The Charlotte Journal

Latest from Georgia.

FURTHER ACCOUNTS OF CREEK INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.

From the Charleston Courier.

[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS.]

Office of the Constitutionalist,
Augusta, Saturday morning, May 21.

We received by last evening's mail no papers west of Macon, and no further intelligence from the Creeks, than what is contained in the following extract of a letter from the Post Master at Columbus, to the Post Master General, for which we are indebted to the politeness of Mr. George Plitt, an Agent of the Post Office Department, now in this city.

Post Office, Columbus, May 18.

Last evening two friendly Indians were dispatched to inform a body of Indians represented to be friendly, and encamped near the spot where the mail was attacked on Monday the 16th instant, that if they would come in they should be protected. By them, I sent a note to a white man, who is with the friendly Indians, that if he would bring in all the mails, with the assistance of the friendly Indians, I would give him $20. The two Indians have not yet returned. No body of whites can be obtained at any price to go to the spot and endeavor to rescue the mails, so great is the panic now pervading the country. Yesterday a firm house, five miles from Columbus, was burned down, and this morning some negroes were attacked not more than half a mile from Girard, a town situated directly opposite this, on the west bank of the Chattahoochee; a horse was wounded and a negro shot through the arm. I shall continue my exertions to rescue the mails, or so much of them as may not have been destroyed or carried away. It seems now that there were 15 persons along with the mail when it was attacked. Eleven of whom have reached Columbus in safety, after having wandered about the swamps until last night. The remaining four are known to have been killed as they were seen to fall by some of those who have escaped. One of the killed was a Mr. Hallett, of New York, (who was on his return home, to witness the marriage of his daughter,) represented to be a merchant of wealth and respectability. Roanoke, a small village on the Georgia side of the Chattahoochee river, 25 miles below this, was burned by the Indians, and 15 white persons killed.

Very respectfully yours,
J. VAN NESS, P.M.

Since writing the above, we have been favored by Mr. George Plitt, with an extra from the Columbus Enquirer of the 17th inst., but we find very little in addition to the above. The Enquirer states, that after the destruction of Roanoke, 15 men were found dead and 20 wounded—that the women and children in all probability had escaped: and the steamer Georgian, which was reported to have been destroyed with all on board, was thought to have been got off without serious loss. Col. Felix G. Gibson, an estimable and brave man, and Captain Horne, solicitor of the Chattahoochee circuit, were among the slain. The steamer Columbus, bound up, was abandoned about 20 miles below Columbus, in consequence of the danger of ascending, and a company of men were dispatched to bring her up.

Office of the Augusta Constitutionalist,
Saturday night, May 22.

The Western mail has just arrived, but brings nothing of importance further than what I send you enclosed. Old Neah Micco, the head man of the Creek nation, has at length declared in favor of hostilities, and old Chee Mautbla has sent in word to Columbus, that he would burn the bridge, and if he could not take Columbus, he would devastate the country towards Flint River.—Every confidence was heretofore felt in the friendship of these two Chiefs, but that confidence is now at an end. The Indians have complete possession of Roanoke, and have made a breastwork of the cotton bales found there, and so far have been successful in repulsing two companies that were sent against them. Among the slain after the first battle at this place, were found the bodies of a Mr. H. Joyce, Mr. Kershaw, Mr. A. Hill, son-in-law of Col. Z. Williams, and R. Gauley. Capt. Horn is not dead, but badly wounded: neither is the report of the death of Col. Gibson, as he is still said to be living. Troops were collecting pretty fast about Columbus and the surrounding country, and our Governor is using his best exertions to put a stop to Indian disturbances.

In addition to the particulars contained in the foregoing letter, we derive the following from the Macon Messenger of the 16th inst., giving an alarming account of the extent of the Indian insurrection in the Creek country, the chiefs, although not disposed to be hostile, being wholly unable to control their tribes. The family of a Mr. Davis, consisting of 7 persons, were murdered on the Friday previous, a few miles above the Federal Road. Mr. Chas. Reed's wagon, laden with corn, and his negroes, have been taken, about 6 miles from Columbus. On the Saturday previous, 5 men went out to bring in some horses and stages from the line, and when coming in with 19 horses and 2 stages were attacked and fired on by a considerable number of Indians. Four of them escaped with their horses; the fifth (Green) is ascertained to have been killed. The loss of the mail contractor has been very great—not less than 30 horses are known to have been taken or killed, and three stages and one mail wagon lost—two mails are also lost. The steam boat Hyperion, Capt. Smith, of the attack on which an account has already been given, was got afloat and brought up by Col. Spikes and a number of his neighbors whom he had collected for the purpose. A skirmish took place on the 13th inst., about 15 miles above Columbus, between a party of about 30 whites, under Wm. Davis, Esq. and about 50 Indians. One Indian was killed and several wounded, without loss on the part of the whites. On Sunday morning a most fearful tragedy had been enacted
at the village of Roanoke, on the Chattahoochee, about 30 miles below Columbus, within the limits of Georgia, the place having been attacked by three or four hundred Indians, who killed 15 men, wounded 20, and burnt the village to ashes. The women and children it is believed escaped, as also the steam boat Georgian, which had been lying at the wharf. The citizens of Irwinton, for the safety of whom apprehensions were entertained, have erected a fort, and organized a sufficient corps, it is believed, for their defence. Serious apprehensions are felt for the safety of Columbus.

Volunteers from Harris, Upson, Talbot, and Marion counties, had organised and were soon expected, under Major Howard, to plant their standard on the other side of the Chattahoochee.

Republican Herald, Extra,
Columbus, (Geo.) Thursday Noon, May 19.

Wednesday, 18th.—Several Volunteer Companies from neighboring Counties have come in, whose appearance warrants the belief, that if "the tug of war" should come, they will be found at their post; they are from Talbot, Harris, and Upson Counties. A still larger force is hourly expected from the interior of this State, and some six or eight hundred from Montgomery. We doubt not but the force will be quite adequate in the course of three or four days to make a successful resistance against any hostile foe from the Indian Nation.

The Mobile Chronicle, of the 13th inst. contains a statement of depredations committed by the Creek Indians, upon various plantations in Russell and Bourbon counties in Alabama. The plantations of Messrs. Culbreath, L. W. Howard, Bonlt, Wicker, Smith, Everett, and Col. Richardson, are named as having been plundered. Several Creek Indians, known to be friendly, had made known that an immediate and general hostile movement of the Indians is intended in that section of the State.

Extract of a letter received at Augusta, from the Post Master, dated
"Columbus, May 21.—The town is all bustle and preparation, and to-morrow morning Gen. White of Talbot, crosses the river, and penetrates the Indian country, with five hundred men. Gen. Bailey, of Troup, is near the Lee. Wak-Lee swamp, with three hundred whites, and about the same number of friendly Indians. In this Lee.Wak.Lee swamp are five or six hundred hostile savages. An express has arrived to day, saying Gen. Bailey's men would enter the swamp to-day, and endeavor to drive the Indians out."