The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-02-22
Massacre Mt Blounr,s Fort.
By J.R. GID DING 8.

On the west side of the AppaIachicoa River.
some forty miles below the line of Georgia, are yet
found the ruins of what was once called ..B ,unt's
Fort Its ramparts are now covered with a
dense growth of underbrush and small trees
You may yet trace out its bastiops, curtain, and
magazine. At this time the country adjlcent pre-
sents the appearance of an unbroken wilderness,
and the whole scene is one of gloomy Solitude as
sociated as it is with of the most cruel messa-
cfes which ever disgraced the American arms.
The fort had originally been erected by civilized
troops, and. when abandoned by its occupants at
the close Of the war, in 1885, it taken possess
sion of by the refugees from Georgia. But Ttile
is yet known Of that prosecuted people; their his
tory only be found in the national archives at
Washington. They had been held as slaves in
the State referred to; but during the Revolution
they caught the spirit of liberty, at that time go
prevalent throughout our land and fed from their
oppressors and found an asylum among the aborig
ines living in Florida. tt
During forty years they had effectually eluded,
or resisted all attempts to re ensluve Ihem. They
were true to themselves, TO the instructive love of
liberty, whichis planted in every human heart
Most of them had been born amidst perils, reared
in the forest, and taught from their childhood to
hate the oppressors OF their race. Most of those
who had been personally held in degrading servi-
tude whose backs had been SCARED by the lash of
the savage o'erseer, had passed to that sprit-and
where the canking of chains is not heard. where
slavery is not known. Some few of that class yet
rema ined. Their gray hairs and feeble limbs,
owever. indicated that they, too, must soon pess
| away. Ofthe three hundred and eleven persons
residing 10 "Blount's Fort,'' not more Than TWEEN
ty had been actually held in servitude. The 9TH
ers were descended from slave parents, who fled
from Georgia, and, according 10 the laws of slave
States, were liable TO suffer the outrages to
which their ancestors had been subjected.
1t is most singular feature in slave holding nor
ais, that if the parents be bbed of their liberty,
deprived of the rights with which their Creator
has endowed them, the perpetrator Of these wrongs
becomes entitled to repeat them upon the children
of their former victims. There were some few
parents and grandchildren, as well as middle aged
persons who sought protection within the walls of
the Fort against the vgilant slave-ca'chers who
occasionally were seen prowIing around the forti-
ficatous but who dare not venture within the pow
er of those whom they sought to ens!ave.
These tugitives had planted their gardens, and
some of them had flocks roaming in the wilderness;
all were enjoying the f. uits Of their utor. aud con-
| graduating themselves upon being sefe from the
attacks of those who enslave mankind. But the
spirit of oppression is nexorable. The slavehold-
ers finding they could not themselves obtain pos
session of their intended victims, called on the
President Of the United States for assistance to
perpetrate the crime of enslaving their fellow men.
! That funciionary had been reared amid southern
institutions. He entertained no doubt of the right
of one man to enslave another. He did not doubt
that if a man held in servitude should attempt to
escape, he would be worthy of DEATH In short.
he fully sympathised with those who sought his
official aid He Immediately directed the Secre-
tary of War to issue orders to the Commander oi
the Southern Military District Of the Uuted
States" to send q detachment of troops to destroy
E"Bouni's Fort" andio "seise those trho occupied
IL, and return them 10 their masters.""
General Jackson. Mt that time commander OF 'he
Southern Military District. directed Lieut. oo'''s''
! Clinch to perform the barbarous task. twas a.
,ona ,;r,a narsonaIy acquainted with that ofhcer'
and knew The impulses of his generous na'ure,ahp
o,, rs,tv account for the failure OF his expedition
EJs marched to the vicinity oiihe Fort, made the
| -. -al n .s.sEg gsss sa 1' 80 as-Iiz9a
.vn,. Is of als ssessionl 6'k on
gress, e.t4M 81. - es9e 81 FE4S SEQ E''S -"