GEORGIA MILITARY INDIAN WARS Flewellen, Capt Amos (Monroe or Walton) Chickasahatchee swamp July 1836 ***************** 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: Lindy Hard ssautyvalleyfarm@worldnet.att.net Federal Union [microfilm Aug 1833-Aug 1836] 9 Aug 1836. From the Republican Herald, 2d instant. Creek War Incidents.-We closed our last summary of items, connected with the Indian war, by a narration of the circumstances connected with the fight at QUARLES' plantation, which took place on Sunday, the 24th ultimo. Our troops, from their great inferiority in point of numbers, were, on that occasion compelled to retreat-the Indians continued their course through Stewart county, and when within a few miles of Lumpkin, they were discovered by captain JERNIGAN, who was engaged in raising troops in that vicinity, and had succeeded in enlisting about eighty men. This number, with captain JERNIGAN at their hand, fell in the rear of the enemy, with the view to trail them until such time as they should be reinforced by troops from Columbus. The advance guard from captain JERNIGAN's command, acting without, or contrary to orders, fired upon the Indians as soon as they got within shooting distance, when the Indians immediately ____ ____ and made battle. A sharp engagement took place, which lasted some fifteen or twenty minutes, in which of the whites there were two killed and five wounded-Indians, seven killed, number wounded unknown. The Indians numbered about three hundred, and fought well; the whites stood as long as they could against such odds, when they retreated. The Indians again took up the line of march for Florida. JERNIGAN's little band of heroes still followed in their wake, determined to have another tug at them. On Wednesday, both parties arrived at the southwest end of the famous Chickasahatchee swamp. The Indians had entered previous to the arrival of the whites. Some of JERNIGAN's men on approaching the swamp discovered a few Indians and fired on them, upon which the Indians immediately fled and concealed themselves in the swamp; after a short time employed by JERNIGAN in so posting his men as to prevent the escape of the enemy, a small party of savages came out of the swamp, haillooed to the white men and told them they were ready for them, dared them into the swamp, and promised them a severe flogging if they would only come in. Captain JERNIGAN, we are informed, said to his men "the odds are fearfully against us 'tis true, almost four to one, but this bragging and bullying from a set of savage murderers is too much to stand, let us go in and give them a good fight," not a disenting voice was heard in his ranks, and in they went, admidst water, bushes, mud and alligators; here the strife commenced, and here the battle waxed hot for more than an hour, when the pepper coming so hot from the unflinching Stewart boys, the Indians although in the swamp, their own favorite place, for meeting an enemy, had to give way, commenced dropping back and hiding themselves in impenetrable thickets, until no trace of them could be seen-eighteen we learn, were actually killed in the engagement, their dead bodies having been afterwards found; the precise number of killed and wounded, from the Stewart troops, we have been unable to ascertain. This is the way to fight Indians; follow them to their secure retreats, hunt them as you would the deer seeking his covert, give them battle on their own ground, meet them in their own way, and it always will result as in this case, eighty white men will whip three hundred Indians. Captain JERNIGAN merits, and will receive the grateful acknowledgements of his country. From the first moment of the hostilities he has been up and doing, not content with being posted at some particular spot as a sentinel, he has gone in search of the foe, and wherever he has met him, he has introduced himself with spirit and valor. The Uchees and Hitchaties will "never forget JERNIGAN." At the time of the fight, of which we have been speaking, general SANFORD with his command had not arrived, but ere this has overtaken and joined JERNIGAN; he as under his command five hundred men, and if ever they can succeed in getting the Indians out of the swamp, they will sweep them away "as with the besorn of destruction." Report of Captain AMOS R. FLEWELLEN. Camp Boykin, July 16th, 1836. Major General SANFORD: Sir-I embrace this as the first opportunity of making an official report of an engagement, which took place between the troops under my command, stationed at Fort Jones, consisting of the Monroe troops and a part of the Gwinnett company. This, however, would have been attended to immediately after the engagement, but for the expectation of your arrival at Roanoke, where I designed to have made my report. After your arrival at that place, before I had an opportunity of doing so, I received orders to march in haste under the command of colonel BEALL, in pursuit of a party of Indians who had crossed the river and were endeavoring to make their escape to Florida; which expedition detained me in the lower country until the 11th inst. at which time I arrived at this place. On the 16th ult. while at Fort Jones, we received intelligence that a number of Indians had made an attack upon Messrs. T. J. B. TURNER, JAMES WARREN, and Mr. ISLAND, together with a number of their negroes, in Mr. TURNER's field, about two miles north of Fort Jones. In haste I repaired to the scene of action with about sixty men, with a part of each of the above named companies. On our arrival at the field we met a negro belonging to Mr. TURNER, who had made his escape from the Indians; he informed us that the Indians were about recrossing the river at the lower end of the field, we immediately proceeded to the place; before our arrival there, we were fired on by the Indians.-We immediately retreated back near the centre of the field, where we dismounted and gave our horses to a guard detailed to hold them; when the order was given for every man to select his own ground upon which to stand, using whatever stumps and trees were near for a protection, the Indians being in ambuscade behind the bluff of the river and secreted by a thick shrubbery, thereby compelling us in many instances to shoot at the flash of their guns. Under these circumstnces we engaged them for more than half an hour, during which time we could discover a constant reinforcement on the part of the Indians, their forces at that time being superior to ours. They commenced flanking to the right and left, using the fence and brushes as a protection to them. On discovering that, we retreated back to the fence, to use it as a breastwork. On arriving there, we had scarcely recommenced firing when I discovered the object of the Indians was to cut us off at the ford of the creek, the only direct way to the Fort. I then gave orders to recross the creek; on our arrival at the creek, we were fired on by a party of Indians, who, I believe, had we waited five minutes, would have succeeded in cutting us off from the Fort, by which means they were induced to make an attack up on the Fort; which attack was continued for near three houros; during which time, the men under my command manifested great composure and presence of mind. The Indians, however, would not venture near- concealing themselves behind the trees and bushes endeavoring to throw their balls over, so as to wound us. The number of efficient men in the Fort, did not exceed one hundred. the number of Indians supposed by most persons to be between two and three hundred. During the engagement in the field we had two men (privates) wounded. H. K. MORGAN, in the arm, and E. WARD in the left leg. I also received a slight wound in the left leg. The number of Indians we are unable to state; we only secured one of their dead, but saw signs were many were dragged off. We also seven horses, three wounded, two of which have since been recovered. Mr. WARREN was killed before we reached the field. In conclusion, I would take occasion to remark, since my arrival at this place, I have discovered in the Republican Herald of the 21st June, a note over the signature of T. S. STILL, addressed to H. W. JERNIGAN misrepresenting the conduct of the men on the above occasion. Least the community should give credence to said report, not knowng the character and standing of said STILL, I refer them to the certificates which will be hereunto annexed, proving that he (STILL,) manifested his bravery on the occasion, by making his retreat on a horse belonging to one of my company, leaving his own behind. Being apprised that you are well aware from both private and official report of the injustice done us in the above named note before a strange community, (though unworthy their notice,) we confidently rely upon you as commander-in-chief of the Georgia forces to do us whatever justice you may think essential. Very respectfully, your obedient servant. AMOS R. FLEWELLEN, (Enos R. is correct name) Captain Monroe Company. [NOTE: This may be the town of Monroe, Walton County or the County of Monroe] Columbus, Georgia, July 16, 1836. I do hereby certify that I was in the engagement with captain FLEWELLEN's company from Monroe and a part of the Gwinnett company in Mr. TURNER's field about two miles from Fort Jones, on the 16th of June, against the Creek Indians. During said engagement my mare made her escape from me, leaving me on foot, and when I came up to said mare I found her in the possession of T. S. STILL, making his retreat from said field. J. R. SMITH Columbus, 23d July, 1836. DEAR SIR.-I feel it my duty in complying with your request of yesterday, to state that I did visit, and minutely inspect the ground upon which your command, and a part of the Gwinnett had their engagement with the Indians, and which were under your command. I feel no hesitancy in stating that, had you have done other than what you did do, or had you remained on the field for ten minutes longer, you would have been cut off and destroyed at the bridge. I am strongly of this opinion, from this fact, on the evening of the battle, general LOWE and myself received your express, &c came down to your assistance, and when we arrived near the field, we discovered considerable signs of Indians on your left, evidently flanking and going directly down to the bridge, on Lumpkin's Mill Creek. I have no hesitancy in stating, that, had you remained on the field, or had you not have retreated at the time you did, your whole command would have shared the same fate as Dade and his brave men. I am certain that no men ever acted more bravely then your command on that occasion. Respectfully, you obedient servant. A. B. DAWSON. ================ Special Orders - Headquarters Georgia Troops Fort Ingersoll, Ala June 4th, 1836 Capt Hardeman will furnish from the Arms in possession of his Company to Capt Garmany of the Gwinnett Troup 31 stand of arms also to Capt Flewellen of the Monroe Troup 33 stand of arms and take receipts therefore. By Order of Maj Gen'l Sandford W.P. Rockwell Aid de Camp Received of Capt Hardeman 33 stand of Amrs Fort Ingersaoll (Ala) 4th Jun 1836 E.R. Flewellen Capt Received of Capt Hardeman 31 Stand of Arms Fort Ingersaoll (Ala) 4th Jun 1836 H. Garmany Capt of the Gwinnett Mounted Men ================ The Macon Telegraph newspaper abstracts 1833-1839, pg 2, mentions Enus R. Flewellen 1833. 30 Jan 1833 sheriff sale Knoxville, Crawford Co #21 3rd dist, property of John Fletcher, fi fas, one of Enus R Flewellen [county not named,] the other issued by the tax collector of Jones county 1840 Census Crawford pg 366 Flewellen, E. R. (?) 2-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0 0-1-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0 61-33-0-0-0