Creek Indians--Treaties
Creek Indians--Land tenure
Indian land transfers
Boundaries
McIntosh, William, ca. 1775-1825
Georgia





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Yellow River Near the Stone Mountain
28th. April 1821. [added text (appears to be different ink and hand): [unclear text: see? ] ]
Sir
I am detained here by heavy rains on my return route, from ascertaining & running out the line of the late treaty from the head of Flint River to the Chatahoochee; and have the satisfaction to inform you that the line is now completed, according to the stipulations and specifications contained in the treaty. But Sir, indulge me in the digression of assuring you, that nothing but the most steady and indefatigable patience & perseverance could have surmounted the obstacles & difficulties which I have encountered to accomplish this business.
I left home on the 12th instant, and in complyance [compliance] with the request of Captain Crowell, the Indian Agent I proceeded by the way of the Creek Agencey [Agency], expecting to have the pleasure of his company on the route (according to his own appointment) but in this anticipation I was disappointed; previous to my arrival the Agent had left the Agency for the State of Alabama. I spent one night at the Agency, & then proceeded up the western bank of Flint river to Joseph Marshalls, where I arrived on the 15th, in the evening according to my appointment.
On the 16th two Indians arrived at Marshalls, who said they were appointed on the part of the nation to accompany me in designating & running the line, but they had no credentials to that effect -- however on the 17th, they proceeded with me up the river -- accompanied by the half breed Chief Joseph Marshall & another Indian whom I had employed to assist me on the town; from Marshall


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I calculated on deriving much advantage, he being an inteligent [intelligent] Chief amongst the Indians, and an excellent interpreter (but in this calculation I was disappointed, for in the [unclear text: hour ] of need he left me.) In the course of the day of the 17th, we were overtaken by three more Indians, professing to be commissioners on the part of the nation, sent to attend to the running of the line (from the Cussetaw-towns), but like the former they had no written authority, nevertheless I treated them all with the respect due, and was glad to procure their aid & assistance in getting through the cain [cane] swamps and mirey [miry] branches of the Wilderness, and swimming the waters which were all at flood tide, from the immense falls of heavy rains which had occured [occurred] . On the 17th at night I found my self at the Oakfuskee path on Flint River. according to my [deleted text: [unclear text: estimation ] ] [added text: computation ] forty miles above the Agency. Ten miles above this path is the junction of the two principal forks of Flint river, the western being the one specifyed [specified] by the treaty, and which I have consequently designated as such -- Upon a straight line from the head to the mouth of the western branch, I estimate the distance at twenty miles (tho [though] much further to meander the stream) the General Course in ascending the stream, I would suppose to be about North 35° West - and from the head or source to the nearest part of the Chatahoochee is about 10 miles -- The course of the line is North 24° West. The line would have struck the River at the lower end of the Buzzard roost village -- Consequently an [unclear text: offsett [offset] ] was made so as to leave the village one mile within the Creek Nation -- The line from the head of the western branch to the River, & the [unclear text: offsett [offset] ] lines around the Village are plainly marked, by blazing or scalping trees -- the corners plainly


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made & well pointed out, by marking the surrounding but it was utterly out of my power to have the lines measured, being deserted by my whole company, with the solitary exception of the Surveyor, Col. H. Rousseau -- and Mr. John K. Browning a young man of my own neighborhood -- and to these two individuals I owe the success of being able to report to you the completion of the line -- Suffering hunger wet & fatigue, for days we were engaged, in ascertaining with certainty the water course intended by the treaty & traversing its principal stream to its source -- finding the nearest part of the Chatahoochee, running traverse lines &c. &c. [et cetera et cetera] All these deprivations & difficulties were uniformly met with the smiles of Cheerfulness. I will add, that it is due to Col. Rousseau, to state, that his skill & accuracy as a surveyor, contributed greatly to the accomplishment of this business.
The Indians who accompanied me objected to the stream which I have designated, and discovering that none of them had been principal agents in forming the treaty -- and believing as I do, that McIntosh had failed to give them true information in regard to the line intended by the treaty -- On the 19th, when within twenty miles of McIntosh's house I addressed a letter to him and sent it by an Indian (his nephew) requesting and urging him to favor me with an interview, at the immediate point of controversy -- where I felt convinced that I should have it in my power to prove, even to the Indians present that the line which I have designated was the one contemplated by the treaty -- However neither him, nor the bearer of my communication made their appearance, altho [although] I was engaged in that neighborhood of country for a week afterwards,


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the Indians finding that McIntosh would not attend, became very restless, & finally packed up & left me -- those whom I had employed to assist me, as well as the commissioners. Leaving me with Col. Rousseau & Mr. Browning alone, to make my way & accomplish my business as I could.
We were then under the necessity of becoming our own pilots, searching out points imperfectly defined, at a considerable distance asunder [assunder], and that in a wilderness almost unknown to civilized man; & but few traces to be seen of the footsteps of savage men, or domestic animals. I was suprized [surprised] to find that we were for days, on the head waters of the western branch of Flint River, in a country where we could discover no recent marks of the hunter life itself, being kept up by the Indians -- a country too abounding in Dear [Deer] & other game. The small traces of ancient hunting paths are almost obliterated; and the true idea of a wilderness defined to the mind of the traveller, by the impressions made by the surrounding objects of nature, standing in their natural order, unmolested by the busy hand, of Organizing Art.
From the Buzzard Roost village to the standing Peachtree [Peach tree] I estimate the distance at fifteen [deleted text: five ] miles -- tho [though] it is computed more by the Indians. I found some difficulty on examining this village, in determining on the correct course. For several miles on the River, you are constantly in view of an Indian improvement or house; something below the center of these improvements, is the most striking appearance of a Town, the building being more compact in this, than any other part of the settlement. But there [deleted text: [illegible text] ] [added text: is ] no app [document damaged: earance ] of Capitol, Town-House or public square about the place.


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I therefore made an offsett [offset] so as to embrace the whole settlement -- leaving the part which had a village appearance at least one mile within the nation -- while some of the scattering settlements are near the line which I have marked out, but all included within the nation.
The extinguishment of the Indian claim to the late acquired Territory, carries its own congratulation to the Citizens of Georgia. The advantages which might accrue to the State from this acquisition are immense. The soil acquired is advantageously situated, well watered & fertile -- true the lands are not all rich -- some [deleted text: is ] [added text: are ] very poor -- but a a [a] large proportion is good land, a respectable portion is really very rich. It is a country which will rapidly increase the wealth of the prudent laboring man -- and under an enlightened & virtuous Government, the cries & groans of want & penury will never assail the ear of the [deleted text: Citizen ] traveller, or enter the habitation of the poorest Citizen. Yet Sir, this good Country wants the fostering hand of an enlightened Government. The Agriculturist will reap the full reward of this labor -- [added text: under the blessings of a supreme hand, ] his barns & store houses will be running over with the fruits of the earth -- But his surplus products must lie mouldering [moldering] on his hands (which in time will produce a spirit of indolence) unless he can find a market for his bounteous crops: Commerce is the twin sister of Agriculture, and all the necessary advantages of commerce are completely within the grasp of Georgia. The individual must be ignorant & uninformed on the subject, who denies to the Oconee & Oakmulgee Rivers,


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the advantages of Cotton Boat navigation from Milledgeville & Fort Hawkins to the Atlantic Ocean. Rivers which carry from three to five hundred bales of cotton on a single boat, without the aid of art and improvement, want [deleted text: [illegible text] ] nothing but the determined hand of a wise people, to make them fully equal to all the wants of an industrious & enterprizing [enterprising] community, setted [settled] on their margins & tributary streams. The people residing on the Oconee, Oakmulgee, Flint & Chatahoochee Rivers, will no longer go to the borders of South Carolina for Commerce. The Floridas are now incorporated into the American Union -- Pensacola will shortly become the New York of the South -- as well as the Great Emporium of the Western trade. The finest River in Georgia is the Chatahoochee or Appalachee-Cola -- Its bay is in the neighboorhood [neighborhood] of Pensacola -- The advantages of its water must be enjoyed by Georgia -- true the Indians are yet on both sides of its banks, and that on an important part of the stream. But shall the acquisition of a part of our rights detain us for a moment from assenting & urging our full claims. Shall not the navigation of the Chatahoochee be free to the Citizens of Georgia. Mr. Monroe in his late inaugural speech, has wisely & propperly [properly] remarked, that the American Government has flattered the pride of the Indians by treating them as Sovereign and independent nations -- And has in my humble


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Opinion as wisely pointed out the true course of policy which of right ought to be pursued towards those people.
When I contemplate the extraordinary advantages of soil & climate possessed by Georgia, I do not hesitate to say that a prudent distribution & management of our real property -- which yet remains a joint stock -- is amply sufficient to secure to the State all the advantages which an enlightened & virtuous people Could desire. It should be remembered, that the interest and happiness of a numerous race of human beings, both born & unborn, depends upon the provident care of those who at this day occupy the political stage of Georgia. The enlightened State of South. Carolina, and the towering Offspring of Georgia, Alabama, are not only engaged in the laudable work of providing for the commercial interested of their own Citizens -- but are exhibiting the most inviting allurements to our Tennessee brethren, to take the roundabout way to the Atlantic.
And Sir, we may rest assured, that indolence & torpor on the part of the Government of Georgia in relation to our navigable waters, & great market roads, will ere long subject us to the mortification of seeing a fine section of our own State, the north western [deleted text: section ] [added text: part ], seek its commerce through the State of Alabama.
True principals of Philosophy, make it the duty of the parent to provide for the reasonable wants of the child. And shall the natural inheritance,


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of our posterity -- What they have a right to demand -- be squandered upon the intemperance of a day. I trust not. I trust we shall yet make ample provision for the education of our youth -- And the internal improvements of the State.
You will excuse the incongruity of this communication, when you consider the circumstances under which it is made. I am now forty miles from home, heavy rains descending, and the waters all at flood tide.
I have the Honor to be yr. Obt. Servt. [your Obedient Servant]
[Signed] Wilson Lumpkin Hon. John Clark Govr. [Governor] of Georgia Milledgeville
P.S. You are at liberty to lay this communication before the Legislature.
[Signed] W.L Hon J.C.