CAMDEN COUNTY, GA -Jernigan, Capt Aaron to Gov McDonald, Indian threat Jan 1842 ***************** 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: TCC637 [Letter] 1842 Jan. 20, Camden County, Georgia [to] C[harles] J. McDonald, Governour [sic] of Georgia, Milledgeville, G[eorgi]a / Aaron Jernigan author: Jernigan, Aaron date: January 20, 1842 extent: 4p summary: Captain Aaron Jernigan, stationed in Camden County, Georgia, writes to Georgia Governor Charles J. McDonald (1839-1843) to make a case for continuing military protection of the area against unnamed Indians (ostensibly Seminoles). Jernigan insists that the Indians are a constant threat to the residents of Georgia because they have a thoroughfare from the Everglades to the Okefenokee Swamp, and he contends that the settlers will be in danger as long as any Indians remain in Florida. He further States that, contrary to the opinion of the federal forces, General Floyd never eliminated all of the Indians from the Okefenokee area because Indian depredations continued after his departure nor is the guard motivated by a desire for employment, as Captain William Wallace Smith Bliss has alleged (see tcc633), in seeking to continue its protection of the vicinity. The enclosed affidavits of local citizens are no longer attached. repository: Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries collection: Telamon Cuyler box: 52 folder: 07 document: 01 Page: [1] [ | ] Camden County Georgia January the 20th 1842 Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencys letter of the 17th Ult. [Ultimo] which has just come to h and, and I regret that I was absent on business on its arrival to Centrevillage. You inform me that it seems to be the impression of the officers of the federal army that the Indians which have heretofore ravaged the frontier of Georgia, have either been captured or voluntarily surrendered for emigration, and that we need not apprehend further danger from them. You also inform me that you wished my opinion on this subject, in reply to which I have to inform your Excellency that it is my opinion that the marauding parties which has heretofore visited the frounteer [frontier] of Georgia doing their work of murder and plunder, had not yet been captured nor voluntarily Surrendered for emigration, and it is my opinion that the frounteer [frontier] of Georgia will not be free from the apprehension of danger during of this Indian war as their past acts for the last four or five years is a Sufficient evidence that they have an intercourse from the Everglades into the Okefeenokee Swamp, and it is evident that they will keep up this thoroughfare as long as there is any part of them remains in Florida in their hostile attitude and will be annually murdring [murdering] of our fellow citizens of Georgia unless otherwise prevented by keeping up a military force of mounted men on the line consisting of at least two companies, which is more Page: [2] [ | ] adequate to the purpose then [than] what these is that is stationed here for the present protection of the citizens of the exposed District. It was a few years past General Floyd was in command in the Okefeenokee District and it was thought even by the citizens in the District as well as by the officers of the U.S. army that he had drive the last Indian from the Swamp, and that we need not to apprehend any more danger from them in this part of Georgia, and to view the many depredations that has been commited [committed] by these Indians since General Floyd was in the field, and to look at this alone is sufficient to [deleted: make] cause the people in the exposed part of Georgia [added: to] apprehend danger, particular [added: when] they are left [unclear: as] I may say without any protection, as I deem these companies of infantry of the regular army little or no better than turning the citizens of Georgia over to the tender mercies of the Savages. In closed [Inclosed] here with you will receive Some affidavits of respectable citizens in this neighbourhood [neighborhood], which I hope will give full satisfaction to your Excellency particular in regard to the proceedings of the officers and men of U.S. army who are Stationed here for our protection. --It appears from Captain Bliss's letter addressed to Major S. Cooper that he intimates that a desire to be in the employ of Government is at the bottom of many of these alarms, I would think that if the gentleman had a been at Fort Moniac on the evening of the 19th of August 1840 that [added: he] would a [added: told] differnt [different] tail [tale] besides several similar murders commited [committed] Since Page: [3] [ | ] that bordering near on the Georgia line, it is evident that the officers of the federal army is opposed to a volunteer because they are under the impresion [impression] that if there was volunteers in the field that they would be occasionally killing of some more or less of the Indians, which in my opinion from some of the past acts of the U.S. officers that the [deleted: [illegible]] distroying [destroying] of an Indian [deleted: [illegible]] is against their wishes. There is no late Indian depredations been commited [committed] on the citizens of Georgia, but I hear that they are frequently killing of the people of Florida. -- I am Sir in the highest consideration your Excellencys Obt Servt [Obedient Servant] [Signed] Aaron Jernigan His Excellency C. [Charles] J. McDonald Governour [Governor] of Georgia Milledgeville Ga Page: [4] [ | ] Aaron Jernigan 1842