- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1825 May 3, Line Creek, Fayett[e] County, Georgia [to] Colo[nel] Duncan G. Campbell and Major James Meriwether, United States Commissioners, Watkinsville, Clarke C[oun]ty, G[eorgi]a / Peggy and Susannah McIntosh
- Creator:
- McIntosh, Peggy
- Contributor to Resource:
- McIntosh, Susannah
- Date of Original:
- 1825-05-03
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Government relations
McIntosh, William, approximately 1775-1825--Assassination
Hawkins, Samuel, d. 1825--Assassination
Tustunnuggee, Etome, d. 1825--Assassination - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- reports
petitions - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- Letter dated May 3, 1825 from Peggy and Susannah McIntosh, wives of the late Creek leader William McIntosh, to U.S. Commissioners Duncan G. Campbell and James Meriwether. The women relate that hundreds of Creeks opposed to the Treaty of Indian Springs, 1825, signed by William McIntosh and others converged on McIntosh's estate, killing him, T(h)omas (also, Etomme) Tustunnuggee, and Samuel Hawkins (husband of Jane "Jinny" Hawkins). William's son Chilly managed to escape from the party of Creeks led by Intockchunga, Thloccocoscomicco, and Munnawway (also, Menewa), who were ordered to kill the treaty signers. Peggy and Susannah describe the dire situation of those who have fled and beg the commissioners to remember their pledge to assist and protect them. For another version of this letter see tcc193 of the Southeastern Native American Documents Database.
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:
- tcc191
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc191
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc191#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc191/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 78, folder 07, document 03.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Colo. [Colonel] Duncan G. Campbell and Major James Meriwether United States Commissioners Post Office Watkinsville Clarke Cty [County] Ga
Madison Geo [Georgia]
12th May 1825
Page: [2]
May 3rd 1825 Line Creek Fayett County
To [unclear text: Colo. ] Duncan G. Campbell and Major James Meriwether United States Commissioners.
Gentlemen,
When you see this letter stained with the blood of my husband (the last drop of which is now spilt for the friendship he has shown for your people) I know you will remember your pledge to us inbehalf [in behalf] of your Nation, that in the worst of events, you wou'd [would] assist, and protect us: and when I tell you that at day light on Saturday Morning last, hundreds of the hostiles surrounded our house, and Instantly murdered Genl. [General] McIntosh and Tomas Tustunnuggee, by shooting near One hundred balls into them (Chilley and Moody Kennard making their escape through a Window) they then Commenced burning and plundering in the most unprincipalled [unprincipled] way, so that here I am driven from the Ashes of my smoking dwelling, left with nothing but my poor Naked hungry Children, who need some immediate aid from our white friends, and we lean upon you, while you lean on your Government; About the same time of the Morning that they Committed the horrid act on the Genl. [General] another party Caught Colo Saml. [Colonel Samuel] Hawkins and kept him tied untill [until] about 3 oclock, when the Chief returned from our house and gave orders for his execution in the same way, and refused to leave his wife any implements to cover his body up with, so that it was left exposed to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the Forest and Jinny and her child are here in the same Condition as we are. This party consisted principally of Oakfuskies, Talledegas, and Muckfaws tho [though] there were others with them; The Chiefs that appeared to head the party, were Intockchunga (of Muckfaw) Thloccocoscomicco (of Arpachoochee) and Munnawway, but I know not where he was from, who said they were Ordered to do it, by the Little Prince and Hopoeth yoholo, and that they were supported and encouraged in it, by the Agent and the Chiefs that were left after the Big Warriors death in a Council at Broken Arrow, where they decreed that they wou'd [would] murder all the Chiefs, who had any hand in selling
Page: [3]
the Land, and burn and destroy and take away all that they had, and then send on to the President that he shoud [should] not have the Land. I have not heard of the Murder of any Others, but expect all are dead that Coud [Could] be Catcht [Caught], but by reason of a great Freshett [Freshet] in the Chatahoochee they Coud [Could] not get Colo [Colonel] [added text: Miller ] Nor [unclear text: Hagy ] McIntosh nor the [unclear text: Darisaw ] and they and Chilly are gone to the Govornor [Governor] . Our Country is in a most ruined state so far as I have heard, (tho [though] by reason of the high waters word has not circulated fast) all have fled from their homes in our parts, and taken refuge among their White friends, & I learn there are now at Genl. [General] Wares, (near this place) from 150 too [to] 200 of them, who are afraid to go to their homes to get a grain of what little corn they have to eat, much more to try to make any more, and if you and your people do not assist us, God help us, we must die, either by the sword or the Famine.
This Moment Genl. [General] Ware has come in, & will in a few minutes start with a few men, and a few friendly Indians to try to get a little something for us to eat.
I hope as soon as you read this, you will lay it before the Govornor [Governor] and the President, that they may know our Miserable Condition, and Afford us relief as soon as possible I followed them to their Camp about 1 1/2 Miles, to try to beg of them something to Cover the dead with, but it was denyed [denied] me, I tryed [tried] Also to get a horse to take my little Children, and some provision to last us to the white settlements, which was given up to me, and then taken back And had it not have been for some white men who assisted in burying the dead, and getting us to the settlements, we shoud [should] have been worse off than we were if possible. Before I Close I must remark that the whole of the party so far as I knew them, were Hostile during the Late War.
[Signed] Peggy and Susannah McIntosh
Colo [Colonel] Campbell & Majr. [Major] Meriwether
Page: [4]
Letter
Peggy & Susannah
3 May 1825
Murder of McIntosh, Tustunuggee & Hawkins.