- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1814 Jan. 28, Fort Strother, [Alabama to] Peter Early, Governor of Georgia / John Cocke
- Creator:
- Cocke, John
- Date of Original:
- 1814-01-28
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Warfare
Cherokee Indians--Warfare - Location:
- United States, Southern States, 33.346678, -84.119434
- Medium:
- official reports
military records - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- Letter dated January 28, 1814 from (General John ?) Cocke at Fort Strother to Peter Early, Governor of Georgia giving an account of military engagements in the Creek War (1813-1814), including a summary of casualties on both sides. Cocke mentions the Cherokees, including Path Killer's son Bear Meat, and "friendly" Creeks who are fighting with the federal troops, under Andrew Jackson, against the "hostile" Red Stick Creeks. A note on the back of the letter indicates that the author is "William Cocke"; however, the signature as well as contextual evidence points to Gen. John Cocke.
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:
- tcc131
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc131
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc131#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc131/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:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 77, folder 30, document 02.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Fort Strother
January 28th 1814
In my last I promised to advise you of the occurrances [occurrences] that might take place in the Southern expedition against the hostile Creeks. On the
22nd Inst. [Instant] we had two engagements near [unclear text: E.Muckfaw ], and another on the
24th at the [unclear text: Hillibies ], The brave Genl [General] Jackson has added in laurels to his former Victories. We have faught [fought], we have bled, we have conquered, Genl [General] Coffee has covered himself with glory his fame is made rich with his blood. He is wounded severely but not dangerously Col. [Colonel] Carrole, the intrepid the brave Carrole by his great example gave Courage to all who were near him, none could [unclear text: exceed ] that valuable officer, He is worthy of his country's first love and highest gratitude, the enemy have been [illegible text], and defeated in all their attacks, but not without the loss of some of the best blood that ever animated human nature, Our loss in killd. [killed] is 22, and double that number wounded, among the slain, we have to lament Major Donalson, aid to Genl [General] Coffee, and the brave Capt [Captain] Hill, The enemy cannot have lost less than one hundred and eighty or perhaps two hundred killed; They have not been able to carry off a single scalp, The Cherokees have distinguished themselves & some of the friendly Creeks have done well, Col [Colonel] Rich. Brown Capt [Captain] John [deleted text: Brown ] Thompson fought bravely and the son of the old Path Killer
Page: [2]
known by the name of the Bear Meat, with ten of his companions fought by my side in the last engagement and it is nothing more than justice due them for me to say that they rendered essencial [essential] service, among them that were near me, I have to lament the death of Mr. Thos. [Thomas] Smith son of Capt. [Captain] Saml [Samuel] Smith of Maury County a youth not more than Eighteen years of age, he fought bravely and died gloriously, Capt. [Captain] William Hamilton of East Tennessee, who joined the Artillery company is no more, he fought like a hero & expired for his country. Capt. [Captain] Leml. Childress assist. [unclear text: Qr. ] Master Genl. [General] was wounded early in the action, he seemed to be [unclear text: inspired ] with fresh ardour [ardor] from the blood that trickles down his cheeks, Joshua Haskell assist. Forrage Master [unclear text: deserves ] the highest applause for his gallant conduct on this trying occasion, much praise is said to be due to Majr. [Major] Boid, Capt. Carr [added text: X ] Lt. Long, Capt Geo. [George] W. Marr & my nephew Mr. James Cocke was wounded severely on the evening of the 22nd. Capt. Marr distinguished himself & so did the brave men under his command; He set them an example worthy of himself; and they retaliated ten fold for the blood that they lost, The artillery company sustained the heaviest shock, They had to contend with the strong force of the enemy; Bird Evans was killed and the brave Lt. Armstrong wounded in the hip; but not dangerously Jacob McGavock Hyram Bradford and John Sigler wounded of that Company Mr. [unclear text: Sion ] Perry [unclear text: Joseph ] & Peter Looney fought like heroes, Majr. Thos. [Major Thomas] L. Murray did himself great honour [honor] he is slightly wounded [deleted text: Majr. Jos [Major Joseph] Pickens is truly brave ]
Page: [3]
Majr. Joseph Pickens is truly brave & fought well. In this short sketch I know from [deleted text: my ] [added text: the ] limited view I had of the Action I must [added text: be ] incompetent to do justice to many brave & valuable men & officers; but merit has always its most valuable reward in the pleasure that is felt in conscious rectitude
I am most respectfully your Excellencies Most ob Servt. [obedient Servant]
[Signed] Jhn. [John] Cocke
Letter from William Cocke of Tennessee dated "Fort Strother
28th Jany [January] 1814."
Indian War --
Page: [4]
His Excellency Peter Early Governor of the State of Georgia