired the necessary intelligence. They then killed
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and scalped the Indians, and returned to Major Bluc, who immediately took advantage of those boats and passed his command over on the island in the course of the night, killed and captured the whole, except eight or nine that made their escape in another boat they had.
No exertion on my part shall be wanting to press forward with all activity, that I can endeavor to be in time to afford my best efforts to save our country from the polluted foot of a ernel and oppressive foe. I wish to God I had been a month in advance ! I did think, under existing cir- cumstances, that I would order Gen. Blackshear to retrace his steps with all expedition and to follow me with zealous industry. There is no other mode by which he can ever join me, as the idea of cutting a road across the country to be timely to render aid in the present urgent case is chimeri- cal, in my opinion, and would defeat every object of his usefulness. If you think with ine, you can give that order positive; otherwise, if you conceive the frontiers of the State of Georgia may be benefited from his services, let him be retained for that service.
I beg that your Excellency will take this broad and discretionary power to govern that business, as my movements will be as rapid as I can make them, without probability of communication with that detachment, or having it in my power of judging of circumstances that might make it necessary to detain them.
But on this subject I shall be glad of your final decision by express, as it will be of some importance to me to be informed on that head.
I am, with great consideration, your Excellency's most obedient servant,
(Signed,) J. MCINTOSHI.
GEN. WINCHESTER TO GEN. MCINTOSH.
(Copy.)
MOBILE, December 20, 1814.
SIR :- After referring you to my communication addressed to you on the 13th insantt, I beg leave to solicit your attention to that part of it which relates to a reinforcement of one or two regiments. The enemy has assem- bled his fleet at Ship Island, consisting of one hundred and twenty or one hundred and thirty of all descriptions, and his land-forces are stated to be from six to eight thousand. On the 13th instant, he captured five gun- boats near the entrance of the pass of St. Joseph, and on the same day one hundred and fifty boats and barges, full of men, were seen standing a course which indicated an intention of attacking New Orleans.
If he succeeds or not in that project, this place will be his next aim, as the key to Indian influence. Therefore permit me to repeat my solicita- tions for a reinforcement of one or two regiments, to be hastened forward by forced marches. A few days gained by celerity of movement may insure victory, when without it the conflict may be doubtful.
I have the honor to conclude, with great respect, your most obedient servant, (Signed,) J. WINCHESTER, Brigadier-General Commanding East 7th District.
LXIII .- GEN. BLACKSHEAR TO A. MCDONALD.
CAMP AT FLINT RIVER, January 7, 1815.
SIR :- I arrived at this place last evening, and am almost entirely without forage, and not many days' rations on hand. I send you wagons sufficient for the transportation of forage and rations, if the contractor has
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provided any at Hartford, or any other place within a reasonable distance. If the contractor will not furnish at Hartford until after the expiration of the whole thirty days, the quartermaster-general's Department will haul it from Fort Hawkins, or so much, at least, as will complete the first thirty thousand rations required of him by Gen. McIntosh to be transported with this detachment, and of which the flour will fall short, (from what in- formation I have on the subject.) I think about the 13th of this month is the time when the second requisition for thirty thousand more, to be laid in at Hartford, will be on demand.
. As I am about to make this a place of deposit, and build a house for the reception, and a fort to defend it, and as you are well apprized that I shall call to this post one hundred infantry and one hundred cavalry, you will readily perceive the necessity of your unremitting vigilance in pro- curing and sending on forage and provision in such quantity as will leave me at no time with less than ten days' provision in advance. You will, without delay, state to such other of the quartermaster-general's depart- ment as you may have correspondence with, the necessity of more of their attention being turned to this object. I am now but forty-one miles from Hartford, and on the bank of Flint River, and, with very little labor in addition to what has already been done. will have an excellent road, and particularly so in dry weather.
LXIV .- A. MCDONALD TO GEN. BLACKSHEAR.
HARTFORD, January 7, 1815.
DEAR SIR :- I received yours by the men who act as spies,-also, by the two men whom I sent on to let you know of the accident that happened with the flat.
I expect to start four wagons across the river to-day, and to-morrow five more. I am using every exertion in my power to furnish a sufficiency of forage. I am doubtful, after every exertion, there will be blame at- tached to me. We have not a sufficiency of wagons to transport the forage. From what I can learn, the road is so intolerably bad that it is impossible for the wagons to haul a load. The wagons that I have loaded start with forty bushels, and receipt for thirty, allowing them eight days to go and come. In consequence of not having a sufficiency of wagons, I have not had it in my power to send long forage. I am at present en- tirely out of funds and out of provisions. We have not any flour or meat to issue to wagoners. On to-morrow, however, you may depend on my using every exertion in my power to furnish you with a sufficiency of forage. Your obedient servant,
ALEX. MCDONALD, Assistant Forage-Master G. M.
LXV .- MAJ. GEN. MCINTOSH TO GEN. BLACKSHEAR.
CAMP WEST OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE, January 9, 1815.
SIR :- Since my last letter to you, Col. Hawkins has received the fol- lowing intelligence from one of his Indians,-a confidential man sent for the purpose :-
" Ile saw twenty white and forty black soldiers below the forks of the river, about two miles east of the little old fields, where the Commissioners of Limits encamped : one officer commanded, in British uniform. They had not fort or ditch. They had one house built, and were to build an- other. They came up by land, and one boat came up with their provisions
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and other stores. He saw about thirty white and sixty black soldiers at Forbes's Store, -- in all, ninety, which he counted. Five are officers,- the whites dressed in red, the blacks in blue. They have four cannon, and seven mortars about seven-inch, two feet long, fixed on carriages with two low wheels, and the stores surrounded with a ditch and about two hundred hostile Indians. He saw a number of black women and children at the stores. The men were all soldiers.
" He went by land down the west side of the Chattahoochee to Jack Mea- ling's, twenty-five miles or thereabouts below the forks, crossed the Appa- lachicola and went down the eastern side to Forbes's Store. The way pretty good for horse and foot. From the forks there are two creeks to Is-te-foo-mul-gee, a bluff twenty miles below Mealing's; small streams thence to the stores. It is thirty miles from Is-te-foo-mul-gee to the Store, in all,-about seventy-five miles. He-te-he-hee had settled at Cho-co- mith-lo, a bluff about five miles below the forks, but are to move up to the settlement at the commissioners' old camp. The Mic-co-soo-kee people brought three scalps the day before he got to the Store, which they got near the St. Illa. They were men's scalps, and were killed on horseback. He saw a large supply of goods and ammunition of good quality for the Indians. It is twelve days from the 8th instant since he left Forbes's Store. Three vessels arrived with the goods and munitions of war, landed them, and sailed immediately. He saw no other, or any boats, except Indian visiting-boats. In addition, the following accounts have been re- ceived from the postmaster near Fort St. Stephens on the Tombigbee,-that the British have landed thirteen thousand troops near New Orleans, and have laid Pass Christian in ashes, and were marching for New Orleans. The Tom- bigbee was ordered to be navigated as a means of conveying provisions to that quarter, as. breadstuffs were getting scarce. He says that General Jackson has ordered all the free people of color to take up arms,-that the gun-boats and barges had a severe engagement, and eleven of the British barges were sunk with their crews, and that five of our gun-boats were taken."
I have sent a battalion from this, under Col. Booth, to the Tallapoosa, with all the artificers I could collect, to build boats to take us down that river, and the Alabama to the Mobile, with our provisions,-considering this mode as the best I could adopt under existing circumstances, being informed that provisions are not to be had in that quarter, and the want of wagons to convey them any other way compels this alternative.
From the overwhelming force that has appeared at New Orleans and Mobile, Gen. Jackson needs support with all the reinforcements that can possibly be carried to his relief. I fear greatly the enemy will gain some serious advantage. Under these circumstances, I am compelled to call for a battalion from your detachment, as you will then have a sufficient number with Col. Hawkins's reinforcement, (which will consist of at least one thousand warriors, ) who will march to-morrow or next day down the Chattahoochee, and co-operate with you in all matters for the eventual subjugation of all hostile appearances in that quarter ; and, as this detach- ment was particularly intended for the defence of Mobile and New Or- leans, five hundred detached for the Georgia frontier defence is all I can sanction with the information I am now possessed of. If additional aid is required, the Executive of Georgia, or General Pinckney, whose dis- trict you are in, will furnish it.
You will therefore lose not a moment, on receipt of this, in ordering a
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battalion to join me with all possible expedition. I am told the distance you are now from me does not exceed seventy-five miles.
I have ordered the quartermaster's department to build boats at Fort Laurens without delay, for the transportation of one hundred thousand rations to your depot on Flint River. I think you had best send some of your best artificers to promote and accelerate this object. Let me hear from you by express. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, J. MCINTOSII, Major-General.
P.S .- You can direct the battalion ordered to join me to march what- ever way you may think most advisable, either by retracing their steps, or to take one of the ridges to Fort Perry. J. MCINTOSH, Major-General.
LXVI .- GEN. BLACKSHEAR TO A. MCDONALD.
CAMP, FLINT RIVER, January 8, 1815.
SIR :- Circumstances of the most important nature having made it im- periously necessary that I should immediately have at this post twenty-six wagons, you are hereby required to send on that number without a moment's delay. These twenty-six wagons you will charge with nothing more than a sufficiency of forage to last them until they reach this place (which must be within two days from the receipt of this, if possible) and back.
The number of wagons herein required must be exclusive of those already on the way to this post; and, if you should not have on hand a sufficiency of fodder and eorn, immediately procure as much as will, with what is now on the way, serve them.
LXVII .- GOV. EARLY TO GEN. BLACKSHEAR.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GEORGIA, MILLEDGEVILLE, January 10, 1815.
SIR :- I have this moment received the enclosed* by express. I hope you may not have recrossed the Ocmulgee when this reaches you. I en- close you a copy of the intelligence on which General MeIntosh's letter or order of the 4th is founded. I differ with him in believing, according to this state of things, that a battalion would be sufficient ; and we have occasion to rejoice that this intelligence has been received so soon after you had orders to retrograde.
You are now to pursue the route you were going. Captain Lane comes to your assistance with some money.
The great difficulty in foraging cavalry at a distance renders it indis- pensable that none should be retained. You will therefore pursue my last orders in relation to them and the additional company of infantry.
General McIntosh writes me that Col. Hawkins, with seven hundred Indians, was to leave Fort Mitchell for the confluence of the rivers about the 9th of this month, to co-operate with you.
In great haste, your obedient servant,
PETER EARLY.
LXVIII .- WILSON NAVEY TO GEN. BLACKSHEAR.
FORT HAWKINS, January 10, 1815.
SIR :- I have not (until now) had any opportunity of writing you my success as respeets the corn-expedition. I proceeded immediately to Major
* A duplicate of No. 65. The second enclosure does not appear.
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DAVID BLACKSHEAR.
Blackshear's and reported my business. His boat was not complete; but so soon as it is completed, he told me, he would load her with corn to Fort Barrington.
I came to Fort Hawkins and gave Mr. Armstrong instructions to proceed to Hartford and purchase a sufficient quantity of corn, which, to- gether with the flour at Hartford, would make a boat-load. This he has done, and has reported to me this day that he put on board bushels corn, and that the boat has gone.
I should have used greater exertions on the Oconee, but, the evening of my arrival at Major Blackshear's, a boat loaded with corn, &c. passed the ferry, which I was pretty confident would reach you in due time. This, I assure you, sir, alleviated my mind considerably.
I reported to the quartermaster your situation as regards provision. He says Gen. Floyd has made a formal requisition on the contractor for thirty thousand rations (I think) to be delivered at Fort Barrington monthly. Should this be promptly complied with, I think you can get along quite smoothly.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
WILSON NAVEY, Principal Forage-Master G. M.
LXIX .- MAJ. GEN. MCINTOSH TO GEN. BLACKSHEAR.
WEST OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE, January 11, 1815.
SIR :- Sinee I wrote you, ordering one battalion to join me, I have re- ceived a copy of the Governor's communication to you of the 6th instant, agreeable to discretionary powers I had vested him with, believing I should not have an opportunity of corresponding with you as I was passing on to the point of my destination, -namely, Mobile and New Orleans.
The Governor's decision on that discretion evidenees his zeal and patriotism for his country's best interests. You will therefore, without the loss of a moment that can be avoided, press on with your whole detach- ment agreeable to his orders.
Col. Hawkins will receive any support he may call on the Governor for, for the chastisement of the Seminoles or any other hostile Indians, and will be competent to that end, which he will keep in view. In conse- quence of this arrangement, I have countermanded my order for building boats on the Flint River, and have directed the quartermaster's depart- ment to transport, without loss of time, the provisions lodged there, to Fort Decatur, on the Tallapoosa.
Your zeal and patriotism will urge you to every reasonable effort to comply as speedily as you can with this order, which is imperative.
Col. Hawkins has sent a man well acquainted with the country, and who can advise you the best and shortest way you can march your detach- ment. It will be well to advise with him.
I am, sir, respectfully, your most obedient servant,
J. MCINTOSII, Major-General.
LXX .- COL. HAWKINS, AGENT, TO MR. JACK KINNARD.
The time is come when we are to compel our enemies to be at peace, that we may be able to sit down and take care of our families and
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property without being disturbed by their threatening and plundering of us.
General Blackshear is with you to try to protect and secure the friendly Indians on your river, and to aid in punishing the mischief-makers. Go you to him, and keep with him till I see you. Take Joe with you. The general will furnish you provisions, and, when he has it, corn for your horses. You are one of our great chiefs. You know all our mischief- makers and all your neighbors, and can give good information to the general. You know the country, and you are a man to be depended on. You shall soon hear from me and the warriors under my command. I am your friend and the friend of your nation.
COWETA, January 11, 1815.
(To be read to him by General Blackshear.)
LXXI .- COL. HAWKINS TO GEN. BLACKSHEAR.
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FORT MITCHELL, January 11, 3 P.M., 1815.
I have called back the express to send to you the order of the general for a change of the destination of your command. Of course, the com- munication intended for Am-mic-cul-le chiefs and Col. Kinnard will not be communicated. I shall call on the Governor for a company of foot and horse which were intended for you.
I am respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, BENJAMIN HAWKINS.
(Pass.) Coe-e-maut-lau, of Cassetau, is an express to Brig. Gen. Black- shear. He left Fort Mitchell at 2 P.M., 11th January, 1815. BENJAMIN HAWKINS, Agent for I. A.
LXXII .- COL. HAWKINS, AGENT, TO THE CHIEFS OF AM-MIC-CUL-LE.
The time is come when we are to compel our enemies to be at peace, that we may be able to sit down and take care of our families and pro- perty without being disturbed by their threatening and plundering of us.
General Blackshear is with you to protect and secure the friendly In- dians on your river, and to aid in punishing the mischief-makers. Go you to him; see him; take him by the hand, and two of you must keep with him. You must point out sixty of your young warriors, under two chiefs, to be with, and act under the orders of, the general till you see me. He will supply them with provisions and some ammunition.
You must be very particular about spies. You know all the friendly Indians, and all who are hostile. If any spics come about you, or the hostiles, point them out to the general. And your warriors acting with the general must be as quick and particular as his white soldiers to apprehend or put to death any enemy you meet with. Your warriors will receive the same pay as the soldiers in the service of the United States.
Tell your women and children not to be afraid,-that friends have come for their protection, and that I am at the head of the Creek warriors.
I am your friend and the friend of your nation.
COWETA, January 11, 1815.
(To be read to them by General Blackshear.)
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LXXIII .- GEN. BLACKSHEAR TO MAJ. GEN. MCINTOSHI.
CAMP, FLINT RIVER, January 11, 1815.
SIR :- I have the honor to acquaint you that, on the 31st December, I decamped from the banks of the Ocmulgee and took up the line of march for Flint River, which I reached on the evening of 6th instant; and, after forming substantial and durable breastworks after the manner pre- scribed in my orders and pursued on my march, I the next day proceeded to the selection of a proper situation for a fort, and immediately com- menced building. On the same day unloaded all my wagons, and, except three or four retained for hauling timber, &c., ordered them to repair without delay to Hartford, for the purpose of transporting such articles as it was deemed necessary to deposit at this place.
These operations, however, were suspended by the reception of de- spatches from his Excellency on the evening of the 8th, embracing copies of your letter to him, and from General Winchester to yourself, as well as orders requiring me to retrace my route and pursue you with the least possible delay. I accordingly sent immediately on in pursuit of my wagons a man authorized to order them to return without delay to this place. Should my wagons arrive this evening, (of which I have no doubt,) I shall take up the line of march carly to-morrow morning, and cautiously exercise every expedient to pursue you with the utmost expedition.
On the 5th, by the hands of John Winslet, a white inhabitant of the Creek Nation, I received a few lines from Col. Hawkins; but, from the hints of caution which these lines seemed to breathe, and from my not having yet reached this place, I conceived it proper to defer writing to you till I could do so by a future and safer opportunity.
On the morning of the 6th I despatched Winslet with a few lines to Col. Hawkins, and with orders to call on Kinnard and invite him forth- with to meet me at this place. Of Kinnard I however neither heard nor saw any thing till last evening, when an Indian came, bearing a white flag, to the opposite bank of the river, and informed me that Kinnard would visit me this morning,-which he has accordingly donc, and under whose care I transmit to you this communication.
At this time many of my troops are quite sick; and, since my de- parture from Camp Hope, three have died,-two here and one on my march; and of hospital-stores I am almost destitute.
Concerning your route and views I would at any time cheerfully receive the earliest advices ; but instructions meeting me at Fort Mitchell would be particularly pleasing.
LXXIV .- GOV. EARLY TO GEN. BLACKSIIEAR.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, GEORGIA, MILLEDGEVILLE, January 12, 1815.
SIR :- I duly received your letter by Captain Parten. You will pro- bably this evening see Captain Lane and receive your last orders.
The requisition for medicines and hospital-stores has been attended to here by Major Fannin in person. On consultation, we were of opinion that, as you would now have to penetrate far from your resources, the quantity of hospital-stores ought to be enlarged. This has accordingly been done, and the whole are now sent to Captain Lane.
Woodbine, a British officer, is with the Indians in Florida. I think it
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likely you may hear of the gentleman amongst the Seminoles. Beware of surprise. Your obedient servant,
PETER EARLY.
LXXV .- GEN. BLACKSHEAR TO GEN. FLOYD.
(Without date.)
SIR :- Pursuant to orders from his Excellency, received 21st instant, I am now on my mareh toward St. Mary's, making my route down the Alta- maha, and having in view the defence of our seaboard and the protection of our flying and injured citizens, and, if possible, eventually to repel the enemy from our borders.
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