ELIJAH CLARK'S ACCOUNT TO GOVERNOR GEORGE MATTHEWS

ABOUT THE BATTLE OF JACK'S CREEK

WALTON COUNTY, GEORGIA

13 APRIL 1787

   General Clark wrote to governor George Mathews about the information he had received from Colonel BARBER, and asked for Governor to supply the ammunition so the frontiersmen could defend themselves. General Elijah Clark's battle with the Creek Indians at Jack's Creek on 21 September 1787, was the only principal fight between white men and Indians, between the Revolution and War of 1812, that has been recorded.

The following is General's Clark's description of that battle to Governor Mathews. " I had certain information that a man was killed on the 17th near Greensborough, by a party of six or seven Indians; and that on the 16th (16 Sept. 1787), 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 the men I could, in the course of twenty four hours, and march with them to protect the frontiers, in which space of time I collected 160 men, chiefly volunteers, and proceeded to the place where Colonel BARBER had been attached.

 There I found the bodies of three men mentioned above, mangled in a shocking manner, and after I had buried them, proceeded on the trail of the murderers as far as the south fork of the Ocmulgee, where, finding that I had no chance of overtaking them, I left and went up the said river, till I met a fresh trail of Indians coming toward our frontier settlements. I immediately turned and followed the trail until the morning of the 21st, between eleven and twelve o'clock, when I came up with them-- -they had just crossed a branch called Jack's Creek, through a thick cane brake, and were encamped and cooking upon an eminence.

My force then consisted of 130 men, thirty having been sent back on account of their horses being tired and lost. I drew up my men in three division; the right commanded by Colonel Freeman, the left by Major Clarke, and the middle by myself. Colonel Freeman and Major Clarke were ordered to surround and charge the Indians, which they did with such dexterity and spirit that they immediately drove them from their encampment back into the cane- brake, where, finding it impossible for them to escape, they obstinately returned our fire until half past four o'clock, when they ceased, except now and then a shot.

During the latter part of the action they seized every opportunity of escaping by small parties, leaving the rest to shift for themselves. About sunset I thought it most advisable to draw off, as the men suffered for provisions for nearly two days, and for want of water during the action, but more particularly to take care of the wounded, which amounted to eleven and six killed. From every circumstance, I am certain that there were not less than twenty-five Indians killed, and am induced to suppose that had I remained the night, I should have found forty or fifty dead of their wounds by morning. In short, they were totally defeated, with the loss of their provisions, clothing and the following articles: a gun, thirty-two brass kettles, thirty-seven large packs, containing blankets, etc. Colonel Freeman and Major Clarke distinguished themselves, and from the spirit and activity with which the whole of my little party acted during the action, I do not believe that had we met them in the open woods, we should have been more than five minutes in giving them a total overthrow."

The battle of Jack's Creek was near the present town of Monroe, Walton County, Georgia.