Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

April 20

1853 Harriet Tubman started the Underground Railroad, which would help in the escape of some Georgia slaves -- especially those in the northern half of the state.

1865 Confederate general Howell Cobb surrendered Macon to Union General James H. Wilson. Macon had served as Georgia's temporary capital since the capture of Milledgeville during Sherman's March to the Sea in late 1864.

1966 Hank Aaron hit his 400th career home run against the Philadelphia Phillies.

1982 In a home game, the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 to win their 12th consecutive game of the 1982 season. The Braves' victory established a new major league record for best start by a baseball team in either league.

1992 Gov. Zell Miller signed legislation designating Pogo 'Possum as Georgia's official state 'possum.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1734 From Ebenezer, Lutheran minister John Martin Boltzius recorded in his journal of a new drink the Salzburgers had learned to make:

"Since there is no beer to be had in this country, the Salzburgers have learned from the Englishmen how to cook a half-beer which they prepare from time to time for themselves. They take a few pieces of sassafras, a little syrup, and instead of hops, some green pine-tops, which are boiled in a kettle of water. Those who want to make it better add a little Indian corn to it too. The inhabitants of this land praise this beer as being very good for the health; conversely, they consider water harmful, implying that it responsible for dysentery. For ourselves, we prefer water and feel quite well drinking it, although occasionally we mix it with a little wine. . . ."

Source: George Fenwick Jones (ed.), Detailed Reports on the Salzburger Emigrants Who Settled in America . . . Edited by Samuel Urlsperger: Volume I, 1733-1734 (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1968), p. 77.

1789 From a point on the Ogeechee River, Stephen Johnson wrote to Georgia governor George Walton of the real danger of living on Georgia's frontier:

"I have to inform Your Honor of a melancholy catastrophy [sic] which happened in my neighborhood last Saturday evening about 8 o'clock at the house of a Mr. Stephen Mills in Effingham County, Skulls Creek, about two miles from where I live. Came a company of Indians supposed to be about eight or ten in number who fell in at Mr. Mills's and killed Mrs. Mills, the wife of Stephen Mills, and two of her children and their nephew Bill Meazells, son of David Meazells, carried off three horses, ripped open the bed tick[ings], threw out the feathers, carried off the tick[ing]s and what other clothing they could find, threw some of the pewter into the fire and carried away the rest; left four bows and about forty arrows, some of them sticking in the corpses. One of the children lived till next day with three arrows sticking in it. One child they stamped to death and almost to a jelly. Left Mrs. Mills stripped naked and in a deplorable situation to behold. They shot her with guns and scalped Mrs. Mills and Billy Meazells. They left a cap of turkey skin with the feathers, some natural as they grew and others artificially fixed, so that when put on a man's head it cuts a droll figure. A scout is gone in pursuit of them but had not returned this morning when I left home. The inhabitants are gathering together in parties to make a defence if they can be supported with men and provision. These men have been driven off last fall and lost their provision then and have been obliged to purchase ever since and are now just returned to their plantations and preparing for planting. Your Honor will be able to judge what is most expedient. A number of horses was taken off the same night, as I am informed."

Source: Mills Lane (ed.), Georgia: History written by Those who lived It (Savannah: Beehive Press, 1995), p. 53.

January / February / March / April / May / June / July / August / September / October / November / December

© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

If you have a date related to Georgia history or people that ought to be included, or if know of entries that should be corrected, send a note to Ed Jackson or Charles Pou.

Go to Yahoo/The History Channel This Day in History page for Apr. 20

Go to Georgia History page

Go to GeorgiaInfo table of contents