Muscogee COUNTY  GA  Indian Wars Newspaper Abstract Feb 4, 1836

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jerry Jones

http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee/military/indian/feb1836.txt

Transcribed from Macon Messenger, Feb 4, 1836

There has been considerable excitement for a week or two
past at Columbus, and in the vicinity, from apprehension
of hostile intentions on the part of the Indians of that
neighborhood, and rumor has thrown in its usual
contribution in making up all that was lacking in fact.
On Thursday of last week it was understood that 500
Indians had crossed the Chattahoochee at BRYANT's Ferry,
15 miles below Columbus. 

A detachment of twenty-two men, headed by Col. John H.
WATSON, proceeded to the place to ascertain particulars.
They there found 40 armed Indians, who were returning to
the ferry, who took cover and commenced firing.  After
some firing on both sides, two white men, Mr. Josiah
JOHNSON and Mr. ____ McBRIDE, were killed, and two
wounded, and the whites then left the field, and the
Indians probably returned home.

[Note:According to McBride descendants, the one who died
was Eleazar McBride.  He was the son of William McBride
(born 1773, Burke Co, GA; died April 1854, Chattahoochee
Co, GA) and Nancy Eleanor Patterson (died before 1820).
Eleazar was likely to have been born in Jefferson Co, GA,
along with his siblings Nancy Eleanor and Mary Jane (wife
of Dr. Micajah C. Wardlaw). Source: page 355, "History of
Chattahoochee County, Georgia", N. K. Rogers;  copyright
1933, reprinted 1976 by Southern Historical Press.] 


From all that we can learn from people well acquainted
with the Indians, we should not judge that there was a
hostile disposition on the part of those Indians
generally, but that there are outlaws and marauders who
are ready to rob and plunder principally for provisions,
and to fight whenever it becomes necessary. This we
believe to be the fact, both with regard to these Indians
and those residing below.

Note: This is sometimes known as "Battle of Hitchity".
Following this incident, "two companies  were formed,
under the command of Alexander McDOUGALD, and J.H.P.
CAMPBELL, who left Columbus during intensely cold weather
and repaired to the scene of hostilities; but they found
no Indians." Columbus Georgia. complied by John H.
Martin, 1874. pg 59

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