- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1813 Aug. 26, Jefferson, [Georgia to] Governor David B. Mitchel [i.e., Mitchell], Millidgeville [i.e., Milledgeville, Georgia] / James M.C. Montgomery
- Creator:
- Montgomery, James M. C.
- Date of Original:
- 1813-08-26
- Subject:
- Indians of North America
Spies - 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 from James M.C. Montgomery to Governor of Georgia David B. Mitchell (1809-1813, 1815-1817), dated August 26, 1813. Montgomery reports to Mitchell regarding his activities on the frontier of Georgia, especially with regard to spies sent into the nearby Indian lands, as per the governor's own orders. Montgomery appeals to Mitchell to intervene in an impending court martial predicated on unfounded charges that he improperly acted on the governor's orders. He asks for the governor's assistance in preventing the court martial, initiated by Colonel Russel(l) Jones, and remarks that Colonel Jones has little or no experience in military engagements or Indian affairs.
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:
- tcc409
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc409
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc409#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc409/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 46, folder 14, document 07.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Jefferson
the 26th August 1813
Dear Sir
I hope you will excuse me, being under the disagreeable necessity of troubling your excellency with the perrusal [perusal] of this so shortly after writing you from [illegible text]
The motives that induce me to be this troublesome are as following (viz) on the tuesday after I left [illegible text] I went to the frontiers fix'd [fixed] out spies and directed the Militia to return home agreeable to your instructions, and before I had any opportunity to report to the Colo. of the 26th Regiment I have [added text: been ] notified that I would be arrested and [unclear text: cited ] to a Court martial for obeying you [unclear text: as ] I may term it, the Colo. says that I had no right to obey any orders or directions from you I hope that you will write to Brigadier Genl [General] Bell Harris, and Majr Genl [Major General] Daniel that it was your directions and to stop the [illegible text]
Page: [2]
and if you would condescend so far as to say in a letter address'd [addressed] to me, that it was by your directions that the [unclear text: men ] were dimiss'd [dismissed] and spies order'd [ordered] out I would esteem it as a particular favor, and [added text: I hope you also ] write to Col. Russel Jones to desist any farther prosecution, as I can see no reason why he is so rigorous unless it should be this, he has expressd [expressed] himself in this way that [unclear text: he expect the ] 1st dept of the Militia to be calld [called] on, and as I am the [unclear text: elderl ] Majr [Major] and he has a Brother
26th Augu [August] in Frank [document edge: lin ] a Majr [Major] and it may be that he may have that in view -- I hope you will write Instantly and it may be that If you write it would be best to send all [added text: to ] this place, however I leave all to you Excellencys better Judgment, but hope you will not let me suffer, as I wish to serve my country in any manner, and have been always [added text: willing ] to serve in
Page: [3]
any capacity that I could. it has been this celebrated Col and a few of his friends that has hinderd [hindered] my [unclear text: coming ] on with a company of Rifle men, though, this I did not know when I wrote you last, and wen [when] the notable Colo. says that he would If he had the power [unclear text: prefer ] me to the command of [added text: the ] first militia that may be calld [called] [added text: [deleted text: [illegible text] ] ] [unclear text: on ] but there is such a contrast in his conduct that I know not how to [unclear text: reconcile ] it to myself. I can say for a certainty that a more unpopular Col does not command in the State of Georgia, he has been told to his face that by an Election he could not a constables office, and yet he has high pretentions [pretensions] to Military tactics, and never was in actual service one day in his life and acknowledged last night that he never wanted to be and as to Indians he dont know one from a tommahawk [tomahawk] .
Brother presents his respects to you.
I am your Excellencys most Obedt. [Obedient] & Humble Servt. [Servant]
[Signed] [unclear text: JMC ] Montgomery P.S. Don't fail to write as I shall be [unclear text: remain uneasy ] until I hear from you
Page: [4]
Letter from James M.C. Montgomery dated Jefferson [document damaged] st
1813."
(Indian War)
His Excellency David B. Mitchel Millidgeville