- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1818 Sept. 25, Madison, [Georgia to] Gen[era]l D[avid] B. Mitchell / Wilson Lumpkin
- Creator:
- Lumpkin, Wilson, 1783-1870
- Date of Original:
- 1818-09-25
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Treaties
Creek Indians--Government relations
Boundaries
Indian agents - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- official reports
letters (correspondence) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter dated September 25, 1818 from Wilson Lumpkin, in his capacity as a commissioner for running boundary lines, to General David B. Mitchell, U. S. Agent to the Creek Indians. Lumpkin reports that he has been commissioned to run the lines pursuant to the Treaty of the Creek Agency (signed between the U. S. and the Creeks on January 22, 1818). He indicates that the treaty calls for a line to be drawn from the high shoals of the Apalachee River to the shallow ford on the Chattahoochee River, but there is confusion about which shallow ford was intended. Georgians maintain that it is the lower shallow ford, but the Indians understand that the upper ford was intended. Lumpkin asks Mitchell to clarify this misunderstanding so that he can complete his commission.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- fhp004
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_fhp004
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_fhp004#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_fhp004/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Felix Hargrett Papers, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Felix Hargrett Papers, box 02, folder 65, document 02.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Madison Morgan Cty [County]
25th. Sep. [September] 1818.
Sir
On the first instant I wrote & forwarded to you a letter (by mail) notifying you that I had received a commission from the President of the U. S. under the treaty concluded with the Creek nation of Indians on the
22d. of January last, authorizing me to run any lines which may be necessary to designate the boundary of any part of both, on either of the tracts of land ceeded [ceded] by said treaty: and having awaited your answer twenty five days (without procuring any) and being still in uncertainty whether my Communication has ever reached you, I have deemed it my duty to address you on the subject a second time, and send direct by express.
The wish and interest of the people of Georgia, & my own arrangements of other business requires that I should not longer delay. My instructions afford but little additional information to that which is Contained in the treaty itself, except a map exhibiting some sketches of the country ceeded [ceded] . The Governor of Georgia has appointed Commissioners on the part of the State to attend to the designation of the necessary lines -- who are ready to give their attendance whenever notifyed [notified] of the time & place of Begining [Beginning] . And I deem it my duty again to inform you as agent of the Indians, that I have made the necessary arrangements to proceed to the designation of the lines of the upper tract of country
Page: [2]
and shall commence on the southern line of said tract [deleted text: of country ], immediately after the return of the bearer of this letter, unless some information derived shall make it still necessary to delay, I should be highly gratifyed [gratified] that you could give your personal attendance to the designation of the lower line, of the upper tract of Country at least; because my own knowledge of the Country evinces, that there is some difficulty in determining which is the path intended by the treaty, leading from the high shoals of the Appalachee to the shallow ford on the Chatahoochee. There is at this day a number of paths leading from the high shoals of the Appachee to various points in the Creek Country, and it is stated from sources entitled to credit, that there is at least three fords on the Chatahoochee known by the name of shallow ford. Now Sir, as the Commissioner who formed the treaty with the Indians, you no doubt are able to define the intended path so clearly, as to remove all doubts on the subject, & this information I again beg leave to request that you will forward by the bearer. The people of Georgia say the lower shallow ford was intended by the treaty -- The Indians probably say the [deleted text: lower ] [added text: upper ] one was intended. And my object is to carry the treaty truly & faithfully into effect; and any information derived from you on this subject will be deemed sufficient authority for me to act upon.
You will consider this a sufficient notification to you as agent, & through you to the Indian chiefs of my intention of commencing the necessary lines as above stated.
Page: [3]
Not only the interest of Georgia, but of the Creek Indians requires that the lines of the treaty should be designated without further delay -- for our Citizens are daily making settlements beyond the setled [settled] limits of the State -- And perhaps many of them are setling [settling] on Indian land which has not been Acquired by treaty. Should I fail to get an answer by the bearer, I shall proceed upon the information already in my possession, To wit, the sketches of the Country forwarded to me [added text: from ] [deleted text: by ] the War department -- and the supposed quantity of land.
With considerations of Respect I am
yr. Obt Sevt [your Obedient Servant]
[Signed] Wilson Lumpkin
Genl. D. [General David] B. Mitchell
Page: [4]
Genl. D. B. [General David Brydie] Mitchell Creek Agency
Letter from Wilson Lumpkin. Commr. [Commissioner] [document damaged]