TALBOT COUNTY GA   Military - Indian Petition - 1836

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 

There Was A Land by Judge Robert Jordan, page 223-224

"Letter from Talbotton on May 23, 1836 to Governor Schley:

     PETITION FROM TALBOT CO TO GOVERNOR SCHLEY ASKING FOR PROTECTION FROM
     INDIANS

     "We the citizens of Talbot County feeling a deep sense of the duty we owe to our country, our selves, and all we
     hold dear, when in danger and knowing it is the duty of every one to use the best means in his power when the most
     sacred rights he holds are in danger, feels that when danger hangs about us that the power to resist it should be in
     proportion to that by which we are threatened, that we might rely on a sure deliverance from all that might oppose
     us, and therefore most respectfully address you at this time, to represent to you the situation of this county, that it is in
     a most defenseless state with not less than two thirds of the men capable of bearing arms called from the county &
     the foe now on this side of the Chattahoochee River and no force to prevent their coming to Talbotton. The section
     of country ten miles below Talbotton is deserted & left open to the possession of the savage foe and this county is
     now the frontier settlement and the foe can advance to its line and not be seen by a citizen to give the alarm. That
     section is thinly settled at any rate and those of us best acquainted with it know that a large body of men could
     penetrate without exposure to observation." 

     "We, for ourselves, and we are willing to speak for all our fellow citizens, are ready to do all in our power to resist a
     foe, but we do not know at what time we may be attacked and the remaining citizens are so scattered over the
     county that before a rally could be made, the foe might accomplish his work of destruction & secure his retreat
     beyond the reach of pursuit. To our knowledge may persons even in Columbus consider Talbotton in more danger
     than that place." "Under these circumstances we would respectfully suggest to your Excellency the propriety of
     sending a company of volunteers (well armed as there are not arms here) from some easterly county or remand one
     of your companies to be stationed here at Talbotton for the protection of the property & lives of the citizens who will
     cooperate with them, in case of a sudden alarm or attack. 

     Talbotton, May 22d 1836. 
     Signed: 

David Shelton
William Durden
H.  M. Osgood   
H. Pettis
J. A. McDonald
Reuben Phillips
Charles R. Wynn  
J. B. Davis
Henry C. Mills 
J. J. Lawrence
W.  R. May    
John B. Hicks
John T. Riley   
David Cottingham
A.  G. Matthews  
John R. Sturgis
N. W. Breedlove  
Joseph C. Hunt
Wellington Fleming  
John E. Mershon
J.  W. Griff   
Stephen Bowen
J. Covey    
William Fleming
J.  T. Tally   
Samuel Weathers
Young Edward   
William Thomas
Miranda Fort   
John Hammuck
J.  T. Backhurst  
Jesse Gregory
L. Maddux    
Joel Meazles
Thomas I. Sanders  
T. W. M. Steed
Seth J. Watson   
Charles M. Smith
H.  H. Hammack   
Robert H. McBryde
G. W. Amoss  
A. J. Belyeu
James Jones
========================
USGENWEB NOTICE:  In keeping with our policy of providing free
information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial
entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These
electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other
presentation.
 The submitter has given permission
to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.