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Prospects for Peace Following the Killing of Indians and David Cornell

Bernard gives an account of the killing of Indians vicinity of Spanish Creek and Colerain Station. David Cornell, headman of Tuckabachees was conducting business for James Seagrove, Creek Indian Agent. Bernard's account points out that Cornell was unarmed when he was stopped and murderded. Suggests that the culprits were enemies of James Seagrove or rascals trying to bring on a general Indian war. Suggests that if a general war erupts, it will go on for years. Indians will receive support from Spaniards. Speaks disparagingly of the land hungry men in Georgia.

1793

07

07

Flint River

Enclosed in Gaither to Knox, 07/20/1793.This document is enclosed in a statement relative to the South Western frontiers, as connected with the state of Georgia and Creek Indians, the south Western territory of the United States and the Cherokees suybmitted to the House of Representatives on December 4, 1793. This document is an integral part of [Public Reports] and other communications of the Secretary of War, 12/99/1793.

Cited document that was neither sent to nor from the War Office

Henry Gaither

Timothy Bernard

Timothy Barnard

General Twiggs

Georgia Militia

David Cornell

Tuckabatchees

headman

Upper Creeks

Major Seagrove

James Seagrove

Spaniards

Chickasaws

Choctaws

Dons

McDonald

Joseph Cornell

Flint River

Carr's Bluff

Cusa River

Florida

Georgia

South Carolina

Spain

United States

killing of David Cornell

Treaty of New York

1793070790055

463

Major Henry Gaither
Flint River 7th July 1793
Sir
This goes by express by Carr's bluff by General Twiggs man that arrived here several days ago on business to me, who I have fully informed of matters in this quarter, which I think has a worse appearance than when I wrote you last, chiefly owing to a rash peice of murder I suspect is committed on the body of David Cornell a head man of the Tuckabatchees a friend town to the United States as was nearly all the whole upper Creeks, this young man was sent down by the whole Upper and lower Creeks on important business to Major Seagrove the thirteenth day after he passed my house two of the men that went with him him returned to my house naked and almost perished, and informed me that when they got within about thirty miles of Major Seagroves station on St. Mary's the rascal of a white man one McDonald that conducted them down pushed off a head and left them still to proceed on four of them in number. David Cornell and an Indian boy and those two men that made their escape back which informed me that when they got within three miles of the station they discovered a company of horsemen riding up towards them, Cornell never halted but as he was on horseback foremost rode on, the boy was just returned, driving three packhorses, neither Cornell nor he had a gun in their hands, as Cornell had no gun when he past my house, which could not appear to be enemies, the other two fellows were a small distance behind a fort and say that when the white people came up within thirty yards that then there were a head began to speak out loud, and one man let off his horse and stept to a tree and presented his gun at Cornell who stood still till the Gun fired and then turned his horse about and ran and the boy followed him, the whites pursued them, first pursued those two that were a foot, but they both got to a branch that was thick and saved themselves, one got a small cut on his arm by a sword as he entered the thicket and was fired on as they entered the Swamp, one says as he lay concealed he saw one of the White people come riding up to the rest with Cornells hat in his hand which was easily known as it was stuck full of White and red feathers from those circumstances we may judge he is no more, this business has been done I judge by some of Major Seagrove's enemies only some rascals rascals that want to bring on a War with the Indians and then will run off and never wait to see the end of it. This piece of cowardly shameful murder, as it can be stiled nothing else, I fear will prove of serious consequence to the United States, as I fear it will make some of our best friends enemies, and will likewise give full room to these four mischevious towns to do as they please as the town Cornell belonged to was taking every step to make them all lay quiet, which there was a great probability of their effecting a general War with those Indians may appear trifling to uninformed men but it's my shallow opinion that if its once seriously begun there will not be an end to it for several years, but what the States of Georgia nor South Carolina both can do that will put an end to it at once they may come to be drove from these quarters here which may soon be done, they will soon move over the Cusa river near the Dons and will be by them be supplied with every implement of War they stand in need of which they are obliged to do as their allies and according to treaty ten years ago, which is what they do daily; they will then be an impassable stream except in boats near the Spaniard Chickasaws and Chocktaws, which by the Spaniards will be forced to join them, as the Spaniards have the command of these supplies. Being drove from their lands they will then become desperate and without the Dons are routed out of that Country will be an endless savage War. This I know the heads of affairs in our Country are better acquainted with than I can be, but it's not the opinion of our land hungry men in the State of Georgia, they will be better acquainted with the matter when there comes to be a tryal of it, which I fear is now in a fair ring; it's useless for me to try to pacify matters where such rash steps are taken to destroy every good good intention of the Indians, tho' the Indians have done some murders they have been set on by a set of worse Savages than themselves to do it, and whether or not, we are not Savages to copy after them, to take wrongs on the innocent. This I hope will serve to inform you how matters are here, that you may be a little more on your guard, as I fear some of them will be turning over to do mischief soon.
I am Sir, Yours &c. (Signed) Timothy Barnard