Butler County, Alabama - Chapter 3, 1885

Further Settlement of the County by the Whites - The Conduct of the Indians on Seeing Their Land Completely Taken Possession of - The Ogly Massacre - The Death of Captain Butler - The Erection of Forts Bibb and Dale - The People Forced to Remain in the Forts the Larger Part of the Year i8i8.

We will now take the reader over the bloodstained pages of Butler's history, caused by the settlement of the garden spot of the territory by the whites, against the will of the overpowered red men, who had been driven from their native land with fire and sword.

In the winter of 1817, a large number of emigrants passed down the Federal Road, some stopping in the section of country now known as Lowndes, Butler, Monroe and Conecuh Counties, while others crossed the Alabama River, below Claiborne, and settled in Clarke County. The few unhappy Indians who were left scattered through this section, became enraged at seeing the land of their forefathers completely taken possession of by the whites, and, accordingly, began to make preparations to drive them back from a place where they were unasked and unwelcomed. They forthwith made preparations for bloodshed,

About the 6th of March, i8i8, Uchee Tom and his warriors showed signs of hostiHty by stopping Wilham Ogly, who was in his ox-cart on his way to Claiborne for provisions for his family. He was, however, permitted to pass on without injury, after having been frightened almost out of his senses. Reaching Sepulga Creek, he succeeded in purchasing corn from a settler, and, feeling great anxiety about his family, he returned home without going to Claiborne. During his absence the Indians had visited his cabin, and showed signs of violence to his family. The news of the conduct of the hostile savages spread immediately to all the settlers, who began to make preparation for the protection of the whites. The men of the settlement were called to a company muster on the 13th of March, and different plans were discussed for the defense of the settlers against the attacks of the savages. The red men, seeing the movements of their opponents at the company muster, took it as a bad omen, and at once decided to take the lives of some of the settlers.

While returning from the company muster, William Ogly met with Elias Stroud, who had been on a visit to relatives in Georgia, and was then on his way to his home near Claiborne. He had his wife and only child with him. Being an old acquaintance of Ogly, he was persuaded by him to spend the night under his roof and partake of the hospitahties of the savage land. Ogly had a wife and six children, and lived near the Federal Road, about three miles below where Fort Dale was afterward built. Shortly after supper, after the children were all put to bed, while these native Georgians sat around the scanty fire, talking in their accustomed style of the misfortunes of different persons, and the many dangers and trials of the pioneer life, their attention was suddenly attracted by the tramp of warriors. Springing to his feet, Ogly seized his gun, and ran to the door, calling to his dogs ; but he was shot down before he had time to fire his piece at the enemy. Several guns having been discharged, and Ogly having been suddenly killed, the other inmates of the cabin became greatly excited with fear. Unfortunately, there happened to be but one way of escape, and that seemed almost certain death. But Stroud and his wife, regardless of the great danger of the whistling bullets and approaching savages, leaped out of the front door and attempted to save their lives. Mrs. Ogly, taking in the situation, did likewise. They were pursued by the bloodthirsty savages, bent on taking their lives, but by some means Stroud managed to escape. Mrs. Ogly was partially protected by a fierce dog that fought for her life like a tiger, and enabled her to escape to a ravine near by, where she hid herself in the high switch-cane. From this place she heard the pitiful screams of Mrs. Stroud attempting to make her escape, but who was finallytomahawked and left on the cold ground as dead. The house was soon entered, and the shrieks and cries of the helpless children, as they were torn from their couches and butchered by the heartless demons, rendered the night hideous. No pen can describe the terrible feelings of Mrs. Ogly as she lay in concealment and heard the woeful cries of her dear children as their precious lives were being taken one by one.

After killing every person in reach, from the innocent little infant of Mrs. Stroud to the stout and brave William Ogly, the blood-thirsty heroes of the night marched triumphantly away, greatly rejoicing over the success of their victory. The profound silence which followed told the miserable woman that the bloody work was over. Early next morning the settlement was aroused with the sad news of the massacre, and many persons repaired to the spot. They found six persons quietly asleep in death. Mrs. Stroud, who was tomahawked the night before, was not dead, but had managed to crawl into the house and pick out her little infant from the other mangled bodies in the room, and, having lost her mind, she was found stuffing her dead child's skull with leaves. Out of a family of eight, Ogly and four of his children were killed ; his wife and two small daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Ann, were still alive, although these two children were scalped and tomahawked, and left for dead. The dead were all buried together in an old wagon-body under an oak tree near the cabin ; the living were well cared for among the settlers until Col. Dale sent an escort from Fort Claiborne, and immediately started with them to Monroe County. Mrs. Stroud died on the way, and was buried by ,the side of the road. Mary Ann expired after reaching Claiborne. Through the kind treatment of Dr. John Watkins, Elizabeth recovered from the injuries received at the massacre, and lived for many years in Butler Country. Her hair never looked natural, and she never gained her right mind. She lived over twoscore years, and died during the war between the States, having never married.

Mrs. Ogly afterward married John Dickerson, and they lived in the Manningham neighborhood the remainder of their lives, and raised a large family.

It should have been stated that previous to the Ogly massacre Thomas Gary erected, at his own expense, a small fort or block-house, about two miles west of where Fort Dale was afterwards built. This fort was built by Gary for the purpose of collecting fees from the settlers as they would come in for protection. About the same time the people in the Flat erected a fort on the place of Captain Saffold, who had, only a short time before, moved from the Ridge to that place. When the people in the flat heard of the Ogly massacre, they forthwith took their families into the fort, which was soon named in honor of W. W. Bibb, the Governor of the Territory. The Governor had sent Colonel Samuel Dale to the place of excitement, and sent a good many soldiers with him to quiet the Indians. The people became dissatisfied with paying Gary for staying in his fort, and at once decided to build another. Colonel Dale Immediately put them to work on Fort Dale, about two miles from Fort Gary. When Thomas Gary saw that the settlers were all determined to build a new fort, he was greatly troubled, and soon lost his mind. This is the first case of insanity in this county.

One week after the Ogly massacre, William P. Gardner, Daniel Shaw and John Hinson, in company with Captains William Butler and James Safifold, started from Fort Bibb to carry an important message to Fort Dale, then in the course of erection. As the forest was filled with mad Indians, ever anxious for an opportunity for killing some unfortunate wanderer, but few persons would dare to undertake such an adventure. Well armed and mounted, these five braves rode proudly through the gates of the fort on the morning of March 20, 18 18. There being no road cut out to Fort Bibb at that time, they took the trail up Pine Barren Creek. Having gone about the distance of four miles from the fort, and while passing around the head of a small ravine, they were fired upon by a band of Savannah Jack's warriors, who were hid in ambush.

Gardner and Shaw, being pierced with bullets, fell dead from their horses. Both Butler and Hinson were wounded and thrown from their horses ; Saffold received no injury and was not thrown. Young Hinson soon caught his horse, which was a small pony, and remounted. As Butler could not recover his horse, and seeing that it was death to be left, he begged Saffold, who rode a large bay mare, to let him ride behind him. Saffold paid no attention to Captain Butler's earnest pleadings, but galloped away as rapidly as possible, leaving his poor comrade to his own fate. Saffold, being greatly frightened, soon reached Fort Bibb, and had told the news before Hinson arrived. The people in the fort were very indignant at the cowardly conduct of Saffold, and always blamed him for the death of Captain Butler, who was a man highly esteemed by everybody in the fort. There being no troops at this fort, they were compelled to send for aid to Colonel Samuel Dale, who was then at work building a fort at Poplar Springs,

To get a message such a distance under existing circumstances was very dangerous. After several hours' discussion, it was finally decided by chance that Alph. McGlocklen should be the courier. He at once set out for Fort Dale, crossing Pine Barren, and going on the north side of the creek in order to miss the Indians. The courier reached his destination about sunset and delivered the message. A detachment of soldiers was sent soon the next morning to the bloody scene, and found Gardner and Shaw dead in one place, and Captain Butler horribly bruised and beaten to death two hundred yards from them. After burying the three dead heroes together, the soldiers set out in search of the red men. They found that the Indians had camped the night before at a spring about three-quarters of a mile southeast of where Monterey was afterwards built. A blaze, indicating the direction of their course, was left on a pine on the top of the hill. They were traced into the swamp of Cedar Creek and given up as gone.

Every settler was by this time safe in the forts, which were well fortified and guarded. Troops were sent from Fort Claiborne to each of the forts in this county to assist in protecting the people against any further injury by the savages. The families remained in the forts the larger part of the year, expecting an attack from the enemy every moment.

In the spring of 1818, shortly after Butler was killed, the Indian^ came near Fort Bibb one night and took several horses from Dave Reddock, Thomas Carter and Josiah Hill, and a good many of Thomas Hill's fine beeves, which were killed and the flesh carried away in sacks. They were pursued by the militia and a few of the citizens, and the horses were tracked southward into the fork of Long Creek, where the Indians were found enjoying their spoils. Discovering the white men first, the savages hid themselves in the thick un- dergrowth of the swamp and awaited an opportunity for an attack. The captain of the militia threw out a Hne of skirmishers, succeeded in catching the stolen horses, and began to burn the beef. One of the skirmishes, named William Cogburn, who lived with James K. Benson, got upon a log in order that he might have a better view of the situation, and was commanded by one of the officers to get down. He replied that he was not afraid, but a bullet pierced his heart before he had hardly finished the sentence, and he fell dead upon the ground. The captain rallied his company, and attempted to make a charge against the enemy, but not without some difficulty as a man could not be seen ten steps in the thick cane and bushes of the swamp, and the men were expecting to be shot down every moment. After firing a few volleys in the direction of the enemy, the company set out for Fort Bibb, carrying with them the dead man and the captured horses.

The people, expecting an attack from the Indians every day, remained in the forts the larger part of the year 1818. They had considerable difficulty in providing themselves with food. It was some distance to Claiborne, and very dangerous to make trips through the forests when so many were being killed by the savages. They, however, managed to make some corn during the year of fort life. Some would plow and hoe, while others would stand guard around the field with their guns ready to resist any attack.