u
A
PEOPLE
BY
\
FRANCES LETCHER MITCHELL.
AYhich kind of men know not (belike) that the
nature of an historie (defined to be, rei vere gestae mem-
oria) will not beare the burthen or lode of a lie, slth the
SAME IS TOO HEAVIE. — Holinshed.
■ d r-i^r
THE NEW YORK
'J 3 LIC LIBRARY
8
ID
I TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
I R 1919
'
■ -V
... ■ ■ ■■
The Franklin Printing and Publishing Co.
Atlanta, Georgia.
TO THE MEMORY
OF MY HONORED AND MUCH LOVED FATHER,
TKHMiam Xetcber flMtcbell,
MY HEART TENDERLY DEDICATES THIS VOLUME.
The author is deeply indebted to Colonel G. C. Jones, Jr., for per-
mission to use from the Colonial and Eevolutionary Periods of
his "History of Georgia" and from his " Confederate Addresses,"
any facts desired. There is no higher authority on Georgia his-
tory than Colonel Jones. His statements are absolutely true.
The author has felt it a sacred duty when she did not have him
for a guide, to assert nothing without good evidence — most of her
data being obtained from living witnesses.
Colonel Jones' recent death has filled our State with mourning,
and literature has sustained an irreparable loss. His courteous
interest and quick sympathy were an inspiration to the author in
the preparation of this volume, and she takes this opportunity to
lay her humble offering upon the tomb of her father's friend, who
was as distinguished for patriotism and courage as for the elo-
quent and scholarly pen with which he recorded the history of his
beloved State.
Athens, Georgia, November, 1893.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
Creeks and Cherokees. Hernando De Soto. The meaning
of Indian names. The Legend of Nacooehee. How the
Cherokee rose received its name 1-12
CHAPTER I.
COLONIAL FERIOI).
James Oglethorpe. Adventures and romance connected with
the western continent. George I. The Margravate of
Azilia. Georgia a doubtful borderland. The mission of
Sir Alex. Gumming. George II. makes a grant of land.
A new colony, the refuge for Protestants. James Ogle-
thorpe, first governor of Georgia. The Anne. Yamacraw
bluff. Mary Musgrove. The settlement of Savannah.
Col. William Bull. Tomo-chi-chi. Indians respect Ogle-
thorpe. The Salzburgers. Darien settled. Augusta set-
tled. Fort William. Fort St. George. Frederica settled.
Oglethorpe carries a party of Indians to England. They
produce a sensation in London. Oglethorpe returns. John
Wesley. The first Sunday-school in the world. Kev.
George Whitfield. Bethesda. The mistakes of the Trus-
tees. The first prohibition State. Negro slavery forbid-
den. Military service for land. Trustees change their
policy. The colony begins to prosper. Raw silk, indigo,
cotton 13-26
CHAPTER II.
COLONIAL FERIOD.
England's claim to territory of Georgia. Spain's claim. Mu-
tual grievances. Oglethorpe goes to England for troops.
VII
CONTENTS.
He becomes Commander-in-chief. England declares war
against Spain. A conference of Indian chiefs at Coweta.
Oglethorpe invades Florida. Unsuccessful siege of St.
Augustine. The Spaniards invade Georgia. The battle
of Bloody Marsh. The Spaniards retreat. Oglethorpe
congratulated by six Governors. His extraordinary
march. Peace between England and Spain. Oglethorpe
leaves Georgia to reside permanently in England 27-34
CHAPTER III.
COLONIAL PERIOD.
Oglethorpe's successor. William Stephens. Jekyl island set-
tled. Trouble Avith Mary Musgrove and the Creeks. The
money used in Georgia. Trustees surrender their charter.
Georgia a royal province. Capt. Reynolds, first royal
governor. Hardwick settled. Pour hundred Catholics
entertained at public expense. Gov. Henry Ellis. Mid-
way District and Sunbury settled. Georgia's territory
more clearly defined. Convention of Indians at Augusta.
Gov. Wright. Twelve parishes. Head-rights. Exports.
Tobacco cultivated. The first newspaper. Death of
George II. George III. proclaimed King in Georgia. .. .35-42
CHAPTER IV.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Taxation without representation. Liberty Boys. Powder
magazine in Savannah seized. Noble Wimberly Jones.
Cannon spiked. The Liberty Pole. A Congress in Savan-
nah. Archibald Bulloch. Georgia schooner captures Eng-
lish ship loaded with powder. Gov. Wright imprisoned.
Kingly rule in Georgia ends. Three Georgians sign
Declaration of Independence. How the news was re-
ceived in Savannah. The King is buried in effigy.
Death of Gov. Bulloch. Salzburgers denounce tyranny.
Georgia's generosity 43-50
VIII
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
British troops overrun Georgia. They entice Indians with
costly gifts. Whigs and Tories. Georgia frames a con-
stitution. Fort Mcintosh captured. Gov. Button Gwin-
nett. A duel. Col. Samuel Elbert. Paper money depre-
ciated. The British invade Georgia from Florida. Bat-
tles at Bulltown Swamp and North Newport. Col.
Scriven killed. Ogeechee Ferry. Midway Church
burned. Cruelty of the British 51-38
CHAPTER VI.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Battle at Sunbury. Four armies threaten Georgia. Savan-
nah is captured. The Hebrews in Georgia. Gen. Pre-
vost captures Sunbury. Skirmish at Burke Jail. Augusta
is captured. Skirmishes at Carr's Fort, Cherokee Ford
and Long Cane. Battle of Kettle Creek. Fort Heard.
Stephen Heard 59-70
CHAPTER VII.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Col. Elijah Clarke. Col Twiggs surprises a British outpost.
Battle of Brier Creek. Gen. Lincoln. Col. Francis Har-
ris. Threatening attitude of the Indians. British prison-
ships. Cols. Dooly and Clarke watch the frontier. Bat-
tles at Mr. Butler's plantation, and Sunbury. Robert Sal-
lette. Battle of Buckhead Creek 71-79
CHAPTER VIII.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Sir James Wright back in Georgia. The honesty and patriot-
ism of the Executive Council. Gen. Lachlan Mcintosh
returns. The French alliance. Count D'Estaing. Count
Pulaski. The patriots try to retake Savannah. Wall's Cut.
The origin of Thunderbolt. The siege of Savannah. Col.
White captures a British company. The patriots bombard
Savannah 80-89
IX
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
The patriots try to carry Savannah by assault. A deserter
betrays their plans. Count D'Estaing wounded. The as-
sault on Spring Hill redoubt. Sergeant Jasper's Death.
Count Pulaski mortally wounded. The patriots ask a
truce to bury their dead. Jasper's "colors." Jasper's
Spring. Sergeant John Newton. Capt Thomas Glascock.
Lieut. Edward Lloyd. Maj. John Jones. La Perouse.
The patriots raise the siege. Georgia's generosity to her
French ally. Death of British officer, Col. Maitland 90-98
CHAPTER X.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Dark days. Cruelty of the British. Daniel Marshall. Abra-
ham Marshall. "A Georgia parole." Paper money depre-
ciating. The spinning-wheel and the loom. Wilkes county.
Silver-heels.- Children ford the Savannah river. Patrick
Can*. Nancy Hart. Sir James Wright convenes a Legis-
lature. Georgians denounced as traitors. Weakness of
the patriots. Georgians fighting in other colonies. Geor-
gia sends representatives to Continental Congress 99-110
CHAPTER XI.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Gen. Lachlan Mcintosh prisoner of war. Col. Browne, the
Tory. He captures Augusta. Small bands of cavalry
harass the British. Col. John Jones of Burke county.
The smallpox among the soldiers. Col. Clarke's unsuc-
cessful attempt to take Augusta. The vindictiveness of
Col. Browne, the Tory. Two boys are hanged. Four hun-
dred women and children with Col. Clarke's small band
of soldiers. They seek refuge in North Carolina. Re-
ceive a hearty welcome. Patriotism of Georgians tried.
Gen. Nathaniel Greene. "Lighthorse Harry." Maj. Jack-
son captures a British officer. Maj. Jackson raises a
Legion for service in his State. The desolation in upper
Georgia 111-120
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
The gloom begins to brighten. With Gen. Greene's assist-
ance, the patriots plan to capture Augusta. Col. Wil-
liamson commands the Whigs. They invest Augusta.
Encounter with Tories at Walker's Bridge. Col. Clarke's
horses recaptured from the Tories. The patriots capture
the royal presents for the Indians. They capture Fort
Grierson. A spy in the camp of "Lighthorse Harry."
The Mayham tower. An assault upon Augusta planned.
The British surrender. The importance of Augusta. Ste-
phen Heard a prisoner 121-130
' CHAPTER XIII.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
The Whigs control upper Georgia. They endeavor to re-
cover middle and southern Georgia. Unsuccessful skir-
mish at Ogeechee Ferry. The Creeks and Cherokees give
trouble. The patriots hear of Lord Cornwallis's surrender.
War virtually ended. Mad Anthony Wayne. Conciliatory
policy towards the Tories. Gen. Wayne's battle with Gu-
ris-ter-sigo. Privateers. Sugar and salt. The poverty of
Georgia people. Sir James Wright evacuates Savannah.
Col. James Jackson receives the keys of the city. Legis-
lature meets in Savannah. Final treaty of peace with
Great Britain ' 131-138
CHAPTER XIV.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1783-1799.
The condition of Georgia after the war. Georgia adopts Fed-
eral constitution. Georgia prohibits New England mer-
chants from carrying on the Slave trade within her bound-
aries. Hebrew congregation send letter to Pres. Wash-
ington. Oglethorpe pays his respects to Mr. Adams, U. S.
Minister to Great Britain. Legislature's gift to Gens.
Jackson and Greene. Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin.
XI
CONTENTS.
Indian forays. The capital moved to Louisville. Com-
mon schools. State University. Fres. Washington visits
Georgia. The "Washington guns 139-145
CHAPTER XV.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1783-1799.
The Yazoo fraud. Gov. Matthews. He goes to Philadelphia
to chastise the President. Disgraceful transactions con-
nected with the Yazoo Act. Yazoo men and Anti-Yazoo
men. The documents pertaining to the Yazoo Act are
burned. Judge Taliaferro. Virginians emigrate to Geor-
gia. The pioneers of upper and middle Georgia. The
first Methodist church in Georgia. The influence of per-
sonal courage. How the people of upper Georgia lived.. 146-1 1»4
CHAPTER XVI.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1800-1810.
James Jackson, Governor. Josiah Tattnall, Governor. Geor-
gia cedes a large territory to the Federal Government.
"The Daughters of Georgia." A woman editor. Death of
James Jackson. Capital moved to Milledgeville. Mr.
Meigs, first President of the University. Creeks and
Cherokees become object of national interest. William
Harris Crawford. Rivalry between Crawford and Clarke.
Thomas W. Cobb. Judge Dooly. A party of Cherokees
go West to select a new home 155-1C).*
CHAPTER XVII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1810-1S20.
Georgia's gain in population and weath. An Indian "talk"
with Gov. Mitchell. The Indian chief, William Mcintosh.
Col. Benjamin Hawkins. War spirit in Georgia. War of
1812. Georgia supports the Federal Government. Fear
that Savannah will be attacked. Georgia's Senator,
CONTENTS.
W. H. Crawford, becomes Vice-President. The hostile at-
titude of the Seminoles. Gov. Peter Early. Georgia loans
money to Federal Government. The Creek war. The
massacre at Fort Minis. Gen. John Floyd. The Chief,
Mcintosh, aids Georgia. Ho-poth-le-yo-holo, Georgia's
bitter enemy. The battle of Autossee. Gen. Floyd
wounded. David Blackshear takes his place. W. H.
Crawford, Minister to France. Napoleon compliments
him. W. H. Crawford candidate for President. The bat-
tle of Challibbee. Capt. Jett Thomas. The Creeks make
their last stand. Speech of Indian chief when he sur-
renders. Small bands of Creeks continue hostilities. Rev.
Hope Hull 163-173
CHAPTER XVJ II.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1S10-1820.
Suffering on the seacoast during the war of 1812. British
Admiral, Cockburn. Scarcity of supplies. Gen. Black-
shear makes a road. Peace declared. News slow in
reaching Georgia. Fight at Cumberland Island. Tom, a
native African. A remarkable feat. Last act of hostility.
News of peace arrives. Georgia's part in the war. The
acts of the first Legislature after the war. Daniel Ap-
pling's sword. Lighthorse Harry dies and is buried in
Georgia. Cause of Seminole Avar, Gov. Rabun resents
insulting letter from Gen. Jackson. The Seminoles are
subdued. The first steamer to cross the Atlantic sails
from Savannah. Pres. Monroe visits Georgia. A new
ambition. The Creeks cede land to Georgia. Gov. Ra-
bun dies in office. John Clarke, candidate for governor.
Why he had opposition. He is elected. Federal Govern-
ment fails to redeem its pledge to Georgia 174-180
CHAPTER XIX.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1820-1830.
George M. Troup. Georgia factions. Talented young men.
Clarke is reelected. Nicholas Ware. Great fire in Savan-
\iir
CONTENTS.
nah. Yellow fever. New towns on the west side of the
Ogeechee river. George Troup, Governor. The extin-
guishment of the Indian title. Gov. Troup's difficulties.
His courage. Duncan G. Campbell and James Meri-
wether. Creek council at the Indian Spring. Speech of
the Chief, Mcintosh. Ho-poth-le-yo-holo replies to him.
Treaty concluded. Ratified by Congress. The Chief, Mc-
intosh, is assassiuated. Gov. Troup calls extra session of
the Legislature. Federal agent, Gen. Gaines, misrepre-
sents the situation. Gov. Troup and Pres. Adams dis-
agree 181-189
CHAPTER XX.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1820-1830.
First election of governor directly by the people. "Troup and
the old treaty." "W. H. Crawford nominated for Presi-
dent. He is stricken with paralysis. Returns home.
Marquis de La Fayette visits Georgia. His welcome in
Savannah. He goes to Augusta. He visits Milledgeville.
The Creek question before Congress. The Federal
Government tries to set aside "the old treaty." Gov.
Troup is supported by the Legislature. In Congress
Berrien and Forsyth fight "the new treaty." Gov.
Troup receives a threat from Pres. Adams. Gov. Troup
issues orders to the Generals of militia. Georgia Gen-
erals in Federal service threaten to resign. Georgia's
rights preserved 100-195
CHAPTER XXI.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1820-1830.
Gov. Troup a congressman. John Forsyth is Governor. "The
Bill of Abominations." George Gilmer's homespun suit.
Gold is found on Duke's creek, "The Jacksonian" nomi-
nates Andrew Jackson for President, Aerolite falls near
Forsyth. Invention of the Cherokee alphabet. Gov. For-
syth as an orator. Cotton the chief export. Cloth woven
on hand looms 196-202
XIV
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1830-1840.
Athens favorite resort of active politicians during commence-
ment week. Gov. Gilmer and the Cherokees. Criminal
jurisdiction extended over the Cherokee Nation. Su-
preme Court of the U. S. decides that Georgia affairs are
outside their jurisdiction. New England missionaries in
the penitentiary. Gov. Gilmer is compared to Nero. Il-
legal mining in the gold region. "The Georgia Guard."
Georgia is one hundred years old. "The falling stars."
Jesse Mercer. "The cold Saturday." The death of TV. H.
Crawford 203-209
CHAPTER XXIII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1830-1810.
The Indian question. John Ridge and John Ross. Cherokee
Georgia. John Howard Payne. "The Georgia Guard"
arrest him. The Seminoles "on the war path" are joined
by bands of Creeks. Gov. Schley takes the field. Roan-
oke is burned to ashes. Battle of Sheppard's plantation.
Capt. Garmany. Maj. Jernigan arrives with reinforce-
ments. "A haunted house." 210-215
CHAPTER XXIY.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1830-1840.
The Baker county militia. The Indians make a stand. They
are defeated. The battle of Echo-wa-notch-away Swamp.
Creeks pursued through Thomas county. The Creeks sue
for peace. None remain in Georgia. Georgians assist
Federal soldiers in Florida. The adventure of Duncan
McKrimmon. Capt. Garmany's soldiers entertained at
Newnan. The Texas Avar. Mirabeau B. Lamar. The
Georgia Railroad. "The Vale of Springs." Georgia
abused for her Cherokee policy. The Cherokees leave
\v
CONTENTS.
Georgia. John Ridge is assassinated. The first female
college in the world. Georgia is in possession of her en-
tire territory 216-223
CHAPTER XXV.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1840-1850.
The treasury is nearly empty. The maiden speech of Alex-
ander H. Stephens. Suffering caused by depression in
money matters. Gov. Charles McDonald. Old party
lines disappear. Democrats and Whigs. John M. Ber-
rien. Dr. Crawford W. Long. Gov. George W. Craw-
ford. First Supreme Court. Joseph Henry Lumpkin.
How a lawsuit was ended. The first temperance speech
in Georgia. Eugenius A. Nesbet. The influence of a
classical education. Hiram Warner. Walter T. Colquitt.
What constitutes a great man? Gov. George W. Towns.
The Western and Atlantic Railroad 224-231
CHAPTER XX VI.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1840-1850.
The Mexican war. Col. James S. Mcintosh. David E.
Twiggs. Col. Henry R. Jackson. Gen. W. H. T. Walker.
Capt. Hardee. Lieut. W. M. Gardner. Capt. Josiah Tat-
nall. Severe hailstorm. Atlanta settled. Snow in
April 232-235
CHAPTER XXVII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1850-1860.
Georgia a great commonwealth. The Press. First Normal
School. Brilliant Georgians in State and Federal councils.
A stormy session of Congress. Debates on the slavery
question. Family life in Georgia. Georgia negroes. The
story of Bess. Are Georgia women indolent? Anecdote
of a woman who was an abolitionist. "The Georgia
Platform." Charles J. Jenkins .236-242
XVI
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
1850-1860.
Gov. Howell Cobb. Asylum for the deaf and dumb. Asy-
lum for the insane. Asylum for the blind. The "Govern-
or's Levee." Gov. Herschel V. Johnson. Georgia con-
gressmen. Judges of tiie Superior Courts. Gov. Joseph
E. Brown. John E. Ward. Thomas R. R, Cobb. The
Lucy Cobb Institute. "Magnanimous indiscretion."
Stump speaking. Citizens constitute the State. The <
great men of middle Georgia 243-249
&j
CHAPTER XXIX.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1860.
The slavery controversy. Slavery in New England. St. Paul
and the runaway slave. A superb galaxy of great -men.
The military spirit runs high. Abraham Lincoln, Black
Republican candidate for President. Intense excitement.
Lincoln's election means a breach of faith. Indignation
in Georgia. Gov. Brown's message to the Legislature.
Georgia will not submit to injustice. Parties are lost
sight of. A Convention of the people called. Approval of
South Carolina's secession 250-254
CHAPTER XXX.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1861.
Gen. Toombs' speech to the U. S. Senate. Fort Pulaski oc-
cupied by Georgians. Joy in Savannah. The Press ap-
proves. Secession the only theme of conversation. The
blue cockade. The Convention meets. Secession versus
Union. Ordinance of Secession reported. Adopted. Colo-
nial flag raised. Bonfires and illuminations. Georgia's
right to withdraw from the Union 255-2G1
XVII
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXI.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1861.
The Augusta Arsenal surrendered to Georgia. Work of Se-
cession Convention continues. Macon firm appeals to
Gov. Brown for justice. Delegates sent to the Congress
in Montgomery, Ala. The seceded States form a union.
Alex. H. Stephens is chosen Vice-President. Martin .).
Crawford. Commissioner to Federal Government. South-
ern flag hoisted in Savannah. Secession Convention re-
assembled in Savannah. Volunteer companies. Arms
and ammunition bought. Maj.-Gen. W. EL T. Walker and
Com. Tattnall. Lee's Volunteers. First call for troops by
Confederate Government. Did Georgia wage war for
slavery? Virginia is invaded and Georgia sends troops.
The State becomes a military camp. Property freely
given. The work of Georgia women. Companies leaving
for Virginia receive an ovation. The 6th Ga. Regt. Vols.,
Alfred Colquitt, Colonel 202-270
CHAPTER XXXII.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1861.
The battle of Manassas. Va. How the news was received in
Georgia. The Georgia troops in the battle. Gen. Francis
Bartow killed. Gen. Beauregard compliments the 8th Ga.
J. E. Rumney. Gen, Bartow is buried in Savannah.
Lieut. Edward Hull. Georgians in the battle of Oak Hill,
Mo., and Cheat Mountain Pass. Anecdote of Col. Jesse
Glenn. Gov. Brown elected for a third term. Georgia's de-
votion to the Confederacy. Fifty regiments in its service.
The Federals threaten the seacoast. They capture Tybee
Island. Georgia Brigadier-Generals in Confederate ser-
vice. For what was Georgia fighting? 271-277
XVIII
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1862.
Fort Pulaski, The defense of Savannah. ''Wall's Cut"— his-
tory repeats itself. Col. Olmstead. The fall of Fort Pu-
laski. The coast blockaded. Georgians are not dis-
couraged. The Conscript Act. Spirited correspondence
between Gov. Brown and Pres. Davis. The rank and file
of the Confederate army. What is rebellion? An appeal
to the youth of Georgia. The bridge-burners. Atlanta a
military post. Women's interest in the soldiers. The
State troops. Munitions of war made in Georgia. The
loom and the spinning-wheel 278-285
CHAPTER XXX IV.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1862.
North Georgia. A raid in Fannin county. The scarcity of
salt. The Georgia Relief and Hospital Association at
Richmond, Ya. The Creeks and Cherokees in the war.
Georgia soldiers in Virginia. Arduous service. Law-
ton's Brigade. Battle of Cold Harbor, Va. Toombs'
Brigade. Battles in Virginia where Georgia troops fought.
Anecdote of Henry Jackson. The Troup Artillery. More
fighting in Virginia. "The seven Governors of Northern
States." A characteristic of Georgia soldiers. Georgians
in the battle at Crampton's Gap 286-295
CHAPTER XXXV.
AVAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1862.
Georgians win more fame in Virginia. Cobb's Legion. Col.
VYm. G. Deloney. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. Adjutant
John Rutherford. Gen. T. R. R. Cobb mortally wounded.
Col. Robert McMillan. Gen. Cobb's interment in Athens.
The sufferings of Georgia soldiers. The State troops.
XIX
CONTENTS.
Com. Tattnall. Gen. Howell Cobb transferred to Georgia.
A love-letter to a Georgia private. Confederate money
continues to depreciate. The number of Georgians in
Confederate and State service 296-302
CHAPTER XXXVI.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1S63.
Terrible pressure upon the State. Fort McAllister bombarded.
Gen. Toombs' farewell to his Brigade. A picture. A wid-
ow and her seven sons. Second attack on Fort McAllister.
Gen. Forrest's brilliant exploit. Suffering in the moun-
tain counties. Fidelity of the mountaineers. John B. Gor-
don made a brigadier-general. Gen. Lawton, Quartermas-
ter-General. More Volunteers. "Joe Brown's pets.". . .303-309
CHAPTER XXXVII.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1863.
Georgia invaded from Tennessee. Daily skirmishes. The
battles of Chickamauga. Gen. Longstreet arrives with
reinforcements. Gen. Lawton's promptness. Invaders
are driven back. Pres. Davis in Georgia. The Confeder-
ates at Tunnel Hill. Mr. Lee is hung by the Yankees.
The Confederate navy. A representative sailor. "Gov.
Brown elected for a fourth term. Indifference to politics
—military operations absorb attention. The Georgia sol-
diers keep up their prestige in Virginia. The battle of
Gettysburg. "General Starvation." A Columbia county
soldier. The self-sacrifice of Georgia women. "Wayside
Homes." The fidelity of the negroes. Legislature's
patriotism. Gen. W. J. Hardee. A mountain of sorrow.
Georgia did her whole duty 310-319
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1864.
The heart of the Confederacy. Federal army resumes active
xx
• CONTENTS.
operations. The battle of Olustee, Fla. A girl walks
home in her stockings. Battles in north Georgia. Extra
session of the Legislature. The Georgia campaign be-
gins. The Federals lay waste the country. Importance
of the Western and Atlantic Railroad to the Federals.
Battles of Resaca and Tanner's Ferry. Confederate army
at Cassville. Allatoona Pass. Battle of New Hope
Church. Cavalry battle at Big Shanty. Kennesaw moun-
tain. Fighting for twenty-three days. Gen. Polk killed.
Anecdote about him. The battle of Kennesaw Moun-
tain 320-328
CHAPTER XXXIX.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1864.
Description of the country- Confederates entrenched on
Kennesaw mountain. Battle of Kolb's Farm. Artillery
duels. Timber on fire around the Federal wounded.
Confederates evacuate Kennesaw and Marietta. Battles
at Ruff's Station and Smyrna. Confederates cross the
Chattahoochee. North Georgia helpless in the clutches
of the enemy. Young's Mounted Battalion. Confederates
fall back to Atlanta.- A grave crisis. A picture of desola-
tion. The battle of Peachtree Creek. The battle of At-
lanta. Gen. W. H. T. Walker is killed. "The hero
brothers." 329-336
CHAPTER XL.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1864.
Stoneman's last raid. Attack on Macon. Battle of Sunshine
Church. Damage by the raiders. The Home Guard at
Athens. Battle of King's Tanyard. The University
chapel becomes a banquet Hall. McCook's raid. Gen.
Wheeler in pursuit. Battle of Ezra Church. Atlanta is
besieged. Militia complimented by Confederate Gen-
erals 337-342
XXI
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLI.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
18G4.
Battle of Jonesboro. Battle at Lovejoy's The fall of At-
lanta. Gen. Sherman's atrocious order. The exiles.
Confederates recross the Chattahoochee. Assault on
Allatoona Pass. A lone grave. Confederate army with-
draws from Georgia. The militia win a glorious name.
Atlanta is burned. Federal acts of vandalism. Gen.
Sherman's army. Savannah commanded by Gen. Hardee.
Battle of Griswoldville 343-350
CHAPTER XLII.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1864.
Stone Mountain. Federal General at Milledgeville. Flight
of the Legislature. The State property. A company or
• convicts. Pillage around Milledgeville. "It is expensive
to be a rebel." The Federals destroy railroads and tele-
graph wires. Gen. Wheeler harasses the enemy. The
Georgia Cadets in battle. Battles of Waynesboro,
Sandersville, Buckhead Creek 351-357
CHAPTER XLIII.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1864.
Gen. Sherman's objective point. Militia are cut off from
Augusta, and go to Savannah. Battle of Honey Hill,
S. C. Gen. Gustavus W. Smith. Savannah is relieved
of a great danger. Vandalism of the Federals in middle
Georgia. Enormous quantities of food destroyed. Anec-
dote of Friedrich, the "Victorious." 358-364
CHAPTER XLIV.
AVAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1864.
A cyclone of popular indignation. The Federals turn war
into private profit. Wholesale destruction. Desecration
\ XII
CONTENTS.
of graves and churches. Efforts to stir up servile in-
surrection. An unholy crusade. ''Treasure-seeking."
"A smart Yankee trick." ".Mulberry Grove" destroyed. It
becomes evident that Savannah is Gen. Sherman's ob-
jective point. How Savannah was fortified. The Federal
fleet. Gen. Hardee's small army. Savannah is be-
sieged 305-370
CHAPTER XLV.
AVAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1804.
The interior line of defense at Savannah. It is persistently
defended. Fierce artillery duels. The fall of Fort McAl-
lister. The Federals control the Ogeechee river. The
Federals prepare to bombard Savannah over the heads
of its defenders. Gen. Hardee evacuates the city. The
Mayor makes a formal surrender. Military rule. Suffer-
ing of the citizens. "The pirate's wife." Georgia soldiers
fighting in other States. The love of Confederate officers
for their men. Nick-names. The exiles return to Atlanta.
Confederate money continues to depreciate 371-380
CHAPTER XLVL
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
18Go.
A gloomy outlook. Col. John T. Lofton. The privations of
the women. The extravagant praise of Gen. Sherman is
the veriest balderdash. He withdraws from Georgia.
The good conduct of the negroes. Horrible condi-
tion of the mountain counties. The last Legislature
while Georgia was a member of the Confederacy.
Federal prisons. Confederate prison at Andersonville.
Capt. Henry Wirtz. He is offered a bribe. Where rests
the responsibility of the useless suffering of prisoners?. 381-389
XXIII
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XLVII.
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1805.
Hampton Road's Conference. Distressing news. Gen. John
B. Gordon in the retreat. Gen. Lee surrenders his army.
Battle of Columbus. The war is over. Georgia's war
record. A pathetic sight. Pres. Davis and his Cabinet
in Georgia. Gov. Stephen Heard's Fort. The Confeder-
ate treasure. A bag of gold for Gen. Toombs. Pres. Davis
is captured. Gen. Toombs and Gray Alice. Miss Augusta
J. Evans. Gen. Toombs escapes to Europe. The Federal
Government fails to carry out the terms upon which the
Confederates surrendered. Georgians are arrested and
imprisoned. Alex. H. Stephens in Fort Warren. The
reason he was never tried. The heritage Georgia trans-
mits to her children 390-399
CHAPTER XLVIII.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
1S65-18T2.
For what was the war waged? False sentiment of the War
Party at the North. The Legislature not allowed to con-
vene. Gov. Brown arrested and imprisoned. He is re-
leased. He advises Georgians to acquiesce in the arbi-
trary measures of the Federal Government. The Pro-
visional Governor. "The iron-clad oath." Freedmen's
Bureau. The Yankees in Warrenton. Military rule in
Savannah. The story of a woman's fortitude. A State
Convention. Annular eclipse of the sun. Georgia is taxed
without representation. Georgia is "a land of memo-
ries" 400-407
CHAPTER XLIX.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
1865-1872.
The Fourteenth Amendment. The Reconstruction Commit-
tee. "District Number 3." "The black belt." Trying
XXIV
CONTENTS.
times. Carpet-baggers and Scallawags. "Notes on the
situation." Gov. Jenkins. Elbert, the banner county of
Georgia. Reconstruction Committee make a demand on
the treasury. It is refused. Memorial Day instituted. . 408-416
CHAPTER L.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
1865-1S72.
Gov. Jenkins is deprived of his office. The Yankees move
the capital to Atlanta. The Union League. The Kuklux
Klan. Georgia is ruled by aliens. The Columbus prison-
ers. The tyranny of Congress 417-425
CHAPTER LI.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
1865-1872.
"The Bush Arbor Speeches." Georgia again under military
rule. Death of Gen. Howell Cobb. The Fifteenth Amend-
ment. The lawlessness of the Radicals. The frauds
practiced by the aliens. State Convention meets in At-
lanta. Death of Gen. R. E. Lee. Martial law in time of
peace. Speech of Linton Stephens. The Republican
Governor flees from the State. Georgia controls her own.
J. M. Smith, a Confederate Colonel, becomes Governor.
The hero of the reconstruction period 426-435
CHAPTER LTI.
REBUILDING THE STATE.
1872-1880.
Staunchness of Georgians. Gen. J. B. Gordon to the U. S.
Senate. "The great Commoner." The first Confederate
reunion. Gen. Alfred Colquitt, Governor. The tra-
ditional generosity of Georgians. A new State Constitu-
tion. The bogus bonds. A rising vote of thanks. Geor-
gia moves the capital to Atlanta. The Middle Georgia
Agricultural College. Hon. B. H. Hill to the U. S. Sen-
ate 43i»-442
XXV
contents.
CHAPTER LIU.
REBUILDING THE STATE.
1880-1890.
Georgia begins to prosper. Gov. Colquitt's second term.
James Jackson is chosen Chief-Justice. The International
Cotton Exposition. Death of Hon. B. H. Hill. A move-
ment to erect a monument to his memory. Gov. Colquitt
to the U. S. Senate. Alex. H. Stephens becomes Governor.
'Dixie." The power of knowledge 443-450
"i
CHAPTER LIV.
REBUILDING THE STATE.
1880-1890.
The sesqui-centennial. The men who wore "the gray."
Death of Gov. Stephens. Hon. Henry D. McDaniel be-
comes Governor. Rejoicings over the election of Graver
Cleveland for President. Gen. Henry R. Jackson becomes
Minister to Mexico. The Legislature appropriates one
million dollars to build a State-house. Corner-stone is
laid. Death of Gen. Robert Toombs 451-458
CHAPTER LV.
REBUILDING THE STATE.
1880-1890.
Unveiling the Hill monument. Georgia gives Pres. Davis an
ovation. Speech of Pros. Davis. "The daughter of the
Confederacy.'' Georgia is loyal to her traditions 459-4G5
CHAPTER LVI.
REBUILDING THE STATE.
1880-1890.
May month. Anniversary of the Chatham Artillery. Pres.
Davis in Savannah. Georgia contradicts the old adage,
"Republics are ungrateful." Telfair Academy of Arts
and Sciences. Gen. J. B. Gordon. Governor. Death of
XXVI
CONTENTS.
Chief-Justice Jackson. Logan E. Bleckley bis successor.
Monument to Sergeant Jasper. The hundredth anniver-
sary of the University. Description of the new capitol.
Georgia's Pantheon. Gen. Lee's birthday becomes a State
holiday. Death of Pres. Davis. Funeral ceremonies over
the State 466-474
CHAPTER LVII.
REBUILDING THE STATE.
1890-1893.
Georgia's permanent prosperity. Climate. True greatness.
Hon. W. J. Northen is Governor. A strong delegation in
Congress. Charles F. Crisp. The Girls' Normal and In-
dustrial College. Democrats make an obstinate fight.
The "third party." Georgia farmers. The 400th anniver-
sary of the discovery of America. Georgia's work, in the
national Democratic campaign. True to Jeft'ersonian prin-
ciples. Gov. Northen is re-elected 473-481
CHAPTER LVIII.
REBUILDING THE STATE.
1890-1893.
Waiting for news. "The Constitution cannon." A dramatic
incident. The Stephens monument. The unveiling cere-
monies. The over-production of cotton. Pres. Davis's
funeral train passes through Georgia. His body lies in
state in the capitol. A guard of honor from Georgia goes
to Richmond for the final ceremonies. Georgia's growth
from an infant colony to a sovereign State 482-490
CONCLUSION.
An appeal to the youth of Georgia. "The red old hills of
Georgia." State pride versus national pride. Speech of
Gen. Henry R. Jackson 491-495
XXVII
INTRODUCTION.
Long before the idea was formulated in the brain of
Christopher Columbus, of a new world beyond the pillars
of Hercules, the fair territory which in process of time be-
came the State of Georgia, was divided between two power-
ful Indian nations, the Creeks and the Cherokees.
These nations were subdivided into tribes. Their princi-
pal settlements were in rich valleys or near large streams.
The brave and comely Cherokees dwelt in J the north,
among the hills and mountains; the Creeks Occupied the
middle and southern portions of the county and the
islands along the coast.
In figure these Indians were tall and well shaped; their
manners were dignified, their countenances ware open and
placid, with heroism and bravery stamped upon their brows.
Their complexion was reddish brown, and their long, coarse
hair was as black as a raven's wing. In all their actions
they exhibited an air of independence and superiority.
The Cherokees were reserved in conversation, circum-
spect in deportment, grave in manner, very tenacious of
their liberties, and ready at all times to sacrifice their lives
in defense of their territory and their rights. The Creeks
were more haughty and arrogant, very ambitious of con-
quest, and — though constantly engage*1 in warfare — were
ever magnanimous to a vanquished foe.
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The Cherokee women were tall, with delicate forms and
cheerful countenances; the Creek women were shapely,
though low of stature, with regular features, high fore-
heads, and large, black eyes.
In the charming land of the Cherokees there were sixty-
four towns and villages, and the Creek Nation contained a
much larger number.
These Indiams were far from being savages. They
were politically well organized, occupied permanent seats,
and were largely engaged in the cultivation of corn, beans,
melons, and fruits.
Tobacco was cultivated and universally used; the Indians
believed smoking to be peculiarly pleasing to the Great
Spirit, Whom they fancied was Himself addicted -to this
habit. The pipe was their constant companion — their sol-
ace in fatipTjje and trouble, their delight in hours of ease;
whether ur;0. the i rarpath, engaged in hunting and fishing,
or lazily reoli ling in their huts, it was ever near them; a
symbol of pea ie and friendship, it was used in religious and
political rites. The large pipes, called calumets, were em-
ployed only on occasions of ceremony, and were generally
highly orname/ited.
As it was an emblem of peace and good-will among Euro-
peans to drink from the same cup, so a similar idea was con-
veyed among the Indians by taking a whiff from the same
pipe. Quantities of ancient pipes and calumets have been
found in their burial mounds.
The Indians regarded corn as a direct gift from the Great
Spirit, and observed festivals — attended with interesting
ceremonies — both when it was planted and gathered. Each
year, at the harvest, a certain portion was set aside for the
INTRODUCTION.
support of the head Chief or King; this portion was de-
posited in a public granary, where were also stored, for his
use, dried fish and jerked meat. Travellers and strangers
were fed from this store; thence rations were given to the
warriors when setting out upon an expedition, and, if they
never returned, their wives and children were the especial
care of the King, and were fed from the public granary.
In addition to the food obtained by cultivating the land,
the splendid forests, which stretched from mountain to sea-
board, were full of game, and the rivers abounded in some
of the best varieties of fish. These Indians also watched
and nurtured with great care the nut-bearing trees — walnut,
hickory and pecan — which sprang spontaneously from tiiv>
generous soil.
Their agricultural and domestic implements — including
earthen and copper vessels, and stone mortars and pestles for
crushing corn — were of the most primitive description, but
answered well the purposes for which they were made. It
seems singular that they should have beer, ignorant of the
use of iron, but such was the case. They probably pro-
cured copper from the ancient mines on Lake Superior.
The bones of animals and large fish were manufactured into
articles for domestic use. Their arrow-heads, made of
stone, were noted for beautv of material and excellence of
workmanship: the arrow shafts were made of the light cane
that grew on every river bank.
These Indians were more provident of the future, more
attached to their homes, and less scornful of manual labor
than was usual among Red Men. Living under a sunny
sky, they usually needed and wore but little clothing.
When winter compelled them to cover their bodies, they
3
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
used well-dressed skins, or blankets and shawls made either
from coarse grass or the inner bark of trees. Their feet
were protected by buckskin shoes. Both men and women
were fond of ornaments for ear, nose, and lip, and the cus-
tom of tattooing was almost universal. Thev delighted in
necklaces, bracelets and anklets, and even waist-bands of
pearls and shells were worn. Before they came in contact
with the white race, they seemed rarely to have used gold
and silver.
Their rude cabins were made of upright poles, daubed
with earth, leaves, or moss. The dwelling of the Chief
was usually in the center of the village, and was larger and
more carefully finished than the houses of the common
people. Safe conduct and welcome was everywhere given
to the trader, who made long and arduous journeys to pro-
cure, by exchange, such articles as could not be obtained at
home.
In their government, the head Chief or King was inva-
riably chosen from the most worthy. Despotic to some ex-
tent, he was yet assisted in all matters of State by a Council,,
and the Council Touse was the most important edifice in a
town. At once king, judge and adviser, the Chief con-
trolled the public granaries, appointed the time for plant-
ing and gathering corn, declared war and made peace, fixed
the dates for festivals, and had the right to compel the labor
of the whole community for any public wTork. ISText in
rank was the War Chief, who led the armies, and in coun-
cil sat nearest to the King. Then the Chief Priest, whose
influence was all-powerful in spiritual affairs; without his
advice no hostile expedition was ever decided upon by the-
Couii
INTRODUCTION.
These Indians treated their women with a certain respect
•and consideration, but regarded them as their inferiors.
The men assisted in making crops and in other outdoor
work, so that all the drudgery was not left to the women, as
was common with Indians in some other parts of the New
World. As a matter of course, the women did the cooking,
and also most of the work in manufacturing pottery, mats,
baskets, moccasins and tunics. They took care of the chil-
dren, and were such careful and tender mothers, that a de-
formed, lame or sickly child was seldom seen.
At an early age the boys were drilled in manly sports,
and tan ght the secrets of hunting and fishing. The Indian
youth, like the applicant for knighthood in European Coun-
tries, had to undergo a season of fasting, and general purifi-
cation of body and soul, before he entered upon the dignity
of manhood and assumed its responsibilities.
A man never married a member of his own tribe, and
marriage gave him no right to the property of his wife.
Divorce was a matter of mutual consent* in case of separa-
tion, the wife kept the children and all property belonging
to them.
Next to warfare, hunting was the favorite pastime of the
men. Dogs were domesticated, and abounded in all their
villages; they were the constant companions and friends of
their masters, and not infrequently were given the rite of
burial.
Believing in the immortality of the soul, and in a future
state of reward and punishment, these Indians worshiped
one Great Spirit as the Creator, from Whom came all good
things, especially wisdom. They believed in the existence
of evil spirits, from whose influence it was the duty of the
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
priest, conjurer and medicine man, to protect them. More
or less distinctly, they recognized a soul in each individual,
and they believed that in accordance with their conduct in
this life would be their good or evil state in the next world.
With such views, it was natural that they should have pro-
found veneration for, and attachment to their relations and
great men, and that they should jealously watch over and
defend their j?raves.
Breathing the soft air of a genial climate; surrounded by
forests and streams that supplied them food with little ef-
fort; relieved, in a great measure, from any severe struggle
for clothes and shelter, these Indians were, upon the whole,
a gentle, agricultural people, with pleasure-loving disposi-
tions. Without any thought of change, they lived their
simple lives, unconscious of the throbbing life on the other
side of the Great Water, and of the existence of the pale-
faced warriors who were destined to force them from their
beloved country and the graves of their fathers.
The first Europ eins known to have set foot in this earthly
paradise were thf renowned knight, Hernando De Soto,
and his companion- . De Soto had aided Pizarro in the con-
quest of Peru, ard was ambitious to achieve a similar con-
quest and to gain a larger booty; so he obtained a permit
from the King of Spain, to subdue Florida and all the land
northward. ,
Allured by the report of the existence of gold, he led his
enthusiastic little army into Georgia. It was composed al-
most entirely cf young cavaliers in whose veins flowed some
of the best blood of Spain. They were accustomed to hard-
ships, skilled in the use of weapons, and their imaginations
were inflamed with visions of glory and wealth. They
6
INTRODUCTION.
wore fine armor and costly clothes, and their horses were
richly caparisoned. They had servants to wait on them,
mules to carry burdens, an abundance of provisions, and
tools and implements of every kind that could be needed.
De Soto entered Georgia at the southwest and held his
course towards the head-waters of the Savannah and Chat-
tahoochee rivers, an Indian guiding him through the un-
known region. Twenty-five miles by water below the city
of Augusta, he found a large town, shaded by mulberry
trees, where he was entertained royally by a Queen whose
chief seat it was, and who ruled as undisputed sovereign
over an extensive Province. She welcomed De Soto with
courteous words, and, drawing a long string of pearls from
over her head, put it around his neck in token of friendship.
She was very dignified and queenly, and the Spaniards were
much impressed by her appearance. De Soto, in acknowl-
edgment of her beautiful gift, and as a pledge of peace,
took from his finger a ring of gold set with a ruby, and
gently placed it upon hers. She supplied the Spaniards
with provisions, canoes, and whatever else was needed for
their comfort during their sojourn.
In that age, adventurers claimed for their King all lands
which they explored, and took liberties with the natives and
their property, without a thought of tiie injustice of their
actions. So the Spaniards rewarded the kindness of their
entertainers by searching the sepulchres of the town, from
which they took "three hundred and fifty weight of pearls,
and figures of babies and birds made from iridescent shells. "
When De Soto announced to the Queen his contemplated
departure, she was so angry at the outrages that her people
had suffered from the strangers, that she refused to aid
7
GEORGIA LAND AKD PEOPLE.
them, either with guides or otherwise. De Soto was of-
fended at her resentment, placed her under guard, and,
when he resumed his journey, compelled her and her fe-
male attendants to accompany him, on foot, to the confines
of her territory; for, through her influence, he knew he
could control the natives while traversing her territory.
One of De Soto's officers, the Knight of Elvas, wrote in his
journal: "We passed through her country an hundred
leagues, in which, as we saw, she was much obeyed." This
same Knight criticized De Soto's treatment of the Queen
as unwarranted. Forcing her to walk was a very great in-
dignity, as, when she moved abroad, she was accustomed to
be seated upon a palanquin borne on the shoulders of men.
When the Spaniards arrived among the Cherokees, with-
in the present limits of Franklin county, a Chief presented
DeSoto with two deerskins, as a mark of frendship, and in
one village seven hundred wild turkeys were brought to him
for the refreshment of his army.
It was in the blooming month of May, when the Span-
iards reached the picturesque region of the Cherokee Nation.
For two days they r^-ted at a village in Nacoochee valley,
and then started westward; in this march the Queen es-
caped into the forest, and every effort to recapture her was
fruitless, so thoroughly did she conceal herself. Her juris-
diction extended to what is now the southeast corner of
Murrav countv, and De Soto had intended to liberate her
when he reached that point. He rested there four days,
and then pursued his journey. Everywhere he met with
kindness, receiving presents of the choicest and best that
the land afforded.
8
INTRODUCTION.
On the fifth day of leafy June, De Soto reached what is
now the town of Rome. His men and horses were so worn
and jaded that perfect rest was an absolute necessity; the
people were so hospitable, and the country so beautiful, that
he remained there thirty days. What an evidence of the
humane disposition of those Indians: they generously
treated the intruding strangers whom they could easily have
exterminated.
When the men were thoroughly rested and the horses
again in good condition, De Soto set out down the valley of
the Coosa river, and was soon beyond the confines of Geor-
gia. He had entered this State early in March, 1540, and
left it on the second day of July of the same year. Thus
did these Spanish cavaliers behold the primal beauties of
Georgia's forests, rivers, valleys and mountains, and enjoy
the hospitality of her primitive people.
The aborigines lived so near the heart of Nature that they
learned her secrets, and were unconscious poets. Their
language, abounding in vowels, was soft and musical.
Every proper noun had a meaning that was significant and
often wonderfully poetic — as, Cohuttah (Frog mountain),
Tallulah (Terrible), Toccoa (Beautiful); Amicalolah
(Tumbling Water), Hiwassee (Pretty Fawn), Okefinokee
(Quivering Earth), and Chattahoochee (Rocky River).
]S: either the Creeks nor the Cherokees had a written lan-
guage, and their history is a matter of tradition. The Creek
language bore a resemblance to classic Greek. Their leg-
ends— wild, romantic, often tragic — are still full of interest
for their pale-faced successors.
9
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The Legend of Nacoochee.
Long before the Anglo-Saxon had made his first foot-
print on these western shores, there dwelt in a lovely valley
in north Georgia, a young maiden of wonderful, almost
celestial beauty; her name wras Kacoochee (The Evening
Star). She wras the daughter of a Chieftain, and in doing
honor to her, the people of her tribe almost forgot the Great
Spirit who made her and endowed her with such strange
beauty.
A son of the Chieftain of a neighboring, hostile tribe saw
the beautiful Nacoochee and loved her. He stole her
young heart, and she loved him with an intensity of pas-
sion that only the noblest souls can know. They met be-
neath the holy stars and sealed their simple vows with
kisses. They found fitting trysting-places in this charming
valley, where, from the interlocked branches overhead,
hung festoons in which the white petals of the clematis
and the purple blossoms of the magnificent wild passion-
flower mingled with the dark foliage of the muscadine.
The song of the mocking-bird and the murmur of the Chat-
tahoochee's hurrying waters were marriage-hymn and an-
them to them. They vowred to live and die together.
Intelligence of these secret meetings reached the ear of
the old Chief, ISTacoochee's father, and his anger was ter-
rible. But love for Laceola was even stronger in the heart
of Nacoochee than reverence for her father's behests.
One night the maiden wras missed from the village.
The old Chief commanded his warriors to pursue the fugi-
tive. They found her with Laceola, the son of a hated
race. Instantly an arrow was aimed at his breast. Na-
10
INTRODUCTION.
coochee sprang before him, and received the barbed shaft
in her own heart. Laceola was so stupefied by this horrible
catastrophe that he made no resistance to his enemies, and
his blood mingled with hers. The lovers were buried in
the same grave, and a lofty mound was raised to mark the
spot.
Deep grief seized the old Chief and all his people, and
the valley ever afterwards was called jSTacoochee.
A solitary pine, which was long a landmark in this lovely
vale, sprang up from the mound which marked the trysting-
place and grave of the maiden and her lover.
How the Cherokee Rose Received its Name.
A proud young Chieftain of the Seminoles was taken
prisoner by his enemies, the Cherokees, and doomed to
death by torture; but he fell so seriously ill, that it became
necessary to wait for his restoration to health before com-
mitting him to the flames.
As he was lying, prostrated by disease, in the cabin of a
Cherokee warrior, the daughter of the latter, a dark-eyed
maiden, was his nurse. She rivalled in grace the bounding
fawn, and the young warriors of her tribe said of her that
the smile of the Great Spirit was not so beautiful. Was it
any wonder that, though death stared the young Seminole
in the face, he should be happy in her presence? Was it
any wonder that they should love each other?
Stern hatred had stifled every kindly feeling in the
hearts of the Cherokees, and they grimly awaited the time
when their enemy must die. As the color slowly returned
to the cheeks of her lover, and strength to his limbs, the
dark-eyed maiden eagerly urged him to make his escape.
11
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
How could she see him die? But he would not agree to
seek safety in flight, unless she went with him; he could
better endure death hy torture than life without her.
She yielded to his pleading: at the midnight hour, si-
lently they slipped into the dim forest, guided by the pale
light of silvery stars. Yet before they had gone far, im-
pelled by soft regret at leaving her home forever, she asked
her lover's permission to return for an instant, that she
might bear away some memento. So, retracing her foot-
steps, she broke a sprig from the glossy-leafed vine which
climbed upon her father's cabin, and, preserving it during
her flight through the wilderness, planted it by the door of
her new home in the land of the Seminoles, where its milk-
white blossoms, with golden centers, often recalled her
childhood days in the far-away mountains of Georgia.
From that time, this beautiful flower has always been
known, throughout the Southern States, as the Cherokee
Rose.
The Indians have passed away from this beautiful land
they loved so well; but the memory of them still lingers,
and will linger forever in the melodious names of Georgia's
mountains, rivers and vales.
12
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
CHAPTER I.
COLONIAL PERIOD.
There lived in England, in 1732, a man named James
Oglethorpe, who was a lover of his kind, and had the deep-
est sympathy for the poor and oppressed of all countries.
He was a soldier and a statesman; but public life could not
spoil his amiable disposition or harden his warm heart. He
was generous to his friends and charitable to the poor. So
keen was his sense of honor that no bribe of power or for-
tune could tempt him to turn from what he thought his
duty. Wherever he heard of suffering, there he liked to
go, in order to do all in his power to relieve it. So it very
naturally happened that, being a member of parliament, he
should have been appointed one of a committee to visit the
debtors' prisons and report their condition. He was greatly
touched by the misery and bodily suffering endured by the
inmates : their pale faces and wistful eyes haunted him con-
tinually.
In those days it was the law in England to imprison a
man for debt, whether the amount was large or small; and
the jails were full of persons whose only offense was their
[3
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
inability to pay the money they owed. The statesmanship
of James Oglethorpe found a remedy for this evil by plan-
ning to give them homes in the New World.
The adventures and romance connected with the west-
ern continent kept the eyes of Europe fixed upon it with
eager interest ; to colonize it was the highest ambition of the
most powerful nations, who readily granted charters and
encouraged adventurers.
So it chanced that in the reign of King George I. of Eng-
land, one of his subjects, Sir Robert Montgomery, obtained
a grant of land lying between the Altamaha and Savannah
rivers, for the purpose of founding a colony there, to be
called the Margravate of Azilia. He agreed that if no
settlement was made within three years, his grant should be
void. To induce people to settle there, the noble lord wrote
a flaming pamphlet and painted his future Eden in glowing
terms. He called it "the most amiable country of the uni-
verse," and assured the public that "nature had not blessed
the world with any tract which could be preferable to it;
that Paradise with all her virgin beauties may be modestly
supposed, at most, but equal to its native excellencies."
"It lies," he continues, "in the same latitude with Pales-
tine herself, that promised Canaan which was pointed out
by God's own choice to bless the labors of a favorite peo-
ple." However, the scheme failed; and at the end of the
specified three years Azilia was without inhabitants, save
the red men of the forest.
Long before Georgia was colonized it was often the the-
atre of war, being a doubtful borderland between the
Spanish possessions in Florida and the English settlements
14
COLONIAL PERIOD.
in Carolina. On all occasions the French on the west, and
the Spaniards on the south, tried to excite the Indians
against the feeble colonists in Carolina, who themselves
often provoked the red men by acts of violence.
The British government resented the monopoly of the
Indian trade enjoyed by France and Spain, deeming this
trade and an alliance with the Cherokee Xation so impor-
tant that Sir Alexander dimming, of Aberdeenshire, Scot-
land, was sent on a secret mission to obtain their friendship.
He penetrated into the very heart of the Nation, and so suc-
cessfully accomplished his mission that the Cherokees swore
allegiance to the king of England. Seven of their promi-
nent men accompanied Sir Alexander when he returned,
and were finely entertained for four months; then they were
sent back to their homes in upper Georgia, much gratified
by their visit, greatly impressed with the power and wealth
of the English nation, and firmly resolved to maintain
friendly relations with it. So, the embassy of Sir Alex-
ander Cumming secured peace for the exposed settlements
in Carolina, and was of the utmost importance to the colony
which, in the near future, was to be planted on the Savan-
nah river.
This was the land to which Oglethorpe now turned his
eyes as a refuge for the distressed. He interested many
benevolent individuals in his scheme; parliament appropri-
ated a large sum of money to aid him, and George II., on
the 9th day of June, 1732, made a grant of the entire terri-
tory lying between the Altamaha and Savannah rivers.
The new colony was to be named Georgia, in honor of
the King who granted the charter. The land was con-
veyed to Oglethorpe, and twenty-one other gentlemen.
15
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
who were officially known as the "Trustees for the
Establishment of the Colony of Georgia." They held their
first regular meeting in London, in July, at which was read
the charter that conyeyed the land to them for twenty-one
years, distinctly stating the benevolent purpose for which
the colony was to be founded. It excluded Roman Cath-
olics from the benefits of the country, but the poor of Great
Britain, and oppressed Protestants from all countries, were
to find a welcome. The thrifty Huguenots, the gentle
Moravians driven from Austria, and the Salzburgers, exiled
from their Alpine' valleys because they were followers of
Luther, all were to find homes and safety in Georgia, the
only colony ever founded for sweet charity's sake. A hope
to convert the Indians was another of Oglethorpe's good
motives.
The Trustees chose James Oglethorpe governor of their
colony. He had asked permission to accompany the emi-
grants and establish them in Georgia, agreeing to pay his
own expenses and devote his whole time to the enterprise.
So, in November, he embarked in the good ship Anne, hav-
ing on board one hundred and thirty persons — one hundred
and sixteen of whom were emigrants. In January the ship
arrived at Charleston, and the passengers were cordially
welcomed by the Governor and the citizens g3nerally. The
Anne had made a safe passage and the health cf the emi-
grants was good; the death of two delicate little boys, one
only eight months old, cast the only shadow that rested upon
their hearts as the good ship plowed through the waters of
the broad Atlantic.
From Charleston, Oglethorpe sailed to Beaufort; and
while the emigrants went ashore for rest and refreshment,.
16
COLONIAL PERIOD.
he ascended the Savannah river to make some explorations
and select a place to settle. On a bold bluff he found a fine
situation for his town, which, from the river that flowed by,,
he called Savannah.
He visited and conciliated the Indians in that section ; in
his first interview he formed a warm friendship for Tomo-
chi-chi, the king of an Indian Confederacy, who presented
him with a buffalo robe painted on the inside with the head
and feathers of an eagle, saying: "The feathers of the
eagle are soft, and signify love; the buffalo skin is warm,,
and is the emblem of protection : therefore, love and pro-
tect our little families."
AtYamacraw, (the Indian name of the bluff), Oglethorpe
found a woman named Mary, who could speak both the
Creek and English languages, and who acted as his inter-
preter. She was born at the chief town in the Creek Na-
tion, and through her mother was descended from a sister
of the old king of the Creeks. Her Indian name was Con-
sa-pon-a-kee-so. Her father, who was a white man, had
carried her to Carolina when she was seven years old, to be
raised and educated; there she was baptized and given the
Christian name, Mary.
When Col. John Musgrove was sent by the Carolina gov-
ernment to make a treaty of alliance with the Creeks, he
was accompanied by his son John, who became acquainted
with this Indian maiden and married her. Oglethorpe
found John and Mary at Yamacraw, where they had estab-
lished a trading-house : as Mary exerted a powerful influ-
ence over the neighboring Indians, he purchased her friend-
ship with presents. Afterwards, he paid her a regular sal-
2g 17
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
ary of one hundred pounds a year to act as his interpreter.
Her husband died three years after Oglethorpe first met
her. While she was a widow, he persuaded her to estab-
lish a trading-house on the south side of the Altamaha river,
and there she married Capt. Jacob Matthews. In this way,
Oglethorpe placed an influential friend on his southern
frontier.
As soon as he had selected a site for his town, Oglethorpe
returned to Beaufort, and the following Sunday was cele-
brated by the emigrants as a day of Thanksgiving for their
safe arrival. He provided the dinner out of his private
purse; besides the emigrants, the gentlemen of tBe neigh-
borhood and their families were invited. There were pre-
pared for this feast "four fat hogs, eight turkeys, many
fowls, English beef, and other provisions; also, a hogshead
of punch, a hogshead of beer, and a large quantity of wine."
At the table everything was conducted in the most agree-
able manner; no one got drunk, neither was there the least
disorder among the crowd.
A few days after this memorable repast the emigrants
set sail for Savannah and built their new homes beneath the
pines that then crowned Yamacraw Bluff. The town was
laid out in streets and squares, and the plan has never been
altered. It was in the month of February, 1733, that work
was begun on the first town in Georgia. The delicious per-
fume of the yellow jessamine was already mingling with
the odor of the pines; the trees were vocal with the songs of
birds, and the balmy breath of spring was quickening all
nature into life and beauty. It was a goodly land, and the
colonists, now no longer emigrants, worked with a will, re-
ceiving much valuable assistance from their Carolina neigh-
18
COLONIAL PERIOD.
bors. The Governor of Caroliua sent, for their protection,
a detachment of military, called the Rangers, and also an
armed bark, called the Scout-boat. It was not long before
Oglethorpe's colonists were settled in their new homes.
Having to build a fort at the eastern extremity of the
bluff, besides erecting residences, their labor for a while
was very arduous; but they all shared in it with energy and
cheerfulness. Oglethorpe was present everywhere, plan-
ning, superintending and encouraging. He was assisted in
laying out his town, by Col. William Bull, of South Caro-
lina, who also generously lent four of his negroes, expert
sawyers, to help get out boards for houses. He brought his
own provisions to feed them, being resolved to put the col-
ony to no expense; so his benefaction was bestowed in the
most noble and useful manner.
Oglethorpe claimed no labor from the colonists for him-
self, but had a tent pitched under four clustering pines
which he had ordered to be left standing near the bluff, and
he lived in that tent for nearly a year. Afterwards, he con-
tented himself with hired lodgings in one of the houses of
his people.
Tomo-chi-chi had given them a warm welcome, and Ogle-
thorpe had paid him liberally for as much land as was
needed. In nothing did the founder of the colony of Geor-
gia show his wisdom and executive ability more than in his
conduct towards the Indians. He constantly exhorted his
people to be prudent and upright in all their dealings with
them. "It is my hope/' he said, "that, through your good
example, the settlement of Georgia may prove a blessing
and not a curse to the native inhabitants.'' His fame soon
reached the interior, and in a short time treaties were made
19
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
with the Upper and Lower Creeks, the Cherokees in the
mountains, and the Choctaws on the borders of the Gulf
of .Mexico. The Indians had great confidence in him, be-
cause he always acted towards them in good faith. With-
out their friendship the condition of the infant colony
would have been precarious. The vast Atlantic was rolling
between them and the mother country ; the Carolina settle-
ments were few in number, and had to struggle for their
own existence. The Spaniards in Florida were only wait-
ing for an opportunity to dispute their claim to the soil, and
the Indian tribes who owned the country, were jealously
watching the encroachments of the white race upon their
hunting-grounds. Fortunately, however, the planting of
a colonv in Georgia had been confided to a man who had
the prudence, wisdom and skill to do it successfully.
It was now that Tomo-chi-chi's friendship was of the
first importance to Oglethorpe and his people; and his kind-
ness and fidelity to the whites should ever receive the most
grateful acknowledgment. While we honor Oglethorpe
as the founder of our beloved State, let it not be forgotten
that in his hour of doubt and danger, this son of the forest
was as his right arm, and the Indian's active friendship was
the surest guaranty of the safety, and even the very exist-
ence of the new settlement. To the day of his death, To-
mo-chi-chi was the faithful adviser and protector of the
young colony; as such, let his name be honored by every
Georgian !
The very next year after Savannah was founded, a com-
pany of Salzburgers arrived there, and were cordially re-
ceived. They wished to settle some distance from the sea,,
among the hills and dales, where the country was supplied
20
COLONIAL PERIOD.
with springs and would remind them of the dear land from
which they were exiled. In their behalf, Oglethorpe him-
self went with a company of his people and some Indians to
make a tour of observation. They penetrated nearly thirty
miles into the interior, and chose a pleasant spot on the
banks of a river where were hills, valleys, small creeks, and
springs of clear, pure water. The Salzburgers were highly
-delighted with the situation and beauty of the country ; and
their first act, when they reached this land of safety, was
to sing a psalm. Then they set up a stone which they
found npon the spot, and named the place Ebenezer, "the
stone of help." Truly could they say : "Hitherto hath the
Lord helped us."
The region around Ebenezer was afterwards called St.
Matthew's Parish, and is now Effingham county, named
in honor of Lord Effingham, who, some years afterwards,
so nobly defended the resistance of the colonies to the
mother country, and resigned his commission in the British
army rather than fight in a cause which he thought unjust.
The new town was under the superintendence of the
Rev. Mr. Bolzius, who had resigned an honorable and lucra-
tive position at home, to accompany his countrymen to
Georgia.
Oglethorpe showed fine judgment in locating his towns
where they could best be protected from attacks, either of
the Indians or Spaniards.
The next settlement was made at Darien, by a party of
Highlanders from Scotland. When they were resting in
Savannah, prior to departing for their new home, some Caro-
linians tried to dissuade them from going so far south, tell-
ing them that the Spaniards, from their houses in the fort,
21
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
would shoot them down. With a spirit worthy of the
countrymen of Wallace and Bruce, they replied : "Why,
then we will beat them out of their fort, and shall have
houses ready built to live in."
Again did Oglethorpe show his wisdom, in placing these
brave and hardy men at an outpost on his southern frontier;
and well did these valiant spirits fulfill the trust ! Geor-
gia, both as a colony and State, owes a large debt of grati-
tude to them and to their descendants.
The next settlement was made directly by Oglethorpe,
who, m 1735, ascended the Savannah river to a point just
below the falls, and built a fort which he named Augusta,
in honor of a royal princess of Great Britain. So advan-
tageous was this situation that the town which soon sprang
up, became a center for Indian trade, superior to any either
in Carolina or Georgia. Oglethorpe was so pleased at the
enterprise of Mr. O'Bryan, who began the work of settle-
ment, and built a well-furnished storehouse at his own ex-
pense, that he recommended the Trustees to give him five
hundred acres of land.
Having obtained the territory between the Altamaha and
St. Mary's rivers, by a treaty with the Indians, Oglethorpe
erected a fort on Cumberland Island, which he named Fort
William, and one on Amelia Island, which was called Fort
St. George.
The next company of emigrants who came over, was
located on St. Simon's island, and their town was called
Frederica, in honor of Frederick, Prince of Wales, eldest
son of George II. The town was laid out by Oglethorpe,
with wide streets crossing each other at right angles, and
planted with rows of orange trees. It became his favorite
9?
COLONIAL PERIOD.
residence, and near there was his small cottage, with fifty
acres of land — the only property he ever owned or claimed
in Georgia.
After Oglethorpe had remained fifteen months in Geor-
gia he left Thomas Causton in charge and returned to Eng-
land that he might inform the Trustees, and the public gen-
erally, of the true condition of the colony. Judging that
its security would be promoted by taking with him some
intelligent Indians, who, by personal observation, might
obtain an idea of the greatness of the British empire, he
invited Tomo-chi-chi and five other chiefs to accompany
him. They all accepted the invitation, and the aged king,
then past ninety years, resolved to take his wife, Sce-nawki,
and his adopted son, Too-na-howi.
When Oglethorpe said good-bye to his people, who at-
tended him to the boat which was to take him to Charles-
ton, they could not keep back their tears, at parting from
one whom they looked upon as their "Benefactor" and
"Father."
The Indians produced a great sensation in London.
People flocked to see them and gave them many and various
kinds of gifts.
They were presented to King George with much pomp
and ceremony. On this interesting occasion Tomo-chi-chi
and his Avife were dressed in scarlet, trimmed with gold.
He presented eagle feathers, the trophies of his country, to
the King of England, and in his speech said : "These are the
feathers of the eagle, which is the swiftest of birds, and
who flieth all around our nations. These feathers are a
sign of peace in our land, and have been carried from town
to town there ; and we have brought them over to leave with
23
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
you, O, great King! as a sign of everlasting peace. O,
great King ! whatever words you shall say to me, I will
tell them faithfully to all the kings of the Creek nations."
The Indians remained four months in England, and were
then sent home in a public ship, in which quite a number
of new colonists embarked. Their visit awakened among
the English a new interest in the condition of Georgia, and
an earnest desire to enlighten the Indians.
The news of the visit of the chiefs to England, and of
the beautiful and novel presents which they had brought
home, soon spread all over the two Indian nations, and the
generous Tomo-chi-chi freely divided his treasures with the
chiefs who remained at home. So their visit did much to
perpetuate the friendly relations between the natives and
the young colony.
Oglethorpe did not return to Georgia until the next year,
when he brought several hundred emigrants, among them
two young ministers who afterwards became very famous —
John ^Vesley, fresh from Oxford University, and his
brother, Charles, who was private secretary to Oglethorpe.
Their special mission was to preach the gospel to the In-
dians, and improve the moral and religious condition of the
colony.
The first Sundav-school in the world was established in
Savannah, by John AVesley, about two years before Kobert
Kaikes was born, and at least fifty years before he began his
system of teaching poor children on Sunday.
The Trustees never lost sight of the fact that Georgia
was a Protestant colony, and in all their deliberations its
religion was a matter of constant solicitude; indeed, Geor-
gia exhibited the unique spectacle of allowing no one to
24
COLONIAL PERIOD.
settle witliin her borders who was not judged by competent
authority to be worthy of the rights of citizenship. Each
emigrant was subjected to an examination, and had to fur-
nish satisfactory proof that he was entitled to the benefits
that the Trustees could confer.
In 1738, Rev. George Whitefield, the most eloquent
divine of his day, came to Georgia. When he visited Ebe-
nezer, he was so much pleased with the orphan school which
the Salzburgers had established, that he determined to open
a similar one for the rest of the colony. For this purpose
he crossed the Atlantic many times, bringing back a con-
siderable number of settlers at each voyage. By his fer-
vent zeal he obtained money, both in England and Amer-
ica, and the Trustees gave him five hundred acres of land
in trust for his orphan home, which he established at Be-
thesda (House of Mercy), a few miles from Savannah.
Under his fostering care, it flourished greatly, and it still
exists, the most fitting monument to his memory.
The civil aud military affairs of the colony were entirely
in the hands of the Trustees, under whom Oglethorpe
acted; but the immediate government of Ebenezer was
given to Mr. Bolzius and his colleague, Mr. Grinau, who
most judiciously managed the settlement.
The Trustees, at first, made some grave mistakes in gov-
ernment. They prohibited all trade with the West Indies,
because their most important article of export was rum.
They would not permit negroes to be owned by any colonist,
saying that the cost of a negro, which was then about thirty
pounds, would pay the passage of an emigrant to Georgia,
supply him with tools, and support him for a year, at the
end of which time he could earn his own living. But
25
GEORGIA L\ND AND PEOPLE.
they agreed, if thev had to feed both a ne^ro and his master
for a year, thev would be crippled in their ability to send
out white settlers who needed homes, to supply which was
their object in founding the colony.
Besides these drawbacks, there were many military fea-
tures connected with the government of the colony, mili-
tary service being required for a certain number of acres of
land. All these things caused great dissatisfaction among
the people. The military service involved so many hard-
ships that not a few emigrants deserted the new colony and
moved to Xorth Carolina, where the land was held in fee
simple.
"When the colonists saw their Carolina neighbors growing
rich with unhampered commerce, and broad fields culti-
vated by negro labor, their discontent was so great that the
Trustees were forced to alter those regulations. When
they, also, changed their policy as to the tenure of land and
the introduction of negroes, the prosperity of the colony
was immediately increased.
Fifty acres of land were offered to each settler, almost
without money and without price. So, emigrants, princi-
pally Scotch and German, flocked in, and in eight years the
population increased to more than 25,000. Raw silk was
exported to England, indigo was a staple article of produc-
tion, cotton was being planted as an experiment, and, at
last, the prosperity of the colony rested on a firm founda-
tion. , .
26
CHAPTER II.
COLONIAL PERIOD. (Continued).
England's claim to the territory of Georgia rested upon
the discovery of Sebastian Cabot, who, under a commission
from the King, had sailed along the whole eastern coast of
North America and set up stone crosses at intervals, as
tokens of possession.
Spain claimed it as a part of Florida, though the Span-
iards had never settled except at St. Augustine and a few
adjacent points. So the two countries, wrangling over this
tract of land, were in a constant state of irritation. Spain
looked upon the colonization of Georgia as an intrusion
upon her rights, and demanded its surrender; England re-
fusing, she prepared to expel the invaders.
But there were other sources of discord. Trade with
Spain was not free, and the English merchants on the coast
of Florida were constantly violating the Spanish laws in re-
gard to it; if they were caught an ^punished, their country-
men considered them martyrs rather than violators of the
law of nations.
An English grievance was, that fugitive slaves from
Carolina were not^only welcomed in Florida, but lands
were given them as a bribe to run away from the English
colonies.
27
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Oglethorpe, foreseeing that war would be declared
-against Spain, returned to England to obtain soldiers to
defend Georgia.
In less than a year he had returned with six hundred
men, well equipped and disciplined. So careful was he to
have his regiment recruited from the respectable classes,
aud with gentlemen of family and character for officers,
that it was one of the best in the service of the King. To
attach the enlisted men to the colony which they were to
•defend, and to induce them eventually to become settlers,
permission was given each one to take a wife with him, and
additional pay and rations were provided for her.
Oglethorpe was appointed commander-in-chief of all the
militia forces in Georgia and South Carolina, and hence-
forth bore the title of General in the colonies.
At length (1739), England declared war against Spain.
In July of that year, before war was actually declared,
Gen. Oglethorpe undertook a very perilous mission, which
proved to be of the utmost importance to his colony and
also to the mother country. In view of the conflict which he
saw was inevitable, he considered the friendship of the In-
dians of vital consequence, and knew that they should be
fortified against the endeavors of the Spaniards and French
to draw them from the allegiance which they acknowledged
to the British Crown.
The journey was long and dangerous, but the salvation
of Georgia depended upon the success of his mission, and
perils could not daunt his brave spirit. It was arranged;
through the faithful Tomo-chi-chi, that an assembly, com-
posed of all the principal chiefs among the Georgia tribes,
and even among those as far west as the Mississippi river,
28
COLONIAL PERIOD.
should be held at Coweta — on the Chattahoochee river — the
most important town in the Creek Nation. It was several
hundred miles from Savannah, and days of travelling
through trackless forests were required to reach it. Gen.
Oglethorpe took only three men with him besides his ser-
vants. Some Indian traders, whom he procured at Au-
gusta, acted as guides. Each night, wrapped in his cloak,
he lay down to sleep on the ground with his portmanteau for
a pillow; or, if it happened to be wet, he sheltered himself
under an arbor made of cypress boughs.
Forty miles from Coweta he was met by a deputation of
Chiefs, who escorted him the rest of the wav. The Indians
were greatly pleased that he should have undertaken such
a long journey to visit them, and he quite won their hearts
by coming among them with such a small escort, in fear-
less reliance on their good faith, by accommodating him-
self readily to their habits, and by his commanding figure
and dignity of manner.
In solemn Council, terms were agreed upon that satis-
fied both Oglethorpe and the Indians. As one of their
"beloved men," he drank the foskey, or black-medicine
drink, and smoked with them the calumet, or hallowed pipe
of peace. This diplomatic exploit was as remarkable as the
"journey.
"When we call to remembrance," says a Georgia histo-
rian, "the distance he had to travel through solitary path-
ways, exposed to summer suns, night dews, and to the treach-
ery of any single Indian who knew — and every Indian
knew — the rich reward that would have awaited him for
the act, from the Spaniards in St. Augustine or the French
in Mobile, surely we may proudly ask, what soldier ever
29
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
gave higher proof of courage ? What gentleman ever
gave greater evidence of magnanimity? What English
governor of an American province ever gave such assurance
of deep devotion to public duty V9
The next year Gen. Oglethorpe was ordered to invade
Florida, and to call upon South Carolina for aid. So he
and the adopted son of the lamented Tomo-chi-chi, who had
recently died, with two thousand men — a portion of whom
were Creeks — set out on an expedition against St. Augus-
tine.
He found it much more strongly fortified and the garri-
son more numerous than he had expected. He besieged ft
closely for several weeks, but when some Spanish galleys
succeeded in running the gauntlet and carrying fresh sup-
plies to the fort, he thought it wise to raise the siege and re-
tire, as his troops were becoming enfeebled by sickness.
For two years the Spaniards acted only on the defensive,
which gave Gen. Oglethorpe time to strengthen his forti-
fications and prepare for the invasion of Georgia, with
which the Spaniards retaliated in 1742. They had a for-
midable land and naval force, consisting of fifty vessels and
about seven thousand men, under the command of Gen.
Don Manuel de Monti ano, the Governor of St. Augustine.
They soon appeared off St. Simon's bar, with the inten-
tion of taking Frederica. This was a time of great peril
for Georgia, but the heroic spirit of Oglethorpe rose with
the danger. In writing to the Trustees of the situation of
the colony, he said: "We are resolved not to suffer de-
feat; we will rather die like Leonidas and his Spartans, if
we can but protect Georgia and Carolina and the rest of
the Americans from desolation."
30
COLONIAL PERIOD.
This time the Governor of South Carolina would render
no assistance, and Gen. Oglethorpe had to rely upon his
own resources. His navy consisted of one small ship, two
guard schooners, and some small trading vessels; these and
two land batteries at Fort Simon, were his sole dependence
to dispute the passage with the Spaniards.
On this occasion he commanded in person, and made a
gallant defense; but the Spaniards forced their way up the
Altamaha river and landed- five thousand men, who
marched back to attack the fort, which, however, had been
abandoned before their arrival. Their next move was to
advance upon Frederica, and a detachment was within a
few miles of the town before they were discovered and the
alarm given.
Gen. Oglethorpe immediately attacked them with such
forces as were at his command — a few rangers and a com-
pany of Highlanders — and charged with such effect that
the enemy were routed. Then he hastened to town for
additional aid. In his absence, Spanish reinforcements
poured in, and his men were driven back by a body of
troops under Don Antonio Barba. The Highlanders,
under Lieutenants McKay and Sutherland, wheeled aside
in the retreat, and, concealing themselves in a grove of
palmettoes, laid in ambush for the pursuing Spaniards,
whose victory was turned into a crushing defeat. The
Spanish officers tried to rally their men, but in vain. They
were in a panic, and orders were unheeded. Barba was
taken prisoner, after being mortally wounded.
This brilliant engagement was known as the Battle of
Bloody Marsh, and was won by gallant troops against great
odds: their good fortune was due to generalship and unsur-
passed courage.
" 1
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The Spaniards retreated to their camp near Fort Simon,
and Gen. Oglethorpe collected all his forces in Frederica.
Learning of dissensions among the Spanish commanders,.
Gen. Oglethorpe determined to make a night attack upon
their main body, and. by surprising them in their divided
state, drive them from the island. He was disappointed in
carrying out this plan when he was in sight of the enemy's
camp, by the desertion to the Spaniards of one of his sol-
diers, a Frenchman. Knowing that the weakness of his
little army would be revealed to the enemy, Gen. Ogle-
thorpe's quick wit found an escape from the threatened
danger. In order to deceive the Spanish Commander, he
had recourse to the following stratagem: he liberated a
prisoner and gave him a sum of money to carry a letter, and
give it privately to the French deserter. It was written in
the French language, and as if from a friend of his, telling
him to make it appear to the Spaniards that Frederica was
in a defenseless state, and urge them to attack it at once;
but if he could not bring on an attack, he must try to per-
suade them to remain three days longer where they were,
as, within that time, six British ships-of-war, with two thou-
sand troops from Carolina, were expected.
This letter fell into the hands of Gen. Montiano, as Gen.
Oglethorpe had hoped it would. The Spaniards were terri-
bly perplexed over its contents, and the Frenchman put in
irons as a double spy, though he bitterly denied any knowl-
edge of why the letter was written, or any intention to be-
tray the Spaniards.
\\ hile a council of Avar was deliberating what course to
pursue, three ships did actually come in sight off the bar.
The Governor of South Carolina had sent them to Gen..
32
COLONIAL PERIOD.
Oglethorpe's assistance. At once believing them to be the
ships mentioned in the letter, the Spaniards, in a moment
of consternation, burned the fort, hastily embarked, and
fled.
The success of Gen. Oglethorpe in this campaign was
trulv wonderful. "With a handful of men, he had defeated
and baffled a well-equipped army, destroyed some of their
best troops, captured provisions, ammunition and military
stores, and saved Georgia from a formidable invasion.
The eloquent Whitefield said : "The deliverance of
Georgia from the Spaniards is such as can not be paralleled
but by some instances out of the Old Testament."
The avowed object of the Spaniards was to exterminate
the English colonies in America, and if they had succeeded
in their demonstration against Frederica, all the other col-
onies would have been in danger. Appreciating this, and
deeply sensible of their obligations to Gen. Oglethorpe, the
governors of JSrew York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Mary-
land, Virginia and North Carolina sent him special letters
of thanks and congratulated him on his success. The citi-
zens of Port Iloval also sent congratulations, much to the
chagrin of the Governor of South Carolina, who was con-
spicuous by his silence.
For a long time Gen. Oglethorpe expected the return of
the enemy, and bent all his energies to repairing damages
and strengthening his fortifications. In a few months his
defensive works were stronger than ever. The next spring,
taking a detachment of his troops and a considerable body
of Creek warriors, he carried the war into Florida.
St. Augustine was still too strong for him to attack; so,
after compelling the Spaniards to abandon all their ad-
3g 33
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
vanced outposts and retire within their fortifications, He re-
turned, having performed the extraordinary march of
ninety-six miles in four days. This ended his expedition
against the Spaniards.
A Charleston merchant, writing to a London correspon-
dent, under date of August 10th, 1743, says: "Georgia
is a Gibraltar to this Province and North America, however
insignificant some People may make it."
It was five years after Gen. Oglethorpe's last invasion
of Florida before peace was declared between the contend-
ing nations, but Georgia was not again seriously disturbed*
On the 23d of July, 1743, Gen. Oglethorpe left Georgia
for England, and never again returned, but to the end of
his long life he felt the deepest interest in her welfare.
Thus for ten years had this "Romulus, father and
founder of Georgia," devoted his time and money to a most
noble, philanthropic, and patriotic work.
34
CHAPTER III.
COLONIAL PERIOD. (Concluded.)
Upon Gen. Oglethorpe's departure for England, Mr.
William Stephens was appointed to take his place, while
Maj. Horton was left in command of the Georgia troops
with his headquarters at Frederica.
The latter gentleman was one of the most interesting
characters in the colony. He had been a person of family
and fortune in England, but, like many others, had been
ruined by extravagance and forced to seek a new home.
He joined Gen. Oglethorpe's regiment, and, upon his ar-
rival in Georgia, settled Jekyl island, named by Gen. Ogle-
thorpe after an eminent lawyer and eloquent statesman of
England, Sir Joseph Jekyl.
He cleared four hundred acres of land, covered with live-
oaks, and planted ten thousand orange trees, running in
avenues along the island. The rest of the clearing was
planted in barley, rye and hops, which he used in making
beer and porter for the regiment.
Xot long after this, the Indian woman, Mary, who was
again a widow, married the Rev. Thomas Bosomworth,
who, at one time, was the chaplain of Gen. Oglethorpe's
regiment. Besides the good service she had rendered the
colony in concluding treaties with the Creeks, she had also
obtained their assistance in the war with the Spaniards.
35
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
However, from the time of licr marriage with Mr. Bosom-
worth, who was then in the employ of the "Society for the
Propagation of Christian Knowledge," a great change took
place in her private character and in her feelings towards
the colony.
At the instigation of her husband, she made exorbitant
demands upon the government for her past services, and
claimed absolute possession of a vast tract of land, includ-
ing the site of Savannah and the surrounding country.
She assumed the title of Empress, made a speech to the
assembled Creeks, over whom she held despotic sway, ex-
plaining to them the justice of her claims, abusing the
colonists, and threatening them with her vengeance. The
Indians became terribly excited, and pledged themselves to
stand by her to the last drop of their blood.
This trouble seriously imperilled the colony, and it was
a work of time and embarrassment to convince the Indians
of the avaricious and unscrupulous character of Mr. Bosom-
worth. The government did not deny that Mary ought to
be liberally compensated for her labor and losses in the
service of the colony, but it had no intention of being swin-
dled by an unprincipled man.
After years of negotiation, this vexatious affair was set-
tled by paying Mary four hundred and fifty pounds for her
losses, her unpaid salary as government agent and inter-
preter for sixteen and a half years, and giving her the island
of St. Catherine, as she and her husband had settled it. In
the meantime, Mr. Bosomworth had been dismissed in dis-
grace from his public position.
The house in which the Bosomworths lived on the island,
stood for nearly one hundred years. It was a very singular
36
COLONIAL PERIOD.
edifice, being wattled with hickory twigs, and plastered
within and without with mortar made of lime and sand. It
was surrounded by spacious piazzas. Here the remainder
of their lives was spent, and tradition points out the spot
where this remarkable couple are buried.
One by one, the pet schemes of the Trustees for the
regulation of the colony, had been abandoned, and such
sumptuary laws as forbidding any one to wear gold and
silver, or to use them in ornamenting furniture or equi-
pages, had become a dead letter. Truly, Georgia was strug-
gling out of her infancy.
The Trustees had also been disappointed in their expec-
tations of reaping a golden harvest from vine and silk cul-
ture, the latter industry having languished after the bounty
was removed. Then, too, the olive trees and other exotics,
procured at great expense, withered and died after a short
life in the public garden at Savannah. The introduction
of negro labor, and the increased profits to be derived from
raising cotton and rice, caused the final abandonment of
the earlier interests.
The money used in Georgia at this time was either cop-
per coins, or note3 payable by the Trustees, called Sola bills.
In 1752, the colony having grown quite beyond their man-
agement, these Trustees, after twenty years of faithful
labor, resolved to relieve themselves of this arduous respon-
sibilitv, and surrendered their charter to the Crown. Then
Georgia became a Royal Province, having the same privi-
leges, regarding land, trade and negroes, as her sister
colonies. Henceforth the governor was appointed by the
Kino-, and the laws were made bv a legislative bodv con-
37
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
sisting of two houses, the upper one appointed by the King,
the lower house elected by the people.
The iirst royal governer was Capt. John Reynolds, of
the British navy. He was received with great respect and
joy when he arrived at Savannah. There was a public
dinner, and big bonJires at night — the Georgians hoping for
better days under the new government.
During his term of office, Capt. Reynolds made a tour of
the southern part of the province, and laid out a town on
the Ogeeehee river, which he named Hardwick, after his
relative, the Lord High Chancellor of England. He rec-
ommended it as a fit place for the seat of government, as it
was more central than Savannah. However, as the home
government never furnished him any money to improve it,
Hardwick was never any more than a small village.
During this administration, two transports from Nova
Scotia, having on board four hundred French Catholics,
arrived at Savannah. It was against the law of Georgia
for them to settle within her territory, but, to the honor of
the Governor, he received them kindly. It was too late in
the season for them to go '.North, and their provisions were
nearly exhausted, so they were distributed about the prov-
ince, and maintained at the public expense until the follow-
ing spring, when they departed. Gov. Reynolds did not
come up to the public expectation, being so tyrannical and
unpopular that he was removed in his third year, and Henry
Ellis, a learned scientist, appointed to succeed him.
Among other demonstrations, when Gov. Ellis reached
Savannah, a band of schoolboys, who had formed them-
selves into a military company, tendered him a welcome.
When they paraded before him, he complimented them
38
COLONIAL PERIOD.
upon their soldierly appearance and well executed manoeu-
vres. The little captain made the following speech : "Sir,
the youngest militia of this province, presume, by their
Captain, to salute your Honor on your arrival. Although
Ave are of too tender years to comprehend the blessing a
good government is to a province, our parents will, doubt-
less, experience it, in its utmost extent, and their grateful
tale shall fix your name dear in our memories."
Mild but firm, Gov. Ellis' term of office was like "the
calm hour of sunshine after a tempest has blackened the
sky." He was an old man when he came to Georgia, and
the climate did not agree with him, so he resigned, and was
succeeded by Sir James Wright.
During all this time, settlements were being made in dif-
ferent parts of the province, the most important being that
of Midway District, with its seaport, Sunbury, beautifully
situated on the Midway river. By far the greater num-
ber of these settlers were men of education and wealth, who
took a prominent part in the future history of Georgia.
A new era of prosperity had dawned for the Province
when the treaty of Paris once more diffused the sunlight
of peace over Europe, and as Florida was ceded to Great
Britain, there was no longer a jealous, intriguing neighbor
on Georgia's southern frontier. The two provinces now
had the same interests and acknowledged the same king.
Then, too, Georgia's territory was more clearly defined, ex-
tending on the west to the Mississippi river.
As it was thought necessary to acquaint the Indians with
these changes, a convention was held at Augusta, composed
of the governors of Virginia, North. Carolina, South Caro-
lina and Georgia, and representative chiefs from all the
39
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
tribes between the Altamaha and Mississippi rivers. Gov~
Wright presided over the convention.
The Indians renewed their fealty to England, and the
lower Creeks, for a consideration agreed upon, gave to
Georgia a large portion of the territory lying on the coast,
between the Altamaha and Savannah rivers. When this-
important treaty was concluded, the fact "was announced
by a salute from the gnus from Port Augusta."
Gov. Wright showed something of the wTisdom of Gen.
Oglethorpe in dealing with the Indians, and insured ami-
cable relations for many years by making stringent laws to
regulate the conduct of traders in their intercourse with
them.
Ten years later, by a treaty with the upper Creeks and
Cherokees, Georgia acquired land amounting to nearly two
and a half millions of acres, comprising the territory nowT
embraced by the counties of Wilkes, Lincoln, Taliaferro,
Greene and Oglethorpe.
At this time the Province was divided into twelve par-
ishes, with Savannah the capital and commercial metrop-
olis; Augusta was a growing village, and all the fort^ in the
Province had been strengthened by the energetic Governor.
Emigrants still continued to arrive, attracted by the salu-
brious climate, the fertile soil, and the field and forest that
so abundantly rewarded the laborer's toil.
There can be no doubt that the chief cause of Georgia's
prosperity while a colony, was her landed policy, called
headrights, which gave two hundred acres of land to each
head of a family, and fifty more to each child. There was
no charge, except the cost of surveying, and the tiller of the
soil was the owner of the land. When the hecvdright land
40
COLONIAL PERIOD.
courts were opened in Augusta and Petersburg, after the
land above mentioned was obtained from the Cherokees,
there were, on the first day, more than three thousand ap-
plicants for land.
Is it any wonder that Georgia increased more rapidly in
population than any of her twelve sister colonies ? At the
end of her colonial existence, she could boast of having ac-
quired nearly three times as many people as any of the
other colonies during the same period. The landless of
other countries and other colonies came in great numbers to
obtain a home where they could own the soil they culti-
vated. It has been said of this policy of Georgia that : "It
put the crown of industrial glory on her head and the rock
of conscious independence beneath her feet."
Georgia was now exporting rice, indigo and skins to Eu-
rope, and lumber, horses and provisions to the West Indies.
Tobacco was cultivated with great success by trie settlers
from Virginia, and all the necessaries of life were easily
raised on her soil. There was one newspaper in the Prov-
ince, called the "Georgia Gazette," which was issued every
Thursday at Savannah.
Communication with the mother country was a work of
time, as it was by means of small sailing-vessels. So, when
King George II. died, it was nearly four months before the
news reached Savannah. Then the Legislature, which was
in session, was immediately adjourned, and funeral honors
paid him; after this, his grandson, George III., was saluted
as king, with all the pomp and ceremony that their means
alloAved. This was the first and only time a king was pro-
claimed on Georgia soil.
4L
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
This restful condition of the colony did not long vcon-
tinue. The obnoxious Stamp Act, and other measures
adopted by the mother country to force the American col-
onies to assist in paying her enormous war debt, caused a
spirit of resistance in Georgia that became more and more
intense, until the tocsin of war was sounded in 1776.
42
CHAPTER IV.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
"When tlie American colonies of Great Britain decided
to rebel against the home authority because they were
taxed without representation, Georgia, though the young-
est, was the most prosperous of them all, and had the fewest
inducements to take part in the revolution that was impend-
ing.
Many of her influential and wealthy citizens were op-
posed to severing the connection with their mother country,
trusting to the sense of justice in the members of Parlia-
ment to correct the grievances of which they complained;
but the majority saw that freedom could only be purchased
"by perfect independence of England. These men were
called "Liberty Boys," prominent among whom were
Joseph Habersham and Xoble Wimberly Jones, whose
fathers remained true to their allegiance to the Crown.
It was the principle of right and justice involved in this
quarrel that made Georgians feel that the cause of the
other colonies was their own; and they lost no time in mani-
festing their sympathy, and in preparing to take an active
part in the coming struggle.
Gov. Wright was an ardent royalist and resented any ef-
fort to lessen the authority of the King or to resist the
measures of Parliament, and this rendered him very ob-
43
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
noxious to the "Liberty Boys." In a letter to the home
government he spoke of '"their strange enthusiastic ideas of
liberty and power"; but, to his credit be it said, he was
always the courteous gentleman, and was never betrayed
into any act of violence or revenge because he differed, in
political opinion, with many of his people.
After the battles of Lexington and Concord, in Massa-
chusetts, the greatest need of the Northern Revolutionists-
was powder, and a band of "Liberty Boys" determined
to help them by seizing the magazine in Savannah, which
was thought to be such a substantial structure that it was
never guarded. For this purpose, Joseph Habersham, Ed-
ward Telfair, William Gibbons, Joseph Clay, John Mil-
ledge, and a few others, met at the house of Xoble Wim-
berly Jones and hastily arranged a plan of action. Late
one night they broke open the magazine, and took away
six hundred pounds of gunpowder. A part of it was sent
to South Carolina for safe-keeping, and the rest hidden in
the garrets and cellars of their homes.
The Governor offered £150 reward for the offenders, but
so patriotic were the citizens of Savannah that the reward
was never claimed, though the guilty parties were well
known. Some of this very powder Avas shipped to the
Revolutionists in Massachusetts and used at the memorable
battle of Bunker Hill.
By his love of liberty, Mr. Xoble Wimberly Jones, so
prominent on this occasion, had already made himself
odious to Gov. Wright, who refused to recognize him as
Speaker of the Lower House of the Legislature when he
was elected to that office. Twice was he elected, and twice
did the Governor refuse him. For the third time he was
44
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
chosen, and only when he patriotically declined to serve,
was Mr. Bulloch elected in his stead.
The citizens of Savannah had previously shown their
indignation against the King, when they spiked all the
cannon and threw them down the bluff, a night or two be-
fore his Majesty's birthday, 1775, that the usual ceremo-
nies might not be performed; but the indomitable will of
the Governor caused a few of the spikes to be drawn with
great difficulty, the guns remounted, and the royal birth-
day kept with the usual formalities.
It Avas on this occasion, while the royalists were cele-
brating the day, that the first Liberty Pole was erected in
Georgia in front of Tondee's Tavern, whose long room was
the famous meeting place of the "Liberty Boys."
This same year (1775) a memorable Congress was held
in Savannah, on the 4th of July. It was composed of rep-
resentatives from the twelve parishes into which Georgia
was then divided. They set forth their grievances in plain
terms; expressed their abhorrence of tyranny, their sym-
pathy with the miserable condition of their sister colonies,
and sent respectful addresses both to the King and the Gov-
ernor.
The latter would not condescend to take any notice of the
one addressed to him, as he did not consider the Congress
legal. A wave of liberty was sweeping over the Province,
and, though he did all in his power to oppose the tide, he
was powerless to stem it.
This Congress practically annulled the operation of the
objectionable acts of Parliament within the limits of Geor-
gia, questioned the supremacy of the Crown, and inaugu-
rated the measures that ultimately elevated the Province
into the dignity of a State.
45
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
This body of sterling patriots, whose presiding officer
was Archibald Bulloch, issued an order to capture an
English vessel loaded with powder that had been sent over
to Savannah for the use of the Royalists. A Georgia
schooner, assisted by some barges from South Carolina, was
successful in attacking and capturing the vessel off Tybee
roads. Georgia's share of the powder was nine thousand
pounds, five thousand of which was sent to the Continental
Congress for the use of the revolutionists at the Xorth.
This Georgia Congress was the first one in America to
order the seizure of English property; and the Georgia
schooner was the first vessel commissioned to fight in the
Revolutionary war.
The first bold revolutionary act in Georgia was the im-
prisonment of Gov. Wright. Joseph Habersham, a "Lib-
erty Boy," and Major of the Georgia Battalion, volunteered
his services to make the arrest. He was only twenty-four
years old, but a man of remarkable decision of character,
and possessing moral as well as physical courage. With a
company, selected by himself, he went to the Governor's
house, where he was engaged in conference with his Coun-
cil. Leaving his companions, Major Habersham passed
the sentinel at the door, and, boldly entering the Gov-
ernor's presence, laid his hand upon his shoulder, saying:
"Sir James, you are my prisoner."
The members of the Council, thunderstruck at this dar-
ing act, and not knowing what force he had, or what might
happen, fled precipitately from the house and left the Gov-
ernor alone. Major Habersham allowed him to remain as
a prisoner in his own house on his solemn promise not to
leave it, or to hold any communication with the officers or
46
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
soldiers on the British ships then lying in Tybee roads. A
guard was placed around the mansion to prevent any com-
munication from outside.
Gov. Wright was intensely mortified at his situation, and
one night, a month after his arrest, found means to effect
his escape through a back door, and made his way to a
friend in Bonaventure, four miles from Savannah, where
a boat was waiting for him, by which he was taken to one
of the armed ships lying at the mouth of the Savannah
river. Not long afterwards he returned to England, and
kingly rule in Georgia came to an end.
In January, the Provincial Congress was again assem-
bled in Savannah. They elected five members to the Con-
tinental Congress then in session in Philadelphia, three of
whom served.
The famous Declaration of Independence, of July the
4th, 17 76, was signed on behalf of Georgia by three men
that the State has delighted to honor, Button Gwinnett,
Lyman Hall, and George Walton. Each one of these men
has his name given to a county, and thus has Georgia per-
petuated the remembrance of their services.
So slow was communication between the colonies, that it
was the second week in August before the news of what
had been done in Philadelphia on that memorable 4th of
July, reached Savannah, where is was hailed with wild de-
light.
The Declaration of Independence was read for the first
time in Georgia by Archibald Bulloch, the Governor, to
his Council, and then to a large audience at the Liberty
Pole. After the reading, the Georgia Battalion discharged
their field pieces and fired in platoons. Then the crowd
47
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
proceeded to the battery at the Trustees' gardens, where
the famous document was read for the third time, and the
cannon was fired.
Gov. Bulloch and other officials, with the militia, had a
grand dinner out of doors, under the shadow of the cedar
trees, and this was the toast they drank: "To the United
Free and Independent States of America."
At night the town was illuminated, and there was a
greater mass of people assembled than was ever before seen
on any occasion in Georgia. The "Liberty Boys" buried
the King in effigy. They had a solemn funeral procession,
attended by the military with muffled drums and fifes, and
laid him in a grave before the court-house, while one of
their number read the following service over him: "For
as much as George the third of Great Britain hath most fla-
grantly violated his Coronation Oath, and trampied upon
the Constitution of our country and the sacred rights of
mankind: we, therefore, commit his political existence to
the ground — corruption to corruption — tyranny to the
grave — and oppression to eternal infamy; in sure and cer-
tain hope that he will never obtain a resurrection to rule
again over these United States of America. But my
friends and fellow-citizens, let us not be sorry, as men with-
out hope, for Tyrants that thus depart — rather let us re-
member, America is free and independent; that she is, and
will be, with the blessing of the Almighty, great among
the nations of the earth. Let this encourage us in well-
doing, to fight for our rights and privileges, for our wives
and children, for all that is near and clear unto us. May
God give us His blessing and let all the people say, Amen I"
48
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
This was the most memorable day Georgia had seen
since the little colony was planted on Yamacraw Bluff.
Thus boldly did Georgia cast oft" the yoke of Great
Britain and bravely face a war with one of the mightiest
empires in Christendom.
Gov. Bulloch did not live to see the issue of the coming
struggle ; in less than a year he died. He had a fine figure,
and was one of the handsomest men in Georgia. It had
always been the custom to keep a sentinel at the Governor's
door, so when Archibald Bulloch was elected Chief Magis-
trate, Col. Lachlan Mcintosh, commander of the troops
in Savannah, ordered Mr. Belshazzer Shaffer, a prominent
Hebrew citizen, to be posted there as sentinel. Mr. Bulloch
requested him to be removed, saying: "I act for a free
people, in whom I have the most entire confidence, and I
wish to avoid, on all occasions, the appearance of ostenta-
tion." • .
The Salzburgers at Ebenezer, in these stirring times,
were true to their adopted country. They said : "We have
experienced the evils of tyranny in our native country; for
the sake of liberty, we have left home, lands, houses, es-
tates, and have taken refuge in the wilds of Georgia ; shall
we now, again, submit to bondage ? No ! we will not !"
During the war that followed, their, much-loved church
was converted into a stable by the British soldiers, though
sometimes, also, used as a hospital for their sick and
wounded.
When the war was over, the church was repaired, and
the Salzburgers again gathered for worship under its holy
roof.
4g 49
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
\Yhen it became plain to all men that war was inevi-
table, South Carolina sent a delegation to Georgia, pro-
posing that, as her population and resources were small,
Georgia had better place herself under her jurisdiction.
Brave little Georgia treated this suggestion with contempt.
Georgia, though the youngest and weakest of the colo-
nies, on all occasions acted a most generous part towards all
the others. Before the fighting began in Georgia, pro-
visions and money were frequently sent to the Xorth to be
used for the benefit of those whom the British had driven
from their homes. At one time, five hundred and seventy-
nine barrels of rice were sent to the poor in Boston.
It is impossible, in this small volume, to mention all the
heroes of 1776, so let it be a sacred duty of our youth to
read the larger histories of our beloved State, and thus
make themselves familiar with the actions of those gallant
men who stood by Georgia in the hour of her greatest need.
50
CHAPTER V.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Continued.)
During the war that followed the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, Georgia was almost immediately overrun by
British troops; and many of her principal citizens and their
families were often obliged to flee from home for their lives.
The British, by giving the Indians costly presents, en-
ticed many of them to fight under their flag. Then there
were citizens of Georgia who deserted the standard of free-
dom and joined the enemy; these were called Tories. Thus
Georgia had three foes to combat — the British, the Indians,
and the Tories. The patriots were called Whigs. In the
mother country, the two great political parties, at that time,
were the Whigs, who were opposed to allowing the King
absolute power, and the Tories, who were in favor of it:
these characteristic names were adopted by all the Ameri-
can colonies.
Besides all this war trouble, Georgia had to frame a con-
stitution which would define her rights as an independent
State. This was done in Savannah the 5th of February,
1777; and a law was made by which a governor, bearing
the title of Honorable, should be elected annually by the
people. Parishes were abolished and counties made, in-
stead. It has been a pleasant custom in naming the coun-
ties in Georgia, to remember the debt of gratitude which
the State owed to her famous sons, to those friends in
5L
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
England who espoused the cause of justice, humanity and
liberty, and to foreigners who assisted in the war for inde-
pendence.
Scarcely had Georgia assumed the position of an inde-
pendent State when the King's troops, assisted by some
Tories and Indians, made an incursion from Florida and
attacked Fort Mcintosh on the St. Ilia river. This post
was in command of Capt. Richard Winn, a young officer
who had distinguished himself in the defense of the Fort
on Sullivan's island in South Carolina. His garrison con-
sisted of only sixty men, and they gallantly repulsed the
enemy after a five-hours fight; then, unable to get re-
inforcements, they were, the next day, compelled to sur-
render, forcing the British commander to give them good
terms. They left two of their men with the enemy as
hostages; these two gentlemen were taken to St. Augus-
tine and confined in the castle there for nine months.
The news of the capture of Fort Mcintosh spread like
wildfire over the State, and men flocked to the standard of
Col. Mcintosh, who was already advancing to the Altamaha
river.
Gen.- Howe, at Charleston, who was in command of the
Continental troops of the Southern Department, was noti-
fied of the invasion of Georgia, and at once went to Sa-
vannah; but, before his strong detachment could be brought
into action, Col. Mcintosh had met the enemy; who, sur-
prised at this unexpected demonstration, abandoned the en-
terprise and retreated into the heart of Florida. It was not
expected that the British would so easily give up their de-
sign, and preparations were made to meet a second in-
52
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
vasion. A large proportion of the militia were ordered
into service, and a camp was formed at Midway Church.
Button Gwinnett, who was now governor of Georgia,
conceived the ambitious project of following the enemy into
Florida, both with the militia and continental troops, and
thus signalize his administration by a feat of arms. This
scheme, planned without due caution, failed entirely, and
was of no benefit to the State.
Not long after this, a very unfortunate affair occurred.
There had been enmitv for some time between Gov. Gwin-
nett and Lachlan Mcintosh, who was now a general, and it
resulted in a duel. They met near Savannah, fought with
pistols at the distance of twelve paces, and were both se-
riously wounded.
Gen. Mcintosh recovered, but Gov. Gwinnett died
twelve days after the combat. His death caused great ex-
citement, and, although Gen. Mcintosh was acquitted at
his trial, the friends of Gov. Gwinnett used every oppor-
tunity to hinder him in military service; he left his State
and offered himself to Gen. Washington, who at once as-
signed him to duty with the Continental army. Though
he rendered signal service in the common cause for nearly
two years, his heart was always with his own State and
people.
Col. Samuel Elbert was now put in command of the
troops in Georgia. Even thus early in the war, Georgia
was in a bad condition. The paper money, which for a
while was accepted at par, had depreciated in value, and
people did not like to take it in exchange for produce ; the
southern frontier was unguarded; the long seacoast was
without any proper defense ; all the forts erected under Gen.
Oglethorpe were in ruins, and provisions were so scarce
53
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
that Gov. Treutlen forbade the exportation of corn, rice,
Hour or anything that could be used as food for the support
of the soldiers.
The Continental Congress had done all that it could to
aid Georgia, by raising two battalions to serve in the State,
and by sending four galleys for the defense of the sea-
coast.
The Tories, with a cruelty that would have disgraced
savages, plundered, burnt and murdered in the sparsely
populated districts which could offer no resistance. They
had a safe hiding-place with the King's troops in Florida.
It was a favorite scheme of the Georgia authorities to
capture St. Augustine and thus remove a thorn from the
side of the State. A dream that was never realized.
In 1778 Great Britain sent three commissioners to Amer-
ica— the Earl of Carlisle, Sir TIenrv Clinton, and Mr.
William Eden — to treat with the Continental Congress,
and see if the present difficulties could not be arranged ; but
it was too late then for fair words, and nothing but absolute
freedom from the dominion of the mother country would
now satisfy the insulted colonies.
This year closed the active fighting by large armies in the
Northern and Middle States, and the scene shifted to the
South, where the principal fighting was done until the war
ended.
Early in the approaching winter, the British massed their
forces, hoping speedily to crush both South Carolina and
Georgia. They decided that our State should be invaded
from Florida by Gen. Augustine Prevost, and that Col.
Archibald Campbell should sail from New York with two
thousand men and a fleet, to attack Savannah, which was
54
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
guarded by Gen. Robert Howe with about nine hundred
Continental troops. Thus attacked both by land and sea,
it was confidently hoped that Georgia would be completely
subdued and glad to submit to the absolute rule of King
G eorge.
To prevent Gen. Howe at Savannah from suspecting
their plans, Gen. Prevost sent out two expeditions from St.
Augustine; one by sea, under command of Col. Fuser, to
attack Sunbury, and the other by land under Col. Prevost,
who was to inarch through the lower portions of Georgia,
laying waste the country as he went, and then join Col.
Fuser.
Col. Prevost set out on his expedition with one hundred
soldiers, and when he reached the Altamaha river was re-
inforced by the Tory, Col. McGirth, with a troop three
hundred strong, a part of whom were Indians. On their
' march they took as prisoner, every Whig who was found
on his plantation, and carried off every article of value on
which they could lay their hands.
At Bulltown swamp and North Newport Bridge (after-
wards called Riceborough Bridge), the patriots gathered
to dispute the advance of the Red Coats, but the resistance
made by hastily collected militia was too feeble to retard
the invading force.
In the meantime, Col. John White, with one hundred
men and two pieces of light artillery, was posted at Mid-
way Church, where he had constructed a slight breastwork
across the road, hoping to keep Col. Prevost in check until
reinforcements could arrive from Savannah.
A fleet messenger was sent to Col. Elbert to inform him
of the danger, and Maj. William Baker, with his mounted
55
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
militia, skirmished with the enemy at every possible point
that would impede his progress.
It was in a skirmish one mile and a half from the church
that Col. Scriven was severely wounded, and, falling into
the hands of the enemy, was killed in retaliation for the
murder of the royalist, Capt. Moore, in Florida.
Col. Scriven was renowned for his patriotism, and be-
loved for his virtues. Capt. Thomas Glascock, a gallant
young officer, was by his side when he fell, and very nar-
rowly escaped being captured.
Later on, in this same action, a cannon ball passed
through the neck of Col. Prevost's horse, and both horse
and rider fell to the ground. The commander of the ar-
tillery, thinking the British officer was killed, quickly ad-
vanced his two field pieces to take advantage of the con-
fusion that followed, and Maj. James Jackson, imagining
that the Bed Coats were retreating, shouted "victory!"
Col. Prevost was uninjured by his fall, and, speedily re-
mounting, collected his men and advanced with such force
that Col. White had to retreat.
The British did not advance more than six or seven miles
beyond Midway Church, for the Tory, Col. McGirth, who
well knew that part of the country, reconnoitering with a
strong party, discovered that Col. Fuser had not arrived
before Sunbury. This fact, and the knowledge that Col.
White and Col. Elbert had united their forces at Ogeechee
ferry and were prepared to dispute his further progress, de-
termined him to abandon his enterprise and return to St.
Augustine.
Much of the labor of throwing up the breastworks at the
ferry was done by Mr. Savage's negroes. The ties of in-
56
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
terest and affection between the negroes and their masters
had already grown into a strong bond, and, in many cases
that have never been made public, negroes rendered timely
aid to their masters' families in the hour of need.
Before Col. Prevost started on his return to Florida, he
burnt Midway Church and all the houses within his reach.
The entire region he traversed was marked by smok-
ing ruins, and the inhabitants were subjected to insults
and indignities. Everything that could be carried away —
plate, clothing and bedding — was stolen by the British sol-
diers and the Tories. Col. Elbert had sent Maj. John Hab-
ersham to propose to Col. Prevost some general arrange-
ment by which that region might be protected from pillage
and conflagration. The British officer refused to make
any terms for the security of the country, saying that the
inhabitants had voluntarily brought the trouble upon them-
selves by rebelling against their lawful sovereign.
The British showed unusual severity against Liberty
county, because its citizens had been so active in resisting
the oppressions of the mother country. They made im-
mense sacrifices for freedom, and endured every hardship
that can be imagined. Both the British and Tories robbed
their houses, destroyed their beds and clothing, and, worst
of all, burned down their venerated church (Midway),
broke open the tombs in the churchyard, and scattered their
contents to the winds. Is it any wonder that the citizens of
Liberty county were distinguished for their implacable ha-
tred to tyrants?
Their pastor, Rev. Moses Allen, chaplain to the Georgia
brigade, had exposed himself to the particular resentment
of the British, by his patriotic exhortations from the pulpit
57
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
and his animated exertions on the battle-field; on that ac-
count he was denied the privilege of a parole when he was
taken prisoner at the fall of Savannah. He was put on
board a prison ship, and, in trying to regain his libetry by
swimming to land, was drowned. His body was found by
his friends when it was washed ashore, and they asked the
captain of a British vessel to let them have some boards to
make a coffin, but such was the captain's vindictive spirit
that he refused, and their beloved pastor was denied the
right of common burial.
Thus was the patriotism of the people tried, but they
never faltered in the work thev had set themselves to do —
fight until they forced the British to recognize the inde-
pendence of Georgia.
f.s
CHAPTER VI.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Continued.)
Col. Prevost was retreating from Georgia, and beyond
reach of easy communication, when Col. Fuser, having
been detained by head winds, arrived in front of Sunbury.
The town was unprotected, except by the small garrison
that held Fort Morris, the most important fortification con-
structed by the State during the war. The Fort was in
command of Col. John Mcintosh, with one hundred and
twenty-seven continental troops, and some militia and citi-
zens from the town, all numbering less than two hundred.
The enemy had five hundred men with battering cannon,
light artillery and mortars.
Col. Fuser at once demanded the surrender of the Fort.
Col Mcintosh returned the memorable answer : "Come and
take it!"
At this time, there were four different armies threaten-
ing our State: one from New York, under the command
of Col. Archibald Campbell ; one from Florida, under Col.
Prevost; one under .Gen. Augustine Prevost, which had
not yet taken the field, and the one under Col. Fuser, who,
instead of attacking Sunbury, hesitated and waited for news
of the movements of Col. Prevost.
59
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
To all the threats of the enemy to bring destruction upon,
the country, Col. Mcintosh boldly answered: "We have-
no property, compared with the object we contend for, that
we value a rush." And when it was threatened that a
house should be burned for every shot fired from the Fort,
his answer was that he would apply the torch to his end of
the town, whenever Col. Fuser fired it on the other side,
"and let the flames meet in mutual conflagration." For
his cool bravery on this occasion, the Legislature voted him
a sword with the words, "Come and take it!" engraved
upon it.
When Col. Fuser learned that Col. Prevost was too far
off to render him any assistance, surprised and chagrined r
he raised the siege, retreated from Sunbury and went to
Frederica, having received instructions to thoroughly re-
pair the military works at that point.
As soon as possible, Gen. Howe collected his forces and
marched to Sunbury, which he found in a very defenseless
condition, and owing its safety entirely to the spirited con-
duct of the troops in the Fort.
The ruins of the old Fort can still be seen at Sunbury.
Gen. Howe memorialized Congress upon the danger that
threatened the Georgia coast, and upon the lack of men
and ammunition ; but he did little more for our State, as he
was deficient in the ability necessary to best utilize the
limited resources at hand. It was decided, finally, that all
available forces should be concentrated at Purrysburg, a
town some miles above Savannah, on the Carolina side of
the river, so that they could advance to the relief of any
threatened point.
60
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Col. Owen Roberts, with his artillery, was hastily sent
to Savannah, which was in an unprotected condition, with
its land approaches entirely open to the enemy. At its
eastern extremity there was a battery with a few mounted
guns, which, however, only bore upon the river.
Early in December, 1778, the alarming news reached
Georgia that Col. Campbell, with his fleet, and Gen. Au-
gustine Prevost, with all their forces, were on their way to
attack Savannah and overrun the State. Gen. Howe was
at once notified, the militia hastily summoned to the field,
and all the public records packed and moved to a place of
safety.
The report was only too true, and the first vessels belong-
ing to the British fleet soon made their appearance at Tybee.
The squadron was commanded by Commodore Sir Hyde
Parker. Preparatory to their attack on Savannah, a por-
tion of the British landed at Brewton's Hill, less than two
miles from the city.
On the morning of the 29th of December, when Col. El-
bert, who had command of the Georgia brigade, discovered
the enemy in the act of landing there, he called the atten-
tion of Gen. Howe to the importance of the position, of-
fering , as he had an intimate acquaintance with the locality,
to take his command and prevent the British from getting
possession. Gen. Howe committed the fatal blunder of re-
jecting this offer.
It was the best position for defense in the whole neigh-
borhood; a regiment posted there, with a few pieces of ar-
tillery could easily have destroyed an advancing enemy.
It was the key to Savannah, and when Col. Campbell ef-
Jected a lodgment there the fate of the city was sealed.
61
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Gen. Howe formed his line of battle across the road lead-
ing from Brewton's Hill and Thunderbolt to Savannah;
his strength was only six or seven hundred men, some of
them very raw troops. He waited there for the approach
of the British, who were two or three thousand strong, led
by Col. Campbell, a brave aud experienced officer.
Col. George Walton, who led about one hundred Geor-
gia militia in this fight, warned Gen. Howe that there was
a private path through the swamp on their left, by means of
which the enemy could gain their rear, and urged him to
have it properly guarded ; but he neglected this warning as
he had that of Col. Elbert.
Col. Campbell, more alert, heard from an old negro of
the private way, and for a small reward had his troops con-
ducted through the swamp, surprised Gen. Howe's army
by attacking it both in the front and rear, and making a
vigorous charge all along his line. The little Georgia army
soon gave way, and Gen. Howe ordered a retreat which was
made in great confusion.
As soon as Commodore Parker perceived this success of
the British, he moved his small armed-vessels up to Savan-
nah, captured the shipping at the wharves, and cut the town
off from all communication with South Carolina. Gen.
Howe did not stop in his retreat, until he crossed the river,
thus leaving Georgia without any continental troops, and
at the mercy of the British.
In this engagement, so disastrous to the patriots, the
British loss was only one captain and two privates killed,
and one sergeant and nine privates wounded.
When Savannah was taken, many brutal outrages were
committed by the British officers and privates. Some of
62
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
the citizens who were not in the engagement at Brewton's
Hill were bayoneted in the streets, and those who refused
to enlist in the King's service were placed on prison-ships,
where their sufferings were terrible.
Among the victims consigned by British vengeance to
a horrible confinement, was the venerable Jonathan Bryan,
now bending beneath the weight of years and infirmities.
When his daughter entreated Commodore Parker to miti-
gate his sufferings, she was dismissed with vulgar rudeness
and contempt. The venerable patriot was finally ex-
changed, and afterwards, although eighty years old, fought
under Gen. Wayne.
A prominent Hebrew patriot, Mr. Sheftall, was impris-
oned in a guard-house in company with drunken soldiers
and negroes, without a morsel of food for two days, and was
then transferred to a prison-ship. Two Hebrew ladies,
Mrs. Judy Minis and her mother, were such outspoken
Whigs that they were confined to their home, and finally
ordered to leave the town.
A colony of this ancient race had settled in Savannah a
few months after it was founded, coming over in the second
ship that left England for Georgia, and bringing with them
the sacred books of the Law, which are still used in the syn-
agogue at Savannah. They were devoted and patriotic
citizens, and always stood gallantly by their adopted coun-
try in her hour of need. Their wanderings and persecu-
tions before they reached this haven of safety, add another
chapter to the romance with which the first settlement of
our State is invested. An illustration of this is the
c>3
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
HISTORY OF THE NUNEZ FAMILY.
Dr. Samuel Xunez belonged to a distinguished family in
Lisbon, was a physician of eminence, and had an extensive
practice, even during the period when the Hebrews of that
city were under the surveillance of the Inquisition. Jeal-
ousy and rivalry caused him to be denounced before that
dreaded tribunal, as a result of which he and his familv
were arrested as heretics and thrown into the dungeons.
At that time, the Hebrews were not permitted openly to
engage in their religious rites. They had no synagogues or
places of public worship, but assembled for devotional pur-
poses at the houses of each other. Their prayer books were
concealed in the seats of chairs, which opened by springs.
It had been long observed that these families never ven-
tured abroad on Friday evenings, as that was the prepara-
tion time for their Sabbath; suspicions were thus awakened
as to their real faith, though, for form's sake, they all at-
tended mass. The familiars of the Inquisition, who were
usually spies, were set to work to discover the nature of
their Saturday gatherings. Detecting them at worship,
they were all thrown into prison and their prayerbooks
seized.
Dr. Xunez was a most popular man, and physician to the
Grand Inquisitor, who did all in his power to alleviate the
sufferings of the Xunez family; but one member of it —
Abby De Lyon, who died in Savannah — carried to her
grave the marks of the ropes on her wrists when put to the
question.
They remained in prison for some time, but, as the medi-
cal services of Dr. Xunez were very much in demand in
64
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Lisbon, the Ecclesiastical Council, under the advice of the
Grand Inquisitor, agreed to set his entire household at lib-
erty, on condition that two officials of the Inquisition should
reside constantly in the family, to guard against their again
relapsing into Judaism.
The doctor had a large and elegant mansion on the banks
of the Tagus. Being a man of considerable fortune, he
often entertained the principal families of Lisbon. On a
pleasant summer day, he invited a party to dinner, and
among the guests was the captain of an English brigantine
which was anchored at some distance down the river.
While amusing themselves on the lawn, the captain invited
the family and a few guests to go with him on board his
vessel and partake of luncheon. The spies of the Inquisi-
tion were among the guests who accompanied them, and
while all were below in the cabin, enjoying the hospitality
of the captain, anchor was weighed and the sails xmfurled.
There being a fair wind, the brigantine shot out of the
Tagus, was soon at sea, and carried the entire party to Eng-
land.
It had previously been arranged, and the captain had
agreed, for a thousand moidores in gold, to convey the fam-
ily to England. To avoid detection, they were under the
painful necessity of adopting this plan of escape. The
ladies had concealed all their diamonds and other jewels, by
quilting them in their dresses. The doctor had changed
all his securities into gold, which was distributed among the
gentlemen of the family and secured in leather belts about
their persons. His house, plate, furniture, servants, equi-
page, and even the dinner cooked for the occasion, were all
5g 65
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
left; these were subsequently seized by the Inquisition and
confiscated to the state.
On the arrival of Dr. Nunez and family in London, the
settlement of Georgia and the fine climate and soil of the
country were subjects of much discussion. The ship, upon
which Gov. Oglethorpe was returning to his new settlement,
was about to sail. The doctor and his family, not one of
whom could speak the English language, embarked as pas-
sengers.
From this famous family has sprung a long list of highly
respectable descendants — in Savannah, Charleston, Phila-
delphia and Xew York — who to this day are rigid in their
attachment to the doctrines of their faith.
Col. Campbell, leaving Col. Innes in command at Savan-
nah, followed up his advantage vigorously. By January,
1779, for a distance of fifty miles above the city, there was
found no one to oppose him, though he was without artil-
lery, horses, or a provision train. King George's troops
occupied every important point, and strenuous efforts were
made to awe the region into submission. In the meantime,
Gen. Howe had been removed, and Gen. Benjamin Lincoln
given the command of the Southern Department, with
headquarters at Purrysburg.
All that part of our State that was in the hands of the
British suffered frightfully. ISTo mercy was shown to the
families of those who were fighting for independence.
Hundreds of women, children and negroes were fleeing
from Georgia, they knew not where; their only aim was to
escape from the terrible "Red Coats."
66
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Gen. Prevost, marching up from Florida, had almost im*
mediately taken Sunbury. He changed the name of the
fort from Morris to Fort George, for the King. Then
he went directly to Savannah, where he assumed the com-
mand of all the King's forces in Georgia.
Gen. Lincoln's army was so weak and undisciplined that
he could only act on the defensive, and try to prevent the
enemy crossing into Carolina. Augusta, alone of all the
military posts in our State, had not yet submitted to the
King.
In this condition of affairs, about the middle of the
month, Col. Campbell, with one thousand men, set out to
capture that town. The Georgians, in small companies of
mounted men, at several points made a stand against the
enemy, and slightly impeded their progress.
In one of these skirmishes, at Burke Jail, Capt. Joshua
Inman, commanding a company of cavalry, with his own
hand killed three of the enemy; the famous Tory leader,
McGirth, was wounded in this same engagement.
When the British appeared before Augusta, the Georgia
forces gave the town up without a struggle, knowing that
a fight would involve a useless secrifice of life, and retreated
across the river. Col. Campbell tarried there but a few
days, leaving a Tory, Col. Brown, in command, while he
marched towards Wilkes county to overawe the inhabi-
tants.
Thus, in a short time, our State was completely in the
possession of the British, and severe penalties were inflicted
on all who refused to take the oath of allegiance to King
George.
67
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
As soon as it was known in Wilkes county that Augusta
was taken, every man who was able to get away hastily col-
lected his household effects and cattle, and fled with his
family to Carolina. Those who could not refugee placed
their wives, children and negroes in the forts that had been
built as a protection against the Indians, and associated to-
gether for mutual protection. Col. John Dooly was their
leader, while the British, under Col. Hamilton, watched
their movements. Skirmishes occurred at Carr's Fort,.
Cherokee Ford, and Long Cane, in all of which engage-
ments the Tories were commanded bv Col. Boyd.
Very soon after this the deep despondency of the Whigs
was brightened by a great victory, which was brought about
in this way :
Col. Boyd, who was in South Carolina with his Tory regi-
ment, was ordered to join the British army near Savannah ;
for this purpose he crossed over into Georgia, intending to
visit Augusta on his way. This design was frustrated, be-
cause he was confronted by Col. Elijah Clarke and Col.
Pickens, who respectively commanded the Georgia and
Carolina militia. They joined battle on the 14th of Febru-
ary, on Kettle Creek, in "Wilkes county. On this occasion
Col. Dooly, with great patriotism, gave the command of all
the forces to Col. Pickens of South Carolina, who divided
them into three divisions, with Dooly commanding the right
wing, Clarke the left wing, and himself the center. He
enforced strict orders against a shot being fired until they
were within thirty-five paces of the foe.
This little army of patriots found Col. Boyd unconscious
of any danger. His horses were turned out to forage
among the reeds in the swamp, while his men, who had
68
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
been on short rations for three days, were cooking t^ieir
breakfast — some of them parching corn, and others prepar-
ing the beeves that they had killed.
The "Whigs attacked them in this unguarded condition,
and after close fighting for an hour, drove them through
the cane-brake and over the creek. The Tories fought with
great desperation, and left many dead and wounded on the
field. Col. Bovd, a brave and active Irishman, was mor-
tally wounded early in the engagement, which was an irrep-
arable loss to the British.
On the opposite side of the creek, there was a piece of
rising ground just in the rear of the Tories, and Col. Clarke
— with his usual foresight, perceiving that the enemy would
try to make a stand upon it — succeeded in gaining its sum-
mit, and beating back his foes after some severe fighting.
His horse wras killed under him, but he quickly mounted
another, and rushed again into the fight.
The forces of Pickens and Dooly also pressed through
the swamp, though it was with great difficulty. However,
the victory was complete, and the enemy routed at all
points, leaving seventy of their men either killed or
wounded on the field, and seventy-five were taken prisoners.
Many horses were 'captured, and a large quantity of arms,
equipments and clothing obtained, making a great accession
to the scanty stores of the patriots. In this battle, Stephen
Heard, one of the most active of the Georgia officers in this
war, performed a distinguished part. He not only encour-
aged the Whigs by his patriotic speeches, but did his share
of the fighting.
The patriots numbered four hundred and twenty men,
and the Tories about seven hundred, of whom not more than
69
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
three hundred ever reached Col. Campbell at Augusta.
This victory was far more important than the numbers en-
gaged would indicate. It broke up the bands of Tories in
North Carolina, who so often made raids into Georgia, and
they never assembled again, except in small parties or
under the immediate protection of the British. The battle
of Kettle Creek decided their fate.
When the fighting was over, Col. Pickens extended to
Col. Boyd every courtesy in his power, detailing two men
to furnish him with water, and bury him when he died;
which melancholy event happened early in the night. He,
also, took charge of certain valuable articles which the dy-
ing officer had upon his person, promising to send them to
his wife and to write her an account of his last moments;
this promise the gallant Pickens faithfully fulfilled.
The prisoners taken in the battle of Kettle Creek were
carried to South Carolina, tried, found guilty of treason,
and condemned to death; but onlv rive of the most notorious
were executed, the rest being pardoned.
On the spot where the town of Washington is now
located, at this time stood Fort Heard. A party of Vir-
ginia emigrants, under the leadership of Stephen Heard,
had settled this neighborhood in 1774, and built the fort to
protect themselves against being surprised by the Indians,
and near it the Georgia army encamped after this engage-
ment.
Amid the general gloom which now encompassed our
State, the victory at Kettle Creek shone like a star of hope,
dissipating despair and enkindling confidence in the hearts
of the Whigs.
70
CHAPTER VII.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Continued.)
After the victory of Kettle Creek, many of the citizens
of Wilkes county, who had gone to South Carolina for
safety, returned to their homes, with their families and
property; but it was not long before they became much
alarmed by the approach of a body of Indians, and to Col.
Clarke was committed the trying duty of remaining on the
frontier to °;uard the forts.
Both the British and the Tories continued their cruelties
whenever opportunity offered. Col. Clarke's house was
pillaged and burned, and his family ordered to leave the
State. Mrs. Clarke and her two daughters left home with
no means of conveyance except a small pony, and even this
was taken from them after they had proceeded but a short
distance on their journey. These indignities did not in the
least intimidate Col. Clarke, but only nerved him to re-
newed action.
Skirmishes with the enemy continued to be frequent,
and, though only partial in their results, showed that the
love of freedom and a spirit of resistance were still abroad
'in the land.
About rhis time, Col. John Twiggs, with the militia of
Richmond county, passing in the rear of the British — who
were occupying Augusta — surprised one of their outposts
71
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
at Herbert's, where seventy men wore stationed. The
patriots killed and wounded several of the enemy, and com-
pelled the rest to surrender unconditionally. Xot long
after this, Col. Campbell determined to evacuate Augusta,
as the Tories in upper Georgia had been so completely
routed, and the Whigs were every day becoming stronger in
numbers.
He commenced his retreat late in February and joined
Col. Prevost at Hudson's ferrv, on the Savannah river, hav-
ino' been annovod the entire distance by small bands of
patriots who hung upon his flank and rear. His decision to
abandon Augusta was so suddenly made and so quickly
put into execution, that he did not pause to destroy the
quantity of provisions which had accumulated there.
After the British departed, Gen. Ashe, of .North Caro-
lina, with some twenty-three hundred men, crossed the river
at that point, and pursued them as far as Brier creek, where
he halted and encamped in the angle formed by the conflu-
ence of the creek and the Savannah river.
All this time, Gen. Lincoln was still at Purrysburg,
where he had gathered about him some three or four thou-
sand troops. Gen. Rutherford, with about eight hundred
men, was encamped at Williamson's House at Black
Swamp, and Gen. Williamson, with his division of twelve
hundred men, was holding Augusta.
Thus, finding himself in command of nearly six thousand
men, Gen. Lincoln resolved to stand no longer on the de-
fensive, but either expel the British from Georgia, or con-
fine them within narrow limits on the seacoast.
So he called a council of war, composed of all his gen-
erals. It was decided that all the troops, except a guard
72
REVOLUTION AKY PERIOD.
at Purrysburg to watch the movements of - the enemy.
should be rapidly concentrated at the position then occupied
by Gen. Ashe, with a view to marching onward and recov-
ering Georgia.
In the council of war, Gen. Ashe stated that his camp on
Brier creek was perfectly secure; that the British were
afraid of him, thinking his numbers greater than they
were, and that all lie required to give battle to the enemy
was a detachment of artillery with one or two field pieces.
Gen. Lincoln immediately ordered this assistance to be sent
to his camp. Unfortunately, Col. Campbell, becoming
aware of Gen. Lincoln's design of aggressive warfare, deter-
mined to frustrate his plans by a rapid blow, and, as a first
step in that direction, to dislodge Gen. Ashe.
For this purpose he sent Maj. McPherson towards Brier
creek bridge, to deceive Gen. Ashe by a feint and mask the
main movement, which Col. Prevost was to conduct in per-
son. That officer, with nine hundred men, made a detour
of between forty and fifty miles, crossed the creek above
the point occupied by Gen. Ashe, and had actually gained
the rear of his army before the alarm was given. So~hadly
prepared were the Whigs for this attack, that when a cou-
rier brought the tidings of the near approach of the British,
and they formed in line of battle, the militia were without
ammunition, and had to be supplied at that late hour.
They were miserably armed — some of them had rifles, some
shotguns, a few had muskets, and many of them had no
weapons at all.
At three o'clock in the afternoon of March 3d the battle
began. Gen. Ashe had reduced the number of his army
73
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
so much, by sending detachments to do duty at other points,,
or to perform some special service, that he had not more-
than eight hundred men in this fight.
The center and right wing of this small force did not
stand the shock of Col. Prevost's artillery for five minutes-
after they were attacked, but broke and fled in confusion.
The left wing alone, under Col. Elbert, remained facing
the enemy, and they fought so stubbornly that Col. Prevost
had to order up his reserves to support his right wing, which
was opposed to this gallant body of men. The enemy
greatly outnumbered him, but Col. Elbert prolonged the
fight until nearly every man in his command was either
killed, wounded, or captured. The fleeing Whigs took
refuge in the deep swamp bordering on the Savannah river,
and Sir James Baird, who was pursuing them with his light
infantry, cried out : "Every man of you that takes a pris-
oner shall lose his ration of rum." This was the reason that
so many of the militia were so cruelly bayoneted in that
fatal swamp by the exultant British soldiery. Only those
who were good swimmers escaped to the Carolina shore;
many were drowned in making the attempt.
The demoralization of Gen. Ashe's army was complete.
He lost one hundred and fifty men, either killed in battle
or drowned; twenty-seven officers, with one hundred and
sixty-two non-commissioned officers and privates were taken
prisoners. Their loss of arms was almost total — a very seri-
ous blow at this time, as they could not be replaced.
Strange to tell, the British had only five privates killed,,
with one officer and ten privates wounded.
The only ray of light that shone through the darkness of
this sad defeat was shed by the bravery of Col. Elbert and
74
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
his command. He fought until he was struck down, and
he was on the point of being killed by a soldier Avith uplifted
bayonet, when he made the masonic sign of distress. An
officer noticed it, responded instantly, stayed the soldier's
arm, and saved Col. Elbert's life. As a prisoner on parole,
in the British camp, he was treated with great respect and
kindness. Honor and reward were promised him if he
would join the British, but all such offers were promptly
rejected.
Col. Mcintosh, the hero of Fort Morris, had stood his
ground with Col. Elbert until nearly every man was killed,
and then he was captured. As he was surrendering his
sword, a British officer tried to kill him; and he was only
saved by the timely interference of his kinsman, Sir .Eneas
Mcintosh, of the British army.
Another distinguished prisoner, taken after a gallant
defense, was Col. Francis Harris. He was a native Geor-
gian, his father having settled here soon after the colony
was planted. When a mere lad he was sent to England to
be educated. He was in college when the disturbances
began between Great Britain and the colonies, and such was
his devotion to his country that he refused to remain in
England, and arrived in Georgia just in time to be among
the first to take up arms against the mother country.
The Continental Congress at once gave him a captain's
commission, and in a short time promoted him to the com-
mand of a battalion. When Charleston was besieged by
Gen. Prevost, he went to its relief, commanding a detach-
ment of Continental troops. He, with other Georgians,
was conspicuous at the battles of Camden and Eutaw, in
South Carolina.
75
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Gen. Ashe was so much censured for his imprudence and
incompetency at the battle of Brier Creek, that a court of
inquiry, composed of Gen. Lincoln and the generals in his
army, was held at Purrysburg, and he was ordered to ap-
pear before it, to answer for his conduct on that occasion.
After investigating the matter thoroughly, the opinion of
the court was, that Gen. Ashe was not lacking in personal
courage, and that he remained on the field as long as pru-
dence and duty required. Many Georgians did not approve
this verdict.
By the defeat at Brier creek, the subjugation of Georgia
below Augusta was made complete, for the time being.
Gen. Prevost thought himself firmly settled in the State, as
Gen. Lincoln, staggered by the recent blow, was in no con-
dition to dislodge him.
To increase the evil plight of our State, the Creeks and
Cherokees, stirred up by British emissaries, exhibited .a
threatening attitude. The outlook for Georgia was dark —
her only hope, the stout hearts of her liberty-loving sons.
About this time an exchange of prisoners was effected,
and the returning Georgians were in a wretched condition.
They were so emaciated from starvation that they could
not without assistance leave the boats in which they
were brought from the prison-ships.
Those prison-ships were filthy, floating dungeons, in which
the chief articles of food were spoiled oatmeal and con-
demned pork. Is it surprising that five or six prisoners
died daily ? And when they died their bodies were taken
to the nearest marsh and trodden in the mud, from which
the tide would wash them; "at low water the prisoners on
the ships beheld the carrion crows picking the bones of their
7(1
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
departed companions. " Gen. Lincoln earnestly protested
against this inhuman treatment, but both Gen. Prevost and
Commodore Parker were deaf to the voice of justice and
mercy.
In April, Gen. Lincoln resolved to make another effort
to drive the British from Georgia; in a council of war, it
was decided that he should cross the Savannah river, at a
point near Augusta, and endeavor to occupy some strong
position, in order to keep the enemy from receiving supplies
from the back country, and to prevent their forming a coali-
tion with the Indians.
With this purpose in view he had succeeded in establish-
ing himself at Silver Bluff, when he had to abandon his en-
terprise and hasten back to Carolina to oppose Gen. Prevost,
who appeared before Charleston on the 11th day of May.
On the approach of Gen. Lincoln, Gen. Prevost raised the
siege of Charleston and retired.
While Gen. Lincoln was defending Carolina against the
enemy, Col. Dooly and Col. Clarke, with watchful eyes
and tireless arms, were protecting the frontiers of Georgia
against hostile Indians and treacherous Tories. Col. Clarke
was the great partisan leader in our State; when the con-
tinental troops were forced to leave Georgia and South
Carolina, he alone kept the field, and his name spread
terror through the British posts, from the Catawba river in
Carolina to the Creek nation. He was ably assisted by
Col. Twiggs, Col. Few, and Col. Jones, who hung about
the outposts of the enemy, attacking them at every oppor-
tunity, and cutting off their supplies, thus encouraging
their compatriots by keeping alive in their hearts a hope of
deliverance.
77
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Towards the last of June, Col. Twiggs had halted with
his seventy men at the plantation of Mr. James Butler, on
the Great Ogeechee river, in Liberty county, when he re-
ceived information that the British Capt. Muller, with
forty mounted grenadiers, was advancing to attack him.
Col. Twiggs and his spirited little band fought so well
that in a very short time the British were totally overcome,
with the loss of their commanding officer and several others
killed, and the rest captured : not one escaped.
When the news of this brilliant affair reached Savannah
it produced a great sensation among the British officers, one
of whom said, if an angel were to tell him that Capt.
Muller — who had served twenty-one years in the King's
Guards — with his detachment, had been defeated by an
equal number of rebels, he would disbelieve it.
About the same time, at the White House near Sunbury,
Maj. Baker defeated a party of Tories, led by Capt. Gold-
smith. Among the enemy's killed was Lieut. Gray, whose
head was almost severed from his body by a saber cut from
the celebrated Robert Sallette. This man was a roving
character, belonging to no particular command, but fight-
ing zealously in his own way. The Tories stood in great
dread of him, and well they might, for they never had a
more implacable foe.
On one occasion, taking with him a bag in which he had
placed a pumpkin, he appeared before a wealthy Tory who
had offered one hundred guineas for Sallette's head. He
boldly claimed the reward, saying he had the head and
would give it up, provided the money was first counted out
to him. The Tory eagerly handed him the money, when
our hero pulled off his hat, and placing his hand on his
head, said:
78
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
"Here is Sallette's head."
This so frightened the Tory that he instantly took to his
heels, but a well directed shot from Sallette's gun brought
him to the ground.
Sallette's motto was : "Never forgive a Tory." If one
was ever liberated from captivity, he would follow him,
and, if possible, take his life. Often, during a battle, he
would leave the command with which he was fighting, get
into the rear of the enemy, and kill many before he was dis-
covered.
Once he dressed himself in British uniform, and dined
with a party of the enemy. While they were merrily drink-
ing toasts, he suddenly drew his sword, killed a man on
either side of him, sprang upon his horse without taking
time to throw the bridle over his neck, and rode off amidst
the lire of his pursuers.
During this same summer, Col. Twiggs, anxious to chas-
tise the notorious McGirth and his party of marauders —
who were pillaging the property, of the Whigs — went in
pursuit of them. Overtaking them on Buckhead creek, he
fought them so stoutly that, within fifteen minutes, they
were put to flight, leaving several killed and wounded.
McGirth was shot through the thigh, but, unhappily for
the cause of humanity, escaped by the fleetness of his horse
into a neighboring swamp.
It was by such partisan exploits as these that the British
and Tories were held in check and the drooping spirits of
the oppressed Georgians from time to time revived.
79
CHAPTER VIII.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Continued.)
When Sir James Wright fled from Savannah, in March,
1776, taking refuge on the King's ship Scarborough — then
lying at Tybee roads — all the other royal officers were so
filled with dismay that one by one, as opportunity offered,
they left Georgia. Most of them returned to England, but
a few refugeed to St. Augustine, and a few espoused the
cause of freedom.
From that time until the British captured Savannah, in
December, 1778, King George had no authority in our
State; but, when our capital fell, and all southern Georgia
was overrun, the King appointed Col. Prevost military
governor.
He only held the office for a few months, for, in July of
the next year, Sir James Wright was sent back to Georgia
and supplanted him.
Sir James fondly hoped to restore the allegiance of the
province to King George. He was to be woefully disap-
pointed in this expectation ; neither did he find the Indians,
who had been an immense expense to the Crown, so warmly
attached to the royal cause as he had expected.
During the lull which preceded the gathering storm that
was soon to shake Savannah to its foundations, Sir James,
80
EEVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
residing there, and supported by the King's army, was en-
deavoring to re-create the royal government and to lead
back the people of southern Georgia to British rule.
At Augusta, the patriotic Georgians who were members
of the Supreme Executive Council, invested with absolute
power, were trying to perpetuate the sovereignty of a re-
publican State just born into the sisterhood of nations, and
to arm, feed, and clothe a patriot band — few in numbers,
yet brave of heart — fighting for home and property and
liberty. Their treasury was empty, and all sorts of expe-
dients were resorted to in order that the troops might be
supplied with the necessaries of life. Often the confiscated
property of royalists was used for this purpose.
In the midst of this distressing poverty, the official con-
duct of the Council showed no act of injustice, peculation
or despotism — a wonderful tribute to the individual worth
of each member, and to the purity, the patriotism, the honor
and the virtue of the period.
The Council kept an intelligent observation over the
whole State, and the dearest wish of their hearts was its re-
demption from the British. To further this end, they sent
a lengthy communication to Gen. Lincoln, on the condition
of affairs, and memorialized the Governor of South Carolina
to assist them with men and money to retain possession of
upper Georgia. These and similar appeals were not made
in vain, and the efforts of the Council had much to do with
bringing about a co-operation between the French army,
under Count D'Estaing, and the republican forces, under
Gen. Lincoln, for the recovery of Savannah.
By this time Gen. Lachlan Mcintosh was back in Geor-
gia, with the esteem and confidence of Gen. Washington
6g 81
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
publicly expressed. He now became second to Gen. Lin-
coln in command, and the leader of the forces concentrated
for the protection of the upper portions of our State.
When the Continental Congress signed the treaty of com-
merce and alliance with Louis XVI., all Frenchmen were
welcomed here as the best friends of America, and the King
of France was proclaimed "the protector of the rights of
mankind." With so powerful an ally, the Colonies no
longer regarded their independence as doubtful. Count
D'Estaing, who was an admiral, had been immediately sent
to their aid with twelve ships of the line, and three frigates.
For more than a year he had been harassing the British, so
he was now asked to co-operate with the American forces
in their efforts to capture Savannah. He readily gave his
consent, and entered most heartily into the scheme, as it co-
incided with the instructions he had received from his gov-
ernment.
Gen. Lincoln, making a strenuous effort to collect a large
army, ordered the militia of South Carolina and Georgia to
take the field and march to Savannah to join his continental
troops. Arms and ammunition were so scarce in the west-
ern parts of these two States, that the soldiers had to be
furnished from the arsenals and magazines of South Caro-
lina. Gen. Mcintosh took charge of the arms and carried
them to Augusta to be distributed.
The noble Pole, Count Pulaski, who was the commander
of a corps called Pulaski's Legion, having been ordered to
the Southern Department some months before, had distin-
guished himself at Charleston. Afterwards, he was posted
on the ridge fifty miles northeast of Augusta, for the con-
venience of obtaining forage and provisions, and to be with-
82
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
in easy march of either Charleston or Augusta, as occasion
might require. lie and his cavalry were now ordered to
join Gen. Mcintosh at Augusta, the two commands to
march to Savannah in advance of Gen. Lincoln, attack the
British outposts, and open a communication with the
French troops upon the seashore. Count D'Estaing, with
his fleet increased to twenty ships of the line, two fifty-gun
ships, eleven frigates, live small-armed vessels, and five
thousand French soldiers, appeared off Tybee, September
3d, and on the evening of the next day disappeared.
It was not until the 7th that Gen. Prevost became con-
vinced that Savannah, and not Charleston, Avas their desti-
nation. He immediately concentrated his forces for the
defense of the town, by withdrawing Col. Cruger and his
detachment from Sunbury, recalling his troops from out-
lying posts, and ordering Col. Maitland, at Beaufort, South
Carolina, to join him at once. At this time Savannah
could boast of not more than four hundred and thirty
houses, most of which were built of wood. It was also
badly fortified, but Gen. Prevost now bent every energy
to repairing that evil. He kept twelve hundred men con-
stantly employed, until the fortifications were put in better
shape; then the war vessels in the river were stripped of
their batteries to arm the earthworks that had been con-
structed. Besides these guns in fixed positions, field-pieces
were distributed at intervals, and ships sunk — both above
and below the town — to block up the channel and prevent
the near approach of the French vessels. So rapidly did
the British work, that in two weeks they had raised around
the town thirteen substantial redoubts and fifteen gun-
83
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
batteries, mounting eighty pieces of cannon. So, before
the French and Americans opened fire from their trenches,
the British were ready for the attack.
In the meantime, the allies had not been idle; Count
D'Estaing had landed twelve hundred men — selected from
various regiments — about twelve miles from Savannah, at
Beaulieu, formerly the beautiful home of the colonial gov-
ernor, William Stephens. There he was joined in the
midst of a heavy rain, by Count Pulaski, who had been
skirmishing with the British outposts. The two distin-
guished foreigners "cordially embraced, and expressed mu-
tual happiness at the meeting." The French admiral then
announced that, without waiting for Gen. Lincoln, he in-
tended to move at once upon Savannah, and that he counted
on Pulaski's Legion to form his van.
In pursuance of this plan, on the 16th of September,
Count D'Estaing sent a summons to Gen. Prevost to sur-
render Savannah to the King of France. A correspond-
ence followed the summons, and it was, at length, decided
that hostilities should be suspended for twenty-four hours.
Intelligent British officers who were present at the time,
admitted, when the siege was over, that the French army
alone could have taken Savannah in ten minutes, without
the aid of artillery, had the town been attacked at that mo-
ment. But the fatal delay of Count D'Estaing gave Col.
Maitland time to reach Savannah with his eight hundred
men. Arriving at Dawfuski in the evening on the very day
of the truce, he found the river in possession of the
French, and his further progress checked. While thus em-
barrassed, chance threw in his way a negro fisherman who
was familiar with the creeks permeating the marshes, and
84
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
who told him of a way to reach the town without passing
under the fire of the fleet. So, the negro acting as pilot,
with a favoring tide and a dense fog, the British vessels
passed through the narroAV channel known as Wall's Cut,
into the river, above the French fleet. When this brave
and experienced officer reached Savannah, a complete
change was effected in the disheartened garrison, and they
gave three cheers which rang from one end of the town to
the other.
The British officers at once held a council of war and
Sir James Wright cast the vote which decided that the
town should be held, and hostilities resumed as soon as the
armistice was ended.
During the 12th and 13th Gen. Lincoln's command was
slowly crossing the river at Zubly's Ferry. Boats were
very scarce, as the British had secured or destroyed most of
them. Gen. Mcintosh joined him at once, and soon the
two united commands were encamped at Cherokee Hill,
eight miles from the town.
As the original plan of attack had been frustrated by
Count D'Estaing's ambition for the triumph of French
arms without any aid from the Americans, a siege was de-
cided upon. So, by the 2 2d of September, Savannah was
completely isolated on the land side, by the allied armies,
and a French frigate and two galleys lay in the river, within
cannon shot of the town.
A large house at Thunderbolt was used as a hospital.
This place is five miles southeast of Savannah, and, accord-
ing to Gen. Oglethorpe's account, received its name "from
the fall of a thunderbolt : a spring thereupon arose in that
place, which still smells of the bolt." From this time for-
85
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
ward, Thunderbolt instead of Beanlieu was used as the
place for holding converse with the fleet.
Gen. Lincoln's command numbered twenty-one hundred
men; and the British, after the arrival of Col. Maitland,
had twenty-five hundred.
As no preparations had been made by the Americans for
a siege, much time was lost in bringing the requisite cannon,
mortars, and ammunition from the fleet.
The British were of course delighted with the turn of
affairs. Gen. Prevost's chief engineer declared that if the
allies would only resort to the spade and to the tedious
operations incident to a protracted bombardment, he would
pledge himself to make a successful defense.
At seven o'clock, on the morning of the 25th of Septem-
ber, the Americans opened fire upon the town from a bat-
tery mounting two 18-pound guns : but, as Count D'Estaing
ordered the construction of other batteries in that vicinity,
no more firing occurred until these works were completed.
So, the regular bombardment of Savannah did not begin
until October 3d at midnight.
Gen. Mcintosh's family was in the besieged town, and
his aid, Maj. John Jones, was the bearer of a flag of truce
and a letter to Gen. Prevost, asking permission for them,
and such other Georgia women and children as chose to
avail themselves of the opportunity, to leave the town until
the contest should be decided. Maj. Jones found Mrs. Mc-
intosh and her children in a cellar, whose damp rooms were
the only safe retreat for non-combatants.
Gen. Prevost refused the request, thinking the besiegers
would not throw bombs to set on Are the houses where their
relations were residing. In this he was mistaken, and dur-
86
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
ing the bombardment the women and children suffered be-
yond description, and a number of them were killed.
In the meantime, during the night of the 1st of October,
Col. John White, Capt. George Melvin, and Capt. A. C. G.
Elholm, with a sergeant and three private? (only seven in
all), effected one of the most extraordinary captures ever re-
corded in the annals of warfare.
It happened in this way : When Gen. Prevost called in
all his detachments to Savannah, Capt. French, of the Brit-
ish Regulars, with one hundred and eleven troops, and five
vessels with their crews, were detained by head winds until
a part of Count D'Estaing's fleet was in possession of the
pass, which forced them to take refuge in the Great Ogee-
chee river, twentv-five miles from Savannah.
Four of Capt. French's vessels were armed, and had on
board the invalid soldiers from Sunbury. When he
learned that the passage overland was also blocked up by
the allied forces, he disembarked and formed a fortified
camp on the left bank of the river.
Approaching this encampment at night, Col. White and
his associates built many watch-fires around it, in such a po-
sition and at such intervals as to induce Capt. French and
his soldiers to believe that their camp was absolutely sur-
rounded by a large force. The deception was kept up all
through the night by Col. White and his companions march-
ing from fire to fire, with the measured tread and loud chal-
lenge of sentinels — now hailing from the east of the Brit-
ish camp, and anon rapidly shifting their position and
challenging from the extreme west.
Nor was this their only stratagem ; each of them mounted
a horse, and rode with haste in different directions, imitat-
87
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
ing the manners of a staff and giving orders with a loud
voice. The delusion was complete, and Capt. French was
entirely deceived.
Col. White carried out his daring plan by dashing up
boldly and alone to the British camp, and demanding an
interview with the officer in charge. AY hen it was granted,
he said: "I am the commander, sir, of the American
forces in your vicinity. If you will surrender at once, I
will see that no injury is done to you or your command.
If you decline to do this, I must candidly inform you that
the feelings of my troops are highly incensed against you,
and I cannot be responsible for the consequences." Capt.
French thanked him for his humanity and said desponding-
ly, that it was useless to contend with the large force that
he saAv Avas around him, and that he would surrender his
command and his vessels.
At this moment, Capt. Elholm rode up at full speed, and
saluting Col. "White, inquired where he should place the
artillery? "Keep them back, keep them back, sir," Col.
White replied, "the British have surrendered. .Move your
men off and send me three guides to conduct them to the
American post at Sunbury."
The three guides arrived, and the vessels were burned
the first thing. Then the British, urged by Col. White to
keep clear of his enraged troops, took up their line of
march and pushed on with great celerity, while Col. White
announced that he would go to the rear and restrain his
men. He then hastened to collect the neighborhood mili-
tia, with which, overtaking the guides, he conducted his
prisoners in safety to Sunbury.
88
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
From the 3d to the 6th of October, the allies kept up a
frequent cannonading of Savannah, with no satisfactory re-
sult, and Count D'Estaing became fully convinced that he
should not have resorted to the slow process of a siege,
which gave the enemy time to strengthen their old defenses
and erect new ones. He sincerely regretted that he had
not made the attack which he had first planned.
As the bombardment of the town continued, Gen. Prev-
ost asked the same favor that he had refused to Gen. Mc-
intosh, that the women and children, among whom were his
own family, might leave the town and live on shipboard
under the protection of a French man-of-war. Both Gen.
Lincoln and Count D'Estaing denied his request.
Now, again, shot and shell poured furiously into the
town, which was three times set on fire. The besiegers were
ever approaching nearer, until they were within pistol shot
of the British works, but the engineers said it would take
ten days more to penetrate them. The French naval offi-
cers remonstrated against any further delay, as their sailors
were suffering from scurvy and short rations. There was
sickness, too, in the camp of the allies, the stormy season
of the year was near, and the cannonading had, as yet, made
no breach in the enemy's fortifications. So Count D'Es-
taing determined on an effort to take the town by assault.
8J
CHAPTER IX.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Continued.)
The 9th of October, at four o'clock in the morning, was
the time appointed by the allied Generals to carry Savannah
by assault.
Ever}' detail of this important movement was arranged
at a conference of the leading officers. The French were
to form in three columns — two for assault, and the third
as a reserve, to render assistance at any point where they
might be required.
The American forces were to be divided into two assault-
ing columns; the first composed of Carolina troops under
Col. Laurens, and the second, consisting of both Georgia
and Carolina soldiers, were to be led by Gen. Mcintosh.
Count Pulaski was to lead the French and American cav-
alry. Gen. Lincoln was to have command of the reserves,
including a body of militia.
The American forces were al] to wear a piece of white
paper on their hats, so that they could easily recognize each
other in the uncertain light of that early hour.
Unfortunately a traitor, having ascertained their plans,
deserted and communicated them to the British, so that
Gen. Prevost was fully prepared for the assault.
He had learned that the principal attack would be di-
rected against the Spring Hill redoubt and the batteries
90
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
near it, and that the attack on his left, under Gen. Huger,
would be only a feint. Making his arrangements in ac-
cordance with this information, he placed his best troops at
Spring Hill, under his most efficient officer. Col. Maitland.
Before dawn on that eventful October day, Gen. Huger,
with five hundred men, wading half a mile through a rice-
field that bordered the town on the east, reached his point
of attack promptly at the hour agreed upon, and made an
assault.
The enemy, under Col. Cruger and Maj. Wright, being
fully advised of his movements, wrere on the alert, receiving
him with music and a heavy fire of cannon and musketry.
So he was forced to retreat, with a loss of twenty-eight men;
and he did not have the opportunity to take further part
in the fighting of the day. The attack by the troops from
the trenches, upon the center of the British line, made very
little impression and was easily repulsed.
On the British right, Count D'Estaing massed his troops,
and led them three times to the enemv's entrenchments, but
failed each time to carry them. Then he attempted to
gain an advantage by penetrating through a swamp on the
left, but more than half of the soldiers who entered it were
either killed, or remained stuck fast in the mud. Standing
in a most exposed position, the Count witnessed this slaugh-
ter of his men with perfect self-possession, constantly en-
couraging them to renew the assault. He was sure of their
•courage, but when he saw that success in that quarter was
impossible, he ordered a retreat, which was effected under a
galling fire from the British entrenchments.
In this assault, Count D'Estaing was twice wounded by
musket balls — the first time in the arm, and, during the re-
91
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
treat, in the thigh. The British fired from their cannon,,
packets made up of scrap iron, the blades of knives and
scissors, and even chains five or six feet long.
The brave and scholarly Laurens, heading his light in-
fantry and preceded by the noble Pnlaski on his black
charger, assaulted Spring-Hill redoubt with great courage.
He was among the first to mount the British lines. At
one time the ditch was passed, and the colors of the Second
South Carolina regiment planted for an instant on the para-
pet. Three times the hands that held them were palsied by
death, when Sergeant Jasper, with daring courage, seized
them as they fell from the stiffening hand of Lieut. Gray,
and, for the fourth time, they were in the act of being re-
placed, when the devoted Jasper received a death shot.
The contest waxed fierce and desperate. The parapet
was too high for those patriots to scale in the face of such
a murderous fire, and they were driven out of the ditch.
On the retreat, Laurens' command was thrown into great
disorder by the cavalry and lancers, who, being severely
distressed by the enemy's fire, broke away to the left — pass-
ing through the infantry and carrying a portion of it into
the swamp.
In the thickest of the fight, the gallant Pnlaski had en-
deavored to force a passage between the enemy's works, and,,
advancing at full speed upon his splendid horse, was ar-
rested by the abattis, and unhorsed by a shot in the right
thigh. This inflicted a mortal wound, and he was left
lying upon that bloody field among the dead and dying.
Count D'Estaing, in spite of his wounded arm, was still
leading his men and inciting them to rush boldly on to vic-
tory or death. At this moment of supreme confusion, Gen.
92
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Mcintosh arrived, but too late to take any part in the action,
for those brave assailants, having sustained this galling fire
for nearly an hour, and having been literally mowed down,
were ordered to retreat.
The ditch was filled with dead patriots, and for fifty
yards in front of it the field was covered with the slain.
Many hung dead or wounded upon the abattis, and for sev-
eral hundred yards without the lines the plain was strewn
with mangled bodies killed by shot and shell.
Many a Georgia soldier, on that fateful day, sealed with
his blood his devotion to liberty, and Twiggs, Butler, Jones,
Jackson, Few and Baillie did all that mortal arm could do
to recover the capital of their State from a cruel foe.
After five hours of hard fighting, the allied army dis-
played a white flag, and asked a truce to bury their dead.
Gen. Prevost granted them four hours, but they were only
allowed to bury such of their slain as fell beyond the abattis.
Those who fell within the redoubts were buried by the Brit-
ish in one common grave, and there they remain to this day,
without mound or column to point out their last resting
place.
The British suffered very little in the assault, being thor-
oughly protected by well-constructed earthworks. How
admirably Gen. Prevost had covered his men by entrench-
ments and redoubts, and how skillfully and rapidly the
British handled their muskets and field and siege pieces is
best shown by the slaughter of the assailants.
Numerous are the noteworthy incidents connected with
this attack upon Savannah, among which are the following :
"When the brave Jasper seized the colors of his regiment,
he never relaxed his grasp until he bore them to a place of
93
GEORGIA. LAND AND PEOPLE.
safety. It was after the battle of Eort Moultrie in South
Carolina, that the wife of Col. Elliott had presented this
elegant flag to the second regiment, to which Jasper was
attached. On that occasion she said to the soldiers : "I
make not the least doubt, under Heaven's protection, you
will stand by these colors, so long as they wave in the air
of liberty," and they all promised that they should be hon-
orably supported and never tarnished.
Now, as Jasper's life was slowly ebbing away, he said to
the officer bending over him :
"Take this sword; Gov. Rutledge presented it to me for
my services in defense of Fort Moultrie. Give it to my
father, and tell him I have worn it with honor. Tell Mrs.
Elliott that I lost my life supporting the colors that she
presented to our regiment,"
As he grew weaker, there floated before his dying mem-
ory one of his generous acts that had happened some time
before — at a spring two miles from Savannah, which to this
day is called Jasper's Spring — and he repeated the names
of those whom he had rescued on that occasion.
This is the story of the heroic deed of which he was
thinking : Learning that a number of American prisoners
were to be brought from Ebenezer to Savannah, to be tried
for treason, he determined to release them at all hazards.
So, with his companion, sergeant Newton, he waited at this
spring — which was in an oak grove, about thirty yards from
the main road. When the British escort — consisting of a
sergeant, a corporal and eight privates, with the prisoners
in irons— stopped at the spring to refresh themselves, only
two of them remained by the prisoners. The others, hav-
ing leaned their guns against trees, were some distance from
94
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
them, when Jasper and Newton sprang from their hiding
place, seized the guns, and shot down the two guards. The
six other soldiers were kept by threats of instant death, from
making any attempt to recover their weapons, and so were
forced to surrender. The two heroes crossed the Savannah
river with their two liberated friends and captive foes, and
joined the army at Purrysburg.
The name of Jasper honors a county of Georgia, whose
independence he gave his life to maintain. Sergeant John
Newton's name is also given to one of our counties, and he
will be remembered as long as there are hearts capable of
appreciating true courage.
Lieut. Thomas Glascock, now a captain of cavalry, was
attached to Pulaski's Legion at the siege of Savannah. In
the full vigor and enthusiasm of early manhood, he had
entered hand, heart and soul into the great Revolutionary
struggle, doing bold and signal service in the lower part of
his native Georgia. He conceived a romantic and devoted
attachment to Count Pulaski; an attachment which seems
to have been fully appreciated by the noble exile, who
treated him as if he had been a son, or a much younger
brother.
When the Legion retreated from Spring-Hill redoubt, it
was recollected with bitter mourning that Pulaski had been
left dangerously wounded near the abattis. Now was
shown the high courage and noble personal devotion of
Capt. Glascock, who, with a few picked men, boldly volun-
teered to return and rescue the dying soldier. And this he
did, through fire, smoke, shot and shell.
Pulaski was taken on board the American brig, Wasp,
which was going around to Charleston. Head winds de-
95
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
tained it for three days in the Savannah river, during which
time the ablest surgeons in the French fleet attended Pu-
laski, but their skill was in vain. Just as the Wasp was
leaving the river he breathed his last, and was reluctantly
consigned to a watery grave. Young Glascock was by his
side, a place he had not vacated since the hour of the rescue.
Count Pulaski's beautiful horse was saved and carried
from the battle-field by a South Carolina soldier. Both the
horse and the sword of the noble Pole were afterwards given
to his brother.
"While a surgeon was dressing the stump from which the
arm of Lieut. Edward Lloyd had been torn by a cannon
ball, Maj. James Jackson, who was standing near, said to
the young officer that his prospects in life would be blighted
by this calamity which a cruel fate had imposed upon him.
Lloyd replied, that, severe as was the affliction, he would
not exchange places with Lieut. Stedman, who had fled at
the beginning of the assault. Of such stuff were the heroes
made who won Georgia's independence !
In the assault on the Spring-Hill redoubt, Maj. John
Jones, aid to Gen. Mcintosh, was literally cut in two by a
cannon ball, when he was within a few paces of the gun.
An intimate friend, passing by one of the pits where the
dead had been hastily buried, saw an exposed hand which
he instantly recognized as that of Maj. Jones. He had his
body disinterred and carefully and properly buried.
Maj. Jones endured many hardships during the siege.
Letters written from the camp before Savannah, to his wife,
his "dear Polly," are still preserved and breathe a spirit
full of tender affection and patriotic feeling. Writing
under date of October 4th, only five days before Ee was
96
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
killed, he says : "Pray do not be unhappy on my account,
and believe that, if it is my fate to survive this action, I
shall; if otherwise, the Lord's will be done. Every soldier
and soldier's wife should religiously believe in predestina-
tion. "What shall I do for clothes ? I have but one pair
of breeches left." He was only thirty years old when that
fatal shot from the Spring-Hill redoubt ended his life.
During the siege, a number of Georgia officers who had
no command, and some other patriotic citizens, did active
duty under the leadership of Col. Leonard Marbury. Al-
though only thirty in number, four of them were killed and
seven wounded.
Georgians may well boast of the examples of courage,
patient endurance and glorious death that the siege of
Savannah has furnished. Our hearts will ever glow at the
recital of Pulaski's gallantry, Jasper's daring and Mcin-
tosh's ardor!
Many illustrious persons from both France and England
were engaged in the bloody battles. The peerage of Scot-
land and Ireland were represented, and the famouc French
ravigator, La Perouse, was there; but the heroes of the oc-
casion, among the foreigners, were Count D'Estaing and
Count Pulaski on the American side, and Gen. Prevost for
the British.
During the truce for burying the dead, Gen. Lincoln and
Count D'Estaing consulted in regard to further operations.
The former wished to continue the siege, but the Count —
who was severely wounded and whose command had lost
heavily — fearing the appearance of a British naval force in
the exposed and impoverished condition of the fleet, deter-
mined to hasten his departure. So the siege was raised,
7g 97
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
and, on the 18tli of October, the allied armies withdrew
from Savannah. Count D'Estaing returned to France, and
Gen. Lincoln, crossing the river into South Carolina, moved
his army towards Charleston.
Georgia gave to her gallant French ally 20,000 acres of
land, in acknowledgment of his services, and admitted him
to all the privileges of a free citizen of the State.
The joy of the British garrison in Savannah at the suc-
cess of their arms was soon turned into mourning by the
sudden death of Col. Maitland. This brilliant officer and
accomplished gentleman was a member of parliament and
a brother of James, Earl of Lauderdale.
The siege of Savannah was, perhaps, after the battle of
Bunker Hill in Massachusetts, the greatest fight of the
Revolutionary war.
98
CHAPTER X.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Continued )
The result of the siege of Savannah was a death-blow to
the hopes of Georgia. On the seaboard every appear-
ance of opposition to the King was crushed, and only in the
interior was there any armed resistance.
The British authorities were much exasperated by the
demonstrations before Savannah, which, at the outset,
threatened to overthrow their power; and the Tories, exult-
ing in the humiliation of the State, set out in every direc-
tion upon missions of insult, pillage and cruelty. Entirely
unrestrained, they seized whatever they coveted — whether
stock, negroes, jewels, plate, furniture, or wearing-apparel.
They even whipped children, to force them to tell where
their parents had hidden their valuables. No mercy was
shown to the men who still bore arms for Georgia's free-
dom; confiscation of property and exile or imprisonment
were the least they had to expect. All who could, sought
an asylum in South Carolina, but the majority of our peo-
ple were so poor that they were forced to remain at home
and bear the heavy yoke — now rendered more grievous
than ever before.
The conduct of the British soldiers in Savannah was
such that a residence there by a Whig family was almost
beyond endurance; but the women bore their sufferings
with a fortitude becoming the wives of patriots.
99
I
881911
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Among those who stood firmly by Georgia in this dis-
tressing time was the venerable minister, Daniel Marshall,
who, refusing to leave his church, remained at his post,
comforting his people and keeping up their courage.
This famous man, now bending under the weight of years,
had organized on Kiokee creek in Columbia county, the
first Baptist church in Georgia, while our State was yet a
royal Province. Before he had members enough to build
a church he preached in the open air. On one occasion,
when his congregation had assembled in a beautiful grove,
and he was upon his knees in the opening prayer, a heavy
hand was laid upon his shoulder, and the words : "You are
my prisoner," sounded in his ears: he was arrested for
"preaching in St. Paul's parish." At that time the rites
of the church of England constituted the only lawful wor-
ship in the parishes where the Episcopalians controlled.
Indignation filled the breast of Daniel Marshall, at this
rude interruption of his services. Before he could re-
monstrate, however, his wife — a woman noted for her
piety, good common sense, and eloquence in conversation —
rose from her seat, and, with the solemnity of a prophetess
of old, denounced that laiv. She quoted in favor of her
views, passages of Scripture that were so apt and forcible
that many of her hearers were convinced; among these was
the constable himself, Mr. James Cartledge, who after-
wards sought baptism at the hands of Mr. Marshall. The
latter was carried to Augusta to stand his trial, and was
honorably acquitted.
The Rev. Abraham Marshall, worthy son of such parents,
by his zeal, eloquence and activity was also a marked figure
of this period that "tried men's souls." He had fought
100
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
at Burke Jail and at Augusta. He denounced with equal
fervor both sin and oppression, and upheld with all his soul
the majesty of God and the liberty of the people. It was
truly said of him, "he could pray, he could preach, he could
fight.'7 This father and son were shining lights among the
Whigs in their part of the State.
It is scarcely possible to form an idea of the universal
suffering in Georgia at this time. Far and near, War had
laid his desolating hand upon the country. Very little
land was under cultivation, commerce was sadly inter-
rupted, and the rage between Whig and Tory ran so high,
that what was called a "Georgia parole" meant to be shot
down without any mercy. The paper money issued by the
State had depreciated so much that sixteen hundred and
eighteen dollars of it were only equal to one dollar in gold.
The common clothing of our people was a coarse cotton
cloth, called homespun. Cotton was only planted in small
patches for home consumption; though, in 1739, one bale
was shipped from Savannah to England as an experiment.
This was the first cotton ever exported from the United
States.
The spinning-wheel and loom were a part of the furni-
ture of every household. The seed was picked from the
cotton by hand, and then the negro women carded, spun
and wove it into cloth. Before the war for independence,
homespun was used only for negroes' clothing; but now,
stately officers and high-born dames wore it with pride.
W^hat was at this time called Wilkes county included all
the lands north of the Ogeechee river acquired from the
Cherokees and Creeks by the treaty at Augusta in 1773.
The population was very sparse, so stockade forts were
101
GEORGIA LASD AND PEOPLE.
erected at suitable points, as a refuge from the Tories and
Indians, for those who could not leave the State.
Small companies of "Whigs were constantly in the saddle;
whenever there was danger, the settlements were warned,
and the women, children, negroes and stock were carried
to the nearest fort, which the men protected.
Stephen Heard lived in that part of Wilkes which is now
called Elbert county. At the beginning of hostilities he
had hastened to the standard of liberty, and, under Col.
Elijah Clarke had defended the western portions of Geor-
gia. He almost lived in the saddle, keeping a vigilant
watch over the movements of the Indians and Tories. He
rode a powerful gray horse, named Silver-heels, of which
his wife was very fond, because his fleetness had often saved
her husband's life. She and all her household could dis-
tinguish that horse's footstep as far as they could hear it.
Whenever one of the negro women rushed into the room
where she was sitting, saying : "I hear Silver-heels coming
at a hard gallop/' Mrs. Heard would call her maids around
her and collect and pack her most valuable possessions, for
she knew there was danger, and they would have to flee to
the fort.
Stephen Heard was governor during a portion of the
time in which Georgia was overrun by the British, when
gloom sat upon every countenance. His title was Presi-
dent of the Executive Council. In this capacity he did all
in his power to keep hope alive in the hearts of the despond-
ing people.
There lived in this same part of the State a rich family
who always refugeed to their Virginia plantation whenever
the Tories became too aggressive in Wilkes; when the
102
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Whigs regained control, they would return. They made
this journey so often that even the cows learned the way,
and followed the right road without once making a mistake.
During one of these journeys, when the family were re-
turning to Elbert county, the children and little negroes be-
came so tired of being cooped up in the wagons, that they
begged to be allowed to walk. Permission was readily
granted. The road led straight across the Savannah river
at Cherokee ford, where it was very shallow and spread out
a half mile in width. The children did not wait here for
the wagons, as they were expected to do. The cows were
in front of them, slowly plodding along, and when they
stepped into the river, each child, white and black, took
hold of a cow's tail and held it fast until thev were safely
piloted across. When the wagons reached home at nine
o'clock at night, the cows were in the lot, and all the chil-
dren sitting before a rousing fire, drying their clothing.
One of the children who thus forded the Savannah river
was Elizabeth Darden, a great-niece of George Washing-
ton, and she afterwards became the second wife of Stephen
Heard.
In this dark hour, when Georgia was deserted by friends
and allies, she safely trusted in the strong arms and iron
hearts of her sons, who, in small parties, annoyed the British
and kept the Tories in check.
The celebrated Patrick Carr, of Jefferson county, with
his own hand killed a hundred Tories. He considered them
vermin to be exterminated. AYhen some one praised him
for his bravery, he said: "I could have made a very good
soldier, if the Almighty had not given me such a merciful
heart."
lf)3
GEORGE LAND AND PEOPLE.
One of the most relentless enemies the Tories had was a
plain, rough woman, named Nancy Hart, who lived in fa-
mous Elbert county. Almost six feet tall, she was very
muscular and erect, with a broad, angular mouth, and awk-
ward manners. She was ignorant of letters and the civili-
ties of life, but she had a woman's heart for her friends,
and was a zealous lover of liberty. She called her husband
"a poor stick," because he was rather lukewarm in the
cause of freedom, though she could not charge him with
any love for Tories. They lived on Broad river, and Mr.
Hart spent most of his time in the cane-brakes; for, when
the Tories were in the ascendency, every man known to be
a Whig, who remained at home, had to live in hiding to
avoid being killed.
At her spring, Nancy Hart always kept a conch-shell,
upon which, by certain signals, she could give the informa-
tion to Mr. Hart, or to any neighbor who might be at work
in the field, that the "Britishers," or the Tories were about;
that her husband was wanted at the cabin; or that he was
to keep close, or "make tracks" for another swamp.
One evening Nancy was at home with her children sit-
ting around the fire, where a large pot of soap was boiling.
While stirring the soap, she entertained her family with the
latest news from the war. Most of the houses and also the
chimneys in this sparsely settled region, were built of logs.
One of her sons saw some one peeping at them through the
cracks of the chimney, and stealthily gave his mother a sign.
She continued to rattle away, talking loudly about the
recent defeat of some Tories, and giving the boiling soap
a vigorous stir, but all the time she was watching the place
104
KE VOLUTION ARY PERIOD.
where the spy would reappear. Suddenly, with the quick-
ness of lightning, she dashed a ladle of boiling soap through
the crevice, full in the face of the eavesdropper. Taken by
surprise, and blinded by the hot soap, he screamed and
roared lustily, while Nancy went out, and, with gibes and
taunts, tied him fast as her prisoner.
One fine morning a party of Tories gave her a call, and,
in true soldier fashion, ordered something to eat. She soon
had smoking venison steak, a hot hoe-cake, and fresh honey-
comb upon the table. The self-invited guests were very
hungry, and simultaneously stacked their guns and made a
rush for the table; quick as thought, the dauntless Nancy
seized one of the guns, cocked it, and declared she would
blow out the brains of the first one who offered to taste a
mouthful, or to rise from the table ! They all knew her
character too well to imagine that she would say one thing
and do another. Not one of them was willing to be killed
by a woman, so they all sat still.
"Go," she said to one of her sons, "and tell the Whigs
that I have taken six base Tories."
On another occasion, a band of Tories from the British
camp at Augusta, penetrating into the interior, savagely
murdered Col. Dooly while in bed in his own house, and
then continued their way up the country for the purpose
of committing further atrocities.
A detachment of five, turning to the east, went to the
neighborhood of Broad river to see what discoveries they
could make. Arriving at Nancy's cabin, they entered it
very unceremoniously, receiving a scowl from her by way
of welcome.
105
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
They told her that they had come to know the truth re-
specting the story that she had concealed a noted rebel from
the King's men, who, but for her interference, would have
caught and hung him.
Nancy acknowledged that it was all true, and volunteered
to tell them how she did it. She said she gave the fugitive
Whig minute directions how to hide himself in the swamp,
and then let him ride straight through her cabin to hide his
horse's tracks. Then she went about her work as usual,
and presently the pursuing party rode up, boisterously
calling for her. She appeared at the door with her head
all muffled up, and asked in a weak voice why they dis-
turbed a lone, sick woman. They described a certain
horseman, and asked if she had seen him. Oh ! yes, she
had seen him, and she told them the way he went, sending
them in the wrong direction.
Having finished her tale, Nancy turned to her unwel-
comed guests, exclaiming:
"Well fooled! and my Whig boy was saved!"
The Tory party did not much relish fancy's explanation,
but they could not wreak their revenge upon a woman, so
they passed it over by ordering her to give them something
to eat. She replied, "I never feed King's men if I can
help it; and now the villains, by stealing all my poultry
and pigs have put it out of my power to feed even my own
familv. That old gobbler vou see out vonder in the vard
is all I have left."
"Well, and that you shall cook for us," said the leader;
and, raising his gun, he shot the turkey, which one of his
men carried into the house and handed to Nancy.
136
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
She fussed and stormed, but, at last, seeming to make a
virtue of necessity, began to clean the turkey — assisted by
lier daughter Sukey, a girl twelve years of age. One of
the Tories helped them, and she seemed to get in a tolerably
good humor with him, exchanging rude jests. The To-
ries, pleased to see that she was inclined to be jovial, invited
her to partake of the liquor which they had brought with
them. She accepted it with witty thanks.
Now me turkey wTas ready for the pot, but there was no
water in the house, so Sukey had to go to the spring; while
she was there she blew the conch-shell in such a wav that
is
Mr. Hart and the three neighbors who were hiding in the
swamp would know that there were Tories at the house.
By the time the old gobbler was cooked, the Tories,
having become quite merry over their jug, sat down to
enjoy their dinner, but they had cautiously stacked their
arms where they were within reach. Nancy waited on the
table, paying them assiduous attention, and occasionally
passing between them and their muskets.
AVater was called for, but she had so contrived that there
was none in the house, so Sukey had to go again to the
spring. With a sign from her mother she hastened her
steps, and when she got there blew a signal to call the men
to the house immediately.
Meanwhile, Nancy had slipped out one of the pieces of
pine which made the "chinking" between the logs of her
cabin, and dexterously placed two of the guns through the
hole. She was just putting out a third, when she was dis-
covered, and every Tory sprang to his feet. In a moment
the musket which she held in her hand was at her shoulder,
and she declared that she would kill the first man who
107
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
started towards her. After some hesitation one of them-
advanced upon her, when, true to her threat, she fired, and
he fell dead upon the floor. Instantly seizing another
musket, she put it in position to fire again.
By this time Sukey had returned from the spring, and,
taking up the remaining gun, carried it out of the house,
saying to her mother: "Daddy and them will be here di-
rectly." This information so increased the alarm of the-
Tories that they made a general rush upon Nancy; but she
instantly fired again, and seriously wounded another.
Sukey stood at her elbow with a loaded musket which she
had brought from outdoors; her mother, taking it, planted
herself in the doorway and called upon the remainder of
the party to surrender "to a Whig woman."
They agreed to surrender and "shake hands upon the
strength of it"; but she kept them in their places until the
four Whigs came up to the door. They were in the act of
shooting down the Tories, when Nancy stopped them, say-
ing that they were her prisoners, and, her temper being up
to boiling heat, declaring that ^shooting was too good for
them." This hint was enough. The dead man was
dragged out of the house, the wounded Tory and the three
others were tied, taken out bejTond the bars, and hung.
The tree upon which they suffered death was pointed out
fifty years afterwards by one who lived in those bloody
times.
Xancy Hart had high-toned ideas of liberty, in spite of
her rough ways, and rendered so much valuable service to
the Whigs — even risking her life on one occasion, to obtain
information of the enemy's movements — that Georgia has
perpetuated her name by bestowing it upon one of her
counties.
108
KEVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
After the allied armies withdrew from Savannah, Sir
James Wright, as royal governor, had called a legislature,
composed of the men who were true to the King. They
denounced every Whig in the State as a traitor. The
Georgia Assembly passed the same act with regard to the
royalists. Thus were the republicans and the royalists
contending for the mastery, not only with arms, but with
statecraft; and the whole territory of Georgia was given up
to general confiscation, plunder and murder.
In spite of the zeal of Sir James, all attempts at royal
legislation in this State were feeble and spasmodic, except
just after the siege of Savannah. Yet with a perseverance
worthy of all praise, he still labored to fortify that town
and hold Georgia for the King.
The Whigs had now become weak in numbers and en-
feebled by the fortunes of war. Many of them were pining
in captivity; others, contending with hunger, were trying
to make a crop with which to feed their families; others
still were in different continental commands, doing battle
beyond the limits of Georgia.
Georgians were engaged in every battle of any impor-
tance that was fought in South Carolina. In the battle of
Blackstock's House — where Sumter was attacked by the
British cavalry under Col. Tarleton — at the beginning of
the action Sumter received a wound which compelled him
to retire from the field. The command then devolved
upon Col. Twiggs, the oldest Georgia officer present, and to
him and his corps of Georgians is due much of the glory of
this victory.
From the beginning of this war, our State had kept Rep-
resentatives in the Continental Congress, which was com-
109
GEORGIA LAKD AND PEOPLE.
posed of delegates from all the colonies, who met to con-
trive ways for mutual assistance and defense. In Georgia's
darkest days, when her paper money had little value, she
spent five hundred thousand dollars in paying the expenses
of Richard Howley, while a member of this Congress.
In these gloomy times, men thought but little about gov-
ernment ; nor was much required. Liberty and something
for their families to eat and wear were the principal ob-
jects for which patriotic Georgian's were now striving.
110
CHAPTER XI.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Continued.)
The very next year after the siege of Savannah, Charles-
ton, in South Carolina, fell into the hands of the British,
under Sir Henry Clinton. Gen. Lincoln and his whole
army, among whom was Gen. Lachlan Mcintosh, became
prisoners of war. Clinton, elated at his success, determined
to extend his conquests; he sent out three detachments into
the interior, one of which, under Col. Browne, was to cap-
ture Augusta. He had lived there before the war, and
when hostilities began he expressed himself strongly in
favor of the arbitrary measures of King George, using his
utmost influence to inflame the minds of the people against
the patriots. So the "Liberty Boys" had tarred and feath-
ered him, exposing him to public ridicule in a cart drawn by
three mules; then he was driven from the town. In a
short time he voluntarily declared that he repented of his
past conduct, and swore that he would risk his life and for-
tune for the sake of Georgia's liberty. He violated his
oath, and became one of the bitterest enemies of the Whigs.
There were so few troops at Augusta, that Col. Browne
took possession with but little resistance. This achieve-
ment was rendered easier by the base act of Gen.
Andrew Williamson, who was encamped near the town
with three hundred militia, the most formidable force that
Georgia had for her defense at any single point. He told
111
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
his officers that they all had better return home, as it was
useless to resist the King any longer. Disbanding his com-
mand, he deserted to the British, and was rewarded for his
treacherous conduct by a colonel's commission in the
King's service.
Although Georgia was now almost entirely under con-
trol of the British, the Whigs did not tamely submit to this
state of affairs. Small bands of cavalry harassed the enemy
whenever an opportunity was presented. Now they wert
burning the rice on the Ogeechee plantation of Sir James
Wright, then thundering at the very gates of Savannah,
and again fighting the bands of Tories who were scouring
the country in search of plunder.
In the meantime, Georgia's best officers and the ma-
jority of her soldiers, having retreated to South Carolina,
had taken part in the important events which were trans-
piring in those parts of that State where the British and
Tories were running riot.
Col. Elijah Clarke, disappointed in all his plans by the
desertion of Gen. Williamson, led his small command of
one hundred and forty men into South Carolina. They
were all volunteers, and each man claimed the right to
think and act for himself. So, not being sure of his
authority over the little band, he thought it prudent to re-
turn to Georgia and wait for a better opportunity to help
his neighbors.
One of his officers — Col. John Jones, of Burke county —
refused to follow him in his retreat back to Georgia. He
persuaded thirty-five men to unite with him, and endeavor
to penetrate through the forests to North Carolina, to join
the first republican forces they could find. He succeeded in
112
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
this plan, having a successful skirmish with the enemy on
the way. He did good service in the cause of freedom,
until he was disabled for a time by eight saber cuts on his
head, in the fight with Maj. Dunlap's command in South
Carolina.
To add to the horrors of this period, the smallpox spread
over our State. It was brought here by the British sol-
diers, and more dreaded by our men than the sword of the
enemy. Civilians and the military were alike superstitious
about vaccination, and suffered for months with this loath-
some disease before experiments clearly established the
virtue of inoculation, and at last overcame their fancied
objections.
Col. Clarke and his men did not long remain at home,
as they were obliged to hide in the woods, and depend upon
their friends for food. They soon wearied of this, and re-
turned to the Carolinas. In a battle near Musgrove's mill,
Col. Clarke defeated the enemy; he was twice wounded,
but his stock buckle saved his life.
Soon after this affair he was back in Georgia, planning
to capture Augusta from the British. He made his ar-
rangements so secretly and suddenly that he reached the
town unobserved, and found Col. Browne unprepared for
an attack. It was the 14th of September, 1780, when Col.
Clarke, halting before Augusta, formed his command into
three divisions. He commanded the center, the right wing
was under Col. McCall, and the left under Maj. Taylor.
In the advance Maj. Taylor came upon an Indian camp,
which he attacked ; but they at once retreated towards their
British allies, keeping up a desultory fire. He pressed for-
ward as rapidly as possible to get possession of a trading-
8g 113
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
post, called the White-House, which was a mile and a half
from town. Capt. Johnson was stationed there with the
King's Rangers, and the retreating Indians soon joined
them.
Col. Browne did not know until the attack on the Indian
camp that Col. Clarke was in his vicinity; he then ordered
a Tory, Col. Grierson, to hasten to the assistance of the gar-
rison at the White-House, while, with the main body of
his troops, he advanced more slowly to the scene of action.
In the meantime, Clarke and McCall had taken the forts
by surprise, capturing the garrisons and all the presents
which were kept there for the Indians.
Col. Browne reached the White-House in advance of the
Whig army, and, under cover of night, threw up some
works around it, which strengthened his position. The
cracks between weather-boards and ceiling were filled with
earth to make it proof against musket balls. The windows
were closed and protected in the same way, loop-holes
being cut at convenient distances. Thus the defense was
made as formidable as possible with the materials at hand.
Col. Clarke tried to dislodge him by a regular sjege, but
failed on account of having no artillery.
Col. Browne had sent word to Col. Cruger to bring as-
sistance as quickly as possible. While awaiting this rein-
forcement, he obstinately defended his post and refused to
surrender, though his position was beset with difficulties.
During the fighting he was shot through both thighs; his
'wounded men were suffering for medical aid, and Col.
Clarke, being between them and the river, had cut off their
water supply.
114
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Col. Browne had held his position for four days, when
Col. Cruger appeared on the opposite side of the river.
This compelled Col. Clarke to withdraw his forces, as any
further eifort at that time would have been useless. On
the morning of his retreat, he released his captives; but, re-
gardless of their obligations as prisoners on parole, they re-
sumed their arms as soon as he left the neighborhood.
Some of Col. Clarke's men were left behind, being so
badly wxnmded that they could not be removed. Thus,
Capt. Asby and twenty-eight others fell into the hands of
the enemy. This officer — noted for his bravery and hu-
manity— and twelve of the wounded Whigs were hanged
on the staircase of the White-House, so that Browne, while
lying there wounded, might have the pleasure of seeing
them expire. The vengeance of this cruel and vindictive
man against the Whigs could never be satiated; his only
virtue was courage.
Among the captured Whigs were two brothers named
Glass, seventeen and fifteen years of age, respectively.
When the retreat was ordered, the younger one could not
be persuaded to leave his brother, who had been shot
through the thigh and was unable to be moved. This af-
fection cost him his life, for they were both choked to
death on a hastily constructed gibbet.
All this was merciful compared with what the other
prisoners suffered. They were given up to the Indians,
who, forming a circle, placed their prisoners in the center;
some they threw into the great, roaring fires, and others
they slowly roasted to death.
Maj. Carter, of Taylor's division, was mortally wounded
at the door of the White-House, but escaped these horrors
115
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
through the devotion of his comrades. At the risk of their
lives, they carried him to the plantation of Mrs. Bugg, who
was the devoted friend of the Whigs, where, a few days
afterwards, he died.
Ko sooner had Col. Clarke retired from Augusta than
Col. Browne subjected the surrounding country to a rigor-
ous search. Republican sympathizers were dragged from
their homes and crowded into wretched prisons; those sus-
pected of belonging to Clarke's command were hung, with-
out even the mockery of a trial; old men were thrown in
jail for no other reason than welcoming home their sons
and grandsons, who had long been fighting in other States.
Col. Jones, of Burke county, having returned to Geor-
gia during this distressing time, to visit his family, was sur-
prised and wounded by the Tories, but escaped to a swamp.
"While concealed there, waiting for his wound to heal, he
was discovered and captured. The Tories clamored for his
life, but he was saved by the British Captain Wylly, who
kept him constantly guarded.
When Col. Clarke retired from Augusta, he retreated
directlv to Little river and there halted. His men, in
small parties, returned to their homes for a few days, to
take leave of their families before quitting the State.
When they met again at the rendezvous many had brought
their wives and children with them; they were perfectly
destitute, and would have starved had thev been left at
their homes.
So, when Col. Clarke was ready to march, he found him-
self at the head of three hundred men, with four hundred
women and children in their train. He felt obliged to find
some place of safety for this helpless multitude, and, with
116
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
provisions for only five days, he commenced a march of two
hundred miles through a mountainous wilderness, to avoid
being cut off by the enemy. Though they often lived for
two days at a time on nuts, the women bore the hunger and
fatigue without a murmur, all the while cheering with
their smiles the drooping spirits of the men.
After many days, weary and footsore, they reached a
haven of rest among the Blue Ridge mountains, in the
northern part of North Carolina. The people of that re-
gion were justly famed for their hospitality, and they re-
ceived with a hearty welcome the poor refugees, who had
nothing to recommend them but their poverty and the
cause in which they suffered.
They were supplied with clothes, food and shelter. Nor
was this generosity momentary; it ceased only when there
was no longer any demand for it. These persecuted wan-
derers lived in that beautiful region, guarded by the rug-
ged mountains, until the storm of war had passed, and they
could safely return to their Georgia homes.
"When the soldiers saw their loved ones safely housed,
they returned to the borders of South Carolina, and there
held themselves in readiness for active service.
N ever was the patriotism of any people more sorely tried
than that of Georgians during this winter of 1780. Af-
fairs were at the lowest ebb, while the manhood of our State
was largely withdrawn beyond her boundaries, doing battle
for the common cause.
Hope never entirely dies in the human heart. Among
the Georgians, it sprang once more into vigorous life, when
it was known that — at Gen. Washington's suggestion —
Gen. Nathaniel Greene had been given command of the
117
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Southern Department, and was then on his way to T^orth
Carolina with Continental troops. His mission was noth-
ing less than to drive the British ont of the Carolinas and
Georgia. To assist in this service, Gen. Washington took
from his army his best cavalry officer, Col. Henry Lee,
known in the war of the Revolution as "Light-horse Harry."
In the glorious battle of the Cowpens, in South Carolina,
early in January, 1781, the Georgia troops that were offi-
cered by Maj. Cunningham, Capt. George Walton, Capt.
Hammond and Capt. Joshua Inman, were placed in the
first line and acquitted themselves with great gallantry.
Maj. James Jackson, with his own hands, captured Maj.
Mc Arthur, commanding officer of the British infantry, and
at the risk of his life attempted to seize and bear off the
colors of the 71st British regiment. The commanding of-
ficer in this battle, the gallant Gen. Morgan, upon the bat-
tle field publicly thanked him for his daring deeds.
]£ot long afterwards, Maj. Jackson, acting under
authority conferred by Gen. Greene, raised a legion for ser-
vice in Georgia, and received his commission as Lieut.
Colonel. Lew officers have ever possessed such talent for
recruiting. His eloquence on these occasions was powerful.
When he described in burning words the cruelties of the
enemy, the perils and hardships of Georgians, and avowed
his willingness to share every danger with the men who en-
listed under him, the effect upon the crowd was irresistible.
Shouts of "Liberty and Jackson forever!" rent the air, and
offers of enlistment came from hundreds of lips.
When Jackson's legion was formed and equipped, it pre-
sented a singular appearance. In his own description of
it, he said: "My dragoons were clothed and armed by them-
118
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
selves, except pistols; even their caps, boots and spurs they
brought with them. Their coats were made of dressed deer-
skins, and turned up with the little blue cloth which I.
could procure." As the British nsed red in their uniforms,
the Whigs adopted blue for their color.
When Jackson brought his legion to Georgia, their suf-
ferings were often very great. He wrote : "My whole
corps were for months without anything to quench their
thirst but the common swamp water near Savannah, and
for forty-eight hours together, without bread, rice, or any-
thing like it."
When Gen. Greene had pushed the enemy from ~NTorth
Carolina, he carried the war into South Carolina, and then
Col. Clarke obtained permission to return to Georgia, that
he might refresh his men and recruit his command. This
is the picture of the desolation which he found in upper
Georgia as drawn by Capt. McCall, an eye-witness: "When
these small parties entered the settlements where thev had
formerly resided, general devastation was presented to their
view. Their aged fathers and youthful brothers had been
hanged and murdered; their decrepit grandfathers were
incarcerated in prisons where most of them had been suf-
fered to perish in filth, from famine or disease; their moth-
ers, wives, sisters, daughters and young children had been
robbed, insulted and abused, and were found by them in
temporary huts, more resembling a savage camp than a
civilized habitation. The indignant sigh burst from the
heart of the war-worn veteran, and the manly tear trickled
down his cheek as he embraced his suffering relations."
Col. Browne and Col. Grierson were the men who were
responsible for these cruel deeds. Imagine, if you can, the
119
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
feeling towards them of the Georgians of that day ! It
was hard to show mercy to a Tory who had been active in
committing outrages, and the law of retaliation seemed a
necessity.
120
CHAPTER XII.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Continued.)
As the winter slipped away, the gloom which enveloped
Georgia began to brighten. Gen. Greene was regarded as
the great and good genius of the hour, and every one had
firm confidence in his will and ability to aid them. Now,
the long-absent soldiers, returning home, assembled in
force to fight once more for their own families and fire-
sides. With promise of help from Gen. Greene, the Whigs
formed their plans to capture Augusta and the lawless To-
ries who were the scourge of that whole region.
Col. Clarke, having had the smallpox, wTas still suffer-
ing from its effects, and was too weak to take the field; so,
Col. Mica j ah Williamson was placed in command over his
forces. On the 16th of April, 1781, he led them to Au-
gusta, and fortified his camp within twelve hundred yards-
of the British works.
Col. leaker, with all the South Georgia militia he could
collect, soon joined him, as did Capt. Dun and Capt. Irwin,
with the Burke conntv men. Col. James Jackson, with his
legion, and Col. Hammond, with his Carolina militia, were
also there.
For nearly four weeks did these determined men invest
Augusta, guarding every approach to it, and compelling
the garrison to remain within their defenses. Never for a
121
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
moment relaxing their vigilance, tliey waited impatiently
for tlie promised assistance from Gen. Greene, before
making an assault upon the British fortifications.
At last, the militia, destitute of almost every necessary of
life, wearied of their hard service, and, giving up all hope
of aid, determined to return to their homes. The fiery elo-
quence of Col. Jackson roused their drooping spirits, in-
spired them with hope and courage, and saved them from
tarnishing the laurels they had already won by deserting
their country in a time of such great need. This militia
after Avar ds nobly did their part in all the fights around Au-
gusta.
Towards the middle of May, Col. Clarke, bringing one
hundred men, joined the little army. The very sight of
him inspired among the soldiers confidence in the final suc-
cess of the enterprise.
It was at this time that a strong band of Tories collected
to reinforce Col. Browne and compel the patriots to raise
the siege. Without waiting for them to reach Augusta,
Col. Clarke sent Capt. Shelby and Capt. Carr against them.
Encountering the Tories at Walker's Bridge, on Brier
creek, they succeeded in killing and wounding a number
of them, and dispersing the rest, returning in triumph to
the camp.
While this event was happening, Col. Clarke had sent
all his cavalry horses to Beech Island, where forage was
plentiful. It was supposed that there was no danger from
the enemy, so, only six men were sent with them.
Col. Browne, learning this fact, dispatched a party of
regulars, militia and Indians, down the river, in canoes, to
■capture them. They succeeded so well in this attempt,
122
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
that they killed all six of the guards. When Capt. Shelby
and Capt. Carr were near Mrs. Bugg's plantation, on their
return from their adventure, they met this detachment, and,
in the fight which followed, they killed nearly half of the
•enemy and recovered all of Col. Clarke's horses.
It was not long after these successes before the Whig
army was weakened by having to send a force to the upper
part of the State, and to South Carolina, to drive back the
Indians and Tories who were committing depredations upon
the frontier. So there was great joy in the camp, when
Gen. Greene sent Gen. Pickens and Col. Lee to their aid.
Col. Lee was not long in camp before he learned that
there had recently been received at Fort Galphin, near
Silver Bluff, the annual royal presents for the Indians, con-
sisting of powder, balls, small arms, salt and blankets. Our
army needed all these things, and he resolved, if possible,
to secure them. With the assistance of a certain Capt.
Hudolph, he accomplished this design, with the loss of only
■one man; this one was not killed, but died from the effects
of heat. It was a very sultry morning, and for miles not
a drop of water had been found.
Tradition says, that Capt. Rudolph was the famous Mar-
shal JSTey in disguise. It is certain that there was some
mystery about him. He was a stranger, and no one
•ever knew whence he came. "Light-horse Harry" rested
a few hours after his successful adventure, and then
hastened to join Pickens and Clarke in the woods west of
A ugusta.
Fort Cornwallis, the British stronghold, stood in the cen-
ter of the town at this time, and Fort Grierson was half a
mile up the river.
123
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The first direct attack designed by the Americans was to
drive Col. Grierson out of the Fort that bore his name, and
to intercept his command if they attempted to retreat to
Fort Cornwallis.
When they appeared before his Fort, Col. Grierson soon
realized that resistance would be useless, so he determined
to make a break and escape to the town. As soon as the
gate was thrown open, the whole garrison made a rush to
the river bank. It was a dangerous attempt, in which very
few of them succeeded. A British major was among the
killed, and Col. Grierson among the captured. After
he had surrendered he was shot by a Georgia rifleman
whose aged father, while a prisoner, had been treated
with wanton cruelty by Grierson. So hard and cruel
was Col. Grierson's character, and so universally was
he hated, that, although the republican commanders
offered a reward for the man who committed this deed, no-
disclosure was ever made; yet no one doubted that every
soldier knew whose hand had pulled the trigger that sped
the avenging ball.
When Col. Browne became convinced that the Whiga
were aided by skillful officers, and that they were all bent
upon the capture of Augusta, he put forth all his energy
to make his position more secure.
With his usual malignity, he placed the venerable Mr.
Alexander and other Whig prisoners whom he had in the
Fort, where they would be exposed to the fire of the Ameri-
can rifles. One of the companies that was closely invest-
ing Fort Cornwallis was commanded by Capt. Samuel Alex-
ander, whose father was thus subjected to the chance of
death by the hand of his own son.
124
KEVOLUTIONARY PEKIOD
This Fort was not far from the river, along whose banks
our men had a safe route. So, it was decided that some
military works should be erected in that quarter, towards
the left and rear of the enemy. The soldiers at once began
to dig trenches. The surrounding ground offered no ele-
vation which would enable the Americans to bring their
six-pounders to bear upon the enemy, and a Mayham tower
had to be erected, upon which to mount the cannon.
On twTo successive nights, Col. Browne vigorously en-
deavored to put a stop to this work. On the second night,
after a long struggle, Capt. Rudolph drove him into Fort
Cornwallis, at the point of the bayonet.
In spite of occasional interruptions, the erection of the
tower progressed rapidly, and the adjacent works were at
the same time being actively pushed to completion. The
American lines in that quarter were doubly manned, Capt.
Handy's Maryland infantry supporting the militia, and a
company of musketry being detailed, whose special duty it
was to defend the Mayham tower.
Again, Col. Browne made a night attack upon them;
this being met with a gallant reception from Capt. Rudolph,
he fell back and assailed the American works in the rear.
Here Pickens' militia fought him bravely, but were over-
powered by numbers, and had just been forced out of the
trenches by bayonets, when Capt. Handy rushed to the res-
cue, and drove Col. Browne back into his Fort. On this
occasion, the loss on both sides exceeded all that had pre-
viously occurred during the siege, though several desperate
battles had been fought, in which great military skill was
displayed by each party.
125
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
At last, Col. Browne, always fertile in resources, re-
solved to resort to stratagem to defeat the Americans.
Xear their tower was an old, wooden house which had
served them as a cover when they first began their work,
and which they had neglected to pull down, when it was
no longer needed. Col. Browne determined to burn it,
hoping for the tower to catch fire and be consumed.
A man, pretending to be a deserter from the British,
asked an interview with Col. Lee, and these two held a long
conversation. This spy was questioned upon many sub-
jects, but gave ready and satisfactory answers. He said
that, for a suitable reward, he would direct the cannon-
ading of the tower to that part of Fort Cornwallis where
all the powder was deposited. This offer being considered
a desirable one, was accepted at once, and grog and a good
supper given the deserter.
It was nearly midnight before "Light-horse Harry" got
to bed. He was worn and weary, and knowing that the
next day would be a busy one, as his soldiers had almost
completed their work, he tried to compose himself to rest.
It was in vain. He felt uneasy; sleep fled from his eyelids,
and a presentiment of evil oppressed him. His mind con-
tinually dwelt upon Col. Browne's evil character, and upon
the deserter whom he was trusting. At last, he arose and
gave orders that the stranger should be taken from the
tower, where he was stationed, and put in confinement.
Xever was there a more fortunate alteration of plans,
for Col. Browne had sent this man to the American camp
for the express purpose of destroying the Mayham tower.
Between Col. Lee's quarters and Fort Cornwallis there
were several houses that had been deserted since the com-
126
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
mencement of the siege. The next morning it was found
that all of them, except the two nearest the Fort, had been
burned during the night. Onr soldiers wondered why the
enemy had left those standing.
As soon as the Mayham tower was finished, and the can-
non mounted, the fire from it was so destructive that the
British soldiers in the Fort had to dig holes in the earth for
protection. It was almost certain death, if they exposed
themselves during the day.
On the 3d of June, all the preparations for an assault
upon Augusta were completed, and Lee and Pickens, wish-
ing, if possible, to avoid further bloodshed, summoned Col.
Browne to surrender. He declined, saying he would de-
fend his post to the last extremity.
Col. Lee then issued orders to his army to have every-
thing ready for a general assault the next morning at nine
o'clock. That night Pickens sent the best marksmen from
his militia to the house that had been left standing nearest
the Fort, to ascertain how many of them could do effective
work from that point. When their officer had explained
his plans, they were withdrawn, but ordered to station them-
selves there before daybreak. Capt. Handy 's troops and
the infantry of Jackson's legion were to make the main at-
tack from the river.
All the preparations for an assault had been completed,
and every soldier held himself ready to take his station,
when, about three o'clock in the morning, the American
army was startled by a violent explosion. They soon dis-
covered that it was the house intended to be occupied by
the riflemen; this was blown thirty or forty feet into the
air, its fragments falling all over the field. This explained
127
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
both why Col. Browne did not destroy it with the others
and what was meant by the constant digging which had
lately employed his men. He knew the besiegers would
occupy the house when they were ready to make the as-
sault, which he rightly concluded would be the next morn-
ing. Never doubting that the riflemen would spend the
night in this house, he intended to deprive the Americans
of their aid, at the same time striking consternation to the
hearts of their comrades, and discouraging the troops who
were to make the attack. It was his last move.
As the American army, armed and equipped, awaited
the signal to begin the assault, their commander made an
appeal to Col. Browne on behalf of the Whigs who had
been confined so long in the Fort, and whose present situa-
tion was so perilous. It is needless to record that this ap-
peal was made in vain.
However, Col. Browne fully realized his desperate situa-
tion, and before the hour of the attack made an offer of
surrender on certain conditions. A conference was soon
arranged, and after twenty-four hours terms were agreed
upon. At eight o'clock, on the morning of the 5th of
June, the British garrison marched out of Fort Cornwallis,
surrendering a large amount of munitions of war, which
were of great benefit to the patriots.
Col. Browne expressed himself as highly gratified that
he had been able to postpone his surrender, as the 4th was
the anniversary of the birthday of King George. So justly
odious was he, both to Georgians and Carolinians, that he
had to be protected from the threatened violence of the
militia, by a special guard under Gen. Armstrong. He
and a few of his officers who were paroled were sent by
128
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
way of the river to the British in Savannah, as it was not
considered safe for them to travel through the country, even
with a strong guard.
Augusta was now and for many years afterwards the
only inland town of any importance in Georgia; and when
it fell into the hands of the patriots, it insured comparative
safety to the upper part of the State. Col. Jackson was
given command of the town, because his early exertions
had paved the way for its capture.
Col. Clarke's wife was at the siege of Augusta, and was
present when the garrison capitulated. Many of the pris-
oners taken there and at other places by her gallant husband
experienced her benevolence and hospitality. She often
accompanied him in his campaigns, and felt many of the
vicissitudes of war. Once, when moving from a place of
danger, where a fight was expected to take place, she had
two children on her horse when it was shot from under her ;
but they all escaped unharmed. She saw the glorious day
when Georgia was free, and lived to be ninety years of age.
Some time before the siege, a party of Tories had cap-
tured Stephen Heard in Wilkes county, and carried him in
irons to Augusta, where he was tried by court-martial for
being in arms against the King. He was found guilty and
sentenced to be hung; but for some reason the execution
was delayed.
The sad news of the condemnation had quickly reached
his home, causing great distress among its inmates. Kate
— a tall, strong, raw-boned, negro woman who was much
beloved and trusted by the family — consoled her mistress
with comforting words and the assurance that she would
save him. She forthwith set out to Augusta, where she
9g 129
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
ingratiated herself with the British officers by her fine
laundry work and respectful manners. Bv some means it
became known that she belonged to Stephen Heard and
was attached to him, and the common soldiers delighted to
torment her by saying he was going to be shot for a rebel.
The first time Kate heard them say this, she indignantly
retorted :
'""Well, when it happens, all of you had better catch
some of his blood, mix it with water and drink it. You will
be better men for having some of his blood in you.'1
At last, the faithful Kate found means to conceal her
master in a quantify of soiled linen, and so convey him out
of the i'ort. He escaped from Augusta the day before the
siege commenced, and fought under Clarke and Jackson.
Kate was offered her freedom; but she preferred her old
home and old friends, and died at an advanced age in the
bosom of the family she had so well loved and served.
The capture of Augusta raised the spirits of the Whigs
to a high degree of satisfaction; Sir James Wright, in Sa-
vannah, understood its significance so well that he called
lustily for help. Lord Rawdon, in South Carolina, weak
as was his command, parted with a regiment for his support.
Now, the faint-hearted among the Whigs became in-
spired with fresh hope and courage. Coming from their
hiding-places in the swamps, they joined the ranks of the
partisan leaders, and brighter days dawned for our much-
tried State.
Once more Augusta became our capital, and here the
Governor and Executive Council again took up their abode.
13a
CHAPTER XIII.
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD. (Concluded )
By the recent success of the Republican arms, upper
Georgia was now under the control of the Whigs ; and with
the assistance of Col. Jackson, Twiggs turned his attention
to recovering the middle and southern parts of the State.
This efficient officer had been advanced in rank for bravery
and lone; services, and was now a general.
In carrying out his part of this plan, Col. Jackson
marched as far as Ebenezer, skirmishing with the enemy
by the way; while Gen. Twiggs, with the assistance of
Irwin, Lewis, Carr, and Jones of Burke county, was rous-
ing the patriotism of South Georgia, and increasing the
number of his soldiers.
The British had always kept military posts at Great
Ogeechee ferry, and at Sunbury, in order to secure com-
munication between Savannah and the lower counties.
Late in October, Col. Jackson started to surprise and cap-
ture Ogeechee ferry. When not far from it, he fell in
with a British scouting party, captured it without spread-
ing any alarm, and appeared at the ferry before his presence
in the neighborhood was known to its commander, Capt.
Johnson. So suddenly did the Whigs fall upon the White-
House, which was his principal defense, that he agreed to
surrender. He was just in the act of handing his sword
131
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
to Col. Jackson, when one of his officers was killed by the
celebrated Patrick Carr. Inferring from this violent act
that no quarter was to be given, Capt. Johnson sprang upon
his horse and called on his men to sell their lives as dearly
as possible.
Nerved to desperation, the British fought like tigers, and
defended the White-House so well that Col. Jackson was
forced to retreat with the loss of several men. To add to
his chagrin, some of his men, without asking leave, went off
in search of plunder.
Col. Campbell, a British officer, with part of a cavalry
regiment, was stationed in this vicinity. Capt. Johnson
joined him, and together they gave battle to Col. Jackson.
This officer, placing his infantry in the van, concealed his
cavalry behind a hummock. As the enemy's cavalry
charged over this small band of foot soldiers, he hurled his
dragoons upon them, when they broke and fled for some
distance. Finally, they rallied behind a fence and could
not be dislodged.
!STow, Col. Jackson, in his turn, was forced to seek pro-
tection in an adjacent swamp, and, under cover of night,
to retire towards Ebenezer. Here he was joined by a small
reinforcement.
From this time until the cessation of hostilities, he was
occupied in scouring the country for Tories, attacking tho
foraging parties of the enemy, and restoring to the Whigs
their property. All this part of the State had been so tram-
pled upon and plundered by the enemy, that it was often
difficult to obtain the barest necessaries of life for our
soldiers.
132
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
Incited by the British, the Creeks and Cherokees were
again "on the war path," giving the "Whigs much trouble
and anxiety. While struggling with three foes, British,
Tories and Indians, the patriots heard with wild delight the
news of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis' army to Gen.
Washington.
Scant justice has been rendered to Georgia's partisan
leaders for their services beyond their State limits during
this war. Elijah Clarke and Stephen Heard, battling in the
Carolinas, had pushed Lord Cornwallis into Virginia, which
made his surrender a certainty. Let the memories of
Clarke and Heard be honored by every Georgian ! Two
fine counties in our State perpetuate their names.
The war was now virtually at an end, and the British no
longer pursued active operations, but a desultory warfare
was kept up for some time longer in Georgia.
As soon as Gen. Greene's success in South Carolina was
assured, he turned his attention to the further relief of our
State, sending Gen. Anthony Wayne for this important
service. He was a popular hero among the American sol-
diers in the northern army; and from his rashness had ac-
quired the soubriquet of "Mad Anthony Wayne." His duty
in Georgia was to stand on the defensive, and, if occasion
offered, to attempt the capture of Savannah by a night as-
sault.
Ever since our metropolis had been in the hands of the
British, it had been a favorite resort for the Indians. It
was here that their deputations were entertained, the royal
presents distributed, and plans laid for them to harass the
Whigs. Now, their intercourse with the garrison was
greatly interrupted, as Savannah was practically cut off
133
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
from the rest of the State by the watchfulness of the bands
of patriots stationed around it.
At this period a very generous policy was adopted by
our State towards the Tories, free pardon being granted to
all who would lay down their arms — with the exception of
those who had been guilty of gross crimes. It was also ear-
nestly desired to win over the Indians. Maj. HaFersham
was sent to conciliate those who lived about Savannahs
His mission was a failure, through the disobedience of a
lieutenant, who, with a party of mounted militia, attacked
a small band and killed several of them.
Gen. Alured Clarke, who, at this time, was the British
commander at Savannah, sent messengers among the most
important tribes of the two Indian nations, asking their
assistance.
In the meantime, a party of Creeks on their way to
Savannah, to trade, had been overtaken by Gen. "Wayne.
He treated them very kindly, explained to them how little
power the British now had in Georgia, and dismissed them
to their homes with presents. Many of them, impressed by
his talk, were inclined to make peace.
There was, however, a chief among them named Gu-ris-
ter-sigo, who, after reaching home, gathered around him
three hundred warriors, determined to go to Savannah in
response to Gen. Clarke's request. So secret were the
movements of this bold chief, that he marched through the
whole length of the State, unperceived, and fell upon the
rear of the American army that was camped about seven
miles from Savannah.
Gen. Wayne, only thinking of one enemy, and that the
garrison in the town, had not burdened his troops with pro-
134
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
tecting their rear. So, at three o'clock one morning, a few
daring Indians crept towards his camp, thinking it was the
advance picket-gnard, and not the main body of troops;
dashing upon the sentinel, they murdered him before he
could give the alarm. Then the whole Indian force boldly
advanced.
The American soldiers rushed to arms , and Gen. Wavne
sprang to his horse, thinking that the whole British garrison
from Savannah was in his camp. Ordering his men to
charge with the bayonet, he yelled, "Death or Victory I"
His horse was shot and fell under him, but with sword in
hand, he advanced at the head of a portion of his infantry.
Rifles and tomahawks were of little avail when opposed by
the bayonet in close quarters, and Gu-ris-ter-sigo soon lay
dead upon the ground, with his warriors flying in confusion,
having abandoned one hundred and seventeen pack-horses,,
loaded with peltry.
"Not until then did Gen. Wayne discover that his
foes were not from Savannah; he scattered his troops in
every direction, in pursuit, but they could capture only
twelve of the Indians : the remainder reached their distant
homes in safety.
All through the Revolutionary war privateers and small
government vessels were actively employed upon our sea-
coast. Occasionally they captured a British vessel loaded
with West India produce or munitions of war. The numer-
ous inlets along our coast affording no great depth of water,
enabled our privateers to escape capture when chased by
large armed vessels. Our State depended upon these small
ships for its sugar, salt and other necessary articles. Natur-
ally the supply was uncertain and irregular. At one time,
135
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
salt sold for two dollars a quart, and planters cured their
meat with ashes and red pepper; a hint obtained from the
Indians.
Our State had been so impoverished by the British and
Tories, that, at this time, the Governor and his family lived
on rations issued by the commissary.
After the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, the British par-
liament began to listen to the voice of reason, and steps were
taken towards the establishment of peace. A profound
sensation was produced in Savannah when the order was re-
ceived to evacuate the town and the whole province. Sir
James Wright at once opened negotiations with Gov.
Martin; and the British merchants, through their represent-
ative, Maj. Hale, had an interview with Gen. Wayne.
The terms offered the whilom enemy were very gener-
ous, and were conducted on the part of the State by Maj.
John Habersham, a native of the town, and a gentleman
whose character was respected by friend and foe. Every
person who chose to remain in Savannah was assured of
safety for his person and property. Many British subjects
who resided there with their families accepted the situation
and became good citizens of the State. Those whose atro-
cious conduct during the war would have placed their lives
in jeopardy if they had been tried by the civil authorities —
among whom was the notorious Col. Browne — made their
preparations to leave Georgia with the British soldiers who
had encouraged and protected them. They despoiled the
country when they left, carrying with them many negroes,
and much personal property which had been plundered
from the Whigs during the long years of war, and in the
distant homes to which they escaped our enemies enjoyed
their ill-gotten gains.
136
REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
On the 11th day of July, 1782, the British army left
Savannah. With their departure, there lingered on Geor-
gia soil not a single servant of the King. So ended our first
war for the right of self-government.
At two o'clock in the afternoon of this memorable day,
Gen. Wayne took possession of the town; but before he en-
tered it, Col. James Jackson was honored with the distinc-
tion of receiving the keys of Savannah from a committee
of British officers. At the head of his ever faithful cavalry,
he had the proud satisfaction of being the first American
officer, who, in actual command, had been within the limits
of Savannah since the patriots were forcibly expelled in
1778. He received this handsome compliment for the
patriotism and gallantry he had displayed on all occasions
during the war, and for severe and fatiguing service as lead-
er of the army's vanguard in marching on Savannah. The
patriots living there, who had been so long separated from
their friends, received our soldiers with tears of joy and
gratitude.
Three weeks after the evacuation of Savannah, Gov. Mar-
tin had taken up his abode there and called a meeting of the
Legislature.
The thirteen Colonies — for this occasion uniting as one
government — sent five commissioners to Paris to meet an
equal number of British representatives and make a treaty.
A cessation of hostilities between the two countries was pro-
claimed on the 19th of April, 1783. In the final treaty,
Georgia was mentioned by name, and recognized by King
George, "for himself, his heirs and successors, to be a free,
sovereign and independant State," all claim to its govern-
ment and territory being relinquished.
137
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Thus, through much tribulation, after seven weary years
of strife and poverty — during which the firebrand, the
sword and the tomahawk had been her portion — did Geor-
gia win the prize for which she had been striving : Liberty.
Every true Georgian thinks with gratitude and pride of
the men who, with more than Roman virtue, endured the
cruel vicissitudes of this war, and won our independence.
138
CHAPTER XIV.
A SOVEBEIGN STATE.
1783—1799.
At the close of the Revolutionary war Georgia was in a
miserable condition. At least one half of the available
property of her people had been swept away; agriculture
was almost at a standstill; there was no money to repair
losses, and the State was full of widows and orphans; but,
there was no repining, for this was the price they had will-
ingly paid for liberty. Then, too, her boundaries were
not well defined, either on the north, east, or south, and
the Indians still owned large tracts of land within her limits.
So, the young State faced many difficult problems, but
right manfully did her sons begin to lay the foundations
for future prosperity, each one cheerfully sharing the bur-
den of his neighbor.
The States, which had lately been loosely bound together
to resist a common enemy, now determined to unite under
one government for mutual protection, in order to facilitate
their relations with foreign countries, and for other minor
reasons; each one, however, retaining its separate sover-
eignty.
The war had been over for nearly five years when Geor-
gia adopted the Federal constitution, with the guaranty that
her rights and property should always be respected and pro-
tected. She was a slave-holding State when this step was
139
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
taken, but no objection was made, on that account, to her
admittance into the Union, as the sisterhood of States was
popularly called.
At one time all the Colonies owned slaves. The climate,
soil and industrial interests of the North were such, that
slave labor could not be made profitable, so they were sold
to the South, where, under brighter skies, they could work
during the entire year. However, New England mer-
chants and New England ships continued to carry on the
slave trade, bringing negroes from Africa at every oppor-
tunity. Georgia prohibited this traffic within her boun-
daries, and was the first State to make the prohibition a part
of her Constitution.
The Confederated States began their new government
under Gen. George Washington as first President. The
national legislature was called Congress. Each State, under
the Federal constitution, sent members to this Assembly.
The Senators represented the sovereignty of the State, and
the Representatives the people.
Of all the religious sects in our State at this time, to the
Hebrew Congregation in Savannah, alone belongs the
honor of having sent a congratulatory letter to Gen. Wash-
ington when he became President; which letter he grace-
fully acknowledged.
The first minister to Great Britain from this young na-
tion, the United States, was John Adams of Massachusetts.
Gen. Oglethorpe, now ninety-five years old, for the love he
bore Georgia, felt an interest in the whole country, and was
the first English nobleman to call upon Mr. Adams and pay
him the respect due to his high official position.
140
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
The machinery of our State government was now in full
operation; temples of justice and religion were once more
opened in the land, provision was made for public educa-
tion, and Georgia entered upon her career as a sovereign
State, and at the same time a member of a Federation of
States.
Our Legislature, always quick to appreciate and reward
services to Georgia, had presented Col. Jackson with an ele-
gant mansion in Savannah; Gen. Wayne with 840 acres of
land, and Gen. Greene with 2171 acres. This was all con-
fiscated property, once owned by loyalists. The gift to
Gen. Greene was an improved and beautiful plantation,
fourteen miles above Savannah, named Mulberry Grove.
Here, after the turmoil of war, he retired with his family to
enjoy the delights of a home which he preferred to the one
he owned in his native State, Rhode Island. He died in
1786, from sunstroke, and was buried on the estate.
His widow continued to reside at this stately home, where
Eli Whitney came as tutor to her children. He often Heard
Mrs. Greene complain of the tedious process of picking by
hand the seed from cotton. Sometimes she would play-
fully entreat him, as he possessed some mechanical talentr
to devise a quicker way to accomplish this disagreeable task.
Thus stimulated, he invented the cotton-gin, a machine
which has immensely increased the cotton industry of the
world.
For several years after the war was over, the Creeks and
Cherokees continued to make frequent forays into our fron-
tier settlements, causing much alarm and trouble. The
Creeks overran the whole country, from the Altamaha river
to the St. Mary's, and the inhabitants had to flee from the
mainland to the islands.
141
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
In the many skirmishes which took place, the Indians
were generally worsted, but they committed great depreda-
tions, and the war-worn veterans of the Revolution could
not yet lay aside their muskets. At length, some of the
influential Chiefs were persuaded to visit New York, where
President Washington had a conference with them, at
which they were induced to make a treaty. So the Geor-
gians and their Indian neighbors buried the hatchet and
smoked together the calumet of peace.
Although our State labored under peculiar difficulties
for a considerable period after independence was obtained,
our forefathers were not unmindful of the great subject of
education. In Georgia's first Constitution, adopted a few
months after the Declaration of Independence, it was de-
clared that, aSchools shall be erected in each county and
supported at the general expense of the State." Our ^Uni-
versity, located at Athens, is the oldest in the United States,
south of Virginia. The charter was granted in 1785, the
preamble to which will ever stand a monument to the wis-
dom and patriotism of the Legislature that granted it. The
college was endowed with 40,000 acres of land, which, for
a long time, was unsalable. The first commencement day
of the Georgia University was Thursday, May 31st, 1804,
and the number of graduates that year was nine. The ex-
ercises were held under an arbor erected on the campus.
This piece of ground, the gift of Gov. Milledge, contains
forty-four acres, and, by restriction of the Legislature, can
never be diminished. As high as Milledge, Jackson and
Baldwin stand for their political services to the State, their
zeal and labor in behalf of the University add still more to
their fame.
142
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Savannah had been the capital of Georgia from its first
settlement; but in the year 1786 the seat of government
was moved to Louisville, in Jefferson countv, because that
town was more centrally located; it at once became a place
of importance.
A memorable event in the annals of our }roung State,
was the visit of the first President. Entering: Georgia
through South Carolina, he embarked, with his suite, at
Purrysburg and was rowed down the river, directly to
Savannah, by nine American captains. They were dressed
in silk jackets of light blue, black satin breeches, white silk
stockings, and round hats with black ribbons, bearing in
letters of gold the words : "Long live the President."
He was welcomed by a great crowd, with joyful shouts
and salutes from the Chatham artillery. He was the guest
of Savannah, and was escorted by a procession of military
and citizens to the house prepared for his entertainment.
At night the town was illuminated, and there was a suc-
cession of dinners and balls during his stay. The festivi-
ties ended with a 'grand open air banquet, under a beautiful
arbor supported by three rows of pillars which were entirely
covered with laurel and bay leaves. The situation com-
manded a fine view of the town and of the shipping in the
harbor, with an extensive prospect of the river and the rice
lands both above and below the town. A May sun lent
color to this glorious scene; but the principal charm of the
structure and its situation was, that it afforded this great
mass of people a distinct view of the man whom they all de-
lighted to honor.
Two hundred citizens and strangers dined under this
arbor, and enjoyed "a degree of convivial and harmonious
1^3
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
mirth rarely experienced." The artillery company which
had taken so conspicuous a part in the festivities, dined
under another arbor erected at a short distance. Thev won
great applause for the dexterity displayed in firing their
guns as each toast was given. Each salute was answered
by the guns at Fort "Wayne and those on a beautifully decor-
ated ship which was moored opposite the arbor.
Washington was deeply interested in examining the Brit-
ish defenses around Savannah and hearing from eye-wit-
nesses an account of the siege. When his visit was over
and he started for Augusta, he was escorted by a detach-
ment of Augusta dragoons under Maj. Ambrose Gordon,
and attended beyond the limits of Savannah by a number
of its prominent citizens.
At Spring Hill, of mournful and bloody memory, he was-
received by Col. Jackson, with the artillery and light in-
fantry companies. These were drawn up to salute him
with discharges from their field pieces, and with thirteen
volleys of platoons — one for each State.
Amidst all this gaiety and homage Washington remem-
bered the widow of Gen. Greene. With a courtesy inhe-
rent in his nature, he turned aside to pay his respects to her
at Mulberrv Grove.
Mi
WThen the President was within five miles of Augusta,
he was met by Edward Telfair, the Governor, accompanied
by Twiggs, Walton, and other prominent men at the head
of a procession. Washington alighted from his coach to
receive them, and rode the remaining distance on horse-
back, with this large company as an escort. The Governor
concluded his address of welcome with these words : "You
have immortalized your name throughout the nations of the
144
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
world, and created an unbounded confidence in your vir-
tue, with the strongest attachment to your person and f am-
ilv, in the minds of American citizens."
He was brilliantly entertained near the town at Gov.
Telfair's private residence called "The Grove."
Arrived at Augusta, the President was received with en-
thusiasm, and there were military displays, dinners and
balls in his honor. The citizens gave an elegant banquet,
which was served in the court-house. In the evening there
wab a ball at the academy which was attended by the largest
number of ladies ever seen in Augusta up to that time.
The next morning Washington attended an examination
of students at the academy, and was highly pleased with
their proficiency. He asked for a list of the young orators
of the occasion, and upon his return home sent each of
them a book. One of these boys, Augustus Clayton, was
a member of the first class that graduated at the University,
and became a prominent man. His book from Pres. Wash-
ington was a copy of "Cresar's Commentaries."
The President was escorted out of Georgia with the same
honor and military display with which he had been wel-
comed, leaving many pleasant memories behind him. Soon
after he left our State, he sent a gift of two six-pounder
bronze cannon to the Chatham Artillery. Upon one of
them is inscribed the words : "Surrendered by the capitu-
lation of York Town, October nineteenth, 1781," together
with the motto and crown of Great Britain. These cannon,
in honor of the giver, were called "The Washington Guns,"
and are still the pride of this company, now the oldest mili-
tary organization in our State.
lOg 145
CHAPTER XV.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued).
1783—1799.
Only a few years after these pleasant events, Georgia be-
came a prey to the wildest excitement over what was called
the Yazoo Fraud. This was the name popularly applied
to the sale of a large part of the State's western territory,
which then extended to the Mississippi river.
A few men of wealth and family influence saw an oppor-
tunity to obtain immense tracts of land for a small sum of
money. They employed active and cunning agents to in-
terest members of the Legislature in their scheme and thus
present it in an attractive light to the people. They suc-
ceeded so well, that the fire of speculation soon kindled into
a blaze. Judges, congressmen, generals, and many promi-
nent men in Georgia and other States were induced to aid
them. Col. Jackson was at this time United States senator
from Georgia. He was told by an eminent judge that he
might have any number of acres — even to half a million —
if he would lend his influence to the scheme. Jackson re-
plied that he had fought for Georgia; the land was hers;
and if they ever succeeded in gaining their ends, he, for one,
would consider the sale illegal.
The conspirators resorted to every expedient to gull the
public and keep honest men from being elected to the Legis-
146
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
lature, and they partially succeeded in their efforts. When
the Legislature met, many of the members belonged to the
speculators, many others were bribed, and the act was easily
passed. John Rutherford, of Washington county, and five
other legislators raised their voices in protest, and voted
against it; but the bill was signed by Gov. Matthews, then
serving his second term as chief magistrate, and the sale of
this land began.
Our Governor was a very odd character. He had fought
through the Revolutionary war, winning high reputation,
both in his native Virginia and in Georgia. Shortly after
peace was declared he moved to our State and settled the
famous Goose Pond tract of land on Broad river, at once
becoming a leading man.
He had been inured to dangers from his youth, first fight-
ing the Indians, then the British; so, he had found but little
time in his stirring life for attending school. While he
was our Governor he dictated his messages to his Secretary,
and then sent them to Mr. Francis Simmons, an Irish
schoolmaster, "to have the grammar corrected." He com-
menced the word Congress with a K, and spelt coffee
Jcauphy. He always spoke of his military services as unsur-
passed except by Gen. Washington, and would never admit
that any other man was his superior.
His ordinary dress was a three-cornered, cocked hat, fair-
top boots, and a full-ruffled shirt; occasionally a long sword
was worn by his side.
While John Adams was President, he recommended
Matthews to the Senate, for Governor of the Mississippi Ter-
ritory, but withdrew his name when he found that there
was great opposition to his appointment because he had
147
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
signed the Yazoo Act. Learning these particulars, Mat-
thews at once set out on horseback for Philadelphia to chas-
tise the President. When he reached that cit(y he went
directly to Mr. Adams' house, hitched his horse, and gave a
thundering knock at the door. His three-cornered hat was
on his head, and his revolutionary sword by his side. When
the servant appeared, he asked to see the President. He
was told that the President was engaged, to which he re-
plied : "I presume it is your business to carry messages to
the President. Now, if you do not immediately inform
him that a gentleman wishes to speak to him your head
will answer the consequences." This obtained for him a
speedy admittance.
When he entered the room where the President was
seated, he said : "I presume you are Mr. Adams, President
of the United States.'7
The President bowed, and he continued : "My name is-
Matthews, sometimes called Gov. Matthews; well known,
however, at the battle of Germantown as Col. Matthews
of the Virginia line. jSTow, sir, I understand that you nom-
inated me in the Senate of the United States to be governor
of the Mississippi Territory, and that afterwards you took
back the nomination. Sir, if you had known me, you
would not have taken the nomination back. If you did not
know me, you should not have nominated me to so impor-
tant an office. Now, sir, unless you can satisfy me, your
station of President of these United States shall not screen
you from my vengeance."
Mr. Adams, with right good will, set about satisfying
him, which was the more quickly accomplished as he found
Matthews to be, like himself, a Federalist in politics. He
148
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
promised to appoint his son Supervisor of the public reve-
nue in Georgia, at which Gov. Matthews expressed himself
as highly gratified, saying : "My son John is a man about
my inches, with the advantage of a liberal education, and
for his integrity I pledge my head."
During the administration of Gov. Matthews there was
often much trouble with the Indians ; and his resolute spirit
contributed in no small degree to controlling their violence.
When the disgraceful transactions connected with pass-
ing the Yazoo Act were whispered around and the particu-
lars partly divulged, Georgia was a perilous place of resi-
dence for all known to be connected therewith. Popular
indignation ran so high that a member of the State Senate
fled to South Carolina to avoid being tied to a tree and
flogged; but he was followed and killed by some of his
constituents. All the suspected legislators kept in hiding,
not daring to appear in public.
Jackson's opposition to this gigantic speculation was well
known. He spoke of it in Congress as "a conspiracy of the
darkest character, and deliberate villainy"; so his indignant
State now called him to her aid. He resigned his seat in
Congress, became a candidate for the Legislature, and the
leader of the people in their determination to overturn the
whole business. Other patriots stepped forward to his as-
sistance, and addressed the people on the impolicy and ille-
gality of the sale.
In almost every county, anti- Yazoo men were elected.
\Vhen the Legislature met in Louisville, their first work
was to attack this fraud. Petition upon petition poured in
from every quarter, praying them to annul the abominable
149
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
law, and proclaim to the world their abhorrence of the act
which had bartered away their estate.
So all the acts authorizing the sale were repealed, and
the purchase money ordered to be returned. Jared Irwin,
as Governor, had the honor of signing the act rescinding
the Yazoo law.
It was considered right for the records and documents
pertaining to the sale to be destroyed, that no monument of
its wickedness should remain. So, in the presence of the
Governor and both branches of the Legislature, with a large
assembly of citizens looking on, a fire was kindled in the
public square by the use of a lens, and the records and docu-
ments were burned, "with a consuming fire from heaven,"
to use the words of one who witnessed the dramatic scene.
As the papers were committed to the flames by the messen-
ger of the Legislature, he cried in a loud and decisive voice :
'''God save the State, and long preserve her rights, and
may every attempt to injure them perish, as these iviched
and corrupt acts now do."
The men who had labored for this happy event were both
from the seaboard and the up-country, many of them vet-
erans of the Revolution. Some of them had been members
of the corrupted Legislature, but they had resisted with
scorn both persecutions and threats, and now reaped their
reward in the grateful honor with which their fellow-citi-
zens regarded them.
Col. Benjamin Taliaferro, a Virginian, but, after the war
ended, a citizen of Georgia, was one of the purest men who
ever lived. He was tall and handsome, and a man of fine
judgment. The Legislature paid to his integrity the singu-
larly high compliment of electing him a judge of the supe-
150
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
rior Court, although he had never read fifty pages of law.
The members of the bar who had the necessary learning, or
were willing to accept the office, had been more or less con-
cerned in the Yazoo fraud, and were therefore ineligible.
Col. Taliaferro had often been a member of the Legislature,
and had served as President of the Senate.
The land jobbers tried in many mean and secret ways
to drive the new judge from the Bench. Failing in these
efforts, they finally agreed that one of them, upon some
frivolous pretence, should challenge him to a duel, suppos-
ing that, as he had been a prominent officer in the army, his
military opinions would compel him to fight, and fie would
resign his judgeship. They were mistaken. He accepted
the challenge, but did not resign his position.
Then they resorted to a novel expedient to .prevent the
keeping of his appointment. His romantic attachment to
his wife was well known, being the result of a very inter-
esting love tale. So, a great display was made of preparing
for the duel by practising within sight and hearing of pretty
Martha Meriwether, with the intention of so frightening
her as to make it impossible for her husband to meet his
challenger. They were again mistaken in their calcula-
tions. While they were practising at a mark, Mrs. Talia-
ferro was helping the judge to put in order the cavalry pis-
tols which he had used when he fought in G< orgia and Caro-
lina with "Light-horse Harry."
When he met his opponent, the pistol which had been
oiled by his devoted wife, sent its ball so near to the specu-
lator's heart, that he declined exchanging a second shot.
After this, Judge Taliaferro's enemies ceased to annoy him.
Georgia never had on the Bench a man who gave greater
151
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
satisfaction. Later on he became a congressman. He is
the only man who ever declined to accept, when nominated
as Governor of Georgia. A county in our State is named
for him.
The Revolutionary war had left many Virginians penni-
less and restless in spirit. How to improve their condition
was a grave question. In this crisis, Georgia held out most
seductive offers of land, which could be obtained without
any cost except the expense of surveying. A large num-
ber of emigrants, chiefly from Virginia, Xorth Carolina,
and South Carolina, availed themselves of this opportunity
to procure valuable homes. Most of them were poor, but
of good lineage; and where indigence wras so general, pov-
erty brought no sense of shame. Intellect, energy and no-
ble virtues alone placed a man above his fellows.
The work of clearing and cultivating the land wTas done
under care of sentinels and scouts, whose duty it wTas to
warn the laborers of any hostile Indians lurking in their
vicinity. Every precaution was taken against these dusky
foes, but the silent, unerring arrow often found its way to
the heart of a sentinel, and then the men at work would be
surprised and shot down with muskets.
These pioneers of middle and upper Georgia lived at first
in log houses, wdiich wrere built by the aid of neighbors.
Any man would have considered it an insult, had money been
offered him for this friendly service. When the trees were
felled and cut into the right lengths for building purposes,
the whole neighborhood was asked to help in what was
called a log-rolling, and the skeleton of a simple log cottage
was soon erected. A good dinner was always provided for
the occasion, and, when the day's work was done, the young
people had a frolic at night.
152
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
As soon after the Revolutionary war as was practicable, a
proposal had been made in the Methodist Conference of
Virginia for preachers to volunteer their services in Geor-
gia. Of those who offered, two were accepted — Thomas
Humphries and John Major. The latter, on account of
his plaintive style of preaching, wras called the "Weeping
Prophet." He founded the first Methodist church in Geor-
gia. Among its early ministers, the most noted was the
Rev. Hope Hull, who made an impression that will remain
for generations to come. The Episcopal and Presbyterian
churches were coeval with the settlement of the colony.
As this period drew to a close Georgia adopted, in 1798,
her third Constitution. This was made necessary by her
having joined the Federal Union; and, with some amend-
ments, it was continued in force until 1861.
.Frequent conflicts with the Indians kept alive in Geor-
gia a warlike spirit, and personal courage was considered a
man's greatest virtue. Without it no public man could
keep the respect of the people. At this time Gen. Elijah
Clarke and his son John, afterwards Governor, wrere the
leaders of public opinion in upper Georgia, as Col. James
Jackson wTas in Southern Georgia. Newspapers were so
few that they could not form public opinion, as they now
do. The masses received their political education from the
stump speeches of public men, and oratory was a gift much
cultivated and honored.
It must not be forgotten that, at this time, the Cherokees
still owned northwestern Georgia, and the Creeks a large
territory in their portion of the State.
The inhabitants of upper Georgia, purely an agricultural
people, lived with republican simplicity. All their provi-
153
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
sions were raised at home, except sugar and coffee, of which
they bought a small supply. A cotton patch furnished
clothing for the household. In each neighborhood there
were religious services every Sunday, which afforded their
best opportunity for social intercourse. Court was held
twice a year at each village county-seat, and was attended
by every man who could spare the time.
These homespun-clad people were industrious and God-
fearing. W. H. Sparks justly says : "Perhaps, in no coun-
try or community was the maxim of good old Solomon more
universally practised upon than in this part of Georgia, fifty
years ago. Filial obedience and deference to age was the
first lesson. 'Honor thy father and thy mother that thy
days may be long in the land/ was familiar to the ears of
the children before they could lisp their a b c's. Under the
training of such parents, whose chief characteristic was a
stern honesty, grew up the remarkable men who have shed
such lustre upon the State of Georgia."
The towns settled during this period were Athens, Elber-
ton, Sparta, Warrenton, Greenesborough and Washington.
The latter was the first town in the United States named for
George Washington.
l'A
CHAPTER XVI.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1800—1810.
Georgia's illustrious son, James Jackson, had held almost
every important office in the State, and was a member of
the Convention that framed the third Constitution, of
which he wrote the greater part. When this decade opened
he had been Governor for a year.
In 1801 Jackson was sent to the United States Senate,
and Josiah Tattnall was elected Governor. He was the son
of Col. Tattnall, and was born near Savannah, at Bonaven-
ture the beautiful home of his grandfather, Col. Mulryne.
Col. Tattnall was an officer in the British colonial service,
and his military character was high. He was opposed to
the position that Georgia took against Great Britain, but
loved her as his adopted country, and would not take up
arms against her. As, at that time, no neutrals were toler-
ated, he had to leave our State, and returned to England
with his family.
His son Josiah, then only eleven years old, was put at
Eton, one of the great schools of England. Everything
possible was done to wean his heart from his native Geor-
gia, but without success. When he was eighteen years of
age, having, unknown to his family, procured a little money
from his godfather, he left England and found his way
back to the land he loved so well. The war was about clos-
155
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
ing, as he joined Gen. "Wayne at Ebenezer. "When Savan-
nah was evacuated by the British, he was placed in office,
and continued, during life, to hold positions of trust.
He was a member of the Legislature that rescinded the
1 azoo Act. Being a determined foe of that disgraceful
speculation, he was the leader against it In the Senate, as
was Jackson in the Lower House. So convinced was this
Legislature of his ardent devotion to the interests of his
State, that they elected him United States Senator to serve
out Jackson's term. It was believed that the speculators,
having been defeated in Georgia, would renew in Congress
the war against her rights, and Tattnall's talents and influ-
ence would be needed to defend them.
When he was elected Governor he was one of the most
popular men in the State. To show their hia*h apprecia-
tion of the purity of his character, and for his great public
services, the Legislature took from the confiscation act the
name of his father, and restored to him all the rights of
citizenship. Gov. Tattnall had the inexpressible pleasure
of signing the act acquitting his father — the only act ever
approved by a governor of Georgia with words of comment
before his signature. It was an expression of gratitude to
his State for the consideration shown his father. A three-
fold honor was conferred upon Gov. Tattnall at this time;
he was inaugurated chief magistrate of his State, was made
a brigadier-general, and a new county was laid off and
given his name. Thus did Georgia delight to show appre-
ciation for her devoted son !
One of the most striking evidences of harmony between
the sisterhood of States was the ceding of their western
lands to the Federal Government. In this surrender of
156
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
territory, Georgia, then the largest State in the Union, gave
up almost 100,000 square miles, embracing all the land
lying between the Chattahoochee and Mississippi rivers.
This territory afterwards formed the two noble States, Ala-
bama and Mississippi, which are called "The Daughters of
Georgia."
One of the objects of this grant of land was to enable the
Federal Government to obtain money by its sale for pay-
ing off the national debt contracted during the war. In
return, as a slight compensation to Georgia, the Federal
Government agreed to pay all expenses of holding treaties
with the Creeks and Cherokees, and, finally, to extinguish
the Indian title to all lands held within our State as early
as it could be peaceably done.
The women of Georgia, who were thrown upon their own
resources for support and protection during the war, had
developed great energy and enterprise. At this early period,
our State could boast of a woman editor, Mrs. Hillhouse, of
Wilkes county. Upon the death of her husband she took
charge of his paper, called the "Monitor and Impartial
Observer," and conducted it with great success. The
Journal of the House of Representatives was printed in her
office, and sent to Louisville, our capital.
It was about this time that our State suffered the irrep-
arable loss of her noble son, James Jackson, who died in
Washington City while serving as senator. When he felt
that his life was almost finished, he said that, if his heart
could be opened, Georgia would be found written there.
What a noble sentiment ! Treasure it in your hearts, O
youth of Georgia !
157
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
In 1807 the seat of government was moved to Milledge-
ville, a town then in the center of the State, surrounded by
a fertile and beautiful cotton country. It was named for
Gov. Milledge, a soldier of the Revolution, and a man, it
will be remembered, who had rendered other important
services to the State. Mr. Meigs, first President of the Uni-
versity of Georgia, addressing a letter to him at this time,
wrote of the college: "Your institution has taken a strong
root and will flourish; and I feel some degree of pride in
reflecting that a century hence, when this nascent village
shall embosom a thousand of the Georgia youths pursuing
the paths of science, it will now and then be said that you
gave this land, and I was on the forlorn hope."
From the time Milledgeville became our capital, it was
an active center for the making of Georgia history.
The two Indian nations had now become objects of
national interest, and there was much talk about converting
them to Christianity. Xorthern missionaries were con-
stantly making efforts to reside among them; but they met
with little encouragement. It was early in this decade that
a chief — in Murray county — made a wagon, the first one
ever built by an Indian. He was severely censured by the
Council, and the use of anv such vehicle was forbidden the
tribe. The Council said : "If you have wagons, you must
have roads; and, if wagon-roads, then the Whites will be
among us." The Indians disregarded this mandate.
After Georgia ceded all her western territory to the
United States, the Yazoo question was transferred to the
Federal Government; but it left upon our State politics an
impression that lasted a score of years, and had its influence
on all public men. The population of the State was rapidly
158
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
increasing, and young aspirants for fame, who were on the
popular side, were pushed rapidly forward; among these
the most noted was William Harris Crawford.
As a young lawyer he settled in the county of Ogle-
thorpe, and by his talents and remarkable attention to busi-
ness he soon won a great following — a majority of the peo-
ple supporting his opinions. He hated the Yazoo fraud
and was an ardent admirer of Thomas Jefferson's political
creed, both of which sentiments were extremely popular in
Georgia.
Thus, young Crawford soon became the rival of the two
Clarkes, father and son, who were suspected of being im-
plicated in the great fraud, and who, in politics, were Feder-
alists— that is, they loved the Federal Government better
than they did Georgia, and were willing to give it their first
allegiance.
Naturally, a feud sprang up between Crawford and the
younger Clarke, which extended to their followers. It
was not long before Crawford had fought two duels. At
this time duelling was thought to be the honorable way of
settling all difficulties between gentlemen. If Crawford
had refused to fight, he would have been considered lacking
in personal bravery, and this would have ruined his political
career.
Crawford and young Clarke each had his army of follow-
ers. The feud between them, and between the two factions
which grew out of it, for forty years tainted with ignoble
prejudices the politics of Georgia. There were many
young men of remarkable talents just rising into distinction
in the learned professions, and they were necessarily ab-
sorbed by the two factions.
159
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Crawford, had practised law but a short while when he
laid aside the green bag, and for four years represented his
county in the Legislature. Then he was elected to the
United States Senate, became prominent as a politician, and
was soon considered one of the great men of Congress.
While in the councils of the nation, he gave great satisfac-
tion to his State in all that he said and did.
Thomas AY. Cobb, of Columbia countv, took Crawford's
place at the Georgia bar. In early life he followed his
leader to Congress; ultimately he became a judge of the
superior court, then the highest judicial tribunal of the
State. He was deeply versed in legal lore, very eloquent,
and fascinating in private intercourse.
It was a great honor in Georgia, at this time, to be elected
to Congress, and none dared present themselves for this
high position, unless they were men of superior character
and talents, whose names had become familiar for services
to the State.
Judge Dooly, of the Clarke faction, son of the Revolu-
tionary hero, could never reach this goal of all aspiring
young lawyers, because of his unpopular politics, though no
one doubted his patriotism and high regard for that which
was right and just. He was the idol of younger members
of the bar, and the most famous wit in the State. His
bright sayings and repartees are still remembered, and will
continue to form the staple of bar anecdotes for many gener-
ations to come. He was, of course, an opponent of Craw-
ford, through life, but wras singularly free from the party
hatred and bitterness of the day.
An amusing story is preserved of him and Judge Tate,
who had challenged him to mortal combat. Judge Tate
160
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
had a wooden leg, and when he and his second reached
the place of meeting, they found Judge Dooly there before
them — but alone, and composedly sitting upon a stump.
When asked where his second was, he replied: "He is in
the woods. He will be here as soon as he can find a gum."
"May I inquire," said Tate's second, "what use you have
for a gum in the matter we have met to settle ?"
"I want it to put my leg in, sir. Do you suppose I can
afford to risk my leg of flesh and bone against Tate's wooden
one ? If I hit his leg, why, he will have another to-morrow,
and be pegging about as usual. If he hits mine, I may
lose my life by it; but, almost certainly, my leg. I can
not risk this, and must have a gum to put my leg in ; then, I
am as much Avood as he is, and on equal terms with him."
The situation was so absurd, it is scarcely necessary to-
record that Judge Tate and his second left the field discom-
fited, and the matter dropped.
The close of this decade found unfulfilled the agreement
of the Federal Government to remove the Indians from our
State. By permission, a party of Che'rokees had gone west
of the Mississippi river to examine the country with a view
to settling there, as game was getting scarce in Georgia.
They found a pleasant land which suited them, and many
of the Xation immediately emigrated; but the Federal Gov-
ernment neglected the opportunity thus afforded to execute
its contract with Georgia.
Many Tories had, after the war, fled to the Indians and
settled among them. It was through the instigation of
these traitors that the treaties so often made with the Cher-
okees and Creeks did not secure safety for our frontier set-
tlements. Negroes and other property were being con-
llg 161
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
stantly stolen, and houses being burned, when such prop-
erty was all important to the owners, for there wa? no money
to replace it. So, as yet, Georgia had reaped no benefit
from her immense grant of land to the Federal government.
Towns settled in this decade : Spring Place, Watkins-
ville, Jefferson, Madison, Eatonton.
162
CHAPTER XVII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1810—1820.
Slowly but surely increasing in population and wealth,
Georgia had now more leisure to devote to internal improve-
ments. Public roads were made better, the navigable
rivers freed from obstructions, education — always consid-
ered a matter of the first importance — was still freely en-
couraged by the State, and the first bank was incorporated,
being called the Bank of Augusta.
Early in this decade, a deputation of the Lower Creeks,
headed by one of their chiefs, Tus-tum-nug-gee Hut-kee,
but called by Georgians, William Mcintosh, went to Mil-
leclgeville to have aa talk" with David B. Mitchell, who was
then Governor. Mcintosh bore the full name of his father,
a British officer who served against Georgia during the Kev-
olutionary war. His mother was a full-blooded Creek
woman, of an influential tribe, who lived at Coweta. The
chief, Mcintosh, Avas tall, finely formed, with graceful
manners, and Very intelligent. He was capable of the most
inviolable friendship, and practised virtues that would do
credit to the most enlightened culture.
The Creeks were accompanied by Col. Benjamin Haw-
kins, United States agent for the Indians — a man who
played a conspicuous part among them. Born hi North
163
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE
Carolina, his father gave him the best education possible in
the United States at that time. He was a student at Prince-
ton College when its exercises were suspended by the Avar.
Being an excellent French scholar, he was of great assistance
to Gen. Washington in his intercourse Avith the French offi-
cers. He was, finally, pressed into service as an interpreter,
and became a member of Washington's military family,
fighting bravely whenever an occasion offered.
After the Avar Avas over, he Avas appointed Superintendent
of Indian Affairs at the South. He became so extremely
interested in the Creeks, that he took up his abode among
them, deA^oting all his energy to their improvement. In
AA'hat is now CraAvford county, he built a comfortable house
AArhere all aat1io chose to come Avere made Avelcome. The
Creeks had such great respect for him that they never
molested his large herds of cattle that roamed without re-
straint about the cane-brakes of Flint river. Col. Hawkins
had been a member of Congress, and a Senator, and had a
natural aptitude for science. The celebrated Frenchman,
Gen. Moreau, Avhen an exile in the United States, visited
him at his Creek home. He said that Col. Hawkins Avas the
most remarkable man he had found in America.
Quite a large crowd of ladies and gentlemen Avitnessed
the meeting of the Indians Avith Gov. Mitchell. The pur-
port of Chief Mcintosh's "talk" Avas an assurance of friend-
ship for Georgia, and a desire for the continuation of
friendly intercourse betAveen the Creeks and the State ; that
the old men of the Nation would soon be gone, and the
young men were anxious to cultiA^ate a good understanding
with their Avhite brothers, as their fathers had done.
After the "talk" Avas over, Col. HaAvkins and tAventy of
164
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
the most distinguished Indians dined with the Governor.
They returned home, well pleased with their reception and
the success of their mission.
Always generous in aiding her sister States, a war spirit
was soon excited all over Georgia by the complications be-
tween the United States and Great Britain which led to the
war of 1812. The relations between the two powers had
been strained for some time, owing to the aggressions of
British cruisers upon the commerce of the United States,
.and the empressment of American sailors into their service.
The whole country was soon aroused,' especially the South.
All our representatives in Congress were in favor of the
war. William II. Crawford was the natural leader of the
ardent band of Southerners whose fiery zeal helped to
breathe war into the national council. So Congress for-
mally declared war against Great Britain.
Georgia cordially supported the Federal Government in
this act, though the war was mainly for the benefit of the
New England States. Our two war Governors, David
Mitchell and Peter Early, did all in their power to assist
the arms of the United States, and they and their Legisla-
tures expressed great pride in the national victories.
As soon as war was declared, volunteer companies were
organized all over our State, and the approaching conflict
was the chief theme of conversation. Grave fears were felt
that Savannah, our most important town, would be at-
tacked. Much of our long seacoast was necessarily left un-
protected, and the restless, warlike Indians were still within
our .borders. But, the gallant Georgians felt themselves
fully competent to cope with both British cruisers and hos-
tile Indians.
165
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
This year the venerable Vice-President of the United
States died, and his place was filled by AVilliam H. Craw-
ford, then Senator from Georgia.
Early in the war, the Seminoles, incited by the Spaniards
— who favored Great Britain in this contest — began hostil-
ities on our southern frontier. Our Governor had to send
a force into the heart of their country, and several engage-
ments took place before the Indians were brought to
terms and consented to make peace.
The war had been going on for something over a year,
when the many disasters to their arms depressed the bravest
spirits in the United States, but the howling tempest
continued to rage violently. Peter Early, our energetic
and fearless Governor, beheld the storm without dismay,
and boldly prepared to avert its fury. In a short time the
militia were organized, and the frontier put in a condition
for defense. Many old men offered their services to the
Governor, and their company was called "The Silver
Grays."
It was at this critical period that Georgia loaned the Fed-
eral Government eighty thousand dollars to assist in carry-
ing on the war.
Gloom, like a dark cloud, was still hanging over the
United States, when the Creeks, instigated by the English,
took up arms against Georgia. This is known as the Creek
Avar. Almost their first act of hostility was a sanguinary
and unprovoked massacre, upon the helpless frontier settle-
ments of Georgia and Alabama. The Upper Creeks, who
lived mainly in Alabama, never recognized any of the
treaties that Gen. Oglethorpe had made witlx the Lower
166
, A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Creeks. They were under French influence, and always
the implacable enemies of Georgia.
One bright August day, at high noon, the Creeks sud-
denly fell upon Fort Mims, on the Chattahoochee river,
captured it, and massacred nearly three hundred persons,
men, women, and children. Of all the persons in the Fort,
only seventeen escaped. A feeling of horror and indigna-
tion swept over our State, and Georgia and Tennessee
united their militia to give battle to the Indians.
The command of the Georgia troops was offered to Gen.
Daniel Stewart, who had fought in the Revolutionary war
from its beginning. Now, as commander of cavalry, he
was again ready to meet the foes of Georgia, but, on account
of his age and the arduous service that would be required,
he was compelled to decline a greater responsibility, and
the position was given to Gen. John Floyd. Andrew Jack-
son, of Tennessee, was general over the united militia, and
they fought around Mobile.
Gen. Flovd was the son of a Revolutionary hero, who
wore on the front of his helmet a silver crescent inscribed
with Patrick Henry's famous words, "Liberty or death."
He had already Avon a reputation as a military man, and had
been general of the brigade for some' years. Such an
important matter as defending the frontier and punishing
the Indians could not have been given to one better fitted
for the enterprise. His chief characteristic was a patriot-
ism which amounted to .a deep-seated passion.
The young chief, William Mcintosh, aided Georgia in
this war and received from the Federal Government the title
of General. In the Nation he was second only to Ho-poth-
le-vo-holo who sided with the British. These two chiefs
167
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
"were deadly foes, principally because Mcintosh favored the
sale of their lands that lay within the limits of Georgia,
which was violently opposed by Ho-poth-le-yo-holo.
The failure of the Federal Government to appropriate
funds for the necessary army supplies delayed Gen. Floyd
in his military operations, so that he did not reach the coun-
try of the hostile Creeks — the allies of Great Britain — until
late in November.
Our troops could anticipate but little glory in this war,
hut, with the spirit characteristic of Georgians, they pa-
tiently endured the drudgery of building a line of forts
from the Ocmulgee river to the Alabama river, and then
marched wdth alacrity against Georgia's foes. Gen. Floyd
never lost an opportunity to meet the enemy, but, on ac-
count of the long distances which he had to march before
reaching the hostile towns, the lack of proper transporta-
tion, and the scarcity of provisions,. he fought the Creeks in
any considerable force, at only two points — Autossee and
Chillibbee.
Gen. Floyd had built a Fort on the Chattahoochee river,
which he named for Gov. Mitchell. Collecting here nine
hundred men, with the chief, Mcintosh, as leader of a band
of friendly Creeks, he set out with this detachment to at-
tack Autossee, one of the most populous towns in the Creek
Nation. It was on the Tallapoosa river, and near it was
another large town called Tallassee.
To reach their destination, our troops had to march over
sixty miles, every soldier carrying his rations. About day-
break they simultaneously attacked the two towns. Early
in the engagement, Gen. Floyd was severely wounded in
the knee; but, though suffering great pain, he refused to
leave the field.
168
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
In this battle Capt. John Irwin commanded the cavalry,
-and Capt. Jett Thomas the artillery; the latter, marching
in front of the right column, elicited great praise from
Gen. Floyd for his gallantry in the action. He possessed
the art of inspiring his men to brave deeds on the battle-
field. In the heat of the combat, one of his cannon had
but three men left. At this moment it seemed that the
Indians would certainly capture it — for ten men out of the
thirteen who had defended it were weltering in their gore —
when Ezekiel Attaway, with heroic firmness, wrested the
traversing handspike from the carriage of the gun, saying
to his two brave comrades: "With this, I will defend the
piece as long as I can stand. We must not give up the
gun, boys. Seize the first weapon you can lay your hands
upon, and stick to your post until the last !" Is it any won-
der that the Indians gave way before such determined cour-
age?
The battle of Autossee lasted over an hour. The kings
-of both towns were slain, when the Creeks fled in confusion.
The Indian towns were burned to ashes, but this victory
was not won without serious loss to the Georgia troops.
Gen. Floyd's wound kept him from active duty for some
time, and David Blackshear was appointed to take his place.
Most of his life had been spent on the frontier, and he was
familiar with the Creek mode of warfare.
In this same year, the darkest period of the war of 1812,
William II. Crawford was sent to France as United States
Minister, to succeed Chancellor Livingston. In form and
person Crawford was very imposing, being six feet and
two inches in height. His complexion was fair and his eyes
£l brilliant blue. The great Napoleon said the United States
169
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
had sent him two ministers, the first one was deaf, and the
other dumb : Livingston was quite deaf, and Crawford
could not speak a word of French. The Emperor also said
that no government but a republic could create and foster
so much truth and honest simplicity of character as he
found in Mr. Crawford.
So conspicuous was this Georgia statesman for talents,
wisdom, and the arts of government, that he was proposed
as the proper person to succeed Mr. Madison as President;
but he steadfastly refused to oppose his friend Mr. Monroe,
which prevented his party from putting forward his name.
He was so popular, he would have been elected with little
opposition.
As soon as Gen. Flovd had so far recovered from his
wound as to mount a horse, he reported for active duty and
wTas given his old troops. Gen. Blackshear was appointed
to a command under Gen. John Mcintosh. This Revolu-
tionary hero was again to the front, fighting the British
about Mobile.
Gen. Floyd, at Fort Mitchell, hearing that the Creeks
had collected in great force and fortified a town on the
Tallapoosa river, determined to attack them again in their
stronghold. Marching under a continuous rain, he led his
little army through a country without roads or bridges.
AY hen they were between fifteen and twenty miles from
the town, they were attacked an hour and a half before day
by the British and Indians, whose object was to prevent
their making a junction with Gen. Andrew Jackson.
The Creeks, led by AYitherford, a chief and prophet,
rushed upon the Georgians like tigers. Their force was
so large that, for a time, the issue of the battle seemed
170
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
doubtful. Everything was in favor of the Indians — the
darkness of the hour, the thick forest of pines which shel-
tered them, and the surprise which their first yell had occa-
sioned our troops. But they had met Indians in hostile
array before, and had, moreover, been hardened by six
months' service, so, thev encountered their foes with the
7 / t/
coolest intrepidity. Xot a man faltered, and a brisk fire
was kept up until it was light enough for Gen. Floyd to
order a charge. "The steady firmness and incessant fire of
Capt. Thomas' artillery and (.'apt. Adams' riflemen pre-
served our front line : both of these suffered greatly." In
less than fifteen minutes after the charge was made, every
foe, except the dead and dying, had disappeared from the
battle-field. This action is known as the battle of Challib-
bee.
Gen. Floyd sustained severe losses. Among the killed
was the gallant Capt. Butts, who was shot while leading his
men forward. The loss of the Indians was never ascer-
tained, as it was their custom to carry off their wounded
7 1/
and as many of their dead as possible in time of battle.
Soon after this engagement the term for which these
troops had been called into service expired, and they were
honorably discharged.
When Capt. Thomas returned to Georgia he was greeted
everywhere by the plaudits of his countrymen, and was
made a major-general. A county and town were after-
wards named for him.
Gen. Floyd, commanding a brigade, was sent to protect
Savannah, and remained there until the close of the war
of 1812. He also has a county named for him.
171
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE,
The Creek war continued a while longer, until the In-
dians made their last stand at Horseshoe Bend, where they
were completely crushed by Gen. Jackson and the Chief
Mcintosh; the latter acted with conspicuous gallantry on
this occasion. His many admirable traits had won the re-
gard of all our officers, and being constantly thrown with
them, he had acquired much of the polish of a gentleman.
When the chief, AVitherford, surrendered the remnant
•of his troops to Gen. Jackson, he said : "I am in your power.
Do with me as you please. I am a soldier. I have done
the white people all the harm I could. I have fought them,
and fought them bravely. If I had an army, I would yet
fight and contend to the last. But I have none. My peo-
ple are all gone. I can now do no more than weep over
the misfortunes of my nation. Once I could animate my
warriors to battle; but I cannot animate the dead. My
warriors can no longer hear my voice. Their bones are at
Talladega, Tallushatchee, Emuckfau and Tohopeka. I
have not surrendered myself thoughtlessly. While there
were chances for success I never left my post, nor suppli-
cated for peace. But my people are gone ; and I now ask it
for my nation and myself."
Though their leader had surrendered, many of the
Creeks, in small bands, hid themselves in the swamps of
the Escambia and along the bays in Florida, and continued
hostilities. Maj. Blue of Alabama fought them in their
dense retreats, performing valuable services and making a
brilliant record. To him belongs the credit of bringing the
Creek war to a final termination.
In every battle fought in this war, the Indians were
greatly inferior in numbers, except at Burnt Corn and Fort
172
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Minis. The brave Creeks had fought until half their war-
riors were slain, to preserve for their children the land
where the Great Spirit had given them birth.
Our people, at home, had watched the events of the Creek
war with absorbing interest, and had felt a personal con-
cern in every Georgian who was fighting. Some of the
militia from the up-country had left their families in very
straitened circumstances. When camped on the Talla-
poosa river one of them remarked : "I know my children
will not suffer for bread while Mr. Hope Hull lives." And
sure enough, every week, that eloquent divine, loading a
little wagon, drove through his neighborhood, leaving the
necessary meat and meal at every soldier's home.
173
CHAPTER XVIII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1810—1820.
During the war of 1812 our seacoast suffered greatly,
though Savannah was never captured. Sir George Cock-
burn, the admiral in command of the British fleet in
Southern waters, was a greater scourge to Georgia than the
locusts are to Africa. He left a wide track of desolation
along the coast, even cutting down the fine orange grove at
Dungeness House, on Cumberland Island, which was his
winter headquarters.
When the Federal Government for the second time called
on Georgia for troops, thirty-six hundred responded. They
were the flower of the State militia.
The interruption of foreign commerce, during this war,
caused our housekeepers great inconvenience. The price
of coffee, tea and imported cloth, which was the only fine
cloth in that day, were so high that few families could in-
dulge in such luxuries; but Xature's generous gifts of corn,
sugar and cotton rendered our State, in a manner, inde-
pendent of the rest of the world for food and clothing.
About this time, Gen. Blackshear, being at Fort Early,
on Flint river, was ordered to Darien to oppose the landing
of the British who had appeared off that part of the coast.
He opened a military road to that point, which is still called
Blackshear's Road.
174
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Peace was made between the United States and Great
Britain in December, 1815; but the news had not reached
Georgia when in the following January the British, in two
divisions, effected a landing on Cumberland Island. They
were met by Capt. Messias, Capt. Tattnall and Lient.
Hardee, who twice drove them back; but the odds were so
great (one thousand to sixty), that finally, the Georgians had
to retreat, which was effected in good order.
From Cumberland, the enemy sent one hundred men to
take possession of St. Simon's Island. They remained there
for three weeks, and, when they left, carried off three hun-
dred negroes, besides stealing or destroying other property.
A native African, named Tom, who belonged to Mr.
Couper, was so attached to him that no threats of the Brit-
ish could induce him to follow them. Tom was remark-
able for his intelligence, and for having, probably, come
farther from the interior of Africa than any other negro
in the United States. His native village was on the Niger,
a few days' journey west of the celebrated city of Tim-
buctoo.
Not long after this a very remarkable feat was performed
on the banks of the St. Mary's, which is a very crooked
river. Twenty-three British barges, filled with soldiers,
were ascending the river to burn Maj. Clarke's mills, be-
cause he had broken his parole, when they were attacked
by twenty-eight men under Capt. William Cone. The
enemy immediately fired their cannon, but the palmetto
trees, on both sides of the river, screened our men, so that
the shot proved harmless.
Capt. Cone harassed them for several miles, taking ad-
vantage of every turn in the river to fire upon them; every
175
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
shot, with unerring aim, bringing down one of the enemy ~
The British, finding themselves exposed to such deadly fire,,
retraced their course to the town, St. Mary's, where they
reported one hundred and eighty men killed, and as many
wounded.
This was the last act of hostility attempted against Geor-
gia, as the news of peace arrived, and the British were com-
pelled to withdraw their forces from our land and water.
Georgia had done her part in furnishing troops to swell
the national army during this war. Appling, Cumming
and Twiggs were among the immortal band that distin-
guished itself on the Canada frontier, the principal seat of
active land operations.
The first Legislature that met after peace was declared,
passed resolutions of thanks to Mcintosh, Floyd and Black-
shear for their valuable services.
Georgia's gallant son, Maj. Daniel Appling, fighting in
Xew York State, had so covered himself with glory at the
battle of Sandv Creek that he was brevetted lieutenant-col-
onel. And, now, on his return home, the Legislature
passed a resolution "felicitating themselves on his heroic
exploits, and as a tribute due to the lustre of his actions,"
resolved that an elegant sword, suitable for an officer of his
grade, be purchased and presented to him. Before it was
delivered, he died suddenly of pneumonia, without wife or
child; by resolution of that body, the sword was suspended
in the Executive Department at the capitol. So the State
became the custodian of this testimonial to her courageous
son; and there it hangs to this day.
The next year, "Light-horse Harry" Lee, who had fought
so bravely for Georgia in the Revolutionary war, died on
176
A SOVEKEIGN STATE.
Cumberland Island, on his way home from the West Indies,
where he had in vain sought restoration to health. He
was the guest of Gen. Greene's daughter, Mrs. Shaw, at her
home, Dungeness House, whose beautiful grounds still
showed the impress of the iron heel of War. He was
buried with all the respect and honor possible, and rests well
upon Georgia's bosom.
Three years had not elapsed before our State was again
called upon for soldiers, as certain British subjects in Flor-
ida had stirred up the Seminoles to war. The Federal Gov-
ernment sent Gen. Andrew Jackson to subdue them. The
settlements on our southern frontier suffered severely be-
fore a sufficient force arrived to protect them. When the
regular troops reached the country of the hostile Indians,
the fighting was mostly in Florida.
During the Seminole war, a very spirited correspondence
took place between our Governor, William Kabun, and
Gen. Jackson in reference to the destruction of an Indian
town in what is now Lee countv. The Governor had re-
quested him to place a force of soldiers where they could
protect the most exposed parts of Georgia against the foe.
Xo attention was paid to this request; so, the Governor,
hastening to provide for the safety of his people, sent Capt.
TV right with two hundred and seventy men against two
hostile Indian towns, whose inhabitants were allies of the
Seminoles, and had committed many murders.
Arriving at Fort Early, Capt. Wright learned that the
hostile chief had moved and was living at Cheha, where he
was the principal leader. As he was ordered to destroy the
towns of this chief, he attacked Cheha and destroyed it,
killing ten Indians.
12g 177
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
This affair produced a great stir in the country, as it was
asserted that the village was friendly to the whites and had
supplied Jackson's army with a large quantity of provisions,
and that forty of their warriors were then fighting under
him. Gen. Jackson ordered Capt. Wright to be arrested,
and wrote an insulting letter to Gov. Rabun, in which he
said the destruction of the Indian village was an offense of
such enormity that it was without a parallel in history.
Gen. Jackson was the hero of the war of 1812, and he
thought he was greater than the sovereign State of Georgia.
He was mistaken. Our Governor regretted the occurrence
as much as any one, but he would not suffer the indignity
that Gen. Jackson had offered our State, and Capt. Wright
was released from "durance vile" by the civil authorities.
The Seminoles were soon subdued ; and afterwards Spain
ceded Florida to the United States. From that day Florida
ceased to be a troublesome neighbor to Georgia.
In May of this year, there occurred a great event in the
annals of the world. The first steamship — the "Savannah,"
projected and owned in the city of Savannah, though built
in ISTew York — crossed the Atlantic ocean. It sailed from
Savannah, and in one month, after a successful voyage,
anchored in Liverpool, in the presence of an admiring
crowd.
During this same month President Monroe visited sev-
eral towns in Georgia, receiving everywhere a hearty wel-
come. He remained five days in Savannah. Here he en-
joyed the novel experience of a trip to Tybee on this steam-
boat, then preparing for its first trip. He was entertained
while in Savannah in the usual gala fashion, and the welkin
rang with military salutes. When the toasts were drunk
178
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
at the banquet, Georgia's dead heroes were not forgotten.
Lachlan Mcintosh, Jackson, Tattnall and Telfair, the pride
and the ornaments of our State, were mentioned by name.
After the close of the war of 1812 a new ambition seized
upon the -people of upper Georgia. The price of cotton
had so advanced, that money was more plentiful than ever
before; and their plain houses and homespun clothes were
discarded, a more costly style of living adopted, and they
began to desire higher education and the elegancies of life.
The haughty Creeks had been humbled; the territory
between the Ocmulgee and Chattahoochee rivers, which
had been ceded to Georgia as a result of the war, opened a
rich, new field for settlement, and added greatly to the
prosperity of our whole State.
This year Gov. Rabun died in office. "His eulogium
is written in the hearts of the people of Georgia." His
chief characteristics were love of order and love for his
country. He regarded justice not only as a civil but a relig-
ious duty.
Mr. Matthews Talbot, President of the Senate, assumed
the duties of Chief Magistrate until the Legislature met,
when John Clarke was elected Governor. It was consid-
ered a great triumph over the Crawford party, and hailed
as an evidence that it had become unpopular in Georgia;
but the bitterness of faction which had been almost smoth-
ered for so long now broke out again in a fierce flame.
Mr. Crawford was absent from the State most of the
time, either assisting in the national government or repre-
senting it abroad. At this time he was a member of Mr.
Monroe's cabinet.
179
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
John Clarke, son of the famous Elijah Clarke, had
fought for Georgia both in his youth and in his manhood,
and had commanded a body of militia in the war of "1812;
for all these things he was entitled to the gratitude of the
State; but the majority of our people opposed him because
they thought he had not given sufficient proof that he would
be governor of the State, not merely the head of a party.
While he was Governor, the honors of the Executive
Mansion were performed by his only daughter, Ann, who
had no superior among Georgia women. Her affability,
dignity and grace were of great assistance to her father, who
had nearly all the leading families of the State politically
arrayed against him.
When the Creeks were subdued, the Federal Government,
instead of seizing that opportunity to redeem its pledge to
Georgia, required them to surrender a large body of land in
Alabama, which was sold for its benefit. Then, too, during
me first year of Gov. Clarke's administration, a delegation
of Cherokees went to Washington City and induced the Sec-
retary of War to change the terms of the treaty that had
been made with them, so as to allow them to remain in our
State. The consent of Georgia was not asked or given.
The Secretarv was lauded to the skies under the plea of the
great importance of civilizing the Indians, and Georgia was
still patiently enduring the annoyance of having them
residing within her limits without being citizens.
Towns settled in this decade were Waynesboro, Irwinton,
Marietta, Lawrenceville.
180
CHAPTER XIX.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1820—1830.
Immediately after Gov. Clarke was inaugurated, the
Crawford party brought forward the name of George M.
Troup for the next Governor. He had been a member of
Congress for many years, and, of all the prominent men in
the State, he was the most uncompromising in his hatred to-
wards those who were engaged in the Yazoo fraud. Fervid
by nature, he was impassioned in debate, scrupulously hon-
est, of soundest judgment, and devoted to his State.
Again did Georgia tremble with a war of contending fac-
tions, and no one was allowed to be neutral. There was
no great principle involved; it was simply a division of the
people into two great parties, led by political opponents
whose animosity grew out of the fact that one of them ap-
proved the Yazoo Act and was a Federalist, which party
was against the political creed of our State.
This agitation divided families, estranged friends, and
distracted churches — whose pulpits, for the first time in
Georgia history, were desecrated by political philippics, so
that "reason seemed to reel and justice to forget her duty."
The eloquent pens of Cobb, Cumming, Foster, Grantland,
Gilmer and Wilde now became active in trying to regain
the lost power of the Crawford party.
181
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
A number of talented young men — among whom was
Charles McDonald, conspicuous for character and family —
espoused the Clarke faction, and did yoemen's work under
the leadership of Judge Dooly and Col. Duncan G. Camp-
bell.
There were not a dozen newspapers in the State at this
time, but they were all for Troup. So, the opposition
started a paper of its own; right valiantly did the editor
do battle for his cause and defend Gov. Clarke against
the fierce attacks of his opponents.
l?or two years this war of words continued, increasing in
bitterness every hour until the election came off. When
the Legislature met, there was intense excitement, and
some of Troup's supporters urged him to visit the members
and solicit their votes. He nobly replied: "A candidate
for the Executive Chair should not debase that high office
by seeking to influence legislative votes. I have refused
through life to electioneer, and I am too old to do it now."
When the vote was taken, Gov. Clarke was re-elected bv
a majority of two.
This Legislature elected Nicholas Ware to the United
States Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation
of Maj. Freeman Walker. Both these gentlemen were
eminent lawyers, and have been honored by having
counties named for them. Nicholas Ware was the son of
an officer of the Revolutionary war, and one of the most
prominent men in Augusta. He was the first mayor of
that city, and his portrait still adorns the council chamber.
In the meantime a great calamity had fallen upon our
beautiful city, Savannah. It was almost destroyed by fire,
the loss of property amounting to about four million
182
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
dollars. The misery and want in the city were very great,
but assistance was quickly sent to the sufferers, from differ-
ent parts of Georgia and other States. A city baker, whose
property was uninjured by the fire, for eight days supplied
bread free of charge to those persons whose losses were so
great that they had no means to purchase food.
Savannah had not recovered from this disaster before it
was visited by a terrible scourge of yellow fever; but, so
great was its recuperative power that during the winter of
the same year its commercial activity had returned.
Almost all the towns on the west side of the Ocmulgee
river sprang into existence during this decade, as if by
magic. Where no voice had ever been heard save that of
the Indian hunter, where the wolves still howled in the
solitude of the forest, where the cabins of the Creeks had
recently stood, within a few years industry had converted
the country into beautiful plantations and lovely villages.
It is a noteworthy fact that in every village, lots were set
apart for houses of worship. These new settlements were
made on the land recently acquired from the Creeks, by the
treaty made with them at the famous Indian Spring, in
Butts countv.
When Gov. Clarke's second term expired, George Troup
became our Governor. His opponent was a friend of
Clarke's, Matthew Talbot, who had once served as Gov-
ernor for a few months. This was the hottest and hardest
battle ever fought by the two parties.
The Legislature required Gov. Troup to use every exer-
tion to obtain from the Federal Government "the extin-
guishment of the Indian title to all our remaining terri-
tory." So, he began his administration with a grave prob-
183
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
lean to be solved. Well was it for Georgia that a man of
undaunted courage was now at the helm of State !
In order to understand Gov. Troup's difficulties, it must
be remembered that the agreement made with Georgia by
the Federal Government in 1802 still remained unexecuted.
The States of Mississippi and Alabama, formed from the
land which Georgia had generously given, were fast filling
up wTith a desirable population, and the Indian titles there
were in course of extinction ; whereas the Creeks and Chero-
kees were still fastened upon Georgia.
Our State was constantly urging the Federal Government
to fulfil its contract. She had never failed to do her duty
to it in times of war and public distress. There was a grow-
ing sentiment, at this time, in the Northern States, encour-
aged by the authorities at Washington, that the Indians
ought to remain here indefinitely, and, perhaps, be permit-
ted to try the experiment of an independent government.
In those States the Indian titles had long since been ex-
tinguished, because it was a matter of national policy; but,
when it came to a question of Georgia's rights, they were
seized with a morbid philanthropy that was full of sym-
pathy for the poor Indians, while they shut their eyes to
such practical details as the sacred obligation of the Fed-
eral Government to the State of Georgia.
Gov. Troup at once began a correspondence with the
Secretary of War on this subject, which resulted in the ap-
pointment of two distinguished Georgians, Duncan G.
Campbell and James Meriwether, to treat with the Creeks.
They failed in their mission, owing to the opposition of
that portion of the Nation that was under the influence of
Ho-poth-le-yo-holo, so lately the ally of Great Britain, the
184
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
baneful counsel of Col. John Crowell, United States Agent
for their Nation, and the missionaries who lived in the
Cherokee country. Col. Crowell was a friend of Clarke's,
and openly declared that Georgia should not have an acre
of the Creek land while Troup was governor.
However, our Governor's energy and perseverance beat
down all opposition, and the two commissioners finally met
the Creeks in council at the Indian Springs, where the at-
tendance of chiefs was unusually large. William Mcin-
tosh was there, and so was his hated rival, Ho-poth-le-yo-
holo. Each chief was followed by sub-chiefs and warriors.
Mcintosh made a speech as soon as the Council was
opened, announcing his readiness to sell the land. His
"talk" showed him to be a statesman, and wise beyond his
people. He explained how, with the whites all around
them, their mighty Nation had become dwarfed; that it
was only a matter of time until there would be no game in
the country and they would be without food; that some of
their young men had been to look at the proffered land be-
yond the Great River, and it was good, and the game there
was abundant. Then, turning to his rival, who stood
listening with scornful defiance, he said: "Will you go and
live with your people increasing and happy about you; or
will you stay and die with them here, and leave no one to
follow you, or come to your grave and weep over their
great chief ? Beyond the Great River the sun is as bright
and the sky as blue, and the waters are as clear and as
sweet as they are here. Our people will go with us. To
love the ground is mean; to love our people is noble."
He continued for some time to address the haughty chief
in the same eloquent strain, recapitulating all the good that
would result from their moving to the West.
185
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
When he concluded his "talk," his followers grunted
their approbation; but Ho-poth-le-yo-holo, the great, red
chief, turning from him in disdain, addressed himself to
the commissioners. He was a powerful speaker, with a
manner passionate almost to wildness, and his imagery was
original and beautiful. His speech is well worth repro-
ducing, but a few extracts must suffice. As he turned his
back on Mcintosh, he broke forth fiercely: "Who says it
is mean to love the land, to keep in our hearts these graves,
as we keep the Great Spirit ? It is noble to love the land
where the corn grows, and which was given to us by the
Great Spirit. We will sell no more Leave
to us the little we have; let us die where our fathers died;
and let us sleep where our kindred sleep ; and when the last
is gone, then take our lands and with your plows tear up the
mould upon our graves and plant your corn above us.
There will be none to weep at the deed, none to tell the tra-
ditions of our people. . . . We are few and weak, you
are many and strong, and you can kill us and take our
homes; but the Great Spirit has given us courage to fight
for our homes, if we may not live in them; we will do it,
and this is our talk, our last talk."
He folded over his shoulders the blanket which he had
thrown aside, and, followed by his band and another chief
with his party, passed out of sight.
Mcintosh, una wed by this defection, concluded the treaty,
and agreed to move to the West within a year. They were
to receive acre for acre in Western lands, and four hundred
thousand dollars in money. The United States agent,
Crowell, witnessed the treaty; but the next day, with seve-
ral chiefs, he started for Washington City to protest
186
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
against it as unfair. The President, Mr. Monroe, submit-
ted the treaty to the Senate, and it was solemnly ratified.
When this fact became known among the Upper Creeks,
their hostility to Mcintosh and his party, culminated in a
conspiracy against his life. His old enemy Ho-poth-le-yo-
holo instigated and planned the murder, though he did not
lead the band of assassins. A large number of warriors,
headed by a chief, were selected to do this dark deed.
Their orders were to meet at a certain spot on an appointed
day, when they were silently to surround his house at night ;
at daybreak they were to burn it, and as he rushed out they
were all to fire upon him. -
That there might be no mistake as to the time, each
warrior was furnished with a bundle of sticks, each stick
representing a day. Every time the sun set, one of them
was to be thrown away; and when only one remained, that
was the night on which Mcintosh was to perish. To betray
the secret, or to be absent at the appointed time, was death.
Only too well was this bloody plot carried out; and Wil-
liam Mcintosh, whose whole life had been devoted to his
Nation, his tribe, and to our beloved State, fell beneath the
blows of assassins, in his own house, upon Georgia soil.
This cowardly murder produced great excitement all over
our State. Many Indians rushed to the white settlements
for protection. Gov. Troup ordered out the militia with
directions to be ready at a moment's notice to march to the
jSTation and protect the friendly Creeks, if it should be
necessary. But there were no further hostile demonstra-
tions ; and, not long afterwards, half of the Mcintosh party
moved to the West.
187
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The crowning offence of Mcintosh, in the eyes of his
enemies, was consenting to Gov. Troup's proposition that
the Creek lands should be immediately surveyed, instead
of waiting until they moved a year later. Ho-poth-le-yo-
holo really had very little concern with this question, for
his immediate people and their lands were altogether in
Alabama; in the war of 1812 Gen. Jackson, after the vic-
tory of Horseshoe Bend, had treated them as a conquered
people, and compelled them to remain within certain pre-
scribed limits.
In the midst of this political stir the Governor called an
extra session of the Legislature. They at once passed an
act authorizing the survey. A strong resolution was also
adopted, calling upon Mr. Adams, who had recently be-
come President, to remove the Indian agent from office,
as he was faithless to his trust and an enemy to Georgia.
The President refused to remove him, but instituted an in-
quiry into his conduct by sending to Georgia for that pur-
pose a subordinate clerk in one of the Departments under
his control, whom he called a "clerk of bureau." Gen.
Gaines was also sent down to compose the disorders in the
Creek Xation. When these two officials arrived, they es-
poused the cause of the objectionable agent and of those
Indians who were our enemies; and, besides this, Gen.
Gaines soon formed an alliance with the Clarke faction.
Gov. Troup appointed commissioners to confer with
them. As representatives of a sovereign State, they were
entitled to attend the conferences held by Gen. Gaines with
the Indians, but were hindered as much as possible from
communicating with them.
188
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Gen. Gaines and the "clerk of bureau/' not confining
themselves to the duties allotted them, reported against the
last treaty made at Indian Spring, and misrepresented
Campbell and Meriwether, saying the "treaty was tainted
with intrigue and treachery." Campbell, though he be-
longed to the Carke party, for the purity of his character
was respected and loved by all who knew him; and Meri-
wether stood equally as high in Georgia. The President
determined to re-submit the treaty to Congress, and pro-
hibited the survey ordered by Gov. Troup.
Our Governor maintained that the treaty was valid and
that the land should be surveyed, but expressed himself as
willing to suspend the survey until the Legislature met.
lie complained to the President of his agents, and told
him plainly that unless the laws of Georgia were respected,
he would send the United States officials to Washington in
irons. He demanded the immediate recall, arrest and pun-
ishment of Gen. Gaines, for having, in his correspondence
and publications, insulted the chief magistrate of Georgia.
Such was the law at this time.
"But, in utter disregard of our Legislature and of our
Governor, Crowell was not removed from office; Gaines
was not court-martialed; and the murderers of the brave
Mcintosh were not punished!"
189
CHAPTER XX.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1820—1830.
As the time came around to elect a governor, the fer-
ment in Georgia was again at fever heat. Our Constitu-
tion had been changed, and the first election of a Chief
Magistrate by the people was approaching.
George Troup was a candidate for re-election, and John
Clarke was supported by the opposing party. In this can-
vass, the bitterness and violence of the two factions reached
their acme. ]STot a family in the State escaped its influ-
ence, and hatreds were engendered which neither time nor
reason could ever heal.
The party cry of the Crawford faction, which rang from
the mountains to the seaboard, was:
"Troup and the old treaty !"
The people of Georgia endorsed their intrepid governor
by giving him a majority of six hundred and eighty-two
votes.
For several years Mr. Crawford had been Secretary of
the Treasury, and his ability was acknowledged by both
national parties. He had recently received the nomination
for President, but was stricken with paralysis before the
election came off. It was reported that he would never
sufficiently recover to perform the duties of the office, so
190
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
his friends felt that it would be improper to* elect him.
Nevertheless, he continued a candidate and, in spite of his
physical condition, he received the votes of three States —
Georgia, Virginia and Delaware.
He recovered from this attack, but his health was so
much impaired that he returned to Georgia permanently.
When Judge Dooly died, Crawford was appointed his suc-
cessor, and for the remainder of his life was judge of the
Northern Circuit.
In March, before Troup's second election as governor,
an event occurred which so aroused the enthusiasm of our
State, that even party animosities were for a time forgot-
ten. It was the visit of Marquis de La Fayette who, nearly
fifty years before, had assisted the Colonies in their struggle
for liberty. Now, with the snows of more than three score
winters upon his head, but with a warmth of love in his
heart that kept it young, "the hero of two continents," had
returned to the vigorous young nation whose destiny he
had helped to shape, and he "received the homage of six-
teen republics."
Savannah welcomed him with a military display, and
with the music of the Marseillaise hvmn, the national air
of France. The Chatham Artillery fired the salutes. One
of the field-pieces used on this occasion was that valued
"Washington gun" which had been captured at Yorktown.
From the time the venerable Marquis touched Georgia
soil, he was the guest of the State. When Gov. Troup re-
ceived him on the bluff at Savannah, he said: "Welcome,
La Fayette ! General, 'tis little more than ninety years
since the founder of this State first set foot upon the bank
on which you stand. Now, four hundred thousand peo-
191
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
pie open their arms to receive you. Thanks to a kind provi-
dence, it called you to the standard of independence in the
helplessness of our Revolution Oh, sir, what
a consolation for a man who has passed through seas of
trouble, that the millions of bayonets which guard the
blessings we enjoy stand between you and them ! But,
enough. Welcome, General ! Thrice welcome to the State
of Georgia!"
La Fayette replied in feeling words and was then pre-
sented to the distinguished Georgians around him, among
whom were live Revolutionary soldiers.
The streets, through which slowly moved the procession
escorting him, were crowded to excess, as were the doors
and windows of the houses. The multitude repeatedly
displayed their enthusiastic feelings. The ladies saluted
him by waving their handkerchiefs, and he acknowledged
their attentions by many a graceful bow.
While La Fayette remained in Savannah, he assisted in
layinsr the corner-stones of two monuments, one to Gen.
•/ O 7
Greene, and the other to the lamented Pulaski. Both of
these distinguished men had been his comrades in arms.
From this city he went to Augusta, where he was again
feted and toasted.
At Milledgeville he was received with unbounded
demonstrations of pleasure, a little girl strewing flowers in
his pathway as he stepped from the carriage. At night
there was a grand ball to which people came from the sur-
rounding country for a distance of forty miles. As long
as La Fayette remained the guest of Georgia, every dis-
tinction possible was lavished upon him. His colors, his
192
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
badges, and pictures of him were seen everywhere, and
after his departure were treasured as mementoes of his visit.
When the ( 'reek question was again brought before Con-
gress, Crowell, the Indian agent, was sustained; the In-
dian Springs treaty was repudiated, and another one was
drafted by new commissioners. Gov. Troup, standing
flat-footed on the "old treaty," utterly refused to acknowl-
edge the new one. For three reasons he held it to be a
blank paper: First, it prescribed different boundaries than
those to which Georgia was entitled by the contract of
1802; second, the jurisdiction over the Chattahoochee river,
which had always been absolute in Georgia, was to be di-
vided with Alabama; and third, lands were to be taken from
Georgia and given forever to the Creeks. If Georgia had
been willing to resign her rights, she could not have ac-
knowledged "the new treaty" without admitting the
charges against the spotless characters of Campbell and
Meriwether, and insulting the memory of the chief, Wil-
liam Mcintosh ! The noble Troup was incapabe of aban-
doning principle for expediency !
The pretext under which the Federal Government tried
to set aside the "old treaty" was, that Campbell and Meri-
wether had bribed the chiefs who signed it, by giving them
presents. This had always been done in Georgia whenever
treaties were made; the Indians would not have understood
it, and would have been offended if the presents had been
withheld. This time-honored custom was instituted by
Oglethorpe, the soldier, scholar, statesman and philanthro-
pist; it was continued when Georgia was a royal province,,
and when she became a sovereign State. This fact was.
well known.
1% 193
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The Legislature, in both branches, belonged to the
Clarke party, but they cordially supported the Governor
in his present position. Upholding the rights of Georgia,
they resolved that the "old treaty" should be insisted upon
and carried into effect. They passed a strong resolution
endorsing the integrity of Campbell and Meriwether. The
Georgia delegation in Congress also fought the "new
treaty" to the last, the speeches of Berrien and Forsyth
being particularly effective.
As soon as the Legislature had acted upon this matter,
Gov. Troup caused the boundary line between Georgia and
Alabama to be run according to the contract made in 1802.,
and ordered a survey of the Creek lands embraced in the
"old treaty." After the work had continued for several
months, without any opposition, some of the hostile In-
dians complained to the Federal Government. President
Adams made this a pretext for ordering the arrest of the
surveyors. The Secretary of War sent Lieut. Vinton to
Georgia, with the threat that military force would be used
if the survey was not stopped. The Lieutenant was told
that he must preserve the utmost secrecy in the execution
of his mission, because his personal safety would be in-
volved. Our governor indignantly wrote to the Secre-
tary: "You mistake the character of the people of Georgia.
Officers of the General Government, engaged in the per-
formance of lawful duties, have only to deport themselves
as gentlemen to find the same security and protection in
Georgia, as under the iEgis of the government at Wash-
ington."
When Gov. Troup received the President's threat in re-
gard to the survey, without losing a day, he directed that
194
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
any officer who attempted to arrest one of the surveyors
should be brought to justice. He also issued orders to the
generals of militia to hold themselves in readiness to repel
any hostile invasion of the State. His message to the
Federal Government was, in effect, that force would be met
with force.
There were at this time several hundred United States
regulars on the Chattahoochee river, and a collision be-
tween the two governments seemed imminent; but there
was one difficulty in the way, which the President had over-
looked. Of the three regiments in the South, two were
commanded by Georgians — Mcintosh and Twiggs. Their
ancestors were among the first settlers of our State; their
fathers had suffered for its independence; and these worthy
sons of such sires promptly wrote to the authorities at Wash-
ington that if they were required to take up arms against
Georgia they would resign. Gov. Troup communicated
with the Secretary of War, saying that any attack on the
sovereignty of Georgia would be resisted to the utmost.
The whole subject was submitted to Congress, but no
further steps were taken to interfere with the Indian
Spring treaty, and the matter was finally dropped. The
surveyors completed their work without interruption, and
the land acquired under the "old treaty" was organized.
An act of Legislature then disposed of it by lottery. Thus
were Georgia's rights preserved, and thus did her fearless
governor triumph !
Of the new counties now laid out, one was named Troup;
another Muscogee, to perpetuate the memory of the Creeks
who had so long owned the soil; and a third was called
Coweta, to honor the brave and generous Mcintosh, who
was the head chief of the Coweta towns.
195
CHAPTER XXI.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1820—1830.
In compliance with usage, Gov. Troup retired from of-
fice at the expiration of his second term, but his services
were too valuable and he was too much devoted to Geor-
gia's interests to be allowed to live in private. John For-
syth, of the Crawford party, became our next governor,
and Mr. Troup was soon elected to Congress.
The Tariff Act, called in Georgia the "Bill of Abomina-
tions," which was passed while Mr. Adams was President,
was strongly resented by our congressmen. The
Northern, Middle and Western States made common cause
against the South by endeavoring to force upon her, goods
of northern manufacture. They put such a heavy duty
upon imported goods, that Xew England fabrics were much
the cheapest of the two, imported goods being actually
taxed be von d their cost !
Georgia was incensed at the passage of this Act, and pub-
lic meetings were held all over the State to express the in-
dignation of our people. The men resolved that they
would dress in Georgia homespun instead of Kew England
cloth, eat their hominy without the Kentucky hog as an ac-
companiment, and walk, rather than ride Western horses.
Our women also took fire at the idea of the tariff law, in-
196
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
sisting that their husbands, sons and brothers in Congress
should hold out a flag of defiance to the Northern members
by dressing in home-made clothes. So, at the opening of
the next session all our representatives from the up-coun-
try were dressed in homespun. George Gilmer, of Ogle-
thorpe county, wore a coat made of the finest wool, dyed
with indigo, and mixed with black silk in carding. The
collar and cuffs were covered with black silk velvet, and it
was worn with a rich silk-velvet vest. The cloth for this
coat was presented to him by one of his female constituents,
and it was made by a first-class tailor. The very becoming
coats of the Georgia members attracted universal attention.
It was about this time that a mass of gold weighing three
ounces was found on Duke's creek, in Habersham county.
This was the first gold ever found in Georgia, so far as the
white people knew. Other discoveries were soon made in
that part of the State. Some of the mines were very rich,
especially those about Dahlonega.
Gen. Andrew Jackson was now President. Without any
caucus nomination, he had been supported in all parts of the
Union by those who were opposed to the administration of
Mr. Adams. A small newspaper, called the "Jacksonian,"
published at McDonough, in Henry county, Georgia, was
the first one in the United States to nominate him for the
presidency.
During this year an aerolite fell near Forsyth. About
the middle of a May afternoon, a black cloud appeared in
the heavens, from which, in quick succession, two distinct
•explosions were heard; these were followed by a whizzing
noise passing through the air, which lasted full four
minutes. As was afterwards ascertained, the stone weighed
197
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
thirty-six pounds, and, in its fall, buried itself two and a
half feet in the earth. Its appearance was that of having
been in a furnace ; it was covered with a black substance re-
sembling melted lava, and about the thickness of an ordi-
nary knife-blade. When this stone was broken, it emitted
a strong smell of sulphur, and had a metallic, silver-like ap-
pearance. A fine specimen of this aerolite is preserved in
the museum of the University at Athens.
There occurred in this decade the most remarkable cir-
cumstance which has ever happened in the history of an
Indian tribe. It was the invention of the Cherokee alpha-
bet by George Guess, whose Indian name was Se-quo-iar
and who had no knowledge of any language except his own.
This Georgia Cadmus lived in what is now Chattooga
county; in appearance and habits he was a full Cherokee,
though his paternal grandfather was a white man.
His inventive genius was aroused by hearing some young
men of his tribe commenting upon the superior talents of
the whites. One of them told how white men could put
talk on paper, send it any distance, and it would be under-
stood by those who received it. They all agreed that this
was a very strange thing, and they did not understand how
it was done.
George Guess, who had been a silent listener to the con-
versation, said, with an important air: "Why, the thing is
very easy. I can do it myself." And, picking up a flat
stone, he began to scratch on it with a pin; after a few
minutes he read them a sentence which he had written, by
making a mark for each word.
This produced a laugh, and the subject was dropped; but
it left an indelible impression upon the mind of Guess.
198
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Nothing short of being able to write the Cherokee language
would now -satisfy him, so he bought material and set
about painting the language on paper, having a character to
represent each word. After laboring over this task for
almost two years, and having made several thousand char-
acters, he became convinced that this was not the way to
accomplish his purpose. He was by no means discouraged,
though he was ridiculed by some of his friends and
strenuously opposed by all of them, as they thought he was
wasting his time. He would listen patiently to their ex-
postulations, and then, without attempting to vindicate his
conduct, deliberately light his pipe and again sit doAvn to
his work.
He was firmly convinced that there was a way to express
the Cherokee language on paper, for he had seen white
men writing and he had seen books. He said: "If I could
fix certain marks to represent sounds, I could make things
fast on paper, and it would be like catching a wild animal
and taming it." So, he continued to work with the perse-
verance of genius, until he discovered that certain syllables
were repeated in many words of his native tongue, and that
the same character could be used in these different words.
After that he had no more trouble, and in one month had
formed a complete alphabet, perhaps the only syllabic one
in existence.
In forming f\is characters Guess used some of the
English letters, which he found in a spelling-book that he
owned; but he knew nothing of their nature, and applied
them to sounds wholly different from those they represent
in English. Most of the letters were of his own invention.
The Cherokee language, though the most copious of the
199
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Indian dialects in the United States, is only composed of
the various combinations of sixtj monosyllables, which con-
stituted Guess's alphabet. The accomplishment of this
work by a man and among a people never accustomed to
inventive study, is truly wonderful, and shows the superi-
ority of the Cherokee- over all other Indian tribes.
Tv\7hen his work was ended, Guess took one of his friends
aside, explained the alphabet to him, and said: "We can
now have speaking papers as well as white men."
He found great difficulty in persuading any of his people
to learn it; nor did he ever overcome their prejudices until
he went to Arkansas to visit some of the Nation who had
emigrated, and taught a few of them to read and write their
language. One of them wrote to a friend in Georgia and
^ CD
sent the letter back by Guess, who read it to manv of his
people. It excited a great deal of curiosity. Here was
talk in the Cherokee tongue that had come from beyond
the Great River, sealed up in a paper, yet it was very plain.
His friends became convinced that his system was of some
use, and resolved to learn it. This they accomplished in a
few days, owing to its extreme simplicity. Any one, by
hxing in his memory the names and forms of the letters,
immediately possessed the art of reading and writing.
From this beginning, in a few months, and without any
schools, the Cherokees were able to read and write in their
own language. Two or three years afterwards they were
carrying on correspondence between the different tribes of
their Xation, taking receipts, and giving promissory notes.
It became a common thing in the Nation to see directions
for the different paths inscribed in Cherokee characters
on the trees. Thus, George Guess had the satisfaction of
200
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
seeing his whole people enjoying the fruits of his labor,
greatly benefited by it, and raised to a higher plane of
civilization.
Our Governor, John Forsyth, was a Virginian by birth
and blood, but was raised in Georgia from his fourth year;
in heart, feeling and interests he was a Georgian. How
warmly he advocated the welfare of our State in Congress
is well known. While he was United States Senator, lie
was appointed minister to Spain. It was by his skill and
prudence that the differences between that country and the
Federal Government in reference to Florida were finally
adjusted.
Forsyth was a beautiful speaker, and when he had the
floor he never failed to attract attention. "His language was
always courteous and complimentary to his antagonist.
Without ever exhibiting passion, he evinced deep feeling.
His voice was peculiarly melodious, and, without talking
rapidly, the words seemed to melt into each other like one
continued sound. He used but little gesture, and his most
emphatic passages were always in an undertone, which pro-
duced a solemn effect and left a deep impression. It was
the still, small voice in which he poured out heart and soul
and feeling, charming his audience into a silence, as if they
were listening to the last fading notes of an zEolian harp,
when they felt that the spirit of the wind was fading away."
Through his services to State and Nation, "the name and
fame of John Forsyth became embalmed as national
wealth."
( 'otton was now extensively cultivated in middle and
southern Georgia, and had become our chief export.
201
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
On most plantations the cloth for the negroes' clothe?
continued to be made on hand looms, as there were only-
two or three factories in Georgia.
"When this decade ended, George K. Gilmer was occupy-
ing the Chair of State.
Towns settled in this decade were Bainbridge, Appling,.
Clayton, Clarkesville, Cuthbert, Columbus, Forsyth, La
Grange, Macon, Xewnan, Thomaston, Talbotton, Thomas-
ville.
202
CHAPTER XXII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1830—1840.
Commencement week at Athens was the favorite oc-
casion for the assembling of Georgia's active politicians.
Many of them were trustees of the University, and this
was their best opportunity for meeting to exchange vieAVS
and discuss State arTairs. Newspapers were still few and
unimportant, and it was at Athens, in 1829, that George
R. Gilmer was first asked to become a candidate for execu-
tive honors. The Clarke party made no nomination, Gil-
mer's opponent being a Crawford man. Gov. Gilmer
thought that the factions which had so long disturbed our
State should new forget their differences. With noble
patriotism he sought to accomplish this result, but with
indifferent success.
Early in his administration he had to struggle with great
difficulties in reference to the Cherokees, and this brought
upon him much abuse from beyond his own State.
Georgia congressmen were tauntingly asked: "Why not
let' the Cherokees remain among you ? Why not foster and
improve them, and let them add to your numbers and
wealth ?"
The truth of the matter was, that there had never been
any interchange of the productions of labor between Geor-
203
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
gia and these Indian-. They had added nothing to the
t human knowledge, and their chief wealth consisted
of skins and canoes; the land was not owned by individuals,
bin longed to the Nation. The Cherokee country was
situated among the mountains, and about the head waters
of the Savannah and Chattahoochee rivers. At this time,
they had taken possession of a considerable body of land
lying south of them; it had been abandoned by the Creeks,
but, of course, belonged to Georgia. Game had been de-
creasing with the Cherokees for forty vears, and this fact
tempted them to seize the territory now in dispute. Here
their cattle could live upon the cane, and they could ex-
change hunting for herding. They claimed to have won
this body of land from the Creeks by defeating them in a
game of ball. The tract included what afterwards became
Cobb, Paulding and Polk counties.
When our Legislature convened, it authorized the im-
mediate survey and occupancy of the territory, and for this
the Indians sought revenge. One cold night, when the
ground was covered with snow, they set fire to the houses
of the white settlers, and a number of women and children
were thus deprived of shelter in the most inclement
weather.
Gov. Gilmer had to contend with another complication
at this time. Georgia had found it absolutely necessary to
extend her criminal jurisdiction over the Cherokee Nation,
as violators of the law fled there to escape justice. The In-
dians resented this; and when one of them was arrested and
convicted of murder, a head chief, John Poss, appealed to
the Supreme Court of the United States for an injunction
to restrain the State of Georgia from executing her laws
204
,V SOVEREIGN STATE.
within Cherokee territory. Our Governor was warned that
he would be cited to appear for the State when the case was
called for trial. He replied that any orders interfering
with the courts of Georgia would be disregarded, and that,
if the Supreme Court should attempt to enforce them, he
would resist with the military. The Supreme Court de-
cided that the State affairs of Georgia were outside of its
jurisdiction.
Georgia's position caused much excitement in the North-
ern States, and many were the meetings held and the peti-
tions forwarded' to Congress in behalf of the Cherokees.
The excitement soon became more intense, because several
Northern missionaries were arrested and convicted of ille-
gal residence among these Indians.
The Legislature had passed a law forbidding white peo-
ple to reside among the Cherokees without a special permit,
and the Governor notified white men living in the Nation
that an oath of allegiance to the laws of Georgia, and resi-
dence license, would be necessary if they desired to remain.
The missionaries — about twelve in number — thought
proper to disregard this warning, and were duly arrested.
All of them finally took the oath except two, who were
sent to the penitentiary, which was the penalty for disre-
garding this law.
Gov. Gilmer offered to release them on condition that
they would remove from the Cherokee territory if unwil-
ling to take the oath. They declined his clemency, and en-
tered the penitentiary as living monuments of fanaticism.
The missionaries had used their position among the In-
dians to give them political counsel, and had thus been a
serious obstacle in the arrangements which Georgia pro-
posed to make with them.
205
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
After a time, by the advice of their friends, the two mis-
sionaries who were in prison changed their course. They
withdrew their suit, then pending in the Supreme Court of
the United States, and wrote to Gov. Gilmer that they
would yield to the authority of Georgia. The whole spirit
of their communication was objectionable, and they stated
that their views had undergone no change. The Governor
replied that if they regarded their principles so highly,
they might stand by them in the penitentiary. Then they
jointly wTrote a most respectful letter, saying that they had
never intended to offer any indignity to the State or its
authorities, and that they would obey the laws of Georgia.
"Whereupon, they were pardoned, after having obstinately
remained in prison for more than a year.
Gross misrepresentations of the facts in this affair were
freely circulated at the Xorth. The impression was made
upon the public, that the missionaries were put in the peni-
tentiary on account of their efforts to christianize the
Cherokees, while the fact that they had violated the law
was carefully concealed. Georgia was ranked with the
despotisms of the East; and her Governor was compared to
Dionysius, Draco and Kero.
Another vexation which Gov. Gilmer encountered early
in his administration was caused by illegal mining in the
gold region. Thousands of idle and profligate persons
flocked thither from every point of the compass. They
were restrained neither by law nor public opinion. After
wading all day, picking up small particles of gold in the
creeks which form the Etowah and Chattahoochee rivers,
at night they collected around lightwood-knot fires to gam-
ble away their profits, and whisky-drinking, swearing and
20G
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
fighting were freely indulged. A proclamation forbidding
trespassers to gather gold made very little impression, and
it was soon discovered that soldiers' bayonets were more ef-
fective than writs of injunction and suits of law.
After the gold-diggers had been seized by soldiers and
expelled from the country, half-breed Cherokees, and the
white people who Avere licensed to live among them, se-
cretly continued to collect gold. It was a great trial to the
Georgians living on the Cherokee frontier to keep away
from the mines which belonged to their State, while the
gold was being stolen by the Indians, and there was danger
of trouble between these two classes. As it was found im-
possible to protect the Indian country from intruders and
the gold mines from trespassers, by civil law, the Legisla-
ture authorized a military company to be raised for that
purpose. It was composed of forty men, with necessary
officers. It was called the "Georgia Guard," and was sta-
tioned near the gold mines.
On the 12th of February, 1833, it was one hundred years
since Gen. Oglethorpe had planted his colony on Yama-
craw Bluff. Then Georgia was a feeble dependency of
Great Britain; now it was a strong and flourishing repub-
lic. Our Legislature has been remiss in not having this
anniversary celebrated as an annual State holiday.
In November of this year there occurred over the whole
State a wonderful meteoric shower. It is still currently
spoken of as the "stars falling." The night was remark-
ably fine. Not a cloud obscured the heavens, when sud-
denly— between eleven and twelve o'clock — the stars ap-
peared to be shooting from their orbits. They fell faster
and faster, until it seemed to be raining stars — north, south,
207
GEOKGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
east, and west, in whatever direction the eyes were turned.
the air was full of Them. This magnificent and astonish-
ing spectacle lasted for several hours. It filled the minds
of the most enlightened with a certain awe; so it is not sur-
prising that wildest terror seized the ignorant, who sup-
posed that the dreadful sight was hut a prelude to the
sounding of the last trump. Shrieks of horror were heard
from the negroes on every plantation; some of them
thought the world was already on fire, and, with hands up-
raised and bitter cries, implored the Lord to save them and
the world.
The eloquent Baptist minister, Jesse Mercer, who did
more to build up his denomination in the South than any-
other man of his day, was at this time preaching in Greene
county. A certain planter and his wife, who lived in this
county, were his ardent admirers and members of his
church. On the memorable night of the meteoric shower,
some of their negroes, who were sitting up late, quickly
discovered that there was something unusual going on in
the heavens; looking out and seeing the "f ailing stars,"
they were sure that the judgment day had come. "With
loud cries they aroused their fellow-servants, and all rushed
in a body to the "big house" to awaken its inmates. The
mistress was quite convinced that the negroes were right
in their conjecture, as she stood gazing for a moment at the
sublime spectacle; but she had a healthy nervous system,
and she loved God and all His creatures; so, turning to one
of her maids, she calmly gave the order: "Nancy, go wake
up the children, wash their faces clean, put on their Sunday
clothes, and put a biscuit in their pockets."
208
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
She was making the same preparations for her family to
meet the Great Judge that she made every Sunday to hear
Jesse fiercer preach!
Two years after the meteoric shower the winter was the
coldest ever known in Georgia. Saturday, after the 7th
day of January, was called emphatically "the cold Satur-
day," and as such is yet remembered. The Savannah
river was coated with ice at Augusta, orange trees in differ-
ent sections of the State were almost exterminated, and on
the seacoast, where the winters are usually very mild, fig
trees a hundred years old were killed. In middle and
upper Georgia the snow was more than a foot deep, and
covered the ground for weeks.
William Harris Crawford, one of Georgia's most illus-
trious sons, died in the autumn of 1834. After a quiet,
social evening at the house of a friend, he was the next
morning found dead in his bed. Struggling against dis-
ease and the weakness of old age, he performed the duties
of his office to the last dav of his life. Let him be an ex-
ample to his young countrymen of this generation !
* "Five years only the representative of the State — al-
ways after that the nation's man, until he was able to serve
the nation no lonsrer. The countrv saw that it had in him
a man beyond most men — of such mind and nerve and
heart, that he could remain no State's man, but belonged
to the largest sphere of work for which men are born; and
the nation took him from the State and kept him in her
service in this or that high office, and would have made him
its chief; and never did he cease to rise, and never did he
go back one step in his wonderful career, until his splendid
frame gave way."
♦Extract from the speech of Charles N. \Vest, delivered before
the Georgia Historical Society at Savannah, May 2, 1892.
14g 201)
CHAPTER XXIII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1830—1840.
The Indian question constantly menaced the peace of
Georgia during this decade. A change had taken place in
the sentiments of a majority of the Cherokee Nation in re-
gard to emigration ; but a strong minority still violently op-
posed it. John Ridge was the leader of those who were
willing to move West, while John Ross headed the opposite
party.
John Ridge was a man of considerable education. On
various occasions he accompanied Cherokee delegations to
Washington City, acting as interpreter, secretary, and
agent. His father, Maj. Ridge, had helped Georgia fight
in the Creek war, and had greatly distinguished himself at
the battle of Horseshoe Bend.
John Ross declared that he had no unfriendly feelings
to Ridge or his party; that whatever he did was designed
to promote the best interests of his people. John Ridge
met him more than half way, saying that he did not agree
with Ross as to the best course for them. to pursue, but he
loved his Nation, and honestly tried to counsel the people
wisely ; that, if Ross could bring their difficulties to an end,
or settle them in some better way than by emigration, he
would gladly accept it and acknowledge him the principal
210
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
chief of the Nation; that he was willing, at all times, to
unite with him in any measures that would truly promote
the peace and prosperity of their distressed people. Ross's
professions of friendship were only from the lips; and it
was not long before several prominent Cherokees were shot
by unknown hands simply because they were favorable to
the policy of emigration.
No one who is familiar with the portion of our State
then occupied by the Cherokees — which, with its wooded
mountains, fertile valleys, limpid streams, beautiful rapids
and sequestered vales, may well be called the Switzerland
of Georgia — will wonder that the love of these Indians for
its soil was a passion.
The citizens on the frontier felt considerable alarm when
the Indians who were friendly to Georgia's claims, began
to be murdered in this secret manner. They held meetings,
adopted stringent resolutions, and requested our Governor,
Wilson Lumpkin, to station troops at suitable points to pro-
tect them. This was done, and peace was preserved.
It was in this condition of affairs, when the attention of
the whole United States was turned upon Georgia and the
Cherokee Indians, that John Howard Payne, the famous
author of "Home, Sweet Home," proposed to solve the In-
dian question. He was connected with a paper in New
York City, so he had an organ for his opinions and obser-
vations, and determined to make a trip to Georgia, go to
the Nation, and study the subject on the spot.
He had not sojourned long among the Cherokees before
he was arrested by the "Georgia Guard." When his papers
were examined, they were found to contain very improper
and indiscreet statements in relation to the President and
211
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the Georgia authorities, and many bitter remarks concern-
ing Cherokee affair . The "Georgia Guard" considered
him a spy, and treated him with great indignity until he
made friends with a musical soldier who was whistling
4 "Home, Sweet Home." "When he found that the prisoner
was the author of that beautiful and world-renowned air,
he befriended him as long as he was in captivity. WTien
Payne was arrested he was with John Ross. He owed his
liberty, in the first instance, to the exertions of Gen. Ed-
ward Harden, of Athens, to whom he had brought a letter
of introduction on his arrival in Georgia.
As the arrest of Pavne was made in Tennessee, the Gov-
ernor of that State addressed a letter of remonstrance to
AVilliam Schley, the Executive of Georgia, in relation to
this matter. Before that letter was received, however, the
'conduct of the "Georgia Guard" in disregarding the rights
of a sister State had been condemned by the Legislature.
In the end, Payne was exonerated from any treasonable de-
signs against the peace of Georgia, and honorably liberated.
It was in the last month of this year that the small rem-
nant of Seminoles still remaining in Florida took up arms
under their famous chief, Osceola. Their first hostile act
was to murder the United States agent who resided among
them. Seminole is a Creek word, meaning wanderer, and
this tribe was composed of refugees from various others.
The Upper Creeks, hearing of this outbreak, resolved to
seize the opportunity to strike another blow at Georgia.
Assembling in large numbers, they committed many mur-
ders on the Chattahoochee river, so that numbers of the
fr< liiicr people were compelled to forsake their homes and
seek refuge in the large towns.
212
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Volunteer companies were formed all over the State.
In Gwinnett county, in less than two hours after receiving
the Governor's call for volunteers, two companies of one
hundred men each were organized, and the citizens of the
comity contributed six hundred dollars to aid in giving
them an outfit.
Gov. Schley took the field in person, making Columbus
his headquarters. Here he was joined by Gen. Scott,
whom the Federal Government had sent to conduct the
Seminole war. Among the many Georgians who assisted
Gen. Scott was Judge William C. Dawson, who raised a
company for the service.
The Federal General marched first into the Creek coun-
trv. Many of the Indians surrendered after slight skir-
mishes, saying they desired peace. As they surrenderd,
they were sent West as fast as the necessary arrangements
could be made for safe transportation.
The majority of the Creeks still continued in arms. In
May a party of them attacked Roanoke, a small village on
the Chattahoochee river, in Stewart county. They de-
stroyed the boat "Georgia," which was lying on the river,
and only one of the men on board escaped their murderous
fire. The attack on the town was repelled, but two days
afterwards the Indians surprised it at night, when most of
its citizens were wrapped in slumber. The firing of rifles and
the yells of the Creeks gave .the first alarm that the enemy
was near. The citizens sprang to anus and rushed to at-
tack them; but being outnumbered were compelled to
abandon the town, having, however, to force a way through
their enemies. A negro bov named Peter fought so des-
perately by his master's side, that the Indians made every
213
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
exertion to kill him, but were unsuccessful. After the
whites retreated, Roanoke was burned to ashes.
A few weeks afterwards, Capt. Hamilton Garmany's de-
tachment had a battle on Dr. Sheppard's plantation, with
the same party of Creeks. The Indians, being reinforced
from time to time, flanked the Georgians and divided them.
Capt. Garmany, with a small band, sought the protection of
a ginhouse, ordering his men to reserve their fire until they
were sure that they could kill the enemy. Taking a posi-
tion behind a tree that screened him from view, he killed
two Indians, but was then wounded in the thigh and fell.
His men cried out to each other that he was killed, and
were on the verge of a panic, when he shouted to them to
fight on, as he was only wounded. His command on the
other flank of the enemy were keeping up the fight with
vigor and energy.
In the meantime, Capt. Garmany, lying seriously wound-
ed behind the tree, noticed an Indian gliding towards him
with a drawn knife. As soon as he was within range, the
Captain raised himself with an effort and shot him. Then,
taking his pocket pistol in his hand ready for another at-
tack, he determined to sell his life dearly.
Just at this critical moment Maj. Jernigan arrived with
reinforcements from Fort Jones, three miles below, and
charged upon the Indians. This diverted their attention
from the wounded officer, who was at once placed on horse-
back behind one of his men and carried to the Fort. All
the Georgians stood firm at their posts until ordered to re-
treat, when they, too, made their way to the Fort.
Thus ended one of the most desperate battles fought
during this outbreak of the Creeks. The Indians engaged
in the battle of Sheppard's plantation, being determined to
214
A SOVEREIGNS ATE.
join the Seminoles in Florida, continued on their way, plun-
dering and killing as they had opportunity.
In a very lonely situation, near the road leading from
Albany to Blakely, there stood for twenty years or more
after this decade a dilapidated, uninhabited house, the
very picture of desolation. To a believer in ghosts it
seemed a fit spot for their nocturnal visits. In the dusky
twilight, a traveller, approaching it, would almost expect
to see spectral forms gliding through the dismal rooms.
The surroundings were in keeping with the house. The
woods looked dark and gloomy; long moss hung in curtains
from the trees, as if Nature, in sympathy with the victims
of some awful tragedy, had clothed herself in the habili-
ments of woe.
This house, in fact, had been the scene of a bloody crime,
perpetrated by this same band of Creeks. The owner had
offended them deeply, and they resolved to have their re-
venge while they were on the "war path."
At this particular time, the house was all open, and the
servants busy with the usual duties of the early morning.
The planter and his family, with several neighbors as
guests, had just gathered around the breakfast table, when
their blood was chilled by the war-whoop of the Creeks,
who, concealed by the forest, had. approached the house un-
seen. The demon of revenge took possession of them, and
this whole family fell victims to their fury, the blood of
father, mother, children, neighbors and servants mingling
together.
"What added to the horror of this terrible deed was, that
the plantation had changed hands, and in their blind rage
the Creeks had missed the object of their vengeance and
destroyed an innocent family.
215
CHAPTER XXIV.
A SOVEREIGN STATE (Continued.)
1830—1840.
A swift vengeance overtook that band of cruel Creeks
who had committed so many crimes. Two small companies
of Baker county militia followed their trail. When close
upon the Indians they dispersed in small squads, to protect
the people and wait for reinforcements.
The Indians saw that they could not continue their jour-
ney, and three hundred of their warriors penetrated to an
island in the middle of Chickasawhatchee Swamp, in Baker
county, and there fortified themselves. This swamp is fif-
teen miles long, and from four to eight miles wide, with
here and there a dry spot of earth. At this time it was in-
fested with alligators, bears and wolves. Not a white man
had any but the vaguest knowledge of it; the Creeks knew
it well.
A week after the Indians had made a stand the militia
were joined by several companies, consisting of both in-
fantry and cavalry, the wdiole under command of Col.
Beall.
It was determined to attack at once the Indians in their
stronghold. Accordingly, two hundred soldiers were sta-
tioned to prevent their escape. The rest of the command
penetrated the swamp through undergrowth, mud, and
water which was sometimes up to their waists, until they
reached the island. Here a very hard battle was fought.
216
A SOVEREIGN STATE
It had only lasted something over thirty minutes when the
Creeks fled. They were closely pursued, and most of them
either killed or captured. Their camp, with its tents, pro-
visions, horses and many rifles, fell into the hands of the
victorious Georgians. So eager were our soldiers to fight
this band of bloody Creeks, that, when it became necessary
to leave a guard with the horses while their riders were ab-
sent in the swamp, not a man was willing to remain, and
the officers were compelled to detail soldiers for that duty.
This was a very important victory, as it prevented a body
of brave and experienced warriors from joining the Semi-
noies who were giving the Federal Government much
trouble; and though the Georgia troops who won it were
militia with little experience or discipline, they behaved
with great coolness and bravery.
A little later on, a sharp battle was fought with another
band of Creeks, at the Echowanotchaway Swamp, in Ran-
dolph county. The Georgians were commanded by Maj.
Jernigan, and Gen. William Wellborn reinforced him.
The Indians fought with desperation, contesting every
foot of the ground; but being at last forced from their
strong positions, they were soon defeated.
A company of Creeks on their way to the Seminoles at-
tempted to pass through Thomas county, when several vol-
unteer companies from this county and Lowndes, under
Maj. Young, went in pursuit of them. Xot an Indian had
lieen seen, when our soldiers, worn out with their hasty
march, stopped for the night. During the evening they
were joined in camp by Capt. Sharpe and Capt. Tucker.
It was owing to the vigilance and perseverance of the
former that the Indian trail was found.
217
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Never did a braver band march against an enemy. Sus-
tained by love for their State, and willing to die to protect
her sacred altars, they stood the shock of battle like veter-
ans, while the foe poured a heavy fire into their ranks. At
last the Creeks gave way, and were pursued nearly three
miles, our soldiers using their guns with deadly effect
during the pursuit.
Not long after this event the Creek chiefs, becoming
dispirited by so many reverses, sued for peace and sur-
rendered their bands. They were sent by installments to
the West, until not one member of the once powerful CreeK
Nation remained on Georgia soil.
While all these events were taking place, many Geor-
gians were assisting the Federal soldiers in Florida and
fighting the Upper Creeks in Alabama. Capt. Morris and
his company from Franklin county won a great reputation
in the latter State, their daring deeds being the chief theme
of their associates in arms.
One of these volunteers had a strange experience. After
a battle, he was in hot pursuit of a Creek, who, finding that
he would be caught, tried to save himself by running
among a group of Indian women. Two of them seized the
Franklin county soldier and held him fast. It was in vain
that he exerted himself to get away from them; and when
they made a furious assault upon him with knives, he drew
his bowie-knife, and in self-defense gave each woman a
blow which killed her.
Another Georgian had an unusual adventure. Duncan
McKrimmon, of Milledgeville, fighting against the Semi-
noles in Florida, had the misfortune to be captured by a
party of them, led by the renowned prophet, Francis.
This chief wore an elegant uniform, had a fine brace of
218
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
pistols, and exultingly displayed to his prisoner the com-
mission as brigadier-general, which he had received from
the British. Arrived at the camp, the ferocious prophet
had McKrimmon's head shaved, his clothes removed, and
then had him tied to a stake around which the Seminoles
danced for several hours, all the while yelling most hor-
ribly. Milly, the fifteen-year-old daughter of the prophet,
sat with the rest of the Indians watching this savage scene.
Amidst the general joy, she alone was sad and silent.
When the last awful moment came, and the fatal toma-
hawk was raised to strike the prisoner dead, quick as
thought, Milly sprang up and placed herself before him.
The executioner paused in astonishment, and, taking ad-
vantage of it, she implored her father's pity for Mcrlrim-
mon, and said that if he thirsted for human blood he might
shed hers, for she would not survive the prisoner. Her
father yielded to her wishes; but with the intention, as was
afterwards discovered, of murdering them both, if he could
not sell McKrimmon to the Spaniards. Happily the sale
was effected in a few days, at St. Marks, for seven and a
half gallons of rum. As long as the Georgian was a pris-
oner Milly continued to show him acts of kindness.
In two years the fortunes of war had placed the Semi-
noles at the mercy of the Federal government. Milly
Francis and a number of her people went to Fort Gadsden
in a starving condition, and surrendered. It was generally
known how she had acted as the guardian angel of a Geor-
gia militiaman, and the commanding officer treated her
with great respect. When Mr. McKrimmon heard of
Milly's distress, he hastened from his Georgia home to her
assistance, and did all in his power to alleviate her mis-
fortunes. Such incidents as these soften the horrors of war.
219
GEORGIA L\ND AND PEOPLE.
After the surrender of the Creeks, Capt. Garmany and
his soldiers, returning from tJie war, stopped at .Newnan,
and were entertained with great enthusiasm. Crowds of
people from the surrounding country joined the citizens
in giving the soldiers an ovation at the court-house. Col.
W. D. Spear was in the chair, and appropriate speeches
were made. A song containing eight verses was sung three
times, with weeping eyes and great applause.
It was called "Capt. Garmany's Fight." Tune — 'Scots
wha hae wi/ &c.
The first verse of this mournful ditty is as follows:
" See the Ghattahoochee flow
By Roanoke descending low ;
There our soldiers met the foe
Fierce as panther prowling."
The citizens of iNewnan were anxious to entertain the
soldiers until next day; but anxiety to see their families
forced them to decline further hospitalities.
As a State, Georgia has always been sympathetic and
generous, so it was not with indifference that she witnessed
the struggle of the Texan colonists against the overbearing
conduct and gross injustice of the Mexican officials.
"When no remedy but a revolution was left, Georgians
were found fighting with the Texan s, shoulder to shoulder,
from Gonzales to San Jacinto. Georgians were massacred
at the Alamo and murdered with Fannin at Goliad. It was
a Georgian, Mirabeau B. Lamar, who, in the decisive battle
of San Jacinto, at the head' of his sixty horsemen, rode into
Santa Anna's ranks, and as he .made his memorable charge
arose in his stirrups and, waving iris sword over his head, ex-
claimed : "Remember the Alamo ! Remember Goliad !
Charge ! and strike in vengeance for the murdered of our
companions !"
220
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Closely following him, his command, resistless as a cy-
clone, swept down upon the foe, charging right through
their ranks, throwing them into confusion and following
them for miles in their flight.
The capture of Santa Anna was attributed to this charge.
Many members of the Lamar family have been promi-
nent in Georgia and other States.
That great results often start from small beginnings is
proverbial; and such was the case with the first railroad
ever built in Georgia.
In one of the stately homes of Athens the owners and
directors of Princeton Factory had met to talk over its
affairs. They were just having the machinery put in,
and all of this had to be hauled from Augusta in
wragons. The shaft for the factory had, during all
the winter, been stuck in the mud in a narrowT, boggy
road in Wilkes county, called aPope's lane," which was
four or five miles long. While discussing ways and means
of getting the shaft to Athens, one of the gentlemen who
had recently returned from Delaware, where there was a
%J 7
short railroad, remarked: "What a pity we haven't a rail-
road to Augusta." Another said: "Why don't you build
one ?"
Thus was originated the idea that led to the building of
the Georgia Railroad, and. their host became its first presi-
dent. A portion of this important road was in operation
during this decade.
The time had now arrived when, according to the treaty
that had been made with the Cherokees, they were to leave
Georgia and settle in the West.
George Gilmer was, for the second time, our Governor.
221
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Even those Cherokees who were convinced that emigra-
tion ,vas the only way to preserve their Nation did not
leave the land they loved so well without heart-breaking
regrets. Those who were opposed to the treaty, as one
last act of spite against the whites, tried to destroy "the
waters of life" in the "Yale of Springs/' by driving plugs
of wood into the apertures in the slate.
This remarkable little valley, containing fifty-two bold
springs, is in Walker county, and is surrounded by moun-
tains. On the eastern side a bold, clear creek comes
tumbling into it, and, passing rapidly westward, escapes be-
tween two abrupt peaks. The waters of the medicinal
springs are so strongly mineral that their character can be
discovered at a glance. Red sulphur, blue limestone and
the purest freestone water gush forth within a few feet of
each other. All these springs either issue from the moun-
tain side upon a bed of hard black slate, or boil up through
it. The most severe and long continued drouth, makes no
perceptible difference in their quantity of water. Mature
has beautified the "Yale of Springs" with lavish hand, and
it was a favorite resort with the Cherokees. who considered
its waters life-restoring and life-preserving.
Again, while the facts were unknown to the general pub-
lic, a great deal that was most abusive Avas spoken and writ-
ten of Georgia's policy towards the Cherokees. Afterwards
every enemy of Georgia was forced to acknowledge that
emigration had tended to the improvement and happiness
of the Indians, who, in their new homes, instead of being
controlled in their public affairs and corrupted in their
morals by designing white men, were occupying a country
best suited to their instincts and habits. At the same time
Georgia was relieved of a constant irritation that acted in-
990
A SOVEKEIGN STATE.
juriously both on her citizens and the Indians. Her policy
had been based on the conviction that such wonld be the
result.
Had Georgia not stood firmly by her convictions and her
rights, the Creeks might yet be roaming between the Mint
and the Chattahoochee rivers; and the Cherokees might
still, in our mountain land be acknowledging the sway of
a Rideje or a Ross.
Two Georgia regiments, under Gen. Charles Floyd, as-
sisted the Federal Government in gathering the Indians
from their villages into camps, and escorting them to Ross's
Landing, now Chattanooga, where they were sent forward
in boats on their journey to the West.
It is sad to record that Maj. Ridge, John Ridge, and
Elias Boudinot, the three Cherokees who took the most
active part in making the treaty which resulted in emigra-
tion, were assassinated by the party opposed to it.
Georgia enjoys the glory of being the first country in
the world to charter a female college. It is beautifully
situated on a high hill in the city of Macon, and is called
the Wesleyan Female College. It was projected in 1836
and opened for students in January, 1839. Its first Presi-
dent was the Rev. George Pierce of the Methodist church,
who afterwards became a bishop, and was a brilliant orator
of national reputation.
When this decade closed, the entire territory within the
chartered limits of Georgia was, for the first time, in pos-
session of the State.
«
The towns settled in this decade were Americus, Cuth-
bert, Marietta, Rome.
'223
CHAPTER XXV.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
■
1840—1850.
Georgia had just begun to recover from the trouble and
excitement of removing the Indians from her territory
when financial distress, like a dark shadow, spread its pall
over the State. The treasury was nearly empty, and there
were no funds to complete the great work which the State
had undertaken in building the AVestern and Atlantic rail-
road. A young legislator had made his maiden speech be-
fore the House on the bill to commence this important road.
The members and the visitors in the gallery were alike at-
tracted by the clear, shrill, and wonderfully penetrating
voice; having arrested their attention, he held it to the end,
and sat down amidst a burst of applause. He had '"the thin
attenuated form of a mere boy, with a black, gleaming eye
and a cadaverous face." It was Alexander Hamilton
Stephens. From -that hour his career was Avatched with in-
terest.
All classes suffered from the depression in money mat-
ters. The price of cotton fell very low, while many of the
articles absolutely necessary to the planter increased in
value*
Our Governor, Charles McDonald, was confronted with
the responsibility of restoring the State to a healthy finan-
cial condition, and performed this arduous task with ability.
224
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
The old party lines that had been the occasion of so
much hard feeling had now entirely disappeared, and the
people were divided between the Democrats and the
Whigs. There was often much partisan excitement during
elections, but the intense bitterness of former davs was not
revived.
At this time, when many important and delicate politi-
cal questions were being agitated in the councils of the
nation, Judge John M. Berrien, a Whig, was one of the
United States senators from Georgia. He took a promi-
nent part in the debates, adding greatly to the fame which
he had already acquired. In spite of this, he was cen-
sured by the Legislature, which was Democratic, and it
was virtually declared that he did not represent the senti-
ments of the people of Georgia. The next year the Legis-
lature, which was Whig, sustained and complimented him.
In the second year of this decade, one of Georgia's
gifted sons, Dr. Crawford W. Long, discovered that the
inhalation of the vapor of ether would produce insensi-
bility to pain. When he told his friends of his wonderful
discovery not one of them encouraged him, fearing that,
if he put it to a practical test the patient would never re-
cover consciousness and the doctor would be mobbed.
With the fearlessness of conviction, the first time he had
a patient requiring the surgeon's knife he successfully
tested the anaesthetic power of ether in the presence of
several persons. This happened in the town of Jefferson,
and he then made known his discovery to the profession.
ISTo pen can portray the amount of pain from which suf-
fering humanity has thus escaped. There were three-
g!5 225
GEOKGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
claimants for the honor that belonged to Dr. Long; but,
after many years his right was recognized. His portrait
hangs in the Hall of Representatives at the capital of his na-
tive State.
Business was still languishing when George W. Craw-
ford became Governor. He managed the State's finances
so well that vitality was soon infused into all public enter-
prises, and confidence re-established. It was during Craw-
ford's second term that the first Supreme Court in Georgia
was organized.
Joseph Henry Lumpkin, of Oglethorpe county, was our
first Chief Justice. The associate Justices were Eugenius
Xesbet and Hiram Warner. L"p to this time there was
no appeal from the decisions of the circuit judges. Their
power was absolute and dangerous, but very rarely abused.
Judge Lumpkin had not lingered for years a briefless
lawyer, as many great men have done, but sprang, almost at
one bound, to the front rank of his profession. He was a
favorite with all his acquaintances, and his talent and in-
tegrity were conspicuous even in boyhood. He was the
model that mothers held up to their sons. Scarcely a boy
in his circle of friends was ever scolded for a piece of mis-
chief, whose mother did not reproachfully end her reproof
by saying: "Why can't you be like Joe Lumpkin?" Such
was the strong sense and good heart of young Lumpkin
that all this partiality did not spoil him, but only served
to inspire a lofty ambition.
At this time, the State was teeming with young men of
talent; there was scarcely a county without one or more of
great promise, and success in public life could only be at-
tained by eminent ability. To reach the Legislature was
226
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
the first step towards fame, and political prominence was
the goal of every ambitions young man.
Lumpkin was only twenty-five years of age when his
county, by an almost unanimous vote, sent him to the
Legislature. He had already won enviable fame as an
orator, but his friends feared that he would not be able to
sustain his reputation where learning and eloquence were
the rule, not the exception. He had to compete with many
young men from different parts of the State, who, like him-
self, were known to have a high order of talent; among
these were Charles Dougherty, William Law, and Hopkins
Holsev.
Young Lumpkin's first speech on the floor of the House
was one of thrilling eloquence, and before its conclusion
the Senate chamber was deserted that its members might
listen to him. He had a great fondness for the classics,
and his use of Latin quotations was very happy. He
served a few terms in the Legislature, and then retired
from public life, devoting himself to his profession. After
he was elected Chief Justice, he held the office until the
dav of his death.
"While the party war between the Crawford and Clarke
factions was raging with greatest violence, Lumpkin was
practicing law in Lexington. In the Tronp and Clarke
canvass two men, who had been near neighbors and warm
friends from their boyhood, fell out about politics. The
one who lived in Oglethorpe county was in favor of Troup
for governor, and the other, who lived just over the line in
Greene county, was for Clarke. From abusing each
other's candidate they fell to personal abuse, became
bitter enemies, and each annoyed the other in every way
227
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
possible. Einajly, one accused the other of owing him
twenty dollars, which was vehemently denied, and the dis-
pute over this point culminated in a lawsuit. The Ogle-
thorpe county man engaged Lumpkin for his counsel, and
the Greene county man employed William C. Dawson.
When the case came up for trial, but before the court
opened, the two lawyers, after conferring for a few minutes,
called their clients to one side and urged them, in eloquent
language, to dismiss their suit and become friends. So im-
pressed were the two men with the force of their reasoning,
that they cordially shook hands and became as good
friends as ever. But the crowd that was always hanging
around when court was in session did not take the recon-
ciliation in good part. They said they had come there es-
pecially to hear the speeches of Lumpkin and Dawson;
their muttered discontent reached the quick ears of the
former, and he said: "If a speech is all you want, I will
make one," and he forthwith delivered the first temperance
speech ever made in Georgia.
At this time well-filled decanters stood upon every gen-
tleman's sideboard, but it must not be inferred that drunk-
enness was a universal vice, for such was not the case.
Lumpkin was a natural orator, and thought more quickly
when on his feet facing a multitude, than at his desk with
pen in hand. His ornate language, with the fervor of his
feelings, made his speeches wonderfully effective; on this
occasion, though his theme was a novel one for that time,
he delighted his audience.
The associate J ustice, Eugenius A. ]^esbet, having
graduated at the University with first honor, entered upon
the practice of law in competition with such men as Early,
228
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Thomas W. Cobb, Shorter, Longstreet, Lamar, and Daw-
son, and became the peer of each.
At this period, a classical education was considered the
best foundation for all learning, as the ancients had re-
flected so profoundly on all subjects, and said so beauti-
fully almost all that was worth saying. The lore of Greece
and Rome largely gave to these illustrious Georgians their
culture and force of language. It remains to be seen
whether a different system will develop a Troup or a
Stephens.
The other associate Justice, Hiram Warner, was not a
Georgian, but had been identified with her interests from
his seventeenth year. He was the architect of his own
fortune, and became a distinguished jurist, spending his
whole life in the service of the people of Georgia.
At this time Walter T. Colquitt, a leader of the Demo-
cratic party, was a congressman, and subsequently became
United States senator. He was famous, both as a lawyer
and a judge. His knowledge of men made him unequalled
before a jury; and as an orator he could sway an audience
almost at will. Every emotion of his mind was expressed
upon his face, especially in his eyes, which would soften
or grow fierce, according to his mood. He was omnipotent
in Georgia, and his friends were legion. He was a general
of militia and a prominent member of the Methodist
church, from which he held a license to preach.
In a certain country neighborhood, an aged Methodist
sister, listening to' a group of ladies discussing the great
men of Georgia, emphatically declared that Colquitt was
the greatest man in the State, and continued: "Ah, you
may talk of your great men, but none on 'era is equal to
229
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
brother Colquitt; for, in our county, lie tried a man for
his life and sentenced him to be hung, preached a sermon,
mustered all the men in the county, married two couples,
and held a prayer-meeting, all hi one day. 'Now, wa'n't
that great?''
While George VV. Towns was governor, the Western
and Atlantic railroad, including the tunnel through the
Little Blue Ridge, was completed. The tunnel is 1,477
feet long, 18 feet high, and 12 feet wide in the clear. It
is cut almost entirely through solid rock. The approaches
to it on either side are protected by massive masonry. This
great work was directed by William L. Mitchell, of Athens,
who was at that time topographical and civil engineer
of the State, an office that the Legislature had created
during Gov. Clarke's first term, to promote internal im-
provements.
When the work was finished, ready for the passing of
trains, there was great rejoicing, and the tunnel was chris-
tened with generous old wine in the presence of many dis-
tinguished persons. A bottle of water from the river Jor-
dan, which a missionary to Jerusalem had presented to the
chief engineer, was poured out by him in honor of the oc-
casion.
Two massive posts of gray granite, stand, one on each
side of the track, where this road enters Tennessee, thus
marking the boundary line between that State and Geor-
gia. Cut deep into the granite, that has withstood the
storms and sunshine of nearly fifty years, are the names of
Gov. Towns, Col. Mitchell, and the other officials of the
road. From the day the tunnel was opened to the present
230
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
time, the locomotive engineer always signals the passing
between these two posts, by giving two sharp blasts of the
whistle.
Because this railroad is the property of Georgia, it has al-
ways been popularly called "the State Road." Its comple-
tion was a momentous occasion for Georgia. It has not
only added millions of dollars to the income of the State,
but has built up a number of large and thriving towns on
its line, and opened up the splendid country around At-
lanta, whose commercial importance was thus brought to
the front.
At this period, Georgia, with much energy and enter-
prise, led all parts of the United States in building rail-
roads.
231
CHAPTER XXVI.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Continued ).
1840—1850.
In this decade Georgia was called upon to help a sister
State in distress.
Mexico, never having recognized the independence of
Texas, still claimed that territory as subject to her do-
minion. So, when Texas was admitted into the Union,
Mexico denied her right to independent action and pre-
pared for war. The Federal Government called on all the
States for volunteers to aid Texas.
Georgia enthusiastically responded, and at once, sent out
a regiment of infantry composed of ten companies from
different parts of the State, under the leadership of Col.
Henry E. Jackson of Savannah. Every infantry company
in the city volunteered, but, as only one was needed, it was
decided by lot which should be accepted. The company
drawn was the Jasper Greens; with one exception, it was
the youngest military organization in Savannah.
A company was raised in Bibb county, which joined
the United States army of regulars and served through the
whole war under their captain, Duncan L. Clinch, for
whom Clinch county was named.
In the meantime, the United States troops under Gen.
Zachary Taylor, stationed on the Texas frontier, had al-
ready opened the war with Mexico.
232
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
The next year, a battalion of infantry led by Col. Isaac
Sevmour, and two battalions of mounted men, one under
Col. Calhoun and the other under Capt. Loyall, of New-
ton county, marched to far-away Mexico.
Besides the troops sent by the State, many Georgians en-
listed in the regular United States army, and assisted in
gaining those brilliant victories which, from the banks of
the Rio del Norte to the pass of Angostura, and from the
ancient city of Vera Cruz to the very wall of the city of
the Montezumas, broke the force of Mexican arms and de-
prived her of all power to interfere with Texas.
Many Georgians lost their lives in this war, among whom
none was more lamented than Col. James S. Mcintosh, a
veteran of the war of 1812. He had led his gallant band
against the Mexicans in more than one well-fonght strug-
gle, before he received his death wound at the bloody bat-
tle of Molino del Rey. Gen. Taylor, who was not usually
enthusiastic, but who was always sincere, spoke warmly of
Mcintosh's coolness in battle, his gallantry, his high bear-
ing, and the efficiency of his regiment. He said: "If I
had had with me at Buena Vista Mcintosh and Riley, with
their veterans, I would have captured or totally destroyed
the Mexican army."
Col. Mcintosh was brought home for burial, and the
citizens of Savannah forsook their usual avocations to do
honor to their dead hero. At the residence of his brother
his body lay in state. The United States flag was thrown
as a pall over his coffin, upon which also rested his sword
and the bullet-pierced uniform that he had worn at his
last battle. A grand procession escorted his body to the
cemetery, where, with military honors, his coffin was de-
233
GEORGIA LAM) AND PEOPLE.
posited in the vault that contained the remains of his illus-
trious kinsman, Lachlan Mcintosh. Thus did the grave
close over a man of whom his countrymen were proud to
say, "he was a Georgian."
Another distinguished Georgian, David Emanuel Twiggs,
on two occasions, commanded the right wing of Gen. Tay-
lor's army. He was promoted for gallantry, and Congress
presented him with an elegant sword.
After the Georgia troops returned home, their State de-
lighted to honor them. The Legislature passed resolutions
praising Col. Henry R. Jackson's regiment, saying that
"their manly and soldierly conduct maintained and indi-
cated the honor and valor of Georgia."
Another Legislature thanked Gen. William H. T.
Walker, Capt. Hardee and Lieut. William M. Gardner for
their gallantry, and presented each of them with a sword.
Capt. Josiah Tattnall, the son of Gov. Tattnall, of honored
memory, serving during this war in the United States navy,
gained for himself a wreath of imperishable fame as the
commander of the Moscheto fleet, at the bombardment of
Vera Cruz. He, too, was honored by his State with a sword.
Thus gloriously was Georgia illustrated by her sons on
the distant plains of Mexico.
The year this war was ended, Jasper county was visited
by the severest hail storm ever seen in Georgia. It en-
tirely destroyed the crops, killed stock and cattle, and
ruined much timber. The hailstones were as large as a
man's fist, and some of them were carried to Monticello
twenty-seven days after the storm.
Atlanta had been settled at the beginning of this decade
and called Marthasville, after the youngest daughter of
234
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Gov. Lumpkin; but in 18 ±7 it was incorporated, and its
name changed to Atlanta. The new name was suggested
by Mr. J. Edgar Thomson, then chief engineer of the Geor-
gia railroad, on account of the geographical position of the
town. It is just on the dividing ridge which separates the
waters of the Gulf of Mexico from those of the South At-
lantic slope. Situated at such an elevation, its climate is
comparatively mild and delightful at all seasons. The
growth, thrift and prosperity of the city were remarkable.
'It scarcely numbered five hundred inhabitants when the
Georgia Railroad was finished.
In the last year of this period, there was a snowstorm in
the middle of April, and crops all over the State were
damaged by the cold. In spite of many drawbacks, Geor-
gia had made long strides towards prosperity, and was
steadily advancing in education, agriculture and commerce.
The towns settled in this decade were Atlanta, Griffin,
Acworth, Cartersville, Kingston, Calhoun, Dalton, Ring-
gold.
2ci5
CHAPTER XXVII.
A SOATEREIGN STATE. (Continued.)
1850—1860.
Georgia now stood forth among the sisterhood of States
as a great and noble commonwealth. Nature had lavishly
endowed her with a varied and healthful climate, with
picturesque mountains, a beautiful seacoast, and a splendid
river as her western boundary ; with a fertile soil adapted to
all crops except those of the extreme tropics, with consider-
able mineral wealth, and every facility for manufacturing
purposes. She enjoyed freedom of opinion and of the press;
her judicial ermine was unsullied; her elections were hon-
estly decided at the ballot box; her State Road, whose step
is on the mountains, and her thousand miles of other rail-
roads, were her Appian ways of commerce. Georgia had
never tarnished her glory by any religious or political per-
secutions. Free from any union of Church and State, the
Cross glittered in every town and hamlet with the splendor
of an oriental sun. Always regarding the schoolhouse as a
fortress of freedom, and the more stately halls of learning
as towers of defense, Georgia had ever kept education in
view, and now boasted of thirty-five colleges and institutes,
with every town supporting an academy and every county
its free school.
236
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
By this time the press had become a power in the State.
The daily papers of Savannah and Augusta wielded an im-
mense influence, while every town of any size had a weekly
paper that moulded public opinion in the surrounding coun-
try ; Macon was especially prominent in this respect.
Early in this decade a normal school was connected
with the Female College in Madison. It was designed by
the trustees for the benefit of those graduates who desired
to receive instruction in the theory and practice of teach-
ing. No charge was made for tuition.
Year after year larger crops had been made in Georgia.
There had been a special increase in the quantity of cotton
raised and exported, and this plant had proved to be the
most wonderful talisman in the world, making mansions of
our cottages and princes of our planters.
At no time in her eventful history had Georgia boasted
so many brilliant men, both in State and Federal councils;
men who were thinkers, orators and statesmen, exercising
a powerful influence far beyond the limits of the State
which it was their glory and pride to illustrate.
Howell Cobb, as Speaker of the House, presided over
the stormy session of Congress that ushered in this decade.
The debates, which were chiefly on the slavery question,
were so fierce and frequent that the whole United States be-
came excited upon this subject. Georgia leaped to the
front as the leader of the controversy. From the time she
assumed the proud position of a sovereign State, and then
consented to become one of a Confederacy, she had resisted
everv agression of the Federal Government, and she did
not break her record in this instance.
237
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
As far back as 1825 the brave-hearted and far-seeing
Troup had sounded a note of warning upon this very sub-
ject. After informing the Legislature in what manner the
dignity of Georgia had been recently outraged by officious
meddling with her domestic concerns, he predicted that it
would not be long before the Federal Government would
lend itself to fanatics for the destruction of everything
valuable in the Southern country. On the subject of sla-
very, he said: "One movement by the Congress, unresisted
by you, and all is lost. Temporize no longer. Make known
your resolution that this subject shall not be touched by
them but at their peril. But for its sacred guaranty by the
Constitution we never would have become parties to that
instrument. If slavery be an evil, it is our own; if it be
a sin, we can implore the forgiveness of it. I beseech you
most earnestly, now that it is not too late, to step forth and,
having exhausted the argument, to stand by your arms.''
The patriarchal character of family life in Georgia, con-
sisting as it did of parents, children and slaves, was beauti-
ful and elevating, and can only be fully understood by those
who were born to it. If slavery was a crime, then Abra-
ham was a criminal, and so were Moses and the prophets.
The Georgia gentlemen, as the head of a family, was
accustomed to command and to be cheerfully obeyed. He
felt himself responsible for the well-being of his entire
household; this responsibility and the habit of command
ennobled him by cultivating a kindness and tenderness to-
wards his dependents. His slaves were generally born
members of the household, grew up with his children, and
there was a mutual attachment between them. It was this
patriarchal feature of family life in Georgia, and the other
238
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
Southern States, that developed the magnanimity, manli-
ness, chivalry and high ambition of Southerners.
When a gentlemen achieved renown in a profession or
in political life, none of his family took greater pride in his
success than his negroes, one of whom, perhaps, had cradled
his head upon her breast in his helpless infancy, many of
whom were his playmates when a boy, and all of whom
loved and trusted him.
Some men are instinctively cruel and tyrannical. Of
course such as these were hard and unjust towards their
slaves, but a bad master was the exception and not the rule
in Georgia. Stringent State laws protected negroes against
such men, and public opinion, more potent than law,
caused them to be execrated. A few natures are so base
that they never have authority over the weak and helpless
without abusing it. Such characters are found in all lands ;
doubtless, every cruel master in Georgia could be matched
by a hard, cruel father in New England.
The ancestors of our negroes had been slaves in Africa,
and subjected to the most capricious despotism; so, when
they were brought here by Northern merchants, their con-
dition was immensely improved. They never dreamed
that they were debased by their servitude, nor were they;
for, being constant objects of interest and care, they were
elevated to a higher plane in civilization than they had
ever before occupied. No peasantry in any part of the
world were so well fed or clothed, less burdened with work
and care, or were more joyous than our Georgia negroes
who went singing about their work as light-hearted as chil-
dren. It is impossible for foreigners, or even Georgia chil-
dren of this generation, to understand the kindly relations
239
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
which existed between Georgians and their slaves. "When
our negroes began to grow old they were addressed by all
classes as "aunt" or "uncle," while children almost inva-
riably called their nurses "mammy" or "maumer." JSTo
field hand on a plantation was ever too common or rough
to be accosted by one of these courteous terms.
A strong characteristic of the negro is a capacity for
lasting attachments. The widow of a Revolutionary of-
ficer was very fond of one of her maids named Bess, whom
she set free by her will as a reward for faithful services.
The widow's only child, a son, was left to the care of
her executor, who betrayed his trust, squandered the
greater part of her property, and took little care of the or-
phan boy. The child was living on a plantation near
Charleston, South Carolina, when Bess heard of his neg-
lected condition. She went for him, carried him to Charles-
ton, and supported him by her own labor, assisted by her
husband, who was a fisherman.
As soon as possible she brought the little fellow back to
Georgia, placed him in school, and cared for him at her own
expense. Afterwards, when he was a married man, she
lived in his family as a voluntary servant, his comfort and
happiness ■ still being her chief delight. Bess lived to be
over a hundred years old, and died early in this decade, in
Bryan county. She was respected and honored by all who
knew her.
A false idea has gone abroad of Georgia women and
their Southern sisters. They have been represented as use-
less and idle beings, who grew up like the lilies of the field,
"which toil not neither do they spin." It was a part of the
systematic slander of the South. If Georgia women had
240
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
been drones for generations, whence came the knowl-
edge and the strong character that bore them so nobly
through the ordeal of blood and fire that awaited them in
the near future ? Without their helpful hands and glorious
example, how could their husbands and sons have endured
their sufferings ?
At this time, the Georgia matron, who was often mis-
tress of a large plantation, led a most beautiful and self-
sacrificing life. "She was the commissary of an immense es-
tablishment," superintending the making of clothes and
giving out provisions; she ministered to the sick and com-
forted those who were in distress. One of Georgia's talent-
ed journalists has said of her: "What mystery of the gar-
den or vineyard was not hers; what recipe for the kitchen
or the dairy? As she walked about with her fair wrists
bared, her smooth coils brushed back over her shapely head,
her face was luminous with intelligence, her body the re-
finement of active grace, and her soft eyes full of knowl-
edge and truth. When Sunday, like a benediction, rested
upon the busy plantation, it was her sweet voice which read
from the Book of Life words of consolation to the slaves
gathered about her. Drones indeed ! The Georgia matron
of this time will be led in the Better Land to the feet of the
Christ to receive the reward which is given to those who
show mercy 'to one of the least of these.'
"Straws show which way the wind blows," and trivial
incidents show the fanaticism or broad-mindedness and
chivalry of a people. During the excitement over the
slavery question, which every year grew more intense, a
Georgian was travelling in the Catskill Mountains in a
fetage-coach, most of the passengers being ladies. When.
16g 241
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the coach reached its destination the Georgian was assist-
ing them to alight when one of them, hesitating to accept
his aid, said : "I know you are a Southerner by your speech,
and I do not suppose you will assist me when I tell you that
I am an abolitionist.'7 Courteously extending his hand to,
help her, he replied: "Madam, your being an abolitionist
does not prevent me from being a gentleman."
During the slavery discussions in Congress, Georgia held
a Convention to consider the agressions of the Federal
Government, to define her position, and to decide what her
duty was under the circumstances. The celebrated report
adopted by the Convention was called "The Georgia Plat-
form." Its author was Charles J. Jenkins, who had been a
member of the Legislature continuously for fourteen years,
and who ranked among the ablest and most eloquent mem-
bers of the House. He was the peer of Joseph Henry
Lumpkin and "Walter Colquitt. His sense of honor was so
keen and his love of truth and justice so great that no com-
bination of circumstances was strong enough to tempt him
from the path of duty. All men respect the right, but not
all of them have the moral courage to follow the right when
it is unpopular; Charles J. Jenkins had this, and it con-
stituted the strongest trait in his noble character.
2-42
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A SOVEREIGN STATE. (Concluded.)
1850—1860.
By the second year of this decade the finances of Geor-
gia were again in a prosperous condition, and Howell Cobb,
in the zenith of his fame, was the governor. He had been
elected to Congress when less than thirty years of age, and
it was his first service in any legislative body. For many
years he guarded the interests of our State in the national
councils and, always wise and conservative, delivered able
speeches upon the leading questions.
In the midst of her prosperity Georgia had never for-
gotten the afflicted of her population, and at different times
the Legislature had appropriated money to establish benev-
olent institutions. At Cave Spring was established a State
asylum for the deaf and dumb, where even the poorest
could find instruction; and near Milledgeville was located
an asylum for the insane, one of the best appointed insti-
tutions in America. Now, during Cobb's administration,
the Georgia asylum for the blind was established at Ma-
con.
It had long been the custom in our State for the Gov-
ernor to begin his term of office with a reception, which was
called the "Governor's levee.'' No invitations were issued
— any one who chose to come was welcome. Social distinc-
tions were obliterated for that evening, and the company
243
GE01UUA LAND AND PEOPLE.
mingled together in democratic equality. A grand supper
was provided at great cost, and many people nocked to the
Executive Mansion. These occasions were a continued de-
light to the young people who went to Milledgeville for the
inauguration.
Cobb's successor was Herschel Y. Johnson. As a young
lawyer of great promise, he could not long resist the allure-
ments of political life, and he did good service for the demo-
cratic party, through the press and on the stump. The gal-
lant Thomas Glascock, who was then a congressman, had
often witnessed his exploits as a stump-speaker, and said
he was ''a youthful giant who fought with burnished armor
and was able to compete with the most stalwart of his foes."
While Johnson was a United States senator, he attracted
the attention of the great Calhoun, who several times de-
clared that he considered him the ablest man of his age in
the Senate. When he became our governor, he was so im-
pressed with the importance of education for the masses
that he thought the matter worthy the fostering care of the
State, and spoke thus on the subject in his inaugural ad-
dress: "The cause of public education is emphatically the
cause of our State. It addresses itself to every noble feel-
ing of our hearts. If, as patriots, we desire the perpetuity
of our free institutions; if, as philanthropists, we would glad-
den the children of poverty with the sunbeams of science,
elevate them to useful citizenship, and press to their lips
the cup of intellectual happiness, it pleads with an urgency
and pathos that should awaken every generous impulse."
Gov. Johnson's wife, who was a niece of President Polk,
made the Executive Mansion famous for elegant hospi-
tality while she presided over it. She was a model house-
244
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
keeper and brilliant conversationalist. Her manners were
graceful, she talked equally well of politics, science or liter-
ature, and was the center of a brilliant circle.
Among the Georgia delegation to Congress during this
decade were Alexander H. Stephens and Robert Toombs,
'who were destined to win a world-wide fame, Alfred Iver-
son, who was thanked by the Legislature for his services,
and William C. Dawson, the distinguished jurist.
Perhaps at no period of the State's history was there such
a distinguished array of Judges of the Superior Courts as
during the close of the last and the beginning of this dec-
ade. Each judge was a man of note, but eminent among
them was Henry R. Jackson, who had led a regiment in
the Mexican war: one of Georgia's most gifted sons, he
was not only a fine orator and lawyer, but in his busy pub-
lic life always found time to cultivate literature, for which
he had a natural fondness.
When the time came to elect another Governor, there
were five candidates before the Democratic convention, all
of them prominent men who deserved well of their State.
After three days of balloting, Joseph E. Brown was chosen,
though he was not a candidate. At the very hour when he
received this high honor he was tying wheat at his moun-
tain home. He had gone to the field to see how the work
was progressing, and, noticing that the binders were very
much behind, and that they could not keep up with the
four men who were cutting the wheat, he pulled off his
coat and assisted them. He had been a member of the
Legislature, and was at this time, Judge of the Blue Ridge
Circuit; but he was unknown to the State, and when his
nomination was announced the first question asked by many
was: ""Who is Joe Brown?"
245
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
His opponent in the race for governor was Benjamin II.
Hill, whose matchless eloquence and political acumen had
already made him famous. This would have given him a
tremendous advantage at the start had he not belonged to
the Whigs — a party that was unpopular in Georgia; so,
Joseph E. Brown, the Democrat, was elected by a large
majority.
During his first term he had to fight the Legislature,
the Banks, and the Press; but so well did he please the peo-
ple that he was elected for a second term by an increased
majority.
About this time John E. Ward, a Georgian, was United
States minister to China. He was a Liberty county man,
but had long been identified with Savannah. He was a
man of large culture, had been a prominent member of the
Legislature, and also President of the Senate.
Thomas R. P. Cobb, of Athens, was now one of the
leading lawyers of the State, and a man of elegant culture.
He possessed a magnetism that drew all hearts to him, and
was the special friend of every child. He interested him-
self to have built in his town an advanced school for girls,
that they might without leaving home be well educated.
Through his influence the citizens of Athens erected a
large and beautiful building, which was to be called "The
Athens Female College." When it was about ready to
open its doors, Mr. Cobb lost his eldest daughter, a child
of thirteen summers. As a compliment to him whose zeal
had insured the successful accomplishment of the enter-
prise, and whose contribution had been very large, the
name of the school was changed to Lucy Cobb Institute.
From the beginning it has been a school of high grade, and
well deserves the popularity it enjoys.
246
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
It was in the last year of this decade that there happened
in China an event which was of peculiar interest to a Geor-
gia family whom the State has delighted to honor. Cer-
tain English and French envoys, during their troubles with
China, being kept waiting by the authorities at Canton,
grew weary of the delay and attempted to remove the bar-
riers which kept back their ships. This drew upon them
the fire of the Peiho Forts. The Chinese aimed with such
accuracy that four gunboats were very soon disabled, and
the others were aground. Nearly fifteen hundred English
and French were either killed or wounded.
A Captain in the United States navy, whose ship was
near the scene of action, "with magnanimous indiscretion"
disregarding the law of Nations, went to the assistance of
the English, saying that blood was thicker than water, and
he could not see the Chinese destroying them without lend-
ing a helping hand. This generous Captain was Josiah
Tattnall, one of Georgia's heroes in the Mexican war.
Stump-speaking was one of the time-honored customs of
Georgia; this, and the habit of attending their County
Court, had given the masses a thorough knowledge of po-
litical history. They were well informed of the nature of
the Federal Union, and of the exact position that Georgia
occupied therein, by men of superior ability, who had made
government a scientific study. There was perfect political
equality between all citizens, and they freely expressed
their opinions. They all took part in the exciting scenes
of the hustings; and, as the plain old farmers sat around
their firesides, they told their children and their grand-
children of the great speakers to whom they had listened
and with whom they had talked. These farmers inherited
. 247
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the habit of an open and unrestrained expression of their
feelings, and they were proud of every Georgian who rose
to honor in the State or in the nation. Such customs gen-
erated a healthy public sentiment, and Georgia's greatness
at this time was due as much to her sturdy yeomanry as to
her noble and brilliant public men.
The citizens constitute the State; in Georgia they knew
their rights, and, knowing them, dared maintain them.
They were public spirited, hospitable, and proud of their
ancestry. With such a population, it was no wonder that
Georgia grew and flourished, and occupied an honorable
and enviable position among the States, though she was the
youngest of the thirteen, and had suffered much by the
Federal Government failing to keep faith with her and re-
move the Indians from her territory, at the proper time.
Georgia had given to the nation two Secretaries of the
Treasury, William H. Crawford, and Howell Cobb — who
was serving at this time. W. H. Sparks, himself a noble
Georgian, thus writes of them: "Cobb was born within a
few miles of Crawford's grave. They were both adminis-
tering the office at a time in the history of the nation when
she was surrounded with perils. The one, Crawford, when
she was just coming out of a war with the most powerful
nation on earth; the other, Cobb, when she was just going
into a war, civil and gigantic. Both were offered every op-
portunity for dishonest peculation, and both came out, de-
spite the allurements of temptation, with clean hands and
untainted reputations. They were reared and lived in an
atmosphere of honesty; they sought their inspiration from
the hills and vales, blue skies, and clear, pure waters of
middle Georgia. The surroundings of nature were pure;
248
A SOVEREIGN STATE.
the honest farmer and mechanic, the professional men and
merchants were and are pure. It Avas the home of Upson,
Gilmer, Thomas W. Cobb, Peter Early, Eli S. Shorter,
Stephen W. Harris, William C. Dawson, and Joseph Henry
Lumpkin; and is now the home of Alexander H. Stephens,
Benjamin II. Hill, Robert ToombsJ Bishop Pierce, and his
great and glorious father. In their integrity and lofty man-
hood, they imitate the mighty dead who sleep around
them."
The towns settled in this decade were Cusseta, Morgan-
ton, Xashville, Colquitt, Morgan, Hiawassee, Dawsonville,
Camilla, Cleveland, Homer, Quitman, Jonesboro, Butler.
249
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
1860.
A black storm-cloud, the shadow of an approaching ca-
lamity was slowly gathering upon the horizon to eclipse
the golden sunshine of prosperity and happiness which had
for many years been diffused over Georgia.
The endless controversy over the slavery question had
wearied the patience of our State. The Black Republican
Party was the strong political party in the Northern and
Western' States. They cared nothing for the restraints
which, under the Constitution, bound them to respect the
rights of the South. They acted as if they did not wish to
preserve the bond which held together the sisterhood of
States. One of their prominent leaders openly declared that
the Constitution of the United States was "a covenant with
death and an agreement with hell."
Truly it seems a little strange that slavery had no moral
aspect to the Northern mind while negroes were owned in
New England; but, when the South grew rich and power-
ful by their labor, it was suddenly found that slavery was
a great crime.
When Christ was denouncing the sins of the age in which
He preached, slavery was all about Him; yet He never once
pronounced it sinful. On the contrary, He commended a
250
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
slave-holding Roman, saying, "I have not found so great
faith, no, not in Israel.7'
Paul, the greatest of the Apostles, in his epistles, fre-
quently alludes to slavery, but nowhere does he say it was
wicked; and when he was under no obligation to do so, he
sent a runaway slave back to his master.
An odd fact in connection with the attitude of the North
towards slavery was, that Northern men who emigrated to
Georgia almost invariably bought negroes. For many
years the North had insisted on taking care of the con-
science of Georgia and the rest of the South. This was
very properly resented and resisted, until suspicion and
dislike were engendered. Difference of race had doubt-
less something to do with the aversion between the two
great sections of the country. The South was mostly
peopled by descendants of the gentry of Great Britain ; the
North by cold, calculating Puritans. It is not by any
means astonishing that two sections, with such different
ideas of government and religion, of life and duty, should
find it difficult to live harmoniously under the same Con-
stitution. A hatred of persecution and tyranny, whether
of a king or of a powerful majority, was the birthright that
Georgians had inherited from their ancestors.
The avowed determination of the Black Republican
Party to abolish slavery in the South without the consent
of her people, kept Georgians in a restless political condi-
tion. Unfortunately, the South could not agree upon the
best method of resisting the aggressions of the North, so
there was division in the Democratic party. Georgia had
two electoral tickets in the field, on one of which her dis-
tinguished son, Herschel V. Johnson, was candidate for
Vice-President.
251
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Our State had always been rich in ereat men and elo-
qucnt speakers, but there was never a time when she could
show such a superb galaxy of greatness as now. There
were Johnson, Toombs and the Cobbs; there were Henry
R. Jackson, Alexander H. Stephens and his gifted brother,
Linton Stephens; there were Benjamin Hill, Alfred H.
Colquitt, Eugenius Xesbet, and others not so famous, but
equally as ardent in their devotion to Georgia. They
threw themselves with fervor into the grave questions of
state that were agitating the people. Many were invited
to speak on "the state of the country" at different towns,
and splendid oratory was the order of the day. Excitement
ran high, and all through this summer, men's minds wero
filled with a vague uneasiness.
Macon originated a club, regardless of parties, called
"Minute Men," whose purpose it was to sustain Southern
rights. Soou, similar organizations were established all
over the State, firing the military spirit of the young men.
Some of these clubs had singular names, such as "Choc-
taw-." "Rattlesnakes" and "Regulators." Their calls for
meetings, published in the newspapers, were signed "Lib-
erty/' "Southern," "'76," and the like. They were the
outgrowth of the excitement of the hour, and the next
year, when our young men were crowding into regiments
to march to "the front," nothing more was heard of them.
This was the vear to elect a President, and the Black
Republican candidate was Abraham Lincoln. In view of
the excited condition of the country, it was the most serious
election that had taken place since the Federal Government
was formed. The whole South was holding its breath,
anxiously awaiting the result.
959
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
When Lincoln was elected there was intense excitement
throughout the Southern country, and several States call;
Conventions to take action as to their future safety. Lin-
coin did not receive a single vote in Georgia or the South.
Our State considered his election as an expression of the
settled purpose of the North, under control of the Abo-
litionists, to continue their breach of faith with the South
and to centralize the government of the United States.
The indignation of our State was aroused to such a pitch
that, in November, after the election, when a citizen o£
Clarke county gave utterance to some abolition sentiments
he was arrested and brought to trial before the Mayor in
Athens. He declared that he did not intend anv mischief,
and thought it no harm to say what he did; so he was re-
leased upon a promise to thereafter hold his tongue.
In spite of many hindrances to advancement, when the
Legislature met as usual in the fall, the Governor's mes-
sage showed a strikingly prosperous condition of the State.
There had been a gain in taxable property of something
more than sixty million dollars over the previous year.
The relation of Georgia to the Federal Government at
this time was made the subject of a special message by Gov.
Brown, which ended with a recommendation that a million
dollars be appropriated for a military fund, so that our
State could be ready for an armed resistance to any further
aggressions.
When Lincoln's election became generally known, county
meetings were held in every part of the State, and the
Legislature was deluged with resolutions insisting upon
immediate action in the matter.
253
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Georgia's oldest city, noble Savannah, led off in this de-
mand, declaring that she would not submit to Lincoln's
election, and asking that measures be taken to organize
and arm the militia.
At the Richmond county meeting, in Augusta, after the
chairman had stated their object in assembling, he said it
had been made known to him that there was waving over
them a white flag, upon the cupola of the temple of Jus-
tice where they were seated, upon which was a lone star
with this inscription : "Georgia: Equality in, or Independ-
ence out of the Union."
This announcement was received with long-continued ap-
plause, and it was then unanimously resolved that the
"meeting adopt the flag and its position as their act, evinc-
ive of their determination in the present crisis."
There was much difference of opinion in Georgia as to
the best mode of resisting the tyranny of which she com-
plained, but all Georgians were a unit in the feeling that
they could not tamely submit to injustice, and that it must
be resisted.
"When the rights of Georgia were threatened, Parties
were lost sight of; her citizens were adversaries sometimes,
but Georgians always.
The Legislature called a Convention of the people to meet
on the 16th of the following January, to decide what was
best to be done in the present crisis; they also made a call
for troops, and ordered arms to be purchased.
In December, when South Carolina withdrew from the
Federal Union, torchlight processions, and the firing of
guns expressed to her the sympathy and approval of Geor-
gia. . . ! :
254
CHAPTER XXX.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1861.
While waiting for the called Convention of the people,
the burning questions of the day were thoroughly discussed
by the Press and by our public men in their speeches. Se-
cession was the theme of conversation in every city, town,
and village in Georgia.
In the United States Senate the lordly Toombs made a
speech upon the position and rights of the South that de-
serves to be perpetuated in history with the famous oration
of Pericles in explanation of the causes of the Pelopon-
nesian war.
Gov. Brown, being a far-sighted man, resolved at once
to take possession of our forts and the arsenal, before the
Federal Government could prevent Georgia from controll-
ing her own.
Fort Pulaski, at the mouth of the Savannah river, was
the most important fortification on our coast. It was
named in honor of the distinguished Polish general of
Revolutionary fame. It effectually guarded the main en-
trance to the river, as all vessels of any size had to pass
under its guns. It is situated on Cockspur Island, which
is separated from Tybee Island by a narrow curve of the
255
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
sea. The walls of the Fort are exceedingly solid, well
built of hard gray brick, and are about six feet in thick-
ness.
Fort Pulaski was in charge of two men whose duty it
was to take care of the property and keep the weeds out
of the grass. The Governor ordered Alexander Jx. Lawton,
Colonel of the first regiment of Georgia Volunteers, to take
possession of it and hold it, as the Federal Government had
a movement on foot to occupy all southern forts; if they
should seize Fort Pulaski he knew that it would give them,
in any contest of arms, a great advantage over the people
of Georgia. Col. Lawton's orders were to hold the Fort
until it was decided by the Convention what course the
State would pursue.
This action created great joy and enthusiasm in Savan-
nah, and there was much generous rivalry among the vol-
unteer companies of the city to assist in this duty. Fifty
men were taken from each infantry company, and thirty-
four from the artillery, making a force of one hundred
and thirty-four men who were detailed for this first mili-
tary expedition.
The seizure of the Fort was ordered for the morning of
the 3d of January, and though there was but a short time
between the issuing of the order and the hour for its exe-
cution, great preparations had been made for the comfort
of the soldiers, by their mothers, wives and sisters. Every
man had his cot, camp-chair, trunk and valise; every mess
had a chest and cooking utensils; in short, every home com-
fort that they could be persuaded to carry, was pressed upon
them. So, when they embarked on the little steamer
25 J
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
"Ida," the pile of luggage was simply immense. The
wharves were crowded with people who had come to see
them of! and wish them "Godspeed," and the Ida steamed
away with colors flying, bands playing, and the cheers of
the city ringing upon the air.
The Fort contained only twenty guns, with but little
ammunition, and was out of repair. The Georgia soldiers
soon had it in a thorough state of defense. The guns were
properly mounted, plenty of ammunition supplied, and the
troops put in training by daily drills.
Gov. Brown telegraphed his action to the Governors of
the other Southern States; they all applauded his course
and followed his example. The Georgia press approved
his action, and the "Minute Men" of Macon passed resolu-
tions pledging themselves to stand by him. He went to
Savannah to see the seizure of the Fort completed, and
when he returned to Milledgeville he was lustily cheered,
and serenaded at the Executive Mansion. The interest of
Savannah in Fort Pulaski did not cease with its occupancy
by Georgia troops. The Savannah ladies made cartridge
bags for the heavy guns, nor did they ever tire of supply-
ing the garrison with comforts and luxuries. One of them
sent a large iced fruit cake with the word Secession em-
bossed upon it.
It was not long after this before other Southern States,
following gallant South Carolina, severed their connection
with the Federal Union. Every day, almost every hour,
brought some stirring news, until our whole State was
almost breathless with expectancy. Secession cockades
were worn by thousands, as emblematic of their sentiments.
These rosettes were about the size of a silver dollar, and
17g 257
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE,
were made of narrow blue ribbon with a Georgia military
button in the center. They were pinned on the hats or
the coat lapels of the gentlemen. %
In this wise the 16th of January arrived, and the Seces-
sion Convention met. The whole number of delegates was
three hundred and one. Everv countv had representatives
there — not one was missing. Most of our public men were
members, each party and every shade of opinion sending
its leaders. Never had a more able body of men assembled
in Georgia.
At this momentous crisis the eyes of all her sister States
were turned upon Georgia and her Convention. George
W. Crawford was chosen president. He was a popular
leader of immense influence, was an ex-governor and ex-
secretary of war under President Taylor. Among the
prominent men on the Secession side were Robert Toombs,
Thomas E. E. Cobb, Eugenius A. Nesbet, Francis S. Bar-
tow and Asbury Hull.
On the anti-secession or union side were Alexander H.
Stephens, Benjamin H. Hill, Augustus Kenan, Herschel
V. Johnson — a recent candidate for the vice-presidency on
the Douglas ticket, and twice governor of the State — and
other gentlemen of distinction.
Howell Cobb, who had just resigned his office as Secre-
tary of the Treasury and left Washington City, was in-
vited to a seat upon the floor.
One of the first acts of the Convention was to pass a
resolution approving the energetic and patriotic conduct of
Gov. Brovm in taking possession of Fort Pulaski.
It was very soon known that a majority of the delegates
were in favor of withdrawing from the Federal Union, and
258
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
a Committee was appointed to prepare an Ordinance of Se-
cession. Its author was Eugenius A. Xe^bet; Georgia had
no son of greater ability or purer character.
While the Committee were preparing the Ordinance, the
argument, for and against this remedy for grave evils, was
carried on in a masterly manner by both sides, until the
State-house trembled with the thunder of their eloquence.
When the direct vote was taken only eighty-nine delegates
voted against secession. Linton Stephens, of Hancock
county, who was a Union man, offered resolutions to the
effect, "that the lack of unanimity in the action of the
Convention in passing the Ordinance of Secession indicated
a difference of opinion among the members not so much as
to the rights which Georgia claimed, or the wrongs of
which she complained, as to the remedy; and, as it was de-
sirable to give expression to that intention which really
existed among all the members to sustain the State in the
course of action which she had pronounced to be proper for
the occasion, that those members who had voted against the
Ordinance sign the same as a pledge of the unanimous
determination of this Convention to sustain aud defend the
State in this her chosen remedy, with all its responsibilities
and consequences, without regard to individual approval
or disapproval of its adoption."
So, the Ordinance was signed by all the delegates but
six — who came from Gwinnett, Hall, Pickens and. Mont-
gomery counties. Though they did not put their names to
the Ordinance, they entered upon the journal a statement,
declaring it to be their purpose ato yield to the will of the
majority of the people of the State, as expressed by their
259
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
representatives" ; and they "pledged their lives, their for-
tunes and their sacred honor to the defense of Georgia."
Thus, the Convention became unanimously bound to go
with their State and abide her fortunes. In signing his
name, each delegate was given a new pen, which he carried
home as a sacred memento, never again to be used.
When the Committee reported the Ordinance of Seces-
sion, on motion of Mr. Toombs it was twice read; then the
president, Mr. Crawford, announced that it was his pleas-
ure and privilege to declare that the State of Georgia was
free, sovereign and independent. As the words fell from
his lips there was thunderous applause. Thus, Georgia re-
sumed all her original rights at two o'clock p. m. on the
19th day of January, 1861. She was the fifth State to
withdraw from the Federal Union.
At this time Milledgeville was crowded with people, and
a vast multitude was waiting outside the State-house for
the news; and as soon as they learned that Georgia had
seceded, such an exultant shout rent the air as was never
before heard in our State. In the House, the Secession
delegates were wild with joy; some of them were crying in
each others arms, others were throwing up their hats and
cheering lustily. In the midst of this great excitement the
colonial flag of Georgia was raised.
The glad news was promptly telegraphed all over the
State, and illuminations, the ringing of bells, and the roar-
ing of cannon were the order of the day. Gray-haired
men caught the enthusiasm of impulsive youth, as the bon-
fires blazed and the bells rang and the cannon boomed.
Georgia's fair daughters added their enthusiasm, ministers
of the gospel blessed the movement, and the blue cockade
260
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
was on almost every hat. At night when private residences
all over the State were illuminated, an aged gentleman in
Augusta, whose house was ablaze with candles from garret
to cellar, had this motto worded in flame over his gateway:
"Georgia, right or wrong — Georgia."
Georgia's right to withdraw from political union with
her sister States rested upon her treaty with Great Britain
at the close of the Revolutionary war; in this treaty Geor-
gia was distinctly recognized by King George III. under
her own name as a sovereign power, and was not consid-
ered as part of a group. (See chapter 13.) The Federal
Government was the common agent of all the States, and
Georgia acknowledged no superior.
Secession was not a conspiracy of leaders, as has been
asserted by superficial writers; on the contrary, it was a
thorough uprising of the people. The statement so often
repeated by our enemies, that our leaders plunged us into
war, is false from beginning to end. The voice of Geor-
gia demanded secession. Never was there a political move-
ment more entirely dictated by the people.
As soon as Georgia seceded, her congressmen, recogniz-
ing that their first duty was to their State, resigned their
positions and returned home.
It is a cause of pride to note how true were Georgians
to their State ! The Union men bowed to the will of the
majority; none doubted their duty to go with their State;
the cause of Georgia was their cause; Georgia's destiny was
their destiny !
261
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1861.
i
When Georgia had seceded, Gov. Brown, with his usual
promptness, hastened to take the arsenal at Augusta from
Federal control, as Georgia had resumed exclusive sover-
eignty over all her soil. It was in charge of Capt. Elzey,
with eighty Federal soldiers.
Gov. Brown went to Augusta, accompanied by Colonel
Henry R. Jackson as his aid, through whom an order was
sent to Capt. Elzey to withdraw his troops from the limits
of the State at the earliest practicable moment. He was
promised a receipt for all Federal property under his
charge, which should be accounted for when an adjustment
was made between Georgia and the United States.
Capt. Elzey refused to leave the arsenal, telegraphed
the situation to his government at Washington, and was
instructed to hold his position until forced to surrender by
violence or starvation, and then to stipulate for honorable
terms and a free passage, by water, to 1SI ew York.
The volunteers of Augusta were ordered out, and about
800 reported for duty. There was great excitement over
the fact of the Federal flag — which was now a foreign
flag — floating over the arsenal, and it was the chief topic
262
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
of conversation in the city. As Gov. Brown decided to
give Capt. Elzey twenty-four hours to reconsider his deci-
sion, the volunteers were dismissed until the next day, when
they were joined by many others from the country, who
had heard that there was some prospect of a battle.
Finally, when our soldiers marched out to the arsenal,
the Governor received a message from Capt. Elzey, asking
for an interview; and, when he and his staff arrived, honor-
able terms of surrender were agreed upon. The United
States flag was to be lowered and saluted, the company to
retain their arms and property, and to remain in their quar-
ters until they could be sent to New York by way of
Savannah. Then the flag of Georgia was raised. It was
a pure white banner, in whose center was a large red star
having five points. It represented the sovereignty of the
State. As soon as this flag floated to the breeze, a cannon
fired salutes.
By the surrender of the arsenal, a large quantity of
ammunition and valuable ordnance were obtained. As the
forts in Georgia were designed for her protection against
a foreign foe, and she had resumed her rights of separate
independence, the Federal Government had no longer any
concern in her fortresses or in the arms and ammunition
stored here for her use.
In the meantime, the work of the Secession Convention,
in adjusting the State to her new position, went on as
rapidly as possible. Among other important matters, dele-
gates were chosen to attend the Congress of the seceded
States, which was to meet at Montgomery, Ala., in Febru-
ary; and the Governor was authorized to raise two regi-
ments to defend the State. The Convention then ad-
journed to meet again in Savannah.
. 263
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
About this time a Macon firm, purchased 200 guns in
New York, ordering them to be shipped by water to Savan-
nah. After they were placed on the steamer, they were
seized by the New York police and stored in the arsenal.
The Macon merchants complained to Gov. Brown, who,
having satisfied himself of the justice of their claim, wrote
the facts to the Governor of New York, demanded that the
guns be given up, and requested a reply by telegraph. After
waiting a reasonable time and receiving no response, he
issued an order to Col. Jackson, at Savannah, to seize every
ship in the harbor belonging to citizens of New York, and
hold them until the Macon merchants received the prop-
erty of which they had been robbed.
There was a good deal of delay and trickery practiced in
New York, but when it was found that Gov. Brown
was determined to retaliate, and that he could not be over-
awed by the Governor of New York, the police hastily let
go the guns.
This episode gave Georgia's Governor a great reputation
abroad, and proved him to be the man for the hour in
promptness, firmness and good judgment.
In due time the Congress of the six seceded States met
at Montgomery, Ala. Having elected Howell Cobb, of
Georgia, their presiding onicer, they formed a union under
the name of the Confederate States of America, with Jeffer-
son Davis, of Mississippi, as president, and Alexander H.
Stephens, of Georgia, as vice-president.
In order to reach Montgomery with as little delay as
possible, Mr. Davis went from his home to Chattanooga,
Tenn., and thence through' Georgia over the Western and
Atlantic and the West Point railroads. Crowds gathered
264
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES:
at every station to do him honor. In Atlanta he was re-
ceived by about five thousand people; and from this town
to the Alabama line he was greeted with the same enthu-
siasm. In one of his speeches he paid the following fine
tribute to Georgia's promptness in resenting Federal aggres-
sions and in protecting her citizens. He said : "Geor-
gians— for by no higher title could I address you — your
history, from the days of the Revolution down to the time
that your immortal Troup maintained the rights of your
State, and of all the States, in his contest with Federal
usurpation, has made Georgia sacred soil. Nor have you
any reason to be other than proud of the events recently
transpiring within your borders, and especially the action
of your present Governor in wresting from the robbers of
the North the property of your own citizens which they
had stolen. His promptitude in demanding the property
from the Governor of New York, and in seizing the vessels
of citizens of New York when the demand was not imme-
diately complied with, is worthy of all praise."
Among the illustrious sons of Georgia, not one has been
more honored by the world for his virtues, or more re-
spected for practical wisdom, than Alexander H. Stephens,
vice-president of the Southern Confederacy. At this
time he stood in the front rank of living statesmen; and
the accuracy with which he again and again foretold the
occurrence of important events caused it to be frequently
said that he was the wisest man living.
Of the three commissioners appointed by the Confederate
Congress to treat with the Federal Government for a peace-
ful separation of the States, one was an eminent Georgian,
Martin J. Crawford, legislator, congressman and judge.
2G5
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Such was the temper of the North that their efforts for
peace were fruitless.
About this time a new flag was hoisted over the Custom
House at Savannah by Maj. Lachlan Mcintosh, who had
recently resigned his position in the United States army, to
be ready at any moment to serve his State. This flag, like
the one that waved over the arsenal at Augusta, was white;
but it bore the coat of arms of Georgia, encircled at the
top with six stars; the number of the seceded States. The
star which represented Georgia was blue, the rest were red.
i
Over the whole was an eye.
In March the Secession Convention re-assembled in
Savannah. They adopted the Constitution of the Con-
federate States, and a new State Constitution, and ad-
journed after a session of two weeks.
While these events were transpiring, Gov. Brown had
not for a moment relaxed his vigilance. Volunteer com-
panies were rapidly formed; arms, ammunition and cannon
were bought; the United States Mint at Dahlonega, with
twenty thousand dollars in gold, was seized, and every pre-
caution that a wise foresight could anticipate was taken
for Georgia's safety. A division of troops was organized,
with William H. T. Walker as major-general. Gunboats
were purchased for the defense of the coast, and Josiah
Tattnall, who had resigned from the United States navy,
was put in command, with the title of Commodore.
The personal property of Commodore Tattnall was con-
fiscated by the Federal Government because he refused to
remain in their service and take up arms against his State.
In 1782 Georgia had condemned and appropriated prop-
erty belonging to his grandfather on account of his loyalty
266
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
to the British Crown. After the close of the Revolution-
ary war it had been offered at public sale, purchased by
friends of the Tattnall family, and restored to them. It
is a curious fact that some of these same articles were in-
cluded in the property of Josiah Tattnall now confiscated
by the Federal Government.
While the Confederate Congress was sitting in Mont-
gomery, Capt. G. W. Lee, of Atlanta, organized "Lee's
Volunteers," which was the first Georgia company that was
offered to the Confederate government. The first time the
Confederate flag was raised in our State, this company pa-
raded under its folds through the streets of Atlanta, amidst
the enthusiasm of the citizens.
The first call for troops that President Davis made upon
Georgia, was for one regiment to aid in defending Fort
Pickens, at Pensacola.
So high was the war fever that 250 companies volun-
teered for this duty. In order to avoid jealousies and hard
feelings among them, Gov. Brown formed the regiment of
those who first tendered their services.
Without any authority of law, Abraham Lincoln, the
Federal President, had issued a call for seventy-five thou-
sand men to invade the seceded States. When he took the
oath of office he had sworn to support the Constitution of
the United States, which protected the rights of the South.
By his action he violated his oath, and thus perjured him-
self. The last insult the Federal Government could offer a
sovereign State was a hostile invasion.
Georgia's sons would have been unworthy of their sires,
if they had consented for their State to remain a confed-
erate with the Northern State?, since they had formed.
207
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
themselves into a great sectional party, which virtually de-
nied that Georgians had the same rights as themselves;
though Georgia was recognized as a sovereign power by
the country of which she had been a colony.
"Whether Georgia has not paid too dear a price for the
benefits accruing from her union with the other States, let
unprejudiced history judge !
Those who say Georgia waged war for slavery are very
ignorant of the true facts. The two sections, South and
North, entertained opposing principles and had different
ideas of the nature of the Federal Government. Slaverv
was only one subject of difference among several; slavery
was but as the dust in the balance compared with Geor-
gia's rights of independence and sovereignty. Hundreds
of her citizens owned no slaves, yet they strongly resented
any trespass on Georgia's rights.
A political bargain cannot be broken on one side and
still be binding on the other, so Georgia began a second
war for the right of self-government. She fought for the
same principles in 1861 that she defended in 1776, when
she refused to remain a colony of George III. upon a ques-
tion of constitutional rights. The righteous remedy of
secession was adopted by our State after she had endured
a long course of treachery and oppression.
President Lincoln determined by force of arms to com-
pel the seceded States into a union with the other States,
though no such power was conferred upon him by the
Federal Constitution.
Richmond, Va., was selected as the capital of the Con-
federate States. Almost immediately thereafter, Georgia
was called upon for volunteers to assist in repelling an in-
268
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
vasion of the "mother of States and Statesmen.'' How
eagerly our men responded is shown by the fact that forty
splendid regiments had gone to the battle-field by October
1st. Companies were raised in every county, and
Georgia quickly became one vast military camp. Newton
county organized five companies in a few days. Augusta
sent out nine companies, Macon and Columbus eight each,
and Athens six. Among the many companies from Savan-
nah was the famous Chatham Artillery, with Joseph S.
Claghorn, captain; Charles C. Jones, Jr., was senior first-
lieutenant. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of
artillery the next year, and throughout the war was distin-
guished for his patriotism. "He did love his country's
good with a respect more tender, more holy and profound
than his own life." The Oglethorpe Light Infantry, of
the same city, under Capt. Francis S. Bartow — a conspicu-
ous member of the first Confederate Congress — was the
first company in the Confederacy, that offered its services
for the entire war. It was composed almost entirely of
young men, the sons of some of the best families in the
city. Beginning with the first battle of Manassas, it fought
through the war and made a glorious record. Among the
companies from Franklin county was the Tugalo Blues,
whose motto was "Victory or Death." Up in the moun-
tains, a company in Fannin county was named "Mrs. Joe
Brown's Boys." Mrs. Brown acknowledged the compli-
ment by presenting each of its members with a military
suit.
Men whom age or infirmity kept from battle, gave freely
of their substance, often at a sacrifice. Several newspapers
were discontinued, because the whole force — editor, print-
ers and devil — had gone to the war.
269
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The women all over the State formed sewing societies,
that the soldiers leaving home might be made as comfort-
able as possible. Two Milledgeville ladies offered their
silver plate to the Governor to be turned into money for
the use of the State, and a Columbus lady gave her dia-
monds to the Confederacy.
Whenever a company left for Virginia it was made an
occasion to give it an ovation. Throngs of citizens escorted
them to the depot, with lusty shouts and the waving of
handkerchiefs. The women who loved them best, though
their eyes were brimming with tears, said, "Go!" Geor-
gia's mothers and wives, like Spartan matrons, spoke brave
w^ords as they girded the sword upon their loved ones, when
none but God knew the secret pain that weighed upon their
hearts; they were as heroic as those who shed their blood
upon freedom's field of honor !
The first Georgia regiment organized for the whole war
was the 6th Georgia Infantry, Volunteers, Alfred H. Col-
quitt, colonel.
As the busy months passed by and the year approached
its close, Georgia and Georgia's Governor were the admira-
tion of the South.
270
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1861.
The first battle of the war was fought at Manassas, Va.,
July 21st of this year.
The Federals were so confident of victory, that they
carried halters in their pockets to hang "Southern rebels"
as soon as they were captured; their Congress was ad-
journed to enable such members as desired to feast their
eyes on the rout of the Confederates. Long lines of car-
riages, filled with women in holiday attire, followed in
the rear of their army, with baskets of champagne and
other good things for the feast and dance with which they
proposed to celebrate their victory. The result did not
justify their expectations, as they were put to a disgraceful
flight by the Confederates, and Virginia was delivered from
an immediate invasion.
In Richmond, which was so near the horrors of the battle-
field, no popular demonstrations were made over this vic-
tory; from the solemn acts of religious thanksgiving the
whole population turned at once to eager ministrations to
the wounded.
It was otherwise in Georgia, whose people were too far
from the scene of battle to realize its horrors. Bells were
rung and bonfires lighted in public rejoicing all over the
State.
27.1
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The 7th, 8 tli, 9th and 11th Georgia regiments of infan-
try were engaged in this brilliant victory and won signal
fame.
The 11th Georgia Regular Volunteers, commanded by
Col. George T. Anderson, enlisted for the whole war, and
was among the first to leave the State for Virginia. Under
Johnston, Lee and Longstreet, this regiment saw hard ser-
vice in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and won im-
mortal renown.
After Capt. BartoAv took his company to Virginia he
was made colonel of the 8th Georgia, and in this battle
commanded a brigade composed of the regiments mentioned
above, wTith a Kentucky regiment. No braver troops
fought that day than those under Col. Bartow, and the
7th Georgia commanded by Col. Lucius Gartrell. They
had suffered great hardships and privations in their forced
march from Winchester to the battle-field; but notwith-
standing their fatigue they fought all day without food and
with very little water.
In the midst of the battle the brave Bartow was mor-
tally wounded. "With one foot mangled by a cannon ball,
he leaned against a fence, waving his sword and urging
on his men. When he felt that he must die, he said : "Boys,
they have killed me, but never give it up !" Thus, the
hero fell, maintaining his noble bearing to the end. When
on the eve of leaving Georgia to join the army in Virginia,
he had written : "I go to illustrate Georgia !" — words that
will be handed down to posterity with his immortal name;
for most glorious was his record on the bloody field of
Manassas !
272
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
There were many other noble Georgians illustrating their
State on that battle-field, who fell as martyrs to the cause
of constitutional liberty. The memory of these heroes is
embalmed by a grateful State. The bravery of Col. Gar-
trell was mentioned in Gen. Johnston's official report. So
conspicuous had been the 8th Georgia in the brunt of the
battle, that, as they passed from their position in front of
Gen. Beauregard, he sat bareheaded on his horse and thus-
addressed them : "8th Georgia, I salute you with my hat
off!"
J. E. Rumney, a member of the 9th Georgia, was
severely wounded by the explosion of a shell. He was a
veteran of the last Creek war and one of the guard of the
steamer "Georgia," which patrolled the Chattahoochee,
between Columbus, Ga., and Eufaula, Ala., and which was
repeatedly fired upon by the Indians who lined the banks
of the river. He was also at Roanoke the day after this
town was burned.
The most conspicuous of Georgia's killed at the battle
of Manassas was Gen. Francis S. Bartow. His remains
were brought to Savannah and buried with most imposing
ceremonies. There was a large military and civic proces-
sion which marched through the city to the tolling of bells
and the firing of minute-guns. An eloquent funeral ora-
tion was delivered by the Right Rev. Bishop Elliot.
During the battle of Manassas, Lieut. Edward Hull, of
Athens, without receiving a wound, was struck senseless by
the concussion of a fragment of shell. As soon as he recov-
ered sufficiently to rise to his feet, he began to carry water
from the branch near by to the wounded lying all around
him. With great pain he performed this labor until night-
isg 273
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
fall. \Vliile thus engaged a gentleman approached on
horseback and asked him for a drink of water.
"Ko," said the lieutenant, "I'm carrying this water to
those who cannot walk. You can walk; go to the branch
and help yourself."
To his surprise some one said : "That is Pres. Davis."
Then he insisted that Mr. Davis should drink the water in
his canteen.
A long and painful illness followed his arduous labor of
love on that eventful day. During his convalescence he
met the President in Richmond, who smilingly recognized
him, and asked to what regiment he belonged. Lieut. Hull
answered : "To the 8th Georgia.7'
"To belong to that regiment is glory enough I" replied
the President.
The next month after Manassas, the accomplished Col.
Mcintosh, a Georgian, was killed at the victorious battle
of Oak Hill, Mo. There had not been a day in over a cen-
tury that there was not a distinguished son of this family
to bear and transmit its name to posterity.
In October, during the campaign in West Virginia, the
1st Georgia Regiment, under Col. Henry R. Jackson, suf-
fered every kind of privation while among the mountains;
yet, in the battle at Cheat Mountain Pass, where the Fed-
erals met a disastrous repulse, they behaved with great gal-
lantry.
The success of the Confederate arms in Virginia caused
no abatement of the preparations for war in Georgia. If
possible the activity was greater than ever. The desire
to face the enemy was universal, and more troops were
organized and drilled, ready for a call to the front. Capt.
274
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Jesse Glenn, commanding the Wrightsville Infantry, wrote
a beseeching letter to the Governor asking to be moved from
Savannah to some place "where there is a prospect of a
fight."
In the midst of this fever of war the time drew near for
electing a Governor. Joseph E. Brown, who had shown
himself so devoted to the interests of Georgia, was compli-
mented with a third term; his majority was 13,691 votes,
though his opponent was the learned Judge Eugenius A.
ISTesbet. Only once before in the history of the State, had
a Governor been honored with a third term, and that was
Jared Irwin. "When Gov. Brown was inaugurated, he
showed his patriotism by dressing in a suit of Georgia-made
jeans.
Though Georgia always stood first in the hearts of her
sons and daughters, they loved the whole Confederacy, and
delighted to honor its officers. A Clarksville lady sent
Pres. Davis a blanket shawl made from wool that was
carded, spun and woven by herself. The war had already
developed our resources to an extent that a year before
would have been thought impossible — "from seeming evil
still educing good."
When the Legislature met, the Governor concluded his
message with these glowing and patriotic words : "I would
cheerfully expend in the cause the last dollar I could raise,
and would fervently pray like Samson of old, that God
would give me strength to lay hold upon the pillars of the
edifice and would enable me, while bending with its weight,
to die a glorious death beneath the crumbling ruins of that
temple of southern freedom which has so long attracted the
world by the splendor of its magnificence.1
275
yy
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
By the end of this year, Georgia had sent fifty regiments
into Confederate service, thirty of which she had armed
and equipped at her own expense. When the supply of
arms ran short the Governor called upon private individ-
uals for their shotguns and rifles, and they were not with-
held.
While the Legislature was in session, the Federals threat-
ened our seacoast. The planters cheerfully sent their
negroes to assist in the elevation of military works at vari-
ous points; and the coast, from Savannah to the Florida
line, was put under the command of Gen. A. R. Lawton.
The Federal Commodore, Dupont, had a force of forty-
one vessels and soon captured Tybee Island, as Commodore
Tattnall had only four small gun vessels to oppose him.
The danger was great, as Fort Pulaski was also threatened.
Gov. Brown, ever earnest and prompt, went to Savannah
to confer with Gen. Robert E. Lee, who was Confederate
Commander of the whole Southern coast, as to what was
best to be done in this imminent danger. So, as the year
closed, the enemy were thundering at the eastern portals
of our beloved State.
Georgia now had in Confederate service the following
brigadier-generals : Robert Toombs, who had resigned his
position as Secretary of State in Pres. Davis' cabinet, to
take the field; Henry R. Jackson, A. R. Lawton, A. R.
Wright, A. H. Colquitt, W. IT. T. Walker; and two major-
generals, David Twiggs and W. J. Hardee.
Georgia was not fighting for power or dominion : for
what, then, was this war waged ? Let one of Georgia's great
statesmen, Alex. H. Stephens, answer : "It is for home, for
276
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
fireside, for our altars, for our birthrights, for property, for
honor, for life — in a word, for everything for which free-
men should live, and for which all deserving to be freemen
should be willing, if need be, to die!'7
277
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1862.
This year opened with active preparations on the part
of the Federals against our coast, their purpose being to
capture Fort Pulaski.
As Gen. Henry K. Jackson was needed in Georgia, he
was recalled from Virginia, appointed major-general of the
State troops, and entrusted with the defense of the coast.
"With great energy and ability he planned and directed the
preparations for training his army and defending Savan-
nah. At this time, the Confederate forces in Georgia were
commanded by Gen. Alexander R. Lawton.
Col. Charles Olmstead defended Fort Pulaski with 365
men and twenty-four officers. A small fort named Jack-
son was eleven miles distant. Fach of these forts had been
strengthened and put in as good condition as our resources
would allow, but Commodore Tattnall's gunboats could do
but little against the Federal fleet. Our coast was swarm-
ing with the enemy's vessels, which had taken possession
of the principal islands and occupied Brunswick and St.
Mary's. They also forced their way up the Savannah river
and stationed troops on Tybee and Warsaw, which caused
our troops to abandon Skidawav and Green Islands. Bv
removing obstructions in the artificial channel called
278
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
"Wall's Cut,"" the Federal gunboats entered in the rear of
the frowning battlements of Fort Pulaski, and, by thus
isolating it, completely cut off all communication with the
city. During the siege of Savannah in 1779 the patriots
had failed to guard "Wall's Cut, and the British vessels
passed through it above Count D'Estaing's squadron.
Thus strangely did history repeat itself.
The gallant Tattnall made his way through the Federal
gunboats and carried six months' provisions to the garrison
at the Fort, which was now in a state of siege. After the
siege had lasted for a number of wTeeks, early one April
morning, Gen. Hunter, the Federal commander, demanded
its surrender. Col. Olmstead replied : "I am here to de-
fend the Fort, not to surrender it." Whereupon the bom-
bardment directly began, and the firing soon became gen-
eral on both sides. The Federal batteries being established
on Tybee Island, their fire was directed chiefly against the
southeast angle of the Fort, whose guns were soon disman-
tled. After two days' bombardment a large breach was
made, through which the shot and shell penetrated to the
magazine, and the fort could no longer be defended. As
retreat was impossible, our troops surrendered on condition
that they should receive honorable terms.
This disaster was brightened by the personal heroism of
Lieut. Christopher Hussey of the "Montgomery Guards,"
and of private John Latham of the "Washington Volun-
teers." During the second day's bombardment the flag
was shot down, when these two Georgians leaped upon the
parapet under the storm of shot and shell, coolly disen-
tangled the fallen flag, carried it to the northeast angle of
the Fort, fixed it to a temporary staff and erected it on a
gun-carriage, where it again floated proudly to the bre?ze.
£79
GEORGIA LAXD ATsD PEOPLE.
Bv the fall of Fort Pulaski, our whole coast was in a
state of blockade, and Georgia was cut off from communica-
tion with foreign countries, while Federal cruisers freely
passed in and out of the inlets and rivers that emptied into
Warsaw and Ossabaw sounds. The Savannah river, too, was
in their possession up to a point a little below Fort Ogle-
thorpe. It was expected that the enemy would at once
attack Fort Jackson, but they were in no condition to do
so, and had to content themselves with holding Fort Pu-
laski. The loss of our strongest fortification, far from dis-
couraging our people, increased their patriotism and fired
the war spirit anew. Savannah very soon became accus-
tomed to the proximity of the enemy, and heard with indif-
ference their cannonading.
ISTow, again, Georgia was called upon for troops for Con-
federate service, and quickly furnished the twelve regi-
ments which were requested.
It was during this spring that the Confederate Congress
passed the Conscript Act, which caused a spirited corre-
spondence between our Governor and Pres. Davis. While
the war between the States continued, there was at no time
any necessity in Georgia for conscription. When a call
was made for troops it was promptly answered; and more
could have been sent than were asked for — sometimes
double the number.
Never before had the world seen such material as com-
posed the rank and file of the Confederate army. Never
had a body of men made greater sacrifices or been animated
by higher motives. They hesitated at no hardship. Gen-
tlemen dressed in such clothing and ate such food as tramps
280
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
would scorn. They often slept upon the bare earth, expos-
ing themselves to winter snows and summer suns, and all
this for pure love of liberty. The officers honored them-
selves in honoring the noble men in the ranks, who were
often their social superiors.
In Georgia, and throughout 'the South, the men who
fought in the Federal army were called Yankees, whether
the}r were from the North or West, or were foreign merce-
naries. They called us Rebels. Whether the Georgians,
who fought in this war, were "rebels" depends entirely upon
whether the United States was or was not a Federal Re-
public. It is very important that words should correctly
express facts. There is no opprobrium in the word rebel,
since rebellion against tyranny is an inherent right that
belongs to every man. Our forefathers were rebels against
King George, and we glory in their position.
To argue that Georgia belonged to her sister States is
preposterous ! Rebellion is the act of subjects, not of sov-
ereigns; so, it was impossible for the sovereign State of
Georgia to be in rebellion !
O youth of Georgia ! your fathers cherished the institu-
tions of their beloved State, kept unstained her character
and her plighted faith, and, when the time came, they were
not afraid to die for her, rejoicing to defend her rights and
protect her homes. Now, it remains- for you, taking for
your watchword the motto emblazoned on Georgia's coat-
of-arms — Wisdom, Justice, Moderation — to watch and
guard her only crown jewel, Constitutional Liberty ; and
may 1he history of future ages tell how well you kept the
trust !
# # •* * ■*
28 L
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
In April a party of twenty-two Federals, disguised as
civilians, came to Georgia as spies and for the purpose of
burning the thirteen bridges on our State Road, and other-
wise damaging it as much as possible. Their leader was a
tall, black-bearded man named Andrews. If his scheme
was successful he was to be paid sixty thousand dollars in
gold.
He and his party boarded the train at Marietta. When
they reached Big Shanty, while every one was at the break-
fast table, they uncoupled the engine and three cars from
the passenger-train and started for Chattanooga.
The engineer, conductor, and superintendent of the Road
shops, seeing what had been done, lost no time in conjec-
tures, but dashed after them on foot until they reached a
hand-car, when they were joined by several other men.
Then the pursuit was more rapidly continued, until they
were delayed by the track being blocked with forty or fifty
cross-ties; they saw, too, that the telegraph wires were torn
down for a quarter of a mile. After a little they procured
another hand-car and were joined by ten men, when they
pressed onward with redoubled energy. Xear Etowah they
were thrown into a ditch by the track being torn up at a
short curve ; but they had the good fortune to get an engine
and a coal car, and the race became more exciting.
The bridge-burners, as they dashed ahead, told the
switchmen that they were carrying ammunition to Gen.
Beauregard ; and whenever they dared they stopped to tear
up the track.
At Kingston our men procured the Rome engine and
hurried forward, only twenty-five minutes behind the spies.
282
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Again they encountered a torn-up track, when the con-
ductor and superintendent proceeded on foot, until they
reached the down train at Adairsville and appropriated the
engine to continue the pursuit. They renewed the race
with all possible speed, and though stopped several times
by obstructions, they at last came in sight of the flying
Yankees, who detached one of their cars to block the way.
It was removed, and the Georgians were still gaining upon
them, when they were forced to leave another car behind.
Their third one was loaded with cross-ties, with which they
continually obstructed the track. Our indomitable men
cleared the way and dashed after them.
A great danger at last confronted the spies; their steam
was giving out, and still the Georgians were in hot pursuit.
Everything that would burn ' was piled upon the diminish-
ing fire, but by the time they reached Ringgold the steam
was nearly exhausted. A few miles further on they re-
versed the engine to collide with the one that was chasing
them, and took to the woods. At Catoosa mounted men
followed them, and the entire band was captured. An-
drews offered ten thousand dollars for his release. He and
seven others were tried in Atlanta by court-martial, found
guilty^ and hung as spies. The other fourteen, who had
been detailed from an Ohio regiment for bridge-burning,
were considered prisoners of war and afterwards regularly
exchanged.
The capture of these Yankees was mainly due to William
Fuller, who held no position but that of a railroad con-
ductor, and it was one of the most wonderful achievements
in the annals of this war.
283
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The name of the stolen engine was General; it pulled
a passenger-train on our State Road for many years after
this adventure, and is now preserved as a precious relic.
When the war began, Atlanta — called "The Gate City"
— was quite a large town, with many fine and substantial
houses. On account of its railroads it soon became a mili-
tary post of great importance.
In these stirring times the chief interest of our State
was centered in her soldiers. The Georgia women were not
one whit behind the men in patriotism^ courage and prompt
action. Knitting socks for soldiers took the place of fancy
work. Stitch, stitch ; knit, knit ; day in and day out ; few
women or girls in Georgia wyere idle. Our Governor re-
quested contributions of clothing for the soldiers in the
field; two ladies in Bibb county were the first to respond,
but very soon every town, village and country-side in the
State were gladly aiding.
The Masonic Hall in Augusta was converted into a vast
clothing establishment, where could be found every kind of
garment needed by a soldier. The ladies of the city, with a
never wearying zeal and industry, and with a devotion wor-
thy of the cause in which their State was enlisted, worked
for the brave defenders of Georgia's rights.
In addition to our State troops, the most respectable
citizens of each county, who were too old or too feeble to
go to the front, were organized into companies, and called
"Home Guards." They drilled as often as they could, and
held themselves in readiness to respond at any time to a
call to arms.
This year Howell Cobb and his brother, Thomas R. R.
Cobb, were made brigadier-generals.
284
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Georgia strained every nerve to aid the Confederacy, and
largely supplied it with munitions of war. Powder mills
were established at Augusta, a cannon foundry at Rome, a
central ammunition laboratory at Macon, and manufactories
of arms at Athens, Milledgeville and Columbus. On every
plantation the spinning-wheel was humming and the loom
rattling. Cotton and wool cards, the reel and the winding
blades, were familiar objects in every house. While the
men at home were making arms and ammunition, the
women were making cloth and clothing, and contributing
in every way possible to the bodily comfort of the soldiers.
Georgia, situated near the center of this struggling young
nation, and having no dissensions within her borders, was
freely giving her sons, her substance and her entire influ-
ence to maintain the fortunes of the Southern Confederacy.
285
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE AVAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1862.
The counties of Xorth Georgia are nestled among the
Blue Ridge and its spurs. Their inhabitants are a brave,
patriotic and hardy people, loving their section as ardently
as the Scotch love their mountains and lakes. In no sec-
tion of our State were the people more devoted to Georgia's
interests. They had buckled on their swords as soon as
the war began, and had gone to far-away battle-fields to
fight against the despotism of Black Republicanism. Their
patriotism was proportionally greater, from the fact that
they had no negroes to till the soil and provide for their
families during their absence. What Georgian is not
proud to claim these brave mountaineers as countrymen?
Early in the spring a party of Yankees, seventy-five or
eighty strong, made a dash from East Tennessee into Mor-
ganton, the county site of Eannin. After prowling over
the town, they went to the residence of one of the citizens
to arrest his son, who was at home on a furlough. He re-
sisted arrest, and they fired upon him, severely, but not
dangerously, wounding him. His father, who was standing
behind him, was struck by the ball and instantly killed.
One of the men then seized the boy to disarm him, when his
286
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
sister, nerved to desperation and thinking that he, too, would
be killed, sprang upon the Yankee with a bowie-knife and
stabbed him in four places. A comrade ran to the rescue,
and, with the breech of his gun, knocked the girl to the
floor senseless; but she had done her work so effectually that
the stabbed man was dead when she recovered.
The Yankees, fearing an attack from Col. Young's men
who patrolled that region, did not tarry long in the town.
They carried off as prisoners a few old men whose offense
was that they claimed the privilege of differing with them
on political questions.
Although Georgia's ports were now blockaded, a kind
Providence had so blessed our soil and climate, that almost
everything necessary to our support and comfort could be
produced within the limits of the State; but it is a curious
fact that, with the briny Atlantic washing her eastern
boundary, the scarcity of salt became a serious inconven-
ience. The Governor and the Legislature took the matter
in hand and saved Georgia from a salt famine, by thwarting
the speculators and by making an appropriation for the
manufacture of salt, but this problem was a very serious one
throughout the war.
Our State cared well for her sick and wounded soldiers.
"The Georgia Relief and Hospital Association," at Rich-
mond, Va., with its physicians, nurses, and matrons, looked
after our disabled men at the front. Dr. James Camak,
of Athens, was medical director. Alwavs faithful and en-
ergetic, he rendered incalculable relief to our troops. In
addition to his other duties as surgeon and physician, he
devoted much of his time to the sick and wounded, lavish-
ing upon them a, care that could not have been exceeded if
287
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the patients had been his own brothers. After a great bat-
tle, not Georgians alone claimed his attention; he attended
with the same untiring kindness any Confederate soldiers
that chance threw in his way.
The soldiers who were cut off, at home, by disease, or in
camp or hospital, were as much martyrs to liberty as those
who fell on the field of battle; and their names are written
by Georgia on imperishable scrolls.
There is no more interesting fact connected with the part
that Georgia took in the war between the States, than that
many Creeks and Cherokees, remnants of the two great
Indian nations that once owned this soil, fought for the
Confederacy. They made fine soldiers and showed them-
selves to be true men, exhibiting a firmness and devotion to
the cause which was excelled by none.
Among the Creeks, Ho-poth-le-yo-holo was an exception.
"True to his hatred of Georgia, away beyond the Missis-
sippi, he arrayed his warriors in hostility to the Confed-
eracy; and, when numbering nearly a hundred winters, led
them in battle in Arkansas against the name of his heredi-
tary foe and hereditary hate — Mcintosh ; and with this offi-
cer in command of the Confederate troops, he was defeated
and his followers dispersed. Since that time nothing has
been known of the fate of the old warrior-chief."
Georgia soldiers this year added anew to their fame by
deeds of valor in Virginia. They were with "Stonewall*
Jackson in his wonderful Valley Campaign. The 12th
Georgia, called "the bloody 12th," helped him to win the
victory in the engagement at McDoAvell, which wras their
third pitched battle.
288
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
The service in Virginia was very arduous. Our soldiers
suffered great privations of rest and food, and made long
marches — many without shoes — over mountain roadfe, but
their enthusiasm never flagged. Georgians fought valiant-
ly in the swamps of the Chickahominy, and in the bloody
and trying conflicts around Richmond, where their patriot-
ism, courage and efficiency were brilliantly displayed.
Space fails to mention all the individual acts of gallantry of
officers and men which are recorded in the reports of their
different regiments.
In one of the battles on the Chickahominy, Col. Thomas,
of the 35th Georgia, though wounded, remained at the
head of his regiment. His adjutant and other officers were
conspicuous for gallantry, and sealed with their lives their
devotion to the cause. The quartermaster of the regiment,
seeing it deficient in field officers, volunteered his services
for the occasion, and rendered valuable aid until he was
seriously wounded.
Col. Fulsom, of the 14th Georgia, was confined to his bed
when the order was given to move forward; but he arose
and gallantly led his regiment in this battle, though labor-
ing under the effects of disease.
In May, after the battle of Seven Pines, Gen. Alex. R.
Lawton was ordered to form a command and send it to Rich-
mond as quickly as possible. He earnestly requested by
telegraph to be permitted to go with them, which was
granted; and the magnificent brigade which he took to Vir-
ginia, one of the largest in Confederate service, arrived just
in time to take part in the seven days' fighting around the
capital of the Confederacy.
19 289
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
On the 27th of June, they moved rapidly to the attack
upon the flank of the Federal General, McClellan, at Cold
Harbor. It was their first battle after they were organized
as Lawton's Brigade, and they won a reputation which grew
brighter and more illustrious in each battle in which they
were engaged, until the war ended. It was in this conflict
that Gen. Lawton led his gallant Georgians through the
woods, firing at every step, and guided by the volleys of the
enemy towards the thickest of the fight. In the midst of
the woods they met Gen. Ewell, then hotly engaged, who,
as he saw that long line advancing under fire, waved his
sword and shouted :
"Hurrah for Georgia!"
The brigade responded with a cheer and moved forward
more rapidly than ever. In emerging from the woods, the
31st and 38th regiments found themselves in the hottest
part of the battle, where the Confederates were pressing the
enemy towards the left. They joined the contest at that
point, under a murderous fire. Steadily did they push for-
ward, doing great execution, until their last cartridge was
expended; and even then, they joined heartily in that final
charge after nightfall, which resulted in shouts of victory.
The list of killed and wounded in these two regiments attest
the danger which they so gallantly faced.
Toombs's brigade was also in this battle, the 2d and
15th regiments being more actively engaged than the rest
of tke command. Their conduct w-as brilliantly heroic
when the enemy endeavored to drive them from their posi-
tion in the ravine; but they found themselves unable to
wrench it from the grasp of these determined Georgians,
290
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
and were driven back and repulsed after two hours of fierce
conflict. The chivalrous colonel, William Mcintosh, was
at the most exposed part of the line, when he fell mortally
wounded while cheering on his men.
In Gen. Longstreet's desperate fight at Frazier's Farm,
the 14th Georgia formed the left wing, while the 35th,
45th, and 49th Georgia regiments formed the right wing
of his army.
At Malvern Hill, Gen. Howell Cobb's brigade fought
valliantly, though for more than forty-eight hours before
the battle his men had little rest or food. Their ranks
were thinned by exhaustion, but there was no murmuring
or spirit of complaint as long as there was an enemy in
their front.
In this battle Gen. Lawton again led his now famous
brigade. Maj. Mcintosh was conspicuous for gallantry
and had his horse shot from under him.
Georgians took a prominent part in the victories in which
Gen. Robert E. Lee, in quick succession, defeated the Fed-
eral Generals, McClellan, Pope and Burnside, and in the
campaign of Albert Sidney Johnston in Tennessee.
In the second battle of Manassas, where the Federal Gen-
eral, Pope, was completely routed, Gen. Toombs led the
last charge of the Confederates against the enemy, one
of whose colonels was Fletcher Webster, son of the eloquent
senator, Daniel Webster, who had so often exerted his
power to avert an issue of arms between the States. Col.
Webster fell mortally wounded at the head of his regiment.
Recognizing Gen. Toombs as he was dashing by, he called
him. The gallant Georgian turned his horse, and, seeing
the condition of his quondam friend, ordered a detail of
291
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
soldiers to remain with the dying man and give him every
possible attention. The meeting and parting of the friends
were deeply affecting.
On the first day of this fight, Gen. Ewell lost a leg, and
Gen. Lawton, whose brigade was in the action, was given
command of the division; (he led it on the second and
third days of the battle.)
He continued to command this division, which included
his brigade, until he was seriously wounded at Sharpsburg.
In this engagement he was defending the Confederate left,
where the fighting was fast and furious, as the Federals
tried to break through the line, when he found that he
had only one staff officer remaining. This wTas Henry
Jackson, who was the first cadet officer appointed to the
Confederate army by Pres. Davis. This youth, only seven-
teen years old, was the eldest son of Gen. Henry R. Jack-
son. Gen. Lawton now sent him with a message to Gen.
Hood, asking his assistance. He dashed up to Gen. Hood,
who was in bivouac with his jaded troops, and with the
instinctive politeness of a well-born southern boy said,
"Gen. Lawton sends his compliments, with the request that
you come at once to his support."
He conducted Gen. Hood's division to its proper place in
the line, and, later on in the battle, had Gen. Lawton borne
from the field when he was wounded.
On one occasion during this summer that was so full of
fierce fighting and heroic deeds, the Troup Artillery of
Athens, in Cobb's Legion, was in such a position in battle
that, while exposed to a galling fire from the enemy, they
could not reply with safety to the Confederates engaged;
292
THE WAK BETWEEN THE STATES.
yet , under such trying circumstances, their coolness was
admirable.
On another occasion the 9th Georgia and the 1st Geor-
m
gia Regulars, a gallant body of skirmishers, drove the Yan-
kees from their position through their bivouac, capturing
their knapsacks, canteens and other property.
Again, when the 1st Georgia regulars were deployed as
skirmishers, the duty assigned them was attended with
great labor, but they acquitted themselves admirably. For
nearly a day they were in advance of the entire division,
preserving their alignments through woods and over every
obstacle. Afterwards, when they were in immediate con-
flict with the enemv, thev behaved with a steadiness and
1/ 7 L
coolness which exhibited the excellency of their discipline,
the efficiency of the officers and the courage of the men.
The 7th and 8th regiments, of glorious fame, did their
share of the fighting during this year, sustained heavy
losses, and the chivalrous Lamar was dangerously wounded.
It is said that the 7th Georgia was the first regiment that
ever placed a Confederate flag upon a Federal battery.
It was in September that "the seven governors of North-
ern States," the men who had forced on the war, joined by
five others of the same fanatical character, met in secret
junto and demanded of Pres. Lincoln that the execution
of military affairs be placed in the hands of persons of anti-
slavery views, and that slavers' be abolished. The pressure
upon him was so great that he was compelled to issue his
Emancipation Proclamation. Thus, without their consent,
and against the Constitution of the United States, he de-
prived the citizens of the non-seceding border States of their
property.
293
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
"With Georgia he had no right to interfere, as she had re-
sumed all her reserved rights, and was no longer a member
of the Federal Union. Still, if the enemy conld overrun
Georgia with an armed force, they could also deprive her
of a great part of her wealth, against her will and against
the Constitution of that Union which they so pretended
to love.
* * * * *
Nothing was so characteristic of the Georgia soldiers as
the determination with which they would hold a position.
Again and again during this war did they cling to a point
with the tenacity of a bulldog. k
On the morning of the 14th of September, at the battle
of South Mountain, the 23d and 2Sth Georgia regiments,
being in the wrong position, were brought back and placed
behind a stone wall which ran perpendicularly to the pike.
They laid there quietly all day, not knowing that their
brigade had surrendered. The -enemy made no direct ad-
vance by the pike, but succeeded before night in carrying
the ground on both sides of it, and far to the rear of the
stone wall. Strangely enough they never discovered the
two Georgia regiments, and, thinking the way was clear,
pushed a column up the pike. They received a galling fire
from the stone-wall, and fell back. They made repeated
efforts to advance, but always failed, until they finally aban-
doned the attempt, about nine o'clock at night.
While the Yankees were trying to pass the wall, a group
of Confederate officers, some standing, some seated, and
others lying down, were clustered about the toll-house on
the summit of the mountain. Every volley from the stone
294
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
wall was responded to by laughter from these officers, and
the observation : "Georgia is having a free fight."
But, indeed, it was no laughing matter, for had the wall
been carried, the rout of those brave Georgians would have
been complete. There are few instances in history of a
grave disaster being averted by troops who were themselves
cut off and surrendered. It was a most notable feat of hero-
ism. The Troup Artillery had eighteen horses killed in
this battle.
At Crampton's Gap, where the Confederates were forced
from their position after a stubborn fight, Gen. Howell
Cobb's brigade was ordered to hold their ground at all
hazards. Attacked by fearful odds, they suffered terribly,
but did not yield a foot, thus giving Gen. Lee time to
bring up his men and gain the point he desired. The bri-
gade lost heavily — fully forty-four per cent, of its men;
among the number, the gallant Col. Jno. B. Lamar of
Macon. The Mell Rifles, of Athens, with twenty-seven
men, came out with only five unhurt.
All during the war there were innumerable instances of
the cool-head edness and quickness of action of the Georgia
soldiers in the ranks. After one of the Virginia battles, an
unarmed private in the 4th Georgia battalion captured in
the woods one lieutenant, one sergeant, and two privates
of a New Jersey regiment. The Yankees were armed, but
he brought them into camp and delivered them to his com-
mander.
Thus, through cold winter's ice and snow, the balmy days
of spring, and the fiery heat of summer, the Georgia troops
had enthusiastically followed wherever the Red Cross
pointed.
295
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1862.
Virginia was the great battle-field this year, but Geor-
gians were found wherever there was a Confederate army.
They often had to perform the hard duty of waiting and
watching, or marching and re-marching, and they dis-
charged that duty as faithfully as the more grateful task
of active service on the battle-field.
Gen. Paul Semmes and his men, of McLaw's Division,
won fame in many of these Virginia battles. In one of
his reports he compliments the efficient service of his volun-
teer aids, who were "much exposed to the enemy's missiles,
ball, shell, grape and bullets." The report ends with this
high commendation : "Individual cases of gallantry might
be named, but this is deemed unnecessary; only the chival-
rous and the brave were there, in such close and deadly
proximity to the foe."
At King's Schoolhouse there was a severe and long-con-
tested battle, in which many Georgia troops fought with
their accustomed valor. Gen. Wright, in his report of this
battle wrote: "The conduct of Col. Doles' 4th Georgia
regiment challenges our warmest admiration and thanks,
for the gallant manner in which it rallied late in the ev*n-
?96
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
ing and drove from their stronghold the famous 'Excelsior
brigade.' I beg leave to suggest that an order be issued
authorizing the 4th Georgia to inscribe upon its banner,
King's Sclwolhouse."
Another regiment won similar distinction during this
summer. Gen.v Itobt. E. Lee ordered the renowned 3d
Georgia to inscribe South Mills upon its banner, for their
heroic conduct in that battle.
Cobb's Legion had made its name illustrious on many a
well-fought field in Virginia, and when the. war ended
could boast that fewer men were captured from its ranks
than from any other legion in Confederate service. One
day, in a desperate battle, the General in command wished
to capture a certain battery and asked for volunteers. Col.
\Vm. G. Deloney, commander of the cavalry in this Legion,
rode to the front, his eyes glowing with the fire of battle,
and above the din and crash of strife his stentorian voice
was heard to shout: "Cobb's Legion, follow me, and we
will capture those pieces.7'
In December the Legion won fresh laurels in the battle
of Fredericksburg. Its ardent and enthusiastic leader,
Thomas It. R. Cobb, now commanding a brigade, as a civil-
ian had been tireless in his efforts on the hustings, through
the Press, and in conventions for the rights of Georgia.
Soon after the war began he raised the corps which was
called Cobb's Legion, and began his military career with
the same spirit and zeal with which Peter the Hermit rushed
to Palestine to rescue the Holy Sepulchre.
He loved the humblest soldier in his command as one
"who had gone out with him," considering each man a
sacred trust for whom he was responsible to God and his
country.
C97
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
He and his staff walked four-fifths of the way from Win-
chester to Fredericksburg, through snow, rain and mud,
while the sick and foot-sore were placed on their horses.
In the battle his brigade, which was composed mostly of
Georgia troops, was stationed behind a stone wall, while the
artillery occupied the bluff in their rear. The whole force
of the enemy at this point was hurled against the wall, but
not a man of them ever got nearer to it than fifty feet.
Fourteen brigades of the enemv, one after the other, were
repulsed and decimated in the field in front. While the
battle was hotly raging, Gen. Lee sent word to Gen. Cobb
that his position must be held. He replied : "It will be,,
to the last!"
As the battle waxed hotter, the roar of musketry and
artillery was so terrific that orders could not be heard at any
distance.
In the meantime, the enemy succeeded in getting on
Cobb's flank ; but he had promised for himself and his men
to hold the position, and well did he keep his word ! He
ordered Adjutant John Rutherford to bring up troops if
any could be found; if not, to concentrate the artillery on
that point. When the order was given neither he nor its
bearer knew if it could be carried through the storm of
battle. For one terrible moment it seemed as if the posi-
tion would be taken in spite of all that courage could do;
but the adjutant accomplished his mission, the point was
re-inforced, and the enemy were driven from the lodgment
which they had made in the din, smoke and darkness. The
heroic daring of Adjutant Rutherford in carrying the order
was worthy of him and of his name.
298
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Calm and self-possessed, Gen. Cobb was everywhere,
making his presence felt all along the line. It was while
cheering his men and urging them to keep cool, and reserve
their fire, that he was struck by a fragment of a shell and
mortally wounded, in sight of the old home in Fredericks-
burg, where his mother was born and married. As the litter
passed down the lines bearing his mangled body, rejoicing
over their success ceased for a time, and mourning sat upon
the countenance of every Georgian.
But still the battle raged, and a fixed resolution seemed
at once to possess the Brigade, and especially the Legion, to
avenge their beloved General. Col. Robert McMillan, of
the 24th Georgia, took Gen. Cobb's place and sent a volley
into the ranks of the foe, which carried ruin in its way.
Every man in the Legion caught his spirit, and his own
regiment turned in the thickest of the fight and gave him
three heartv cheers. He won a laurel wreath in this battle,
to which fresh leaves were afterwards added.
Ten thousand of the enemy were killed and wounded in
this unsuccessful assault upon the Confederate lines.
Phillips' Legion and the ISth Georgia were also engaged
in this fight. Braver and better men never drew a sword
or fired a gun. Lawton's brigade, which, after he was dis-
abled, had been assigned to John B. Gordon, sustained its
reputation in this memorable battle. Its gallant adjutant,
E. P. Lawton, was among Georgia's distinguished sons who
fell.
After Gen. Gordon was promoted for bravery, in the
spring of 1864, this famous brigade was commanded by
Gen. C. A. Evans, colonel of the 31st Georgia, who bore
299
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
himself nobly in every battle in which he fought. He re-
tained the command until Gen. Lee's surrender.
Gen. Cobb's body was carried to his home in Athens for
burial. Xever in the history of that town was such a
t/
funeral procession seen. Aged sires and prattling children,
matrons and maidens, all classes mingled with the military
to do him honor. Conspicuous in the immense procession,
leading his war-horse, was Jesse, his body-servant, who had
followed him to the war.
By the murmuring waters of the Oconee rests the hon-
ored dust of Gen. Thomas R. R. Cobb, who had fought
neither for self-interest, nor passion, nor prejudice, but for
constitutional liberty. Among the long list of her martyrs
who have fallen in freedom's cause his name shines bril-
liantly on the page of Georgia's history. Gen. Lee, from
his camp near Fredericksburg, wrote a letter of condolence
to Gen. Howell Cobb on the death of his brother, which
deserves to be printed in letters of gold. Xo hero ever won
higher praise.
All through this year the Georgia troops suffered greatly.
Gens. LawTton, Toombs and Ranse Wright were wounded,
and Col. C. A. McDaniel, of the 41st Georgia, was killed.
The names of all the Georgians who this year died on the
field of glory are recorded upon the hearts of a grateful
people. Georgia consented to the sacrifice of her noble
sons only to secure the inestimable blessing for which they
fought and died.
"While our soldiers were winning fame in Virginia and
the West, those who remained in the State were not idle.
Commodore Tattnall made several attempts with his small
force to attack the fleet which was blockading Savannah.
300
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
His iron-clad, Atlanta, delivered battle singly to two iron-
clads of the enemy. The Atlanta got aground twice — the
second time hopelessly so. She was attacked in this situa-
tion, and her men fought bravely, but were finally forced
to surrender.
Gen. Howell Cobb, of whom it was justly said, "he was
loved by the lowly and honored by the great," had been
transferred to Georgia in November, and was assigned to
duty in the southern part of the State.
The enthusiasm of Georgia women in working for the
soldiers, in encouraging and comforting them in health,
and nursing them when sick and wounded, had never
abated. As the fall came on, every woman and girl was
busily working to protect the soldiers against the wintry
cold, and every heart was with the army in the field.
Proudly does Georgia boast that there were 30,000 girls
knitting socks for soldiers. A Jackson county child only
six years old knit a pair with her own little hands.
An Athens lady, a most ardent Southerner, took the lead
pipes out of her house and from the fountains in her beauti-
ful yard, to mould bullets for the soldiers. These bullets
were used in the battle of Shiloh. The patriotism of the
women and children of Georgia was a sight to arouse the
admiration of mankind ! Who shall say that the Georgia
women did not do as much as the men in the sacred cause
of freedom ?
"After one of the battles around Richmond, a letter was
taken from the breast-pocket of a dead private soldier of a
Georgia regiment. It was written on coarse Confederate
paper with pale Confederate ink. It was from his sweet-
* Thomas Nelson Page.
101
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
heart. They were plain arid illiterate people, for it was
badly written and badly spelled. In it she told him that
she loyed him; that she had always loyed him since they
had gone to school together in the little log schoolhouse in
the woods; that she was sorry she had always treated him
so badly, and that now, if he would get a furlough and come
home, she would marry him. Then, as if fearful that this
temptation might prove too strong to be resisted, there was
a little postscript scrawled across the blue Confederate
paper: 'Don't come without a furlough, for if you don't
come honorable, I won't marry you.' "
Love for their State and an influence full of incitement
to honorable and heroic action were exhibited by Georgia
women from the lowly cottage to the stately mansion.
When the year ended, Confederate money was depre-
ciating— three or four dollars of it being equal to only one
dollar in gold. Georgia, with her never-failing patriotism,
did what she could to strengthen the currency, and the
Legislature fought against the despicable speculators who
had caused the price of provisions and clothing to be nearly
quadrupled in value. A Confederate stamp cost ten cents.
The close of the year found Georgia doing her whole
duty in every way. She had 75,000 men in Confederate
service and 8,000 for State defense; and well were her men
and women illustrating the valor and patriotism of their
State !
302
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE AVAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1863.
As the new year advanced, Georgia labored under a terri-
ble pressure. Three-fourths of her able-bodied men were
fighting in other States, provisions were getting scarce, and
there was a multiplying number of soldiers' widows and
orphans dependent upon the State for support.
A Federal fleet was still investing our coast, and towards
the end of January some of their gunboats made a demon-
stration against Fort McAllister, which was an earthwork
with sand parapets, at the mouth of the Ogeechee river.
It was among the earliest of the Confederate defenses -con-
structed on the Georgia coast. Its mission was to prevent
the ascent of the river by any Federal ship, and to this end
its guns were disposed. Its rear was protected by a heavy
entrenchment, not with the hope of offering successful re-
sistance to any serious investment from the land side, but
simply to repel any sudden assault by expeditions from the
hostile fleet. It commanded the channel of the Ogeechee
river, shielded the important Railroad bridge near Way's
station, and preserved from molestation the rice plantations
in its neighborhood.
The Federals bombarded the Fort for five hours, and then
retired without doing any damage. For the first time in
303
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the history of naval warfare, 15-inch guns were used in the
effort to reduce a shore battery. The ability of sand para-
pets to resist the effect of shot and shell from guns of the
heaviest calibre was thus demonstrated.
"When it was thought that Savannah would be attacked,
the militia responded with alacrity to the Governor's call.
Every man who could command a gun or a pike, from the
mountains to the seaboard, rushed to the rescue.
About this time, for certain personal reasons, Gen.
Toombs came home. Having permanently resigned his
command in Virginia, he intended to raise a regiment for
State service. In taking leave of his old troops, he proudly
said to them :
"This Brigade knows how to die, but not how to yield to
the foe ! Since I took command over you, I have not pre-
ferred a single charge, nor arraigned one of you before a
court-martial. Your conduct never demanded of me such
a duty. You can well appreciate the feeling with which I
part with such a command. Nothing less potent than the
requirements of a soldier's honor could with my consent
wrench asunder these ties while a single banner of the ene-
my floated over one foot of our country. Soldiers, com-
rades, friends, farewell !"
Toombs' brigade, composed of the 2d, loth, 17th and
20th Georgia regiments, was then placed under the com-
mand of Gen. H. L. Benning. It formed a part of Hood's
renowned "fighting division."
Although the Georgia women worked so incessantly for
our soldiers, their hardships increased in a terrible ratio as
the war progressed. Contemplate this picture:
304
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
"At early dawn, the private rises from his hard bed at
beat of drum and puts on his dirty clothes, not because he
likes dirt or is lazy, but because he has neither soap nor a
change of clothes. His breakfast is soon cooked, and he sits
down to corn-bread, beef, molasses and rice. The bread
is made of unsifted meal almost as coarse as hominy, and
his beef is so poor it looks blue. He jokes over his miser-
able fare, rises from his breakfast singing "Dixie," and
shoulders his gun for a twenty-four hours on guard, or as
long a march; or, perhaps, he stands on picket and the rain
pours down on him, and his dirty clothes are saturated with
mud."
No soldiers ever grumbled so little as the privates in the
Confederate armies. Yet many of them were nurtured in
the lap of luxury. It was the race from which they sprang
and the sacred cause for which they fought that gave them
such stout hearts. Some of the best blood in Georgia was
in the ranks, and they proudly boasted of being "high pri-
vates in the front ranks."
When the war began there lived on our seacoast a
widow with seven sons. She armed and equipped six of
them, and sent them forth to battle for her dear native land.
Five of them were members of one regiment, as privates,
and privates they remained — though offered commissions in
the field and positions at home where they might have lived
in ease and grown rich by speculation.
The heroic mother paid a visit to the regiment this year,
and, the morning she left, she called upon the Colonel and
asked : "Have mv sons done their dutv ?"
"Madam," he replied, "they are the best soldiers in the
army."
20g 305
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
"I knew they would do their duty/' she said. "I have
not come, sir, to ask favors for them, but to give you my
seventh son, my Benjamin, the child of my old age. He
is only sixteen, but old enough to serve his country."
On one occasion, she said to a friend who was returning
to the army in Virginia : "Tell my boys that I can hear
of their death and live; but to learn that they had proved
recreant to their country would kill me."
It is pleasant to record that five of these brave, true-
hearted boys lived to return to their mother after the war.
In March, a part of the Federal fleet made another attack
on Fort McAllister. For eight long hours it was rained
upon, without effect, by four monitors, three 13-inch mor-
tar schooners, and five gunboats. This was the seventh
attempt that the Federals had made to capture it. The
brave little garrison finally drove them off in a crippled con-
dition, and the Confederate flag still floated proudly over its
parade. Maj. Gallie, the commander, was killed early in
the action.
Georgia rang with the praises of the gallant defense of
the Fort, and by special order the garrison inscribed on
their flags: Fort McAllister, March 3d, 1863.
In April, another brilliant exploit took place in our State.
A band of Federal cavalry, eighteen hundred strong, under
Col. Straight, made a raid into Georgia. Coming from
Tennessee, they aimed for Atlanta and Rome — two very
important points — intending to destroy all military sup-
plies, and cut the railroads which carried them to the Con-
federate army by way of Chattanooga. Information of
this raid was received almost immediately. Gen. Forrest,
who happened to be within striking distance, started in pur-
306
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
suit with only six hundred men. Following the raiders
rapidly, day and night, he engaged them in several spirited
skirmishes and two battles, and finally, by a stratagem, cap-
tured the whole command near the picturesque town of
Rome. He saved the western part of our State from being
harassed by an unprincipled foe, and preserved Atlanta and
Rome from destruction.
When Forrest's weary and hungry men entered Rome
with the captured Yankees, every woman in the town
"rolled up her sleeves" and went industriously to work to
prepare food for our gallant defenders; and when they de-
parted, after a short rest, each one was given all the pro-
visions he was willing to carry.
During the spring, a scarcity of corn caused great suffer-
ing in our mountain counties. An old lady, who is a native
of this part of the State, says that her section was always
true to Georgia and the Confederacy, and hated Yankees
more, if possible, than the rest of the State; that it is vile
slander to say the contrary, simply because some desper-
adoes and deserters were concealed among the mountains.
That her words are true, let the splendid service of our
mountain companies testify ! Ko part of the Southern
Confederacy furnished more men, in proportion to popula-
tion, to fight its battles; nor half so many patient, indus-
trious, noble women. In many instances, with little chil-
dren around their knees, they toiled in the fields for a bare
support. What they suffered while the men were in the
army, no pen can portray ! They were clothed entirely in
homespun, their thread being made on spinning-wheels and
woven into cloth on hand-looms. Occasionally, by paying
from ten to twenty dollars, they could get a bunch of thread
307
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
from the factories, before these were burned by the Yan-
kees. Their salt was obtained by digging up the dirt floors
in their smoke-houses, where meat had been salted year
after year, boiling it down in water and straining it, and
repeating this process many times. The poorer people
never tasted sugar, and the hardships which they endured
in every way were terrible !
Gov. Brown's zeal for our soldiers and their families
never abated. He now set an example of patriotic liber-
ality by giving all his surplus corn and shucks to needy fam-
ilies of soldiers in Cherokee county, where his plantation
was situated.
It was during this spring that John B. Gordon was made
brigadier-general. He was every inch a hero ! Having
entered the army as captain of infantry, he was regularly
promoted through all the intermediate grades, and was des-
tined to become one of the most brilliant soldiers that Geor-
gia gave to Confederate service.
This year, too, Georgia's distinguished son, Gen. A. R.
Lawton, was made quartermaster-general of the Confed-
erate army, in which position he served his country as
effectively as he had done on many a battle-field.
In the summer, Darien, one of our oldest towns, was cap-
tured by Federal gunboats, and the labor of generations was
wantonly destroyed.
More regiments were organized this year for Confederate
service, and when Pres. Davis called for 8,000 troops for
home defense, 18,000 offered.
Thus did Georgia's sons show their patriotism ! Gov.
Brown was right; conscription was unnecessary in our State.
308
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Gen. Howell Cobb commanded these troops; under him
were Gen. Henry Ii. Jackson, at Savannah, and Gen. Al-
fred Iverson, at Borne.
The Georgia Press poked a great deal of fun at our Gov-
ernor in one way or another. In their zeal for the Confed-
eracy, they often forgot Georgia's rights as a sovereign
State. Their special subject for ridicule was "Joe Brown's
Pets." The name originated in this way:
The State Guard, composed mainly of exempts and pro-
fessional men who organized for the defense of the State,
were under the command of the Governor, and he persist-
ently refused to let them go out of Georgia, or to be merged
into the Confederate army; hence their nickname. They
were armed with anything they could get ; Gov. Brown had
a lot of pikes made which he distributed to some of the
"pets" with a patriotic address, and the injunction : "If the
•enemv attack you, jab 'em !"
309
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1863.
Early in September, a Federal army entered Georgia
through Tennessee. They obtained possession of the passes
leading into McLemore's Cove, intending to cut off the
Confederate army under Gen. Bragg, at Chattanooga, from
communication with Atlanta, force him to retreat through
East Tennessee, and leave Georgia at their mercy.
Under these circumstances, Gen. Bragg, who had been
retreating before the enemy all summer, evacuated Chatta-
nooga, entered our State, and made a stand between Ring-
gold and Graysville, his main army being posted along the
road between Gordon's Mill and LaFayette, in Walker
county. There were daily skirmishes along this line, and
occasionally a sharp fight. A cavalry engagement at
Catoosa Springs resulted in the retreat of the Confederates
to Tunnel Hill, where thev were reinforced. In another
cavalry fight at Ringgold, the Confederates were driven
into the town, but they rallied under Gen. Forrest, and
drove off the enemy in disorder. Both armies were manoeu-
vring for a good position, and all these engagements were
but preliminary to the great battle on the Chickamauga, in
which Gen. Bragg commanded the Confederates and Gen.
Rosecrans the Federals. The position occupied by the two
310
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
armies was historic ground. The house of John Ross, the
famous Cherokee chief, was within two miles of the battle-
field, at the foot of a pass in Missionary Ridge.
"It was in this lovely valley of the Chickamauga, and
along these mountain passes, that Indians of hostile
tribes were wont to meet in battle array and settle their
disputes. It was here that the dark-eyed maiden was
wooed and won by her forest-born lover; it was here
that questions of boundary and dominion and revenge
found their bloody solution. Then, the fearless Indian
alone held sway in these wild glens and coves, and among
these rocky fastnesses.
"Chickamauga, river of death; if this was an appropriate
name for the crooked, gliding, serpent-shaped stream in the
days of the Indians, the events which transpired here on
that memorable Saturday and Sunday in September give it
a yet stronger claim to that mournful title."
Gen. Polk commanded the right wing of the Confed-
erates, and Gen. Hood the left wing. The battle raged
from nine o'clock Saturday morning until night closed in,
without any material advantage to either side. Early on
Sunday, the Confederates renewed the attack, and the tide
of battle ebbed and flowed the livelong day. Gen. Long-
street, with his brave veterans, had rushed from Virginia
with little food or sleep, to aid Gen. Bragg. The Geor-
gians in his command passed by their homes -without stop-
ping to embrace the loved ones there — homes that some of
them had not seen since the beginning of the war.
When the hardy Longstreet arrived upon the scene of
action, he halted only long enough for his men to clear
their eyes of the dust of travel and replenish their cartridge
311
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
boxes. His officers were without horses, and there were no
wagons to transport their supplies; nor was there any time
to procure either, for the battle was about to commence.
Without rest or a moment's unnecessary delay, these yeter-
ans were placed in the van, and led every attack upon the
enemy made by the left wing, where the Confederate suc-
cess was most signal and where the day was really won.
The services of the modest chieftain and his heroic com-
mand were enthusiastically applauded throughout the
South. In this battle there was a generous rivalry in dar-
ing action and patient endurance, between his troops and
those of the Confederate army of Tennessee.
It was owing to the promptness and efficiency of Gen.
A. R. Lawton that Longstreet's corps arrived in time to
turn the tide of battle in favor of the Confederates. This
feat of transporting an army corps in a limited time, and
over worn-out railroads, from the Kapidan in Virginia to
the Chickamauga in Georgia, is considered the most re-
markable of the war. By the successful issue of this battle
the invaders were, for a time, driven back from our State.
The loss of officers in these two days of fighting is unpre-
cedented in the annals of war. Among the Georgians
Brig.-Gen. James Deshler was killed, and also Peyton Col-
quitt, colonel of the 46th Georgia Regulars. He was a son
of Walter Colquitt, who was so much admired and loyed
by his State. ■
The suffering caused by the battle of Chickamauga made
a tremendous draft upon the energy, humanity and benevo-
lence of our non-combatant population, which was most
cheerfully met. Committees were formed for the relief
of the wounded, and large subscriptions were made to fur-
312
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
nish necessary articles and delicacies for the suffering. All
this from Georgia's poverty, for provisions were getting so
scarce that Gov. Brown had made an appeal to the farmers
to plant provision crops instead of cotton. Business was
stagnant, and the foreign commerce of the State was re-
duced to a few small cargoes in light vessels which escaped
the blockading fleet.
Some weeks afterwards, Pres. Davis visited our State.
In his speech at Marietta, he complimented Georgia women
on their exertions in behalf of the wounded in the recent
battles; our citizens on the alacrity with which they re-
sponded to a call for troops, on their readiness to rally to
the defense of the border, and on the distinguished services
of her war-worn veterans in the field.
After the disastrous battle of Missionary Bidge, the Fed-
erals, largely re-inforced, occupied Chattanooga, and the
Confederates held their position at Tunnel Hill, in Georgia.
The beautiful valley of the Chickamauga was neutral
ground between the hostile armies, which remained com-
paratively quiet for nearly three months.
While the Yankees were in Georgia, the owner of a mill
near the Chickamauga battle-field destroyed the dam to pre-
vent their grinding corn. For doing as he saw fit with his
private property, he was hung on a tree in front of his
own door.
* * * * *
All during the war the Confederate navy was small, but
her sailors were bold and dashing. Georgia contributed
her full quota to this branch of the service. John Mcin-
tosh Kell was a representative Georgia sailor. AVhen his
313
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
State seceded he was a lieutenant in the Federal navv, and
well on his way to the commander' s list ; but he would have
scorned the commission of an admiral, if it had been offered
him as the price of treason to his State. He would have
considered it little short of matricide to have brought a
Federal ship into Georgia waters to ravage her coasts and
fire upon her people. He became an officer of the famous
Confederate cruiser Sumter, and then first lieutenant of
the still more famous cruiser Alabama. These two vessels
alone did an immense injury to the commerce of the United
States. The Alabama "walked the waters like a thing of
life" and was renowned throughout the civilized world; and
Georgia's son, Lieut. Kell, helped to win that renown.
The revolving years had again brought around a guber-
natorial election. Gov. Brown had the great honor of
being elected for a fourth term, the only man ever so com-
plimented by Georgia. He was an ideal war governor, and
his majority was large.
Home politics excited little interest this year, as the at-
tention of our State was centered upon the armies and mili-
tary operations. Georgia soldiers were keeping up their
prestige in a magnificent manner, from the low-lying shores
of the Gulf of Mexico to the northernmost boundaries of
Virginia — from the Atlantic slope to the uttermost Confed-
erate limits beyond the Mississippi ; and Georgia's name was
associated with every memorable battle fought for Southern
independence.
Doles, Colquitt and Iverson were in the storm of blood
and fire at Chancellorsville; and there fell the gallant Col.
Slaughter of the 51st Georgia Regiment. The pluck of
our soldiers was highly complimented in this fierce battle.
314
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
An officer who knew the hazard of the endeavor, said :
"Give me a Georgia brigade and I can carry those heights."
In the thick of the fight, Richard Save, a private in the
Troup Artillery, saw a shell fall near the gun he was serv-
ing. Quickly stepping forward, he picked it up, with its
fuse burning, and threw it down the hill. As it rolled on,
it exploded. This brave act saved several lives at the im-
minent risk of his own.
Among the many Georgia soldiers who have yielded up
their lives in defense of liberty, death has stilled no braver
heart than that of Lieut.-Col. Wm. G. Deloney, who fell at
Madison Court House, Va., during this year.
With what pride does Georgia point to the patriotic
Cobb, the dashing Toombs, the noble Benning, the brave
Deloney, and the daring Wright ! Happy the State that
can boast such sons !
At Gettysburg, the Georgia troops were in the fiercest of
the fight. The Third Georgia Regiment of Volunteers —
of Gen. A. R. Wright's Brigade — in charging Cemetery
Heights, penetrated further into the enemy's lines than
any other Confederates in that engagement: they fought
over the ground which Pickett's Division had charged the
evening of the 3d. Death, wounds, or captivity, were the
fate of many Georgians during those two hot days in July
— for Longstreet bore the brunt of the fight, and his com-
mand always included Georgians. Although he was not
born in our State, his affiliations bv descent and association
were emphatically with Georgia.
Gen. E. P. Alexander was Longstreet's chief of artil-
lery, and directed that fearful fire of a hundred guns upon
315
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the enemy's batteries at Gettysburg. Gen. Paul Semmes
was mortally wounded in this battle.
On one occasion this year, while the 23d Georgia was on
picket duty at Fredericksburg, conversation with the Yan-
kee pickets was strictly forbidden, but a word would pass
between them now and then. A Yankee. ^ettins: the atten-
tion of a Georgian, bawled out : "I understand you have a
new general on your side."
Upon being asked who it was, he replied: "General
Starvation."
Finding they could not whip us as long as there were any-
thing like equal numbers in our armies, they gloried in the
prospect of starving us out.
A young soldier from Columbia county, in the 10th Geor-
gia, had been two years in service. He had fought in all
the Virginia battles except the first Manassas, and had
never been touched by ball or shell. During the great fight
on the Rappahannock this year he was severely wounded
in the face and hand by a Minie ball. "Walking off the
field, covered with blood, and very faint, but still holding
his loaded gun in the uninjured hand, he saw a Yankee
marching off three of our unarmed soldiers as prisoners.
Passing quite near the wounded Georgian, he called out to
him to surrender. As quick as a flash, the Georgian raised
his gun and shot him dead, thus saving himself and releas-
ing his three comrades.
Familiarity with the conduct of Georgia women during
this Avar increases the wonder at their heroism and self-
sacrifice. Thev stood shoulder to shoulder with the men
in their love for Georgia, deeming it glorious to give up
every comfort and pleasure for their beloved State. They
316
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
surrendered their gems with a smile, without a sigh cut up
their rich carpets for soldiers' blankets, and freely sent their
fine linen to hospitals for lint and bandages. The cheek
glows and the heart swells with pride at the recital of the
labor of love performed by the busy fingers of children as
they knit soldiers' socks in their hours of recreation, and
of the many acts of self-sacrifice displayed by our bonny
girls ! Fifty thousand pairs of socks were sent from Geor-
gia this year to assist in carrying our heroes comfortably
through the winter. There was nothing that our women
would not do for the soldiers, and a sacrifice of comfort
was a part of their daily lives. A lady in Kewnan, who
had given her horses to the cavalry, was content to have
her fine carriage drawn by a couple of oxen !
Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, wife of the colonel of the
1st Georgia Regulars, established the "Wayside Homes"
for soldiers; a system that immediately went into operation
from our State to Virginia. Cooked provisions were sent
as voluntary contributions to appointed railroad stations,
and a committee of ladies saw that, when the train arrived,
every soldier had a good meal without money and without
price. The "Wayside Home" at Union Point and other
places where troops were constantly passing, was an inesti-
mable blessing to "the boys in gray."
■x- * -x- -x- -x-
When the manhood of Georgia went to the front, they
confidently left their wives and children to the care of their
negroes. These humble friends tilled the soil, ministered
kindly to the needs of the unprotected women and children,
and performed all their customary services with the same
317
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
cheerfulness and alacritv as when the men were at home.
How faithfully those who went to the army with their mas-
ters seryed them is known to every Georgia veteran !
Most praiseworthy was their conduct, and Georgia's heart
warms towards them still for their fidelity, friendship and
uninterrupted labors during a period of trouble such as our
State had never known.
Every year when the Legislature met they appropriated
money for the "Georgia Relief and Hospital Association"
at Richmond, and for the indigent families of soldiers.
When the Confederate army retreated to Dalton, Gen.
Bragg asked to be relieved of the command, and it was
offered to a noble Georgian, Gen. Win. J. Hardee. Declin-
ing the permanent leadership, he was placed in temporary
command until Gen. Johnston assumed control in Decem-
ber.
Hardee was tall and handsome, and one of the finest
horsemen in the South. A man of rare suavity, his talents
fitted him to shine as a scholar, and also to occupy a prom-
inent place in military councils where stern warriors were
wont to figure. He was a veteran of the Mexican war, and
one of the most superb soldiers in Confederate service.
For bravery at the battle of Shiloh he had been promoted
from brigadier to major-general, and placed in command of
a division of Bragg's army. Kow he was defending his
native soil against invasion.
As the year drew to a close the depreciation of Confed-
erate money caused great distress in Georgia. Twenty-one
dollars of it was only equal to one dollar in gold; and then,
too, Georgia had lost 9,504 of her heroic sons. ~No State
in the Confederacy had sustained so great a loss. Oh, the
318
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
sorrow, the desolation, the crushed hearts in our homes !
Bartow, Cobb, Cooper, Xelms, Stovall, Smith and Burch,
with hundreds of other devoted Georgians, were killed on
Virginia's sacred soil, and hundreds were killed in the West.
Where they sleep "glory keeps eternal watch."
Besides this mountain of sorrow, a powerful, hostile army
was upon Georgia's northern border and the situation was
critical. Yet never once did her sons falter, but, with stern
resolve, every freeman prepared to meet the invaders as
became men fighting for everything they held dear. The
militia, between sixteen and sixty, were enrolled, and the
Governor authorized to call them out if necessary.
No State in the Southern Confederacy had surpassed
Georgia in struggling for the right of self-government.
Her soldiers had been in the forefront of battle; her whole
population, men, women, children and negroes, had come
fully up to the measure of what was expected of them.
She had furnished her quota of troops, and in some in-
stances more than were called for ; and, now, when an unre-
lenting foe was threatening an invasion, her sons rushed to
arms with their wonted ardor and enthusiasm. Proudly
do Georgians point to this year of bitter sorrow and strug-
gle, and say : Our State did her whole duty !
319
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued).
1864.
Georgia was the very heart of the Southern Confederacy.
She supplied the army with grain, with most of its powder,
and with a considerable portion of the war material em-
ployed in its equipment. There were large iron works at
Etowah, Rome and Atlanta; cotton and woollen mills at
Augusta, Columbus, .Eoswell, Athens, and other towns,
which turned out great quantities of fabrics for the use of
Confederate troops. The machine shops of the principal
railroads were in Atlanta, and there, too, was the most ex-
tensive rolling mill in the Confederacy, besides pistol and
tent factories, and numerous other works which were under
the direction of the Confederate Government. Hence, it
was of first importance to the whole country that our State
should not be overrun by a Federal army.
In February, the enemy resumed active military opera-
tions on our northern border and in Florida. The battle,
of Olustee, or Ocean Pond, Fla., was fought by a Georgian,
Gen. Alfred H. Colquitt. He gained a brilliant victory
and saved Florida from further invasion, winning for him-
self the title of "hero of Olustee." The Confederates cap-
tured quantities of arms and ammunition. A section of
320
THE WAR r.ETWEEN THE STATES.
the captured twelve-pounder Napoleon guns was assigned
to the Chatham Artillery, led by Capt. Wheaton, for their
gallant and efficient conduct during the engagement ; when
they were returning from the victorious field they were
lustily cheered again and again, by the men of Colquitt's
Brigade. During the remainder of the war, with feelings
of special pride, this famous company retained the captured
guns as a component part of their battery.
It is a fact worthy of record that, during the four years
of war, the Chatham Artillery furnished from its member-
ship more than fifty commissioned officers to Confederate
and State service.
Historic truth requires that trivial events should be de-
scribed, and expression given to the emotions of the times,
so that posterity may appreciate not only the efforts but the
sentiments of our people. Among the war-worn soldiers
who rushed to the defense of Florida there was, in one of
the Georgia regiments, a boy whose bare feet were bleed-
ing from long marching. When the train bearing these
troops arrived at Madison, Fla., as was usual, a large crowd
of ladies was there with refreshments for the soldiers. A
young lady, moved by a noble impulse of pity, took off her
shoes and made the suffering Georgia lad put them on,
while she walked home in her stockings. This instance is
only one in a thousand that illustrates the devotion of the
glorious southern girls to the Confederate cause.
Towards the latter part of February, the Federal col-
umns united in front of Ringgold; there was considerable
skirmishing with the Confederates, and battles at Tunnel
Hill, Mill Creek Gap, and Dug Gap. The latter is on
2ig 321
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Rocky Face Ridge — a steep, thickly wooded and rugged
eminence which commands the approach to Dalton both by
railroad and wagon road. It was held by the Confederates,
For about a month after this there was no other engage-
ment between the two armies. During this interval of
quiet, the Confederate army under Gen. Johnston lay at
Dalton, which was defended by strong works on Mill Creek.
While they were recuperating they constructed additional
fortifications, thus gathering their energies for a contest
with an enemy outnumbering them more than two to one.
W^hile the army was still in camp, there was a great snow
storm on the 2 2d of March, and the Confederates amused
themselves by a mock battle with snowballs.
This same month, Gov. BroAvn called an extra session of
the Legislature to discuss what was best to be done in this
time of gloom. His message, full of a burning patriotism,
created a great sensation all over the Confederacy. Com-
plimentary resolutions were passed on the conduct of the
Georgia troops whose time had now expired, but who im-
mediately re-enlisted. The battle flags of the 10th and
50th Georgia Regiments were placed in the State archives.
An act was passed by this Legislature alloAving any woman
in Georgia a total divorce from her husband, if he was in
the Federal army, voluntarily living within the enemy's
lines, or furnishing them aid.
What is known as the Georgia campaign began the first
week in May. The Federals at Chattanooga, largely re-
inforced, and placed under the command of Gen. Sherman,
moved down upon the Confederates at Dalton, thinking to
crush them by force of numbers.
322
THE WAR BETWEEN IHE STATES.
The enemy destroyed everything between Chattanoogsst
and Ringgold, leaving the country a barren waste; but they1
repaired the State Road as quickly as possible. They held
to this railroad with great tenacity, as over it the supplies
for their army would have to be transported. So important
did they consider its possession, that they left garrisons to
protect each bridge as they progressed nearer and nearer
to Atlanta.
Dalton was impregnable to any direct attack, so the Fed-
erals made a feint of a vigorous assault on Gen. Johnston's
front, while a portion of their army was sent through Snake
Creek Gap to flank him and capture Resaca, eighteen miles
below Dalton.
Resaca is situated on the Oostanaula river, in a penin-
sular formed by the junction with the Conasauga. The
Confederates had erected lines of rifle-pits, with strong field
fortifications across this peninsular, so their flank was pro-
tected on both rivers, and a line of retreat preserved across
the Oostanaula. The position was too strong for the enemy
to assault, but Gen. Johnston, who saw the trap set for
him, gave up Dalton and concentrated his forces at this
point. It was his policy to protect his precious army, even
at the sacrifice of territory, for when one of the Confed-
erate heroes fell, there was no other to take his place. Gen.
Johnston could only give battle when there was a chance
of success, and endeavor to draw the Federals from their
base of supplies.
In the battle of Resaca, the Federals lost 5,000 men,
while the Confederate loss was inconsiderable. During
the conflict in the forenoon there had been some furious
fighting over a four-gun battery. After the war, when
323
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
xe dead at Resaca were disinterred, 170 Confederates were
found on this spot and 1,790 Federals. Such a continual
fire was kept up that neither side had an opportunity for
removing the guns; they were left between the two armies
until dark, and then seized bv the Federals. These were
the only field trophies captured by the enemy during the
entire campaign to the Chattahoochee river.
Gen. Johnston's base, where he had his reserves, was six
miles below Resaca, at Calhoun — which is within a mile of
the Oostanaula river.
Col. I. W. Averv, of the 4th Georgia cavalry, was sta-
tioned at Tanner's Ferry, on this river. He was endeavor-
ing to protect two miles of the river; but, with only a bri-
gade of cavalry and a battery of artillery, he had a thin
line of defense. The Federals sent a heavy force against
the ferrv, Avhile their main array was attacking Gen. John-
ston at Resaca. The Confederates made a stubborn resist-
ance, but after several hours' fighting, when half of Col.
Avery's brigade was killed, the enemy forced a passage
over the river, and were three and a half miles nearer to
Calhoun than was Gen. Johnston.
"When this news reached him, knowing that it would be
hazardous to risk any interruption of his communications
with Atlanta, he quietly withdrew from Resaca during the
night and fell back to Cassville. This movement left open
to the enemy the road to Rome, with its valuable mills,
foundries, and military stores. Cassville was a strong posi-
tion and the Confederate army was eager to fight, so Gen.
Johnston determined to make a stand. Against his judg-
ment he abandoned this intention when his two lieutenants,
Hood and Polk, said they could not hold their positions.
321
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
The noble Georgian, Gen. Hardee, who had the weakest
position in the line, promised to hold his ground. He and
Gen. "VT. H. T. Walker were conspicuous during this entire
campaign for their gallantry and efficiency.
There were several contests around Cassville, and sharp
skirmishing often occurred in the streets.. The fine college
buildings and many residences were riddled with balls.
Allatoona Pass, in the Etowah mountains, was another
•strong Confederate position. The Federal General, think-
ing that Gen. Johnston would utilize it, flanked him again
"by moving towards Dallas. The information of this inten-
tion of the enemy was secured by a Georgia general, Joseph
Wheeler, who, with his cavalry, was closely watching their
actions. He had just had a sharp fight near Cassville, with
a body of Federal troops who were guarding a large supply
train. The battle resulted in the capture by the Confeder-
ates of a good many prisoners and 200 wagons loaded with
armv stores. Seventv of these wagons with their teams
were carried across Etowah river, and the other wagons
with their contents were burned.
As soon as Gen. Johnston heard of the enemy's flank
movement, he abandoned the natural fortress of Allatoona
and interposed his army at Xew Hope church. The enemy
at once occupied Allatoona, and, strongly fortifying it,
made it a secondary base of supply.
A furious and bloody battle was fought at !NTew Hope
church. Earlv in the action a lari^e body of Federal cav-
airy made an effort to turn the right wing of the Confed-
erates and get in between them and the railroad. The 4th
Georgia Cavalry, led by Col. Avery, was sent at double-
quick speed to check them. A sharp fight occurred, and
325
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Col. Avery was badly wounded in the onset ; but, supported
in his saddle by a soldier, he continued to command, and
maintained the contest until the arrival of reinforcements
capable of holding the position.
During the progress of the battle, Gen. Johnston and
Gen. Hood were standing near the church, only a few yards
apart, when a shell from a Federal battery burst between
them without hurting either.
The fighting of the Confederates was magnificent.
Stovall's brigade of Georgians fought without any pro-
tection.
Some of the Federal officers had circulated the report
among their troops that Johnston's army was demoralized.
The Confederates heard of it, so, on one portion of the
battle-field, when the enemy were advancing on "the boys
in gray/' a pleasant smile played upon their countenances
as they cried out to the Federals: "Come on, Yanks, come
on, we are demoralized !"
The fighting continued until night fell with lowering
clouds and heavy rains. The two armies, facing each other
among the thickly-wooded hills, worked through the dark-
ness to strengthen their positions against any sudden assault.
After the battle of New Hope church there was daily fight-
ing for ten days. Early in June there was a sharp cavalry
fight at Big Shanty, where the Confederates were success-
ful; about the middle of the month there was a contest at
Bush mountain. Every effort made by the enemy against
the position occupied by the main Confederate army was
bloodily repulsed, so they began another flank movement.
The strong positions of the Confederates were wrested from
them, not by assault or by generalship, but by force of
numbers.
325
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
The Federals now moved around the Confederate lines,
and the two armies faced each other once more. Gen.
Sherman was near Acworth, and Gen. Johnston near Mari-
etta, where his soldiers manned the mountains in the neigh-
borhood. *
Kennesaw mountain, which- was on Gen. Johnston's
right, is a donble-peaked eminence 1,200 feet high. Lost
mountain is west of Marietta. Half way between the town
and Kennesaw, but a little further north, is Pine mountain,
a rugged, cone-shaped peak. This mountain forms the
apex of a triangle, of which Kennesaw and Lost mountains
constitute the base. The three mountains are connected
by several ranges of lesser heights, seamed with ravines and
covered with a dense growth of oak and hickory. Upon
these summits the Confederates had erected signal stations
which commanded an excellent view of the general opera-
tions of the enemv.
When the Federal armv had been re-inforced and rested,
Gen. Sherman tried to break through the interposing wall
of Confederates, and on the 9th of June a terrible battle
was fought. From that time for twenty-three days there
was incessant fighting. Sometimes it would lull to a skir-
mish, and then again burst into a deadly struggle. Gen.
Hood commanded the Confederate right, Gen. Hardee the
left, and Gen. Polk the center.
In vain had the Federal General hurled his troops
against the Confederate positions; but it became evident to
Gen. Johnston that his lines were too slender to hold Pine
mountain. On June 14th he took Hardee and Polk
and rode to the top of this mountain to view the situation
and select a better position.
327
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The Federal General, observing the group, ordered the
commander of a battery to fire upon them. Gen. Polk was
struck in the breast by an unexploded shell and killed.
He commanded a corps in the Georgia campaign. His
death filled the Confederacy with grief, for his character
was as spotless as his Bishop's robe. All children instinc-
tively loved him. The Sunday before he was killed, stop-
ping out of the rain at an humble Georgia home, as he sat
drying himself by the fire, a little two-year-old girl, far
from clean, approached him. He took her on his knee at
once and began singing nursery songs while she smiled
up in his face. Turning to one of his aids he said : "I
wonder if the mother would be offended if I washed this
child's face; I do so love to kiss the innocents."
The next morning after Gen. Polk's death, the Federals
made an advance, and there were battles at several points
along the line; in a short time the Confederates had to
abandon Pine mountain, and then give up Lost mountain.
Gen. Johnston, contracting his line, concentrated his troops
around Kennesaw mountain. On the 27th of June the
Federals attacked the entrenched Confederates, when the
great battle of Kennesaw mountain was fought. It raged
for five hours, when the enemy recoiled with frightful loss.
It is said that the next day, from an observation point on
the mountain, 500 ambulances were counted, removing the
Federal wounded and dead.
328
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1864.
The country around Allatoona, New Hope church, and
Kennesaw mountain abounds in hills and irregular ridges,
divided by ravines or narrow valleys, all covered with for-
ests and undergrowth. Hence, it was easy for the Federals
— with an army largely outnumbering the Confederates —
not only to make flank movements, but to conceal troops
which were massed to make a rush on weak points.
When the Confederates were entrenched on Kennesaw,
and there was so much fighting, thousands of the enemy's
shells passed high over the mountain, exploding in the air;
but other thousands fell in the forests, prostrating or tear-
ing trees to pieces, and carrying destruction almost to the
suburbs of Marietta. Often a body' of Confederate troops
would make a dash upon the enemy. Sometimes they
were successful, sometimes they were repulsed. At the
battle of Kolb's Farm, where the Confederates assaulted
an entrenched battery on a high, bare hill, after a bloody
fight they were driven back with the loss of 1,000 men.
Five days before the great battle of Kennesaw Moun-
tain, the Confederates, who were having almost constant
artillery duels with the enemy, opened a furious bombard-
ment upon the Federal camp and entrenchments below
329
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
them. The enemy, behind their breastworks, were greatly
annoyed, and their wagon-trains forced to a disorderly re-
treat to the rear. When night settled down on the scene,
the Confederate guns were again opened upon the enemy,
and in "the wee sma' hours" the darkness was illuminated
with flashes of light. The rising clouds of smoke were
made luminous with glare, so that the summit of Kenne-
saw seemed crowned with a tiara of fire. One hundred
and forty guns — all Gen. Sherman could command — were
brought to bear upon this position before the Confederate
batteries were silenced. In this battle the Federals made
a general assault upon the Confederates, and a tremendous
fire of artillery and musketry wras kept up continually along
the entire line, a distance of about ten miles. One of the
principal efforts of the enemy was against Hardee's corps.
The attack was met with a cool steadiness, and repulsed with
an enormous loss to the assailants.
A stirring episode occurred on little Kennesaw moun-
tain. A shrapnel shot, with a smoking fuse, passed under
the headlog and fell among the Confederates in the ditch.
A stampede instantly commenced, in the midst of which
a Georgia sergeant leaped forward, seized the shell and
threw it out of the trench, where the explosion did no harm.
Just after the Confederates had repulsed a desperate
assault, the dry leaves in front of Cleburne's entrenchments
wrere set on fire by the bombshells and began to burn
rapidly around the Federal wounded. When this horrible
catastrophe was observed by the Confederates, their com-
manders ordered them to cease firing, and one of them
called out to the nearest Yankee officer that they would
suspend the battle until the wounded Federals could be
330
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
removed, as they were in danger of being burned alive.
The offer was accepted, and the Confederates assisted in
rescuing their helpless enemies from the burning timbers;
when they were in a place of safety renewed the fight.
The battle of Kennesaw mountain, taken in all its de-
tails, presented a magnificent panorama. The roar of
cannon and the sharp explosion of shells was so incessant
that naught else could be heard. The blue smoke of the
muskets marked for miles the line of the Confederate in-
fantry, while the white smoke of the artillery, like cumulus
clouds, rose over the mountain.
After two unsuccessful assaults upon Kennesaw, the Fed-
eral General, with a strong force, made another flank move-
ment towards the Chattahoochee river. Gen. Johnston,
seeing that his communication with Atlanta would be cut
off, and knowing his army to be too small to hold his advan-
tageous position, evacuated both Kennesaw mountain and
Marietta. To mask this movement, a terrific bombardment
of the enemy's positions was kept up from the batteries on
the crest of the mountain, while the evacuation was going
on. Between sundown and dark these batteries and the
last columns of the Confederate army were safely with-
drawn from the heights which they had so successfully de-
fended against great odds.
The Federal commander, thinking that Gen. Johnston's
army would be in confusion on the retreat, pressed his huge
columns after the Confederates, to annihilate them, if
possible. Gen. Johnston had prepared for him, by throw-
ing up a line of entrenchments, and there was a sharp fight
at Kuff's Station on the 3d of July. The next day there
was a battle at Smyrna, where, after quite a struggle, the
331
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Federals were repulsed. In this battle Gen. Sherman
came very near losing his life.
The next strong Federal demonstration was made against
the Confederate lines near the Chattahoochee river, but,
being met by a heavy fire, they were forced to draw off.
During the next few days, Gen. Sherman, keeping a
strong army confronting Gen. Johnston, sent out several
columns for a number of milee north and south of the Con-
federate fortifications, and thus secured a crossing over the
river.
This manoeuver of the enemy compelled Gen. Johnston
to give up his position, after fighting at several points.
Then, with his veterans in buoyant spirits, lie, too, crossed
the river, leaving nothing behind him, and burning the
railroad bridge; but North Georgia, alas! was left helpless
in the clutches of the enemv.
The Federals showed our people "such mercy as vultures
have for lambs." Both in Pickens and Dawson counties
they established a reign of terror and cold-blooded murder.
Afterwards, Young's Mounted Battalion of Georgians was
detailed for special service in the northeast part of the
State, which was subject to frequent Yankee raids. The
sufferings of the people were intense ! When they had
divided their slender supply of food with the hungry Con-
federate cavalry, the stores were soon exhausted, and some
of the wealthiest citizens had to live on dry bread.
Early in July, the two hostile armies, almost in sight of
Atlanta, rested for two weeks. Gen. Johnston, with a
greatly inferior force, had been fighting Gen. Sherman for
seventy-four consecutive days: had checked, foiled and
balked him at various points; had killed and wounded of
332
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
the enemy a number equal to his whole army; Chicka-
mauga, Ringgold, Resaea, New Hope church, and Kenne-
saw mountain had become historic names.
From the Chattahoochee river, he fell back to his forti-
fications in front of Atlanta, which was in as good a state of
defense as our means permitted. Before active operations
were again resumed, he was relieved of the command of his
army, Gen. Hood succeeding him.
Gen. Sherman arranged his army in a semicircle on the
north and east of Atlanta; the possible fall of the "Gate
City" was now contemplated for the first time, and the situ-
ation produced intense anxiety all through the Confed-
eracy.
In this grave crisis, Gov. Brown zealously aided the Con-
federate Generals in every way possible. He had organ-
ized over 10,000 of the militia under Gen. Gustavus W.
Smith, and they were placed in the trenches at Atlanta sub-
ject to Gen. Hood's orders. At this time, Gen. Toombs
was chief of staff to Gen. Smith. JSTot willing to remain
idle when his State was invaded, he, one of Georgia's great-
est statesmen, had actually joined the militia as a private
and reported for duty to Gen. Wayne.
While all was life, movement and excitement around
Atlanta, the black and charred timbers lying along the
State Road presented a dreary spectacle. The towns along
this railroad Avere almost deserted, and the large hotels
and stores that remained standing had doors off the hinges,
window glass broken, and the contents, from garret to cel-
lar, removed. AwTay from the railroad, "winding your
way through the forest, the ravine, or the open country, the
utter loneliness, the lack of human life struck one with a
333
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
feeling of desolation. The fences were gone, the houses
were destroyed or deserted; the bubbling spring by the
roadside had no happy child drinking or paddling in the
branch. .Xo sheep grazed in the field, no cattle browsed in
the woods; not even the crowing, of a cock was heard. The
bee-hive was deserted by its once busy tenants, and the
ruined mill was still. So startling was the utter silence
that even when a wild bird caroled a note, one looked
around surprised that, amidst such loneliness, any living
thing could be happy."
Several counties were so laid waste by the invaders that
the Legislature made appropriations to feed the destitute
inhabitants.
Gen. Hood, believing that his only chance to hold At-
lanta was to force the enemy to accept battle, left his en-
trenchments and attacked the Federals on Peachtree Creek
on the afternoon of the 20th of July. The battle lasted
five hours and wTas very bloody. Gen. Hood was repulsed,
after having lost 5,000 men. The Federal loss was small.
Nothing daunted by this defeat, the next night Gen.
Hood moved out on the Federal left, and on the 2 2d the
battle of Atlanta was fought. It lasted from 11 a. m. until
night, being the fiercest engagement of the campaign.
Gen. Wheeler's cavalry did noble fighting, and Gen.
Hardee inspired his men to strike valorous blows for his
native State. This battle checked the enemy's movements
upon the communications of the Confederate army, but
accomplished nothing otherwise, and cost heavily in the
loss of officers and men. Among the distinguished slain
was that brave and noble Georgian, Gen. Wm. H. T.
Walker, who fell pierced through the heart by a Minie ball.
334
THE WAR BETWEEN" THE STATES.
Col. John M. Brown, a brother of our Governor, was mor-
tally wounded.
Among the saddest incidents of this battle were the deaths
of "the hero brothers/' Capt. Joseph Clay Habersham, only
twenty-three years old, and private Wm. RTeyle Haber-
sham, twenty years old. During the afternoon Capt.
Habersham wras riding in front of the 46th Georgia, assist-
ing its gallant colonel in leading his men. Waving his
sword in one hand and his hat in the other, he advanced
within a short distance of the enemy, then, leaping from
his horse, he rushed forward, cheering on the men and still
waving his sword. In a few minutes one of the enemy's
shells burst near him, and he fell mortally wounded. A
comrade ran to his assistance to whom he said: "Tell my
mother I die happy — I die at my post, defending my
country."
As his brave young spirit winged its flight from earth,
shouts of victory were ringing upon the air.
Later in the afternoon, his young brother, William, of
the 54th Georgia, whom he had loved and watched over
with almost a mother's devotion, heard a rumor of his death
in the midst of the fight. He stepped out of ranks to in-
quire of an officer if the dreadful news was true; receiving
an answer in the affirmative, he resumed his place in the
line, biting his lips until the blood came, in his endeavor to
suppress the tears that were blinding him. When his regi-
ment had helped to dislodge the enemy from two lines of
entrenchments, the command was given to halt. Our sol-
diers, protected behind a breastwork, were within thirty
yards of the foe. Whenever a Yankee showed himself
above his fortifications, a few daring spirits, among whom
335
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
was "Willie" Habersham, continued their firing. Their
comrades expostulated with them, but in vain. At last a
friend caught "Willie" by the arm, exclaiming: uLie down,
my boy, there is no use in exposing yourself in this man-
ner."
He replied : "I have three rounds left; they have killed
my brother."
A moment, later a bullet struck him, and, with his face
to the foe, he fell dead without a groan, and went to join
the brother he idolized. These two young men were worthy
of the name they bore, and no truer gentlemen nor braver
soldiers fell that day.
"They were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in
their death they were not divided."
336
CHAPTER XL. '
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1864.
After the battle of Atlanta, Gen. Sherman sent out vari-
ous expeditions, for the most part composed of cavalry, to
destroy the railroads by which supplies and re-inf orcements
could reach the city. Two of his Generals, Stoneman and
McCook, were to make raids, do all the mischief possible,
and then meet on the Macon road. The former had 5,000
men, and the latter somewhat less. Their soldiers were
well equipped and supplied with cannon, caisson, horses
and wagons.
When Stoneman reached Clinton, in Jones county, Ma-
con was instantlv awake to the situation. The militia were
mustered; the citizens, including ministers and editors,
shouldered their guns, and lads twelve and fourteen years
of age begged for places in the ranks. Gen. Howell Cobb
was in command of the forces and acted under the sugges-
tions of Gen. Johnston, late commander of the Confederate
army in Georgia. So, when Macon was attacked, Gen.
Cobb, leading his extemporized army, with Gen. Johnston
riding at his right hand, was ready for the foe and beat
them back.
2?g S37
GEORGIA LAXD AND PEOPLE.
The main bodv of Stoneman's raiders retreated towards
Clinton, but a detachment of them was sent down the rail-
road. Dense columns of smoke, ascending to heaven,
marked their course as they burnt trains, bridges and sta-
tion-houses.
As Sunday dawned, Stoneman found himself confronted
bv Gen. Iverson, who had followed him from Atlanta, and
there was a fierce engagement at Sunshine church, in which
the Confederates were successful. Stoneman was sur-
rounded and, further flight being impossible, he was com-
pelled to surrender, with 600 men, twenty-five officers, and
all his cannon, colors, wagons and supplies. The rest of
his command broke away, but were closely followed by
Confederate cavalry through field and forest. Many of
them were picked up in parties of ten, twenty or thirty, and
carried as prisoners to Macon. Very few of them ever re-
turned to Gen. Sherman, and this was Stoneman's last raid.
The citizens of Macon wished to give Gen. Iverson's com-
mand a complimentary dinner, but their stay in the city
was too short for the purpose to be carried out.
A party of Stoneman's soldiers, who escaped from the
battle-field in Jones county, passed through Milledgeville
with prudent speed, taking Eatonton and Madison in their
route. When they were away from towns protected by
Home Guards, they did all the damage they could com-
patible with their own safety. In unprotected neighbor-
hoods large quantities of grain and provisions were de-
stroyed. Stoneman's object was to lay waste and burn,
and they were carrying out his order-. They accomplished
very little in the way of injuring public property, only
burning a few cars and tearing up some miles of railroad
338
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
track; but where they found a house occupied only by
women, if it looked promising for plunder, they entered
it with bluster and insults, pointing loaded pistols at the
trembling inmates, and demanded money or jewelry in the
tones of highway robbers. They did great damage about
High Shoals and Watkinsville, and every one of them
had his pockets filled with stolen goods.
As these raiders were making their way to Athens, they
were met at the Paper Mill, four miles west of town, by a
company of artillery, with two small cannon conveniently
planted on a hill, and the Home Guards — all commanded
by Edward P. Lumpkin, a captain of artillery, who was at
home on sick furlough. He was a son of the first Chief
Justice of Georgia.
The Home Guards of Athens was composed of old men
and chronic invalids whom some witty veteran facetiously
called aThe Thunderbolts."
As the Yankees came down the road to the Paper Mill,
shot and shell were poured into their ranks. They did not
pause to make any attack, but, flanking Athens, kept to
the west. Many witticisms were launched at "The Thun-
derbolts," but it could not be denied that they had helped
to save "the classic city" from the horrors of a Yankee
raid.
It was now early in August, and, through the long,
sunny days, these raiders made all the speed possible, hop-
ing that they would finally be able to join their main army
near Atlanta. A futile hope, for when they reached the
line of Jackson and Gwinnett counties, half way between
King's tan-yard and Price bridge over the Mulberry river,
about six miles from Winder, they found themselves con-
33!)
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
fronted by Williams' Kentucky brigade, and were forced
to fight. They were defeated and 430 of them captured.
A few escaped and scattered like wild sheep over Jackson
county, but most of them were eventually captured.
The Jackson county Home Guards were engaged in this
battle. They were commanded by Dr. Ange De Lapriere,
who, as a mere youth, had fought for his adopted State
against the Indians, and was also a gallant soldier in the
Mexican war.
The prisoners, from the battle of King's tan-yard were
brought to Athens, guarded by Col. Win. C. P. Breckin-
ridge. Athens was a small town then, with no accommo-
dation for so many prisoners; so they were put on the
college campus and guarded. That was the best that could
be done for them, as the college buildings were full of
refugees — women and children who had been forced to
quit their homes.
The Kentnckians received a perfect ovation in Athens,
and a banquet was given them in the college chapel.
Among the ladies, the gallant Col. Breckinridge was the
hero of the occasion. Dr. A. A. Lipscomb, chancellor of
the University, made the speech of welcome, which was re-
sponded to by Capt. Given Campbell, of the 2d Kentucky
Regiment. Among the Kentuckians at this memorable
dinner was J. C. C. Black, who afterwards became an hon-
ored adopted son of Georgia and one of her representatives
in Congress.
Old Franklin College heard strange music that day, and
novel sights were seen within its scholastic walls. While
the captured raiders were lying about on the grass, or stand-
ing under the trees, the chapel was echoing with earnest
•340
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
words of welcome, clothed in the most chaste and elegant
English; heartfelt thanks with soldierly brevity; fiery,
patriotic speeches; the jingling of spurs, the rattling of
swrords; the merry converse of belted knights and fair
dames; the clicking of knives and forks, and the hurry of
busy citizens "on hospitable thoughts intent," constantly
pressing their attentions upon Kentucky's gallant sons.
In another day the honored and loved Confederate sol-
diers, with their prisoners, had departed, and the pretty
town on the right bank of the Oconee returned to its usual
routine.
While almost the entire command of Stoneman was cap-
tured, it was otherwise with McCook's. He stretched his
forces out like a net over the country, but in such a mariner
that, when they were attacked, the wings could be drawn
in and his whole strength concentrated. They, too, were
surrounded by the Confederates, but broke through and
escaped, though Gen. Wheeler utterly destroyed that por-
tion of their cavalry which wTas at Newnan. So, Gen.
Sherman's plans were frustrated at all points in these two
raids, and his cavalry did not unite at the Macon and West-
ern railroad, as was intended.
While these events were transpiring, Gen. Sherman had
moved his army over to the west side of Atlanta. Hood
had here attacked him on the 28th of July and fought the
battle of Ezra church — another bloody, brilliant, unsuccess-
ful attempt upon the enemy's lines. During the first week
in August the Federal General, Schofielcl, attacked Gen.
Hood's line, but was driven back with a loss of four hun-
dred men. This was Gen. Hood's first success since he had
taken command of the army.
341
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
For some time Atlanta had been virtually in a state
of siege, and shot and shell were thrown from the enemy's
batteries into the very heart of the city. Private houses
and stores were daily struck and greatly damaged. People
who lived in the more exposed parts of the city occupied
basements and cellars; and some few had to burrow for
safety in holes on the sides of railroad cuts. In the city
limits there was confusion and miserv: around it, the scenes
of slaughter and carnage were appalling !
Our raw militia, who had seen service for the first time
in this campaign, acted nobly ! Both Gens. Johnston and
Hood had written to Gov. Brown complimenting the
staunchness and efficiency of the Georgia State troops.
342
CHAPTER XLI.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1864.
"When Gen. Sherman found that Atlanta could not be
taken by direct assault, he seized the opportunity of Gen.
Wheeler's cavalry beinsr sent to cut the State Road above
him, to march his main army to Jonesboro, twenty miles
south of Atlanta; leaving, however, a large force to hold
his entrenched position at the railroad bridge over the
Chattahoochee river.
Two corps, under Hardee, were sent to Jonesboro to
confront him : but the attack was unsuccessful, the Confed-
erates retiring after great slaughter on both sides. That
night, Gen. Hood withdrew a part of Gen. Hardee's com-
mand, so, the next day, September 1st, he was obliged to
retreat to Lovejoy's, seven miles further south. Late that
afternoon he was attacked by the enemy, when a frightful
battle ensued. Hardee's command, fighting against odds,
held their position until night, and won immortal renoAvn;
but the Federal General had accomplished his object — the
main body of his army was between Gen. Hardee and At-
lanta.
343
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The Confederate Generals now deemed it necessary to
evacuate that city. Among several reasons for this con-
clusion, one was that owing to the obstinately cruel policy
of the Federal Government in refusing on any terms to
exchange prisoners, upwards of 30,000 Yankees were con-
fined at Andersonville, in the southwestern part of our
State; to guard against their release, Gen. Hood thought it
necessary to place his army between them and the enemy.
So, abandoning Atlanta, he formed a junction with Gen.
Hardee.
Gen. Sherman at once left his position and returned
to Atlanta, which was formally surrendered on September
2d by the Mayor, James M. Calhoun. Gen. Sherman
promised that non-combatants and private property should
be respected.
Thus, by overwhelming numbers and boundless re-
sources, did the Federal army reach Atlanta, capturing it —
as they did Dalton, Resaca and Kennesaw — by a flank
movement.
Three days afterwards, Gen. Sherman, ignoring his
promise, and under the pretense that "the exigencies of
the service" required that the city be used exclusively for
military purposes, issued an order that all civilians, male
and female, should leave within five days. This atrocious
order involved the immediate expulsion from their homes
of hundreds of unoffending women and children, whose hus-
bands and fathers had been killed in battle, or were in the
army, or languishing in northern prisons. In vain did the
mayor in piteous language represent "the woe, the horror,
and the suffering not to be described by words" which the
execution of his order would inflict. Gen. Sherman's reply
344
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
was : "My orders were not designed to meet the human-
ities of the case."
An English historian, writing of this incident, says it
may have been effective, "but since the Thirty Years War
such methods have been excluded from the practice of
Christian belligerents."
At the appointed time, delicate women, tottering age
and helpless infancy were expelled from their homes, and
the Federal soldiers who were sent to guard them until they
passed within Confederate lines, robbed many of them of
the few articles of value which they had been permitted to
carry with them. The highwayman doubtless thinks that
the "exigencies" of the occasion require him to transfer
the traveller's money to his own pocket, but this does not
justify such action in the eyes of the world.
Such of the exiles as had nowhere to go, were taken to
Terrell county and quartered at "Exile Camp," near Daw-
son. Three hundred of them were supported by the State.
In the Revolutionary war, when the British expelled
women and children from Boston, our State, in tender pity,
sent provisions to the hungry, houseless wanderers; now,
when Gen. Sherman turned Atlanta women out of their
homes, Massachusetts applauded the act.
In the meantime, Gen. Hood continued to hold his troops
in the vicinitv of Jonesboro, and Gen. Sherman made no
movement beyond strengthening the defenses in and
around Atlanta, and collecting a large quantity of military
supplies in that city.
Towards the last of September, Gen. Hood abandoned
his position, and, with his entire force, crossed the Chatta-
hoochee river, moving against the State Road — which was
345
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the enemy's line of communication. His successes at Big
Shanty and Ac worth, in capturing those stations and de-
stroying the railroad between them, forced Gen. Sherman
to follow him, after leaving Atlanta well garrisoned.
The first week in October, the Confederate Gen. S. G.
French made a desperate assault upon Allatoona Pass,
which the Federals had strongly fortified, and at which
place they had stored a large quantity of provisions. He
was partially successful, and only failed because his supply
of powder was inadequate. The deep cut through which
the State Road runs at this point was strewn with dead and
wounded men. As soon as Gen. French learned that Fed-
eral reinforcements were rapidly approaching he re-
treated.
An incident connected with this battle illustrates how
dear to the heart of Georgians is the Confederate soldier.
In the deep, fern-lined pass at Allatoona, quite near the
railroad track, on the west side, is a lonely grave where a
nameless Confederate sleeps. Fie was buried where he
fell; and now a marble headstone marks the spot. The
track hands of the State Road have charged themselves with
the care of this solitary grave, keeping it free from rubbish
and seeing that the stones at the head and foot are kept
firmly set.
Gien. Hood succeeded further in destroying the railroad
from Resaca to Tunnel Hill, and capturing the enemy's
posts at Tilton, Dalton and Mill Creek Gap. Then, fear-
ing to risk a general engagement with the Federal army, he
withdrew his forces into Alabama, and Georgia was thus
left at the mercy of the invaders, without an army to defend
her.
346
THE WAE BETWEEN THE STATES.
In this emergency, the entire militia was called out, and
"Joe Brown's Pets" won a glorious name. At two or three
points there was a handful of Confederate troops, but the
force was wholly insufficient to do any effective service.
Georgia's veterans were almost all in other States, whose
firesides thev had been defending for over three years.
Georgia's protectors now were old men and young boys;
it was said that our State robbed both the cradle and the
grave, as beardless youths, and grandsires bending under
the weight of years, joined the ranks to defend their loved
State from the invaders. Alas ! that such devotion was not
crowned with success !
When Gen. Hood left Georgia, Gen. Sherman was re-
lieved from the necessity of defending himself against an
active army and protecting a long line of railroad, so he
returned to Atlanta. From the rapidity with which he
had for some time been collecting soldiers and supplies
in the city, the Confederates knew that he contemplated
a movement further south.
On November 16th, Gen. Sherman left his entrench-
ments around Atlanta, having first destroyed the city by
fire. That any residences or churches were left standing
was due to Father O'Biley, a Catholic priest. When the
•city was first captured and Federal officers were looking for
comfortable quarters, he had refused to give up his house,
and a party of Catholic? — of whom there were large num-
bers in Sherman's army — volunteered to protect the resi-
dence and church of the priest against their comrades.
Hence, they would not permit a house in that neighborhood
to be set on fire, lest the Catholic property should be endan-
gered. Out of 5,000 houses, only about 400 were left stand-
347
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
ing. The city was a desolate ruin. Its cemetery had before
this been desecrated in every way — horses were turned
loose to graze npon the grass and shrubbery, monuments
were broken and scattered around, coffins were taken from
the vaults, the silver name-plates and tippings stolen, and
Federal dead were deposited there. Similar acts of van-
dalism had marked the progress of Sherman's army at
Rome, which had been partly burned, and at Kingston,
Acworth and Marietta.
When Gen. Sherman left Atlanta, he had an army of
60,000 men, exclusive of cavalry and artillery; and no
equipment was lacking that could enhance their comfort,
power and efficiency. Such were the physical peculiarities-
of Georgia that there existed only occasional and partial
obstacles to a rapid and successful march through the in-
terior; in fact, there were no obstacles that could not be
easily overcome by his pontoon trains and pioneer corps.
He divided his army into two columns, one following the
railroad towards Augusta, and the other taking the road to
Jonesboro. At first, the Federals advanced compactly and
with extreme caution; afterwards they presented a front
that varied from thirty to sixty miles in extent, amply
guarded by cavalry. Sherman cloaked his real design by
well conceived feints, so that for some time his objective-
point was not suspected.
Before Gen. Hood abandoned Georgia, Gen. Hardee had
been sent to Savannah and placed in command of the troops
there; a few soldiers were at Augusta, and Gens. Howell
Cobb and Gustavus Smith concentrated the State troops
near Griffin; but all the forces in Georgia were too few to-
do more than skirmish with this powerful army of invasion.
348
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
At this time, Gen. Beauregard was in command of the
Military Division of the West, in which Georgia was in-
cluded. "The once mighty armies of the Southern Con-
federacy had been greatly reduced by sickness, poverty,
wounds and death." When her brave defenders had been
gathered to their patriot graves there had been none to
stand in their places; so now but a handful could be spared
to aid Georgia in her extremity.
As the Federal army advanced, the Georgia troops fell
back in front of it. Their first resistance was made on the
22d of November at Griswoldville, ten miles from Macon.
The Federal General, Walcott, was demonstrating to-
wards Macon ; but, when he had erected barricades and tem-
porary works of considerable strength at Griswoldville, he
was attacked by Gen. Cobb with that portion of the Geor-
gia reserves who were at Macon, and quite a bloody en-
counter took place. The militia, some of whom were mere
youths, behaved with distinguished gallantry, acting like
veterans and facing the destructive fire of the enemy with
as much firmness as could have been displayed by the heroes
of Lee or Hood. They advanced through an open field to
within fifty yards of the enemy's breastworks, in perfect
order and with no straggling, and maintained their ground
until commanded to withdraw. The Athens battalion,
composed of the workmen from the armory, under Maj.
Cook, and Maj. Jackson's Augusta. battalion, behaved in
the same cool and steady manner. In this fiffht, the Fed-
eral General was wounded and several hundred of his men
killed.
Considering the forces employed, and the valor dis-
played, the engagement at Griswoldville is justly entitled'
349
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
to a place among the heroic tights of the war. But, how-
ever great the honor reflected upon our arms, this battle
had no effect in checking the movements of the ruthless
invaders. It entailed a loss of men on our side which could
be ill sustained in this time of scarcity of troops, and in no
wise crippled the enemy, who were supported by a large
force in their rear. It was clearly demonstrated, however,
that if Georgia could have mustered an army even half the
size of Sherman's, he never could have penetrated into the
heart of our beloved State.
350
CHAPTER XLII.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1864.
AVJien the Federal army left Atlanta, one of Sherman's-
commanders of a corps, Gen. Slocum, marched immediately
to Decatur, and thence to Stone Mountain — a vast elevation
of granite towering above the surrounding country, and
forming one of the wonders of the world. A picturesque
village of the same name nestles at the foot of the moun-
tain. From here he went to Social Circle, tore up all the
railroad track from there to Madison, burnt the railroad
bridge across the Oconee river near Greensboro, and then
turned south, marching directly towards Georgia's capital.
Gen. Slocum reached Milledgeville on the 23d of No-
vember, and took possession of the town and the bridge
across the Oconee, while another body of Federals," with
Kilpatrick's cavalry, were massed in and around Gordon,
on the Central railroad. Georgia had learned by woful
experience that when a town was in the hands of the enemy
it meant untold suffering for the non-combatants; so, when
the neAvs spread that the Yankees were coming, the con-
sternation in Milledgeville and the surrounding country
was excessive. The Legislature was in session at the time.
Two-thirds of them were disabled soldiers, or gray-haired
351
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
sires with sons in the Confederate army. Their feeble
right arms could do their beloved State no good, and if
they were captured, the horrors of a Yankee prison would
cut short their days — so the evil tidings excited them, as
much as it did the citizens. When the news was received
they had just adjourned for dinner; their papers were left
on their desks at the State House, and they never returned
to look after them. The whole city was in a turmoil.
Fabulous prices were paid for vehicles of any kind; even
the roughest plantation wagons were in demand. Some
of the legislators took the train that was going in an oppo-
site direction from the invaders, and others, in private con-
veyances, reached their homes by unfrequented routes.
Gov. Brown, thinking first of the valuable and perishable
State property, ordered Gen. Ira Foster, Georgia's quarter-
master-general (who was always prompt and efficient), to
secure its removal. Some of the books and other similar
property were stored in the Lunatic Asylum, three miles
out of town. A train of cars was held at the depot to carry
off other State property, and Gen. Foster made herculean
efforts to carry out the Governor's orders, but, such was
the general terror and the rush to leave town, it was next
to impossible to procure labor.
When the Governor saw the condition of affairs, he went
to the penitentiary, had the convicts drawn up in a line,
and made them a short speech ; he appealed to their patriotic
pride and offered pardon to each one who would help re-
move the State property and then enlist for the defense
of Georgia. They responded promptly, were put under
the command of Gen. Foster, and did valuable service in
loading the train. When that was done each one was
352
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
given a suit of gray, and a gun, and they were formed into
a military company of which one of their number was cap-
tain. They were ordered to report for duty to Gen.
Wayne, who was commanding a small battalion of militia
at Milledgeville and also the Georgia cadets from the
Military Institute at Marietta. A few convicts, sentenced
for murder, were not included in Gov. Brown's offer, and
were sent to Southwest Georgia for safe keeping until Sher-
man left the State. Gen. Wayne accepted the convict
company and carried them with him to Savannah, as he re-
treated in advance of Sherman's army; they helped to strike
a blow at Georgia's foes whenever there was an opportunity.
Some of them deserted, but a great majority did faithful
duty during the campaign, and won an honorable discharge.
Gov. Brown, the heads of the Departments of State, and
Gen. Wayne, did not leave Milledgeville until Gen. Foster,
after twenty-four hours' hard work, reported that the most
valuable part of the State property was on the train. Then
they boarded it with him, and the engine pulled out of the
town but a short while before the Federals entered it. The
"Local Guard" also left; so the few old men who could not
or would not 2:0, and the noble women, were left to submit
to whatever insults and tyrannies the enemy saw fit to
inflict.
The penitentiary had been used for making guns for the
Confederacy, so it was burned to the ground ; but no other
public building was destroyed. Perhaps the Federals were
too much interested in robbing the rich planters in the
vicinity, to care for anything else. They strolled about in
small parties, frequently unarmed. A few resolute cav-
*
23g 353
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
airy men could have captured hundreds of them; but
Wheeler's command was doing good work elsewhere, and
none of them could be spared.
The great mass of the papers in the State House could
not be removed, as the Governor had little time to collect
them, and but limited means of transportation. The Yan-
kees took them from their places of deposit, scattered them
all over the floor of the State House and the grounds around
the building, and used large quantities of them to kindle
fires — an irreparable loss, as many old documents and
letters of the previous fifty years were destroyed.
This portion of Sherman's army remained in Milledge-
ville from Sunday until the following Friday morning,
which gave them ample time to pillage the surrounding
country for miles, and burn several private residences.
From the time Sherman's army entered Georgia, when his
soldiers were not otherwise engaged, they amused them-
selves with petty larceny and general plunder, each on his
own account. Xow, as usual, robbery of every kind and
in every degree was the order of the day. Scenes of
plunder were perpetrated in the presence of officers, and
when they were asked to protect private property, they
insultingly answered that they "intended that every South-
erner should feel that it was expensive to be a rebel." It
was characteristic of our enemies to put a money value on
everything, even on patriotism — one of the holiest senti-
ments of the human heart. The Yankees acted as if they
considered it a great crime to hide any valuables from
them. Hiding, indeed, did little good, for they had had
so much experience in stealing, since they invaded Geor-
354
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
gia, that they had become the most adroit thieves ever
heard of, knowing exactly where to look for hidden treas-
ures. Their officers rarely exercised any restraint over
them in this respect, but set the example of stealing. Enter-
ing houses in which there was no one but women and chil-
dren, they broke open drawers and trunks, and stole jewelry
and silverware of every description. In some instances
rings were stripped from ladies' fingers, and breastpins
torn from their dresses. Sham guards were sometimes
posted around houses at the importunate entreaties of the
inmates; but the .guard, and the officer who commanded
it, would straightway fall to work and sack the premises.
While in Milledgeville, they choked a prominent Hebrew
gentleman to force him to tell Avhere his money was con-
cealed. When a lady refused to play the piano at the dic-
tation of a party of them, they stripped off her clothing, sat
her by force on the piano-stool, and pricked her with bay-
onets until she played.
The damage to property and the loss by stealage in all
this region was immense. The enormities perpetrated
here would fill a volume. The conduct of the Federals in
and around Milledgeville was not exceptional; they were
in high glee, and seemed to think they had done grand
deeds in warring on women and children, but the spirit of
Georgia women was unconquerable, as they discovered.
As the invaders advanced into the interior of our State,
they destroyed almost every foot of railroad in their path,
and telegraph communication was so much interrupted that
the Press was left almost wholly dependent upon rumor for
any news.
3«5
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
When Gen. Wayne left Milledgeville with his small com-
mand, he was placed as a guard at the railroad bridge over
the Oconee, some miles below Macon. There he was joined
by Gen. Wheeler, who, from the time Gen. Sherman left
Atlanta, had daringly and persistently harassed his army
whenever it was practicable. A battle took place at this
bridge, and the enemy were held in check for two or three
days. The Georgia cadets, a noble band of boys, acquitted
themselves gallantly. Among them was a youth of sixteen
summers, the eldest son of Gov. Brown. A day or so be-
fore the fight took place, his father had told him that he
would have to escort his mother and the children to South-
west Georgia to some place of safety, as he (the Governor)
must remain in Macon with the troops.
The brave little lad said that he would obey his father,
"but he had rather die than to leave his comrades and fail
to share the common danger. So the Governor made some
other arrangement for his family, and his son went forward
with the cadets. In the battle one of his comrades was
shot down by his side.
On the 29th of November there was a fight near Waynes-
boro, between Gen. Wheeler and the Federal cavalry under
Kilpatrick. Our soldiers gave them a good drubbing, hav-
ing arrived just in time to prevent them from burning the
town.
Gen. Wheeler also fought the enemy hotly at Sanders-
ville and Buckhead creek. Two thousand of his men often
charged and routed more than double their number. The
Federal soldiers had been falselv informed bv their officers
that Gen. Wheeler took no prisoners, which caused them
to fight with desperation and to run very dangerous gaunt-
356
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
lets to escape capture; this fact frequently accounted for
the large proportion of their killed.
Gen. Wheeler is entitled to a place on the roll of great
cavalry leaders. Operating on all sides of Sherman's col-
umns, he kept our government and all our commanders
advised of the enemy's movements, defended towns and
villages along the railroad lines, afforded protection to de-
pots of supplies and to government works, darted upon the
enemy and defeated exposed detachments, and saved thou-
sands of dollars worth of property from the torch.
c57
CHAPTER XLIII.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1864.
When Gen. Sherman abandoned his base at Atlanta, it
was very soon perceived that he was pointing his banners
towards the coast. It was supposed that Augusta would
be his first objective point, as it appeared probable that he
would endeavor to destroy its valuable powder mill and
other government works. Gen. George \V. Raines, an
accomplished soldier and military engineer, who had con-
structed and operated these works, was instructed to enlarge
and strengthen the defense of the city; in case of attack,
Gen. Howell Cobb would have ready the militia, the invalid
soldiers, and any others who were available to defend it.
Gen. Gustavns AY. Smith and his militia were on their
way there, when, halting at Macon for further orders, they
took part in the brilliant engagement at Griswoldville.
In the meantime, the Central railroad having fallen into
the possession of the enemy, Gen. Smith's command could
not get to Augusta, so were sent to Savannah. "When
they reached Albany, they had to walk across the country
to Thomasville, between fiftv and sixtv miles; the means of
transportation between there and Savannah were so insuffi-
cient, that it was necessary for a part of the command to
await the return of the train.
558
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Before Gen. Smith left the cars, when he arrived at
Savannah, he received an order from Gen. Hardee to pro-
ceed without a moment's delav to Grahamville, in South
Carolina, to repel an advance of the Federals, who were
seeking to cut the railway communication between Charles-
ton and Savannah. It was absolutely necessary to retain
this railroad in order to hold Savannah. Over it re-in-
fo rcements were expected, and over it the garrison must
retreat in the event that it became necessary to evacuate
the city. Gen. Hardee had no troops that could be de-
tailed for this important service, except two Confederate
regiments from Charleston, and he feared they would arrive
too late for the emergency. There was no time to lose, and
Gen. Smith was urged to go and hold the enemy in check.
He was told that several thousand troops from North and
South Carolina, who were on their way to re-inforce the
garrison at Savannah, would arrive at Grahamville in time
to insure the repulse of the enemy. No legal obligations
rested upon Gen. Smith and his soldiers to go beyond the
limits of Georgia, whose territory alone they were in-
structed to defend; but when he realized that the battle
for the salvation of Savannah was to be fought on the in-
stant and on Carolina soil, he had an interview with his
Lieutenant-General, and became satisfied that if he obeved
Gen. Hardee his course would be right. So he issued the
proper orders, and reached Grahamville about eight o'clock
a. m., Wednesday, the 30th of November, with his men
almost broken down from fatigue and want of sleep.
Gen. Hatch, of the Federal army, had conceived the
design of occupying the Charleston and Savannah railroad
to aid G-en. Sherman, who was known to be seeking the
359
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
coast at some convenient point. By isolating Savannah, he
would enable Gen. Sherman, without hazard, to cross the
Savannah river at any point below Augusta, and open com-
munication with Port Roval, in South Carolina — at that
time the principal Federal depot on the South Atlantic
coast. Gen. Hatch had 5,000 men of all arms, including
a brigade from the navy.
These Federals landed at Boyd's Neck early on the
morning of the 29th of November, and spent the entire
day entrenching themselves at a point only half a mile
from where they disembarked. So they were not worn by
a long journey, like the Georgia militia.
The only Confederate force at Grahamville was a part
of a squadron of South Carolina cavalry. All available
troops had been sent into the interior to oppose Gen. Sher-
man's expected advance. Col. Colcock, the district com-
mander, was fifty miles away, having field works erected
at the principal crossings of the Savannah river. He only
reached Grahamville an hour before Gen. Smith was on
the ground.
The Confederate line of battle extended from the Honey
Hill road (on which the right wing of the little army
rested), in a semi-circular form, through an open pine-barren
to the Coosawhatchie road. Half way between Bolan's
church and Grahamville a line of breastworks had been
previously constructed for the use of infantry and field
artillery. The morning of the 30th was not far advanced
when news was received that Gen. Hatch was approaching,
then, that he had passed the church, and finally that he
was only five miles from town. Col. Colcock rushed up
the Honey Hill road to meet him, to give Gen. Smith time
for occupying the breastworks.
300
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Col. Colcock encountered the head of the Federal column
on a causeway, one mile and a half in front of the breast-
works. On his left was an impenetrable swamp, and on
his right an extensive old field, intersected by numerous
canals and ditches. When the enemy reached the cause-
way they were met by an opposing fire from a twelve-
pounder Napoleon gun, before which they halted, and,
after some delay, abandoned the highway. Then they
detached a considerable force to flank the Confederate posi-
tion, and commenced marching across the old field.
Col. Colcock ordered the dry brown sedge — which cov-
ered the entire field — to be set on fire. A strong wind was
blowing at the time, and carried a fierce line of fire and
smoke into the faces of the enemy, before which they pre-
cipitately retreated, abandoning blankets, haversacks and
knapsacks. When they got back into the road they soon
reformed, and again advanced. This time Col. Colcock's
little command retired before them, delaying their progress
as opportunity offered, until they reached the breastworks
where the "Georgia Boys" were ready for them. The
Confederates had in position, prepared for action, five
pieces of field artillery, about 1,400 muskets, and a few
South Carolina cavalry. The Federal force was more than
three times as numerous.
The battle began about 10 o'clock a. m., and from that
time until dark, the enemy made repeated but fruitless
efforts to carry the Confederate position. When they first
formed their line of battle, efforts were made to force the
center of the Confederate line, and also to turn its flanks.
This attempt was renewed from time to time during the
day, resulting in defeat and heavy loss on each occasion.
361
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The Confederates, in position, bravely held their ground.
The 3 2d Georgia Regiment, which constituted a movable
reserve, acted with great gallantry, always appearing at the
proper point at the most opportune time.
The federals, perceiving that they could not carry the
breastworks, began to slacken their fire late in the after-
noon ; then they massed their artillery to cover their retreat,
and commenced retiring. The next morning found them
behind their defensive works, near Boyd's Landing, pro-
tected by Federal gunboats. Their loss in this battle was
746 killed and wounded. The Confederates had onlv four
killed and forty wounded.
The enemy having been beaten back, and the Confeder-
ate re-inforcements having arrived at Grahamville, the
fruits of the victory were confirmed and the railroad could
be held. Under these circumstances, Gen. Smith, seeing
that the necessity no longer existed for detaining the State
troops beyond their legal jurisdiction, asked and obtained
leave from Gen. Hardee to lead his exhausted command
back to Savannah, where they arrived at ten o'clock p. m.,
December 1st.
From this time until the citv was evacuated, Gen. Smith
and his command were posted on the right of the western
lines of defense, where they rendered efficient service prior
to and during the siege.
It is recorded with pride and satisfaction that the battle
of Honey Hill, S. C, was fought almost entirely by Geor-
gia militia; and, also, that the militia of no other State
fought beyond tl*eir own boundaries. Georgia's war record
is hallowed, and its details are lingered upon with gratifi-
cation.
302
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES-
This victory relieved Savannah from a great clanger,
which, had it not been averted, would have forced its im-
mediate surrender under perilous circumstances. It also
] (reserved the only line of communication by which rein-
forcements could arrive, and afforded an avenue of retreat
when, three weeks later, the garrison withdrew from the
city.
. In the meantime, as Gen. Sherman held his way through
the interior of the State, "his route was traced by the burn-
ing of dwelling-houses, and the wail of women and chil-
dren, who, having been made homeless, were left to shift
for themselves. From opulence they were reduced to pov-
erty and wretchedness. Smoke-houses and granaries were
also burnt, and miles of beautiful country left a hideous
picture of desolation." "When the enemy had taken all
the provisions they could eat or carry away, they frequently
destroyed the remnant, in very wantonness.
Upson was at this time one of the richest counties in
Georgia, and the Yankees swarmed all over it. A widow
in this county stood helplessly by and saw Sherman's sol-
diers take all the meat out of her smoke-house, stack it up
in the back yard, and burn it. At the same time thev
knocked the heads out of the syrup barrels, and their con-
tents flowed like a branch through the yard. They thus
destroyed the support of a large number of negroes — the
race for whom they pretended to have such sympathy !
Ladies in this county were forced to live for days on lye-
hominy.
While Sherman's army was in Georgia, they not only
destroyed enormous quantities of food, but burnt grist
mills, and committed every barbarity that was practised bv
Goths, Vandals and Huns.
363
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
"About the middle of the fifteenth century, when, en-
couraged by Pope and Emperor, a desolating war had swept
over the Palatinate, Eriedrich, surnamed the Victorious,
succeeded at last in scattering the strength of his foes, ob-
taining a brilliant victory, and getting into his power a
great number of his enemies. With his victorious army
and his prisoners, he made a splendid entrance into Heidel-
berg. He treated his prisoners magnanimously; and on the
same day invited the most noble of them to a grand ban-
quet which he arranged at the castle. The magnificently
spread table groaned under the weight of fine dishes and
delicious wines. Only one thing was lacking, and that was
the most indispensable, bread.
"The Earl of Wiirtemberg, who had been active in laying
waste the country, called a servant and bade him fetch
some bread; but the Elector, Friedrich, took his captive by
the hand, led him to the window, and said : 'To the war-
rior who, unmindful of the laws of humanity, devastates
the fields and wantonly stamps down the seeds and burns
the mills with the villages, belongs no bread !' "
"Would Gen. Sherman and his invaders ever have tasted
another morsel of bread, if this sort of justice had been
meted out to them ?
364
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued )
1864.
A cyclone of popular indignation was raised against Gen.
/Sherman as he led his army through Georgia, and there
were no "Union men" left in his track.
Besides the gentleman who was choked in Milledgeville,
other old men — non-combatants who had nothing to do
with the war, further than to indulge in that sympathy
which nature prompted — were seized and brutally tortured
to compel them to deliver up treasure which they were
. supposed to possess. Judge Hiram Warner was hung until
life was nearly extinct. It was suspected that he had
money, and this was what these "truly loyal" "Union Ke-
storers" were most eager to secure. A girl eighteen years
of age was stripped and beaten to force her to tell where
her uncle, who was also her guardian, had concealed her
money and his own. It is recorded with pride that this
tenderly reared Georgia girl endured the torture, but never
divulged the secret ! Weak old men and defenseless women
and children were in some instances driven from their
homes, their dwellings fired, and these non-combatants sub-
jected to insults and privations. For years the landscape
in Sherman's track was disfigured with lone chimneys,
which were called "Sherman's Sentinels"; they were the
365
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
only remains of once happy homes. What had these Geor-
gia women done to be treated with such savage cruelty?
They had loved Georgia best of all lands; they had worked
day and night to clothe and feed the Georgia troops in the
field, who were battling for Georgia's right of self-govern-
ment; "they had incited their husbands, sons and lovers to
heroic action, and their sympathy, their sacrifices, their de-
votion to the cause, the eloquence of their tears and of their
smiles, were priceless in the inspiration they brought, and
more effective than an army with banners."
Gen. Sherman's soldiers turned war into profit on their
private account. All residences along their line of march
were subjected to rude search. Money, plate, jewelry and
other light articles of value were stolen; books, works of
art, paintings, private manuscripts and family relics were
destroyed. "Attempting the annihilation of all the neces-
saries of life, they laid waste whole sections of country.
Corn cribs, emptied of so much of their contents as sufficed
to fill the commissary wagons, were often either pulled to
pieces or burned, and grist, flour and sugar mills shared in
the common ruin. Horses, mules, cattle and hogs were
either driven off, shot in the field, or uselessly butchered
in the pens and lots. Such was the wholesale destruction
of animal life that the region stank with putrefying car-
casses, and earth and air were filled with innumerable tur-
key-buzzards fattening upon their thickly strewn death-
feasts."
"Neither orchards nor growing crops were spared, and
agricultural implements were broken up or carried away.
Cotton houses, gins, screws and cotton were almost univer-
sally consumed. County and municipal records of great
366
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
value were mutilated, temples of worship were impiously
profaned, and the sanctuaries of the dead brutishly desecra-
ted!"
They made extraordinary efforts to stir up servile insur-
rection, but they failed — the negroes being too much at-
tached to the families of their owners. In localities not
overrun by Sherman's soldiers, they remained true to their
masters; but in the line of their march through the Geor-
gia plantations, it has been estimated that the Federals se-
duced from their allegiance not less than ten thousand ne-
groes. Hundreds of these died of want, smallpox and other
diseases incident to neglect, privation and the lack of suit-
able shelter and clothing.
In Wilkinson county a party of Yankee soldiers hung a
negro man by the thumb because he would not tell where
his master had concealed his mules. This negro survived
his sufferings, and the next year piloted Gen. Toombs
through the words when he was a fugitive, after Gen. Lee's
surrender.
During Gen. Sherman's unholy crusade, there were some
horrors committed in peaceful Georgia homes that can not
be printed. His soldiers seemed to vie with each other in
acts of violence, insult, outrage, pillage, desolation and
murder. They were capable of any crime, however mon-
strous !
One of Gen. Sherman's aids, Brevet Major George Ward
Nichols, records with conspicuous approval in the pages of
a military history the manner in which "with untiring zeal
the soldiers hunted for concealed treasures." In a playful
manner, both with pen and pencil, he describes their habit-
ual acts of plunder, and humorously terms it "treasure-seek-
ing."
367
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
In one of our midland counties, the Yankees, in search-
ing a house, found that all portable articles of value had
been removed; a close examination of the yard and garden
revealed nothing, so they all rode away. In about fifteen
minutes, a Federal captain was seen galloping hurriedly
back. He stopped before the door and called to the mis-
tress of the house to come quickly, his comrades had found
all her things, and he thought if she would go with him he
might save some of them. Giving him a grateful look, the
lady rushed to the place where her silver and other valuable
articles were hidden in the woods, never stopping until she
reached the spot, which had not been discovered at all.
The Federal captain laughed heartily at her misery, when
she realized his ruse. He thought it a smart Yankee trick,
and appropriated the treasure.
It will be remembered that in 1782 Georgia gave Gen.
Greene, of Revolutionary fame, a beautiful plantation in
Chatham county, called "Mulberry Grove." The historic
mansion in which he passed the happiest period of his life
remained standing until destroyed by Sherman's soldiers.
One of Gen. Howell Cobb's plantations was in their line
of march, and they burnt all the houses on it except a few
cabins. They had burnt the houses on Gov. Brown's plan-
tation as they passed through Cherokee county, before the
fall of Atlanta.
"While the Federals were in Georgia they totally de-
stroyed one-fourth of her railroad tracks and ravaged and
made a wilderness of ruin over 2,000 square miles of her
territory.
Sherman's soldiers would never have dared to commit
their acts of vandalism without the approval of their offi-
368
THE AVAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
cers of the highest rank. The stealing, the house burning,
the distress of women and the suffering of children were
open, avowed and notorious !
Gen. Sherman complacently and boastfully announced
to his government that eighty million dollars worth of the
property destroyed in Georgia by his army was "simple
waste and destruction/' in no wise contributing to the wants
of the invaders, but plunging the defenseless non-com-
batants into a sea of sorrow, tribulation and ruin. In his
dispatches he had used such undignified expressions as
"make Georgia howl" and "march through that State
smashing things to the sea," which were unworthy of an
officer of high rank, but they gave the key-note to the con-
duct of the whole campaign. There is no resisting the ar-
tillery of facts, and they brand the name of William T.
Sherman as a blot on the civilization and culture of the
nineteenth century.
Abandoning whatever designs he may have had against
Macon, and turning aside from Augusta, it soon became
evident that Savannah was Sherman's objective point. Be-
fore this time, the likelihood of any attack from the inte-
rior upon Georgia's beautiful commercial metropolis had
seemed so remote that little attention had been bestowed
bpon any defense of the western approaches to the city.
The water front on the east and south was protected by
forts and fixed batteries well supplied with ammunition,
guns and artillerists. These defenses began at Red Bluff,
on the Carolina shore, extended across the Savannah river
along St. Augustine Creek, by way of Whitemarsh Island,
Thunderbolt Bluff, the Isle of Hope, Beaulieu and Rose
Dew, until they rested upon the Great Ogeechee river. So
24g 369
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
judiciously located were these batteries, and so efficiently
armed, that the Federals were kept at bay at all points.
Now, in anticipation of Gen. Sherman's arrival on the
coast, Federal war vessels had multiplied in the vicinity of
Savannah, and their demonstrations became more frequent
and more forcible. ^Notwithstanding this, the Confeder-
ates found it necessary to withdraw many of their guns and
place them in battery on the land side of the city, where
every possible effort was being made for defense. The
principal roads leading to Savannah were blocked by fell-
ing timber across them, and detached field workr; were pre-
pared at every important point. Gen. Hardee had about
10,000 men fit for service; but most of them wTere militia,
local troops, reserves, and hastily organized regiments and
battalions made up of convalescents from the hospitals, and
artisans from the Government shops.
As Gen. Sherman advanced towards Savannah, Georgia
had few troops to dispute his passage, but they delayed his
progress whenever it was practicable. At Mill en and
Montieth, on the Central Railroad, our soldiers offered
all the resistance possible, but had to abandon those de-
fensive lines under heavy pressure by the overmastering
Federal columns.
By the 10th of December the Federals had closed in
upon the advanced line of Savannah's defense. Owing
to the length of this line, the small number of the
Confederates who manned it, and the ease with which
its detached earthworks could be flanked, it was evacuated
shortly after the enemy made a serious demonstration
against it. Thus, the city of Oglethorpe lay between the
upper and the nether millstone, with no hope of relief from
any quarter.
370
CHAPTER XLV.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued )
1864.
Owing to the scarcity of Confederate troops in our State,
neither the activity of Gen. Wheeler, nor the valiant and
united efforts of Gens. Cobb, Smith and McLaws, assisted
by Gens. Hardee and Beauregard, had been able to keep
back Sherman's powerful army; and for the second time
in the history of Georgia, Savannah was besieged.
The city's interior line of defense commenced at Wil-
liamson's plantation on the Savannah river, and extended
to the Atlantic and Gulf railroad bridge across the Little
Ogeechee river. This line was rendered formidable by the
succession of marish lands and well-nigh impassable swamps
in its front. To increase the physical obstructions, the river
dam at Williamson's plantation was cut, so as to allow the
water at high tide to submerge the rice fields. All other
water in the vicinity, which could contribute to swell the
inundation, was utilized, and thus the entire front of the
line from the Savannah river to Salt Creek was submerged
to a depth varying from three to six feet. The creek was
dammed at the bridge on the Savannah and Darien road to
retain the water in case the enemv should cut the banks.
Below the bridge on this road the marshes of the creek and
of the Little Ogeechee river afforded substantial protection.
371
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The artificial defenses consisted of detached works, armed
with siege and field pieces, crowning causeways and private
crossings over the lowlands, and wherever a prominent
point commanded the established avenues of approach to
the city. The most elaborate fortification on this interior
line was called Fort Hardeman. It was planned by Col.
Frobel of the engineers, the labor being performed by the
Georgia militia and a detail of negroes. The enemy tried
twice to carry this work, but were easily repulsed.
This line, so persistently defended by the Confederates
during the siege, was thirteen miles long and was held by
scarcely more than a skirmish line, composed in large part
of raw troops, among whom was that gallant band of boys,
the Georgia Cadets. Yet this small force held Sherman's
formidable army at bay for ten days. The Federals had
six men to the Confederates' one. If Gen. Hardee's army
had been only half the size of Sherman's, one chapter of
Georgia history would be written differently. Such was
the pressure upon the Confederacy that at no time during
the siege of Savannah was it possible to send Gen. Hardee
any re-inforcements.
The Federals, closely investing the city, demonstrated in
force on more than one occasion and attempted to carry
the Confederate works, but in every instance suffered re-
pulse. They kept up an incessant cannonading, supple-
mented at various points by sharp shooting, musketry firing
and fierce artillery duels. The Confederates were so well
protected by their entrenchments that their loss was in-
considerable.
AVhile Savannah was besieged, Commodore Josiah Tatt-
nall, with his small naval force rendered all the assistance
possible.
372
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Gen. Sherman threw a considerable body of troops on
the left bank of the Savannah river, particularly upon
Argyle Island and the upper end of Hutchinson's Island,
to cut or? the Confederate retreat and to intercept commu-
nication with South Carolina. They met continuous and
bloody resistance by the Confederates in the rice fields and
alone the dams. The retention of this route was essential
to the ultimate safety of the troops defending Savannah., so
the commands of Gen. Wheeler and Gen. P. M. B. Young,
assisted by some South Carolina light batteries, were con-
centrated for its protection. There was some heavy fight-
ing, but these troops stubbornly resisted and successfully
frustrated every effort of the enemy to get possession of
this avenue of retreat. In these skirmishes Capt. F. E.
Eve of Augusta displayed conspicuous gallantry and ren-
dered important service.
Just before the Federal army encompassed Savannah,
Fort McAllister had been amply provisioned in anticipa-
tion of its early isolation if Gen. Sherman should fully en-
velop the western lines; in which case, no communication
could be held with this post. Maj. George W. Anderson
Avas in command, and the garrison numbered 150 men.
The day after Gen. Sherman began the siege of Savan-
nah, our small infantry force, which had been disputing
the advance of the enemy on the right bank of the Great
Ogeechee, was withdrawn. The Confederate cavalry re-
treated to Liberty countv, and the Fort was left in an abso-
lutely isolated condition, without any hope of support or
relief. That it Avas not evacuated and the garrison re-
called within the lines in seasonable time has been ex-
plained on the supposition that Gen. Hardee hoped by a
373
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
bold retention of this outpost, and a strong display of re-
sistance, to induce Gen. Sherman to avoid Savannah and
seek some other and more favorable point on the coast for
communicating with the Federal fleet.
On the afternoon of the 13th of December, the Federal
General Hazen and his division fell upon the rear of Fort
McAllister, and, by a rapid assault, swept over the abattis
and rear defenses and captured it with a loss to his com-
mand of 134 killed and wounded; a number almost equal
to that of the heroic garrison. The fighting was desperate
and deadly, the Confederates contesting every inch of
ground within the Fort; when they had finally retreated to
the bomb-proofs, they still fought and only yielded as each
man was individually overpowered. Thus, overwhelmed
by numbers, the beloved Confederate flag went down amid
smoke and carnage. "The noble part that Fort McAllister
sustained in the Confederate struggle for independence will
not be forgotten in the lapse of years, or lightly esteemed in
the record of truth and valor."
Bv the fall of this Fort, Gen. Sherman had full control
of the Ogeechee river and for the first time could commu-
nicate with the Federal fleet. In a conference with its Ad-
miral, they agreed that Savannah should be vigorously at-
tacked, both by land and sea, and that heavy guns for
bombarding it at long range should be speedily placed in
position.
On the 17th of December, Gen. Sherman demanded the
surrender of the city and its forts, threatening if he should
have to resort to an assault, or to the slower process of star-
vation, he would adopt the harshest measures and make
374
THE AVAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
little effort to restrain his soldiers. To this demand Gen.
Hardee returned a prompt and emphatic refusal.
Up to the 20th of December our troops had not yielded
a single position or lost a foot of ground with the exception
of Fort McAllister. Still, when Gen. Hardee discovered
that Gen. Sherman had put heavy siege guns in position
near enough to bombard the city, and that the Federals
were threatening Union Causeway, which stretches across
the large swamps that lie between Savannah and Charles-
ton— and offered his only line of retreat — he determined
to evacuate the city rather than expose it and its inhabitants
to bombardment. Holding Savannah could no longer bene-
fit the cause, and his troops could do more valuable service
in the field.
As it was impossible with the few steamboats and river
craft at his command, to convey the army, the artillery and
the requisite stores in safety to the Carolina side of the
river, Col. Frobel's skill was again displayed, and three
pontoon bridges were made by the sailors from the Con-
federate navy, assisted by a detachment of the Georgia
militia. These bridges were constructed of rice field flats,
and thev were so scarce that thev were lashed end to end
and not side to side as is usual in pontoon bridges of this
description. They were kept in their places by car wheels,
the only anchors which could be procured. After Hardee's
army crossed, these boats were cut loose from their moor-
ings and turned adrift, thus preventing the enemy from
pursuing the Confederates if they should attempt it. Col.
Frobel encountered many difficulties from heavy fogs and
scarcity of material, but the soldiers worked so rapidly that
everything was ready for the retreat by the night of the
20th.
375
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
In the meantime, our artillery and infantry fire had for
two days been heavier than at any previous time, as it was
no longer necessary to husband the ammunition. The navy
yard, the iron-clads, and other Confederate property wTere
destroyed, the fortifications beloAv the city were razed to
the ground, and the ladies' gunboat, Georgia, was sunk at
her moorings. "When all things were ready for their depar-
ture, rice-straw was thickly strewn over the pontoon bridges,
and under the dusky shadows of night, the Confederate
army safely passed over to South Carolina.
There was no confusion, and every movement was exe-
cuted promptly and in silence. The venerable and gallant
Commodore Tattnall, having in person superintended the
destruction of his vessels, marched at the head of his sailors
and marines to the rendezvous at Hardeeville, in South
Carolina, although, at the time, he was suffering, severely
with rheumatism.
Prior to the retreat of the Confederates, Gen. Wheeler
and Gen. Young were actively engaged, night and day, in
holding the enemy in check, and keeping open the line of
retreat, while Gen. Iverson created a diversion on the right
and in the rear of the Federal army. Brisk firing was kept
up, until the moment when our forces were withdrawn from
the western lines.
''The destruction of guns, ammunition and ordnance
stores, in the presence of and without attracting the notice
of the enemy, the successful withdrawal of the command
across the pontoon bridges over the Savannah river, the
absence of all noise and confusion during the movement
consummated at night, and, above all, the safe conduct of
such a large body of troops, with artillery and wagons,
376
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
along the narrow rice dams and causeways of the Carolina
shore, in a slender column, in close proximity to a strong
Federal force, extending from Izard's plantation for more
than a mile parallel, or nearly so, with the Confederate line
of retreat — and that without loss or interruption — indicate
at once the skill and care with which the Confederate com-
mander had arranged his plans, and the excellent behavior
of his troops in executing them."
It was half past three o'clock in the morning before the
Federals discovered that the defenses on the land side of
Savannah had been abandoned. The weather was unusu-
ally cold for that latitude, and the beautiful "city by the
sea" was still wrapped in night's star-gemmed mantle,
when, on the 21st of December, at half past four o'clock
a. m., Hon. Richard D. Arnold, the Mayor, and a delegation
from the board of aldermen, bearing a flag of truce, met
the Federal general, Geary, near the junction of the Louis-
ville and Augusta roads, and made a formal surrender of
the city lust evacuated bv the Confederates — and Savan-
nah, the pride of Georgia, was in the hands of her enemies.
Gen. Sherman did not burn the citv as he did Atlanta,
but it was at once placed under military rule. The Press
was muzzled, and only two newspapers allowed to be pub-
lished. All the cotton in the city, amounting to thousands
upon thousands of bales, was appropriated. During these
dark davs the citizens had a hard time, as they were at the
mercy of Sherman's soldiers and the Yankee speculator-
who swarmed there from the North "for cotton and all
sorts of profit.*' Ladies who had been reared in luxury
were forced to sell cakes and pies from their basement win-
dows to Yankee soldiers, to procure money for the neces-
377
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
saries of life. The principal article of diet in many fam-
ilies was sturgeon, a coarse fish that they had never before
dreamed of eating. It was a great hardship to have no
change from this mean fare, and the ladies taxed their in-
genuity to prepare the fish so as to make it more palatable.
It became common for them to greet a friend with the
remark : "Oh, I have found a new way to cook sturgeon !"
The wives of Generals Gustavus Smith and A. P. Stew-
art were left behind when the citv was evacuated, but thev
were accorded special protection by a Federal officer; and
rations were also issued to families who had absolutely no
means of subsistence. These are among the rare instances
of humanity shown by the Federals while they were in
Georgia.
A Georgia lady, the wife of the commander of the Con-
federate cruiser, Florida, was in Savannah at this time, and
Gen. Sherman, speaking of her as if she were the wife of a
robber on the high seas, ordered her to leave the city at
once. She replied that her baby was too ill to take a jour-
ney, and besides she was without money and could not pay
traveling expenses. In spite of her entreaties, he shipped
her off in one of his transports when the baby was so sick
that she could not be dressed, but only enveloped in a little
red flannel wrapper.
In his order to the captain of the transport, Gen. Sher-
man called the lady "the pirate's wife." Fortunately she
had friends in Philadelphia with whom she could take
refuge. \Vhen she arrived there the baby was so emaciated
that she was a pitiful spectacle, and was kept alive on the
juices obtained from raw beefsteak put under heavy pres-
sure. The baby exile had another long journey as soon as
378
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
she regained her strength, going to her father in Queens-
town, Ireland, but she survived all her hardships, and is to-
day a splendid woman.
While Georgia had become a battle-field, and some of
her fairest territory was being wantonly laid waste by the
devastating columns of the invaders, her sons in Confed-
erate armies in other States had kept to the highest pitch
the renown which they had acquired, though now they were
poorly clad, and often on short rations, which intensified
their bufferings on the march, in bivouac and in battle.
In these long years of war the ties between the officers
and their men had grown to be very close. - The soldiers
were quick to see the strong points of character in their
officers and often gave them very appropriate nicknames.
They called Gen. Benning "The Rock," and Gen. George
T. Anderson, "Old Tige."
In one of the battles in Xorth Georgia, the latter was
in a very tight place; Gen. Benning in going to his relief
passed a stationary command, and they shouted to him :
"Hurry up. Rock, Old Tige is treed !"
In Virginia, at the battle of the Wilderness, when Gen.
Lee, to save his broken line, rode forward to lead the attack,
it was John B. Gordon's men who stopped him by crying :
"Lee to the rear ! Lee to the rear !"
And they declared that they would not "budge" a step
unless he retired. Then, as he turned, those Georgians
rushed forward with the wild Confederate yell, drove back
the Yankees and re-took the position.
In the battles from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, in
every one of which Georgians were conspicuous, the Fed-
eral Gen. Grant lost, in two short months, over 60,000 men;
379
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
more bv half than all the soldiers Gen. Lee had in his army..
At Cold Harbor the slaughter was fearful, the ground bein^
literally blue with the Federal dead, piled upon one another
in front of the Confederate breastworks. The battle lasted
one hour. The order to the Federals to make a second
charge was disregarded, the men sullenly refusing to ad-
vance, and Gen. Grant was forced to withdraw them and
ask leave to bury his dead.
Tn November, CoL L. J. Glenn was appointed Confed-
erate commander of the post of Atlanta; and early in De-
cember, the exiles began to return with the determination
to rebuild their city. They sat down with brave hearts-
amid the debris and ruin.
At this time the site of the once flourishing city presented
a picture of utter desolation. Out of a population of
20,000, there were now not more than 600 inhabitants, with
perhaps a hundred negroes.
During this period of misfortune, forty-nine dollars of
Confederate money were only equal to one dollar in gold.
"Wheat was worth from forty to fifty dollars a bushel; a
man's hat cost several hundred dol lars, a horse several thou-
sand; yet the pay of a Confederate private was but eleven
dollars a month in this depreciated currency, which would
scarcely buy a pound of meat or a loaf of bread.
In many localities food and clothing were difficult to pro-
cure, and brought fabulous prices, while medicine was a
costly luxury.
At this time one hundred and twenty thousand indigent
persons were supported by the State.
This year, so fraught with misery to Georgia, ended with
the spirit of her people unbroken, and an ardent desire to
continue the war.
380
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Continued.)
1865.
The new year opened gloomily for Georgia, much of
"whose territory was in the hands of her enemies. Then,
too, her railroads were either partly or wholly destroyed,
and business was almost at a standstill, Confederate money
having well-nigh lost its purchasing power.
The legitimate hardships of war — the destruction of pub-
lic property and foraging for the maintenance of troops —
Georgia was willing to accept as the price of liberty; but
she entered a solemn protest against the revolting cruelties
of Sherman's soldiers.
Fort Fisher, which guarded the entrance to the harbor of
Wilmington, K. C., was now the only remaining port
through which the Confederates had any communication
with the outside world, and this intercourse was obtained
by running the gauntlet of the blockading fleet. It had
withstood every attack of the enemy until the middle of
January, when it fell before the conjoint operations of a
Federal fleet and a large land force. In this last struggle
for Fort Fisher, Col. John T. Lofton, of the 6th Volunteer
-Georgia Regiment, was among the first who was killed.
381
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Little by little, Georgia women had given up the luxuries
of life, and then the comforts, until many of them — espe-
cially tho.-e who were in the track of Sherman's army — ex-
perienced the lowest depths of privation. Old silk and
woo] dresses were turned and made over time and again, or
two or three remnants of dresses were combined to make
one. These were their "Sunday clothes.7' For ordinary
wear, the great mass of Georgia's fair daughters could ob-
tain nothing but the domestic cloth, called homespun.
They made it up tastefully, trimmed it with odds and ends
of velvet or silk, and turned out many pretty dresses.
There was no limit to their ingenuity in dressing themselves
nicely with scanty material, and in contriving for the com-
fort of the soldiers in the field. Sherman and all his sol-
diers might steal and destroy and insult, but they could
never make Georgia women forget or neglect "the boys in
gray." Times were desperately hard, but our people some-
how contrived to live, and send a little to the soldiers.
At this time it was rare to see a man at church, unless
he was very old, diseased or wounded. All the men were
at the front; so the congregations, as a rule, were composed
of women and children. As has been truly said, both the
manhood and boyhood of Georgia bore arms in her defense.
During this winter the Federal Gen. Kilpatrick plun-
dered the country south of the Ogeechee river. Overrun-
ning and occupying Liberty county, he reduced a well-
ordered and abundantly supplied region to a condition of
poverty, lawlessness and desolation.
Civilized warfare does not license the plundering, of pri-
vate property, the insulting of women, nor the starving of
children; but "it was better to be the plundered than the
382
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
plunderers; it was nobler to sit down in the ashes of Georgia
homes than to be clothed in victorious robes won in such
dishonorable warfare."
Gen. Sherman has published to the world that he per-
formed a grand military achievement in his march from
Atlanta to the coast, but the facts prove it to have been more
of a holiday excursion on a gigantic military scale, than a
triumph of martial skill. His well-appointed army left At-
lanta with forty days' rations of bread, salt, sugar and coffee;
nothing, indeed, was lacking which could contribute to its
comfort and efficiency. Georgia had neither soldiers nor
materials of war to offer him effectual opposition; and, in
the interior counties, there were only old men and boys to
shoulder their fowiing-pieces and dispute his passage.
"When he reached Savannah he showed an utter want of
military skill, by sitting down before our lines, erecting
counter batteries, engaging in artillery duels and sharp-
shooting, and day after day feeling for weak points. Then,
when Tort McAllister was captured he made arrangements
for the transportation of. heavy guns with which to shell
the city, at great distance, over the heads of her defenders,
and finally suffered the garrison to pass to the Carolina
shore "under his very nose." "All the extravagant praises
written and sung concerning 'Sherman's march to the sea,'
is the veriest balderdash, and can so be proved in the clear
light of history."
Gen. Sherman remained in Savannah until the 19th of
January, and then left Georgia, whose dignity he had so
long insulted.
The conduct of the negroes in Georgia and the other Con-
federate States during this war, conclusively refutes the
383
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
slander that our enemies had persistently published, that
Southerners were cruel tyrants. Our strong men went far
away to battle and left their negroes the guardians of their
homes and their families. Surely this attests the attach-
ment, the mutual dependence, the trust and genuine friend-
ship that existed between the masters and servants. Our
negroes worked the plantations and performed their domes-
tic duties with their customary cheerfulness and alacrity;
and those who went to the front with their owners shared
with them the fatigues of the march and the privations of
camp-life while rendering every service which the occasion
required, except that of bearing arms.
In the desperate condition of our State, the situation of
the mountain counties in North Georgia was simply horri-
ble, and had been for months. At the request of Gov.
Brown, Pres. Davis appointed Gen. William T. Wofford,
Department Commander of this section. Being a native
of that part of the State, he entered, with loving zeal upon
his work of relieving its utter desolation. His first step
was to send a flag of truce to Gen. Judah, Federal com-
mander in that region, and obtain corn to distribute to the
starving people — who, not being able to refugee, had re-
mained at home almost in despair. Gen. Woflord deserves
the gratitude of his State for mitigating the miseries of this
section and bringing order out of chaos.
In February Gov. Brown convened the Legislature in
Macon. This is a notable session, as it was the last held
while Georgia was a member of the Southern Confederacy.
Gen. Toombs, Gen. Howell Cobb, Benjamin H. Hill and
AVilliam H. Stiles made encouraging and patriotic addresses
before the Legislature and to the citizens of Macon.
384
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
This Legislature passed a complimentary resolution on
the services of Gen. Gustavus W. Smith and his command
at the battle of Honey Hill, -which ended with these words:
"The State with pride records this gallant conduct of her
militia, and feels assured that when an emergency again
arises, State lines will be forgotten by her militia, and a
patriotism exhibited which knows nothing but our whole
country."
No detailed account of the sufferings endured in Federal
prisons by the soldiers from Georgia and the other Southern
States, has been published, but the facts can be authenti-
cated by hundreds nowr living. At Point Lookout, a bleak
and dreary prison on the eastern shore of Maryland, the
captives were fed on condemned army stores bought at
auction. At Fort Henry the fare each day consisted of
worm-eaten crackers and one slice of tainted pork, and every
morning an ill-tasting slop which the custodians called
coffee. In such dens as Fort Delaware the food was wTorse,
and river Avater — which wTas impregnated with filth — was
used for cooking and drinking. Nine thousand men were
crowded into quarters that could not comfortably accom-
modate 2,000. Attempts were made to extort daily labor
from them, as if they were convicts. Some of them were
manacled with irons, and others were confined in unwhole-
some dungeons. The sentinels were told, at one time, to
fire into anv room where a light was seen after nine o'clock
at night, but this order was not published to the prisoners.
It happened that, after the interdicted hour, a captive Con-
federate raked open a bed of coals on the hearth to cook a
piece of meat which he had, by some means, obtained, when
the guard raised his gun, fired and scattered the poor fel-
low's brains against the wall.
25g 385
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
There were cases where our gallant soldiers, when pris-
oners, were reduced by hunger to eat rats. In a room
where thev were so crowded thev could scarcelv breathe,
one of them got his head partly through a window, for
which he was shot down.
Confederate prisoners were taken in mid-winter, in their
thin clothing, to such icy regions as Camp Douglas, Rock
Island, and Johnson's Island, where it is a notorious fact
that many of them actually froze to death. At Fortress
Monroe, Bedloe's Island and Camp Chase, their sufferings
were equally as harrowing. In thousands of instances the
experiences of Confederate soldiers in prison are too sicken-
ing and revolting for publication.
Onr enemies have written much about the horrors of
Andersonville, in Southwestern Georgia, where they assert
that Federal prisoners were systematically tortured to death.
The selection of that place as a prison was governed by
humane considerations, and was not made with cruel de-
signs against the prisoners — as our enemies report. It was
chosen because it was in a nice section of country, with
plenty of pure water and running streams, and secure from
Federal invasion. The prisoners were put in one stockade
only from lack of men to guard more than one. The cli-
mate was hard upon them during the summer, and their
stomachs were not accustomed to corn-meal; this made thou-
sands of them ill, but the Confederate Government cannot
be held responsible for their sufferings. Whatever food
the Confederate soldiers had — whether good or bad, full or
short — the Federal prisoners shared equally with them.
Whatever medical attention the sick and wounded Confed-
erate soldiers had, the same was ordered for the Federal
380
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
prisoners who needed it; when the medicines were ex-
hausted, and no more could be obtained, the healing herbs
of the country were used as substitutes, and these, too, were
shared with them.
An act requiring humanity to prisoners was passed by
the Confederate Congress during the first year of the war.
The Confederate Government cannot be justly held respon-
sible for occasional cruelty on the part of subordinates who
were unfaithful to their trusts. They never, in a single
instance, sanctioned — much less ordered — unoffending pris-
oners of war to be confined in unwholesome dungeons and
to be put in irons, as was repeatedly done by order of the
authorities at Washington, in utter violation of the usages
of modern, civilized warfare.
That the sufferings of the Andersonville prisoners were
intense cannot be charged upon Georgia or the Confed-
erate Government. There would not have been one groan-
ing prisoner there, but for the refusal of the Federal Gov-
ernment to comply with the earnest request of the Confed-
erate Government for an exchange of prisoners upon liberal
and humane principles. A delegation of these prisoners
was sent to "Washington to lav their condition before the
authorities and beg them for an exchange, but the request
was denied, and they were returned to prison. The Federal
Government connived at the sufferings of their own troops
in captivity, to furnish sensational matter to their Press.
The case in a nutshell stands thus : The Confederates,
with their ports blockaded and their resources reduced, did
the best they could for those who were placed at their
mercy; the Federal Government, in the midst of plenty,
387
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
with good credit, and its ports opened to the world, inflicted
cruel, wanton deprivation on Confederate prisoners.
( 'apt. ITenry AYirtz, a European by birth, had charge of
the Andersonville prisoners. He obtained the position
through letters of recommendation, vouching for his intelli-
gence and good character. TYnen the war ended, the Fed-
erals arrested him and tried him before a military commis-
sion on the charge of murder, in violation of the usages of
war. He was found guilty and executed.
Poor, friendless and Avounded, he was doomed before he
was heard. His trial was notoriously unfair. At Camp
Douglas, at Pock Island, at Elmira, and at Point Lookout,
acts of greater cruelty and barbarity were perpetrated by
Federals upon Confederate prisoners, than anything that
was proven against Capt. AYirtz at his trial. It is due to
his memory to recollect that with his dying breath he denied
the charges against him, and that his life was offered him
if lie would swear to false accusations against Pres. Davis.
Ee resisted the temptation, thus exhibiting honor and fidel-
ity strangely in contrast with his tempters and persecutors.
By the showing of the enemy, the Confederates held
50,000 more prisoners than the Federals; yet the Federal
deaths in Southern prisons was under nine per cent., whilo
Confederate deaths in Northern prisons was over twelve
per cent. On which side was there the most neglect,
cruelty and inhumanity?
Alexander 11. Stephens says: "But the great question in
this matter is, upon whom rests the tremendous responsi-
bility (»f all this sacrifice of human life, with all its inde-
scribable miseries and sufferings? The facts, beyond ques-
tion or doubt, show that it rests entirely upon the author-
388
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
ities at Washington ! It is now well understood to have
been a part of their settled policy in conducting the war,
not to exchange prisoners. The grounds upon which this
extraordinary course was adopted were, that it was human-
ity to the men in the field, on their side, to let their cap-
tured comrades perish in prison, rather than to let an equal
number of Confederate soldiers be released on exchange to
meet them in battle ! Upon the Federal authorities, and
upon them only, with this policy as their excuse, rests the
whole of this responsibility.
"To avert the indignation which the open avowal of this
policy by them, at the time, would have excited through-
out the North, and throughout the civilized world, the false
cry of cruelty towards prisoners was raised against the Con-
federates. This was but a pretext to cover their own viola-
tion of the usages of war, in this respect, among civilized
nations !"
S89
CHAPTER XLVII.
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. (Concluded.)
1865.
It was in February of this year that the celebrated Hamp-
ton Road's Conference was held. Alexander H. Stephens
was a prominent member of this Conference — about which
such erroneous ideas have existed — and he has written its
true historv.
As spring opened, distressing news reached Georgia from
the Confederate armies in Virginia, in the West, and in
the Carolinas. They were pressed on all sides by over-
whelming numbers, but the Georgia troops were displaying
their usual clash and energy. During Gen. Hardee's march
from the Catawba to the Cape Fear river, in North Caro-
lina, Gen. "Wheeler had twice attacked and repulsed the
enemy, and Georgia soldiers had fought and suffered with
Gen. Lee, in the trenches before Petersburg, until his line
was broken and Richmond abandoned to the enemy.
Georgia's sons were with the thin, but resolute and un-
daunted columns of Confederates, who, as devoted as the
Spartan band at Thermopylae, fought for seven days, more
than ten times their number, before they surrendered on
the 9th of April at mournful Appomattox.
During those last terrible days, Georgia's knightly son,
Gen. John B. Gordon, next to the noble Lee, was the most
300 -
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
distinguished figure of the army in Virginia. Eight times
had he been wounded in battle, once receiving a saber cut
across the face. Gordon was the last to leave the trenches
at Petersburg; in the retreat, Gordon daily fought the
enemy for the protection of the trains; and it was Gordon
(who commanded one wing of the army) to whom Gen.
Lee appealed on that dreadful day of the surrender, to learn
the chances for a successful attack upon the enemy. Gor-
don sadly replied : "My old corps is reduced to a frazzle,
and unless I am supported heavily by Longstreet I do not
think we can do anything more."
Gen. Lee, knowing that Longstreet was threatened by
the Federal General Meade, said :
"Then, there is nothing left me but to go and see Gen.
Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths!" and
thus the spotless sword of Lee was surrendered. He re-
ceived honorable terms from the enemy; otherwise he would
not have surrendered his troops. They were paroled as
Confederate soldiers, not one word being said about "reb-
els" or "rebellion." When the officers and men took leave
of Gen. Lee soon after the capitulation, it was a deeply
affecting sight !
Towards the middle of April, the Federal General Wil-
son, approaching Georgia through Alabama — for the pur-
pose of making a raid — was opposed by a band of Confed-
erates at Girard, which is a small town connected with
Columbus by a bridge, and on the Alabama side of the
Chattahoochee river. The Georgia soldiers engaged in this
battle were two regiments of the State line, a small num-
ber of reserves, and some of Gen. WofTord's men. It was
after nightfall Sunday, April 16th, when our soldiers,
391
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
retreating, fell baek upon Columbus. The military author-
ities there determined to attempt the defense of the city,
though the companies composing the Home Guards were
inexperienced and their arms very inferior. Their line of
defense was a. single one, and long drawn out around the
upper bridge. The four or five hundred Federal troops
for whom Gen. Wilson, in his report, claims the honor of
breaking through the Confederate lines, did not really en-
counter one half of their own force. The enemy captured
and partially destroyed the city. The chivalric and
lamented C. A. L. Lamar fell, while gallantly trying to
rally a squad of Confederates at the Columbus end of the
bridge. "As much as other cities suffered by the war, the
loss of Columbus was perhaps greater than that of any
other, for the reason that the great industrial establishments
that afforded work and support to so many of her citizens,
were wholly destroyed; all the cotton which the plant-
ers of the surrounding country had stored here was burnt,
and it constituted their only available means of raising
money wherewith to continue their work." Columbus
made a glorious record during the war, and her patriotism
was unbounded. Before Georgia seceded, every military
company in the city signified to Gov. Brown their readiness
to respond to any call for the defense of the State.
The engagement at Columbus and, earlier in the same
day, the sharp fight at West Point, were the last battles of
the war this side of the Mississippi river. The Federal
General Wilson also captured and held Griffin and Macon.
Two weeks after the capitulation of Gen. Lee, the forces
of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston were surrendered in the Caro-
linas; and by the last of May, the fragments of Confederate
392
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
armies elsewhere had laid down their arms, and the war
between the States was ended. The Southern Confederacy
went down under the pressure of exhausted resources and
the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. From the be-
ginning to the end of the war, near, if not quite, two mil-
lion more of Federals were brought into the field than the
entire force of the Confederates.
The war was over, and Georgia had not won the right of
self-government. Was the blood of her sons poured out in
vain, and her treasure spent for naught? ISTot by any
means ! Every blow that was struck for liberty will re-
dound to the good of unborn generations of Georgians.
Military force can decide no truth. " 'Tis a cause, not the
fate of a cause* that is glorious."
Georgia's course in the war between the States has left
upon her honor neither blot nor stain for which her children
might blush in the future. Not less than 120,000 of her
sons did battle under the Confederate flag. "The field
officers, the staff, the non-commissioned officers and the pri-
vates of this grand army won for Georgia a reputation that
any nation might envy."
"The Legislatures convened during this period, freely
voted millions upon millions of dollars raised by taxation,
for the support of Georgia soldiers and for the relief of such
of their families as wrere needy, but never one cent for hire-
ling or substitute. At every session their proceedings were
aglow with patriotic acts and generous resolutions. In a
word, "our State Government, the Legislature, the Bench,
the Bar, the Pulpit, county and municipal organizations,
and every citizen united to do the best that was in them to
393
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
promote the success of the war for Southern rights. All
honor to the cause which enlisted such sympathy and
evoked such proofs of marvelous devotion !"
It was a pathetic sight to see Georgia's sons — who for
four bloody years had so gloriously worn the gray — in their
dingy, battered uniforms, singly or in groups, sadly finding
their way home from all parts of the Confederacy. Some,
alas ! found only heaps of ashes and "Sherman's Sentinels"
to show where their homes had once stood.
The Confederate soldiers from every part of the fair
Southland had suffered as few suffer in this world; and
yet, amid all their tribulations, they kept the faith to which
they had pledged their knightly honor. History can show
no finer types of chivalry! Merely to print the names of
the Georgia soldiers who deserve all honor and love would
fill more than the pages allotted to this volume.
After Gen. Lee's surrender, Pres. Davis and various
members of his cabinet, in passing through Georgia, stopped
over night in Washington, and in this Georgia town was
held the last meeting of the Confederate cabinet. Their
last official act was to appropriate what gold there was in the
treasury to buy rations for Confederate soldiers returning
from the war, and to be distributed among the wounded
and sick. The large brick house where this council was
held is built upon the very site where Gov. Stephen Heard
erected his Fort for defense against the Indians.
The pen with which Pres. Davis signed his last order is
now the property of a gentleman who lives in Washington.
While these high dignitaries were in town, wagons ar-
rived bearing the specie which belonged to the Confederate
394
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
Government. It was between one and two hundred thou-
sand dollars — the bulk of it in bars of gold, the remainder
in coins.
Just after the departure of the Confederate officials, a
cavalryman from the escort of Gen. Breckinridge, of Ken-
tucky, turned when they had passed beyond the town, hur-
riedly galloped back, threw a bag of gold coins — amounting
to 5,000 dollars— over in Gen. Toombs's lot, and then rode
rapidly away. ISTo instructions accompanied the gift and
no explanation was ever obtained. Gen. Toombs was in
great need, and was borrowing gold to leave the State to
avoid imprisonment, but his character was cast in too noble
a mould to allow him to make a private use of this Confed-
erate gold. It was eventually turned over to a Federal
officer with the agreement that it should be used to buy
provisions for returning Confederate soldiers, and it is said
that he disposed of it as he had promised.
After he left Washington, the honored and beloved Pres-
ident of the Confederacy was captured by 200 Federal cav-
alry, on the 10th of May, near Irvinville, in "Washington
county; and the rest of the Confederate gold was captured
at the same time.
Before this painful event happened, the State troops had
been surrendered and paroled, most of our towns were in
the hands of the Yankees, and Georgia was helpless to aid
Pres. Davis in the hour of his need.
The town of Washington was the home of Gen. Toombs,
and as soon as the Federals arrived there they tried to cap-
ture him, but failed — as he was prepared for them. When
one of their soldiers rang his door-bell, Mrs. Toombs, an-
swering it, held him in conversation while the General clis-
395
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
appeared across the plantation. The Yankees searched the
premises, finally, and threatened to burn down the house
unless Gen. Toombs was produced. Mrs. Toombs, turning
away from them, said coolly : "Very well, burn it/'
Failing to discover him, and being unable to frighten
her, they departed without injuring the property. That
night Lieut. Irwin, a gallant Confederate, less than twenty-
one vears old, carried "Gray Alice" to Gen. Toombs, where
he was waiting, eighteen miles from home. This famous
mare had earned him through all his campaigns, and he
was on her back when he so heroically defended the bridge
■
over the Antietam creek in Virginia ; and now he trusted to
her again in his race for liberty, if not for life. The Yan-
kee cavalry carefully watched all ferries and fords to pre-
vent his escape, so it was six months before he found a safe
opportunity to leave Georgia. His only companion during
this time was his devoted young friend, Lieut. Irvin. They
generally traveled at night, resting a week or more with
friends, whenever it was desirable. Sometimes they were
in the wild, picturesque region around Tallulah Falls, then
in Middle Georgia, and again in the swamps of the Chatta-
hoochee. When he finally escaped the vigilance of the
Yankee guards and passed into Alabama, he left his faith-
ful mare and took the train for Mobile. There he was
entertained by that gifted daughter of Georgia, Miss
Augusta J. Evans, who, fearing that his identity would be
discovered, dismissed her servants and cooked and served
his meals with her own hands, esteeming it a privilege to
help a Confederate soldier. From Mobile, Gen. Toombs
made his way to Cuba, thence to France and England. He
remained abroad until after the restoration of the habeas
396
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
corpus (1867), when he returned home and resumed the
practice of law.
When the Confederate troops grounded their arms, Gen.
Henry R. Jackson was a prisoner of war. Having again
been appointed a Confederate brigadier-general he was with
Gen. Hood in his expedition to Tennessee in the autumn of
1864, and acted a prominent part in the battles of Franklin
and Nashville. In the latter, his gallant brigade, thinned in
ranks to only a few hundred, after holding its position until
both flanks of Hood's army were driven back, was sur-
1/ 7
rounded and captured on the field. Gen. Jackson was first
taken to Johnson's Island, and then transferred to Fort
Warren.
The Federal Government did not carry out the terms
upon which, the Confederate armies surrendered; all our
State, civil, and Confederate officers who could be found
were arrested and imprisoned, and Georgia held under mili-
tarv rule.
Alex. H. Stephens was arrested and taken to Fort War-
ren, in Boston Harbor, where he was confined for five
months. He was put in a room below the surface of the
ground, although he was a confirmed invalid. The damp-
ness, and living upon soldiers' rations, produced neuralgia
and a complication of diseases from which he suffered cru-
elly, and the effects of which he felt during the remainder
of his life. The Federal officers and men who had charge
of him treated him with respect and kindness. They were
not responsible for the acts of their superiors, whose orders
thev were bound to obev. Through the efforts of an officer,
lie was allowed, after a time, to have any article of food he
7 7 t/
desired, if he would purchase it at his own expense. This
307
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
relieved him somewhat, but he would have died if a Massa-
chusetts Senator had not interposed in his behalf, and had
his quarters changed. But this alleviation of his misery
was not obtained until late in August, when the little
strength that he had was almost exhausted. The Federal
Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, never gave his consent
that the sick prisoner should have dry quarters, and the
order was only signed by Andrew Johnson, the Federal
President.
Mr. Stephens was never tried fur any of the crimes with
which he stood charged; nor was a single Confederate ever
put upon trial, notwithstanding all that had been said by
the authorities at Washington City about the ''treason of
the Confederates," about the "Insurrection," and the
"Atrocious Rebellion." They did not dare to allow the
principle for which the South fought to come before the
"Judicial Forum" for decision. "An arbitrament on the
arena of Reason, Logic, Truth and Justice, they have
avoided from that day to this." One great fact must be
kept in mind — a trial would have been the vindication of
secession before the world !
Gov. Brown, Benjamin H. Hill, and other prominent
Georgians, were also imprisoned by Federal authority.
Gen. Howell Cobb was arrested, carried as far as Nashville,
and then released, without any reason being assigned.
Georgia, under military rule, was forced to submit to in-
justice and oppression, but the dignified patience with
which her brave sons bore their sufferings was as gall and
wormwood to the enemy.
"However terrible were the losses, sufferings and sacri-
fices which befell Georgia in this second bloody conflict for
398
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.
the right of self-government, she still had that which is
inestimable in value, far above riches, wealth or power, and
of which no oppression or tyranny can deprive her, and
that is a. public character, which, after having -passed the
severest ordeal that can try men's souls, stands forth with
that moral grandeur which is ever imparted to the reputa-
tion of States, as of individuals, by uprightness in conduct,
integrity of purpose, truthfulness in words, and the crown-
ing glory of unsullied honor !
" Whatever other errors, faults, failings or shortcomings
this State may have had, no act of treachery, of perfidy, of
hypocrisy or deceit, of breach of faith or of turpitude —
nothing of a low, mean, sordid or unmanly nature can ever
be justly laid to her charge, either in her State or Confed-
erate organizations, either before or during the war ; neither
in the antecedents which led to it, nor in all the fury which
marked its progress. Her whole public course shows her
people to have been as true, as brave, as generous, as frank,
as refined, as magnanimous, as moral, as religious and
withal as honorable and patriotic in the highest and noblest
sense of those words, as ever struggled against odds, and
thus struggling, fell in battling for the Right. So the truth
of history stands and will continue to stand forever ! These
are facts which time will never obliterate or destroy. This
record of Georgia's past is no small heritage, if she has noth-
ing else left for her sons to transmit to their children, and
to their children's children for generations to eome P'
399
CHAPTER XLVIII.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
1865—1872.
The war between the States had lasted a little more than
four years. It was waged by the Confederates with the
great object of maintaining the inestimable sovereign right
of local self-government, while it was waged by the Fed-
erals, as they declared, with the sole object of "maintaining
the Union under the Constitution."
When the Confederate armies surrendered, the mask
hitherto worn by the War Party of the North was dropped,
and they no longer cared to conceal that all their talk about
"the Union" was false sentiment to delude the public. They
determined that the South should not be members of the
Federal Union on any terms of equality, but should be held
as conquered provinces.
In this grave crisis Gov. Brown called a meeting of the
Legislature, but the military who were now in control in
Georgia would not allow it to assemble.
A few days afterwards an armed force, led by a Federal
Captain surrounded the Executive Mansion at night, and
notified the Governor that he was to be arrested. He
quietly -howed his parole as commander-in-chief of the
State forces, which he had received from the Federal Gen-
400
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
eral, Wilson. The Captain informed him that he was
ordered to take that from him. The Governor indignantly
protested against this outrage, as he had not violated his
parole, and the faith of the United States Government was
pledged to protect him. HoAvever, he could not resist an
armed force, and in the end had to give it up. He was
allowed only thirty minutes to prepare for his departure,
and was denied a moment in private with his family. He
was taken to Washington City and put in Carroll prison,
where he was detained a week and then released.
. During the war Gov. Brown had nobly done his dutv
and had always maintained the honor of Georgia ; but when
he returned home, acting as if not only the cause, but the
principle, for which. Georgia had fought was lost, he re-
signed the high office with which he had been intrusted for
the fourth time, and advised all Georgians to acquiesce in
the arbitrary measures of the Federal Government.
The night, indeed, was black and fearful; a howling tem-
pest raged, and the old Ship of State was lashed by the
turbulent waves until it seemed that she must be swamped
in the surfs at last. Some few Georgians, with Gov.
Brown, took to the life-boats; but the great majority of our
people stood by the old Ship, preferring to go down with
her — if it needs must be — if she could not weather the
storm.
Gov. Brown's successor was appointed by the Federal
Government, with the title of Provisional Governor. " So,
for the first time since Georgia ceased to be a colony of
Great Britain^ Chief Magistrate not of her own choosing
occupied the Executive Chair. Under the arbitrary rule
of the military, a citizen could not carry on his ordinary
26g 401
Nl
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
occupation, could not vote, could not even get a letter out
of the post-office, without taking an oath of allegiance to
a government from which they had suffered such gross
wrongs. Moreover, this "iron-clad, oath," as it was called,
was not allowed to everv one; something like twenty thou-
sand Georgians, including many of the leading men of the
State, were not permitted to take it. Georgia law was set
aside, and there was no appeal from military authority.
Bobberv, murder and everv kind of lawlessness ran riot
over the State, and every newspaper teemed with accounts
of crime.
This disorder and defiance of law was increased when
the Federal Government established what was known as
the Freedmen's Bureau. It belonged to the War Depart-
ment, controlled all subjects relating to the negroes, and
managed, besides, what Congress was pleased to call "aban-
doned lands." In short, it was a government machine, and
its agents exercised the power of a Russian Autocrat. The
Freedmen's Bureau Act, and, later, the Civil Bights Act of
Congress were both enforced in Georgia by the military)
A Federal Brigadier-General ordered Gen. Toombs' wife,
who was living quietly at home, in Washington, to vacate
her house, as he intended to take possession of it as "aban-
doned property," and use it for the Freedmen's Bureau
with which he Avas connected. Another Federal General
revoked the order and allowed Mrs. Toombs to retain her
property. In Athens, wagons were driven into a gentle-
man's lot and a thousand dollars' worth of railroad iron
hauled off, for which no compensation could ever be ob-
tained. Thus, in every county, property was placed at the
caprice of military officers.
402
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
Warrenton, in AVarren county, was considered, during
the war, a very safe place, and being at the same time quite
accessible, a large quantity of cannon and ordnance, com-
missary and quartermaster's stores, were kept there. At the
surrender thev were destroyed or removed, and never fell
into the hands of the Yankees, but the town was imme-
diately garrisoned by Federal troops, who made themselves
very objectionable to the citizens. In a spirit of retalia-
tion, the young; ladies of the place set their wits to work to
torment them all they could.
On one occasion the most popular girls gave a concert
and invited all the Yankee officers, who felt much grati-
fied by the compliment, as they well knew how they were
hated by the people, but looked sorely crestfallen when
they found that they had to listen to nothing but Confed-
erate war songs and battle pieces. At last, when a pretty
little sparkling brunette began to sing "The Conquered
Banner," with a shadow upon her bright face and a tender
pathos in her voice, it was too much for the Yankees, and
they left the hall in a body; so when the last soft note quiv-
ered upon the air, they were all on the outside of the build-
ing, lingering around and peeping through the windows.
Afterwards they sent the young ladies word that they were
going to arrest them. That was just fun for the girls, and
they straightway devised some other way to annoy them.
Thev went horseback riding; with their horses' ears orna-
mented with tiny Confederate flags; then, at night, they
would throw wide open all the windows, sit down to their
pianos and sing "Dixie," "The Bonny Blue Flag," and
other war songs, until they were tired out.
403
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Their parents, at length, put a stop to this display of patri-
otism, fearing that the rough soldiers might say something
rude to them. Still, the girls found ways to let "all the
world'" know that they gloried in not being "reconstructed."
The authority of the Federal Government was accepted
in Georgia from necessity, not from choice. Our people
had been overcome by superior numbers and greater re-
sources, but thev had not been convinced that their course
was wrong.
In Savannah, the Federal General in command issued
an order against any man appearing on the streets in a
Confederate uniform. "When it was represented to him
that the returned soldiers had nothing else to put on, nor
any money to buy another suit, he revoked the order with
the proviso that the military buttons should be either cut
off or covered. The next day "the boys in gray" appeared
on the streets with every button wrapped in crepe.
From the time that Oglethorpe planted his colony upon
Yamacraw Bluff, Georgia had never passed through such
an ordeal as the present. ^Nine tenths of her sons wrere
practicallv disfranchised because thev had served the South-
ern Confederacy, and all the conditions of life were new;
their servants were no longer subject to their control, and
most of their property was scattered to the four winds of
heaven. It tested the blood that had come down to them
from Cavalier and Huguenot, from Scotch and Irish ances-
try. The private life of many Georgians, for the first few
years after the war, beggars description; but the energy and
patience of the men and the fortitude of the women rose to
the occasion.
404
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
*"The surrender found a gentle, shrinking, Georgia
woman on the Florida line, nearly four hundred miles from
her once luxurious home, from which she had fled in haste
as Sherman 'marched to the sea.' The husband was with
Gen. Lee in Virginia. The last tidings came from Peters-
burg— before Appomattox — and his fate was uncertain.
"Hiring a dusky driver, with his old army mule and a
wagon, she loaded the latter with the remnant of goods and
chattels that were left to her, and, placing her four children
on top, this brave woman trudged the entire distance on
foot, cheering, guiding and protecting the driver and her
little ones in the tedious journey.
"Under an August sun, through sand and dust she
plodded along, footsore and anxious, until she reached the
dismantled home and restored her little stock of earthly
goods under their former shelter.
"When her soldier husband had walked from Virginia to
Georgia, he found, besides his noble wife and precious chil-
dren, the nucleus of a new start in life, glorified by
woman's courage and fidelity under a most trying ordeal.
"For a twelve-month the exigencies of their situation
deprived her of a decent pair of shoes; still she toiled in the
kitchen, the garden, and, perhaps, the open fields, without a
repining word or complaining murmur. The same mate-
rial is found in a. steel rail as in the watch spring, and the
only difference between the soldier and his wife was physi-
cal strength."
This was no exceptional case. The hardships of Georgia
women were extreme and long-continued.
*Mrs. W. H. Felton in Atlanta Constitution.
405
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
(In October .after the war ended. ;i Convention met in
MilL dgeville to re-establish the State Government, if possi-
ble. While they were in session, the authorities at Wash-
ington sent them a telegram to the effect that the Thir-
teenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States, which was the abolition of slavery, and, also, the
repudiation of the war debt would be deemed essential be-
fore Georgia was recognized as a State. Our people were
honorable in their every instinct, and they made an earnest
protest against the dictation of the Federal Government,
especially in the matter of ignoring the war debt. They
adopted a new Constitution for Georgia, which abolished
slavery, and ordered an election for governor./
During this same month, a very perfect annular eclipse
of the sun was visible in Georgia; a most interesting and
unusual spectacle ! The unobscured part of the sun pre-
sented the appearance of a beautiful luminous ring. The
landscape was veiled in a half twilight, and animals and
fowls appeared uneasy. The chickens, especially, seemed
disturbed, and stood around in the yard irresolute about
going to roost.
In one of our up-country towns a gentleman asked a
privileged old negro if she had been looking at the eclipse.
"Xo, sir," she replied, "I don't waste no time looking at
sich things. It ain't a sarcumstance, nohow, to ole Vir-
ginny, whar I come from. We had better 'clipses than
this, nearly ev'ry week, up dar!"
By the end of December, the required oath had been
taken by most citizens who were permitted to do so, and
they were endeavoring to pursue their daily occupations
in peace, f Georgia also had a governor of her own choos-
406
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
ing, Hon. Charles J. Jenkins, one of her noblest sons; but
he could not be inaugurated without the consent of the
Federal Government. The Legislature then in session
elected Alexander FT. Stephens and Herschel V. Johnson,
United States senators; but neither they nor our repre-
sentatives were allowed to take their seats. Still, Georgia
was paying her proportion of the taxes, and the Federal
Government was guilty of the same wrong (taxation with-
out representation) for which the thirteen colonies had cen-
sured Great Britain and gone to war with her in 1776. \
The President of the United States now proclaimed that
Georgia had adopted the Thirteenth Amendment; but this
State was not a member of the Union, was not represented
in Congress, so her vote could not be legally counted.
Our beloved State had now become a land of memories
which endeared her a thousandfold to the hearts of her
sons and daughters ! "A land without ruins is a land with-
out memories — a land without memories is a land without
liberty. A land that wears a laurel crown may be fair to
see, but twine a few sad cypress leaves around the brow of
any land, and be that land beautiless and bleak, it becomes
lovely in its consecrated coronet of sorrow, and it wins the
sympathy of the heart and history. Crowns of roses fade
— crowns of thorns endure.. Calvaries and crucifixes take
deepest hold of humanity /the triumphs of might are tran-
sient, they pass away and are forgotten : the sufferings of
Right are graven deepest on the chronicles of nations."
407
CHAPTER XLIX.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. (Continued.)
1865—1872.
When the Congress of the United States met in the
winter of 1865-66, the War Party of the Xorth had a
majority in both Houses. They proposed the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Federal Constitution, which would
allow all negroes to vote who were twenty-one years of age
and upward, and at the same time disfranchise hundreds of
thousands of the white men of the South. This amend-
ment also prohibited any Southerner from holding office if,
before the war, he had ever held any position of honor or
trust, State or Federal, from the highest to the lowest.
7 'CD
This act was passed in face of the fact, that in several
Western States negroes were not allowed to vote, and Con-
gress had never presumed to interfere with those States. It
was at this time that these agitators were first called by the
party name of "Radicals."
t Georgia and the other Southern States, emphatically re-
fusing to consider the new amendment, were declared to
be in a state of "rebellion"; so the Reconstruction Com-
mittee of Congress was created, and martial law was pro-
claimed in time of peace. The Constitution gave Congress
no such right, therefore it was a gross usurpation of power.
408
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
The State of Georgia was now wiped out by Act of Con-
gress, and, with Florida and Alabama, was called "District
Number 3.'\ The Federal General Pope, who was put in
command, had absolute power over the life, liberty and
property of our citizens. Elections according to legal form
were abolished whenever it was his desire. A mayor for
Augusta and a sheriff for Bartow county were appointed
by a Federal officer. It was threatened that the University
should be closed, and that the appropriation due it from the
State should be withheld, because one of the students made
a speech at commencement that was considered objection-
able by the Commander of "District Number 3." The
subject of the speech was "The Vital Principles of Nations
— Obedience to Organic Law." This brilliant young man
subsequently served his State as a legislator, and made for
himself an honorable career. Dr. A. A. Lipscomb, the
Chancellor of the University at that time, dissuaded the
Federal officer from executing his threat.
Thus was inaugurated 'a new war. ( Georgia's Constitu-
tion was set aside; Georgia's sons were not allowed to vote;
and the Fourteenth Amendment, under the dictation of the
bayonet, was declared to have been adopted. Georgia was
treated like a conquered province, and proclaimed to be no
longer a member of the Union; and yet, constitutional
amendments were submitted to her as a sovereign State, to
be accepted or rejected. ) The inconsistencies of the Federal
Congress and their usurpations of power from the begin-
ning of the Avar, had been amazing ! And it had been still
more amazing that none of the Northern or Western States
had protested against it !
409
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Warren county was situated in "the black belt"; that is,
it was in a section where the negroes outnumbered the
white people. The Yankee soldiers and the agents of the
Freedmeivs Bureau filled the heads of the negroes with
erroneous ideas, and kept them in a continual ferment.
They were told that they would be the lords of the whole
country in a few years, and were encouraged not to work
for white people. The negroes almost ceased to work, but
they had to live, so petty thieving and other lawlessness in
this county became intolerable.
A fifteen-year-old negro boy went to a gentleman and
asked what he would take for his house, saying he wished
to buy it. The boy meant no insolence and the gentleman
was simply amused. He Avell knew who had confused his
ideas about the rights of property and all other rights.
A mean white man in this countv, who sided with the
Yankees (belonging to the same class who became Tories
in the Revolutionary war), and who had made himself very
obnoxious to all decent people by his incendiary talk, was
one night peppered with bird shot. It could not hurt him,
and was only done to frighten his cowardly soul; but the
whole county was at once put under martial law. For
years a command of Federal soldiers was stationed in \Var-
renton. From time to time both officers and men were
removed, and an entirely new set took their places. It was
feared that, if they remained there too long, they might
learn to like the people and show them some kindness and
sympathy. The life and liberty of every honest white per-
son in the county was at the mercy of the Federal Major
in command.
410
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
These were also trying times for our negroes, who were
constantly being told that their late masters were their
Greatest enemies. There were so many bad influences
brought to bear upon them, the wonder is that more acts
of violence were not committed. Many of the young
negroes had become dissipated and were easy tools in the
hands of the Radicals, but through it all, with compara-
tively few exceptions, the negroes behaved with respect and
decorum towards their owners. Still, petty thieving was
universal, with sometimes a midnight robbery or a murder,
which was traced to negroes under Radical influences.
Later on, when the negroes discovered that these strang-
ers cared nothing for them except to use them as political
tools, it was to their owners that they instinctively turned
for aid and sympathy in misfortune, and they never ap-
pealed in vain. When Georgians again obtained control
of their State Government, they protected the negroes, and
have assisted them from that day to this, in every way possi-
ble.
By this time the agents of the Freedmeivs Bureau had
perpetrated so many outrages against the negroes, that the
United States Congress could no longer ignore their mis-
deeds, so they were removed, and Federal officers were put
in their places in "District Number 3."
LA host of Yankees, either left by the Federal army or
subsequently sent down from the North, now swarmed in
Georgia. They had no permanent habitation here, no in-
terest, no property, no sympathy with us. Their sole pur-
pose was to hold office, get money, and slander our people.
They were called "carpet-baggers," and the penniless
adventurers were called "scalawags.'N
411
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
I Miring this horrible period, which was neither peace nor
war, Benjamin IT. Hill, who had recently been very active
in re-organizing the Democratic party in Georgia, wrote a
series of papers called ".Notes on the Situation/' embodying
arguments of great power against the Reconstruction pol-
icy. These "Xotes" merit the name of "Philippics." In
one of them he thus briefly describes the position of Geor-
gians at this time : "The complying accept, the resolute
reject, none approve, while all despise !"
Gov. Jenkins went to Washington and made a brave
tight for Georgia in the judicial forum, but his eloquence
and the justice of his cause were alike unavailing. His
manly advice to his fellow-citizens in this crisis was, "a firm
but temperate refusal of acquiescence" in any of the Recon-
struction measures. Georgia, as a State, has never counte-
nanced usurpation nor injustice, and she entered her pro-
test now, though her voice was unheeded.
During those days of lawlessness and misrule, a party of
Radicals and Federal soldiers were sent to Elbert countv to
establish a Freedmen's Bureau. The first night after their
arrival, their camp was surrounded, and though no one was
visible, the welkin rang with shouts, hoots, yells and the
snapping of guns and pistols, until it seemed as if pandi-
nionium was turned loose. This deafening noise was kept
up, hour after hour, so that sleep fled from the eyes of the
intruders. Before the break of day the sounds gradually
grew fainter, until they melted away in the woods.
The next day the Radicals left without accomplishing
their purpose, saying they would return with a regiment
of Federal soldiers and burn every house in the countv: but
nothing more was ever heard of them.
412
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
Elbert was the banner county of Georgia during- the
Reconstruction period. K"o Freedmen's Bureau was ever
established there, nor was a single Radical vote cast while
Georgia wras in the power of the Federal Congress.
The reason for this happy state of affairs was that Elbert
county was far from the railroad, and was inhabited by a
people of pure Southern blood, whose lands were not for
sale. Their beautiful plantations had descended from
father to son, for generations — in some instances from the
Colonial period — so there was no alien blood to cause a
division of the people, and Elbert was a unit against Radi-
calism.
In December, 1867, the Congressional Reconstruction
Convention, backed by the military, was in session in At-
lanta. It was composed, with few exceptions, of inferior
white men and negroes. The Convention had been em-
powered to levy a tax to pay its expenses, which shows that
Congress had not intended that the money should be drawn
from the State treasury. However, at the end of two or
three Aveeks, "the poor whites" and the negroes were clamor-
ing for their pay, and the all-absorbing question was how
to obtain the necessary money.
Col. John Jones was the Treasurer of Georgia at that
time. According to the law, in order to draw any State
money, it was first necessary to get a warrant from the Gov-
ernor and then present it to the Treasurer.
The leaders of the bogus Convention finally put their
heads together and passed a resolution instructing the State
Treasurer to pay their agent forty thousand dollars, to de-
fray the expenses of the Convention. In the meantime,
Gen. Pope had been relieved of the command of "District
413
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Number 3," and Gen. Meade put in his place. A copy of
this resolution, indorsed by Gen. Meade, was carried by the
agent to Milledgeville, presented to Col. Jones, and the
money demanded.
The Treasurer politely but firmly replied that he could
not pay out money without an Executive warrant. Hear-
ing this, the agent at once returned to Atlanta, well know-
ing it would be a waste of time to apply to Gov. Jenkins,
who regarded the Convention as an illegal body.
The firm and patriotic stand of Georgia's Governor
caused Gen. Meade considerable embarrassment. He final-
ly sought an interview, in which he asked :
"Do I understand, that you would not. have responded to
the Convention's order for an Executive warrant ?
"Certainlv not !" answered the Governor.
ft/
Gen. Meade then said he regretted the existence of such
a condition of affairs, and asked his reasons for acting as he
was doing in this matter.
Gov. Jenkins promptly replied that, under the Constitu-
tion of Georgia, which he had sworn to support, no funds
could be drawn from the treasury except by an Executive
warrant for an appropriation made by Georgia law. In
this case the legislature had made no appropriation.
Gen. Meade listened to the Governor with profound at-
tention, and admitted that as a citizen he did not materially
differ from him; but as a Federal officer whose duty it was
to enforce the reconstruction measures of Congress, he
would be compelled to remove the Governor if he did not
re-consider his determination. This threat did not in the
least disturb Gov. Jenkins, and he courteously replied that
his decision would never be changed. Gen. Meade said, he
414
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
would give him time to re-consider the matter, and then
took his leave.
In the tempestuous years that followed the surrender
the Confederate soldier was pushed into the background for
a while by the force of circumstances, but he wras very dear
to the heart of Georgia and constituted an undercurrent of
great power in the land. In the first legislature that was
convened after hostilities ceased, a majority of the members
were old citizens of the State, and they voted an appropria-
tion to buy artificial limbs for Georgia's maimed soldiers.
Before the war had been ended a year, Mrs. Mary Ann
Williams, the lady who instituted the "Wayside Homes,"
suggested that the 26th of April, the day on which Gen.
Joseph E. Johnston surrendered, should be set apart annu-
ally to decorate the graves of our gallant Confederate dead.
In her communication to the Press she wrote : "They died
defending the life, honor and happiness of the Southern
women All did their duty and to all we owe
our gratitude. Let the soldiers' graves, for that day at
least, be the Southern Mecca to whose shrine her sorrowing
women, like pilgrims, may annually bring their grateful
hearts and floral offerings."
The idea found ready response in every city, town, vil-
lage and hamlet, not only in Georgia, but throughout the
South; and Memorial Dav became an established custom
and legal holiday in Georgia.
This noble woman received a large share of love and
gratitude from her State, and when she died, eight years
later, she was buried with military honors. Her grave is
decorated every Memorial Day with the same high respect
as if she had been a Confederate soldier.
413
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Georgia's record as a member of the Southern Confed-
eracy will never be forgotten; and "the names and deeds
of her soldiers will live in memory and be perpetuated as
legends, and thus treasured up as themes for song and story,
for ages to come !"
Let the generous youth of Georgia, through whose veins
courses the blood of Confederate heroes, keep their mem-
ories green and emulate their virtues and their patriotism !
416
CHAPTER L.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. (Continued.)
1865—1872.
Georgia's intrepid Governor, Charles J. Jenkins, knew
his duty and dared to perform it in the face of Federal bay-
onets. He issued an order suspending the collection of
the taxes by which the bogus Convention was trying to
raise money, and instructed Col. Jones to conceal the State
funds.
Only a few days after Gen. Meade's visit, the Governor
received a letter from him demanding an Executive warrant
for forty thousand dollars. In his reply, he respectfully
but positively refused to comply with the demand. So
Gen. Meade ordered his removal from the office to which
he had been elected by the people of Georgia, upon the
ground that he denied the validity of the reconstruction
laws.
In a short time after this, Gen. Thomas Ruger, of the
Federal army, called at the Executive Mansion. It was
so evident that he was reluctant to tell the object of his
visit, that Gov. Jenkins met him half way by remarking:
"I have been informed that Gen. Meade has removed me
from office, and appointed you as Provisional Governor, to
assume my duties."
27g 417
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
"That is my business here," said Gen. Ruger, "and I
hope, Governor, that von will offer no resistance."
"Before answering yon," responded the Governor, "per-
mit me to ask you a question. Are you instructed, if neces-
sary 7 to use force to dispossess me of this office ?"
Gen. Ruger's face flushed as he replied : "I am, sir; and
here are my orders."
Gov. Jenkins quietly inspected the document, which was
signed by Gen. Meade, and then made the noble reply
which won for him the title of "Grand old Roman" : "Sir,
you have the army of the United States at your back, and I
can summon not even a respectable police force. I there-
fore elect to bow out to vou, rather than to a file of soldiers
with muskets and bayonets; but I denounce this proceeding
as an outrage upon the rights of this State, and had I an
adequate force I would resist you to the last extremity."
After some further conversation, Gen. Ruger asked why
he had suspended the collection of taxes ordered by the
Convention. Gov. Jenkins declined to render any account
of his official acts to the new Provisional Governor ap-
pointed by the military.
The words used by Gen. Meade in his written order
appointing Gen. Ruger, were that he was "detailed for duty
in the District of Georgia," to be provisional governor.
This base usurpation of State authority on the part of the
Federal Government, in time of peace, is without parallel
in the annals of any government calling itself a republic.
From the Executive Mansion Gen. Kuger hastened to
the office of the Treasurer, but he found only an empty
vault and some old books. As Col. Jones refused to give
any information, an order was issued for his arrest, and a
418
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
new Treasurer was appointed. Gov. Jenkins' order sus-
pending the collection of taxes was at once revoked. The
earnings of the State Koad were also paid to the bogus
Treasurer and used for illegal purposes by the usurping
government.
In the meantime, Gov. Jenkins had hastily arranged, his
affairs and returned to his home in Augusta. The State
funds, the Great Seal of Georgia, and some valuable docu-
ments had been carefully concealed, and never passed into
the hands of the Federals.
Our Governor did not sit idly at home and leave his be-
loved State to her fate, but exhausted every effort to prove
that the reconstruction laws were unconstitutional. Gen.
linger ordered his arrest, but the officials everywhere in
the State disregarded, the order, and made no effort to inter-
fere with his movements; but when our Governor discov-
ered that the Supreme Court of the United States was over-
awed by the Radicals, and redress at that time was impossi-
ble for Georgia's wrongs, he retired with his family to Nova
Scotia.
While Georgia was suffering from the despotism of the
Reconstruction Acts of Congress, the aliens who ruled our
State moved the capital to Atlanta. They hoped that this
change would win North Georgia to their interests, but the
people of that section never for a moment swerved from
their duty. Atlanta had risen, phenix-like, from its ashes,
and was again a flourishing town, with as large a population
as it had possessed before it was burned by Sherman.
It was the policy of the Federals to keep up a semblance
of law, so they now ordered that there should be an election
for governor.
419
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The Radicals, some time before this, not content with
having the Federal Government and army at their back, had
formed a secret society, called the Union League, to influ-
ence elections in the South. Negroes who were notoriously
corrupt, held offices of trust in Georgia^ and ignorant ones
were put on the grand juries and sat in the legislature.
There was absolutely no redress in any legitimate way for
the enormities practiced in our State, and the Ku-klux
Klan sprang into existence, preserving peace and order to
a large extent by playing on the superstitions of the negroes
and the low white people. The name originated from imi-
tating the call of a hen to gather her chickens under her
wings when danger threatens them.
The members of this mysterious Klan were never seen
except at night, and then they were always mounted. They
came and went like phantoms, and the footfall of their
horses never made a sound, as their hoofs were covered with
half-tanned leather, or wrapped in hay which was tied on
with a piece of cloth. It was a dreadful sight to the igno-
rant to see a troop of horsemen all shrouded in black and as
silent as the grave, ride swiftly up to a house, surround it,
gaze at it earnestly, with red, green and blue lights flashing
from their bodies, and then melt awav as silentlv as thev
had come. These masqueraders were always enveloped in
a loose black robe, with a black calico mask that fell down
over the shoulders. On top of this mask was sometimes
worn a grotesque or hideous head-dress. On one occasion
an ingenius Kuklux wore an illuminated skull.
The Kuklux made a powerful impression on the imagi-
nation of the ignorant, which neither time, nor a knowledge
of the means used to frighten people, has been able to en-
tirely eradicate.
420
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
Late one night, a negro who was returning home along
a country road, without having heard a sound to break the
stillness, suddenly found himself by the side of a horseman
who looked to be ten feet in height, lie took off his head,
and in very polite terms asked the negro to hold it while he
arranged his backbone. The face of the negro turned to
an ashy line, and without uttering a word, he disappeared
in the woods.
One of the most awe-inspiring things about the Knklnx
was their amazing swiftness and profound silence. They
rarelv nttered a word, if they could make a sign answer the
purpose. One hot night in midsummer, when the silvery
rays of the full moon were glorifying earth and sky, a soli-
tary Knklnx rode np to a negro's house and demanded a
drink of water. The family dared not refuse it, and one
of them tremblingly carried out a bucket and a dipper. To
the horror of the spectators, the phantom raised the bucket
to his lips and, draining it dry, immediately departed like a
shadow.
Mischief-makers and those who were trying to stir np
the evil passions of the negroes were warned in a hollow
and sepulchral voice to qui: the county. If the offense was
stealing, the rogues were told in some blood-curdling man-
ner that they would have to leave the neighborhood if they
did not behave themselves, and one admonition conveved
in that awful manner was usually sufficient.
The terror with which the negroes regarded the Knklnx
Klan produced some ludicrous mistakes. At this time
Fnion Point was a small country village, divided between
the Baptists and the Methodists. An Episcopal clergy-
man, desiring to have services for the benefit of a few mem-
421
GEORGIA LVNI) AND PEOPLE.
bers of his church who lived in that vicinity, borrowed the
Methodist church for the occasion. His coming created a
great, sensation, as very few of the people had ever heard
the Episcopal service. Curiosity was so strong that the crowd
was increased by quite a large gathering from the country.
The men collected around the church door waiting: for the
minister; and, as was usual in Georgia, a good many
negroes were grouped on the outskirts of the crowd to see
what was going on. Instead of entering the church direct-
ly, the clergyman approached by a back way, that he
might have an opportunity to put on his robe behind the
church. As soon as the negroes caught sight of him com-
ing around the corner of the building, they yelled, "Ku-
klux !" "Kuklux !" and in the twinkling of an eye every
one of them had vanished.
During these evil days, the negroes held the balance of
power in Georgia, and the ballot-box was guarded by Fed-
eral bayonets. It was almost impossible to identify the
average plantation negro, so when the time came for the
gubernatorial election ordered by the Federals, the Radical
manager had snch as he needed transported from one place
to another, and the same negro could cast several votes with-
out much fear of detection.
In spite of all this wickedness, the heroic John B. Gor-
don, who had been put forward by the Democrats, was
undoubtedlv elected, but the office was awarded to a
Radical, Rnfus Bullock, who was a native of the State of
Xew York. Anything that a negro or a Radical would
swear to, was considered legal evidence by the Federals; so,
when the election went Democratic, the Radical manager
of elections, E. Hulbnrt, wrote to one of his agents: 'k\Ve
422
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
want affidavits proving force, fraud and intimidation in
violation of general orders. We must have them, and
plenty of them. Go to work and get them up at once."
AY hen the usurper was inaugurated Governor of Georgia,
Gen. Meade declared military authority at an end; which
simply meant that Federal officers would not be so con-
spicuous as formerly, but would hide the despotism of their
Government with the cloak of so-called law.
Before this election came off, earlv in the summer of
this year of feverish excitement, an illiterate, disreputable
white man, named Ashburn, who lived in a low negro
quarter in Columbus, was one night killed by an unknown
mob. As he was an extreme Radical, and had made in-
cendiary speeches to the negroes, the military at once took
the matter in hand and arrested, upon mere suspicion, some
twenty young men of respectable families. There was no
trial by jury under military despotism, and it was whispered
that the murder was the work of Kuklux. These vouns:
men were carried to Fort Pulaski, which had been con-
verted into a military prison, and there thrust into dungeon-
like cells, whose horrors were scarcely inferior to the Black
Hole of Calcutta. Neither beds nor blankets were allowed
them, and they were tortured by myriads of mosquitoes.
Their rations were fat pork, and beef which was too un-
sound to eat. To each of them was given an old oyster can
in which both soup and coffee were served. They were
denied all communication with their friends. Afterwards,
when they were transferred to the McPherson Barracks, in
Atlanta, the treatment given them was no better.
If there was one thing more than another that a Carpet-
bagger and a Scalawag hated, it was a gentleman, and they
423
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
rejoiced when ho was humiliated and troatod with indig-
nity.
Much cruelty was practiced upon the negro witnesses to
force them to testify against the Columbus prisoners as the
Radicals desired. An instrument of torture was invented,
called the "sweat-box," and put in Fort Pulaski. It was
just large enough to admit the victim, and was arranged
by screws for compression, so that a force could be brought
upon the prisoner sufficient to squeeze the breath out of
him. The box was also provided with a steam apparatus,
connected with it by pipes. By simply turning a faucet,
jets of steam were thrown into it until the heat became
unbearable. Three witnesses suffered this torture, one of
whom was a negro. He, poor soul, cried out in a few min-
utes, that he would swear anything if they would only let
him out of that box.
The torture of prisoners without any sort of trial or any
evidence against them, fired the heart of Georgia for many
vears. and caused it to throb with indignation.
Finallv, when the militarv i>ave wav to the Radical Gov-
ernor, Gen. Meade issued an order adjourning the military
commission that was trying the Columbus prisoners, and
they were turned over to the civil law. Alexander H.
Stephens, Martin J. Crawford, Gen. Benning, and several
other prominent lawyers whom Georgia has delighted to
honor, became counsel for the prisoners. At last, these
innocent young men were released on bond, permitted
to return home, and the matter was dropped.
Under Rufus Bullock, our beloved State was given over
to the hands of carpetbaggers and scalawags, whose con-
duct was more outrageous than ever before. These penni-
424
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
less adventurers heaped injuries and insults upon our peo,-
ple, and robbed the very negroes whom they were using
as an instrument to uphold their power.
When erimes were committed by their followers, means
were always found to exempt them from punishment, while
stories of the brutality of Georgians to their negroes were
industriously manufactured, and sent to the Republicans as
stock in trade for their party. The more hideous the tale,
the more it was relished at the North, and each one was
rolled as a sweet morsel under their tongues.
The acts of the Congress of the United States, each year
after the war ended, justified more and more emphatically
the necessity that was placed upon Georgia to sever her con-
nection with the Federal Union, in order to maintain her
honor and her self-respect, even at the expense of wounds
and desolations and death ! Time, the great Mother of
Truth, will vindicate the position of our State.
425
CHAPTER LI.
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD. (Concluded.)
1865 — 1872.
The State Democratic Convention and the Legislature
both met in Atlanta in July, 1868. Many of our leading
public men were there, and it was thought to be a suitable
occasion for a political mass-meeting. About twenty thou-
sand Georgians gathered on that memorable occasion, which
witnessed the largest mass-meeting ever before held in our
State. To accommodate the crowd, an immense bush arbor
was erected in what was then a large, open space on Ala-
bama street. The four orators were Gen. Howell Cobb,
Gen. Robert Toombs, Hon. Benjamin II. Hill, and Col.
Raphael J. Moses. They hurled their anathemas against
the Reconstruction Acts, in fiery addresses that were after-
wards called the "Bush Arbor Speeches." Mr. Hill had
already revived the drooping spirits of the Democracy by
the trumpet blast of his "Notes on the Situation," and men
were eager to hear Avhat further message he had for them.
He came grandly to the front, and displayed his splendid
eloquence in denouncing the usurpation of power by the
Federal Congress.
Although it was a hot summer day and the hard plank
benches in the arbor were uncomfortable to the last degree,
they were closely packed. Georgians sat there for five
426
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
hours, unconscious of the lapse of time, as they enthusiasti-
cally listened to the burning eloquence of. those speakers,
and overwhelmed them with applause whenever they gave
the Reconstructionists a hard thrust. It was noted that
among the audience were many ladies, who hung with rapt
attention upon the words of the orators.
There had never been in Georgia an era of more uni-
versal excitement than the present. The Legislature which
was now in session was not entirely under Radical influ-
ence, and a vote of the majority expelled the ineligible
negroes who had been seated. This action put the
bogus Governor, the other Radicals in Georgia, and the
United States Congress in a ferment. The Reconstruction
Committee sat, and, bv the next year, Georgia was declared
to be in a state of rebellion and was again put under mili-
tary rule.
October 9th, 1868, four days after the Legislature
adjourned, Gen. Howell Cobb died of heart disease in New
York City. The suddenness of his death was a great shock
to our whole State, where he had so long been loved and
honored. Georgia mourned him as a favorite son, for
he had always defended her with sword, pen, and elo-
quent tongue. He was comparatively a young man when
he was first elected to the Congress of the United States,
but he soon took a high position among the leaders of his
party, and eventually, as a statesman, became one of the
political lights of America.
Again, in 1869, with glaring inconsistency, Georgia was
called upon to ratify another Constitutional Amendment,
the Fifteenth, by which negroes could hold office; yet it was
declared bv the Federal Congress that Georgia was not a
State.
427
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
It was the policy of the Radicals to imbitter Georgians
and their negroes, but in this unholy design they never
succeeded to any appreciable extent. Still, they continu-
ally made the effort, and "the Southern outrages" weapon
was freely used, the bogus Governor giving his official sanc-
tion to the slanders.
The Federal General, Terry, was now in command in
Georgia; but Rufus Bullock, without an}' authority, issued
a proclamation calling the legislature to assemble, and
signed himself "Provisional Governor," though he had not
received that appointment from Congress. The Legisla-
ture which convened under these circumstances, in Janu-
ary, 1870, was a parody on government. The Radical,
Benjamin Conley, who was President of the Senate, said
in his address to that bodv: "The Government has deter-
mined that in this republic — which is not, never was, and
never can be a democracy — that in this republic, Republi-
cans shall rule."
A Federal officer sending his orders to the House of
Representatives that such and such members could not be
seated, was one of the strange acts now witnessed. The
arbitrary measures and lawlessness of this body of men
were an outrage on decency, and many disgraceful scenes
occurred. Democrats were turned out and negroes seated,
for no other reason than that the Radicals so willed it. A
Democratic senator was not allowed to take his seat, be-
cause he had sold beef to Confederate soldiers. Things
went from bad to worse until the bogus Governor obtained
entire control of the Legislature, and all honest Republi-
cans were disgusted with their own work. Afterwards, a
Republican from Georgia, in a speech before the United
428
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
States Senate, thus spoke of this legislature: "Men looked
amazed and aghast. If there ever were Kuklux in Geor-
gia, it occurred to me that this was about the time they
ought to have shown themselves — when a stranger, a man
wholly a Granger to the Legislature, and almost to the
whole people of the State, appeared there and occupied the
chair of the Speaker, thundering out his edicts to the rep-
resentatives of the people, ordering them to disperse and
begone to their homes, adjourning them at his pleasure and
calling them back when he pleased, and these obedient ser-
vants of the people going and doing his behests! AVhy,
sir, the scene was pitiable !"
The aliens who were now running the State Government
were guilty of a frightful degree of fraud in every depart-
ment. Corruption ran rampant, and they tried to drag
this grand old State to the lowest depths of degradation by
publishing to the world that it was ravaged by the Kuklux
Klan. To give some color to the tale, a number of citizens
from North Georgia had been dragged from their homes
and humiliated by imprisonment in Atlanta. An exami-
nation showed not a vestige of evidence against them, and
they had to be released.
Backed by United States bayonets, and with their
hands up to the elbows in the treasury of Georgia, the
Carpetbaggers squandered money for bribes, for private
entertainments, for personal aggrandizement and ambition,
and Georgia people had to foot the bills — their enemies, in
triumph, gloating over their defenseless condition.
While these disgraceful scenes were being enacted in our
beloved State, Georgia's Governor was an exile, and her
429
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
s< >ns could only look on with horror at the misdeeds of the
men in power. They had no alternative but to adopt the
Fabian policy of watching and waiting.
At length, the evil conduct and mismanagement of the
( arpetbaggers in control, became so notorious that the
Federal Congress was forced to investigate the matter.
The corruption of Rufus Bullock was proved, but he was
not deprived of his power — only a vote of censure being
passed upon him.
In the summer of this year, the Democrats held a Con-
vention in Atlanta. Gen. Alfred II. Colquitt, who had illus-
trated Georgia on the battle-fields of two States, was elected
President. Many prominent Georgians who had taken no
active part in public affairs since the war, appeared in this
Convention, the object of which was to consolidate party
elements in opposition to the rule of Carpetbaggers. There
were now, as always, shades of political difference among
Georgians, but they all called themselves Democrats in
their fight with the Republicans. Standing squarely upon
the old platform of the sovereignty of the State, the mem-
bers of the Convention invited all Georgians to unite with
them in a zealous effort to change the usurping and corrupt
administration of the State Government. When the elec-
tions came off in the fall, in spite of the military guards at
the polls to influence votes, the Democratic majority was
large.
While this canvass was in progress, the illustrious Con-
federate General, Robert E. Lee, died. Georgia shared
the profound grief felt by the whole South at the loss of
this renowned chieftain, and paid appropriate honors to
his memory. In Savannah, when the sad news was known
430
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
the performances were discontinued at several places of
amusement, and the audiences sadly dispersed to their
homes. It was in this city that Gen. Lee performed his first
military service, when he was a young lieutenant of engi-
neers, just graduated from AVest Point; and again, in the
war between the States, the "Forest City" was his home
while he was commander of the defenses on the Southern
coast.
As soon as the Republicans learned the results of the fall
elections they pronounced them illegal. The 8th Con-
gressional District, which Alexander H. Stephens had ren-
dered famous, was declared to be in a state of rebellion and
put under martial law. Linton Stephens, ex-justice of
the Supreme Court of Georgia, was ordered to be arrested.
He had been very prominent in the Democratic Conven-
tion, and also in organizing the elections throughout the
State, and had especially taken an active part in preventing
illegal voting in Sparta, where he resided. He voluntarily
answered to the warrant without arrest, as soon as he heard
of the order.
He was carried before Commissioner Swayze, a Federal
Carpetbag officer at Macon. The speech in which he made
his defense was matchless. "The wealth of all forensic
literature may be searched in vain for a performance that
surpasses it in point of genuine manliness, civil courage,
nervous English and the eloquence of patriotic fervor, or
cogent, compact, red-hot logic.'7 This remarkable speech
ended with these patriotic words: "If angry power de-
mands a sacrifice from those who have thwarted its fraudu-
lent purposes, I feel honored, sir, in being selected as the
victim. If my suffering could arouse my countrymen to a
431
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
just and lofty indignation against the despotism which, in
attacking me, is but assailing law, order and constitutional
government, I would not shrink from the sacrifice, though
my blood should be required instead of my liberty !"
Judge Stephens was dismissed under bond, to appear
before the next Federal court in Savannah. At this term
of the court the indictment was ignored by the grand jury
and nothing more was ever heard of the matter.
The Carpetbaggers, who were still in power, saw that
the Georgians were surely, even though slowly, getting con-
trol. A Democratic victory meant an inquiry into their
mismanagement. Knowing that their acts would not bear
investigation, they stuck together and made one last desper-
ate effort to keep in power. Their most effective weapons
in the fight were still "Southern outrages" and "the horrors
of the Kuklux Klan," that ''band of secret assassins." It
certainly was not a good showing for the Federal Govern-
ment, nor for the Carpetbaggers, with unlimited power,
and the United States armv at their back, that none of these
criminals were ever caught and Drought to justice. Does
it not prove that the "Slander-mill" was but another politi-
cal machine of the Republican party?
While these events were progressing, and the Republican
edifice in Georgia — which had been erected on such a false
foundation — was toppling to its ruin, the bogus Governor,
with great secrecy, resigned, turning over his office to one
of his confederates, Benjamin Conley. He then fled from
the State, a fugitive from justice. It was seven days after
his flight before it was known to the public, and then he
was beyond pursuit. It must be borne in mind that none
of the official acts of this usurper were legal.
432
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
An investigation of State affairs showed an unparalleled
degree of corruption, and that Georgia had been saddled
with an enormous debt. The incredible sum of two mil-
lion dollars was spent in one year upon the State Road
alone. The Carpetbagger, Foster Blodgett, was superin-
tendent of the Road, and he used it to advance Radical
power. Over a thousand names of officers appeared upon
its pay-roll, many of whom had never rendered any service
whatever; they were simply political employees, retained
to assist in keeping the Carpetbaggers in power, and they
had lived off the people whom they so vilely oppressed.
When the legislature met and was organized, James M.
Smith, a gallant Georgia Colonel in the war between the
States, was chosen Speaker of the House. Benjamin Con-
ley, who was playing the role of Governor, should have
resigned — according to law — as his term as President of
the Senate had expired, but he refused to do so. With
wonderful patience, the Democrats in the legislature de-
clined to wrangle over the matter, but left it to the people
of Georgia to decide by calling an election for Governor, to*
be held during the following December. Col. James M.
Smith was put forward by the Democrats and elected. He
had no opposition. The Republicans, with the odium upon
them of the rascalities of carpetbag government, nomi-
nated one of their number, James Atkins, but he declined
to make the canvass.
For years Georgia had been groaning under woes and
insults innumerable — had been ruled by foreigners hostile
to her interests — but she had grappled bravely with Radical-
ism and fought it whenever opportunity offered. Three
times had civil law been set aside in this State and martial
28g 433
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
law imposed upon it; seven times had the President and the
Congress of the United States bent their energies to keep
this impoverished commonwealth in the condition of a con-
quered province; but this had been impossible, and once
again Georgia was under the control of her own sons.
James M. Smith, the successor of Gov. Jenkins, was inau-
gurated January 12th, 1872, amid universal rejoicing. It
will be noted that when the Confederate soldiers were
allowed to vote, they rallied to the rescue of their beloved
State and delivered it from Carpetbaggers, Scalawags and
bavonet rule.
These aliens left Georgia without funds with which to
carry on the Government, and without credit. In this
emergency, Gen. Toombs and some other gentlemen sup-
plied the necessary money until taxes were collected.
When Georgia was redeemed from military despotism,
Gov. Jenkins returned from his exile. A full and just
account of the State funds was rendered, and the Great
Seal and the valuable documents were returned. The
letter of the "grand old Roman" to Gov. Smith concluded
as follows: "The removal of the books and papers was
simply a cautionary measure for my own protection. Not
so with the Seal. That was a svmbol of the Executive
authority, and although devoid of intrinsic material value,
was hallowed by a sentiment which forbade its surrender
to unauthorized hands.
"Afterwards, whilst I was in Washington vainly seeking
the interposition of the Supreme Court, a formal, written
demand was made upon me by Gen. Ruger for a return of
these articles, with which I declined to comply.
"The books and papers I herewith transmit to your Ex-
434
RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
cellency, that they may resume their places among the
archives of the State. With them I also deliver to you
the Seal of the Executive Department. I derive high satis-
faction from the reflection that it has never been desecrated
by the grasp of a military usurper's hand, never been pros-
tituted to authenticate official misdeeds of an upstart pre-
tender. Unpolluted as it came to me, J gladly place it in
the hands of a worthy son of Georgia, her freely chosen
Executive, my first legitimate successor."
The courage and integrity of Gov. Jenkins were fully
appreciated by the legislature then in session, and they
enthusiastically endorsed his conduct in a series of resolu-
tions; a fac-simile of the Great Seal, wrought in solid
gold, was presented to him in the name of the grateful peo-
ple whose rights he had so bravely defended. The gold
seal had the words "In Arduis Fidelis" engraved upon its
face. Words were never more descriptive of character,
and to-day they are carved upon his monument.
Gov. Jenkins was nearly seventy years of age when he
received this testimonial from Georgia. In accepting it, he
said : "I would not exchange it for star or garter, or other
badge of knighthood — nor yet for highest patent of nobility
ever bestowed by king upon subject."
As Judge of the Supreme Court and Governor of Geor-
gia his record was bright and stainless, and the annals of
Greece and Home can show no finer example of matchless
fidelity ! One of the most glorious chapters in the history
of this proud commonwealth, is the fearless patriotism of
Charles J. Jenkins, the hero of the reconstruction period.
435
CHAPTER LII.
BEBUILDING THE STATE.
1872—1880.
It must awaken a feeling of pride in the heart of every
Georgian to read the story of how the people of this com-
monwealth, with unbroken spirits, undaunted courage and
imperishable hope, passed through that terrible crucible of
misfortune, when the attempt was made to wrest their desti-
nies from their control, when there was no protection of
property or security of person in this State, and when its
very name was blotted out by Act of Congress. It has
been lecorded how bravely they breasted the tide of adver-
sitv, until their efforts were crowned with success and they
had established the rights, the honor and the dignity of
Georgia. All her true sons rallied to the standard that had
GEORGIA emblazoned upon it? folds. Above their sup-
port of one man or opposition to another, arose their devo-
tion to this commonwealth. Thus, in the hour of her bitter
trial was our beloved State more fortunate than that great
republic of antiquity, of which in a momentous crisis it was
so truly said : "There was a party for Csesar, a party for
Pompey and a party for Brutus, but no party for Rome!"
Georgia had lost nearly half the accumulated capital of
a century; but her sons and daughters had gone bravely to
436
REBUILDING THE STATE.
work to rebuild the waste places, which once more were be-
ginning to blossom like the rose. Even in the midst of her
poverty, educational interests were not neglected, and the
mint at Dahlonega had become the Xorth Georgia Agricul-
tural College.
The rights of a sovereign State were now conceded to
Georgia by the Federal Government; but it will be noted
that the Constitution of the United States, as framed by our
forefathers, had been materially changed, and union by
consent, as far as Georgia was concerned, had ceased to
exist.
It was about this time that the Legislature elected Gen.
John B. Gordon to the United States Senate, The interest
in his election was so great, that the galleries were crowded,
and, when the result was announced, there was the wildest
enthusiasm. Thus did Georgia delight to honor the Con-
federate soldier ! In the Senate he was soon recognized as
an eloquent and leading member of the Democratic party.
At the same time, Alexander II. Stephens, after an ab-
sence of thirteen years, took his seat in the Federal Con-
gress as Representative. He was elected and re-elected, un-
til at length he became popularly known as the "Great
Commoner." On one occasion, when he was a candidate
for re-election, an impatient constituent asked :
"What are you doing in Congress, anyway? "We don't
see much use in sending you back, as it seems, when you
are there, you can't do anything for us."
Mr. Stephens' wonderful patience was a marked char-
acteristic, and his great heart always beat in sympathy with
his people, so he replied mildly : "My friend, I don't ask
your suffrage for what I have done, but for what I have
kept the Republicans from doing."
437
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
The first reunion of Confederate soldiers ever held was
by the Third Georgia Regiment, at Union Point, in the
summer of 1874. It was at the suggestion of Capt. C. H.
Andrews and his comrades of Company D. The object
was simply to renew a comradeship formed amid the stern
realities of war, and to perpetuate the glorious record of a
regiment whose battle-flag was never touched by hostile
hands, though the Third Georgia participated in every im-
portant engagement of the army of Northern Virginia,
from Malvern Hill to Appomattox.
Union Point offered her fair grounds for the occasion,
and tendered the veterans the hospitality of the village,
giving them a grand banquet. The old regimental flag,
pierced and torn, but never surrendered, was stretched
across the stage where the orators of the day were seated.
Claiborne Snead, of Augusta, the surviving Colonel, deliv-
ered a glowing address which evinced great patriotism and
expressed much pride in his regiment.
Following the example of the 3d Georgia, reunions
soon became general all over the South. As the central
purpose of each organization was historical, their meetings
have kept history from being falsified.
That Georgia loves her old soldiers is shown bv the fact
that she is the only State that has provided pensions for
their widows, and that all disabled soldiers can do business
within her boundaries without paying such license as the
law may require of other persons. Here, "young and old
venerate the heroic memories of the Confederate struggle
for independence, and children's children will learn with
their earliest breath to lisp the names of the great chief-
tains of the South, and with their youngest emotions to
admire and emulate their illustrious examples."
438
KEBUILPING THE STATE.
Gov. James M. Smith, formerly Colonel of the 13th
Georgia Kegiment, after doing good service for the State
at a critical period, was now succeeded by Gen. Alfred H.
Colquitt. Such was the enthusiasm created by the nomi-
nation of this distinguished Confederate soldier, that it
swept over the State like a tidal wave, and he was given the
largest majority ever polled in Georgia.
This was the year to elect a President of the United
States, and the same great majority was given in Georgia
to the Democratic candidate. Some Democratic clubs in
Texas had challenged any State to show a larger majority
than their commonwealth; Georgia won the trophy, which
was a magnificent silk banner.
When Georgia's sons had freed her from military rule,
true to their traditional generosity, they turned to help
South Carolina and Louisiana when they were groaning
under the heel of the despot. Gen. John B. Gordon, in
the United States Senate, spoke bravely for South Carolina
when she was misrepresented by her slanderers. He ren-
dered so many other important services to that State, that
the ladies of Columbia presented him with a testimonial of
their appreciation. It was a sterling silver baptismal font
for his youngest born, whom he had named Carolina. It
was made in a novel but beautiful shape, having on one
side the arms of South Carolina, and on the other side those
of Georgia, with appropriate inscriptions.
The people of Georgia now began to discuss the pro-
priety of calling a Convention to frame a new Constitution,
as they were unwilling to live under the one that had been
adopted at the dictation of Federal bayonets.
439
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
In July, 1877, there assembled in Atlanta the ablest
body of men that had met in Georgia since the Secession
Convention. This Convention was composed of some of
the strongest and best men in our State, among whom were
seventeen judges. There was a strong representation of
the old men who had served Georgia both before and dur-
ing the war. The President of the Convention was Ex-
Gov. Jenkins, now over seventy years of age. The young
members were in perfect sympathy with the old men ; they
all worked together for the good of the State, and framed
and adopted the present Constitution of Georgia. Gen.
Toombs was one of the leading spirits in the Convention.
He inaugurated the Railroad Commission law, and left his
impress in other ways upon the new Constitution. This
instrument, framed by the free will of Georgia people, pro-
hibits any increase of the public debt or any use of the peo-
ple's money except for State Government.
This Convention finally disposed of the question of cer-
tain fraudulent bonds which the Radicals had saddled upon
Georgia. Agreeing with the Supreme Court and the
Legislature, that Georgia could make no compromise with
corruption, they declared the bogus bouds to be null and
void.
The bankers in ~New York City who were identified with
Bullock and Kimball in their financial operations in Geor-
gia, misrepresented the facts and slandered our State
through the Press to suppress any investigations, but they
did not succeed. Georgia insisted on a careful inquiry
into the facts, for the bonds were either legal or fraudulent,
and she was determined to have the truth. When they
were proved beyond all question to be fraudulent, Georgia
440
KEBUILDING THE STATE.
stoutly refused to shoulder a contract of bayonet and Car-
petbag usurpation. While the validity of the bonds was
being tried by the Court, Rufus Bullock did not appear
to give his evidence for their solvency. Why did he not
come forward, stand his trial, and tell the court what he
knew about the matter, or protest against their verdict?
He thought it more prudent to remain still in a distant
State and keep in hiding from the just indignation of Geor-
gians.
When the bogus bonds were first issued, Gen. Toombs,
in his uncompromising war upon them, said with prophetic
ken that the day would come when "we will adopt a new
Constitution with a clause repudiating these bonds, and like
Etna spew the monstrous frauds out of the market" ; after
many days, the joyous time had arrived, and Georgia did,
indeed, renounce the contract made by bayonet usurpation
rather than by the act of her people.
When the Convention was in the midst of its labors, and
while there was yet much to be done, the money appro-
priated by the Legislature for their expenses was ex-
hausted. In this crisis, Gen. Toombs furnished the neces-
sary funds from his private purse. Every man in the Con-
vention rose to his feet to vote him thanks. Of all that
assembly, he alone remained seated, covering his face with
his hands to hide the tears that started to his eyes at this
quick recognition of his patriotism.
When the new Constitution was submitted to a vote of
the people, it was overwhelmingly adopted. At the same
time, the question was left to the people what town should
be the capital. There was quite a lively contest between
Milledgeville and Atlanta. The latter received a majority
441
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
of the votes and so became legally the capital of Georgia.
Since that time, the city has continued to grow and prosper
with marvellous rapidity.
Later on, the old State-House and grounds at Milledge-
ville were turned over to the Trustees of the University for
the purpose of establishing a branch college for Middle-
Georgia, which is now a large and prosperous institution.
The Legislature which met this year elected Hon. Ben-
jamin H. Hill to the United States Senate. He had been
a representative for two years; he had also served in the
Confederate Senate during the whole period of the war
between the States, and had acquired honor and distinction
in both bodies. He continued in the United States Senate
until his death. It was said of him that "upon his lips had
the mystic bee dropped the honey of persuasion." He was
emphatically a Georgian, and if honey hung upon his lips,
Georgia bees gathered it from her own flowers and hoarded
it there.
As this period drew to a close, Georgia was occupied with
the full restoration of her material resources and financial
position, in which she met with signal success.
442
CHAPTER LIII.
REBUILDING THE STATE. (Continued.)
1880—1890.
Georgia now began to make some progress towards a per-
manent prosperity, in spite of the fact that she was paying
annually five million dollars as her share of the war
tax exacted by the Federal Government, not one cent of
which was distributed within her borders, and much of
which was used to pay pensions to the Federal soldiers who
had invaded her territory and destroyed her property.
Firm in her self-reliance, Georgia could afford to wait
for justice. The war had retarded her enterprises for full
fifty years, but her manufacturing interests were building
up in all parts of the State, and commerce was flourishing.
She had fine public schools in every county, with Dr. Gus-
tavus J. Orr, a man of ability and character, as State School
Commissioner; she had a continually extending railroad
system, and her valuable mines were being developed. All
this was the work of Georgia people, proud of the resources
of their State and true to her historic traditions.
Our negroes have saved Georgia from an influx of the
laboring classes of Europe, who are unwilling to compete
with them. Thus, immigration is so slow that the strangers
who settle here become Georgians, instead of our State
being dominated by foreign customs and foreign ideas, and
Georgia land is saved for Georgia people.
443
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
In the first year of this decade, Gen. Colquitt made his
second race for Governor. Some of his acts as Executive
had been so unpopular that he encountered much opposi-
tion. One of the issues raised against him was that he had
appointed ex-Gov. Joseph E. Brown to fill the unexpired
term of Gen. John B. Gordon, who had resigned his seat
"in the United States Senate.
Many of our leading men were engaged in this guber-
natorial campaign, which was heated and bitter. Gen.
Henry R. Jackson, who had taken no part in politics since
the war, came forward noAv and threw the whole weight of
"his high character, poetic diction and matchless eloquence
into the scale for Colquitt. Gov. Colquitt was re-elected
by a handsome majority, and the legislature endorsed his
-course by returning Gov. Brown to the United States Sen-
ate.
This legislature also elected James Jackson (who was
one of the associate justices) Chief -Justice of the Supreme
Court. He had made a fine record before the war between
the States, both as judge of the Superior Court and member
■of Congress. Very fond of the law, with a vigorous intellect,
a large, sympathetic heart and clean hands, he was emi-
nently fitted to wear the ermine.
He was a grandson of that illustrious James Jackson
who was a general in the Revolutionary war, who had a seat
in the United States Senate when it was an honor to be
there, who assisted in exposing the Yazoo fraud, and who
was once Governor of this great State. So, by right of
inheritance, Chief-Justice Jackson loved justice and hated
fraud and deceit. In his decisions he employed feeling
.-as well as thought. "It is perhaps not unusual to find men
444
REBUILDING THE STATE.
with great power of mind associated with defective moral
powers, or to find men of great power of feeling associated
with weakness of intellect; but here were strength of mind-
and moral stamina together. Thus equipped, thus armed,
lie did his work with skill, fidelity and power." «It is an
onerous and responsible position to be the head of the ad-
ministration of Georgia's laws, but the new Chief -Justice'
filled the place with eminent success. May his spotless-
character be an enduring example for his young country-
men !
In October, 1881, Georgia became prominent before the
world in the International Cotton Exposition, which was
held for three months in Atlanta, a city, at that time, with
less than fifty thousand inhabitants. This was the first
great exposition ever held in the South.
The site selected for the buildings became known as-
Oglethorpe Park, a beautiful piece of ground at a conven-
ient distance from the city. The "main building" was in-
the shape of a Greek cross, with wings; it was constructed'
as a model cotton factory without any ornamentation or
elaborate finish, but simply showing an edifice adapted to>
manufacturing cotton in the South. There were several;
other large buildings, so that the exhibits covered twenty
acres of floor space.
Cotton-seed were obtained from all parts of the world
where the plant flourishes — from Asia, Africa and the isles
of the sea — so that the royal staple that clothes the world
could be seen in all stages of its culture in well-arranged'
plats. The foreign plants, preserving their peculiar char-
acteristics,, grew side by side with Georgia cottom.
445-
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Experiments showed that the South was the favored
home of this plant "whose growth is the idyllic poem of
our people, and its mature existence a system of political
economy. It is the source of the hoarse shout of the steam
engine ; it is the melody of the soft song of the spindle and
loom; it is the fairy of the waterfall; it is warmth, it is
comfort, it is beauty. It is the pride of our fields, the
source of our wealth, the king of our commerce."
Bags, bales and packages of cotton from foreign coun-
tries were exhibited, showing how the natives prepared it
for market. There was also a truly wonderful display of
every kind of machinery used in manufacturing cotton.
Distant States sent fine specimens of their woods, minerals
and agricultural products; and there were also exhibits of
the commerce and manufactures of the world. Every-
thing that could be raised on a Georgia plantation was
there, with woods from our forests and ores from our mines.
Erom the gold belt of our State was shown the precious
metal — in combination, free gold, and nuggets — with the
machinery used in extracting it.
The Exposition was opened with most imposing cere-
monies in the presence of an immense crowd. When it was
presented to the public, Georgia's Governor, Alfred H.
Colquitt, formally received it in a short, but eloquent
address.
Ex-Gov. Vance, of North Carolina, at this time a United
States Senator, delivered the speech of welcome, in which
he thus referred to the recuperative power of Georgia and
the other Southern States: "To every one present or to
come, we extend a southern welcome, warm as our sun-
shint, and bid him behold what can be done by a land
446
REBUILDING THE STATE.
whose fields were but yesterday 'kneaded into bloody sods
by the maddening wheels of artillery/ whose beasts of bur-
den were swept away by devastating armies, whose noblest
sons were slaughtered in battle, whose homes were burned
with fire and whose governments have passed through an
era of corruption worse than anarchy. "We invite you with
pride to witness these conclusive tests of the genial nature
of our climate, the fertility of our soil, the energy of our
people, the conservative vitality of our political institutions;
in short, wre invite you to see that we have renewed our
youth at the fountains of industry and found the hills of
gold in the energies of an imperishable race."
The ceremonies were appropriately closed with a poem
written by Paul Hamilton Hayne. Then the big Corliss
engine began to throb, the machinery to move, and the first
Cotton Exposition of the world was opened.
Among the Southern States, Georgia ranks second in
raising cotton, and, after New Orleans, Savannah is the
largest cotton market in the world; so the Exposition was
a great event in Georgia's history, and it gave considerable
impetus to her prosperity. After the fair was over, the
buildings were utilized as a cotton factory, the name of
which, Exposition Mills, tells the tale of its origin.
As Gov. Colquitt's administration drew to a close, white-
winged Peace and smiling Prosperity rested upon Georgia's
broad domain, and her sons were enjoying the fruits of their
labors. But a loss that Georgia could ill afford at this
time, soon cast its dark shadow over the whole State.
In the solemn stillness of the early dawn of an August
day, Hon. Benjamin H. Hill died after a long and distress-
ing illness. Gov. Colquitt ordered the capitol to be draped
447
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
in mourning and the flag to be displayed at half-mast. On
the day of the funeral business was suspended in our cities
and towns, and to the tolling of church bells the citizens
gathered to give expression 10 their sorrow. In Atlanta,
his home at the time of his death, private houses as well
as the public buildings wore the insignia of mourning.
Thousands came from every part of the State to participate
in the last sad rites, and the streets were thronged with a
sorrowful multitude.
As patriot and statesman, Benjamin Harvey Hill was
the peer of Crawford, Troup, Forsyth and Berrien. Geor-
gia guards his ashes well, and his fame is among her proud-
est treasures. Friend and foe paid beautiful tributes to his
splendid intellect and superb oratory. As eulogies were
pronounced over him, the story of his fame rehearsed, and
tender farewell words were spoken, he received no higher
praise than the simple statement : aHe loved Georgia."
Soon after the death of "Ben Hill," as his admirers loved
to call him, a movement was begun by the people of Geor-
gia to erect to his memory a monument which should stand
in the capital of the State. The necessary funds were to be
raised by very small contributions, so that every citizen
might have the privilege of contributing. A gentleman,
remarking that to give to the Hill monument was a pleasure
which he wished all his family to share, suggested that each
of his children should give twenty-five cents, and each of
his negroes ten cents, which was cheerfully done. This
incident illustrates the universal feeling of the State in this
matter.
When the legislature met in the fall of 1882, Gov. Col-
quitt's term having expired, he was sent to the United
448
REBUILDING THE STATE.
States Senate. Alexander II. Stephens, "the sage of Lib-
erty Hall" — now passed his seventieth year — was his suc-
cessor. He resigned his seat in Congress to accept the
nomination for Governor, and was elected by a majority of
sixty thousand.
Since the capital had been changed to Atlanta, a build-
ing known as Kimball's Opera House had been used as a
State-House, and it was called the capitol. There the oath
of office was administered to Gov. Stephens by Chief
Justice James Jackson, in the presence of the legislature
in joint session. Gov. Colquitt, the State-House officers,
Justices, Gen. Toombs, and a part of Georgia's delegation
to the United States Congress were on the stage, and a
large audience in the galleries. Gov. Stephens received
the Great Seal of the State, around which heroic memories
now clustered, and delivered it to Secretary of State Bar-
nett. The new Governor's inaugural address was a mas-
terly appeal for the maintenance of State's Rights.
As a part of the ceremonial the band played "Dixie."
It had now become an established custom in Georgia, that
this national air of the South should be given at least once
on all public occasions.
In his private and political character Gov. Stephens was
a model of purity, and his genius shown like a planet
with steady rays. He had served Georgia since his
earlv manhood; and when he became her Chief Magistrate
he threw his whole heart into the office, never neglecting
the smallest detail that should demand his attention. Few
public men have loved Georgia and her people so ardently.
Education was a subject that deeply interested him, and for
years he had at his private expense kept a number of young
men at school.
29g 449
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
To foster education has ever been one of the distin-
guishing characteristics of our people. The land is dotted
with altars dedicated to learning. Our chief gala' days
have always been the annual commencements. On these
occasions, the statesman, the lawyer, the planter, the divine,
the physician, the journalist, the teacher, the merchant, the
mechanic, the old and the young crowd the academic halls.
This devotion to knowledge is one of the germs of Georgia's
greatness. How much nobler are such festive occasions
than the Olympic games of Greece and the gladiatorial
contests of Rome !
O, young Georgians, "knowledge is power''; but intelli-
gence without virtue and patriotism can never lead to the
highest individual development, nor place your State upon
that lofty pinnacle of fame for which all her true sons are
striving ! jj
450
CHAPTER LIV.
REBUILDING THE STATE. (Continued.)
1880—1890.
While Alexander H. Stephens was Governor, the 150th
anniversary of the settlement of Georgia drew near, and
it was decided to celebrate the day in a manner worthy of
the State.
Historic Savannah, the birthplace of the colony destined
to become a mighty sovereign State, was selected to be the
scene of the festivities. This city was the home of a race
antedating the Indians; here Tomo-chi-chi and Oglethorpe
passed through the streets in friendly converse; here "Lib-
erty boys" and "Red Coats" rushed together in deadly con-
flict; and here Confederate heroes for four years kept the
Federal fleet at bay, until at last, from the land side, the
"Blue coats" seized the nest after the eagle had flown.
Savannah was for two days given up to this anniversary,
which is called the Sesqui-centennial. The principal
streets were elaborately decorated, and there was a splendid
military pageant, with Col. C. W. Anderson, grand mar-
shal. There were civil processions, too, and flags and
banners, and fireworks and banquets. The city was1
crowded with visitors, as children gathering to celebrate
their mother's natal day. The most unique feature of the
occasion was a realistic representation of the landing of
Oglethorpe and his reception by the Yamacraws.
451
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
A perfect mass of humanity watched with intense inter-
est as a small vessel — symbolical of the Anne, on which .
Oglethorpe and the colonists arrived one hundred and fifty
years before — came slowly up the river; as it passed the city
front to the landing place it was greeted with the wildest
enthusiasm. When the voyagers stepped ashore they were
received by Tomo-ehi-chi, a medicine man, Mary Musgrove,
and other prominent Indians of the tribe. Then, forming
in procession under the escort of the Savannah cadets, and
headed by a band of music, they all marched to the stand
which had been erected for them, and upon which the
splendid pageant was arranged. Oglethorpe made a speech
to "my brother, Tomo-chi-chi," and the Mico responded
in fitting words of welcome. This spectacle merited and
received great applause.
In the midst of all the fine sights that the patriotism of
Savannah had prepared in honor of this anniversary, the
most prominent object of interest was Gov. Stephens.
Every one tried to get a peep at this illustrious man, who
had so long been honorably identified with the history of
Georgia. As he stepped from the train on his arrival in
the city, his reception had been an enthusiastic ovation.
His special escort, the gallant "Georgia Hussars/' in fine
uniforms and mounted on superb horses, gave tone and
dignity to the welcome.
He was the orator of the occasion and delivered his speech
at the theatre, where Gen. Henry R. Jackson presided over
the ceremonies, seated upon the stage in the historic Ogle-
thorpe chair. "When Gov. Stephens appeared, the vast
crowd that filled the theatre, as by one impulse, rose to their
feet to do him honor. The opening prayer was made by
452
REBUILDING THE STATE.
, the oldest minister in the city, Dr. Axson, of the Inde-
pendent Presbyterian Church.
The Governor's speech was of great historic interest.
He described the planting- of the colony, the birth and
growth of the State, the principles upon which our institu-
. tions are based, and Georgia's claims to honor from all
nations. The address was received with such prolonged
applause that it was some time before order could be re-
stored. Then Gen. Jackson read the "Commemoration
Ode," written for the occasion bv Paul Hamilton Hayue,
whom he eulogized as the "poet of the South, laureate by
royal power of his own genius." The exercises at the the
atre closed with a benediction by Rev. Thomas Boone,
of Christ Episcopal Church.
. This brilliant celebration of Georgia's natal day and the
founding of Savannah was a memorable occasion in the
history of our State.
Nothing showed more conclusively the kind of manhood
there was in Georgia, than the condition of the Confederate
soldiers within her limits. While the Federal soldiers were
pensioners on the bounty of their Government, and one of
their most prominent Generals did not hesitate to stretch
out his hand for money from the Federal Government, with
few exceptions, Georgia soldiers were not only self-support-
ing, but occupying most of the positions of trust and emolu-
ment; they were our governors, judges, legislators, State-
House officers, county and city officers, and our congress-
men and United States Senators. The men who wore the
gray" had not only illustrated Georgia in battle, but
brought her through that most fiery trial — the reconstruc-
tion period — as pure as incorruptible gold, and Georgia
453
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
loved them well. The empty sleeve, the halting gait and
the unsightly scar appealed to her heart with an eloquence
which no words could match !
Gov. Stephens had often expressed the wish that he
might "die in harness," and in less than a month after the
Sesqui-centennial his lamp of life went out before day-
light, one cold, crisp Sunday morning. Few Georgians
have occupied so much space in the public eye of America
and Europe. He climbed the hill of fame until he reached
its highest summit, and there was nothing left for him to
gain. It was a noble rounding of his public career to die
Governor of his native State. In private life "he did
good by stealth and blushed to own it fame."
Georgia paid every possible honor to her dead Governor.
His body was placed in a casket of gold-bronze with silver
handles, and reposed in state in the Senate Chamber while
people were gathering from the mountains to the sea, and
from other States, to take part in the obsequies. Flowers
were sent from every part of Georgia to decorate his bier.
On the day of the funeral the whole State suspended busi-
ness, and memorial exercises were held in the different
towns.
In Atlanta, on the morning of that day, a meeting in
honor of the dead was held in the Hall of the House of
Representatives, which was elaborately draped in mourn-
ing. Gen. Henry E. Jackson's speech was impassioned
and poetic; that of Col. C. C. Jones, Jr., was a ringing
eulogy; and that of Dr. H. V. M. Miller was a fine analysis
of character. Besides these gentlemen, ex-Gov. Colquitt,
Gen. John B. Gordon, Judge Martin J. Crawford and Sen-
ator Joseph E. Brown made tender and impressive ad-
454
REBUILDING THE STATE.
dresses. Gen. Toombs was also there — now gray-bearded
and feeble. His eves were full of tears and his voice trem-
IS
ulous with the memories of forty years, as he pronounced
a eulogy over his friend.
In the afternoon, the usual funeral services, in which
clergymen of all denominations took part, were held in the
same Hall. The casket, with its magnificent floral designs,
was placed in front of the Speaker's desk, and the Hall was
crowded with men who occupied places of high trust in
the land. As the remains of Georgia's Governor were
borne to the cemetery, the hearse was drawn by eight pairs
of black horses, and eight of the Georgia Hussars acted as
special escort. The military from different parts of the
State swelled the long procession. There were thirty com-
panies, in fine uniforms, slowly marching to the sound of
martial music. It was a touching sight to see ten negro
companies among them. From the capitol to the ceme-
tery, both sides of the street, for over a mile, were densely
crowded with sorrowing spectators.
The Right Rev. Bishop Beckwith received the body at
the cemetery and committed it to the temporary tomb pre-
pared of solid granite. The mass of flowers scattered in
profusion around it, testified to the love and honor felt
for Gov. Stephens by his countrymen. The sun was just
sinking to rest when the famous Chatham Artillery fired
the parting salvo, the crowd slowly dispersed, and Alex-
ander H. Stephens "was left alone with his glory." •
According to Georgia law, if a Governor dies in office, the
President of the Senate becomes Governor until an election
can be held. The Hon. James S. Boynton, who had made
a distinguished reputation as presiding officer of the Sen-
455
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
ate, now became our Governor, and administered the affairs
of state with eminent success.
When the election came off in May, the Hon. Henry D.
McDaniel, of Walton county, often a member of the State
Senate, and a distinguished Confederate soldier, was chosen
to fill the Executive Chair, and was afterwards re-elected to
a second term. Entering Confederate service as first lieu-
tenant in the famous 11th Georgia Regiment, he was
chosen major during the second year of the war. In the
second day's battle at Gettysburg, he came out of the action
in command of his regiment, and in the third day's fight he
led Anderson's Georgia Brigade, which had suffered heavy
losses in field officers and other officers and men. In the
severe action near Hagerstown, Md., in which the 11th
Georgia was particularly exposed, Maj. McDaniel, com-
manding, was desperately wounded. His life was saved
by a rare surgical operation; but, alas! he was left with
other severelv wounded Confederates, in the hands of the
c 7
enemy, when Gen. Lee's army recrossed the Potomac.
After the war was over, he was kept a prisoner by the Fed-
erals for more than three months. Except when he was
wounded and a prisoner, he was never absent from his com-
mand, unless on detached service of some kind, under
orders. How well he performed his duty was shown by
the confidence and esteem of those who served with him
in the army, and of those who suffered with him in hospital
and prison !
In the fall of the year 18 84, the time for electing a Presi-
dent of the United States had again arrived. The Demo-
cratic party under the leadership of Grover Cleveland won
a great victory over the Itepublicans, who for twenty-four
456
REBUILDING THE STATE.
years had controlled the Federal Government. Georgia
had contributed her share to this satisfactory result; and
there was great rejoicing all 'over the State, with patriotic
speeches, torchlight processions, showers of fireworks and
streets full of people.
At this time, Georgia was steadily gaining in all the
elements of material prosperity, and her credit was excel-
lent. Under Democratic rule, her noble son, Gen. Henry
R. Jackson, was appointed United States Minister to Mex-
ico, in recognition of his eminent qualifications for the
position.
Kimball's Opera House, which had been doing duty as a
State-House since the capital was removed to Atlanta, was
entirely unsuited for the purpose, and the Legislature appro-
priated one million dollars to erect a new building to be
called the Capitol. It was to be located in a fine square of
four acres, near the center of the city.
It was a perfect autumn day with all the beauty of sum-
mer— as the frost had not yet touched the foliage — when
the corner-stone of this magnificent edifice was laid, Septem-
ber 2d, 1885. It was a huge piece of highly polished Georgia
marble, of variegated tints, and weighing seven thousand
five hundred pounds, It is the largest and finest corner-
stone ever laid in the South.
Gov. McDaniel, the Legislature, and a large crowd of
representative Georgians looked on with absorbing interest
while the Grand Lodge of Georgia performed the cere-
mony. Never before had such a large number of Masons
gathered in a Georgia city. The stone was laid at the
northeast corner of the building, according to the custom
of this ancient and honorable order. As the choir, com-
457
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
posed of a hundred voices, sang "Great Architect of Heaven
and Earth/' the stone was slowly lowered to its place.
"When the craftsmen had done their work, the Grand Mas-
ter, Hon. John S. Davidson, of the State Senate, pro-
nounced it true and trusty, and then poured upon it corn,
wine and oil, emblematic of plenty, gladness and peace.
Senator Robert G. Mitchell had been appointed to re-
ceive the stone, as he was chairman of the committee on
Public Property; he also introduced the orator of the day,
"Gen. A. P. Lawton, who had served Georgia so well with
liis sword in the conflict of arms, and by his statesman-
ship in "the piping times of peace." He made a grand
speech, worthy of himself and of the occasion.
In December of this year, one of the most conspicuous
figures in the State, Gen. Pobert Toombs, was removed by
death. He had always been in the forefront of public
affairs. He had been pressed for President of the Southern
Confederacy; had been premier of its cabinet; had fought
both in Virginia and Georgia, and Avas among those ever-
to-be-honored Georgians who redeemed our State from Rad-
ical rule. A large number of public men attended his
funeral, and a beautiful eulogium was pronounced over
"him by the Pt. Pev. John Peckwith, Pishop of Georgia.
In deference to Mr. Toombs' expressed wish, there was
no ostentatious display over his remains. He sleeps his last
sleep in the cemetery at Washington, near his lifelong
liome. Above his grave rises a handsome marble shaft,
"bearing the simple inscription, Robert Toombs.
His life is written on the pages of the history of his State;
liis grave is a sacred spot to every Georgian.
458
CHAPTER LV.
REBUILDING THE STATE. (Continued.)
1880—1890.
The next year after Gen. Toombs died, when fair Flora
had decked the fields and hillsides with tender green and
filled the woods with flowers, the Hill monument — the first
ever erected by Georgia to one of her statesmen — was com-
pleted. It is a statue of heroic size, presenting a good like-
ness of the distinguished Senator, made of Italian marble
and mounted on a massive pedestal.
The first day of May was set for the unvailing cere-
monies, and it was considered a proper occasion to invite
the honored President of the Southern Confederacy to be
present, as Mr. Hill had been the ardent supporter of his
administration. As Pres. Davis had depended on Gen.
Lee in the field, so he had leaned upon Mr. Hill in the
Senate. When it was known that he had accepted the invi-
tation, the whole State rejoiced and assisted Atlanta in her
elaborate preparations to receive him. The city was liter-
ally deluged with flowers — from the wild honeysuckles of
the woods to the most costlv exotics — which the Southern
Express Company carried without charge.
A special train, with the engine and each car handsomely
decorated, having on board Gen. Gordon and other distin-
guished Georgians, was sent to Montgomery, Alabama, to
459
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
meet Pres. Davis. The citizens of every Georgia town
through which the train passed bearing our honored guestr
assembled at the depot to see him, and show with what lov-
ing reverence he was enshrined in their hearts. He reached
Atlanta in the afternoon of the last day of April. As the
engine rushed into the city and stopped at the depot, Geor
gia's Governor and about fifty thousand people were there
to welcome Mr. Davis. He was placed in an elegant car-
riage, drawn by six white horses, and a thousand veterans
acted as his special escort. A gay cavalcade, composed of
a long line of carriages and dashing cavaliers on horse-
back, with the band playing "Dixie," followed him from the
depot to Mrs. Benjamin Hill's residence, which was to be
his home during his sojourn in Atlanta. His ride was
made glorious with the love of a great commonwealth !
As his carriage slowly passed from the depot up Pryor
street to Peachtree street, and up Peachtree to Mrs. Hill's
residence, about six thousand school-children scattered
flowers in front of it — the horses' feet never touching the
ground, as every inch of it was covered : the carriage wheels
seemed to roll through banks of flowers, while the very
heavens echoed with shouts and cheers of welcome.
The next morning the city was brightened by the splen-
dor of an unclouded Southern sun, and fanned by the sweet
breath of May. Atlanta was swarming • with people, and
Confederate veterans were there bv the thousands to honor
*j
Hill, and to greet their Chieftain at the base of the Hill
monument.
A grand procession was formed in front of Mrs. Hill's
residence, in which Pres. Davis, "the observed of all ob-
servers," was the most conspicuous figure. His carriage
460
KEBUILDING THE STATE.
-was preceded by the Governor's Horse Guards and two other
military companies. ' Ten veterans of the Mexican war led
the column of Confederate soldiers; next came the veter-
ans who had lost an arm or a leg in the recent war. It has
l>een estimated that not less than five thousand veterans
were in that remarkable procession. Silver threads were
thickly strewn among their dark locks, and Care with her
terrible finger had traced many a deep wrinkle upon their
faces, but the stamp of a noble manhood was still upon their
brows. Behind the Confederates, the young men, each
with his badge of gray, marched in a double column, de-
lighted to be called "the young vets."
The procession, amid soft strains of music, marched to the
monument, where the final honors were to be paid to Sen-
ator Hill by his State. So dense was the throng of spec-
tators that every balcony and stairway was crowded and
the sidewalks were impassable. All the Southern States
were represented in that vast crowd, as well as some of the
far distant States beyond Mason and Dixon's line. It was
only after repeated efforts that a squad of policemen suc-
ceeded in keeping a space clear for the procession.
The streets along the line of march were handsomely
decorated, with here and there a Confederate flag side by
side with the flag of the United States. The speakers' plat-
form was shaded by a gray canopy, and at its entrance a
United States flag fluttered to the breeze, while the Con-
federate flag was furled and tied with gray ribbon, mutely
telling the fall of a grand young nation. Near by was the
statue of the illustrious Hill, covered with a white veil.
As far as the eye could reach there was a vast sea of human-
ity. Such a crowd never before thronged the streets of
any Georgia city.
401
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Little girls, carrying baskets, scattered flowers within the
enclosure around the platform until the ground was almost
concealed : when the procession arrived, upon this natural
carpet Pres. Davis' carriage was driven, with four lines of
veterans on either side. A great shout rent the air
as he was assisted to his seat upon the platform. Since he
touched Georgia soil the crowd had never caught a glimpse
of him without the wildest enthusiasm.
Seated upon the platform were Gov. McDaniel and other
distinguished Georgians, with the orator of the day, Hon.
J. C. C. Black of Augusta. Gen. Longstreet was placed
near Pres. Davis, as were Mrs. Hill, Miss Varina Davis, and
other ladies.
Atlanta's brilliant young journalist, Henry "W. Grady,
the son of a Confederate soldier, was master of ceremonies.
The exercises were opened with an exquisitely touching
prayer by Gen. Clement A. Evans, a soldier of the Cross
and of the Confederacy, who had been Senator Hill's pas-
tor. Most earnestly he besought the blessing of the "Sov-
ereign Father of all men" upon Georgia, the veterans, and
the dead Senator's wife and children.
Then the statue was presented to the State by Dr. R. D.
Spalding, President of the Hill Monument Association, in
a short but graceful address, in which he said of Hill : "He
no less signally illustrated the honor of Georgia than her
most distinguished sons, from Oglethorpe, the founder of
the commonwealth, to Toombs, the dead Mirabeau of the
South."
As his voice died upon the air, Capt. Burke removed
the veil, and the statue was saluted with spontaneous
cheers. Gov. McDaniel accepted it in one of the happiest
462
REBUILDING THE STATE.
speeches of his life, in which he called Georgia's great men*
"the jewels of the commonwealth."
Col. Black's oration held the attention of the audience'
for over an hour, as he paid tribute to the great Senator, and
to Georgia, and portrayed the illustrious part that Southern
statesmanship had played in founding the Federal Govern-
ment and in adding to the glories of the United States. In
referring to the undying influence of greatness and good-
ness, he said : "And to-day, there comes to us and shall
come to those after us, the voice of our dead, solemn with,
the emphasis of another world, more eloquent than that
with which he was wont to charm us. It says to us : 'Chil-
dren of Georgia, love thy mother. Cherish all that is good'
and just in her past. Study her highest interests. Dis-
cover, project and foster all that will promote her future.
Respect and obey her laws. Guard well her sacred honor.
Give your richest treasures and best efforts to her material,
social, intellectual and moral advancement, until she shines
the brightest jewel in the diadem of the Republic."
In his peroration,, turning to Pres. Davis, who, for twenty
years had lived in poverty and obscurity, and who alone had
borne the reproach of our enemies and the obloquy of
defeat, Col. Black eulogized his "matchless eloquence," his
"dauntless courage/' and his "lofty patriotism."' It set the-
people wild with gladness, and it was some minutes before
the tumult subsided. Then Mr. Grady, in an impassioned
speech, introduced Pres. Davis. Seventy-eight winters had
bleached his hair and he was too feeble to make a set speech,,
but he advanced to the edge of the platform for a brief
address; again the air was rent with a great shout, and it
was some time before the thunderous applause could be*
463
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
stilled, so quickly could the Confederate leader touch the
mighty heart of Georgia ! In a few minutes' talk he placed
his tender offering upon Hill's grave, in words that will be
treasured as long as noble sentiments are honored ! He
beautifully said : "If I were asked from Georgia's history
to name the three men who were fair types of Georgians I
would take Oglethorpe, the benevolent, Troup, the daunt-
less, and Hill, the faithful." He ended his address with
this good wish for our beloved State : "Let us love Geor-
gia and her rights; and may her rights of freedom and inde-
pendence, such as your fathers gave you, be yours and your
children's forever !"
When the unveiling exercises were ended, Miss Varina
Davis, born in the Confederate White House, at Richmond,
Va. — hence called "the daughter of the Confederacy" —
was led forward by Dr. Spalding and Mr. Grady, and intro-
duced to the crowd. She received a grand ovation; every
hat seemed to fly into the air, and the very earth seemed
to shake with mighty cheers. Then President Davis
held an informal reception on the platform. He had not
strength to stand or shake hands, so he remained seated
while the Veterans filed past, each one gently touching his
hands and then moving on. With warm, loving enthusi-
asm, the wives and children of Confederates crowded for-
ward, asking that they, too, might touch his hands. Tears
stood in thousands of eyes, as high and low, rich and poor,
vied with each other to do him honor, for he still suffered, a
vicarious sacrifice for his people. Our enemies called him
"traitor," and the Federal Government still denied him all
the rights of citizenship.
464
REBUILDING THE STATE.
Jefferson Davis was crowned that day in Georgia with a
diadem more beautiful than ever graced the head of con-
quering hero — the undying love and honor of a great peo-
ple!
When the reception was over, his hat was taken by the
Veterans as a memento. They afterwards cut it into sev-
eral hundred pieces and distributed it into sixty counties.
This ovation to an unsuccessful leader cannot be matched
in history, ancient or modern. Georgia honored herself in
honoring Pres. Davis, who represented the principles for
which she fought in the war between the States.
Georgia has her own peculiar traditions, memories and
sentiments; she has been true to them in the darkest
hours of her existence, as well as in the brightest days of.
her prosperity.
30g 465
CHAPTER LVI.
REBUILDING THE STATE. (Continued.)
1880— ] 890.
From time immemorial, in all Anglo-Saxon lands the
month of Mav has been dedicated to social gatherings and
outdoor festivities. Georgia lias always observed this an-
cient custom of the mother country; but never before had
she seen such a Ivlay as this one of 1S86.
The public pulse had not ceased its quick beating over
the stirring scenes at the unveiling of the Hill Monument,
when the eyes and heart of the State were turned towards
Savannah. This city had decked herself in gala array to
celebrate for one week the hundredth birthday of the Chat-
ham Artillery, the oldest military organization in Georgia
and one of the oldest in America. It had welcomed George
Washington to Savannah, had paraded at the funeral of
Gen. Nathaniel Greene, had been out in the war of 1812,
had assisted in the public ovation to Gen. LaFayette when
lie visited Georgia, had served well in the war between the
States, and not many weeks agone, had stood by the grave
of Gov. Stephens.
This centennial celebration was made the occasion of
the largest military display ever seen in the South, com-
panies being present from all parts of Georgia, and from
<»mer States. The commanding officer of the encampment
466
REBUILDING THE STATE.
was the intrepid Col. Olmstead; the place was called "Camp
Washington," after the first President (the friend and en-
conrager of the Chathams); who had walked over this very
spot when he was examining with such vivid interest the
earthworks and other evidences of the efforts of the patriots
to retake Savannah.
There were military drills for which large prizes were
offered, and there were contests and tournaments. During
this festive week the entire city was beautifully decorated.
An old, battle-worn flag was displayed which had often
figured in honor of Georgia. In the war of 1812 it had
floated over a privateer, and at the Sesqui-centennial it had
proudly waved over the head of Gov. Stephens as he deliv-
ered the last speech of his life.
The presence of Pres. Davis and "the daughter of the
Confederacy" contributed largely to the enthusiasm of the
occasion. Savannah received them with the same love
which they had found everywhere in Georgia. This was
not the first time JMiss Davis had felt the protecting arms
of our State around her; when she was a wee baby, fair
Macon had sheltered her and her sick mother.
The members of the Chatham Artillery wore gray uni-
forms with just enough red and gold trimmings to make
them attractive. Their caps were solid red, with gold lace
bands.
One of the great features of the celebration was an im-
mense military procession, in which the historic "Washing-
ton guns," the most sacred heirloom of the Chathams, had
the place of honor. The procession was inspected by Gov-
ernor McDaniel, and then continued its march until it
paused to salute Pres. Davis, who was seated in a carriage
467
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
with the two famous Georgia Generals, Lawton and Mc-
Laws. The spectators saw such a sight as they can
never see again, as that splendid body of military paid
special honors to the venerable chieftain of the South.
There was scarcely a drv eve in the vast crowd. As his
carriage, following the procession, drove into the park, the
Chatham Artillery were firing their salute of one hundred
guns, but the cheer that went up when the spectators caught
sight of the President, drowned the roar of the cannon.
From the day when Savannah was a small village with a
few straggling houses among the pines, she has been cele-
brated for her hospitality, public spirit and enterprise.
.Many have been the notable banquets enjoyed within her
gates, but none of them surpassed the one spread by the
Chatham Artillery for this occasion. Their spacious gun
yard was floored, roofed over, and profusely decorated, the
ceiling being festooned with banners. Long tables stretched
from end to end of the yard, at which sat more than three
hundred guests, among whom was Pres. Davis. When the
dainty viands had been enjoyed, the first regular toast was,
}Yasliinyton, then Georgia. Gov. McDaniel, in responding
to the latter, said : " Visitors are always satisfied with
Georgia, if they see it through the medium of the Forest
City's hospitality."
Breaking in upon the regular order of the toasts, Capt.
Saunders, of the "Old Guard" of "New York, who sat very
near to Pres. Davis, turned to him and exclaimed: "In
the name of the State of New York, I propose the health
of Mr. Davis and three cheers for him." The health was
drunk standing, and the cheers were given with a right
good will that came straight from the heart. Gen. John
468
REBUILDING THE STATE.
B. Gordon was among the post-prandial orators, all of whom
were most happily chosen, and the intellectual part of the
feast was greatly relished. This banquet was one of the
notable features of the centennial.
Pres. Davis' love for children was well known, and dur-
ing his short sojourn in Savannah he addressed the children
of all the schools, gathered in Chatham Academv. Gov.
McDaniel was present on this interesting occasion, so the
children enjoyed the two-fold pleasure of seeing Jefferson
Davis (one of the most prominent figures in modern Amer-
ican history), and the Chief Magistrate of our own great
State.
During this gala week the new bronze tablets on Gen.
Nathaniel Greene's monument were unveiled with fitting
ceremonies, a fine oration being delivered by Col. C. C.
Jones, Jr., of Augusta. lie was eloquent, scholarly, patri-
otic, and emphatically the Georgia Historian. As he fin-
ished his speech, the Chatham Artillery awoke the echoes
on every side with a salute of thirteen guns, one for each of
the original sovereign States. Such care of a monument,
and such imposing ceremonies around it, contradict the
old adage that Republics are ungrateful."
The interest in this memorable week was enhanced by
the formal opening of the "Telfair Academy of Arts and
Sciences." It is a fine structure, filled with costly works
of art, a gift to the city from Miss Mary Telfair. She was
a descendant of Edward Telfair, who was prominent in the
Revolutionary war, and afterwards Governor of Georgia.
When the festivities of the centennial were over, beauti-
ful Savannah had increased her claims to be numbered
among the prominent cities on the Atlantic coast.
469
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
In November of this year, when the Legislature assem-
bled, Gen. John B. Gordon was inaugurated Governor, hav-
ing been elected to succeed Gov. McJDaniel. Gen. Gordon
was loved not only in Georgia, but throughout the South
for his war record, of which the glorious scar upon his face,
caused by a saber cut, was a constant reminder. It will
be remembered that he was elected to this office during the
reconstruction period, but under bayonet rule was "counted
out," so it was with peculiar gratification that the people
of Georgia saw him occupying the Executive Chair. Dur-
ing the two years of office, his administration of state affairs
was so popular, that at the end of his term he was re-elected.
The January following Gordon's first inauguration, Chief-
Justice Jackson died. The bench and bar of the State paid
him marked respect as their official head. Memorial exer-
cises were held in the Supreme Court room, and every
honor possible was shown at his funeral, Georgia's Governor
being one of the pall-bearers. Among the universal eulo-
gies, nothing was said more beautiful and true than
"the man obscured the statesman and judge" — so pure was
his character and so broad the sweep of his affections.
His successor was Lo^an E. Blecklev, who .some vears
before had been Associate-Justice. When he lost his
health from overwork, he resigned from the Supreme
Bench with a poem which stands to-day upon the grim
records of the court. The moral of the poem is that labor
is the twin brother of happiness. ~Ko other lawyer living
could have done this thing without an appearance of incon-
gruity. AVith him it was simply natural, and his state of
health contributed pathos to its reading.
470
REBUILDING THE STATE.
Towering head and shoulders above the majority of men.
the peculiar genius of Judge Bleckley is as unusual as his
stature — his legal mind having metaphysics and poetry en-
grafted upon it. He says: "My devotion to law is the
spiritual consecration of a loving disciple, a devout min-
ister." ~No more fitting appointment could have been made
for the head of the judiciary, as his unbending integrity is
only equaled by his learning in the law.
This decade is noted for the number of its celebrations
attended by public festivities. In 1887, beginning on
Washington's birthday, Savannah joyfully threw open her
gates for three days in honor of the unveiling of a monu-
ment to Sergeant William Jasper, who lost his life at the
siege of Savannah in 1779. His grave is unknown, but
his memory is kept green by a grateful people. The Gov-
ernor and his staff were the guests of the city during the
celebration. Grover Cleveland, President of the United
States, with a distinguished party, was also in the city at
this time.
In July of this same year, the University celebrated with
a grand banquet, the completion of the first hundred years
of its existence. The high value to Georgia of this institu-
tion is attested by the long list of illustrious names it has
given to the State.
The work on the new Capitol had been steadily progress-
ing for five years; towards the end of March, 1889, it was
completed, and the commissioners who had its construction
in charge turned it over to the Governor. "Ko State or
country can match the story of its building. It is the his-
tory of one of the best pieces of public work ever performed
in the United States; a record of honest, conscientious dis-
471
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
charge of duty; and the building will stand as a monument
to the men who caused it to be erected." It is the first
capitol ever built in America without a scandal, and
the commissioners confined themselves strictly within the
appropriation given them by the Legislature. In this in-
stance, a small sum, unused, was returned to the treasury.
The Georgia Capitol is built in the Classic Renaissance
style, of oolitic limestone, a material most elegant in color
and texture. It is a grand and imposing edifice compris-
ing three stories and a basement. Lines of grace and
beauty are not lacking to soften its massive appearance.
Pilasters with carved capitals sustain the entablature and
give the building elegance and variety. The pediment
over the main entrance is supported by six monolithic col-
umns, containing a carved representation of the coat of
arms of Georgia. An open rotunda extends from the first
floor through the upper stories, to a height of 172 feet.
The floors are supported by masonry arches and wrought
steel beams. The halls, entrances and corridors are paved
with marble or encaustic tiles. Very little wood is used
in the entire structure, rendering it as nearly fire-proof as
possible, that the priceless archives of Georgia which are
kept there, may be protected against the flames.
Rising above the main roof is the stately dome, visible
for miles. It is surrounded by a colonnade appropriately
embellished, which furnishes a marked and striking feature
of the building. Surmounting the whole is a statue of
Freedom, holding a torch. The names of the Commis-
sioners are inscribed on a bronze tablet. All of them were
Confederate soldiers but two, who were only sixteen years
of age when the war ended. Two of them were distin-
472
KEBUILDING THE STATE.
guished generals, and a third commanded a battery in sight
of the spot where the building stands.
The Capitol is the official home of the Governor and all
the State-House officers; here, also, is the Hall of the House
of Representatives, the Senate Chamber, the Supreme
Court Room, and the State Library. Overlooking the
Representatives' Hall and the Senate Chamber are great
galleries, where the public can congregate and listen to
the proceedings of the Legislature.
The Capitol is Georgia's Pantheon. The splendid statue
of Senator Hill stands in the rotunda, while here and there
over the building portraits of Georgia's famous sons look
down upon us, to instruct, to inspire and to guide.
The formal ceremonies over the new Capitol took place
in the Hall of Representatives on the 4th day of July, while
the Legislature was in extra session. Capt. Evan P.
Howell, in the name of the building commissioners, pre-
sented it. Gov. Gordon, accepting it for the State, said in
his speech : "There is not a stone, a pound of iron, or dust
of lime used in this building, from its foundation stone to
dome, but is as pure and free from corruption as when it
reposed in the bosom of mother earth."
The Legislature, by a resolution, thanked the Capitol
Commissioners for "the faithful and economical manner in
which they had discharged their trust and completed a
structure which is substantial, grand and imposing in its
character, elegant and commodious in its arrangements, and
adapted to the requirements of the great and growing State
of Georgia."
These sentiments of the Legislators were endorsed by our
entire State.
473
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
From an early period in the history of the United States
all the States had observed George Washington's birthday
with public rejoicings; and, now, in the last year of this
decade, the Georgia Legislature accorded the same honor to
Gen. Robert E. Lee, making his birthday, January 19th, a
State holiday.
Early in December of this year, a wave of sorrow swept
over Georgia when the news was received that Pres. Jeffer-
son Davis had died in the city of .N ew Orleans. Euneral
ceremonies were held in nearly every town in the State, in
memory of the man whom Georgia delighted to honor; and
not Georgia only — for, from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande, the South wras in tears. "On the plains of Texas,
in the deep forests of Arkansas, on the grassy slopes of
Kentucky, on the banks of the Virginia rivers, upon 'the
red, old hills of Georgia,' the people gathered to pay him
a tribute of respect; but the heart of each one was with
that silent sleeper who was lying by the side of the 'father
of waters.' Jefferson Davis had stood by the cradle of
the Confederacv and looked forward into the future with-
out fear; four years later, he had leaned over its coffin, and
looked back at the past without shame."
474
CHAPTER LVII.
REBUILDING THE STATE. (Continued )
1890—1803.
The new year found Georgia still advancing in all indus-
trial pursuits and in the arts and sciences. She is the
second cotton and rice producing State in the South; she
leads her section in the cultivation and exportation of vege-
tables, melons and peaches, and the forests in the lower
part of the State furnish large quantities of turpentine and
lumber which are in constant demand. Upon her old hill-
sides and in her valleys, plants and roots are found which
possess the most wonderful healing properties; iron, coal,
marble and manganese are largely mined, and she has not
only utilized the wonders of steam, but of electricity. Be-
fore the war between the States, Georgians were entirely
an agricultural people: now they have also become an in-
ventive and manufacturing people.
From a remote period our climate has been celebrated for
its healthfulness, the aborigines being exceedingly long-
lived. Tomo-chi-chi at ninety was strong in body and
vigorous in mind; Brim, the Emperor of the Creeks, lived
one hundred and thirty years; but now, by violating the
laws of nature, our people often miss the best advantages of
their fine climate, and cut short their days.
475
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Georgia points with pride to the progressiveness and hos-
pitality of her beautiful cities and towns; but her true
greatness lies in the united fame of her illustrious sons — in
their moral wealth of high resolves and fearless purposes:
in their noble exertions and generous sacrifices in the cause
of truth, justice and liberty; and to-day "the historic past
salutes a glorious future !"
Gov. Gordon's second term expired in the fall of this
vear and he was sent to the United States Senate. "Re-
membrance is all the gratitude that posterity can show for
good and brave actions.''
The new Governor was Hon. William J. x^orthen, of
Hancock county, who was a Confederate soldier. His
father was in the war of 1S12 : in the war between the
States, though too old for active service according to law,
he volunteered and organized a company of which the
Governor was a member. Others of his family joined
different organizations, to fight for Georgia's rights.
Gov. Northen was elected as the representative of the
planting interests, and brought integrity, ability and dig-
nity to the chair of Jackson, Milledge and Tattnall. The
beauty and chivalry of Georgia crowded the galleries of
our splendid new Capitol to hear his inaugural address.
The oath of office was administered by Chief -Justice Bleck-
ley, whose towering form, patriarchal beard and solemn
tones made the scene peculiarly impressive.
While the new Governor was the faithful Executive of
the whole State, he proved himself the special champion of
the interests that Georgia holds most dear — the Confederate
soldiers, the farmers, and the school children.
476
REBUILDING THE STATE.
Georgia was represented in Congress at this time by a
very strong delegation. The Democrats controlled the
House of Representatives, and our State had the honor of
supplying the Speaker, Hon. Charles F. Crisp, of Americus.
He was a Confederate soldier, and while our beloved State
was yet in the power of Carpetbaggers and Scalawags, he
was a member of the Democratic Convention to nominate
a Governor, afterwards becoming a circuit judge. He
had won a name in the national councils which reflected
credit upon Georgia. As presiding officer of the House he
was calm and gentle, but very firm, and on many trying
occasions showed his fitness for the position.
His townsmen testified their appreciation of the honor
bestowed on him, by presenting him with a gavel. It is
ten inches long, made of highly polished oak, with gold
bands around the head and a silver hand typhon on the
handle. The bands are engraved with these words : "Pre-
sented to Hon. Charles F. Crisp, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, by his constituents of Americus, Georgia."
This beautiful gavel was sent in a handsome velvet-lined
oak case.
The day has passed away, if it ever existed in Georgia,
when the boys only were the hope of the commonwealth.
To give girls an opportunity to become self-sustaining had
been much discussed over the State, and at length the idea
assumed definite proportions. The scheme originated in
1835 through the suggestion of Col. J. Colton Lynes in a
commencement oration delivered before the Literary So-
cieties of Shorter Female College, at Rome. His chival-
rous championship of a more practical education for women
477
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
was taken up later by Mr. Henry W". Grady, who, by time
and again writing editorials upon the subject, kept the
idea before the people. The Georgia "Woman's Christian
Temperance Union espoused the cause with, enthusiasm, the
State Press became interested, and, finally, the Legislature
passed an act establishing the "Girls' .Normal and Indus-
trial College."'"
The old and historic Executive Mansion at Milledge-
ville was utilized for the purposes of this school. Here
girls can acquire a good education, besides learning some
industrial art — from cooking and dressmaking, to book-
keeping, telegraphy, stenography and typewriting — as a
means of livelihood.
The vear 1892 will always be noted in the annals of
Georgia lor the obstinate fight made by the Democrats to
carry their party to victory. Id the last presidential elec-
tion, the Democratic nominee, Grover Cleveland — who
stood for re-election — was defeated, and now he was again
put forward as the standard-bearer of the party.
In Georgia there was division in the ranks of the De-
mocracy which complicated the fight. Many planters, think-
ing a new organization would have their interests more at
heart, joined what was popularly known as "the third
party," not pausing to consider that every vote cast against
the Democrats was a help to the Republicans, the political
enemies of Georgia.
The farmers are the backbone of our State, and when
the Avar ended disastrously, this class above all others found
it hard to adjust themselves to the new order of things, and
they had been the greatest sufferers. To repair their broken
fortunes, they bought their provisions and planted cotton
478
REBUILDING THE STATE.
almost exclusively. During the reconstruction period,
Gien. Toombs had warned them against the folly of having
their corncribs and smokehouses in the West; but such was
their infatuation for cotton that he pleaded with them in
vain. If his counsel had been followed, not one of Geor-
gia's beautiful acres would now be in the anaconda grasp of
a mortgage.
Georgia is, first of all, an agricultural State, and formerly
a large proportion of her gentry lived in the country. Most
of her great men have been raised on plantations, whose pure
air and broad fields were their kindly foster-mother. But,
year after year, her farmers have grown poorer, which
accounts for the dissatisfaction of many of them in the
great political battle fought this year. The majority of
(Georgians were true to the old principles, and from the
mountains to the sea rallied to the party of their fathers.
When the spotless sword of Lee was sheathed at mourn-
ful Appomattox, "the cause7' was not so "lost" as it seemed
to be. The Democratic party of the United States in their
Convention at Chicago to nominate a President, pledged
themselves to a tariff measure which is identical with the
article of the Constitution of the Confederate States regu-
lating a fiscal policy. The wisdom of Alexander II. Ste-
phens saw this day. He often said that unless the Demo-
cratic party in the South made some fatal blunder, the
North would one day discover that the Confederate Con-
stitution was better than the original one, and might be
cardinally adopted by the whole Union.
October 11th of this vear was the four hundredth
anniversary of the discovery of America. The occasion
was observed as a general State holiday, and celebrated with
47<)
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
great enthusiasm in Atlanta. Capt. John Milledge, of the
Governor's Horse Guards, was chief marshal of the dav.
He directed the movements of a creat military and civic
parade that traversed the principal business streets, and then
ended their march at the Capitol. One division of it was
composed entirely of school boys. Among the novel feat-
ures in the procession were two hundred gaily decorated
bicycles, and a tally-ho containing thirteen young girls,
representing the original States.
When the procession reached the Capitol, the different
divisions were grouped around it, while six hundred girls
as a chorus stood upon the steps. In front of the chorus,
extending to the sidewalk, were children under twelve
years of age, the girls in the center and the boys on either
side. There were prayers, music and patriotic songs, then
the celebration ended with a Columbus salute of thirteen
guns by the Atlanta Artillery.
Tn the meantime, the political warfare was vigorously
kept up. Georgia did good work in the national campaign,
and furnished orators for other States, from Maine to Cali-
fornia. At the same time a heated gubernatorial canvass
was in progress. The Democrats, with Gov. Xorthen as
their choice, were fighting "the third party" which had
seduced so many of our farmers from their allegiance, with
its impractical schemes of relief. The Democratic party
well deserved the confidence of Georgia. It had driven the
Carpetbaggers from power and banished from our limits
Federal bayonets at the polls; had brought the State from
poverty to whatever prosperity she enjoyed ; had placed her
financial svstem on an honest foundation, so that her
credit was high and her bonds were eagerly sought; had
480
REBUILDING THE STATE.
framed, our present Constitution, which stands as an ever-
lasting bulwark between the people and oppression by
monopolies. Twice only in sixty years had Georgia's elec-
toral vote been cast for any but the Democratic candidate
for President; the exceptions being when the Whigs carried
the State. Among the sisterhood of States, Georgia has
always ranked high as the earnest advocate of the political
principles of Thomas Jefferson, which, more than those of
any other party, guard the interests of the whole people.
The Georgia Democrats can show a grand record; and this
year victory again perched upon their banners. Our State
Press deserves special mention for its ceaseless work in
behalf of the Democracy. It was the watchman upon the
tower, and it shared the honors of the triumph.
When the State elections came off in the fall, Gov.
Northen was re-elected, and Georgia still presented a solid
front to the Republican party. This happy termination of
the fight within our State limits did not quite satisfy our
people, and they waited with intense anxiety to hear the
result of the Presidential election.
31g 48 1
CHAPTER LVIII.
KEBUILDING THE STATE. (Concluded.)
1890—1893.
During the early Xovember days of 1892, when Georgia
was eagerly expecting news of how her sister States had
cast their Presidential votes, no one wholly escaped the feel-
ing of excitement that pervaded her borders, and Time
seemed to lean heavily upon his scythe as the hours dragged
slowly along. At last, the watching and waiting were
ended and the glad tidings came flashing over the telegraph
wires that Grover Cleveland was elected, and our State was
wild with joy.
The most dramatic incident that occurred in Georgia in
connection with this great victory, took place in Atlanta.
Since the reconstruction period there had been kept in that
city a small cannon, called the "Constitution cannon," after
Atlanta's popular daily. Its mission was to celebrate Dem-
ocratic victories, and for that purpose it had made journeys
all over the state, but was always carried back to the perma-
nent home, Atlanta. It had been taken on the special
Davis train to Montgomery to fire salutes at each station as
the great flower-decorated engine rushed onward to Atlanta,
bearing the Confederate Chieftain.
So many glorious memories clustered around this gun
that it came to be regarded with reverence all over Georgia ;
482
REBUILDING THE STATE
it was the special pet of Mr. Henry W. Grady, the
patriotic and brilliant editor of the Atlanta "Constitution."
In the Presidential contest of 1888, when Cleveland stood
for re-election, Mr. Grady with his own hands loaded it with
a heavy charge, intending to reserve for himself the pleas-
ure of touching it off to announce the expected victory; but
the .Democrats were defeated and the gun could not be
tired. He was much distressed over the defeat, but, never
for a moment doubting that in liberty-loving America the
Democratic party would ultimately triumph, he carefully
primed the cannon, and over the touch-hole pasted a piece
of paper upon which was written the words : "A charge
to keep I have"; and the gun was carefully put away with
a letter written by Mr. Grady detailing these circumstances
and expressing the hope that he would touch off the load
four years later to celebrate a Democratic triumph. He
requested that if the icy hand of death was laid upon him
before that happy day arrived, the cannon should be placed
in front of the "Constitution'' building and tell the news
for him to the people of Atlanta whom he had loved so
well. In less than a year, the gun and its charge had be-
come sacred by the death of the gifted editor.
Every one in the city knew the story of Grady and the
cannon, and now in this memorable November, when news
of Democratic victories came pouring in from different
States, a dense crowd besieged the "Constitution" office.
The little cannon was brought out and planted in front of
the building, but not for worlds would that sacred charge
have been fired until the good news was certain. It was
understood that when the report was heard there would no
longer be any doubt about the victory.
483
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
Too restless and excited to sleep, all night Tuesday, At-
lanta poured herself into the streets, and every ear was
strained to catch the expected sonnd; and when Phoebus
came dancing forth, flooding the earth with his bright
beams, the streets were still thronged and a great crowd
was massed in front of the "Constitution" office. At last,
earlv \Yednesdav afternoon, the editor received this tele-
gram from the Chairman of the National Democratic Com-
mittee : Cleveland is elected ! Let Grady's gun speak VI
Jnstantlv every man in the office rushed into the street,
the editor tore away the paper that Grady's hand had placed
upon the cannon, the fuse was lighted and the historic can-
non, after four years of silence, proclaimed the glorious
news, and a shout from fifty thousand glad hearts empha-
sized the report. The tale told by the Grady gun was
caught up and re-echoed by the artillery that had been
placed on the neighboring heights, while every locomotive
and steam whistle took up the refrain, and the joy and the
enthusiasm of the citv were unbounded !
The Georgia Press displayed its triumphant happiness by
such headlines as "Victory!" "Redeemed!" "Saved at
Last !" "Hurrah ! Hurrah !"
"No State did any more than Georgia to place the party
of Thomas Jefferson again in control of the Federal Govern-
ment. Relieved somewhat from the oppressions and ex-
travagances of Republican rule, and with renewed zeal for
a good national government, our State took a long stride
forward, and now occupies her proper position in the Fed-
eral counsels. A galaxy of gifted Georgians illustrated
their State in both branches of Congress; Mr. Hoke Smith,
of Atlanta, a leader in the legal profession, a man of fine
484
REBUILDING THE STATE.
■
business qualifications and an ardent advocate of tariff re-
form, became a member of the President's cabinet; and
Georgia, also, had her share of Federal appointments both
at home and abroad. Thus, through the talent and energy
of her sons, did our beloved State win her way upward and
onward !
Some years before this time, not long after the death of
"the great Commoner," the "Stephens Monumental Asso-
ciation" was organized, with Hon. George T. Barnes as
president. They had three objects in view: To purchase
Liberty Hall, which for forty years had been Mr. Stephens'
home; to build a Stephens High School, a memorial that
would please him best, and to erect a monument to his
memory. By May, 1893, all these objects had been accom-
plished.
In Georgia, the women have ever stood shoulder to
shoulder with the men in their love for the State; and in
this duty, thev were, as usual, in the front ranks. Too
much honor can not be accorded to Miss Mary A. H. Gay,
who, leaving a pleasant home, gave her whole time with-
out remuneration, to collecting funds for the Association.
She is one of the thousands of Confederate heroines of
whom the outside world will never hear, but who has helped
to make their country glorious. In the war between the
States she worked and suffered as much as if she had shoul-
dered a musket and worn the gray.
As soon as the association purchased Gov. Stephens' old
home, they removed his body from Atlanta and buried it
there. The imposing monument, surmounted by a marble
statue which is a perfect likeness of the great statesman,
stands in the center of the white gravel-walk leading from
4S5
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the front gate to the house. Grass-covered grounds stretch
away on either side, and the historic walls of Liberty Hall
form a fitting background.
When the time arrived for unveiling the monument it
was the greatest event that had ever happened in the pretty
little town of Crawfordville. It was a perfect spring day
with a cloudless sky, and the sun shone with mellow rays
as it onlv shines in the beautiful Southland.
A large crowd of admiring Georgians gathered around a
platform adorned with flowers, to witness the ceremonies,
and to honor the memory of Gov. Stephens. Many of them
had often listened to the words of wisdom that fell from
the lips of the living Stephens. Hon. Horace Holden, of
Crawfordville, the master of ceremonies, read letters of re-
gret from Gov. Xorthen and other distinguished Georgians
who were unable to be present. The Chief-Justice, lament-
ing his unavoidable absence, sent a noble sonnet which was
read by Col. Patrick Walsh, of Augusta. Then this gentle-
man completely captivated the crowd by his eloquence in
a short address, his graphic thought being that truth was
the bed-rock of Stephens' character.
At the completion of his speech, he introduced Gov.
Stephens' great-niece, Miss Mary Corry, who, stepping to
the front of the platform, pulled the cord; the covering
which wrapped the statue dropped to the ground, and the
life-like features of "the great Commoner" stood unveiled.
Like a flash, the golden sun folded it in a loving embrace, a
band of twenty-five pieces pealed forth "Dixie," and a
mighty cheer rent the air. The enthusiasm was intensified
when a man, ascending the shaft, suspended a large and
4S6
REBUILDING THE STATE.
beautiful wreath of Georgia flowers from the shoulders of
the statue.
"When quiet was restored, the orator of the day, ex-Sen-
ator Thomas M. Xorwood, of Savannah, made a grand
speech. At the left of the monument is Gov. Stephens'
grave, which on this occasion was entirely concealed, so
great was the quantity of fragrant flowers scattered over it.
Looking towards it, the orator said : "Here lies a Stephens
— when comes another ?"
In his peroration he said : "Young men of the South, I
address you this solemn message : Take Stephens as your
model, and imitate him in his loyalty to principle and in
his purity. If you do this, the blessings which will follow
will be the common heritage of your children and of our
common countrv."
Thus did Georgia display her love and reverence for one
of her greatest statesmen, and endeavor to perpetuate his
memory.
The deepest shadow that now rested upon the picture of
Georgia's prosperity was the overproduction of cotton. It
had impoverished the producer, bringing in its train low
prices, debts and mortgages. When our State and the rest
of the South raise their provisions at home and regulate the
production of cotton by the world's demand for it, there
will be absolutely no limit to their enrichment.
When President Davis died, his body was placed in a
vault in ~New Orleans, until it coidd be decided in what
Southern city he should be buried. Georgia begged that
he might sleep upon her bosom; but every other State in
the South, also, wished the honor of guarding his sacred
dust. It was now justly decided that his remains should
487
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
be given to Richmond, the capital of the Southern Con-
federacy.
This charming month of May, a day of which had so
recently been consecrated to the memory 'of the Vice-Presi-
dent of the Confederacy, had not ended when the funeral
train bearing President Davis to his final resting place
upon Virginia's sacred soil, passed through Georgia. The
beautifully carved casket of antique oak was borne by a car
whose sides were almost entirely of glass, the whole exquis-
itely decorated with flowers. When it entered our State, at
every station on its route, fair women and sweet-faced chil-
dren gathered to cast their floral offerings in its track.
It had been arranged that the car should stop a few hours
in Atlanta and the remains lie in state in the Capitol. The
funeral train was met at the depot by Gov. North en — repre-
senting Georgia — all the military companies of the city,
and several thousand people. The Confederate Veterans
under the gallant General Clement A. Evans, had charge
of the body while it remained in Atlanta. Tenderly they
bore the casket from the car and placed it upon a caisson
decorated with flowers and drawn by six fine gray horses,
each led by a member of the Atlanta Artillery, dressed in
gray uniform. The procession was one of the finest ever
seen in our State. All business was suspended, and low,
sad music was the only sound that broke the stillness as a
loving people watched its progress to the Capitol. There
the casket was placed in the rotunda upon a bier of fragrant
flowers, where the Hill statue looked down upon it, and the
sunlight softly kissed it.
As the thousands slowly passed through the Capitol to
view the casket, numberless touching incidents occurred.
488
REBUILDING THE STATE.
>.
A woman in widow's weeds, simply and poorly clad, as she
passed the casket reached out a withered hand and patted
it as lovingly and as tenderly as if it were a thing of life :
'My husband was with him, you know,' she said, apologeti-
cally, to a tall member of the Guard, while wiping her eyes
with a pitiful little black-bordered handkerchief: and the
Guard, instead of saying 'Move on !' as he did to the others,
only turned away his head and appeared to have lost his
voice.
"'And the crowd continued to stream past, when another
came through — a woman again : she stooped forward and
reverently kissed the side of the casket as she murmured :
'My brother loved him !'
"An old negro man and his wife paused for a moment
before it, and he asked, hat in hand, if he could place at the
foot of the casket the bunch of flowers he carried. Permis-
ison being given, he placed his humble offering among the
costly exotics, and the Guard heard him say as he moved
on: 'Young marster died for him, and he died brave!'
"A Georgia veteran threw one arm around a Confederate
flag that was held by a South Carolina veteran over the
heads of the passing throng, and pressed it to his heart,
while with the other hand he touched the casket that held
his chieftain."
The multitude did not cease to file through the Capitol
until the veterans took up their precious burden and slowly
bore it out to the caisson to carry it back to the funeral
train. Beautiful floral designs with attached cards, on
which were written mottoes or verses, were sent from every
part of the State to be taken to Richmond with the casket,
and a special guard of honor accompanied it from Georgia,
489
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
whose son, Gen. John B. Gordon, was the marshal of the
day in the final ceremonies at Virginia's capital. As long
as Georgians love civil liberty, so long will the name of
Jefferson Davis be cherished in this great commonwealth !
* * * * *
What Georgia is to-day, in this year of grace, 1893, she
owes to her own courage, energy, and favorable geographi-
cal position; a golden future awaits her, if young Geor-
gians prove true to the principles and interests which they
inherit. The infant colony planted by Oglethorpe in the
wilderness, has grown to magnificent proportions; and no
other equal space of the earth's surface surpasses it in all
the elements of wealth, power and greatness. Her plighted
faith has never been tarnished, and her benign government
is founded on" Wisdom, Justice and Moderation. Great is
Georgia ! grand in power and resources ! The engine's
ponderous tread, through sun-clad hills and stream-kissed
valleys, bearing away the fruits of her looms and her or-
chards, her mineral and agricultural products, bespeaks
her prosperity ! She is great in the glory of her achieve-
ments, great in the historic records of her past, and sublime
in her misfortunes ! Rome had one Cornelia, Georgia had
a thousand mothers of the Gracchi ! As the sheaves of
Jacob's sons bowed down to the sheaf of their younger
brother, so great commonwealths bow to Georgia, hailing
her as the EMPIRE STATE OF THE SOUTH.
490
CONCLUSION.
O, youth of Georgia, the honor of your State, her rights
and her glory are in your hands ! See to it, that you are
faithful to the sacred trust that in the near future will be
committed to vour charge. See to it, that Georgia suffers
no degeneration in your characters and in your lives, and
struggle against the too utilitarian influences of this age.
The moral and political standard of Georgia, at present,
is not equal to that set up and zealously guarded by our
fathers. It is your highest obligation to restore the stand-
ard, and to transmit unimpaired the sentiments and char-
acteristics of ante-bellum Georgia. Cherish a love for
your State and keep a deep interest in all that belongs to
her. A\ natever lands her boundaries enclose should receive
your love, for she spreads her broad aegis over every citi-
zen, high or low, white or black. While you encourage the
existence of national pride, never lose sight of our individ-
uality as a State. A Georgian may boast of being the
countryman of Washington, Jefferson and Lee, without
losing the deeper recollection of being of the same State as
Mcintosh, Jackson, Milledge and Habersham; of Cobb,
Stephens, Toombs and Bartow.
" The red old hills of Georgia !
So bold and bare and bleak —
Their memory fills my spirit
AVith thoughts I cannot speak.
They have no robe of verdure,
Stript naked to the blast ;
And yet of all the varied earth
I love them best at last.
491
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
" The red old hills of Georgia !
My heart is on them now ;
Where, fed from golden streamlets,
Oconee's waters flow !
Hove them with devotion,
Though washed so bleak and bare-
How can my spirit e'er forget
The warm hearts dwelling there?
«<
I love them for the living —
The generous, kind and gay ;
And for the dead, who slumber
Within their breasts of clay.
I love them for the bounty
Which cheers the social hearth ;
I love them for the rosy girls —
The fairest on the earth.
The red old hills of Georgia !
Where, where upon the face
Of earth, is freedom's spirit
More bright in any race ?
In Switzerland and Scotland
Each patriot breast it fills,
But sure it blazes brighter yet
Among our Georgia hills !
: And where upon their surface
Is heart to feeling dead ?
And when has needy stranger
Gone from those hills unfed ?
There, bravery and kindness
For aye go hand in hand,
Upon your washed and naked hills,
' My own, my native land !'
The red old hills of Georgia !
I never can forget ;
Amid life's joys and sorrows,
My heart is on them yet ;
And when my course is ended,
When life her web has wove,
Oh ! may I then, beneath those hills,
Lie close to them I love !"
492
CONCLUSION.
The liberty we now enjoy was won by the help of Geor-
gians with the sword, with the pen, and with fiery words of
eloquence in political assemblies. If there lives a Georgian
with heart so dead that it swells not with pride when he
hears the great names of Georgia's warriors, statesmen, and
poets, may he go down to his grave "unwept, unhonored
and unsung !"
Patriotism is a virtue that elevates character, leading men
to right feeling and lofty sentiments. To claim kindred
with the noble and great is in some degree to wish to be
like them. To love our State should not be merely a matter
of pride, or simply a sentiment, but a principle. May the
burning words of Georgia's gifted son, Henry R. Jackson,
find a quick response in the heart of each one of you : "I
would that I had the power of presenting with the brevity
which becomes an occasion like this, a worthy ideal of Geor-
gia, the land of my love. But not as she lies upon the map,
stretching from the mountains to the ocean, dear as she
must be to her sons in all her varied features — in her moun-
tains and her valleys, in her rivers and her cataracts, in her
bare red hills, and her broad fields of rustling corn and of
cotton snowy white, in her vast primeval forests, that call
back in softer cadence the majestic music of the melancholy
sea; and last, but not least, in our own beautiful but modest
Savannah, smiling sweetly through her veil of perennial,
and yet of diversified green.
"It is not the Georgia of the map I would invoke before
you to-night. I would conjure up, if I could, the Georgia
of the soul — majestic ideal of a sovereign State, at once the
mother and the queen of a gallant people — Georgia as she
first placed her foot upon these western shores and beckoned
hitherward from the elder world the poor but the virtuous,
493
GEORGIA LAND AND PEOPLE.
the oppressed but the upright, the unfortunate but the hon-
orable; adopting for herself a sentiment far nobler than all
the armorial bearings of 'starred and spangled courts,
where low-born baseness wafts perfume to pride/ taking
for her escutcheon the sentiment, Poverty and Virtue ! Toil
and Be Honest !
"Next I would present you the Georgia who assumed to
herself, in companionship with her sister colonies, the right
to the exclusive exercise of original sovereign power, de-
claring and achieving her independence of the British
Crown.
"And next the Georgia who through the lapse of nearly
a century was illustrated in a Union of Confederated Sov-
ereignties by the gallantry of her soldiers on the field of
battle, by the wisdom of her statesmen in public council, by
the virtue and self-abnegating devotion to the discharge of
duty of her daughters in the modest seclusion of domestic
life. And when I speak of her sons and daughters, I do
not mean those simply who were born upon her bosom : I
mean also, and I mean emphatically those who, like Craw-
ford and Berrien, and Forsyth and AVilde, came to her from
abroad, and added the rich bloom of their genius, learning
and eloquence, to the pure wreath with which her children
have enriched her regal brow — the only crown she cares to
wear ! I mean, also, and I mean emphatically, those like
the distinguished commander of the gallant corps whose
guests we are to-night (Capt. AVheaton, of the famous Chat-
ham Artillery), who brought to her his whole heart, to
plant it and to root it here : ever ready to take his place
among the foremost in repelling her enemy, whether he
came with streaming banners amid the thunders of war, or
494
CONCLUSION.
steals silently upon the poisoned currents of the midnight
air.
4 '"When 'the winter of our discontent' was resting heavily,
gloomily upon us, at the holiest hour of the mysterious
night, a vision of surpassing loveliness rose before me :
Georgia, my native State, with manacled limbs and dishev-
elled locks, and tears streaming from weary eyes over a
mangled form which she clasped, though with convulsed
and fettered arms, to her bosom. And as I gazed, the
features of the blood-stained soldier rapidly changed. First
I saw Bartow, and then I saw Gallie, and then I saw Cobb;
and there was Walker, and Willis, and Lamar; more rapid
than light itself, successively flashed out the wan but in-
trepid faces of her countless scores of dying heroes; and she
pressed them close to her bosom, and closer still, and yet
more close until, behold, she had 'pressed them all right into
her heart!
"And quickly, as if it were in the twinkling of an eye, the
fetters had fallen from her beautiful limbs, and the tears
were dried upon her lovely cheeks, and the wonted lire had
returned to her flashing; eves, and she was all of Georgia
again: an equal among equals in a Union of Confederated
Sovereignties. Yes ! the Georgia of Oglethorpe, the Geor-
gia of 1776, the Georgia of 1860, is the Georgia of to-day;
is Georgia now, with her own peculiar memories, and her
own peculiar hopes, her own historic and heroic names, and
her own loyal sons and devoted daughters; rich in re-
sources, intrepid in soul, defiant of wrong as ever she was.
"God save her ! God save our liege Sovereign ! God
bless Georgia, our beloved Queen! God save our only
Queen !"
THE END.
495
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DEC 11