Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-30
UNWRITTEN FACTS
IN GEORGIA HISTORY.
sy Geo. c. Smith.

There we're not q great many In
dams IN middle OF lower Georgia
There were a larger number according
70 territory, On the Cherokee county
north OF Athens and Atlanta
These Indian settlements were on the
rivers where the indolent savage could
draw largely upon the muscle shoals
for shell hsh and the forests around
for game. and the Indian factories
as the trading houses were called
would not have been many ~ Georgia
Indians had been the alone customers,
but there were many Indians across
the Chastahoochee. and the natural
outlet Of their trade with Great Britain
Was at Charleston. so the Indian ira
Fders. OF Charleston meeting the In
dams as far as they could do IN safety.
opened depots at Augusta soon after
Georgia vas settled. The houses they
established here were many OF them
branch houses OF the larger establish
ments IN Charleston. There were prob
ably trading posts among the IN
dIans. when Georgia belonged TO South
Carolina. but the Indian trader as we
know him. was recognized IN Georgia
"a lTS6 Below Augusta was Fort
Monroe on the other side Of Savannah
river. but In ms the post was moved
10 Augusta. The Indians came thither
on thefr trading tours every year.
They came with their skins and furs
from the Tar west and traded them
for -suppFes. To the Indians the trader
was an absolute necessity. He had
managed TO get along somehow be-
fore he could buy guns. powder and
ball and tomahawks and cotton stunts
and especially rum. eut now they
were indispensable to him.. There was
a general depot Of supplies In Augusta
60 which the goods were brought on
= nat boats and during Mr.. Ogiethorpe's
time there was quite a conflict Of au-
thority. because the traders claimed
the right 90 bring the rum 10 Augusta,
past Savannah on the nat boats. He
went 50 far as 20 stave the rum casks.
The most important OF these traders
were scotchuien or Scotch Irishmen.
They had their posts In Cherokee
Georgia. IN Alabansa and IN Mississip-
pi. They employed many men and had
q great many horses. In 171 the ira
ders who had headquarters in Au-
gusta were Weed a. Brown. six men
and 90 horses: Daniel Clark. four men
and 20 horses Archibald McGlunays
three men and IS horses. George Cas-
sins. four men and ~ horses: George
Galphin. four men and = horses VII
liam Struthers. four men and 3 hors-
ess. George Mackay. four men and %
horses: Henry Elssy. three men and -
horses Facey & Mcqueen. six men
and 20 horses. John Wright. four men
and - horses: John Gardner. three men
and - horses: Thomas Andrews. eight
men and % horses. Thomas Daval.
three men and 20 horses: John Cum
nel three men and - horses. Nicolas
: Chenery, three men and % horses: VII
liam Newberry. three men and %
horses
These were engaged in this profitable
trade soon after Augusta was settled.
As IL seen they had a large number OF
horses-sverythiHg was carried on
+ pack horses. The articles carried In
stock. as the old inventories show.
we're such as the Indians and the
frOntisrmen would be apt 90 buy. Thus
Brown. Strathers & Co. in 1759. In
their inventory. had. among other
things. white plains. great coats.
brides. nnsey. tin ware. Ink powders.
colored and RULED shirts. horn combs.
These were evidently not Indian goods.
nor for the Indians. but for the new
corners In what Is now Burke county,
and IN the country round about Au-
gusta for the white men at work: but
for the Indian trade: loo gallons OF
rum. 10 packhorses. and gath
cred in 1851 pounds dressed deer
skins, 1880 pounds raw deer skins. $50
pounds beaver skins and quite a quaint
ity Of wampun. which was Indian cur
rency. This gives Us an insight into
the nature OF the trade. The articles
brought BY the Indians were all kinds
OF furs and skins. and as often as
they could secure them. Indian slaves
The tribes. as was done IN Africa,
dashed upon the villages OF their foes
and captured their women and chill
dren aud brought them TO the white
traders IN Augusta, who bought them
from their captors- The poor wretches
were then branded with a hot iron
and sent 20 Charleston. where they
were sold 20 the West indies. and rum
and sugar taken IN exchange. These
dealers were nearly all OF them Scotch
men. They had a large number OF ne
gro slaves and many cattle. Outside OF
the village Of Augusta their establish
ments were IN the Indian villages.
Galphin had q factory on the Ogechee
at-a place now called Old. Town. Here
he conducted q very large business
with the Creeks. The Adairs had fac
tories among the Choctaws. and the
Cherokees. and over In Alabama there
were large trading ports. There were
q considerable number OF white men
mee0e4- 1ney TOOK charge OF the laQeu
ponies. one man 20 about six. and con-
Quoted them on the long journey
through the wilderness to Augusta.
ard then on 20 Charleston. Rum was
one OF the chief articles Of trade. It
was carried in small kegs. swung on
each side OF the ponies. AS white set
tiers came and the white trappers be-
gan 70 bring in the beaver and other
skins they had trapped IN the Ogeehee.
Olamsha. Ocmulgee and Chattahoo-
chez swzmps the trade became more
extensive. There were quite a number
OF traders who had no depot OF sup
plies. They were. what We call now,
peddlers. They went 20 Charleston and
Savannah and loaded their ponies with
the goods they were able 70 buy. tom
ahaEks. gun hints. powder. balls.
bright cottor stufIss small hardware.
and. alasi run.
They struck out for the natives and