- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1815 Feb. 20, camp 115 mile [to Peter] Early, Governor [of Georgia], Milledgeville / Colo[nel] Benjamin Hawkins
- Creator:
- Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816
- Date of Original:
- 1815-02-20
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Government relations
Creek Indians--Warfare
Seminole Indians--Warfare
Great Britain--Foreign relations--1800-1837
United States--History--War of 1812
United States--History--War of 1812--Participation, Indian - 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 from Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, U.S. Agent to the Creeks, to Peter Early, Governor of Georgia (1813-1815), dated February 20, 1815. Hawkins reports on the size and location of British forces under Colonel Edward Nicolls that include numbers of Seminole Indians and free blacks, as well as Red Stick Creeks from Fowl Town, Okeleyocanne, and Cheahau (also Chehaw). Nicolls has reportedly made numerous threats to the Georgia frontiers and Hawkins warns that, if a competent person is not selected to succeed him as commander of the Creek regiment, the area around St. Marys might be rendered particularly vulnerable. He also includes a quotation from a council of "friendly" Creeks who complain that they were promised to be treated and paid as soldiers of the U.S. army by General Andrew Jackson, but instead have received very few rations and none of the promised reinforcements.
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:
- tcc889
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc889
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc889#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc889/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 76, folder 25, document 21.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Camp 115 mile
20 feby. [february] 1815.
Majr. [Major] Tinsley having to go to Milledgeville on business of his own I have directed him to call on you, and communicate Virtually the occurences [occurrences] under his observation since he has been with me as Quartermaster to the Creek Regiment. Colo. [Colonel] Nicolls with 200 troops white and black and as assemblage of 500 Warriors is just below the forks. They have an intrenched [entrenched] post picketed, with one Howitzer and one cohorn. The Indians are mostly from the Simenolies of East Florida, and Okeleyocanne Fowl town and Cheauhau within our limits. They are well supplied with cloths and munitions of War. McQueen and Francis are in Uniform. Every party as they arrive give the War whoop fire their guns and paint for war. The Indians chastised by Jackson are very humble The Colo. [Colonel] is gone down today as he says "for his supplies to march towards Charleston, where he soon expects to hear of the arrival of Lord Hill, with a powerful force. He is to set free Negros [Negroes], compell [compel] the Americans to restore back the lands to the Indians, and make every thing submit to him as he marches along. He will bring his cannon up the river with him." He is a great boaster promises any thing and every thing to attach the Indians to his party.
I have not heared [heard] from you since the 19 ult altho' [ultimo although] I have written to you weekly. In my letter of the 12th. I apprised you that the President had accepted my resignation of the agency for Indian affairs and Mr. Limbaugh charged with them till a successor is appointed, and there was a possibility only of my being commissioned to command the Creek Regmt. [Regiment] of course, if General Clark does not come with the expected cooperating force, or a man of skill and abilities, to make the most of the enrolled Indians with a competent white force, your frontiers. towards St. Marys may see some of the boasting of the Colo. [Colonel] realized at least find themselves
Page: [2]
in a perilous situation. I hear 300 men are sent to lounge at the posts which were well guarded by select Indians. I have recd. [received] from Capt. [unclear text: Legruex ] 90 barrels flower [vlour] 2 bushels of salt a barrel of pork and 28 bushels of Corn which he calls twenty days rations.
I am very respectfully Dear Sir your obe Serv [obedient Servant]
[Signed] Benjamin Hawkins
Governor Early
21 Feby [February]
Our Indian boatmen who came with our last supplies having informed our Warriors that 300 white men had taken possession of the posts on the Road. They held a Council last evening and reported to me this morning. "We were enrolled in public service by order of General Jackson promised soldiers pay and rations, and ordered to take care of this frontier. We had selected some of our best men to garrison the posts, we were promised by Colo. [Colonel] Hawkins and General McIntosh a force of white troops to act with us, and while we were out on duty we hear 300 men have taken possession of the posts, our women and children are there and we will know these men are rude and ungovernable, 'We find we are to have no meat. If white soldiers were with us and would live without it we could and would do it. We hear not of the white force promised us, and why is it these people did not come to help us, and not stop where they have nothing to do?"
Page: [3]
Letter from Colo. Benj. [Colonel Benjamin] Hawkins dated
20th. February 1815
Red. [Received]
4 March
Indian War
Page: [4]
His Excellency Governor Early Milledgeville
Recd. [Received]
4th. March
By Majr. [Major] Tinsley