McDonald, Charles J.; et al. Defence of the State of Georgia (Doc. No. 229) Submitted to the House of Representatives, relating to the defense of the State of Georgia against the Indians in Florida, by the Hon. Mark A. Cooper. Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1842. [11661]
Removed, 8 3/4 x 5 5/8 inches, 6 clean pp. Good. Pamphlet.
27th Congress, Second Session, House of Representatives, Doc. No. 229.
A glimpse of an incident of the Second Seminole War, where the "unfortunate intelligence of the murder of Mrs. Oglesby by the Indians" prompted a response by citizens and militia. Alarm is expressed that the regular army would dispose of the militia, a temptation for the Indians of Florida to conduct raids into Georgia.
"This charge was verified by the murder of Mrs. Olgesby, but a few days after the discharge of the detachments under Captains Morgan and Johnson." p. 2.
Major General Knight is ordered to send a detachment of thirty men to be placed under the command of Morgan and Johnson, for the defence of the area. Letters herein are dated from Milledgeville. There are brief yet detailed accounts of Indian attacks at Newtown (now Madisonville), and settlements in Lownds County.
A letter dated May 10, 1842, begins, "I have the honor to enclose to you the copy of a letter from General Knight, informing me of the outrages committed by the Indians in Florida, near the limits of Georgia, and the state of alarm existing among our citizens. The regular forces have withdrawn from Georgia, and her exposed frontier is now under the protection of the militia, who will doubtless be adequate to the performance of the service required of them..."
Includes complaints that the United States troops operating in Florida are driving the hostile Indians into Georgia, and accuses the same of "outrages committed by the regular troops on the persons and property of the people of Georgia." Also, this final letter accuses Congress of ignoring the plight of the citizens of Georgia, and, in fact, of working opposite to their safety.
"These swamps are used by the Indians as avenues into Georgia. It is to be hoped that, since the surrender of Halleck Tustenuggee, there will be less difficulty on the Georgia frontier. But, as long as a savage warrior is left in Florida, the Government should not remit its vigilance in guarding against his secret and invidious attacks." - p. 6.
