Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

April 21

1732 In London, King George II signed the royal charter creating the new colony of Georgia. However, because of the many additional approvals needed by other officials in the British government, final passage of the charter would not occur for two more months.

1805 Politician Augustus Holmes Kenan was born in Milledgeville, Ga. He would serve three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and one in the Georgia Senate before raising a company of men to serve in Florida during the Seminole War. He received notable citations from Gov. George Gilmer and Genral Winfield Scott for his role in the Cherokee removal. Kenan was a delegate to the Secession Convention in 1861, where he argued and voted against secession. For unity's sake he did sign the Ordinace of Secession. Kenan was one of nine Georgia delegates to the Montgomery convention which produced the Confederate Constitution. He became a loyal supporter and friend of Confederate Pres. Jefferson Davis, which caused considerable friction between him and Georgia governor Joseph E. Brown. Brown tried to block Kenan's pardon after the war, but the pardon was issued by Pres. Johnson in May of 1865. Just three weeks later, on June 16, 1865, Kenan died at his home in Milledgeville.

1836 In Texas, Sam Houston and Mirabeau Lamar commanded the attack on Mexican forces under Santa Anna at San Jacinto. Lamar led a cavalry charge through enemy lines that gave the Texas forces a victory and the capture of Santa Anna. A native of Georgia, Lamar went to Texas in 1835 to join the fight for freedom. After the war, Lamar became attorney general, secretary of war, vice president, and finally president of the Republic of Texas in 1838. In 1840, a Texas county was named in his honor [see special postmark honoring Mirabeau Lamar].

1899 A large granite boulder with a plaque honoring Tomochichi was dedicated in Savannah. It had been requested by the Colonial Dames and furnished by the Stone Mountain Company in Atlanta. The inscription reads: "In memory of Tomo-chi-chi, The Mico of the Yamacraws, The companion of Oglethorpe, And the Friend and Ally of the Colony of Georgia"

1982 Emory University announced that former president Jimmy Carter had been appointed as University Distinguished Professor effective September 1. In conjunction with Carter's appointment, Emory further revealed plans to establish a policy research center at the university.

1982 After winning their first 12 games of the season, the Atlanta Braves went into the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 3-2. With one out, the Braves barely escaped what appeared to be a sure double play. With two runners on, outfielder Claudell Washington hit a single to score two runs and win 4-3. This set yet another major league baseball record of thirteen consecutive wins to open the season.

1991 Following Atlanta's selection to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, the U.S. Postal Service issued a booklet of 10 U.S. Flag and Olympic Rings stamps. First day of issue ceremonies were held in Atlanta.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1744 This day's entry from William Stephens' journal in 1744 shows the matter of Indians was never far from the minds of colonial officials:

"Mr. Joseph Watsons behaviour since his arrival has been a riddle to the whole Town, having no certain abode, but sometimes met walking in the woods in an odd habit, with a sort of short Gown or Cassock made of the Coarsest black Cloth and gather'd at the Wrists, seeming to betoken some order, and the rather, because of his giving it out that he meant to convert the Indians, and by his frequent conversations with them, indeed it might be imagined they met to some purpose or other. But tis to be feared twas to trade with them, instead of preaching the Gospel, and he has given very suspicious Tokens of it, which I am not without hope of shortly discovering, tho by reason of his having no License (which he has not been urgent for, probably thinking 'twould not be readily granted) all that he does is concealed. But this is evident, that our Neighboring Indians since his coming among them, have been very troublesome, getting drunk with Rum, which none of our people (to give them their due) have for a long time past been persuaded [sic] to Supply them with, knowing their Mischievous dispositions when intoxicated; wherefore tis much to be suspected, he had been trafficking with them in that Commodity . . . . "

Source: E. Merton Coulter (ed.), The Journal of William Stephens, 1743-1745 (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1959), p. 95.

1863 John Banks, a 65-year-old Columbus planter and businessman, would have seven sons serve in the Confederate cause during the Civil War. But, as the day's diary entry reveals, not all were gone at the same time. Furthermore, two of his sons had paid substitutes to serve in their place for one enlistment period:

"Yesterday the [Nelson] Rangers left for Louisiana. They have been here nearly a month recruiting their horses. Watkins and Jo Watkins got substitutes. Watkins at $2,300 and Jo Watkins at $3,000. Watkins had served two years. Elbert chose to go with the company. He and Willis are the only sons in actual service. Eugene is through conscripting and must soon enter again into the service. George on his plantation, having resigned the lieutenantcy. No signs yet of the end of the war. Various skirmishing at different points, resulting favorable for the Confederacy, in general."

Source: John Banks, Autobiography of John Banks, 1797 - 1870 (Austell, Ga.: privately printed by Elberta Leonard, 1936), p. 27.

1865 After visiting her sister near Albany for several months, 24-year-old Eliza Andrews finally returned by train to her home in Washington, Ga. In her journal, she recorded the final day of her trip:

"That delicious clean bed in Sparta! I never had a sweeter sleep in my life than the few hours I spent there. Fred said we must be off at daylight so as to reach Mayfield in time for the train, with our sorry team, so we bid our hosts good-by before going to bed in order not to rouse them at such a heathenish hour. . . . We reached Mayfield about nine and had to wait an hour for the cars to start. . . . Our other companions joined us at Mayfield, and the Toombses brought the general with them. I was glad to see him safe thus far, out of Yankee clutches, but I would not like to be in his shoes when the end comes. He brought confirmation of Lee's surrender, and of the armistice between Johnston and Sherman. Alas, we all know only too well what that armistice means! It is all over with us now, and there is nothing to do but bow our heads in the dust and let the hateful conquerors trample us under their feet. There is a complete revulsion in public feeling. No more talk now about fighting to the last ditch; the last ditch has already been reached; no more talk about help from France and England, but all about emigration to Mexico and Brazil. We are irretrievably ruined, past the power of France and England to save us now. Europe has quietly folded her hands and beheld a noble nation perish. God grant she may yet have cause to repent her cowardice and folly in suffering this monstrous power that has crushed us to roll on unchecked. We fought nobly and fell bravely, overwhelmed by numbers and resources, with never a hand held out to save us. I hate all the world when I think of it. I am crushed and bowed down to the earth, in sorrow, but not in shame. No! I am more of a rebel to-day than ever I was when things looked brightest for the Confederacy. And it makes me furious to see how many Union men are cropping up everywhere, and how few there are, to hear them talk now, who really approved of secession, though four years ago, my own dear old father -- I hate to say it, but he did what he thought was right -- was almost the only man in Georgia who stood out openly for the Union. We found the railroad between Mayfield and Camack even more out of repair than when we passed over it last winter, and the cars traveled but little faster than our mule team. However, we reached Camack in time for the train from Augusta, and as we drew up at the platform, somebody thrust his head in at the window and shouted: "Lincoln's been assassinated!" We had heard so many absurd rumors that at first we were all inclined to regard this as a jest. . . . But soon the truth of the report was confirmed. Some fools laughed and applauded, but wise people looked grave and held their peace. It is a terrible blow to the South, for it places that vulgar renegade, Andy Johnson, in power, and will give the Yankees an excuse for charging us with a crime which was in reality only the deed of an irresponsible madman. Our papers ought to reprobate it universally. . . . We looked out eagerly for the first glimpse of home, and when the old town clock came into view, a shout of joy went up from us returning wanderers. When we drew up at the dépot, amid all the bustle and confusion of an important military post, I could hardly believe that this was the same quiet little village we had left sleeping in the winter sunshine five months ago. Long trains of government wagons were filing through the streets and we ran against squads of soldiers at every turn. Father met us at the dépot, delighted to have us under his protection once more, and the rest of the family, with old Toby frisking and barking for joy, were waiting for us at the street gate. . . ."

Source: Eliza Frances Andrews, The War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl, 1864-1865 (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1908), pp. 170-173

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. 21

Go to Georgia History page

Go to GeorgiaInfo table of contents