It Was Murder-1789-1865.

The murder of a person in the old days was no more uncommon then it is to day. The reasons for these murders were no different then today, greed and hate, and the want to have someone else’s stuff. Now I am not romantizing murder but to report the information the way it was recorded into history. There are many family stories that tell that some of their family line was murdered by Indians or by one enemy or another ( Union or Confederate. ), This information is to help you know what happened to these men and women and some times children. Many of you may know of these stories and some will not and then there are those of you who never knew anything about a murder of one of their family line.

Native Americans.

I know there are two sides of a story, but this author feels he could not give your side the justice it deservers, yes many Native Americans murdered the White’s and the White’s murdered the Native Americans, but less us not forget that the Native Americans were murdering each other for the same reason the white’s were murdering each other. That being said I will add a storey or two so you will not feel left out of history again.

Note. The information for this page comes from Indian affairs vol. I-II who’s records are housed at the Library of Congress.

If you would like to leave a comment about this page, or need help, you can write to following. dsegelquist1@cox.net

Fort Madison, January 7, 1812.

In a letter it stated that a party of about twenty Puants, arrived at Mr. George Hunt’s house, lead mines, &c., and killed two Americans and robbed Hunt of all his goods. On the same day another party of Puants, went to the place of Nathan Pryer and killed him.

Georgia Camden County, 1793.

James Burges, and Indian trader who lived on the lower Creeks. Went to a John Kinnard house, who lived in the Hitcheta town in the lower Creeks as John Kinnard was accusing James Burges in the murder and robbery at Trader’s Hill, on the St. May’s river. James Burdes said, he know nothing of it, other then he knew there was some mischief to be done. Three Indians had came to his house and informed him they were direct from Pensacola, and were sent by the Governor, of that place and a Mr. Panton, Leslie & co. of Florida with directions from these men to ( take hair ) , as they tem scalping, from the Americans, living on the river St May’s. Their orders were not to return to their employers without committing murder on the Americans. James Burges said those three Indians were joined by a party of Indians from the town where he lived and went to St. May’s and killed Captain John Fleming and Daniel Moffit, and then went to Robert Seagrove store and robbed it. James Burges said, that he saw the three Indians before mentioned on their return from St. May’s and was headed towards Pensacola. They were loaded with goods, the plunder of Robert Seagrove’s store, and had with them the scalps of Captain Fleming and Mr. Moffit. Burges said, he firmly believed that the Governor of Pensacola, and Panton were the means of having them murdered, and robbed. James Burges acknowledged that his brother-in-law an Indian was one of the party at Trader’s Hill, but denied that his own son was there.

In a litter of January 7, 1793, it was stated that on December 20, 1793, that Col. Hugh Tenan, John Brow and William Gremes were killed and Scalped by Indians, Creeks was believed, on the Southern frontiers of Davidson county, about fifteen miles from Nashville.

About August 1, 1793, Samuel Miller was killed at Joslin’s station on the Cumberland.

On August 21, 1793, in Tennessee county the widow Baker and all her family were killed except two children who were big enough to make their escape.

Around August, of 1793, in Tennessee county, Robert Well’s family consisting of a wife and two children were killed.

From a letter by Captain Richard Roberts to the Governor of Georgia, 1794.

Murder of friendly Indians.

It is with the greatest regret that the painful task is left me to inform your Excellency of the most perfidious and wanton murder, committed on the 28th., ultimo, by some of the militia, of this state, on a hunting party of friendly Indians; Tuskatchee Mico, or the White-bird-tail king, with six warriors, arrived at this post yesterday, about noon, and informed me that, on the 28th., ultimo, as they were quietly encamped, some where on the little river, a party of about three white men came unarmed into their encampment, where they met with a friendly reception, and experienced acts of hospitality from the savages; such as eating with them, that they then went away; but soon after returned with arms, and fired on the helpless encampment, by which means two Indians were killed. The unfortunate fate of these two Indians is more peculiarly offensive, to the savages, as they were all of the Cussetah town.

Many of the chiefs of the Creeks and other nations give satisfaction to the white’s for any murders committed by that nation in the hope of keeping peace with their ( father ), the President.

Parts of litters of Benjamin Hawkins, Creek Agency, 1812.

A distinguished chief was sent yesterday to inform me, that they had put to death the leader of the banditti who murdered Lott. He fled to the white town of Aobohealth Le Mico, Great medal chief; sat down on his seat as a sanctuary; the learder of the armed party pursued and shot him on the seat, through the head and body.

Being on the road I have just time to inform you, That the Indian who killed Meredith, at Kittome was put to death on the 19th., making in all, five executed on demand for satisfaction.

The chiefs have had six murderers put to death, for their crimes on the post road and to the northwest, and seven cropped ( hair cut ) and whipped for thefts. One of those, Hillaubee Haujo, who was the leader of the banditti who committed the murders on Duck river, was, after, long search after him, decoyed to the old council house, at the hickory ground, put to death on the 21, and thrown into Coosa river.

Cherokee Nation, Major King & Daniel Carmichael’s report of June 12, 1793.

At the appearance of day light this morning, Captain John Beard, with his company of mounted infantry, to our great surprise made an attack on the Indians at the Hanging Maw’s. They have killed Scantee, Fool Charley, the Hanging Maw’s wife, Betty, the daughter of Kittakiska, and we believe eight or nine others, among them William Rosebury, a white man, the Hanging Maw shot through the arm, Betty, the daughter of Nancy Ward, wounded. The fire of this inhuman party seemed to be directed at the white
People who were there as much as at the Indians therefore, we made our escape through it as quick as possible, and cannot give a minute account of the whole of the damage. By hard pleading, we got them to spare the rest of the Hanging Maw’s family, and his house from being burnt.

List of murders committed by Indians in the Mero District since the 20th., of May, 1793.

John Hacker, on Drake’s creek.

June 2, James Steele, and the oldest daughter Betsey.

June 4, Adam Flenor, Richard Robertson, and William Bartlet, killed.

June 4, Abraham Young and John Mayfield wounded on the road to Big Barren.

June 29, Isaac Heaton and Joseph Heaton Killed, and a negro wounded at Heaton’s Lick.

July 1, Jacob Castleman, William Castleman, Joseph Castleman, killed; and Hans Castleman wounded, at Hayes station.

July 15, William Campbell wounded near Nashville.

July 18, Mr.---Joslin, wounded at his own hous.

July 19, Mr. ---Smith, killed at Johnston’s Lick.

Part of a litter by Daniel Smith to the Secretary of war, August 31, 1793.

At the appearance of day light on the 29th., instant, a numerous party of Indians made an attack on Henry’s station. Their real number cannot be known, and the opinions differ on that head from one hundred to three hundred. Lieutenant Tedford and another man had gone out to a cornfield when the firing commenced, at which they attempted to run to the station, but got among the Indians unexpectedly. The Lieutenant was took prisoner, carried about one hundred and fifty yards, and put to death, his body mangled in a most inhuman manor. The other man fortunately made his escape, and ran to a neighboring station from whence all the adjacent frontier was alarmed.

Cherokees, murder, prisoners, 1792.

Oliver Williams and Jasen Thompson, two peaceable well disposed men, on the 28th., January, at night, encamped on the road which leads from Bledsoe’s station to the ford of the Cumberland, that is , on the north side of the Cumberland River, where they were fired on by Indians, and both wounded, and their horses, one gun, and other articles, taken from them; They both got back to the settlement much injured by the frost, as there was snow on the ground.

Early in March a party of Indians attacked the house of Mr. Thompson, within, seven miles of Nashville, killed and scalped the old man, and others of the family, and made prisoners of Mr. Caffrey and Miss Thompson a child.

On the 5th., of March, twenty-five Indians attacked Brown’s station, eight miles from Nashville, killed four boys.

On the 6th., of March, They burned Dunham’s station; that is house, corn &c.

On the 12th., of March, they killed Mr. Murray, on his plantation near the mouth of Stone’s river.

On the 5th., of April, Killed Mrs. Radcliff and three children.

On the 8th., of April, killed Benjamin Williams, and family, consisting of eight persons, in the heart of the Cumberland settlement, on station camp creek; a boy wounded with three balls, near the same place.

On the 16th., of April, two boys killed, within twelve miles of Nashville.

November 12, 1794.

John Covington was killed on his way from Red Bank to Muddy river.

Clarksville, November 12, 1794.

A Indian attack on Colonel Sevier’s station, killed Snyder, his wife, and child, one of Colonel Sevier’s children, and another wounded, and scalped, which must die.

District of Mero, 1794.

Miss Roberts killed on Red river, forty miles, below Nashville, and on the 14th., Thomas Reasons and wife were killed, and their house plundered near the same place by Indians.

On the 16th., in Davidson county, twelve miles, above Nashville, another party killed----Chambers, wounded John Bosley and Joseph Davis, burned John Donaldson’s station, and carried off Sunday horses.

County of Monongalia, 1789.

On the 23rd., instant, the Indians committed hostilities on the frontiers of this county, killed Captain Williams Thomas, Joseph Cornbridge and wife, and two children on Dunker’s creek.

February, 1792.

James Thompson and family killed; also Peter Caftey’s family within five miles of Nashville. It appears that, in the evening, they killed Mr. Thompson in the yard, and jumped into the house and killed all the women and children except two small ones, who they spoke to in English, and told them to grow up, and then they would come and kill them.

Colonel Isaac Fitsworth, or Titsworth and his brother, John Fitsworth’s or Titsworth families were murdered on the waters of Red river; seven persons were killed and scalped on the spot, and theor property taken; these families were moving, and encamped in the woods, but not more then four miles from the settlement.

Persons murdered in the Mero District 1791.

Richard With, Jan. 16, Papon’s creek.

Lloyd Hynniman, Feb., At sugar camp, near Bledsoe’s lick.

Captain Cuffey, negro man, March 20, on his masters plantation stode river.

Charles Hickman, April 1, Surveying on the water of Duck, by Creeks.

George Wilson, May 25, On the grate road, near station-camp creek.

John Nickerson, May 27, Smith’s fork.

John Gibson, June 14, Mayfield’s station near Nashville by Creeks.

Benjamin Keykanol, June 29, In his own yard near Bledsoe’s lick, by Creeks.

Thomas Fletcher---No info.

Robert Jones, July 18, Major Wilson 8 miles from Summer court-house.

John White, July 15, Cumberland Mountains, near the new trace.

Joseph Dickson, July 31, At his own house near Croft’s Mills.

Georgia, 1817.

On February 24, 1817, the house of Mr. Garret, residing in the upper county, near the boundary of Wayne county, was attacked during his absence, near the middle of the day, by the lower Creeks consisting of about fifteen, who shot Mrs. Garret in two places, and they dispatched her by stabbing and scalping. Her two children ( one about three years, the other two months ) were also murdered and the eldest scalped, then the house was plundered of every article of value, and set on fire.

January, 1829 or 1830.

Matilda B. Dunn widow of Colonel Thomas B. Dunn had a claim in Congress, stating that her husband was the Superintendent at the United States Armory at Harper’s Ferry, on Friday, January 29, 1829 or 1830, was murdered by one Ebenezer Cox, Thomas B. Dunn had refused to continue Mr. Cox in is employment, Mr. Cox not liking Mr. Dunn went to the upper office of the armory, and shot Mr. Dunn with a duck shot, which left a large hole in his body which killed him.

Murders at the time of the Civil War.

On or about the 11th day of September, 1862, Mr. William H. White, a citizen of De Soto County, Miss., was inhumanly murdered in the presence of his presence of his mother and wife near his residence on the Hernando and Memphis plank road about thirteen miles from Memphis. I am also informed that this murder was perpetrated by a party of Illinois cavalry (said to be the Sixth) in the service of the United States Government and under the immediate command and direction of one Captain Boicourt. It is further stated that Boicourt himself inflicted the first wound upon the murdered man.

August 28, 1861.

James McClurg, along with James Stout, did on the 26th day of August, A. D. 1861, at and within the county of Iron and State of Missouri unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously and in violation of the laws of war shoot kill and murder one Jacob Woolford a loyal citizen of the United States of America.

PONCHATOULA, LA., July 8, 1862.

Corpl. J. N. Smith and Private James Harve, murdered near the Springfield Bridge, July 14, 1862.

1863.

Captain William W. Montgomery, was murdered, by a band of armed men, numbering some 7 men, among whom was one Dick Hamilton, who is now, or was a day or two past, in the city of Matamoras, Mexico. The murder of said Montgomery was effected by hanging him by the neck with a rope to a mesquite tree. Deponent saw the said Montgomery captured or kidnapped on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande on the morning of the day that he was murdered by the persons who hung him, together with others. Deponent saw the body of said Montgomery still hanging to the mesquite tree four days after the murder.

1863.

At Carrollton, Ark., about 65 miles east of Fayetteville, on the 9th instant, I saw a body of Federal cavalry, part of Totten's brigade, and I put this number at about 1,000. They have murdered every Southern man that could be found, old age and extreme youth sharing at their hands the same merciless fate. Old Samuel Cox and his son (fourteen years old), Saul Gatewood, Heal Parker, and Captain Duvall, of Missouri, were a part of those they murdered in Carroll.

On the border, both in Arkansas and Missouri, they are murdering every Southern man going north or coming south. West of Cassville, in Barry County, a first lieutenant (Robert H. Christian) of the Missouri militia committed one of the most diabolical, cold blooded murders that I heard of during my trip. Four old citizens of that county had gone to the brush, fearing that by remaining at home they would be murdered. Their names were Asa Chilcutt (who was recruiting for the C. S. Army), Elias Price, Thomas Dilworth, and Lee Chilcutt. Asa Chilcutt was taken very sick, and sent for Dr. Harris, a Southern man. The doctor came as requested, and, while there, this man Christian and 17 other militia came suddenly upon their camp. Lee Chilcutt made his escape. The others were captured, and disposed of as follows: Asa Chilcutt, the sick man, was shot to death while lying on his pallet unable to move. He was shot some six or seven times by this leading murderer, Christian. They marched the others 150 yards to a ridge, and not heeding their age or prayers for mercy, which were heard by the citizens living near by they shot and killed the doctor and the others, all of them being shot two or three times through the head and as many more times through the body. They (the Federals) then left them, and, passing a house near by, told the lady that they

"had killed four old bucks out there, and if they had any friends they had better bury them." This man Christian also tried to hire two ladies, with sugar, coffee, &c., to poison Southern men lying in the brush. Christian proposed furnishing the poison and also the subsistence, and would pay them well if they accepted his proposition. The names of the ladies are Rhoda Laton and Mrs. Simms, and every word of all the above can be proven in every particular. I have given you the above narrative of Christian's acts at the request of the public living in that section. They look to you as the avenger of their wrongs.
I have the honor to be, general, your most obedient servant,
JOSEPH G. PEEVY,
Captain Co. B, Hunter's Regiment.

1864.

Within the last two week and since I had a conversation with you a band of rebels, calling themselves Forrest's men, have arrested and carried form their homes four or our est, most peaceable, and quiet citizens, and brutally murdered them in cold blood without the slightest provocation--Mr. B. A. Crawford, age FIFTY years, and William Bowlin, age FIFTY-five years, of Weakley County, Tenn. ; John C. Huddleston, age FIFTY- two years, and William Hurst, age eighteen years, the latter of McNairy County, Tenn.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Eastport, February 1, 1865.
General J. B. HOOD, C. S. Army,
Commanding Confederate Forces:
GENERAL: On the evening of the 1st November, 1864, while the U. S. forces under the command of Major-General Howard, known as the Army and Department of the Tennessee, were near Powder Springs, Ga., three enlisted men belonging to that command were captured by a band of guerrillas commanded by a captain, and two of them brutally murdered in cold blood by those guerrillas, and the other one shot at twice and was wounded each time, but succeeded in making his escape, and has made sworn statements as to the manner of death of his comrades, with the additional statement that the rebel captain informed him that he would kill all Federal prisoners captured by his command.
The names of the men who were captured are as follows: Corpsl. Charles E. Ellis, Privates George Ford and Joseph Phillips. The corporal was killed instantly; the other two were taken ten miles in the country and then were shot at by a party of these guerrillas. At the first volley Private Ford was murdered, and while Phillips was wounded another volley was fired which again wounded Private Phillips, who then ran and jumped down a bank into a stream of water, where he concealed himself until the guerrillas left and then came into our lines. This statement is forwarded by Brigadier-General Woods, commanding a division in Major-General Howard's army, with the recommendation that Private Milton Dotson, of Ferguson's command (Perrins' regiment), be either shot or hung in retaliation for one of the murdered Union soldiers, which recommendation met the approval of Major-General Howard in these words:
Private Dotson has been sent as a prisoner of war to Chattanooga. i would respectfully recommend that he be shot in retaliation for the cold- blooded murder of Private George Ford, Company G, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, herein described, and that action be published so as to come to the notice of parties interested.
I have the honor to inform you that the prisoner Dotson is now under guard at Louisville, Ky. The papers in this case have been returned go General Howard with the information that the prisoner is held subject to his disposal, and will be sent to him on his application.

Terre Haute, June 18, 1863.

this afternoon that one of the enrolling officers of Sullivan County, Fletcher Freeman, had been murdered this morning about 8 o"clock. He was shot in the road near his residence, the ball entering his left breast and causing death almost immediately.

1862.

Andrew Allsman, was a man upward of sixty years of age, taken his family and murdered.

1863.

Shortly after having assumed command of this post I made it my duty to ascertain the number of Indians in this vicinity. Above the fort, on Trinity as far up as the South Fork, fourteen miles, there were about 75 fighting Indians and 150 squaws and children. Below the fort, on Trinity River, to the Kamath, eight miles, there are 155 fighting bucks and 350 squaws and children. Indians from this valley are joining small roving bands of Redwood and Mad River Indians. We have conclusive evidence that Madam Weaver and Merrick were murdered by Indians belonging to a ranch about seven miles above this post, at the mouth of Willow Creek, where it empties into the Trinity. Two of these Indians were captured, and, endeavoring to escape, were killed. One of them confessed before he died of being at Madam Weaver's murder.

HEADQUARTERS JACKSONPORT, ARK.,
May 24, 1862.

On the 21st instant Private Philander W. Pringle, of Company G, Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry, was murdered in cold blood and his body left lying in the swamp until yesterday, when it was buried by a party of soldiers, under command of Lieutenant Arza F. Brow.