Georgia   Biographies	John Floyd

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Georgia Table of Contents:

           JOHN FLOYD

General John Floyd was born in South Carolina, in 1769.
at the conclusion of the American Revolution, the father
of Floyd, having lost all of his property by the war, and
not having either the means or opportunity of giving his
son an education, apprenticed him to a carpenter.  The
rudiments of education General Floyd acquired from humble
individuals, paying them for instruction, the paltry sums
obtained by his extra work at nights after the daily
labor of the apprentice.  At manhood he improved himself
by study.  He came to Georgia in 1794, and although an
excellent mechanic, became a planter.

Before the war of 1812, Gen. Floyd’s public services were
confined to the ordinary military and civil duties of
peace.  Gen. Jas. Jackson, one of the distinguished
Governors of Georgia, induced him to enter public life in
1803, or ‘4, as a member of the State Legislature.  In
1806, he was appointed Brigadier General of the 1st
Brigade Georgia Militia; and from the high opinion
entertained of his military character and patriotism, the
Governor of the State, in the autumn of 1813, selected
him to command the Georgia troops against the Creek
Indians; although greatly embarrassed from the want of
proper supplies, he marched promptly into the nation,
built Fort Mitchell (on the west side of the
Chattahoochee,) in November, 1813, and leaving there the
main body of the army, with the baggage, under a Colonel,
advanced, himself, at the head of a detachment of 950
troops, (with a few friendly Indians under the chief
McIntosh) to surprise the enemy, 1500 strong, at Autossee
and Tallasee towns, on the Tallapoosa, 60 miles distant,
through a wilderness.  The towns were attacked just
before day-break, on the 29th November, 1813, and burned,
and 250 Indians slain on the field...

In 1815, he was appointed Major General.  In 1826, he was
elected to Congress, and served two years.  In 1829, he
abandoned public life, both military and civil.  The
military services of General Floyd, I describe from my
own knowledge, having been a witness to them.  While I
now write he is hobbling about with difficulty, aided by
a crutch, in consequence of the wound received at
Autossee and Tallasee towns.

Ref:  Sherwood, Adiel, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF
GEORGIA,  1837, Printed by P. Force, pp. 277-279.

FLOYD COUNTY, GEORGIA

This county was laid out from Cherokee in 1832.  The
principal streams are the Oostenaula and Etowah, which
unite their waters at Rome, forming the Coosa.

ROME is the county town, at the junction of the Etowah
and Oostenaula rivers, situated upon several high hills,
and commands a fine view of the mountains.  Distant from
Milledgeville 176 miles.

Ref:  White, Rev. George, M. A., HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
OF GEORGIA, 1854, Pudney & Russell, Publishers, New York,
pp. 452-458.  (Reprinted 1968, Heritage Papers,
Danielsville, GA

Note: Adiel Sherwood, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF
GEORGIA, Washington City, Printed by P. Force, 1837,  pp.
255-256. APPENDIX:  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES "The author
conceived that a short biographical sketch of the
individuals after whom the several counties were named,
would furnish an instructive and pleasing appendage to
his topographical work... Acquainted with the intimate
friends of some of the 'venerable dead,' he has been
furnished with sufficient materials to enlarge on their
character... There are in the State ninety counties (book
printed in 1837, presently in 2001, there are 159
counties)..."


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