USA > Georgia > Jackson County > The early history of Jackson county, Georgia. "The writings of the late G.J.N. Wilson, embracing some of the early history of Jackson county". The first settlers, 1784; formation and boundaries to the present time; records of the Talasee colony > Part 8
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
The speaker sat down, and with impassive features fixed his- eyes on vacant space as when he first entered the fort. Umau- sauga was as motionless as a stone pillar. He seemed utterly incapable of action, and Banna was lying insensible in Ruth's arms. Even the iron-nerved Josiah Strong was deeply moved. The contraction of his brow, the compression of his lips, and the twitching of his great muscles, showed that some stern resolve
98
might soon be made known. Yet he spoke not a word, nor was he likely to do so before the climax of what seemed to be coming was reached. Banna the Beautiful, though now believed to be a princess indeed, was not to be taken from him, not even for a throne. Her situation excited the heart-felt sympathy of every one present, and the efforts of all were concentrated upon the best means to restore her to consciousness.
By and by, she began to revive, principally through the efforts of Mr. Strong who, though not a physician, had once studied the science of medicine with a view to practice. The services render- ed to his patient in the wilderness was indeed a labor of love.
When all became quiet, Mr. Moore, the presiding officer that night, requested Umausauga to answer, as well as he could, the Cherokee's important question as to what he should tell his people. Without moving a muscle in his face or changing the natural gleam of fire in his eyes, the Indian came to the front with a slow, but steady step, and chiefly using the third person said, "Umausauga calls you friend, too. You have been good to him. In turn he will be good to you. He is glad we are friends. He was once the enemy of all white people and of the Cherokees too. Was in the battle of Arharra. Was one of the bowmen in the tree tops. Does not know who killed queen Elancydyne. Knows she was very brave. That her fall ended the battle. That he could have prevented her warriors from taking her body away. Umausauga would not do that. He fights for the living. Not for the dead excepting one time."
Here the speaker, for a reason that may be discovered as this narrative progresses, broke down and stood speechless. Banna, still trembling like a stricken child, went and took a seat at his side. That seemed to strengthen him. He gently placed one hand upon her head and with the other motioned for Ruth to come also. She quickly went and sat opposite her friend. Placing his free hand on her head, he, this time with a trembling voice, continued : "May the God of the white men and the Great Spirit of the red man bless you both, and keep you together always. Curses on the hand that would violently separate you.
99
"Umausauga has committed no crime. After the retreat of the Cherokees from Arharrah he was walking over the battle ground. He heard a child crying in the distant woods. He could not have found the little creature if it had not been crying. It was con- cealed by earth, rocks and bushes. A dead woman was lying near. An arrow was sticking deep in her breast. The shaft was broken. She still held the broken part in her hand. She had tried to pull it from her breast. When it broke she died.
"Umausauga took the crying baby in his arms. It soon be- came quiet. He placed it by the side of what he then thought was its dead mother. Their features were not at all alike, he thought again. He found that the features of the child were just the same as the features of the heroic woman who rode the white horse. He then believed her to be the child's mother, and that the dead woman was its nurse. He has since learned this to be true.
"Umausauga had no heart to leave the little girl to die alone in the woods. He carried her to his wigwam. He named her Banna. That word means princess. You all know how true she is to her name. Now you all know how well she deserves the title. As she grew older, he found her very good and very smart. He never knew her to do wrong wilfully. He never knew her to fail in her work. He never twice told her to do anything. She has always been good to him. He has always tried to be good to her. Umausauga has often thought of the grand appear- ance made by the Cherokee queen on her white horse. He want- ed Banna to have one like it. He went all the way to the ocean before he found one to suit him. He finally found Iro and pur- chased him. He hunted two winters and one summer to get skins enough to pay for horse and bridle. Old Lapsidali had found a saddle in the woods around Arharra. She did not know what it was. Umausauga gave her a handful of beads for it- some of the beads he received in payment for Beadland. So Banna now had a horse, bridle and saddle. The horse is very much like the one ridden by her mother. Doubtless the saddle was hers also.
100
"Umausauga was so proud that he turned fool enough to tell his great secret to old Lapsidali. Until now he has never told any one else. He and Banna began to train Iro at once. She often went dashing through the woods on his back. He now sees how much she looked like queen Elancydyne charging among the trees at Arharra."
Here the Indian again broke down as if lost in painful thought. At last he went on: "Brothers, sisters! this trial is too much for Umausauga. He here confesses for himself what you already know, that Banna is not his daughter! It is worse than death to be separated from her. And he here sounds a warning note that unless the separation be for some good reason and by her consent, somebody must be thrown alive into the boiling, burn- ing flames at Nodoroc."
Again the speaker stood silent for a few minutes. His eyes flashed, his muscles twitched, and giving a deep guttural groan, he suddenly turned to Huanaco, and in thunder tones exclaimed in Cherokee: "Hear, Huanaco! Having found your lost prin- cess, what will you do? Speak! Huanaco, speak!"
Having uttered the last sentence with terrible emphasis, the speaker sat down. The Cherokee was confused; but showed himself a good diplomatist. After some hesitation he said, "Since the fall of queen Elancydyne the Cherokees have been under a chief chosen by themselves. He is a good man and the people like him. But he wants to retire from public life. All were devoted to Amercides and his queen. We want their daughter, our Eltrovadyne and your Banna to be queen of all the Chero- kees. It is her birthright. It is our pleasure. Of course her consent must be first obtained. No force can be used in this matter.
"Brothers, I hope you have learned that I am not an enemy as you first thought. Lapsidali is the one who told us that our lost queen is here. We doubted her word. I have come and find that for once she told the truth. But she told it to make trouble between us. You have heard that the Cherokees are preparing to invade this part of the country again. That is absolutely false. The old squaw made the tale out of my appointment to
101
come here for a harmless purpose. She colors truth to suit her- self as she does her baskets.
"Brothers and sisters, we scarcely dared hope to find our lost Eltrovadyne. Less did we expect to find her already a queen among subjects of her own race. And this complicates the mat- ter. Allow me to return home and report to my people. I see your Banna is deeply grieved even at the thought of leaving you. I am willing to leave the matter to you and to her. I can not answer for the Cherokees until I see them. They may be able to offer some inducement that will cause you all to change your minds. Huanaco is done."
The scene that followed beggars description. Lost in astonish- ment at the strange incidents revealed, and rejoicing over the news that the Cherokee invasion was probably a myth, the Talasee council was hardly fitted for regular business. However after various private conferences it was found that all were practically of the same opinion and the following resolutions were passed :
"1st: That thanks of the Talasee council and its friends are hereby tendered Huanaco who claims to be a Cherokee on a peaceful mission to the Creeks, for his pacific talk to-night, and we assure him of our friendship on all proper occasions.
"2nd: That while we thank the Cherokees for proposing to make one of our members their reigning queen, we, by her full consent, most respectfully decline to accept the honor offered.
"3rd: That the guard is hereby instructed to release the said Huanaco from custody, and allow him to return to his people at such time as suits him.
"4th: That we thank our scouts for the faithful and efficient manner in which they performed their duty by arresting and bringing to headquarters a supposed spy.
"5th: That we regret the said Huanaco's mistake which led our scouts to wound him, but attach no blame to them. On the contrary they showed the highest order of skill and bravery as well as sound judgment in their actions.
102
"'6th : That while we gladly receive the news that the rumor of a Cherokee invasion is false, we will not for one moment relax our viligence to protect this colony and its friends.
"7th: That we think the thanks of the whole civilized world is due our friend Umausauga, for the kind manner in which he took care of the little child that he found in the woods, and for his faithfulness to her from that time to the present moment. And we further believe that as the anointing of our Savior's feet at Bethany has become a universal memorial of the woman who performed the gracious deed, that also the kindness shown by an untaught savage of the wilderness to a stranger, should be told for a memorial of him to all men.
"8th: That because of the unfaithfulness of Lapsidali, the basket maker, as shown by the betrayal of Umausauga's confi- dence, and by the circulation of false reports in regard to a Cherokee invasion, she is hereby declared to be a traitor of this Colony, to Umausauga and his people.
"Signed, "Abednego Moore, Pres.
"Orpah Lahgoon, Sec."
Much apprehension of coming danger had been removed, and a free conversation followed. Still Banna's face was sad. She seemed to be whirling in a circle of unknown circumference. She was arrayed in her wonderful red dress over which her now constantly wavy hair hung in graceful tresses to her waist. Un- der the tutilage of Ruth and others, her manners, never coarse, had become graceful and easy. At her own request she was car- ried to Huanaco who manifested some courtliness and much em- barrassment. The following is a free translation, in a condensed form, of the conversation between them:
"Huanaco, I am Banna whose name you say in Eltrovadyne. I must first tell you that if we had known you were not a spy, we would not have hurt you for all the world. We ask you to for- give us."
"Eltrovadyne, you and your friend are forgotten. Huanaco has a heart."
103
"We thank you. Now please tell us what Eltrovadyne means ?"
"Glittering Star. Huanaco thinks you are one of them," re- plied the Indian as he pointed towards the stars.
"O Huanaco, my friends here tell me of a home beyond the stars, where all the truly good shall live forever in a home not made by hands, eternal in the heavens! I have learned to take a few steps in that direction. If for no other reason I should not want to leave my teachers. They can show me how to travel the pathway which leads to life eternal, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures evermore ! They tell me of a Savior who came from beyond the stars-from a place they call Heaven, to seek and to save that which was lost! I want him to find Eltrovadyne. If I go to the Cherokees no one will point me out to him! My friends here do that. They call it prayer. They talk to the Savior in prayer. They sometimes call him Jesus and talk to him every day. They read or talk about him in a book they call the Bible. It is curious to think that a book can talk to you. I am beginning to learn how it is done. I already know the words. They call them letters like a, b, c. I can put a few of them to- gether now and make long words-words like we use when talk- ing. Then too, I am beginning to learn how to talk on paper, or on anything that will hold a mark. They call it writing. I can write my name now. I say B-a-n-n-a. I can not write Eltrovadyne. It contains too many words or letters. But now that I can speak the word I can soon learn how to make the letters talk it. They call that spelling. This is curious and I long to know more about it. Then, O Huanaco, the Cherokees must not want to take me away !"
In mute astonishment the Indian gazed upon her radiant face until he almost ceased to breathe. After a little while he turned his eyes away, and, as if talking to himself, muttered in a deep undertone, "It is right for Eltrovadyne to remain here! I wish Huanaco had never seen her! There is a dark-eyed maiden at Stonethrow who had all my heart. Glittering Star takes it away from her! Hush! Hush! Huanaco! Glittering Star is a pale-
104
face! That ends all! To-morrow Huanaco goes to Stonethrow! Back to his dark-eyed Thespe!"
"Talk to Eltrovadyne," said Banna, wishing to turn the cur- rent of the Indian's thoughts. "Please tell me what Elancydyne means?" "Shooting Star," answered the Cherokee slowly, and again pointing upward, continued, "When Elancydyne was a little girl a Cherokee brave took her from a sinking ship in time of a storm, and the waves brought them both to shore. Later she ran about from one camp-fire to another so fast, and was so very, very bright and beautiful, that she was called Elancydyne or Shooting Star. Our old men said her clothes showed that she was the child of an English nobleman. She was very white with features just like yours. O her eyes ! O your eyes, Eltrovadyne ! How can I leave; but hush, Huanaco! Thespe still speaks!"
"May Eltrovadyne ask a few more questions?" The Indian nodded his head, and sat with eyes cast down as if to avoid the heart-breaking battery that was turned upon him. "What does Amercides mean?" asked the girl tremulously. "Don't know," was the thoughtful reply. "When your father first came among the Cherokees he was known as Don Mar de Vedo, of the royal family of Spain. Huanaco don't remember all about it. He was then young. Something like CID was connected with his name. When he was made king his subjects were required to call him Amercides. So Cid was still a part of his name."
"Has Eltrovadyne any brothers and sisters among the Chero- kees?" asked Banna anxiously. The Indian shook his head only, and the girl ventured to ask him one more question: "Do yon know where my father and mother are buried, and if so will you show me the place sometime?" "Huanaco knows. He will show you," was the thoughtful reply.
The troubled girl covered her face with her hands, and weep- ing bitterly, she and Ruth Lahgoon bade the Cherokee farewell and disappeared.
105
CHAPTER VI. A NUMBER OF NEW EMIGRANTS ARRIVE.
On the morning following the memorable meeting of the Talasee council in which Banna unexpectedly learned much of her early history, her saddle was identified by Huanaco as the same on which queen Elancydyne rode over the battlefields of Numerado, Radoata and Arharra. He said he distinctly re- membered it as a gift from Amercides to his queen, and that the first journey made upon it was her ride from Shaultamoozaw (Black Creek church) to Yamtramahoochee (Hurricane Shoals) just before the battle of Numerado. Thus the parentage of the bright girl long known as Umausauga's daughter was established to the satisfaction of herself and her friends; and the declaration of Mrs. Moore that she did not have a drop of Indian blood in her was fully verified. Consequently her name was at once enrolled upon the records of Talasee council as Banna Mar de Vedo, the first name being retained because of its well-known significance.
By request Notha Neva accompanied Huanaco to Stonethrow, with secret instructions to learn all he could as to the intentions of the Cherokees and report accordingly. Though quite a num- ber of new emigrants was constantly expected, the people did not want any further trouble, and therefore were anxious to know what effect Huanaco's report would have upon the au- thorities who sent him to hunt their lost queen. In due time the messenger returned and to the great relief of all the colonists made, in substance, the following report :
"Brothers, a big company of Cherokee warriors was at Stone- throw. Huanaco made them a talk. Told them that he had found their lost queen. That she was just like her mother. That she was as bright as the stars. That her dress hurt his eyes like the sun. Could talk English. Had quit all Indian life. Was living in a big fort with a colony of pale-faces. That she is wholly de- voted to them. That they are wholly devoted to her. That the only way to get her was by force. He thought the safest way
106
was to let Eltrovadyne stay with the pale-faces. They call her Banna. That means princess. She is a princess among them as well as among us.
"Brothers, the Cherokees send you word that you may keep their lost queen in peace. That it is not their intention to engage in another war. That the old squaw Lapsidali told lies. That they intended to punish her for causing so much trouble.
"Brother, outside of council Notha Neva learned other things. The Cherokees are afraid of the men and guns inside your big fort. Huanaco told about them. They are afraid to have Eltro- vadyne a queen, now. They think she would fight more for Creek than for Cherokee. Notha Neva is done."
The messenger received the hearty thanks of the colonists for services rendered, and with many presents which he valued very highly, he returned to his wigwam somewhere on the lower waters of Pocataligo (Sandy) creek. Since the rumors of a Cherokee invasion had reached the Creek Nation five bands or camps of their warriors under as many sub-chiefs had been stationed in various parts of the country, ready on short notice, to be massed under the famous Talitchlechee, who lived in the vicinity of the present town of Dacula in Gwinnett County. That old hero being informed by the colonists that the war cloud had passed away, at once ordered four of the camps to disband; but to hold themselves in readiness for action in case of necessity. The fifth camp, consisting of about thirty men, under the sullen sub-chief, Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco, was located at Bohuron, now known as Oconee Heights in Clarke County. The leader of the Bohurons, as his followers were called, asked and received per- mission to remain in camp until it was known by better evidence than any white man could give that all danger was over. This slur together with the fact that none of the camps had been es- tablished near Fort Strong, nor on any part of Umausauga's claim, and also the emphasis placed upon the last part of Talitchlechee's order disbanding the four camps, gave the colo- nists the first hint that there was an element of hostility among some of the natives around them. Though they said nothing they "trusted in God and kept their powder dry."
107
Umausauga was a strong, brave man. He knew by instinct that "coming events cast their shadows before them." He seems to have had a bad opinion of the leader of the Bohurons from the beginning. He knew that the chief had been spurned as a viper by his darling Banna, and that it was natural for one of his race to seek revenge. Really he more than half believed that the negigole (renegade) remained in the country for that pur- pose.
For Umausauga to think was to do. As soon as the camp was established under the long-named chief, he induced Tata, his nephew at Snodon, to change his name to Nyxter, and join the Bohurons as a spy. Though not fully grown Tata was a strong, sharp young fellow, and little known outside of his secluded home circle. He was known to be fearless, faithful and true to his friends. His skill with the bow was unerring and his fleetness on foot was superior to that of the red deer.
A few days after the four camps disbanded it was reported that the Bohurons had gone south to join the Lower Creeks to which their leader really belonged. Heice Umausauga's term of division, negigole. Had he known a stronger term he certainly would have used it. Though often asked to live at the fort, he continued to stay in his wigwam at night and to roam the woods by day. He knew nothing of the sensation of fear, though, to use his own expression, he "walked with his eyes looking and slept with his ears hearing."
As if to prove this saying, he one night heard the preconcerted signal of Nyxter, the spy. They met at the appointed place where some startling revelations were made. The boy informed his uncle that the southward movement of the Bohurons was only a ruse; that half of the company was still in camp and would re- main there as a blind. That the other half which had gone south would return in a short time and watch the woods by day and the fort by night for an opportunity to capture both Banna and Ruth Lahgoon and carry them away to the Lower Creeks; that Wokolog was a leading Bohuron and wanted revenge for the way Ruth received his advances at Calamit; that Yrtyrmyrmyr- mysco was still determined to make Banna his wife, and that he
108
had sworn vengeance against Josiah Strong as the only cause of his rejection.
"I am on fire all over, and will see about that matter before the moon shines on my tracks," said the furious Indian as he hastened away to Fort Strong. Quickly reaching there he told the startling news, and Mr. Easley who was president of the coun- cil at that time, quietly asked: "What is the best thing for us to do?" "I want two arrows unlike any ever used in this part of the country. Will you help me make them?" was the equally quiet reply. "I think you need not make any. I have a small bundle of those that were used in King Phillip's war," said Joe Starr, as he went to get them. "These," he continued upon his return, "were given to me by my father. They are called King Phillip arrows, and I value them very highly. Still you are wel- come to two or three if they suit you."
Umausauga took the bundle eagerly and critically examined the arrows one by one. The shafts were unusually long and made of a tough, fine-grained wood unknown to the Creek or to any of the colonists. The tips or heads were made of a very dark flint, and tapered to a long, keen point. The Indian's eyes sparkled with delight as he selected two and returned the others.
"Now," he said as he arose to go, "hide the others where they can not be seen by prying eyes," and thanking Joe for the favor, he disappeared in the reigning darkness.
The following day and night were uneventful, but during the evening of the second day seven or eight Bohurons were seen to enter the dense woods to the south of Alotha, and were supposed to be heading for the deep ravine which still distinguishes that locality. This proximity to the fort was rather ominous; but to be forewarned was to be forearmed, and everything was in order there. For the first time Umausauga and his brother, Etohautee of Snodon, remained at the fort all that night. About break of day the latter, who was patrolling the immediate vicinity with the stealthiness of a mousing cat, saw the enemy cross the river and go in the direction of the Okoloco Trail. A few hours later the white men, leaving the Indian brothers as a guard, left the fort on a tour of observation. When the little company reached the trail
109
the fresh tracks of fast runners going east were soon discovered. Presently another runner was seen coming at full speed; but as soon as he saw the white men he dashed into the woods. It was the work of a few minutes only for Mr. Lahgoon, who was mount- ed on Alborak, to overtake him. When brought back he refused to speak, but soon found it was easier to talk than to die. He said his chief had been killed and his men were scattered in every direction; that Wokolog, the next in command, was very sick and that he had been carried to the low country to be treat- ed by a famous doctor down there.
The captive then led the way to his fallen chief who was found lying near Calamit with an arrow buried deep in his head. It was a King Phillip arrow, in all probability the first of its kind that ever cleared the air in that part of the country. And yet the white men knew that Umausauga had not sent it on its deathly mission. When they approached the dead leader three men were sitting near, apparently expecting the arrival of others. Not one of the natives spoke a word nor moved a muscle. When asked if they needed help one of the sullen warriors shook his head and pointed down the trail, as much as to say that help was expected from that direction.
A few days after the death of Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco, two old men visited Adabor. They carried with them the spearless shaft of the King Phillip arrow. Having entered the head a little in front of the right ear, it had been sped with such force that when pulled away the spear remained in the bones of the skull. The object of the visit was to know if Umausauga had ever seen such an arrow used by either Upper Creek or Cherokee. He had never seen one used, and promptly answered in the negative; but sug- gested that such deadly missiles might be used by Lower Creeks who live on the coast.
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.