- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1815 June 10, St. Mary's, Geo[rgia to] Peter Early, Governor of Georgia, Milledgeville / John Ross
- Creator:
- Ross, John
- Date of Original:
- 1815-06-10
- Subject:
- Indians of North America
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, Camden County, 30.92249, -81.63639
United States, Georgia, Wayne County, 31.55143, -81.91676 - Medium:
- official reports
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- Letter dated June 10, 1815 from John Ross (NOT Cherokee chief John Ross) in St. Mary's to Peter Early, Governor of Georgia in Milledgeville reporting on local activity, particularly that of Indians. The letter describes the report by a local citizen of the robbery and vandalism of his property during which he fired at Indians and wounded or killed an Indian man. Several other local happenings are discussed.
Digital image of original manuscript, scanned by the University of Georgia Libraries in 2000, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- tcc037
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc037
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc037#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc037/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Telamon Cuyler, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 5 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 77, folder 34, document 08.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Letter from John Ross Esquire dated
10 June 1815
Indian War
Page: [2]
His Excellency Peter Early
Sir
This day I had the honor of receiving by mail Your Excellencys Letter of the 1st Inst. [Instant] -- In reply to the enquiries you have made I can assure you that no Indian has been detained in Camden County and had any such occurrence have taken place in Wayne County I should certainly have been apprized of it -- I was informed that two Indians on the 3d Ulto. [3rd Ultimo] attempted to catch some horses belonging to Mr. Tullos living on the Frontier of this County, the old Man seeing them through the apertures of his House Fired at one of them and He thinks by an appearance of Blood afterwards that the Indian must have been wounded -- several shot were fired at him, He deserted his House, The Indians entered and plundered it of several Articles wantonly destroying such as they could not carry off -- Mr. Tullos collected some aid and pursued. He thinks He discovered the marks of four but does not know that the Indian was killed.
His Horses were frightened off at the Report of The Guns and thus they were saved -- on the 16th Ulto. [Ultimo] James Tullos the Son came here and on Oath declared the Facts and was so particular as to describe the Articles of which the House was Robbed as well as such were destroyed --
On the 20th [unclear text: Id. ] Mr. Gibson directed it to Your Excellency
Page: [3]
and I presume it must have safe arrived [unclear text: eer ] this
I will here take an [unclear text: oppr. ] to inform your Excellency that on Saturday Morning the 3d Inst. [3rd Instant] Mr. John [unclear text: Bessent ] having with him upwards of twenty thousand Dollars and many valuable Papers on his Way from Jefferson towards this Place was most inhumanly Murdered, Nine Wounds appeared to have been made with a Knife --
His Horse having been tied & left in sight of the Road led to the Discovery of the Body on Monday morning -- The Papers were contained in a small Portmanteau which also held the Money and [deleted text: strange ] to our great surprize [surprise] the Bundle which contained the Money was the only one left unopened -- Six Spanish Deserters from St. Augustine left this Town on the same Morning and crossed Satilla River in the Afternoon, no doubt existed in the Minds of the People as to their Guilt -- they of course were pursued, three are taken, one killed in attempting to escape and We presume that the two others are in Savannah Prison -- it is hoped that Measures may hereafter be adopted to prevent Villains of this Description from obtaining a Residence in any part of the State and also from travelling on the high Ways thereof --
It is proper that Your Excellency should know that on the 7th Inst. [Instant] a British Armed Brig with Transport arrived at Amelia Island, with Col. Nicholls, Capt. Woodbine, an Indian Chief & his Son, They have been asked if they were now prepared to take possession
Page: [4]
of the Province, One of them replied that they were not yet supplied with Money and Provisions for the purpose -- that was the sole cause of Delay but the supply was soon expected --
Should any further information be obtained relative to The Indians a communication thereof will be made without loss of Time
Very Respectfully I have the Honor to be Your Excellencys Obed Servt. [Obedient Servant]
[Signed] John Ross
[document torn: St. ] Marys
10th June 1815
Page: [5]
St Marys Geo
10 June
25 1/2
His Excellency Peter Early Governor of The State of Georgia Milledgeville