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GEOBGIA AND GEORGIANS 341
But to be ignored entirely «by the Federal authorities in negotiations
which vitally affected her welfare and to be forced into accepting
guarantees offensive to her sovereignty, under which guarantees Indian
titles to her soil had been confirmed, these were well calculated to arouse
her consciousness of independent statehood and to transfer her alle
giance from Federalism to Democracy.
Under the Treaty of Coleraine no lands were ceded, but the Treaty of
New York was ratified, leaving the beautiful Tallassee lands still in
possession of the Creeks. Only a part of this territory was ceded in
1802, and it was not until after the War of 1812 that Georgia finally
obtained ^lndisp^^ted possession of all these lands to the south and west
of the Altamaha River.
But while the state was thus embroiled in constant warfare, with the
Creeks a far happier picture invites our gaze as we conclude this chapter
with a scene enacted in the peaceful land of the Cherokees. Spring
Place, the coxinty seat of Murray, is associated with the early efforts of
a quaint religious sect to evangelize the children of the forest. Here, in
the beautiful heart of the Cohutta Mountains, in 1801, the Moravians
established a mission, and began to labor for the spiritual uplift of the
Cherokee Indians. Commissioned by the Society of United Brethren,
Rev. Abraham Sterm, first penetrated the wilds of this mountain re
gion during the latter part of the eighteenth century; and, though he
pressed the matter with great vigor in the council of the nation, he
was refused. On a similar errand, in 1800, he failed again; but David
Vann, an influential chief of mixed blood, agreed to help him this time,
and land was given him on which to start his experiment. In the course
of time, opposition on the part of the other chiefs was withdrawn, and
the mission began to prosper. Many of the Cherokees were eventually
baptized and brought into the church. There was a manual school
opened in connection with the mission at Spring Place. The first wagon
built by the pupils was given to the chief who contributed the land to
the mission. But he was severely criticized by his tribe for accepting
this present. The objection was: "If we have wagons, there must be
wagon roads; and if wagon roads, the whites will soon be among us.''
Another mission was established in 1821 at Oothcaloga. Both were in
a flourishing condition, when removed to the "West at the time of the
deportation. The Cherokee Indians loved the gentle Moravians, by
whom they were never deceived or defrauded.
THE BATTLE OF JACK'S CREEK.—On September 21, 1787, there was fought in a
thick eane-brake, near the site of the pi-esent Town of Mbnroe, a famous engagement
between a party of Creek Indians and a[ band of pioneer settlers. The principal
actors in the drama, on the side of the whites, were distinguished veterans of the
Bevolution, one of whom afterwards became governor of the state. The attack upon
the enemy was made in three divisions. Gen. Elijah Clarke, the illustrious old hero
of Kettle Creek, commanded the center; his son, Maj. John Clarke, led the left
wing; while Col. John Freeman commanded the right. The story is best told in the
language of the elder Clarke. Says he, in his report of the battle, dated Long Cane,
September 24, 1787: "I had certain information that a man was killed on the
17th of this month by a party of six or seven. Indians and that on the day before,
Colonel Barber, with a small party was waylaid by fifty or sixty Indians and wounded,
and three of his party killed. This determined me ,to raise what men I eould in the
course of twenty-four hours and march with them to protect the frontiers; in which