The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-31

much of his time among the Creek In dians and was the father of Alexandei Leslie. after whom the fort of Talla. dega was called. That was Fort Leslie and not FeTt Lashfy as they have glver 1t to you. The history of his fatheRs had from Hsmby and Irish Doyle, mol Nimrod Doyle. both well educated men and in the service of Forbes, Panthon and Leslie for years; besides I heard General Mackintosh of Florida. many years ago, say that this man Leslie was the most -taisnted man of the whole. knew Governor Clark of Georgia, Gen. erd Adams, Colonel Sam Alexander, not James Alexander, all Indian fight CTS and rontiersmen--knew NcGliii- vray well--and all spoke of him and admitted him to be man of great natural sense. but I never learned from any of them that he was an educated man. 2-
 knew General Newman weil--served with him long in the army. He was an oficsr at Fort Wilkinson when the meeting you spoke of took place be- tween McGillivrsy and others at the Rock Landing General Newman knew both men we'll and said that Billy Macklntosh was the greatest man of the two--that is McGillivray and Mackintosh. Now. torf 2 moment, # your history of that meeting be cor rect, and no doubt 1t Is, it will prove that McGillivray is not the man of learning you represent him to-be.
 AN INCIDENT SHOWING
 TRUE INDIAN CHARACTER.
 His quitting the Council. going onf to the ocmuigoo with his people, writ ing back that he left to get a good feeding ground for his horse--I know every foot of ground and every branch he crossed--and through what is now Baldwin and Jones counties, was then sone of the best range countries that ever existed In Georgia or Alabama. That portion of your history gives the true character of McGillIvray as 1t does the true character of the Indian--when en . talk don't suit them, break up and go on. But 1t was a subterfuge that so able and so learned a man so supe- rfor to- these commissioners on the part of the United States would not likely have resorted to. To detract or hide wilfuily from the world what the dead rnertted while living would be un- pardonable. but everything that Is said or written of those departed ones, or even living ones, to make them greater than they really were--that much the biographer. does at his own expense
 I never eknew McGiiiivray, but I think I knew his true character as well as any now living. and better than many that knew him when living, as have mingled much with both whites and Indians that knew him well. As I once wrote a gentleman. before I ever saw your history, had Alexander Me- Gifltvray been living in the war of 1913 or 1S14 and could have united his people the history of that war would have been a very different one to what 1t is. I know that it was the opinion of General Washington that McGilli- vray acted with dupllcity towards our Government. and you. in your history, give the reader to think that he was a treacherous man. But differ with that has left his name on record as to McGillivrays true character. I know that McGillfvray never liked our people or our Government, but that he carried out every promise he ever made and that in good faith. have no doubt, I have learned from those who knew him--knew the awkward he had to contend with. He had to deal more or less with the United States. England and Spain. all three jealous of McGiIlivray and jealous of each other. It would nave taken . man north of Mason and Dixon's line to have worn . face to have suited all those McGiliivray had to deal with and to make anything of 2 fair show
 NO LETTERS FOUND
 FROM WAgMINGTON.
 Another thing that satisfies me that McGlllivray was not the learned man or tfie man of letters that you make him out to be--you can find no letters from General Washington to hizn. or from him to General Washington per- haps e letter or tive to General Knox writteu@b @bgaI1eslie with McGiiiivray with IeslIe's name attached to them, may be found, but no others. The idea of McGillivray with the learning, you give him, allowing hifnself to be dubbed General. when the law of the land pro-