CAMDEN COUNTY, GA - Hardee, Thomas E. , Dist Surveyor to Gov Clark 1819 re: Indians ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Tara D. Fields tutcher@camdencounty.org Extracted from: Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842 http://neptune3.galib.uga.edu/ By Tara D. Fields tutcher@camdencounty.org March 06, 2004 History and Genealogy of Camden and Charlton Counties, Georgia http://www.camdencounty.org Document: TCC468 Letter, 1819 Dec. 18, Lampedocia [?] to John Clarke [i.e. Clark], Governor of Georgia, Milledgevile, Geo[rgia] / Thomas E. Hardee author: Hardee, Thomas E. date: December 18, 1819 extent: 4p summary: Copy of a letter dated December 18, 1819 from Thomas E. Hardee, District Surveyor, to Georgia Governor John Clark (1819-1823) pertaining to encounters between his party of men and Seminoles in the area of Appling and Irwin Counties, Georgia. Hardee advises the governor to send troops to protect settlers in those Counties, particularly since a recent skirmish in the vicinity of the Satilla River resulted in the death of an Indian man and retaliation is feared. repository: Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries collection: Telamon Cuyler box: 48 folder: 03 document: 03 Page: [1] [ | ] Copy [unclear: Lampedocia] 18 December 1819 Sir I wrote your Excellency in November last by Mr Stokes, detailing to you the hostile position of the neighboring indians in Appling and Irwin Counties -- after Mr. Stoke's retreat I still kept the field altho [although] eminently [unclear: exposed] being on the entire frontier. On the evening of the 20 Ulo [Ultimo] in making a retrograde for the purpose of observation I found the indians busied in displacing my corners, disfiguring its numbers and [unclear: chopping] out the figures of my my stations, These acts of violence were just committed but notwithstanding, I could never get sight of these horrid barbarians otherwise I should have fired [added: The character of the Seminole Indians, like the wandering arabs of South Barbary are too well known to hazard an opinion of conciliating their friendship] on them /being all armed/ I could plainly perceive in my [unclear: rout] that these monsters kept close in my rear, and even my company could plainly perceive their footsteps early in mornings where they had been at night in a few [deleted: [unclear: steps]] [unclear: paces] of the Marque of company On the morning of the 29 Ulo [Ultimo] being then on the County line of Appling and Irwin[document damaged] I found my horses missing and being concious [conscious] that they were stolen by the indians I instantly abandoned my business having my principal depot of provisions and baggage waggon [wagon] at the discretion of those indians and reached Camden County on the 2d [2nd] December Haveing [Having] delayed no time in making the necessary preparations I again set out for Appling County on the 14 Inst [Instant] with my company consisting of eight men One baggage waggon [wagon] and an equivalent number of horses, but I had scarcely reganied [regained] the west ban[deleted: [illegible]]k of the great Satilla when to my utter astonishment [document damaged: I] found the inhabitants [added: of Wayne & Appling] falling back within the East bank of said river such a scene of confusion and distress I never before witnessed -- there had been an altercation between a few indians and the company of Mr Callaway in which the life of an indian was sacrificed and the settlers considering their weak situation were flying to the interior for protection I hope sir you will consequently perceive the necessity of immediately ordering out a sufficient[deleted: ly] protection so as to effect the survey of frontier districts in Appling and Irwin Counties I must here beg leave to dismiss the subject with an assurance of my high and distinguished consideration [Signed] Tho [Thomas] E. Hardee D.S. [District Surveyor] [unclear: No 7] Appling County NB [Nota Bene]. My Fathers compliments with congratulations on your Excellencys promotion to the Office of Chief magistrate of the State -- and my own to my much respected fellow citizen Daniel Sturges Esqr To His Excellency John Clarke resident at Milledgeville Geo [Georgia ] Page: [4] [ | ] Darien Ga Decr [December] 20th To} His Excellency John Clarke Governor of Georgia resident at Milledgeville Express by Mail 18 December Indian Surveys 18 1/2 Letter of Thos. [Thomas] E HardieSurveyor -- Answer written 30th Decr [December] 1819.