- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter], 1794 May 10, Fort Fidius [to] Georgia Governor [George Mathews]
- Date of Original:
- 1794-05-10
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Violence against
Creek Indians--Claims against
Creek Indians--Warfare - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- official reports
military records - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This document is a letter sent from a military Captain (signature unclear) at Fort Fidius to Georgia Governor George Mathews, dated May 10, 1794, consisting of reports to the Captain by informants. Mr. Jordan, a spy in the Creek Nation, reports that a small party of Usuchees(?) went to the frontier to steal horses, and the headmen of the town sent out runners to find them with no success. Creeks in one of the Tallassee Towns were planning to go to war, and the Cusseta Creeks were going to try to stop them, but their intervention is unlikely since the Dog King of the Cussetas was recently attacked and wounded by whites. The author has learned of and advises against General Clark's plan to cross the Oconee River and take some Indians at Montpelier since he believes that this will cause a war.
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:
- tcc361
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc361
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc361#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc361/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 43, folder 02, document 02.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Fort Fidius
May 10th 1794
Sir
I have to inform your Excellency that I yesterday received a letter from a Mr Jordan whom Mr Seagrove left in the Creek Nation to give intelligence -- which informs me about ten days ago there was a small party from the [unclear text: Usachees ] sett [set] off to steal horses but on what part of the Frontier they will strike was uncertain -- the head men of Town sent after them to bring them back but the Runners could not come up with them nor discover what route they had taken -- A Town called the half way house belonging to the Tallassee Indians are determined for war, and were expected to start on the 6th Inst. [Instant] the Cusseta
Page: [2]
Town being informed of it, they endeavored to put a stop to it, but whether they would succeed or not was uncertain -- as the Dog king of the Cussetahs and his brother were hunting upon a little River twenty miles above its mouth, a party of ten whites having crossed the River penetrated as far as they were, on perceiving the Indians two white men beckoned to them, the Indians seeing them make some motions with their guns which indicated hostility ran off The whites fired on them, the Dog king unfortunately received a shot in his belly -- they made their escape into a swamp and his brother returned the fire without effect. The Dog king is not killed and I am in hopes he will recover --
I have this moment received a letter from Lieut. [Lieutenant] Sedgwick the Commanding officer at
Page: [3]
Fort Mathews, which says, that he is informed on the 7th instant Genl. [General] Clark was to Cross the Oconee with a number of Militia, it is supposed to take some Indians that are at Montpellier.
I can not refrain from observing Sir, that if the whites will cross the River and no [unclear text: method ] [deleted text: taken ] is fallen upon to prevent it, the Indians being equally rous'd [roused] with the whites, a war will inevitably take place, & I leave you to judge what a Situation this Country will be then placed in
I hope those measures will be taken to [deleted text: prevent ] [added text: correct ] tresspasses [trespasses] on the Indians as will tend to [deleted text: prevent ] [added text: [deleted text: correct ] ] [added text: prevent ] a war which at this time is to be avoided, and best promote the interest of the United States.
I have the honor
Page: [4]
to be with respect
Sir
Your obedt. Servt. [obedient servant]
[Signed] [illegible text] Capt. 2d [2nd] [unclear text: Sub Legion ] United States & [unclear text: Commandt [Commandant] ]
His Excellency The Governor of the State of Georgia