The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1917-04-22

There is not a more beautiful or a
more interesting spot in Georgia than
historic Old Fort Early, situated in
Crisp county on the Flint river ten
miles from Cordele.
This Old Fort, so full of historic
lore, was built in pioneer times by
the fierce Indian fighter, General Da-
yid Blackshear. |: was a stackade fort
built especially for Indian warfare
and was named Fort Early" for Gov
ornor Peter Early who was then at
the head of affairs Of state.
This old log fort withstoOd well the
winds and weather for it served Gen
eral Glackshear through the Indian
war of 1912, and again housed Gen
oral Andrew Jackson and his army
in the Seminole war Of 1918. Standing
amid the Sylvan scenes, made beauti-
full by the lavish hand of nature, which
surrounds this historic site, enriched
by so much to perpetuate the sacred
memories of Georgia's noble pioneer
days, ones mind involuntarily becomes
retrospective. Lifting the curtain and
looking down the dim years of the
past, we catch in Kaleidoscope view,
scenes of the long ago enacted around
this historic site. First we see the
Red Man in his freedom and strength
roaming these forests, monarch of all
he surveys"
The scene changes. The pioneer
white man has made his appearance
and the Indian in all of his savagry
and might arises to resent this SEEM
ing intruder into his wild domain. We
watch the trend Of events and soon
see Notifications thrown up and log
fort built for the protection of Gen
eral Blackshear and his brave men
who have come to quell these hostile
people. Bloody encounters ensue
which form several chapters in the
history of the war of 1912. Finally
the whites gain the mastery and the
Red Man stands subdued for the time
being and General Blackshear and
his army evacuate Old Fort Early and
return to their quarters, leaving all
things quiet along the Flint"
Only the Old Log Fort is left to
stand sentinel as it were, over the
white settlers in this wild region. But
not long is the peace and quiet the
pioneers seem to be enjoying, to last
For presently another scene is flash
ed upon our memories as we behold
the hostile Seminoles from Florida
sneak through the settlement burning,
pillaging and numbering the whites
The Red Sticks" from Georgia join
them in their raids Of murder and
plumber, and the whites are sore OPP
pressed. The secretary of war is
appealed to, and III February, 1918, he
sends DOWN "Old Hickory" General
Andrew Jackson) from Tennessee,
with an army to Quell the Seminoles.
Jackson and his men in their march,
follow the old Blackhear trail, and af-
ter many hardships and encounters
with the Indians, safely reach Fort
Early. Entrenching themselves in
these Notifications they prepared for
constant and heavy battle to the Sem
inoles and their RED Stick" allies,
and succeeded in completely overcom-
ing them. So thoroughly were they
routed, that Fort Early goes down in
history as the spot where the last at
tack ever made by the Indians upon
the whites in South Georgia, was re-
PEELED. Directly after Jackson reach
ed Fort Early with his men, who were
almost in a famished condition, Capt.
Leigh was ordered out from Fort Hart
ford (HawkinsvilleD with packs of pro-
visions for Jackson's army. Later
fearing Capt. Leigh would not be able
TO reach his destination, on account
of the extreme hostility of the Indians,
Mai. Heard was ordered by Gen. Glas-
cock to proceed with detachment of
men to meet Leigh and aid him in
reaching Fort Early.
When they reached Cedar Creek
few miles above Fort Early, they found
the stream so swollen that Maj.
Heard deemed it too dangerous to
cross. Capt. Leigh and private Sam