Jackson County, Georgia - Chapter 4 (1 of 3 so headed), 1914

About sixteen years before the beginning of our narrative a war broke out between the Cherokee and Upper Creek Indians. The former claimed territory as far south as the Tishmaugu, and the latter as far north and east as the Lacoda Trail,* which was nearly identical with the present Athens and Clarkesville road. Their first engagement was at Numerado, near the confluence of Hurricane Creek and Etoho river above Hurricane Shoals. Amercides, apparently an Indian with a Greek name, was leader of the Cherokees, and as gallant a brave as ever drew the bow. He rode a white horse and dashed from place to place as if trained on the battlefields of Europe.

Talitchlechee, commander of the Creeks, saw the mistake, and placing himself at a favorable point awaited the expected opportunity. It soon came and the Creek buried his tomahawk in the gallant leader's side. When the white horse was seen running riderless through the forest of Numerado, the Cherokees began to retreat. But soon the scene changed. Elancydyne, the wife or as she was generally called, the queen of Amercides, committing a small child that she was holding in her arms to the care of an attendant, mounted the riderless horse and at once took command. She was greeted by a yell from the Cherokees that echoed and re-echoed up and down the river and forward and back across the valley. Soon the air was thick with flying arrows and whizzing tomahawks.

The conflict deepened and the battle .raged on. The commander was more cautious than her fallen lord, but rode unflinchingly in the face of every danger. At last the Creeks, finding their ranks so fatally thinned, retreated hastily. Another yell - this time the

*It was our pleasure to follow this old trail, last summer, to Tallulah Falls. Just a few miles this side of Clarkesville it "forks." One branch extending northwest leads into the noted Nacoochee country. The other branch, leading on through Clarkesville, Turnerville and the Tallulah country. - Ed.

yell of victory, reverberated over the hills, and the heroine of the day, forgetting all things else, hastened to see if her child was safe. She found it sleeping soundly in the arms of her attendant, who, to shield the babe from harm, had received an arrow deeply in her own shoulder. Her name was Yetha, and though the wound was thought to be fatal, she lived to be very old.

Soon a band of young warriors gathered around the queen, and carrying her over the battlefield, in grim mockery introduced her to the fallen Creeks as their conqueror - their beautiful Elancydyne.

Elated with their decisive victory the Cherokees considered the country conquered territory as far as they claimed and began a march across it to take formal possession. In the meantime, however, the Creeks had received substantial recruits, and Talitchlechee being a wily old chief of long experience, the enterprise was doubtful. His enemy, still led by what her followers considered their invincible new queen, moved slowly and cautiously forward until they reached the verge of the plateau which dips to Cold Spring, then known as Radoata, near the John Harrison old place, where they met Talitchlechee in command of a larger force than at Numerado.

The Creeks gave the gage of battle and soon the engagement became general. Though queen Elancydyne showed that she was a skillful and fearless leader, she was finally overcome by numbers, and by a master piece of strategy made a flank movement, and going still forward, camped that night at Arharra on the plain where Prospect Church now stands and within hearing of the waters of the Tishmaugu, the object of her expedition. This singular movement on the part of an enemy who had shown such consummate skill so puzzled Talitchlechee that he hesitated to offer battle as he had done at Radoata. The next morning, however, an accident brought on a general engagement with varying success. This continued at intervals until noon when the Creek chief sent Umausauga, one of his trusted braves, to conceal a number of expert bowmen in the branches of some spreading trees that grew in an adjacent forest. Late in the afternoon the conflict again became general.

Elancydyne on her white horse led the van, and her example so inspired her followers that they gave another deafening yell and rushed forward to engage at close quarters; but the Creeks retreated in the direction of the concealed bowmen. Again the Cherokee queen was in the thickest of the fray and soon fell from her horse pierced by many bristling arrows. The wail of lament, ''Onocowah, Onocowah!" rising from the field of carnage, disheartened the Cherokees, and they in turn sullenly retreated to the north, tenderly carrying their fallen queen with them. If she had survived the battle it is difficult to say what would have been the result.

About the time of the arrival of the second party of emigrants at Talasee, various rumors reached Umausauga, and through him the colony, that the Cherokees were preparing to return to the country and wreak vengeance upon their enemies for their disastrous defeat at Arharra. Umausauga at once notified the leaders of this people of the threatened danger, and the colonists immediately began building a fort. When completed it was a large, substantial building, and in honor of the man who had worked almost every day and night in the interest of the colony, it was named Fort Strong.

About the same time Fort Yargo* was built at a place of that name about three miles southwest of Winder, the old Jug Tavern. Strange to say, Fort Yargo is still standing in a good state of preservation. Though first in Franklin and next in Jackson; it is now in Walton County; and having seen the coming and going of three generations, it is a heavy old land-mark which does not receive the attention it deserves.

Notwithstanding the number of brave, strong men belonging to the colony, Banna the Beautiful, and Ruth Lahgoon the Lovely, were appointed scouts to patrol the surrounding country. All

*0n January 24th, 1914, the Editor visited this old fort and found it in good state of preservation. It is now used as a dwelling house for tenants by Mr. T. M. Wages, the owner. In cutting out the doors and windows preparatory for a dwelling most of the "port holes" were cut away but on the side next to the spring is one about 4 inches by 10 inches. This place is only a short distance from Carter Hill church, near the Winder and Loganville road.

the men were needed for heavy work; besides none were better than these two brave and skillful riders. A few days of instruction by Mr. Strong had enabled them to converse with each other readily, and they had become equal experts with the rifle. They generally went together and always in hearing of each other. As a protection to the women and children, the dogs, Pyth and Damon, were left at home. Both wore deerskin clothing, made to fit closely, and jaunty little caps of the same material from which generally fluttered a short black ribbon. They carried comparatively light rifles, long knives in steel scabbards hung from their saddles, and on the left breast of each the hilt of a deadly stiletto was just visible.

Thus equipped, and mounted on Alborak and Iro, these scouts fearlessly roamed the forests infested with dangerous wild beasts and sometimes with wilder men. They met with many adventures, some of which it is necessary to give here.

One day when they had been riding a little apart about one mile to the north, they, by previous agreement, met at a spring then called Alotha, but since known as the Bell spring. It is still a copious fountain, and its crystal waters are always inviting.

Banna was last to arrive, and leaping to the ground as was her custom, a shell fell from a pocket in her dress. The string around it was broken by the fall, the parts separated, and a jet black lock of curly hair was revealed to Ruth's wondering gaze, Mrs. Moore's mystery was solved at last. The disconcerted girl blushed as her companion had never seen her blush before. She did not wonder that Josiah Strong was enchanted when he saw those dark-hued cheeks mantled with a deep rosy tint as if borrowed from a sunset cloud. When Ruth looked at her and smiled pleasantly the bewildered girl made a clean-breast of the matter by saying in substance :

"That lock of hair was taken from Josiah Strong's head by a mean Indian boy at Snodon, When he threw it away I took possession of it and intend to keep it as long as I live. When I am buried I want it left lying on my breast. For this reason only I now reveal the secret."

That was indeed a pathetic confession, and Ruth knew it was an honest one. She was a very bright girl, and felt that the sentiments expressed in it were not born in a savage breast. Independently of all she had hitherto seen and heard, she was now fully convinced that her dear friend, Banna the Beautiful, was not an Indian.

Ruth reported her wonderful discovery to Mr. Strong and his sister only. To the brother it seemed evident proof that the girl who so highly valued a lock of his hair had loved him from the first as he had her. In happy reverie he said :

"Surely God has not decreed that two such streams should flow in different directions; and though the race question has nothing to do with my feelings, I am now convinced, as Ruth was, that Banna the Beautiful is not an Indian." Mrs. Moore was glad of the conversion of her brother and Ruth to her belief, and to more fully confirm them in it she said :

"Allow me to remind you that our Savior knew all about the laws of nature. When speaking of good and bad trees and of their fruits he said, 'Of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.' The teaching is as applicable to Banna as it is to a tree and its fruit. Jesus of Nazareth made no mistakes."

When the rumor of a Cherokee invasion reached the country Umausauga, to the great surprise of the colonists, placed his daughter under the protection' of the whites. No proposition was ever more gladly accepted; and now that all were fully satisfied that she was really not his child, the council met and passed the following preamble and resolution unanimously :

"Whereas, a discovery has been made which fully satisfies this colony that Banna, hitherto known as the daughter of our friend, Umausauga, the Indian, does not belong to his race :

"Resolved, That Miss Ruth Lahgoon, a member of this body, is hereby appointed to inform the said Banna of the discovery made, and direct that she do so at such time and in such manner as she may deem proper.

On the morning following the above-mentioned meeting the scouts crossed the river and rode to the west. As Ruth had formerly traveled in that direction, she knew that the country was rough and infested with dangerous animals. Therefore they rode near together, generally in single file, without meeting with anything unusual until they reached the lower water of Taurulaboole (Beech) creek. There as they entered the dense forest that skirted its banks, they discovered a little path which led to a cluster of tall reeds that grew on a knoll a short distance from the stream. Following the path they soon reached a curious structure almost hidden by the reeds which grew close to its walls. As they went near an opening which seemed to serve the purpose of a door, a wizen-faced old man made his appearance at the opening with a small bundle of split reeds in his hand. He had never seen two such beings before, and as they approached nearer he disappeared in the hut. However, when Banna told him in his own language that no harm was intended, an old squaw came to the door cautiously. She brought a half finished basket in one hand and an old, rusty tomahawk in the other. She was hideous in appearance and evidently much older than the man. Her skin appeared to be dry on her bones, her great butter-teeth showed outside her thin, tightly drawn lips, and a tuft of hair, much like the foretop of a horse, fell straggling over her tawny brow. Banna at once recognized her as Lapsidali, a basket maker whom she had sometimes seen at Adabor.

Having long gazed with critical eyes at the girls and their horses, she laid down her basket and tomahawk on the ground and went nearer. When apparently satisfied that there was no danger, she went still nearer and patted Iro on the forehead. Ceasing to caress the horse, she looked up and carefully scanned his rider's features. Then she went backwards several steps, and placing both hands on her angular hips, she stood with a far-away look as if lost in some over-powering thought. Being unable to close her lips, they twitched over her great scurvy-eaten teeth as if talking to herself. Finally she suddenly turned and called to the little old man who was still in the hut, and said in substance:

"Onomaco, this girl on white horse is certainly Banna. Lives at Adabor, I have seen her there. But she has been changed to butterfly. That's to keep Cherokees from knowing her. Two white horses. Two queens, too. This white horse like Adar. The other on black horse is pale face. Lives at Shoals. Flies through the air. Spirit floats up and down river every night. No harm in her. Come out here."

The old hag advanced to pat the black horse also. Somehow Alborak refused to be petted by her, and throwing back his ears, he gave a short, vicious snip at her arm. The old woman snatched up her tomahawk, and her movements indicated that she intended to throw it at the horse's head. Quick as thought the muzzle of a rifle was thrust in her face. Perhaps she did not know just what that meant, but at the click of the lock she fled into the hut and crouched beyond a pile of baskets.

When confidence was restored, the scouts examined the hut as a matter of curiosity. It was about ten feet square and some six feet high. Poles were set in the ground from ten to twelve inches apart, and the spaces between them were filled with slender willow branches, basket fashion. The outside was roughly daubed with whitish clay mortar which seemed to be hard and endurable. The roof was composed of several layers of wahoo bark which was held in place by large balls of the white clay mortar. As the two solitary inhabitants were found to be wickiups, that is, cane basket makers, the place was doubtlessly selected because of the dense canebrake that grew in the vicinity, and was called Boca, the Creek word for cane.

The hut contained quite a number of finished baskets, and it was amazing to see with what wonderful skill they were made. Onomaco split and dressed the cane, and Lapsidali, his sister, colored and wove the material, but never in the presence of another. The brilliant colors produced by her methods did not fade, and though many efforts were made to learn her secret, the old jade died without revealing it.

In the early part of the last century these baskets were frequently seen in the possession of the settlers, and were called Lapsidalian baskets. Before leaving Boca the scouts made an ear- nest effort to induce Lapsidali to explain what she meant in her talk to Omonaco about Banna. She however shook her head and replied, "Lapsidali talk to Onomaco, not to young squaws."

Being bothered about the ambiguous expressions of the old woman, they resolved to return home immediately and make their report. Both were silent for a time; but Ruth, deeming the opportunity favorable for telling her companion of the discoveries made in regard to her race, decided to use it. She began by calling the astonished girl's attention to what she had just heard at the hut concerning herself, the Cherokees, the two white horses and the two queens. She then went over all the circumstances which had convinced Mrs. Moore, Mr. Strong and finally the whole colony, that she did not have one drop of Indian blood in her veins, and concluded by saying: "I have seen enough myself to prove that you have the same white blood beating in your heart that is beating in mine. You may be of foreign descent partly ; but if you are, it comes from white ancestors whose blood shows in all their descendants the world over, and 0 Banna, I am unable to tell you how glad I am!"

Ruth threw her arms around her trembling friend, and together they wept a long time. At last when the still trembling girl was a little composed she said in substance: "I have sometimes wondered why all around me was so different from myself. I have always thought Umausauga my father. He is good to me and has never failed to treat me kindly. I have noticed that other fathers make slaves of their daughters, while he treats me as a queen. I have never before been able to understand why this is so. I have never known but one other exception, and that is the case of a girl who lives at Snodon. Her name is Mera, and I want you to visit her, for both she and her mother are very lovely. Mother! Mother! How sweet and endearing the word! O, that I could know something of mine ! The name must be of some akin to the Heaven of which you and your people so often tell me. Somehow your strange revelations make me feel like one world had gone and another had come. Must I give up all to gain more? I know not what to say or do!" "No! no!" replied Ruth vehemently, "you need not give up all you have. You need not give up the man to whom you owe so much ! We will take you both under our protection for life. You have nothing to fear, but much for which you will some day thank God and be glad."

In the midst of their conversation the scouts reached home, and all the colonists, finding that Banna had been informed of her true position in society, came to encourage her upon entering a new life. This was of vast benefit to the bewildered girl, and perhaps saved her from miserable depths of despondency and gloom. To change the training of a lifetime is doubtless a hard thing to do.

That night the council met, and with unusual interest listened to Ruth Lahgoon's report. The following extract from the proceedings of the meeting was copied from the original document more than sixty years ago :

"Whereas, the various allusions made in the presence of our scouts by Lapsidali, the squaw, to the Cherokees, the white horses and the queens, may mean something of much importance to this colony :

"Resolved, That Josiah Strong is hereby directed to interview the said Lapsidali, and obtain such information as he can about these matters; that Joseph Starr shall visit our sister colonies at Yamacutah and Groaning Rock ; and that Abel Trent visit Fort Yargo, to secure an alliance with said colonies, assure them of our assistance at any time needed, and obtain such other information as may pertain to our interest.

"And be it further Resolved, That the Indian, Umausauga, and his hitherto supposed daughter, Banna, be solicited to become citizens of this colony and members of this council ; and that the discovery made in regard to the unknown parentage of the latter be revealed to the former when the present unsettled state of the country passes away.

Early on the following morning Starr and Trent started on their respective missions. In the afternoon Strong visited the curious hut among the reeds. To his great disappointment not a vestige of either its inhabitants or of their work was to be seen. He continued his visits for several days in succession, and always with the same result.

As the deserted abode seemed to have been in use several years, the solution of another mystery awaited the anxious colonists. The faithful scouts roamed on foot about the shoals nearly all the day carrying rifles in their hands. Poor Banna, having passed a sleepless night, was tossed upon a sea of conflicting emotions; dreams of the wilderness fleeting like a shadow to the realities of a new life of which she knew almost nothing. Whither should she go? Which way should she turn? Many brave young warriors of the upper Creek Nation, including him of the jaw-breaking name, had fallen at her feet and sued for her heart and hand. Though she knew not the reason why the pulsations of her heart did not beat in unison with them, she felt a reason, and loved them not. Her sensitive soul, ethereal as the passing zephyr and as invisible as the germ of the delicate violet, longed for something more refined that any of them could offer. A drop of oil in mid-ocean will not mix with any of its multitudinous waves. Being utterly unable to catch even a passing glimpse of what her future life should probably be, she instinctively drew the polished shell from her bosom, kissed it, and then slowly returned the dear souvenir to its long resting place. A smile as if a flood of sunshine had poured from an over-hanging cloud played over her features for a moment, and then as thoughts of the strange past and the uncertain future came to her mind, she sadly joined her companion who was gathering wild flowers some distance away.

Being a little weary the girls went to the shoals, and seeing a nice clean rock a few feet from the bank, they leaped upon it, and in a reclining position watched the water as it went rippling by them. Presently a large fish, in water so shallow that its dorsal fins were in plain view, came hurrying by without any apparent effort, and quickly disappeared in the deeper water be- low. "Like that fish I know not whither I am drifting," said Banna thoughtfully. "Dear, please don't say that," replied Ruth anxiously. "Any fish" she continued with much earnestness, "can float with the current; but it takes a splendid mountain trout to scale the rapids and strike for higher latitudes and purer waters. You, with ten thousand times the advantage of any fish, may do likewise. Should you meet with any difficulties on the way, as did the fish when it struck the shallow water, I know of a strong arm, a willing mind, and a devoted heart that will always be ready to help you overcome them."

The girl did not reply at once. She was trying to understand the meaning of her friend. Finally she asked, "Where, 0 where shall I find such help as that?" "Josiah Strong, a lock of whose hair you now carry in your bosom, is the man! I know that he loves you, and only you, devotedly, and is longing for an opportunity to tell you so." The surprised girl covered her face with both hands, and after rocking back and forth for awhile, turned her beautiful, tearful eyes upon her companion, and in trembling tones said :

"Dear one, may we now go?" They lightly jumped to the bank, and arm in arm walked to the fort, where Banna the Beautiful, for the first time learned it was to be her future home.