The same year twenty-one-year-old George Washington was fighting in the French Indian War, a Christmas carol became popular. It was written by Charles Wesley, born this day, December 18, 1707. He was the brother of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and together they served as missionaries among the Indians and settlers in Georgia. Charles Wesley's Christmas carol, written 1753, begins: "Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem."

Columbus, Monday Noon May 16 1836

Creek War Incidents

In the Creek Nation, at this moment, at the scenes of Florida are being acted over. The wild savage frenzied by the smell of blood in his nostrils, is prowling the wilderness, skulking around plantations, leveling the deadly rifle at the breast of the white man, scalping the unoffending wife and mother, and beheading the innocent and unsuspecting babe! We have heard of some cases which make the blood chill in our veins, a house, in which lied a man, his wife and 6 children, was suddenly surrounded by a savage band, who entered the peaceful domicile, inhumanly massacred every soul, securing the scalps of all, and severing the heads of each child from it's body.

Excerpt  Taylor County Tracer Dec. 2002

Columbus Herald Tuesday Evening 
May 19, 1836

The Creeks Indians Risen

We receive the most  alarming intelligence from the West.  The Creek Indians have risen, and are murdering all within their reach! Men, women and children are indiscriminately butchered and scalped!  The white settlers in the Creek Nation are leaving their homes and their property, and flyin for  their lives.  It is said 37 have been massacred.

The mail stage from Columbus west, after going 10 or 15 miles, and finding the road filled with women and children, some barefoot, others with nothing on but their night clothes, flying from the Indians, the passengers became alarmed, and the stage turned back.  The chiefs we understand profess friendship, but state they cannot restrain their people.   It  is said many discontented Cherokees have joined in.

Oglethorpe Echo - Apr 14 1876
Indian Atrocities
Someone named Fenwick wrote an article and submitted it in the "Indian Atrocities Section" it went something to the effect of he would relate an incident which occurred in Oglethorpe Co., GA which
showed no sympathy and the inhumanity of the Indian race.  Note this accounting is not as it was written
but rather an abbreviated excerpted version. 

In 1791, on the South-side of Broad River, not many miles from Mill Stone, lived Old Man Bridges. 
During this time the line of the Cherokee Nation cornered where "Cherokee Corner Church" (hence its name now), now stands, running NE to the Savannah River, crossing Broad River not far north of where Old Man Bridges lived.  These Cherokee Indians were  continually crossing their border line, coming into the territory of the whites and committing the worst atrocities.  So, it was necessary that the whites build as close to each other as possible, that they might assist one another when these Indians were raiding among them. 
At this time there were no other families living near Old Man Bridges except his 2 sons, who were married and lived in the same house w/him.
The elder son David, had a little girl Nannie and she was Grandpa's pet.  One day he started to the field and she cried to go with him, he  took her in his arms and carried her to the mulberry tree that was in open view a couple hundred yards from the house.  While he was feeding little Nannie ripe berries from the tree, the crack of a rifle was heard not more than 10 steps away and Old Man Bridges fell over dead.
Even quicker 3 Indians sprang from the bushes nearby where they had lain concealed, and one scalped Old Man Bridges anad a second one snatched Little Nannie from his arms and grasping her by her little feet he held her up, with her head downwards while a third with a long knife   too graphic to continue... 

I need the rest of this story if anyone has it please send to margie@majorinternet.net
 

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