Journal of the Commissioners who attended the running [of] the line between the state of Georgia and the Creek Nation of Indians, 1804

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[added text (appears to be different ink and hand): 8 leaves ] Journal
of the
Commissioners
who
attended the running
the line
Between
The State of Georgia
and
The Creek Nation of Indians
[deleted text: [illegible text] ]








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High Shoals of the Appalachee River Friday
20th Jany [January] 1804.

Colo. [Colonel] Hawkins Commissioner on the part of the U.S.
General Clark, Major Adams and Major McCall Commissioners on the part of the state of Georgia
Tuskenehau Thlucco, of Cowetuh, Efau Tustunnuggee and Cussetuh Tustunnuggee of Cussetuh, on


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the part of the Creek Nation and Mr. Freeman The U.S. Surveyor; for running the line between the Said state and the Creek Nation of Indians agreeably to the Treaty entered into at or near Fort Wilkinson on the
16th day of June 1802 arrived at this place and encamped a little below the shoals. --

Saturday
21t Jany [21st January] 1804

The Commissioners re


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paired to the shoals for the purpose of ascertaining the point from whence the boundary line should commence - where a small difference of opinion arose as to the place of beginning
Colo [Colonel] Hawkins stated, and so determined, that the spot called for by the Treaty, to wit, "The upper extremity [added text: of ] The High Shoals of the "Appalache river"" - is at the entrance of the path into the shoals, at the


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end of Colo. [Colonel] Early's lower milldamn [mill dam] ; which path leads from Su wa nee on the Chatahoochee to the Cherokee Corner. -- and alledged [alleged] it to be the point terminating a boundary line between the Creeks and Cherokee's
That should the line Commence above the enter section of that path; it would be encroaching on the rights of the Cherokee nation. --
In which opinions


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Major McCall concurred
General Clark and Major Adams contended that the Treaty was the only guide; and it had no referrence [reference] to the boundary between the Creeks and Cherokee's
The article which govers [governs] the [deleted text: is point ] present question requires that the line should begin at the "upper extremity of the High Shoals of the appalachee river" which they respectfully conceive to be between three


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and four hundred yards above the intersection of the path, pointed out by the united States Commissioner-
Altho [Although] they admit there is an eddy between the lower and upper extremity of the Shoals - Yet it is in part Created by the Milldamn [Mill dam], and when in its natural state is broken by intervales [intervals] of Rocks and Land, which induces them to say, is a Continuation of the same Shoals - and this opinion is founded on their [deleted text: [illegible text] ]


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Knowledge of the premises for many Years previous to the erection of said damn [dam] .
These circumstances compell [compel] them to dissent from the decision of the united States Commissioners on this point.
They deem it proper to remark, That Colo. [Colonel] Early, who lives at the Shoals, also observed, that to his knowledge the intersection of the path pointed out by Colo. [Colonel] Hawkins was the termination of the boundary


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agreed on between the Creeks and Cherokees. --

Saturday
22nd Jay [January] 1804

Commenced raining last night and continued all this day, which detained us at the Shoals.

Monday
23d Jany [23rd January] 1804

The [deleted text: Commission ] Surveyor commenced the line at the point designated by the United States Commissioner which run S. 10°- [unclear text: 58 E ] .-


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The Commissioners proceeded, leaving one Cabbin [Cabin], on the Indian side nearly oposite [opposite] the upper end of the Shoals -- passed another on the left and about Three miles and an half crossed Jacks-Creek, which emties [empties] into the appalachee -- a bold running stream -- no swamp. --- The lands of the Second and third quality. --
Proceeded on four miles and half further and encamped on Sandy-Creek, also a water of


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the appalachee -- this is a stream Sufficient for mills &c. [et cetera], and has a Shoal about one hundred yards above the line, which will in time be valuable. --
There are two families living on this Creek, verry [very] near the line on the lower side. --
The lands of a good quality tho [though] broken. --



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Tuesday
24th Jany [January] 1804

Proceeded on, passed two or three Cabbins [Cabins] on our left and about six miles further crossed Hard Labour a bold Creek of the appalachee -- The lands of a good quality:-- Continued two miles and encamped on a ridge

Wednesday
25th Jany [January] 1804.

Crossed a branch of Indian Creek at the destance [distance] of two or three miles and shaped our course down it --


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proceeded six or seven miles and encamped on the main Creek; which emties [empties] into Little River --- affords water sufficient for Mills &c. [et cetera] - - has low banks and wide Flats, with Small Lagoons
The branches of this Creek has some Cane tho [though] nearly exhausted ... The up land of a good quality. -- .

Thursday
26th Jany [January] 1804

Crossed Indian Creek and continued down it about


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three miles - recrossed it; [deleted text: and ] proceeded on three or four miles and encamped on a small branch. -- Lands of Mixed quality. --

Friday
27th Jany [January] 1804

In going two miles came to Little River - a bold handsome Stream, about three chain in width.- - Crossed it half a mile below the line, at a considerable Shoal; - Valuable for Mills &c. [et cetera] -- passes through pretty good lands and encamped, at


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the distance of three miles, on a Creek, affording excellent cane. --

Saturday
28th Jany [January] 1804

proceeded on about five miles and reached a noted Ford on a south branch of Little River Called by the Indians Chattochuccohatche. --
Here is a Shoal upwards of a quarter of a mile in length and about four Chain in width at a fall of Eight or ten feet, nearly


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perpendicular, formed by a ledge of rocks running entirely a cross the stream - it appears handsome to the view from the quantity of water rushing over it which continues to riffle below and at a small distance forms a bason [basin] - Turns a little to the right; reclaims its usual width and about one hundred yards makes a safe ford, at which we passed. --
The bed of this stream is nearly the size of Little River,


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tho [though] contains less water. --
This place terminates the course of the line from the High Shoals of the appalachee (distance forty one miles) and commences South 17° 40" East to the ford on Commissioners Creek where the path leading from the Rock landing to the Ocmulgee old Towns intersects the same. -- On which line we proceeded about three miles and encamped on a large Creek, which emties [empties] into Little River -


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called by the Indians, auyouchautee and by the whites Cedar Creek. --
The lands through which we passed this day of Inferior quality & Hilly.

Sunday
29th Jany [January] 1804

Auyouchautee being a more southerly branch of Little River and of considerable size. The Commissioners on the part of the State, made an excursion for six or


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seven miles up it for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not, there was a noted ford which might be embraced by the Treaty, but found none. --
They discovered in their rout [route], in the fork of the Creek, about three miles above the line, a work of Antient [Ancient] Fortification [added text: of considerable seize [size] ] . The traces of which are at this day plainly to be perceived. --
The Lands on this


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Creek, and through which the line run this day, of an excellent quality.-
The Commissioners falls in with the line and encamped about nine miles from Auyouchautee on the waters of Fishing Creek, running by Hawkins's Spring into the Oconee. --

Monday
30th Jany [January] 1804

Proceed'd [Proceeded] on through good lands for about four


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miles where we came to long leaf pine, with a number of Reedy branches, which continued three or four miles to Commissioners Creek: - where we arrived too late for the Surveyor to close the line, and encamped near the ford
The lands [added text: at this spot ] on the Creek of the first quality of Low grounds. --

Tuesday
31st Jany [January] 1804

Closed by joining the line


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to the one running south 40° East to palmeto Creek, where the same is intersected by the Uchee path leading from the Oconee to the Ocmulgee river. - From this to palmeto
The whole of the country pine - [deleted text: from ] with low flat Creeks, [unclear text: embouged ] in considerable Swamps. -- immediately on palmeto Creek the lands of the first quality. --
The Traverse


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line for these two points commenced at the aforesaid Ford on Commissioners Creek the
twenty third day of December also and was attended by Colo. [Colonel] Hawkins the United States Commissioner, Major Adams one of the Commissioners on the part of Georgia and the three Indian Chiefs. --
The causes which prevented the other two Commissioners from attend


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ing were unavoidable and are stated to the Executive by them individually. --
Proceeded to Fort Wilkinson and from thence [there] to Colo. [Colonel] Hawkins's Spring.

Hawkins's Spring
Wednesday
1st Feby [February] 1804

The Commissioners remained for the purpose of obtaining from the


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surveyor a draft of the line and to ascertain from Colo. [Colonel] Hawkins the Earliest period that could be fixed on, for commencing the line at the mouth of Goose Creek. --

Thursday
2nd Feby [February] 1804

The Surveyor furnished the Commissioners with a draft of the line from the High Shoals of the Appalachee river to palmeto Creek,


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and Colo. [Colonel] Hawkins informed them that it was not then in his power to say, at what time the Indians would be ready to attend the running the [added text: lower ] line. - That he expected a number of the Chiefs to see him, to day and to morrow, when he hoped to be able to come to an understanding with them on the subject; and assured the Commissioners


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that his utmost endeavours [endeavors] should be used to fecilitate [facilitate] the business as speedily as possible. --

Friday
3d Feby [3rd February] 1804

Colo [Colonel] Hawkins informed the Commissioners, that from the present disposition of the Indians who claim the lands, manifested to him, this day, by a deputation from the Nation -- He is [unclear text: enducd [induced] ] to believe it impracticable to commence running the line from Goose Creek to the mound at the head of Saint Mary, until the month of May -- should there be a declaration, [deleted text: [illegible text] ] on their


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part sooner to effect it, he would communicate it to the executive. Ordered that William Robertson our Secretary Wait on his Excellency the Governor, at the Seat of Government, with a copy of the journal, -- The Commissioners communications and a draft of the line furnished by the Surveyor
[Signed] John Clark
[Signed] David Adams
[Signed] Jesse McCall