Chehaw Affair facts for kids
The Chehaw Affair was a sad event that happened a long time ago. It's also sometimes called the Chehaw Massacre. During this time, a group of soldiers led by Captain Obed Wright attacked the village of Chehaw. This village was home to friendly Native Americans. Many people from Chehaw died during this attack.
Contents
Why the Attack Happened
The First Seminole War Begins
The Chehaw Affair happened during the First Seminole War. This was a conflict between the United States and some Native American groups. General Andrew Jackson was sent with his soldiers from Tennessee and Georgia. His job was to bring peace to southern Georgia and northern Florida.
Jackson's Actions and Georgia's Problem
General Jackson was very eager. He took his large army, which included friendly Lower Creek and Chehaw people, and went into Spanish Florida. He captured Spanish towns like St. Marks and Pensacola. But by doing this, he left the settlers in southern Georgia unprotected. Some unfriendly Lower Creek tribes became bolder because Jackson's army was gone.
Governor Rabun's Orders
Because of this, Governor William Rabun of Georgia needed help. He asked for some of Jackson's army to return. But Jackson was too far away to help quickly. So, Governor Rabun ordered a new group of soldiers to form on April 4, 1818. These soldiers were volunteers from Twiggs and Jones counties. They also had federal troops from Fort Early. Captain Obed Wright led this group. Their goal was to surprise and punish two unfriendly tribes, the Phelemmes and the Hoppones, near the Flint River.
The Attack on Chehaw Village
Wright Changes Plans
On April 21, Captain Wright and his 270 men headed towards Chehaw. He decided to attack Chehaw instead of the other tribes. He believed that a chief from the Hoppones tribe was staying there. This belief turned out to be wrong information. The commander of the fort refused to go with Wright. He insisted that Chehaw was a friendly village.
The Village is Burned
Despite warnings, Wright went ahead. The next day, April 22, his soldiers attacked. There was not much fighting back from the Chehaw people. Wright's soldiers burned the village down. Wright claimed that 40 to 50 warriors were killed. But other reports said the number of deaths was much lower, between five and ten. No U.S. soldiers were killed in the attack.
Different Stories About the Attack
The number of people who died was not the only thing people disagreed about. There were also different stories about what happened during the attack. One story said that a Native American man came out of his house with a white flag, which usually means peace. But he and his son were still killed. Another story said that the soldiers were the ones waving a white flag. This was supposedly to trick the Chehaw people into thinking they were safe.
Years later, General Jackson used this event in his campaign to become president in 1832. His biographer, Philo A. Goodwin, wrote about the attack. He described it as a very sad and terrible event for the Chehaw village.
How People Reacted
Newspapers and Officials React
Many newspapers, like the Augusta Chronicle and Savannah Republican, strongly criticized Captain Wright's actions. But Judge C. B. Strong and Governor Rabun defended him. Governor Rabun even took responsibility for Wright's actions.
Jackson's Anger and Letters
The events at Chehaw became a much bigger deal because of General Jackson. He was very angry when he heard about it. The Chehaw village had been friendly to him. They had given him supplies and 40 brave warriors had joined his army from there.
On May 7, Jackson wrote a letter saying the attack was "outrageous and inhuman." He said it would be a "stigma" (a mark of shame) on the American nation. He wanted the people responsible to be brought to justice. He then wrote a very strong letter to Governor Rabun. Jackson ordered Rabun to arrest Wright and have him tried by the military.
Governor Rabun was upset by Jackson's letter. He reminded Jackson that he had not responded to Rabun's earlier request for help in Florida. Both Jackson and Rabun then wrote to Secretary of War John C. Calhoun about the matter. These letters were published across the country.
Newspapers around the country, including the Georgia Journal, thought Jackson was wrong. They believed he was too harsh with Governor Rabun and was overstepping his authority.
After the Attack: Seeking Justice
Government Actions
On December 10, 1818, a request was made in the House of Representatives. It asked for copies of all letters between Rabun, Jackson, and the government departments. President Monroe agreed to this request. Later, President Monroe asked Congress to gather all documents about the Chehaw Affair.
Compensation for the Chehaw People
Meanwhile, William McIntosh, a Native American leader, wrote to Jackson. He wanted the people who had caused the deaths of his uncle (the chief of Chehaw) and the villagers to be brought to justice. The U.S. government later gave $10,000 to Indian Agent David Brydie Mitchell. This money was meant to help the Chehaw people.
Captain Wright's Fate
Captain Wright was found and arrested by Major John M. Davis. But Davis had to release Wright when they were passing through Milledgeville, the state capital. A Georgia court ruled that Davis had to let him go.
Once Wright was free, Governor Rabun had him arrested again. Rabun wanted Wright to be tried in a regular U.S. civil court, not by Jackson's military court. President Monroe discussed this with his secretaries. They decided that Wright should be tried in a regular court unless that court refused his case.
However, Wright heard a rumor that he would be tried for murder. Fearing he would not get a fair investigation, he decided to run away. On July 27, he fled in the middle of the night. Months later, he was seen one last time in St. Augustine, Florida. He was on his way to Havana, Cuba.
Remembering the Chehaw Affair
In 1912, the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a large granite stone near Leesburg, Georgia. This stone marks the spot where a big oak tree, important to the Chehaw people, once stood. The monument describes the Chehaw as "friendly agricultural people" who helped early settlers. It also explains that in 1818, "through misunderstanding," seven people from this tribe were killed by Georgia troops. It states that "all possible amends were made" for this event.]
