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384 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
ance with instructions, resorted to force, he once more tried the effect
of negotiations and sent Generals Twiggs and Irwin to Fort Advance.
Says General Twiggs, in his official report: "I proceeded to the
unauthorized settlement on the southwest side of the Oconee and, on
the presentation of Georgia's claim, read the letter from the War De
partment, together with Judge Walton's charge to the Grand Jury of
Wilkes and the law opinion of the attorney and Solicitor General. After
a full explanation of the papers above recited, I entered into a friendly
conference with him, pointing out the danger of the situation, but with
out effect. Lastly, I ordered them to move within the temporary lines
between us and the Creek Indians; but after an interview with his men
he answered that he preferred to maintain his ground. Troops, both
State and Federal, were therefore concentrated at Fort Fidius, on the
Oconee, and such a disposition made of them that General Clarke, upon
promise of General Irwin of immunity if he should vacate the post,
marched out of the place and the State troops took possession of the
works. On September 28, they were set on fire, together with Fort
Defiance, and several other garrisoned places were completely demol
ished."
On October 12, 1794, the governor informed the Secretary of War
that the posts were burnt and destroyed, and the whole affair happily
terminated without loss of blood.
Says the authority from whom we quote: "General Clarke was most
unfortunate in these transactions of his last years. But because he fell
into error, we cannot submit that his merits should be unduly shaded
or shut out from view and his character transmitted to the future,
aspersed with epithets of disparagement. He died, ranking to the last,
among Georgia's most cherished heroes and benefactors. He was em
phatically the Ajax Telamon of the State in her days of greatest trial.
In weighing such a man—such a doer and sufferer for his country—
indictments which might have crushed meaner persons are but as dust
in the balance against the rich ponderous ore of his services, and we
hasten to shed a tear on whatever may tend to soil his memory and to
pronounce it washed out forever. Georgia has been blessed with many
signal favors. But never has it fallen to her lot to have a son, native
or adopted, whom she could more proudly boast and justly honor, or
who has imprinted himself more deeply on her heart, than Elijah
Clarke."
To the foregoing accoiint of this affair, condensed from an article
by Colonel Chappell, we need only to add that one of the counties of
Georgia bears the name of this illustrious soldier of the Revolution.
Athens, its county site, became the seat of the University of Georgia.
On Broad Street, in the classic city, a handsome monument commemo
rates the achievements of the elder Clarke.* But the grave of
the general is still unmarked. Until recent years it was in fact
* Erected by Elijah Clarke Chapter, Daughters of the American B'evolution.
Athens, Georgia.