GEORGIA MILITARY Indian Wars 1836 Battle of Chickasawatchee Swamp ***************** 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: Linda Hard ssautyvalleyfarm@worldnet.att.net Source: (Federal Union newspaper, pub. Milledgeville GA) microfilm roll: AUG 1833-1836.) Last Creek Battle fought her at Chickasawatchee Swamp in Baker County 1836 Federal Union newspaper Fort Gaines, Clay Co., GA. August 1st, 1836. THOMAS BEALL: Sir-Your official report of the battle of Chickasahatchie swamp, on the 2d ultimo, as published in the Columbus Enquirer, has this morning reached me and I take the liberty of calling your attention, particularly, to certain portions of that account, in which I hope to convince you, that I do not conceive that sheer justice, (all I claim,) has been meeted out to a portion of the troops, attaching themselves to, and constituting a part of the regiment under your command. You state truly, that your command, (I suppose you mean when you left Roanoke,) consisted of the troup from Monroe, captain Flewellen, a part of the Talbot troop, under lieutenant Irby, part of the Upson troop under lieutenant Stephens, and the Bibb cavalry under captain M'Call. And on the 26th, I suppose you fell in with captain Jernigan's troop, of Stewart Rangers.-And here, sir, you should have stated also, that on the evening of the 27th, you fell in with, or was joined at Lofton's by the Early troop, under my command, on their return, after aiding the Baker troops, under the command of captain Hantz, [Hentz] in burying our slaughtered fellow-citizens. But you proceeed in your report, to give an account of your actings, in sending out scouting parties and spies, scouring the swamp near Camp Beall, some three miles to the interior, and of the fight on the 2d, and your subsequently driving the swamp, the junction to yours of major Hoxey's command, the driving the Colowahee swamp under general White, all, all this and more too, before the name of my humble command is mentioned. It is true, in the sequel of your report, just before the paragraph in which the officers are complimented for their gallant deportment, you use this language. "on the arrival of my command near the swamp, it was joined by the Early troop, under the command of captain James P. Holmes, and the Thomas troop under the command of captain Newman, &c."Now from this indefinite statement, the inference I draw, is this, that the Early troop never joined the detachment, until the Thomas troop, which was at Camp Beall, when in fact, the Early troop joined at Lofton's on the 27th, and captain Newman's company at Camp Beall, some three or four days thereafter-From the 27th of June, to the ever memorable 2d of July, from whose command, sir, were your spies and scouts taken in all our adventures, round, up and down, and into the swamp? Were they not taken from the Early and Baker and occasionally from the Stewart troop? If so, why not in the body of your report, have given them that praise, if praise was due, which the discharge of a duty so hazardous, entitled them to receive? and were they not constant in the discharge of duty from the time of our junction, until after the fight of the 2d, and my return with the wounded to Lofton's? I state these facts, and make these inquiries, in justice to the men I had the honor to command, to show that they were ever ready and prompt in the discharge of any and every duty, whether as scouts, spies, or standing to their posts, in the face of Indians in the Chickasahatchie swamp. Your report would have been, (and I think you will, on reflection, agree with me,) much more satisfactory to the public, and particularly to those more immediately interested, had it contained, in detail, the proper arrangement of your forces, previous to, and at the time of battle? What command constituted the guard of the eastern and western passes out of the swamp and for what purpose? Then the disposition of the force under your immediate command, that captain Flewellen's company constituted the centre, captains M'Call, Holmes and Jernigan's the right, and captain Newman's and lieutenant Stephen's and Irby's the left, and captain Hantz's of the baker county troop, the advance guard. The attack and result, the wounded of each command and their grade. And here, sir, I take the liberty to say, in behalf of a brave, but neglected officer, lieutenant James Buchanan, of the Early troop, of the injustice done, in not even the mention of his name, and the circumstances attendant. Why, sir, the request of lieutenant Buchanan, after he was wounded, if nothing more, ought to have been announced to the world, "Boys," said he, "hold me up until I can give the rascals a shot," (shows he was true blue,) he made the effort, but failed, his gun was wet, which circumstance was extremely mortifying to him.-Private John M. Hardison, a brave soldier, who fell in battle belonging to the Early troop. I trust, sir, that you will now have discovered that I am not without some cause for complaint, and that it will be your pleasure, as well as my due, to give the proper explanation and commection, with these, as well as with the major part of your report, I am well pleased. My men are particularly mortified, that mention was not made of them, in conjunction with others, not that they desire or expect more than their share of praise, but that a little of their due, has been no doubt inadvertently withheld. With every consideration, I am sir, your obedient humble servant. JAMES P. HOLMES, Captain Early Troop. ================= Addendum information: Early - James P. Holmes, Capt. James P. Holmes: Elected Captain of the Fort Gaines Guards (Early Co 1836, Clay Co since 1854.) See additional letters and treaties. http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/clay/military/indian/treaties.txt ========================= Talbot Hussars - J.J. Irby http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/talbot/military/hussars.txt Upson Light Dragoon - Jesse Stephens http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/upson/military/indian/rosters/gmt79dragoon.txt Bibb Cavalry - Roger McCall (possibly the Capt McCall) http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/bibb/military/indian/roster/maconvol.txt Stewart County Rangers Capt H.W. Jernigan Source:official report printed in 30 Aug 1836 issue Federal Union Baker County Capt Michael Hentz http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/military/indian/hentz.txt Thomas - Capt Newman Lofton's - http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/military/indian/bakerltr.txt The Loftin's were in the Concord area of Baker county at the time of this Indian wars event. James Loftin was appointed postmaster at Concord in 1831 & William T Loftin (s/o James) in 1835. James had written a letter to the governor 7 Dec 1835 about the Indian problems in Baker & Early county & it was signed by numerous Baker & Early county citizens. Samuel Loftin & Richard Y Loftin (s/o James) were also in that same neighborhood. I'm sure that "Lofton's" is referring to the home/farm or store/postoffice of one of these men, but cannot know for certain which one. RE: Camp Beall I don't know the location, but it sounds like it was near the Chickasawhatchee swamp. More details may be in some of the newspaper reports. RE: Capt Flewellen, Monroe Co This was Amos R Flewellen. He has an official report & a letter printed in the 9th Aug 1836 issue Federal Union Also posted: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/clay/military/indian/jpholm.txt