CAMDEN COUNTY, GA - MILITARY EARLY LETTERS 1798 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. 4/13/1798 Document Number ___ To His Excellency James Jackson Esqr. - Governor and Commander in Chief of the State of Georgia. The Petition of sundry frontier Inhabitants in Camden County Humbly showeth, that your Petitioners feel themselves alarmed by the continual thefts comited (sic) among us by the Indians, together with other small disturbances of late (which we expect has reachd. [sic] Your Excelency's [sic] Ears) and conceive that a small Station of Militia on great Satilla near or about the Burnt Fort (if it was but six Horsemen & Six footmen so as for the foot to keep Station while the Horsemen might pursue to retake any stolen proprty [sic], or the like) would render much security to the Inhabitants on both sides the River. Submiting (sic) to your Excellency's better Judgment and Guar for our security, your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray Camden County April 13th 1798 Thomas Studstill Rustus Studstill Ezekel Parish John Crawford David Bailey Francis Starling Isaac Clayton Jno. Campbell N. Atkinson R. M. O. F. Elliott William Talley John Brown John Eaton Isaac Lang Jn Gorman Elisha Vick Joseph Clark Petition of Sundry Inhabitants of Camden, stating Indian Thefts Indian Depredations 1798 Petition ======================== 4/24/1798 Document Number ___ To His Excellency James Jackson Esqr. Governor and Commander in shief (sic) of the State of Georgia. Sir Permit me to inform your Excellency that the Frontier of this County appear considerably Alarmed at the repeated thefts and Depredations Commited (sic) by the Indians on our Inhabitants. They having at several times lately taken Homes from this Neighbourhood (sic); and lastly, on the Night of the 2nd of this Instant Stole five Horses from the Settlemt. below Coleraine, Six of our Inhabitants pursued on their Trail and came to where the Indains had made Halt to refit (but as it is supposed discovered the whites first and got out of the way) tho (sic) their Horses feeding a smale (sic) distance off, they took their Horses without interupting (sic) any thing about their Camp and returned for Home, the Indians pushed ahead on the Trail and waylaid them in a thick Swamp where the Whites were to pass an open meadow, they fired on the Whites and killed a Benjamin Sims one of the pursuers, the whites went out of the meadow and and (sic) tried several times to go back to take Sims off the Ground and retake the loose Horses but were not able to effect either, the Indians having such Superior advantage by being in a thick & the whites exposed to an open Meadow. and had to return home in that situation, which with other disturbances create much uneasiness in the minds of the upper Inhabitants seeing themselves much exposed and unprotected, in so much that I humbly conceive that a small Station of Militia Horsemen at or near the burnt fort (sic) would render the County much Security and give much Satisfaction to its uppor (sic) Inhabitants, if it was not more than Eight or Ten Men which could be but small expence (sic) Some of the Inhabitants have thought on Jnd. Gorman to Command the same, in case it is your pleasure to allow them to us for Two or three Months I can Inform your Excellency that there is neither a 2nd Lieutenant or Cornet in this County belonging to the Horse Compy. And would recommend Mr. Gorman to you as a suitable person for one of the vacancys (sic). I further inform your Excellency that the Alterations of the Districts made last year year (sic) throws such Confusion. that I am not well satisfyed (sic) how to act by reason that the No. side of Great Satilla was (previous to that Alteration a District of its self) then the 4th District and which I was Commissioned to Command, I have not alterd (sic) my residence but P. Dist. is now put with a part of the South side the River and called the 3rd Dist. I would be glad of your Excellencys (sic) Determination in the Business, before the Elections of Militia Officers were proceeded to in the 3rd Distr. Owing I suppose to the cause of only one Magistrate holding an election there – That part of the Alteration in Calling this the 3rd was a part I have not long known Your Excellencys (sic) most Obed. Servant Hugh Brown, Capt. 4 District Camden County Camden County April 24th 1798 P.S. I am of opinion it is requiset (sic) the No. side of Gt. Satilla should be a 5th Distr. and for your Excellency satisfaction inclose a list of the Men in the same – (Reverse) Hugh Brown Camden April 1798 Orders to be filed 4 May 1798 Indian Shifts Indian Depredations 1798 To, His Excellency, James Jackson Esqr. Governor and Commander in chief of the State of Georgia Pr. Ecpress (sic) Jno. Gorman ================= 7/28/1798 Document Number ___ July 28th 1798 His Excellency the Govr. of Georgia Sir, Your favor of the 28th June ultmo., I received on the 22d. Inst. and am much obligd. to you for the friendship, and candour (sic), therein expressed: I have done myself the honour (sic) of writing to you by Mr. McGillis in answer to yrs. of the 30th the bills of Sale for the Negroes I pad for in Florida: with a conditional receipt of 1r Fatios; all of which I hope you (sic) Excellency has received: In answer to yrs. of the 28th of June I have to inform you that I took no pains to be Elected or had no such thought untill (sic) I was sollicited (sic) by all the officers then in Commission which was a Majority supposing all the officers of the Regiment commissioned: the reason they assigned for urging the Election was the perrilous (sic) Situation of our exposed County and the unorganized State of our Militia, as for the illegallity (sic) of the Election I wont (sic) pretend to Judge, but will give your Excellency all the information I am possessed off (sic) on that head: in the 1st place, as for the notice being too short it was altogether a mistake and partly of mine for I supposed that 10 days was the lawfull (sic) time 2dly as for Wm. Kings voting it was contrary to my opinion but I was silent on the matter as his Father and me are not on freindly (sic) terms: 3dly it was supposed that Nathl Wright was a much entitled to vote as H. Brown – supposing He Brown had not resigned for they were both commissioned for the same District and resided within the limits of the same untill (sic) it was lately divided in the 3d & 5th districts He left the county for some time but returned two years ago and no one being Elected in his room his commission was deemed valid. I sincerely lament with your Excellency for the discribed (sic) State of this county but can assure you that a large majority of the people here are well disposed and wish to live in quiet; but they are continually kept in hot water by that designing man Atkinson and a few of his Accomplices there is hardly a man in the county that He has Acess (sic) to. that he has not importuned to sign his remonstrance of the 6th June and could get but two old men who in my opinion had nothing to do with military matters and had no knowledge of the Election except from hear say and perhaps that from Atkinson: what ever irregularity, the Election may be charged with believe me nothing unfair was intended: nor could I be capable of holding or wishing to hold any office or place obtained in an undue manner: I have every wish that another Election should take place; the Atkinson declares he will (using his own expression) pick a hole in it. – another vessell with negroes stiled (sic) brigands arrivd. here on sunday last, she is a schooner named: Barbary Capt. Gilbert of Charleston and Savannah she has 20 negroes on board: she is now (by the advice of the French People here) gone over to the Florida side there is a number of them at that side at present and all of them strove to get admittance here first if they knew our situation and were to write they might gain admittance when they pleased: I hope your Excellency will pardon the lenth (sic) of this letter; and believe me to be with much regard your devoted and very humble Servt. Thos. King His Excy. the Govr. of Georgia St. Marys July 28th 1798