CAMDEN COUNTY, GA - MILITARY EARLY LETTERS 1793 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Tara Fields For more information see: http://www.camdencounty.org These letters are at the Bryan-Lang Library along with transcribed copies by Tara Fields. 7/21/1793 Document Number ___ Savannah July 21st, 1793 Sir, I acquainted your Excellency in my last with the unfortunate affair of the Indians who were killed at Saint Marys coming with a peace talk. The fact is too well confirmed inclosed (sic) I send your Excellency copies of the talks and an extract from T. Barnards letter to Mr. Seagrove – from all which I fear the prospect of a peace is at an end – one Townsend, it is said, is just arrived from the Nation and he declares that only two of the four Indians were killed and that the other two such wounded had got back to the Nation he says he saw them and that they told him the White people were all mad. – I think this report if true worse than if they had all been killed as the two escaped will make the most of their story. Your Excellency will draw no doubt better conclusions than myself from the event but I cannot forbear remarking that I think it necefsar (necessary?) to prepare for a general War – indeed were the presidents orders not positive, I should suppose it good policy to have the first stroke Ways, Williams, & Johnstons Camden Troops would compose a body of one hundred and fifty Horse and added to the Volunteers of the Division I think at least could be augmented to three hundred Men to forma division by attaching the lowest Towns whilst Genls. Twiggs or Clarke fell on others higher up. I think Col. Stewart an officer fully qualified to command them provided your Excellency should not see fit to order a superior to him. With Major Hammonds afsistence (assistance) & who I should wish in that case to act with him, I should not doubt of succefs (success), in the cooperation. Major Hammond with his detachment which I had ordered out to erect the Blockhouse between the settlements & Beards Bluff returned yesterday after completing it, leaving Ways Troop in pofsefsion (possession). On his return at Saunder's plantation, he devised a plan of attack with Johnston, the Man I mentioned to your Excellency as one of those I wished to engage & four others on the horrid banditti of Negroes who killed Dr. St. John in South Carolina & were outlawed by that state. They had got that far eight in number on their way to the Creek nation & were encamped in Sauder's swamp – The attack was made one was killed & two others wounded – The rest escaped leaving their arms, Thirteen weight of powder & all the supplies for their Journey behind them. – There is a detachment after them which I hope will give a good account of the remainder. This Man Johnston is ready to engage on the terms I wrote you & I sincerely recommend him to be employed. I beg to hear from you on this head as well as respecting the number of Men permitted to be kept out. I shall be obliged to discharge the Militia altogether without some order from your Excellency to the Contractor whose agents have stopped supplies as contrary to the Presidents orders. I will again venture to declare that unlefs (unless) Ways Williams and the Camden Troops are kept up the Southern Counties must go & I hold our present situation until the event of the unfortunate businefs (business) at St. Marys is know, to be very dangerous. I am not yet prepared for the return of the Men on actual duty. Camden is at so great a distance in one Brigade in such great confusion and Burke so far off in another that it is no small trouble to afscertain (ascertain) it – repeated orders have been ifsued (issued) by me for regular returns – They must amount for this last twenty days to upwards of Four hundred - & I do not think there (original transcript left unfinished) ============================ 9/14/1793 Document Number ___ Sept. 14th 1793 Sir, Agreeable to orders I went to the new town to hold a court of Enquirey (sic) as soon as I Landed there was informed that Capt. Dawson was one of the officers to Perside (sic) in the Court was taken By the order of Thomas King and John King and put into Close Jail and Immediately after Lieut John Gray who was another of the officers was taken and kept under Close gard (sic) all day I likewis (sic) herd (sic) so many threats that I thought it imprudent to open the Court as there was not a sufficient number of officers without them I am with respect your Humbl. Sevt. Hugh Brown Captain To Coll. (Colonel) Thos. Carr (On Reverse) To Coll. (Colonel) Thomas Carr Deputy Sheriff Camden County To Hugh Brown, Dr. To Furrage of Self Prisoner, and two guards a 12 ½ Each – $..50 cts March 26th 1822 Recd. pay Hugh Brown =============== 9/22/1793 Document Number ___ Camden County Sept. 22nd 1793 Sir, Agreeable to your orders of 30th of July I calld (sic) a court of enquirey (sic) on the 5th Inst. and as some of the officers summons (sic) Refused to act there was consequently no court. I ordered a second court to convene on the 13th Int. in the town of St. Marys and the officers met but was interupted (sic) by some of our leading Carrectors (sic). Whither (sic) by design or otherwise I wish to submit to your superior Judgement (sic). Inclosed (sic) I have Capt. Brown's letter to me which will Inform you fully. By the several papers herewith inclosed (sic) you will be informed of a Banditta (sic) of mutineers, headed by a Capt. John F. Randolph and Randolph McGillis. Those men were imbodied (sic) armed and strongly Posted in one of the stations established by the corrective order previous to my appointment and on my arrival here after seeing you in Savannah, I ishued (sic) ordors (sic) to Capt. Johnston (who was the only person commissioned as Capt. of horse) together with his officers to Parade thare (sic) Troop and repair to the fronteirs (sic) stations which order they refused to obey, telling me that Capt. Randolph had the command of the horse troop. I have sent several orders to those Mutineers, and they have refused to obey, saying they will not obey any officer but Genl. Gunn and that they have his orders to that Effect, which I have not seen. My situation and strength at present is such that I have not sufficient force to compell (sic) them to obey, those men are encorged (sic) and kept together through design for desperate purposes. It is painfull (sic) to me to be obliged to complain to a supperior (sic) officer of the conduct of men under my command or to call for aid to quell them, But such is my situation at present – and hope you will order me some immediate assistance to bring them to subjection. The contractor has, contrary to my orders furnished them with nearly all the supplies that has been sent on here, for further perticular (sic) wish to refure (sic) you to Major Hammond's Letter, here with sent. I Sir, Your very Hble Sert. Thos. Carr Lut. Col. Comt. Comdn. County Regt. P. S. I have order'd a third court of inquiry and will send on the proceeding by the next Major General Jackson (On Reverse) Major General Jackson Savannah Original letter on file in the Georgia Department of Archives. ===================== 10/23/1793 Document Number ___ 1st Sheet: Temple St. Marys River Oct. 23rd 1793 In pursuance of an Order of Maj'r General Jackson a Court of Inquiry met for the purpose of inquiring into the Death of Cornel an half breed Indian & the manner & cause thereof the said Indian being represented as coming with a peace talk from the Nation to the agent of Indian affairs. Present Capt'n Moses Burnet of the Glynn Regiment President Capt'n James McLeod of the Glynn Regiment Members Capt'n William Dawson of the Camden Regiment Capt'n John Parker of the Camden Recorder The Oaths required by the articles of War being adminstred (sic) the Court proceeded to businefs (business) and ordered summons to be ifsued (issued) & signed by the President & to be counter-signed by the Recorder for the following evidences to wit Reuben Thomson Isaac Clayton Jacob Meckler – Stith (sic) and McGilder for their attendance tomorrow morning nine O'Clock. Temple St. Marys Octr. 24th 1793 The Court met pursuant to adjournment Present as Yesterday. Jacob Mecklar (sic) one of the evidences mentioned in the proceedings of yesterday attended & the Oath required by the Rules & articles of War being administered gave evidence as follows – That on or about the thirteenth of June one thousand seven hundred & ninety three he the said Mecklar was at a station called Colerain under the command of Captn. John F. Randolph that about the hour of nine or ten in the morning morning (sic) of the day before mentioned, a man by the name of McDonnold arrived at the said Station & informed Captn. Randolph (as he understood) that the last night he the said McDonnold was on his journey with four Indians from the Creek Nation, that McDonnold knew nothing of the Indian language excepting some few words & that he from some exprefsions (expressions) of theindains the night be parted with them supposed they wished him to go forward to the station at Colerain & to inform the Commanding Officer that they had a friendly talk to deliver to the Intendant (sic) of Indian affairs at St. Marys. That he the said Mecklar knew nothing further that pafsed (passed) between McDonnold & Captn. Randolph but rec'd. orders soon after from the Capt'n. together with six other horsemen to march and waylay & if pofsible (possible) to kill the indians aforesaid. That according to orders they marched to the westward & met the Indians on horseback some of which horses appeared to be packed or burthend (burdened) with Skins. That John Hampton one of the Soldiers dismounted on seeing the Indians & attempted to fire at the man who appeared to be the head man or Chief of the Indians but mifsed (missed) fire, That one John Parris fired at the Indians first & the rest of their party directly after – in consequence of which an Indian fell from his horse mortally wounded, but before he expired drew his knife & threw it at the said John Parris he the said Indian was known by the soldiers & by others by the name of Cornel a half breed & that the said Indian or half breed had commited (sic) many depredations on the Inhabitants of this country & had been seen in the Creek nation by one Kerbey a white man with the scalps of white men which he the said Indian boasted of having taken with his own hands. Signed Jacob Mecklar John Parker Recorder McGilder one of the Witnefses (Witnesses) attended but on inquiry was found to be unacquainted with the whole businefs (business). The Court having waited to a late hour of the day & no other evidence appearing until Tomorrow morning eleven OCloack (sic) to meet at St. Marys. Mofes (Moses) Burnett Pres. of Court John Parker Recoreder Further proceedings continued in the second Sheet John Parker Recorder C. I. Moses Burnett Pres. of Court ======================= 10/25/1793 Document Number ___ 2nd Sheet St. Marys Octr. 25th 1793 The Court met pursuant to adjournment at the Town of St. Marys on St. Marys River, Present as yesterday. John Hampton one of the Soldiers present at the death of Cornel mentioned in the proceedings of yesterday attended & the oath required by the Rules & articles of war being administered gave evidence as follow's (sic) – That on or about the last of June 1793 he the said John Hampton was at a station called Colerain under the command of Captn. John F. Randolph That about two hours after sun rise a man by the name of McDonnold came to the station & spread a report that about three OClock the day previous to his coming to the station at Colerain he parted with four Indians two of which carried Musquets (sic) & the two others defensive weapons – That at the time he left the aforesaid Indians they made signals exprefsive (expressive) of a desire that he the said McDonnold should leave them & That he believed their intentions were bad because their actions were different from what he might expect from friendly Indians – in consequence of this information he John Hampton supposes that orders were ifsued (issued) from Capt. Randolph the purport of which he heard delivered to himself & six other horsemen to pursue & take them the said Indians prisoners & in case of opposition to kill them. That they marched over took & not being able to take them prisoners fired & killed Cornel & an Indian boy as related in the evidence of Jacob Mecklar – Jno. Hampton John Parker Recorder Isaac Clayton one of the Soldiers present at the death of Cornel mentioned in the proceeding of yesterday attended & the oath required by the Rules & articles of war being administered gave evidence a (sic) follows – That on or about the last of June 1793 he was under the command of Capt. John F. Randolph & heard a report circulated by McDonnold that there was a party of indians not far off from their Station at Colerain & that one of the horseme (sic) named Jacob Mecklar told him he was to march against them, & asked him to make one of the party and that he mounted his horse & in company with six other horsemen met the indians & fired with the rest & further that he heard no orders from the mount of Capt. Randolph – Isaac Clayton John Parker Recorder The Opinion of the Court of Inquiry respecting the Death of Cornel mentioned in the proceedings of this Day is that, matters of fact have been clearly stated – Therefore the Court are of opinion (sic) that the Indians were to blame for sending so desperate & obnoxious a Character on any embafay (sic) to the agent for Indian affairs, and that they should put up with the lofs (loss) of Cornel & the other Indian without asking further satisfaction, as it appears to the Court that those who were at the killing of Cornel & the other indian are justly to be applauded as they did nothing but in discharge of their duty according to orders. Moses Burnett President John Parker Recorder Will. Dawson James McLeod ================ 10/26/1793 Document Number ___ St. Marys Oct. 26th 1793 Sir Inclosed (sic) are the proceedings of a Court of Inquiry held in consequence of orders from Majr. General Jackson which by his direction I do myself the honor to forward to you Your excy most obdt John Parker Recorder Of the Court of Inquiry (On reverse) Letter John Parker 26 October 1793 Ordered to be filed 5th November 1793 Publick Service His Excellency the Governor & Commander in Chief of the State of Georgia