In the predawn hours of April 30, 1825, a party of Creek warriors surrounded the home of William McIntosh on a bluff overlooking the Chattahoochee River in present-day Carroll County, Georgia. Their mission was to kill McIntosh in retaliation for his involvement in selling Creek land to the Federal Government. A few days later, his widow, Susannah, dictated a letter describing the events.
May 3, 1825, Line Creek, Fayette County, Georgia
To Col. D.G. Campbell and Maj’r James Meriwether, United States Commissioners
William McIntosh, painted at Indian Springs in 1821 by Nathan and Joseph Negus.
Gentlemen,
When you see this letter stained with the blood of my husband, the last drop of which is now spilt for friendship he has shown for your peoples, I know you will remember your pledge to us in behalf of your Nation, that in the worst events you would assist and protect us; And when I tell you that at daylight on Saturday morning last, hundreds of hostiles surrounded our house and instantly murdered Gen’l. McIntosh and Thomas Tustunnuggee by shooting near one hundred balls into them, Chilly and Moody Kinnard making their escape through a window. They then commenced burning and plundering in the most unprincipalled way, so that here I am, driven from the ashes of my smoldering dwelling, left with nothing but my poor naked hungry children who need some immediate ade from our White friends, and we lean upon you, while you lean upon your government: About the same time of the morning that they continued the horrid act on the Gen’l. another party caught Col. Sam’l Hawkins and kept him tied until about three o’clock, when the Chief returned from our house and gave order for his execution in the same way, and refused to leave his wife any imlpiments to cover his body up with, so that it was left exposed to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the forrest, and Jenny and her children are in the same condition as we are. This party consisted of Oakfuskees, Talledgas, and Muckfaws, tho there were others with them. The Chiefs that appeared to head the party were Intock chungo (of Mockfaw) and Minnowaway, but I know not where he is from, who said they were ordered to do it by the Little Prince and Hopthle Yoholo, and that they were supported and encouraged in it by the Agent and Chiefs that were left after the Big Warrior’s death, in council at Broken Arrow where they decreed that they would murder all the Chiefs who hand any hand in selling the land and burn and destroy and take away all that they had and then send on to the President that he should not have the land. I have not heard of the murder of any others but expect all are dead that could be catcht but by reason of a great freshet on the Chattahoochee they could not get Col. Miller or Hagy McIntosh, nor the Darisus, and they and Chilly are gone to the Governor. Our country is in a most ruined state so far as I have heard (tho by reason of the high waters word has not circulated fast) all have fled from their homes in our parts and taken refuge among their White Friends and I learn they are now at Gen’l. Ware’s (near his place) from 150 to 200 of them are afraid to go to their homes to get grain or what little corn they have to eat and if you and your people do not assist us, God help us, we must die, either by the sword or by the famine. This moment Gen’l. Ware has come in and will, in a few minutes, start with a few men and a few friendly Indians to try to get a little something for us to eat. I hope so soon as you read this you will lay it before the Governor and the President that they may know our miserable condition and afford us relief as soon as possible. I followed them to their camp about 1 ½ miles to try to buy of them something to cover the dead with, but it was denied me; I tried also to get a horse to take my little children and some provisions to last us to the White settlement which was given up to me and then taken back and had it not been for some White men who assisted in burying the dead and getting us to the settlement we should have been worse off than we are, if possible. Before I close I must remark that the whole party so far as I know them were hostile during the late war.
Peggy and Susanna McIntosh
Acorn Bluff Inn and Tavern, a replica of William McIntosh’s home in Carroll County, Georgia
“at daylight on Saturday morning last, hundreds of hostiles surrounded our house and instantly murdered Gen’l. McIntosh and Thomas Tustunnuggee by shooting near one hundred balls into them”
MacIntosh’s grave
“had it not been for some White men who assisted in burying the dead and getting us to the settlement, we should have been worse off than we are, if possible”
