Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-23
OFFICERS IN THE GEORGIA
MILITIA DURING REVOLUTION
George G. Smith Vine vile Macon Ga
!, Vineville, Macon, Ga.

ing. The mention of these names will,
1 hope. inspire some who know more OF
their history to write. I am dependent
upon what is given in Jones, Stevens,
Mccall and White, and the three volumes
of Revolutionary records.
Lieut.. Col. Joseph Habersham was in
the first Confidential battalion. He had been
among the first to ring the liberty bell.
He arrested Governor Wright, much to
the governors surprise. He was in the
first engagements, and he was an off,
In the first battalion. He was faithful 10
the end, and served the state In every
field to which he was called.
He was an educated gentleman.
graduate Of Princeton, and was selected
by Washington when he was chosen
president Of the newly organized
United States government to take the
place Of postmaster general. This po-
sition he held under Adams and Jeffer-
son. but disagreeing with Mr.. Jefferson
about running an Official to whom JEFF
ferson was politically opposed, he re-
signed his Office. His brother John
was also a major and his brother
James a captain Of their military life.
1 lnd nothing Of Importance except
that they were true to the cause from
the beginning to the end.
1t Is possible and very probable
have not mentioned some who did good
service in the field. II so / shall be
glad to know the fact. There were
several line officers to whom / have not
written who were in the militia DId at
times in active service.
Among these was Lieut.. Col. Mica3ah
Williamson. Either just before the
war or just after 1t began he came to
Georgia. In Maj. L. Q c. Lamar he
is said to have brought forty slaves
from Virginia and bought g large es-
tate from Colonel Aston. Colonel AL
ston was not in Georgia and had no
large estate here and there was no man
in upper Georgia who had forty me-
groes at that time. He was probably
a Scotchman by descent, whose proba-
BILE ancestor was Peter Williamson. an
early emigrant TO the upper colonies,
and who was captured as youth by
the Indians. and after his escape went
TO Edinburgh, where he was a weli-t0
do tobacconist. known as Indian Peter.
OF him Chambers Miscellany tells an
interesting story.
Micajah, Peter and Charles. possi-
bly, his grandsires came from Bedford
county Va. first to North Carolina
and then to Georgia. Micajah settled
in Wilkes. and was early in the war
He was lieutenant colonel In the mill
many a prominent man In those days
an Inn. He had four beautiful daugh-
tiers, who were the innocent cause OF
the greatest political conflict waged In
Georgia, the war between the Clark
and Crawford parties. One of his
daughters married Governor Clark. one
Judge Grimm, one DR.. Bird. Clark and
Crawford became foes because of Judge
Griffin and Byrd, who was grandfather
of Senator Lucius Q. C. Lamar, took
part with his kin, Williamson brothers.
DR.. Charles ]. Peter, the lawyer, came
to Georgia after the war. He left de-
scendants. who have become very dis
tinguished In the annals of Georgia.
Benjamin Catching, whose descendants
are prominent in Mississippi. and one
Of whom is a congressman, came from
Virginia. He was among the first OF
the Wilkes people. The name is writ
ten sometimes Kitchens and Ketchings.
but whose progenitor was Catchings
The family were highly intelligent for
those days and enterprising and all OF
them went west, though DR.. H. Catch
ing came back and died in Atlanta
Mrs. Chamberlayne. OF Atlanta, Is his
descendant.
Major washington. as ne was known.
was Colonel James Jackson's right hand
man in his partisan corps and did the
state brave service. He went into great
operations in lands and finally was
accused Of being forger and was con-
victed in South Carolina and, sad to
say. was hung. His name was said to
be Walsh.
No tribute is too great to be paid to
these brave heroes. who in the darkest
day did not despair of the young re-
public.