Newspaper Page Text
THE COUNTRY!! A
118
that had to be encountered, in a journey from
Georgia to Virginia, in 1813, and contains
other matters that refer to the history of its
time:
“Dinwiddir County, Va., June 28, 1813.
Dear Cousin :
After leaving your part of the country, I
came, by way of wagon, to Augusta, where,
after staying three or four days, 1 obtained a
assage, in a cotton boat, to Savannah, where
arrived on the 15th of April. Here, after a
short tarry, and meeting with no employment,
I resumed my journey, by way of the mail
■boat, to Tunbridge. Here, J was detained all
night. Next morning, I started for Charleston,
afoot, with my knapsack'on my back, and ar
rived, that evening, at Mr. LeCrafte’s, a dis-
tance of thirty miles, though not without con
siderable debility, from the fatigue of my walk.
1 did not leave this place until nine o’clock, the
following morning—at which time, a little re
cruited, I continued my journey, that day, as
far as Mr. Hazel’s—a distance of twenty-two
miles. The next morning, wiih a heavy head,
and sore foot, I marched on, and travelled, that
day, centrary to my expectations, a distance
of twenty-six miles. Reaching an excellent
tavern, I put up tor the night, at last: but the
next morning, finding myself so extremely
weak, and my feet so excessively sore, I was
obliged to stay four or five days, at the expira
tion of which time, I resumed my journey, by
way of stage, to Charleston, thirty miles dis
tant. Here, after making enquiry, and being
informed that no vessel of war would sail; in
some time, and my pecuniary circumstances
not justifying a long stay in-this place, I re
solved upon steering my course homeward. I
left Charleston, and to try the sand once more,
I took it afoot, the weather being so warm, and
dry, and the sand so deep, that by the time I
bad walked thirty miles, though I took a day
and a half to do it, my feet were again blister
ed. I put up, where the stage was to tarry the
same evening, resolved to walk no farther 1 but,
to my mortification, when the stage arrived, it
was so crowded that I could not be admitted.
Georgetown being only thirty miles distant,
I hobbled on there, where, very fortunately, I
met with a wagon, bound lor Salisbury. I ac
companied this wagon, though considerably
out of my nearest course, for the benefit of get
ting to good water, and the cheapness of the
ride. From Salisbury, I walked to Lexington,
sixteen miles, where I met with another wagon,
which I accompanied to Mr. Murdock’s, in Or
ange county, an acquaintance of mine, of whom
I obtained a horse, which bore me to my rela»
tions, in Granville. Here, I found them all
well, and after staying, and resting myself, a
few days, journeyed on home, where, blessed
be God, 1 have arrived. Yes, I am once
more seated under the roof of my nativity,
sound as an apple,* uninterrupted with frowns
of nature, and sprightly as a bottle of cham-
paigne, and have found all well, except my
own dear mother, who is weak, and feeble,
sometimes up, and sometimes down, j-1 fear
the oppressive fervors of Georgia have radica
ted a stain in her constitution, that purer air of
Virginia, and its salubrious clime, will never
eradicate.
Produce is extremely low, except corn, which
Is $3 per bbl.; flour $6 to 7 per bbl.; wheat
$1 per bush. Goods are very high. Sugar
from 20 to 25c per lb. All other articles equal-
ly high.
You may recollect, while in your state, how
frequently I spoke of the inequality that pre
vailed in_ this state : but it affords me exquisite
satisfaction that, at my return, to- see the re
verse established, and for me to have tho su-
f ireme pleasure of writing to you on the equal
ly, union, and consistency that now prevail—
though, at the same time, it is with the most
sincere and deepest regret I have to record the
motive that brought about this change, in part,
and with the greatest indignation I inform you
of the motive that produced the mutalionj in'
♦Bathetic.
fSilly.
full. War was the first and material cause,
from which all others sprang, and this is the
part which I am sorry to record. The next
cause is, the rich are all aiming at offices of
preferment. These they cannot well obtain,
except ty condescending to Couff the favor of
the lower class of people. This necessarily,
and eventually, establishes equality. This is
self-interest, and this i3 the part, on which,
with indignation, I write you.—You have also
frequently heard me make mention of the ab
ject ignorance in which the poor people were
constrained to live: but these hindering causes
are removed, which are in part the above, and
this county, in particular, is in that state of
improvement that will, in a short time, render
it a counterpoise, perhaps, to any other of the
same magnitude in the world. We have now
a most excellent seminary of learning erected
at Dinwiddie court-house, supplied with two
teachers, globes, and maps, and an extensive
library. The teachers are limited to fifty stu
dents, of which the school is now replete. I
have become a student in this academy, and
am now reading mathematics, as a preparation
for the study of astronomy, and intend study
ing philosophy, rhetoric, belles fettres, history,
and other sciences that arc taught here. I am
obliged to conclude.
That we may keep up a constant correspon
dence, is the sincere wish of your devoted
friend, and affectionate cousin,
Joseph Sturdivant.
N. B. Be pleased to let brother John peruse
this. I-have written to him since my return,
but, being, at that time, a little confused, I
don’t know what I wrote. J. S.”
What an amount of gas in this letter ! And
yet, in some respects, it is interesting.
The following letter from Tilmpn Turner, is
directed to “Mr. William Turner, near Eaton-
ton, Georgia,” and is postmarked “ Washing
ton, M.T., Jul. 13:”
“Cantonment, Washington, M. T.,
12 July, 1813.
Dear William I have just received infor
mation that the 3rd regiment arc now on their
way from New Orleans to Cincinnati, on the
Ohio. The recruiting officers, and recruits at
tached to that corps, will join them at Natchez,
from which place we ascend the river in barges,
and expect to perform our journey in' two, or
three months, by which time the season will be
so far advanced, that I am afraid it will be too
late to render any service to our government,
this campaign ; but should the war continue
until the next, you may expect to have a good
account of the third.
I have not heard from you in so long a time,
that I am really afraid that I am quite forgot
ten. Not a single line have 1 received from
Georgia since January last. Please write me,
at Cincinnati, Ohio.—My best respects to all
friends, and relations.
Yours sincerely, T. Turner.
Mr. W. Turner, Ga.”
Hon. Bolling Hall was a man of note, in his
day—a member of congress—and one who took
an active part in the politics of Georgia. Prof.
W. J. Sasnett, an able writer, and minister, of
the Methodist persuasion, living in Sparta,
married ode of his daughters. Bolling Hall
was a brother of the mother of my father’s
mother. The following letter- from him will
give my readers some idea of Georgia politics,
in 1813, and of some other interesting matters
of that period :
“ Washington, 15th July, 1813.
Dear William On the receipt of your first
letter, I endeavored to obtain the amount of
your subscription to the weekly Aurora, iu a
bill, or bills, for the purpose of sending it on,
agreeably to your request—but failed in the at
tempt. I then wrote to the editor, and request
ed him to authorize any one of the delegation
to receive the money, and it should be immedi
ately paid—to which I have received no an
N.
swer.—I shall endeavor to bring with mo a
hand-book for you.
I cannot help saying, that I am sorry to find
that my political enemies are determined, even
at the expense of every principle of truth, to
persecute me. When men have beeorrre-sodost
to every^mora) principle, as wilfdlly to propa
gate falsehood, the attempt to silence them is,
indeed, vain. Yet there is something due to
public opinion, and, particularly to those hon
est., unsuspecting men who have been imposed
on by falsehood.—I thank you for your kind
offer of vindicating my character from the foul
aspersions attempted to be cast on it. But as I
am unacquainted with the extent to which
those false reports have been circulated, and
the credit which they have gained, I cannot
say how far it may be necessary for me to come
forward in vindication. The pamphlet which
you mention as being in circulation, I have
never seen, or heard ol, before. If it contains
one paragraph, or sentence which goes to show
that any attempt has been made, in congress,
to establish the Methodist faith, ,or that any
bill was ever introduced on that subject, or that
any attempt of the kind was ever fliade to do
so, before, or since, 1 had the honor of a seat in
the house of representatives, it is a falsehood,
a3 base as the heart of the author. That any
person has ever mentioned the subject to me,
and that I said I had voted against the bill, ia
equally untrue. You may treat the subject aa
you think it merits attention. If necessary,
the journals can be produced, or a certificate
from the clerk, that no attempt of the kind has
ever been made.
From the movements of our army, I was in
hopes that Upper Canada would have been in
our possession before this. The capture of Fort
George, York, Queenstown, and Erie, author
ized this opinion: but the loss of Chandler, and
Winder, and, since then, of Col. Boustler, and
about five hundred men, is such an evidence of
a total want of that common prudence, which
should be observed by the officers of an army,
that I have become almost heartless. However,
Gens. Hampton, and David R. Williams, left
here, a few days ago, to take command on the
Niagara. Hampton is said to be an experi
enced, good officer, while Williams is a man in
whom the utmost confidence may be placed,
and in whatever situation he may be placed, he
will discharge his duty with promptness, abili
ty, and fidelity—he will do his duty. By the
last accounts from Fort Meigs, no movement
was made by the army, under Harrison, but it
was daily expected It seems that Commodore
Chauncey had sailed from Sackett’s Harbor,
and we may soon expect to hear something of
importance. The conduct of the British, at
Hampton, has produced general disgust with
every person who had one sentiment of human
ity, or patriotism, remaining. A number of
the leading feds, in congress, I believe, secretly
rejoice at such hellish atrocities, and attempt to
palliate the crime.
By yesterday’s mail, a French official bul
letin was received, giving an account of a
general engagement, between the French and
Russians, near Leipsic, iu which the latter were
defeated, with a loss of 25,000 or 30,000 men.
The armies were commanded by the two emper
ors, in person. It seems that not more than half
theFrench army were engaged,and that the cav
alry, and artillery, had not joined them, which
alone prevented a total defeat. Though tho
feds are crying out for peace, they are doing
everything in their power to prevent it. They
have, so far, prevented the confirmation of the
nomination of Mr. Gallatin, as our minister,
under the Russian mediation.—1 expect con
gress will not adjourn until about the last of
the month.—Remember me, affectionately, to
your father, mother, brothers, and sisters.
Yours, &c..
Bolling Hall.”
In the year 1S13, our people lived in a coun
try upon whose frontier hovered the savage In
dians. Gen. Floyd, of the federal army, was
the officer clothed with power to suppress their
incursions. Some of the Indians committed
murders in Morgan county, the year mention
ed, and our legislature, and Got. Early, ndop-#