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Executive Department Ga Milledgeville
24th June 1836.
Dear Sir
Your Kind letter of the 22nd inst [instant] came to hand this morning, for which I sincerely thank you.
In my last I informed [added text: you ] that I had dispatched Mr Wheeler to Jasper in order to learn something in relation to the supposed lost arms. He returned in due time and explained the matter fully. It appears that the waggon [wagon] which brought the arms from Augusta belonged to a Mr. Price of Jasper -- the waggoner [wagoner] was a negroe -- Horton being the neighbor of Price is in the habit of signing receipts for loading in his own name for Prices negroe. The negroe came on here with the guns, and immediately sent to Columbus with them. Mr Price says his boy carried the load to Columbus and there received his pay for transportation. I have no doubt of the truth of this explanation, and from the fact of Horton signing the receipt, has caused all the confusion. He has not been here.
The returns from the Colonels of the different regiments in the counties where drafts have been ordered, are coming in by every mail. And I feel more pride this day that I am a Georgian, than I ever did in my life. Our people are emphatically a gallant and patriotic people. In no instance has a draft been allowed to take place but treble the number required raised by volunteer enlistment. The companies so raised have been organized and commissioned and are actually beging [begging] for


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marching orders to any point you may desire. I have answered the Colonels and through them the volunteers- telling them that for the present you could not accept their patriotic tender of service, and giving the reasons why and returning to the Colonels your thanks for their prompt execution of your orders. To the volunteers I have also in your name complimented very highly for their gallantry and soldier like conduct. Aside from my Sincerity in this matter, policy I thought dictated this course. It may possibly be of service hereafter to you.
The cavalry articles have nearly all arrived, and they are the finest I ever saw, particularly the Sabres [Sabers] . They are of a new and improved model, about three feet long in the blade, and not more than 1 1/2 inches wide, but having more strength and elasticity than any thing of the kind I ever saw. A man to look at one, would make his head loose on his shoulders.
An officer who has done his duty faithfully as you have done, need not fear. The pitiful croakings of a few selfish "little" dissatisfied aspirants cannot injure you. Your constituents see and appreciate your Services, and they will not forsake their Chief magistrate who has voluntarily quited [quitted] home and all the blessing of domestic happiness and rushed to the scene of their greatest difficulties and danger. No sir they will not forsake you. They Know that in less than a month by your promptness and energy, a large army has been raised, which has marched, and is now actually in the enemies Country seeking the foe in


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order to deal out retributive justice for the murders of our helpless women and children Will not the people of Georgia appreciate such devotion to their interests? Surely they will -- all men will. Let the few pups bark, they are harmless creatures and can do no hurt.
I am glad to hear of your determination not to quit your present post as long as you can be useful to the country, altho [although], I should be pleased to see you at home. Nothing specially has occurred here to require your personal attention. I flatter myself that I can get along with the business of the Department, but should any thing occur [deleted text: you ] more than usual you shall hear from me. We have plenty to do, but we attend to it cheerfully.
The balance of the arms intended for Cherokee arrived here last monday. Stovall & Co not being able to send them direct from Augusta. I got them off in one hour after their arrival. Nothing very special has transpired in Cheroke since I last wrote you, if I may except the very extraordinary orders of that extrordinary [extraordinary] man the brave and chivalric Majr. Genl. [Major General] Henry M Terrell of the 12h [12th] Division GM [Georgia Militia] . He has actually taken from the merchants of Cherokee County all their powder, lead &c [et cetera] and carried it to Canton, and has disarmed every Indian in the county, and had [deleted text: them ] [added text: their guns &c [et cetera] ] all stored away under a "strong guard". The merchants have been promised ample pay for their powder &c [et cetera], and you may expect sweet bills from them no doubt. The fact of disarming the Indians, in my opinion is the very thing to drive


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them to acts of desperation -- I trust to God that it may not happen. It looks however not so well for the chivalry of one of Georgias Generals.
Since writing the above Col. Haynes has just shown me a letter from the Secretary of War to the Georgia delegation, in which he states that 1000 men have been raised in Tennessee and placed under the command of Brig. Gen Wool of the U.S. army, and ordered to rendezvous at Athens in McMinn County on the
Seventh of July next and from there will march to Cherokee country. Athens is only about a days march from Gilmer County. This force will effectually put down any attempts of hostilities on the part of the Cherokees and will quiet the fears of our citizens. But I do not believe, that there ever was much danger to be apprehended from the Cherokees, for no longer ago than yesterday a copy of a Treaty if I may be allowed to use of the term, was received here, entered into between a delegation of the citizens of Murray, and a delegation of the Cherokees, in which the latter deny in the most positive terms, the reports of their being hostile &c &c. [et cetera et cetera] it is a finely written thing on the part of the Indians, and is very satisfactory --
All are well, except myself -- I have not enjoyed very good health since I had the measles -- but thank God I am able to do my duty.

Sincerely Yours
[Signed] Wm. [William] J.W. Wellborn
Gov. Schley Columbus


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P.S. From the numerous applications made for the dividends of the academic and Poor School fund, I have called upon the Treasurer by an Executive order, to report to this Department in relation to it -- he has just informed me that he will make his report on monday. and there will be a sufficient amount according to law, for a distribution. I will on monday commence making the apportionment to the several counties, and hope to get through during the Week.
[Signed] W. [Wellborn]



Letter
Wm. [William] J.W. Wellborn

24 June 1836
mis



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MILLEDGEVILLE GA
JUN 28
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PAID
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25

2 ED

His Excy. [Excellency] William Schley Columbus Geo [Georgia]
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