GEORGIA   MILITARY HISTORY War of 1812  Thomas Davis (portion of Diary)

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Gtd6@aol.com George T. Davis

DIARY OF THOMAS DAVIS

Stevens - Davis and Allied Families A Memorial Volume
of History, biography, and Genealogy says this:
"Compiled and published by Marie Stevens Walker Wood".
Published by Merriewoode, Macon, Georgia 1957. The
title page has this quote by Virgil: "For our
children's children and those who shall be descended
from them." 


pg 136 Thomas H. Davis Diary 

"In the autumn of 1811 not long before the great
earthquake--December 16th--I removed with my brother,
Grant Davis, to Morgan County. The next year, 1812, on
the 18th June, the Unisted States declared war against
Great Britain, and about the same time the Creek and
Cherokee Indians commenced hostilities on the frontier
settlements of Georgia and Alabama, in consequence of
which a requisition was made upon Georgia, Tennessee
and adjoining states for volunteers--or those drated in
Militia to repel this encroachment--I was drawn to go,
the term of service was six months. 

The Georgia brigade consisting of two regiments of
Infantry, one horse troop, or mounted men, one rifle
battalion, and one Artillery company was mustered into
service at Fort Hawkins on the Ocmulgee, about the 20th
September, 1813, under the command of Brigadier General
John Floyd, of Georgia, to which was afterwards added
five or six Indian warriors of the Friendly party. 

I belonged to the second regiment, Colonel Newman's
[Newnan] or Colonel Groves, Major Hogg's Battalion,
Capt Henry's company. Our first encampment was Camp
Pike, but we moved in a short time to Camp Hope [near
Ft. Hawkins] for a more healthy location. We remained
there until about the last of October, then again at
Fort Lawrence on the Flint River only thirty miles
farther. We remained here until about the 18th of
November. At Fort Mitchell on the Chattahoochee, we
were again stopped for supplies (not available). The
main army did not leave that place until January 17. 


From Fort Mitchell [Russell Co, AL] we proceeded to
Fort Hill, [Dougherty Co] not far from the Calibee
battle ground. We remained here until Jan 25th then we
resumed our march on the road towards the old
Tuckabachi town on the Tallapoosa, and encamped 5 miles
from Fort Hull and 12 miles from Ottasee, continued
next day (He explains the line of formation) -- larger
log fires--camped in double files and were ordred to
lie on our arms.--Describes the attack -- Indian put in
front--17 killed and 132 wounded on our side. We
remained here at camp Ft. Defiance until Feb 1st then
returned to Fort Hull till the 16h, then returned to
Fort Hawkins where we delivered our arms and were
honorably discharged on the 26th Feb 1814, having
served 6 mos. 4 da and being relieved by troops from
North and South Carolina. 

On my way home from Fort Hawkins I stopped for the
night at the house of a friend in Jones County--J.
Billings, where my brother met me with a horse and here
for the first time in 6 months I indulged in the luxury
of a feather bed. 

Although war was declared against Great Britain (June
15) and actual hostilities commenced, it was not until
the fall of 1814 that the British army made any
movements towards invading any of the Southern States.
In anticipation of such an event, two detachments of
Georgia Militia were called out for the defense of our
southern cities, one under the command of General
Blackshear to be stationed at Savannah, the other under
Genearl McIntosh to go to Mobile, AL, one or both of
which places it was supposed they designed to attack. 

I now volunteered again and under Capt Henry Lane
subsequently attached to Gen McIntosh. [Jones'
Regiment] I think it was the latter part of October
1814 that we were mustered into service at Fort
Hawkins, and went soon (well supplied) to Fort Decatur,
on the Tallapoosa river. We built boats to carry
provisions down the river. We started overland to Fort
Claiborne [Louisiana]. We got there eight days before
the boats arrived with the food, and there was none at
the Fort. We had bad times, some suffered extremely,
some died. Before our supplies came reports came that
the British had taken Fort Bowyer at Mobile point, and
an attack upon the town fort was expected. What were we
to do?...... 

Thomas H. Davis was my 5th great uncle.