History:  Columbia County.  Reminisces of Dr. H. R. Casey
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	 This file was contributed by: Stephanie Harrison
                                  info@conquestmusic.com 

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Articles written for the Columbia Sentinel in 1883.

Permission granted by the Columbia County News and transcribed by 
Stephanie Harrison.

The articles were written in 1883 by Dr H. R. Casey for the Columbia Sentinel. 
He writes about many of the early pioneers of Columbia County 
who arrived in Georgia in the late 1700's and early 1800's."


January 10, 1883

An antipode in nature and in politics, was Columbia's favorite and
honored son, PETER CRAWFORD, the great Head-Centre of the Troup party. 
The name of Peter Crawford was the rallying cry-the tossin-which, like
the signal of Roderick Dhw o Chan Alphine's warriors, called up the
mailed panoplied and ready clansmen of the great Troup party to the conflict.
CHAS. A. CRAWFORD, a cousin and brother-in-law of Peter C, was said
to be even more popular man with the people, but he had no desire for
place or power; and beyond being Clerk of The Superior Court, he held
not other office. He was content to follow the humble occupation of
tiller of the soil. But Peter Crawford was the recognized master mind
of the party in the county and against him was hurled the powerful
batteries of the Clarkites, under that shred and daring leader Col,
Zach. Williams.
About this time there came upon the stage a young man of decided
talent and with laudable ambition to enter the political arena as a
contestant for its honors. Upon the same stage also appeared another
rising star, whose youthful promise was more than realized. This young
man was GEORGE W. CRAWFORD, son of Peter Crawford, the noble scion of an
illustrious sire, Wm H. Crawford, by his acknowledged genius and
intellect, had become a star of first magnitude (which was also doomed
to be eclipsed in the meridian of its spendor) in the galaxy of
constellations that was glittering prospectively for the Presidentia
coronet. Peter's ambition was no higher than county and state offices,
with an intellect as good if not superior to any of his conferes. Peter
had not the polish and culture which would fit him to shine in Courts
and Cabinets. He had not those advantages of early education so
necessary to the cultivation and growth of the brightest intellects; but
the ore in its native bed was pure metal. Thus endowed by nature with
some of her choicest blessings, with a brilliant intellect, an upright
deportment, a laudable ambition, with a suaviter in modo that had
nestled him closely and firmly in the affection of his fellow-citizens,
he was a target too regal to escape the shafts and hot shot of the 
Opposition.

Col. Zach Williams saw in his formidable antagonist-a man dangerous
to the success of his party. His defeat must be accomplished at any and
all hazards. Pemberton was now editing the Augusta "Chronicle". He sat
on the editorial tripe no idle spectator of passing events in Columbia. 
His paper was the recognized organ of the Clark party, and hence he was
a leading man in the bitter partisan war-fare then raging in the
county. George W Crawford and Thos. E Burnside were rising young men
and Attornies of great promise and both ambitious or the triumph of
their respective political favorites.
Political excitement as always run high, and at times up to fever
heat in Columbia, somewhat akin to that partisan warfare between Whig
and Tory in North and South Carolina, from 1776 to 1782, when the
infamous Governor Dunmore and cruel Col Tarleton, "Bloody Bill
Cunningham" and Col. Fanning were a terror to the men, women and
children; when Tory atrocities-darkened the day-time of life and the
fires of hatred and distruction of property lighted up the darkness of night.
The political contests of which I write in these "Reminscences"
were not always crimsoned with the footprints of blood , but ofttimes
when Greek met Greek, though the tug of general war came not, yet
frequently words came to blows and "Pistols for two" darkened the
history of those days, and made political arenas hot with the poisoned
atmosphere of envenomed hatred.
The biteness, injustice and malignant heart-feeling of party are
proverbial and it unreasonableness and vindictive personalities a matter
of astonishment. Men who are cool, calm and moderate on all other
subjects of controversation, yet when party views arise their
entirenatures are changed. They become hot-blooded, intemperate,
inconsiderate and abusive to the last degree. I will instance a few
only of those scenes of what I have written above.
Col Zac Williams
I cast my first vote in the county in 1844 and for the Henry Clay
elector; from that day to this, now and then I would hear of God. Zach.
Williams. He was indeed a noted character. He was born in Wilkes
County and moved to Augusta where he married a Miss Walton, sister I
think of Robert Walton, a noted bank officer for many years, and one of
Augusta's best citizens. While there Col Williams had a quarrel with
Mr. John Forysth, which resulted in a sword fight on the South Carolina
side of the river. Forysth made a deadly thrust at Col. Williams which
the Colonel skilfully parried and in turn, directed a well aimed thrust
at the "Adam's Apple" of Mr Forsyth insumating the blade of his rapier
between the neck-tie and the neck, close to the "jugular".
The terms of the duel were that on blood being drawn, the contest
was to cease. Forsyth's second supposing his friend murdered, removed
the weapon, but there was no stain of blood. The contest was renewed
when Col. Williams dexterously handling his Damascents blade enter the
side of Mr Forysth, but his life was saved by its striking a rib and
carving around to the back. Now while Adam lost a rib that a wife might
be made unto him, Mr Forysth had a rib that saved his life, though
Georgia came near losing him who in after years became one of her
brightest jewels.
Soon after this Col. Williams came to Columbia County and settled
near the head of White Oak Creek on the Quaker, now Wrightsboro Road,
about 6 or 7 miles from Appling. In the days of Troup and Clark he was
the most prominent, active and bitter partisan of the Clark party. He
was a man strong of intellect, but of little culture. His was a
turbulant spirit, free to offer an insult and quick to resent one. He
seemed to enjoy life in an atmosphere of stife. He was indeed the
"storm king" in the political elements ready at the least provation to
turn lose the rude Boreas of his nature upon the Crawfords and other
leaders of the troup party, whenever and wherever an opportunity offered.