- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1842 Sept. 10, Fort Jackson, Georgia [to] Charles J. McDonald, Gov[ernor] of Georgia, Milledgeville, Georgia / A[aron] Jernigan
- Creator:
- Jernigan, Aaron
- Date of Original:
- 1842-09-10
- Subject:
- Seminole Indians--Treaties
Border patrols
United States. Army--Demobilization
Georgia. Militia
Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- official reports
military records - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter dated September 10, 1842 from Aaron Jernigan to Governor Charles J. McDonald (Governor of Georgia, 1839-1843) reporting the withdrawal of United States troops from the Georgia line and the end of the Seminole War by order of Colonel Worth. Jernigan complains that Indians are still in the area, however, and he believes that, as with the Treaty of 1839, this new treaty is ineffective and will result in even more attacks from the Indians. As proof of its ineffectiveness, Jernigan cites a recent Indian attack on a party of white hunters in which three of the hunters were killed. Jernigan says that this same party of Indians went on to attack other whites and was eventually met by the forces of Colonel Baly (W.J. Baily?). Jernigan says that the colonel raised a number of volunteers and at the time of this letter was in pursuit of the Indians. Jernigan goes on to cite other recent examples of Indian depredations, though he dismisses Levi Knight's claim that such depredations occurred in Lowndes County, and insists that treaties are ineffective and that their troubles with Indians along the Georgia frontier are far from over. Jernigan ends by asking the governor to increase the number of troops under his command in order that he may better guard the state's southern border.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- tcc660
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc660
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc660#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc660/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 52, folder 11, document 03.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Fort Jackson Georgia
Sept [September] 10th 1842
Sir
I have the honor to inform your Excellency of the removal of the entire force of United States troops from off of the Georgia line. they left on the
7th Inst. [Instant] and the war ended by Col [Colonel] Worth. and my views [added text: on ] that Subject under his order No. [Number] 28 bearing date
14th August in this order he says it is here by announced that hostilities [added text: with ] the Indians within this Territory have ceased. Mr C. Taylor one of the [deleted text: emigrates ] emigrates to Florida in his letter to the editor of the St. Augustine news under date of the
24th August States the following descovery [discovery] of Indian Signs. almost every day we have news of Indians being in our neighbourhood [neighborhood] and news founded on the best kind of evidence. on last week I went out with Six or Seven of our men, and discovered an Indian field not more than 18 miles from Fort Melon of a bout [about] three acres well Stalked with corn, Potatoes and Pease [Peas] we also took an Indian Poney [Pony] . which had the appearance of having been rode but a fiew [few] hours previous. now Sir in my opinion this treaty of Col. [Colonel] Worths with the Indians will be like that of Gen. [General] McCoombs in
39 we may now expect more attacks on our neighbourhoods [neighborhoods] . then [than] before this treaty was made, as there is no Scouting parties and the troops in Florid under orders no doubt not to molest an Indian if they Should meet with him as it is
Page: [2]
announced that all hostilities with the indians in Florida have ceased. it is my opinion Sir that this war will not be ended [added text: in ] five year to come, unless Some other plan is adopted to end it. besides makin [making] of these temporary treaties with them which Just Serves [added text: to ] in able [enable] them to fight one or two year longer. I do not believe in ending this war by Such treaties, nor by the regular forces which is now in Florida. as their proceedings do not Show any thing like ending of the war. when the Indians plant and reap their crop within 18 miles of [added text: a ] Strong millitary [military] post. I See an other evidence that the hostilities is not ceased as Col [Colonel] Worth announces in his order No 28.
The Star of Florida
under date of the
18 August informs us that on thursday last a party of hunters consisting of five in number was attacked by a large war party of Indians, three of the number killed and the other two baly [badly] wounded, the Indians went to a Mr H. Wombles and a bout 1 oclock P.M. killed a Mr Kennedy and a negro man and badley [badly] wounded two others. they then went north committing other depredations, they were persued [pursued] by Col [Colonel] Baly with Some ten or fifteen Volunteers. he came up with the Indians about dark [added text: at ] the head of Gum Swamp near the Georgia line and attacked them and a Severe battle took place. Col [Colonel] Baly got Sise [Six] or Seven of his men badley [badly] wounded the Indians burned Some [deleted text: [illegible text] ] buildings that night on friday morning Col [Colonel] Baly raised Seventy five or eighty Volunteers, at the head which he is now in persuit [pursuit] of the Savages. the Citizens of Jefferson
Page: [3]
and Madison Counties turned out with great alacrity and the patriotic citizens of the adjoining counties of Thomas and Lowndes Georgia rallied [added text: to ] their aid. It appears from the informent [informant] that all these [deleted text: the ] depredation was committed in Jefferson County Florida and the last accounts [added text: Says ] they were making their way to the Econfina on the cost [coast] . this alone I would think would be [deleted text: evidence ] evidence Sufficient to Show the danger of Such temporary treaties, and that hostilities have not yet ceased. I See in the
Savannah Georgian
, copyed [copied] from the federal union
23 August, Shocking Indian massacres in Lowndes County reported by a letter from Thomas S.T. Knight dated
August the 14 1842, and Sent by express from Gen [General] Levi J. Knight to your Excellency, informing of you that on the
11th inst. [instant] a band of about forty Indian [deleted text: warrio ] warriours [warriors] well Supplied with fire arms and ammunition invaded the County of Lownds killed five and mortally wounded Six others. I think Sir the report forwarded to you by express by Gen [General] Knight is incorrect as regards the depredations committed by the Indians as being in Lownds county. from the best information that I can obtain there have been no depredations committed by the Indians in Georgia recently though had this report of been correct I do not think that the department would of expected me to of repeled [repelled] the invasion, as it [added text: was ] beyound [beyond] where I have ever Scouted, it could not be expected that I could gard [guard] Such an extent of country
Page: [4]
as it is from [deleted text: here ] Camden County to the upper edge of Lownds which is over 150 miles and that with as Small a force as I have placed under my command. if the Indians Should make another venture in to the Okefeenokee District I will give the government a reason to believe that the Indians have a right to fear Georgia troops. [deleted text: if ] If you expect me to gard [guard] the whole Georgia line up as fair [far] as the lower edge of Thomas County. I must ask your Excellency to increase my command. as I had here to fore [heretofore] confined my command to the Okefeenoke district including Camden and Ware Counties and the South east part of Lownds. as I apprehended no danger of any attack else where in Georgia
I have the honor Sir to be your Obt Servt [Obedient Servant]
[Signed] A [Aaron] Jernigan
His Excellency Charles J. McDonald Gov. [Governor] of Georgia Milledgeville Georgia
Captain Jernigan
1842