The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-06-13


ing man joined him, leaving the
village in charge Of the women and
children, and few old men.
The Chehaw Indians were but
the forerunners Of a mighty host Of
friendly Creeks, who eventually aid
ed our country in this conflict.
Some two months later, the viii !
lage, thus left defenseless, became
the scene Of a laundering outrage.
Obed Wright, captain Of the
Georgia militia, obtaining certificates
from several men at Hartford to the |
effect that the Chehaws were en-
gagged on the Big Bend in skirnishS
ing, wentto the governor and secured
orders to destroy the Indian towns
of Filemme and Oponee, near the
town Of Chehaw. With two COM
panies Of cavalry he proceeded toI
carry out his plan. Other military
men tried to prevail upon him to de-
Esist, knowing the friendliness Of the
Chehaws. About that time 2 white
men, one named Leigh had been
killed on Cedar creek, and Wright's
idea seems to have been to fix the
murder upon the Indians. attack
them. and thus appease and gain
the friendship Of Leigh's friends.
j On the outskirts Of the village
they found an Indian grazing some
cattle. They captured him. and he
Immediately proposed to go with an
Interpreter and bring any Of the
chiefs for the captain to talk with,
to which proposition Wright refused
to accede. An advance was ordered
and the cavalry rushed forward and
commenced the massacre. Even
after the firing commenced, an aged
chief, Howard, came out Of his
house with a white flag, the sign Of
truce was not respected. Order was
given for a general fire. and nearly
four hundred guns were discharged
/ at him. He fell and was bayoneted.
His son was also killed. After the
smoke cleared away it was found that
seven men, one woman and two
children Of the Chehaws had been
killed. There was no loss of life a.
mong the whites, as no defence had
been attempted by the Indians, who
had trusted to the flag Of truce.
The chief, Howard, was an uncle Of
the famous General Mcintosh, who
led two thousand Creeks in the cause
Of Georgia, and who held the rank
Of a brigadier general in the Federal
army.
Several days later General Jack
son on his way westward from Ft;:
Gadsen to Apalachicola, when only
seven miles from the fort, was over
taken by an express bringing letters
from the Chehaws, advising him Of
their calamity, There was also a
letter from Generel Mcintosh, and
lone from Little Prince, a chief of
thigh standing and much wealth.
Jackson Immediately despatched
/ a party to arrest Captain Wright
and convey him in irons to f..
Hawkins to be confined there 'un-
til the win Of the president be
known"
He also wrote a notable talk
to the Chehaws, addressing them
as his friends and brothers, ac-
Iknowledging his gratitude to them,
for their aid so lately given, and
Expressing sympathy with them,
stating that the news filled his
heart with regret and his eyes with
tears He spoke contemptuously of
thsman who would ignore flag of
truce. He lamented that he could not
bring their old men andwOmen back
TO life, promised that Wright should
be terribly punished and that they
should be paid for their houses and
property destroyed. He implored
them not to try totake any satisfae-
ton themselves, asked them to treat
his messengerskindlys assuring them
that the messengers were theirl
friends. He told that justice
should be done them and they must
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