TAYLOR COUNTY, GA - INDIAN WAR  Battle: Boykin's
Plantation: Capt. William CARR (Ft. Twiggs); Capt
McCrary and Lieutenant Bradford (Crawford Co)
Major Brown 
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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Desmond Harp

On Friday, June 3, 1836 Capt. William CARR (Ft.
Twiggs); Capt McCrary and Lieutenant Bradford
(Crawford Co) Major Brown and their military men
were involved in an Indian skirmish near Boykin's
Plantation (25 miles below Columbus on the
Chattahoochee River) It was apparently a rather
"minor" skirmish...but excited controversy
(probably for political reasons) as two of the
Captains went to great lengths to clarify their
actions on that day.

An proposed election "next year" for Capt Carr as
a seat in the Legislature is alluded to while
trying to clear his name of the accusations of
cowardice leveled by Major Brown. (Incidentally,
Capt William A. Carr married Virginia, the
daughter of Col Benjamin Hawkins) 

All of these accounts are from the newspapers of
the time. 


MAJOR HOWARD'S REPORT Steamboat, Metamora  June
13th, 1836 Maj. Gen. Sanford:

(Describes action at Shepherd's Plantation
(Stewart Co)a few miles above Roanoke.) Fort
McCreary (Stewart Co) was six miles below Boykin's
Plantation.

While upon the subject of these border
difficulties, it is proper I should communicate to
you the best information which I have been able to
obtain of the little affair at Boykin's
Plantation, only a few days before. I had ordered
Capt. Carr of Crawford County, from Ft. Twiggs to
Boykin's. Upon his way down, he was informed by
negroes that the Indians were building canoes on
the western bank. He sent to Fort McCrary with the
information, Sergeant Major Brown and Capt.
McCrary, with a small portion of Capt. McCrary's
and Capt. Parham's company joined Capt. Carr that
evening at Boykin's. The next morning the whole
took their stations opposite the place where they
heard the Indians at work. Not long thereafter,
something like a dozen Indians approached the
river apparently for the purpose of launching a
canoe. They were jn an open place and

Sergeant Major Brown ordered a fire, Three Indians
were seen to fall; they were taken up by their
fellows and carried away.

A spirited action of more than an hour was kept
up, in which a large portion of the officers and
men behaved with much gallantry. It is believed
that the enemy lost six killed, and it is now
known that two of their principal men were
wounded, one of them badly. We lost one killed, as
you have been informed, none wounded. In this
affair many privates whose names I do not now
recollect, distinguished themselves for their
coolness and bravery, and I believe, all concur in
the statement that Sergeant Major Brown, Lieut.
Bradford and Saunders from Crawford, Lieut.
Robertson from Sumter, and Sergeant Files from
Crawford, without disparagement to other officers,
were particularly distinguished for their
usefulness. I am very respectfully, Yours, John H.
Howard

Burial of some Soldiers from Creek Indian Battle -
June 9, 1836

Are you trying to locate your Ancestor who served
during the Indian War campaign around 1836 for
Georgia or Florida?  If so you may wish to check
the following names listed below.   First of all
my Ancestorial Grandfather was named (Pvt.) Tapley
B. Tolbert (alias: Talbert/TALBOT). Note: The
surname changes in various documents.  he was born
1800c  and died the 28, August, 1836 at Fort
McCreary in Stewart County, Georgia. I have an
approximately  60 page widow's pension file of
Sarah (wife of) Tapley that she drew after his
death.  He died from rebellious fever.  A friend
of his contested on his pension that he helped to
bury him there on the origional Fort.  Finally,
after I recieved his grave headstone  marker, I
decided to place it where he actually died and was
buried.  There are 3 unknown Soldiers buried there
and one of them is him.

Sometimes afterwards, I received a reply back from
Stewart County, Georgia stating that his remains
had been moved and were placed on the Courthouse
lawn in Gwinnett County, Ga.  After more
researching, I discovered that he was NOT one of
the named Soldiers who was actually placed there. 
So he is still *unmarked buried in Stewart County.
To share with all of you researchers who maybe
possibly going through the same situation as I am,
I would love to share the following names of
Military Soldiers who has been transferred to
Gwinnett County, Ga.  They were Gwinnett Co.
Soldiers who died at Sheperd's Plantation in
Stewart County in the "battle of the Creek
Indians" on 9, June, 1836. 1-Issac Lacy 2-James C.
Martin 3-William M. Sims 4-John a. V. Tate 5-
Robert T. Holland 6-James H. Holland 7-Henry W.
Paden 8-James M. AllenIf anyone has any added
information they would like to share, it would be
greatly appreciated.  Also would love to have
information on the origional Fort.  Thanks,  Marie
mpjx@nbank.net

Capt. Carr's Account

BATTLE AT BOYKIN'S FERRY MACON GEORGIA TELEGRAPH,
Thur. June 16, 1836

TO THE EDITOR OF THE GEORGIA TELEGRAPH: Crawford
County June 9th, 1836 Enclosed you will receive a
letter written by Capt. William A. Carr, of the
Crawford Volunteers, to his family, giving an
account of the skirmish with the Indians on Friday
morning .3rd June, at Boykin's Ferry, 25 miles
below Columbus, on the Chattahoochee River. As it
is attempted to deprive Capt.Carr of the credit of
being in this battle, I am anxious a true account
should be published. Please publish that part of
the letter relating to the Battle and oblige.

Fort Crossland June 4, 1836 "Dear -----: Since I
wrote you before, I have been in a fight with the
Indians. Yesterday about 11 o'clock we fired on a
large party across the river; a fight ensued which
lasted about one hour and 15 or 20 minutes. We
killed from six to ten Indians; several were seen
to fall and were dragged off; some were seen lying
for several minutes before they were taken away.
We were so unfortunate as to lose one of the best
men in my company, W.J.K. Crossland. He was shot
dowm and spoke but once or twice after.

" I have thrown up a breast-work in order to
defend ourselves and have called it "Fort
Crossland", in honor of the brave young man who
fell in the defence of his country. A part of the
Crawford Troop (Cavalry) is here with us and the
remainder will be here tonight.

"I have wrote to the commanding officer at
Columbus for a reinforcement; if he does not send
it, it is likely we shall have to guit our post.
We are stationed at the most dangerous post on the
river, and expect an attack every night; but if we
are attacked we will give a good account of
ourselves. I have been well ever since I left
home, except a camp diarrhea which has made almost
every man sick. I think we shall be at home in
four or five weeks, as the Indians have already
petitioned for peace."

MACON GEORGIA TELEGRAPH, Sept. 1836 TO THE PUBLIC
At the request of many of the citizens of the
county of Crawford, I have been induced to publish
the following certificates In complying with this
request I wish to be distinctly understood that
the principal object I have in view is the
vindication of my conduct as an officer and my
character as an individual, from the unjust
aspersions that are attempted to he cast on both.
This contraversy was not of my own seeking, and if
the evidence produced shall convict Captain Brown
before the public of being the author of a report,
which, through the instrumentality of himself and
friends, has obtained general circulation in the
country, reflecting on my conduct as an officer
during hte late Creek campaign, and calculated to
inflict serious and lasting injury on my conduct
as an individual, he must not blame any other
person than himself. The certificates will speak
for themselves; without any further explanation
from me. William A. Carr Francisville, Crawford
Co. 14th Sept. 1836

Georgia Crawford County I do hereby certify to the
best of my recollection, that I heard Wm. M. Brown
say that he had the command of the officers and
men in the engagement with the Indians at Boykin's
on the Chattahoochy, and that he was solicited by
officers and men to do so, and that the men said
they would not go to the river unless he did take
the command, and that he ordered Capt. Carr and
McCrary to flank to the right and left, and not
let the Indians out-flank them; that he, Brown,
did not pretend to say that Capt. Carr ordered a
retreat, but that when he, Brown went to the
house, that Captain Carr was there, and that some
of his men had their knapsacks on their backs and
some in their hands, with their guns, apparently
ready or had started to leave the place; that
Capt. Carr was standing among his men and asked
Brown what must he do, that the Indians were
crossing above and below; and that he, Brown, said
to Capt. Carr, send out above and below to
ascertain if it was a fact, and that the signal
for the fire was to be the fire of his gun,
andthat he did fire, and at Brown that Capt. Carr
wanted to see him, and that he answered that It
was damned pretty time to send for a man engaged
as he was, but he told him he would be there
presently and that his (Brown's) impression was
that Capt. Carr was wounded by his by his sending
for him, and when he went to the house he found he
was not wounded, but standing in the yard as
before stated; when he went up in the yard he
found the men with their knapsackn on, and that he
cursed them for a set of d----d cowards, and
threatened to blow their brains out. EPHRAIM BEARD

GEORGIA Crawford County I, James Beasley, do
certify that I heard William M. Brown in a
conversation make the following statements, viz:
that he, Brown had the command in the action at
Boykin's and that he fired the signal gun; and the
agreement between him and the man that fired with
him was that he, Brown, would touch him on the
foot when ha got ready to shoot, and then they
were to fire, and at the fire two Indians fell and
that he killed one of them, and killed one
afterwards. He said Carter Cleveland called to him
(Brown) and told him to come there; Cleveland came
to him the second tim~ and said Capt. Carr wanted
him He, Brown, went and thought Carr was wounded,
but found him at the house; and some of Carr's men
had their knapsacks, and others were getting
theirs, and he, Brown asked them what they meant;
he cursed them, and told them to put down their
knapsacks, and go back and fight, or he would
shoot their Damned brains out, or something like
that. He then asked Capt. Carr what he wanted with
him. Capt. Carr told him that tht Indians were
crossing above and below, and that his ammunition
had given out, and that they had better get away
from there he told Carr he had sent for ammunition
and re-enforcement, and tha it would be there in
ten or fifteen minutes. He then wanted Car: and
his men to go back and fight, hut Carr and his men
would not go Sack, but he went back where he left
the men a fighting and fired two or three rounds
at the Indians before they give way; and he also
ordered a picket guard, one above and below, but
did not impeach Carr of being a coward. And while
he, Brown, was at the house a part of Carr's men
continued fighting until he returned to the river,
and fought bravely. This conversation took place
in Upson County, at Blount's Store , a few days
after his return from out of the service. JAMES
BEASLEY (Sept 10, 18936)

Georgia, Crawford County I, WILLIAM C. WALLIS of
the County of Crawford and state aforesaid, do
hereby certify that sometime during the month of
June, after William M. Brown's return from the
Chattahooche, the came to my house, and in
conversation relative to the fight at Boykin's
Plantation he said there were thirteen of Capt.
Parham's company, and a few of Capt. McCrary's
company together tiwh Capt. Carr's Company at the
place, and that he was solicited by all the
officers and men to take the command, for the men
said they would not march down to the river unless
he had the command. I asked Brown if Capt. Carr
asked him to take the cormnand; he said he was not
positive that Capt. Carr did ask him to take the
command, but was present within six or eight feet,
and he, Brown, concluded that silence gave
consent, and he Brown, did take command and
marched them to the river, and placed Capt. Carr
on the right and McCrary on the left, and he,
Brown, took place in the center, and gave the
signal when to fire on the Indians by firing
himself; and he also ordered Carr and McCrary to
flank to the right and left, so the Indians should
not out-flank the, and then the Indians out-
flanked then, and after fighting sometime the
firing ceased on the right, and he, Brown, did not
know the caus of it until Carter Cleveland came
within 100 or 50 yards of him and called him, that
Carr wanted him to come there, he told Cleveland
it was a damned pretty time to send for a man
engaged as he was; Cleveland called to him, Browm,
the second time, and he then went, thinking Capt.
Carr was wounded. He went to the house where the
company was first stationed and found twenty of
thirty of Capt. Carr's men coming out of the gate
with their knapsacks on and he, Brown, cursed
them, and told them that, damn their cowardly
souls, he was a good mind to blow their brains
but. Capt. Carr had not his knapsack on, but was
in the passage of the house Where the others were
getting their knapsacks. He asked Capt. Carr what
he wanted with him, Capt. Carr told him the
Indians were crossing the river above and below
and asked him if they had not better go away from
the place, as the Indians would surround them. He
told Carr that he, Brown, would lose the last drop
of blood before it should be said the Indians
should whip him, when the Indians were on one side
of the river and they on the other; Capt. Carr
also stated that he was nearly out of ammunition,
and he, Brown, ordered Carr to place a picket
guard above and below on the river. During his,
Brown's, absence to the house there was a remnant
of Carr's Company that continued fighting with
Capt. Parham's and Capt. McCrary's men, and he
returned back to the scene, but Carr and his men
did not return to the river with him, Brown, and
the men remaining at the river had two or three
rounds, after he returned, firing at the Indians.
But he, Brown, said he did not accuse Capt. Carr
of cowardice, but I,Wallis, remarked, that if Carr
acted as he, Brown, stated, I impeach him with
cowardice. July 26, 1836                          
WM C. WALLIS GEORGIA Crawford Co. I do certify
that the comments contained in the certificate of
Wm. C. Wallis is just and true to the best of my
recollection. ENOCH B. WALLIS

GEORGIA, Crawford County I do hereby certify that
I was on guard at the camp when the company went
to the river and that I was not present when the
action commenced but after the firing did commence
I left and went to the firing at the river, and
there I found Capt. Carr engaged among his men;
and after the firing ceased I went to the house
with the men who carried Crossland to the house,
and I saw Capt. Carr in company with the men. I
saw Capt. Carr when he met Charles McCullers at
the gate and heard Capt. Carr say to McCullers to
stay there, for he was not going to quit the place
as Capt. Carr made this remark, Sat. Rrown came up
to the yard in company with several others of the
company. I saw nothing in the conduct of Capt.
Carr that induces me to believe he had the least
intention of quitting his station or to dishonor
his command, but saw him busily engaged in making
preparations to maintain his station. his Aug. 25,
1836                          DANIEL, G.x HICKS
mark

Columhus, Georgia August 13th, 1836 Dear Sir:
Yours of the 10th inst. was received yesterday. I
was not less surprised than mortified to learn
that there are those who are disposed to
depreciate the services of Capt. Carr in the late
Creek Campaign. Nothing could he more unjust or
ungenerous, as that gentleman was amongst the
earliest on the field; and up to the time of his
discharge, displayed a zeal, fidelity, and a
courage in the performance of his duty, not
surpassed by any officer in the Army. From what I
have learned of the skirmish at Roykin's had the
entire company been with Capt. Carr, that affair
would ahve been one of the most brilliant feats of
the war. Very respectfully, your obedient servant
Henry Crowell, Esq.                         J.W.A.
SANFORD

Harris County Aug. 14th, 1836 I received yours of
the 10th inst informing me that reports
prejudicial to Capt. Carr as an officer had
reached your county.  Why such reports whould be
circulated I am entirely at a loss to conjecture.
Be assured that they are without foundation. Capt.
Carr was immediately under my command the most of
the time that he was in the service, and I take
great pleasure in stating to you that his conduct
wa such as became an officer, a soldier and a
gentleman. He was much esteemed by the officers
generally, and well did he merit it. You are at
liberty to use the above as you may think proper. 
Yours truly, H.H. Dowe

Certificates in Macon GA Telegraph in defense of
Capt. Carr (similar in nature to the above) were
given by: Ephraim Heard
 James Beasley 
William C. Wallis 
Enoch B. Wallis 
John Causey 
Alfred Cook 
Wm. T. Long 
Wm B. Snelling 
Willis Hobbs 
Thomas J. Grant 
P.B. Wade 2nd Corpl 
Joseph J. Bradford 1st Lieut 
Charles McCullars 
Seaborn C. Christopher
James Hampton 
George L. Pace 
Augustus Potter 
Lewis Tanner 
Isom McClendon 
Everett Watkins 
James Gray
Thos Woods 
Levin Tanner 
Jeremiah Dukes 
H. Jackson Patterson 2nd Sergt 
William McGee 
Allen W. Hobbs
James Duncan ? 
Thomas Thompson 
Elijah Twilley
Michael Welch 
Daniel G. Hicks 
Hugh Ross 
Jacob Duckworth 
Drury Dukes 
Peter W. Gray 

Contributed by Desmond Harp