Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

August 9

1814 The Creeks signed the Treaty of Fort Jackson in Alabama. In this agreement, the Creeks cede a large area of eastern Alabama, plus almost all of southern Georgia. This would be the Creeks largest cession of land in Georgia.

1864 Unable to reach the railroads to the south of Atlanta,Gen. Sherman launched an artillery bombardment of Atlanta. On this day, 3,000 rounds were fired on the besieged city.

1910 The General Assembly adopted a joint resolution calling on Gov. Joseph M. Brown to take the necessary steps to restore and preserve the Texas--the historic locomotive used to pursue Andrews' raiders aboard a train pulled by the General in 1862--an event popularly known as "the great locomotive chase". Calling the Texas a "neglected castaway," the resolution laments that the former engine "now stands alone in the yards of the Western and Atlantic railroad soon to become a wreck by exposure to the winds and rains, while the 'General' is on exhibition in the depot at Chattanooga well preserved, with all its brass finishings highly polished and apparently as new as when captured."

1913 On the twelfth day the Leo Frank trial, Herbert Schiff, Frank's personal assistant, said he worked most Saturdays and had never seen any women in Frank's office except his wife. He added that he had never seen C.B. Dalton either. He firmly believed he would have seen more if the story Jim Conley told were true. Schiff then identified a financial expenditure sheet on which Frank had been working the day of the murder, asserting it would take two-three hours to complete, leaving no time for the murder and movement of the body as described by Conley. He then testified Conley had been extremely nervous the Monday following the murder, and had said he would "give a million dollars if he had a white man's skin. Click here for a detailed accounting of the case.

1913 Future Georgia governor and long-time U.S. senator Herman Talmadge was born on this day near McRae in Telfair County, Georgia. After obtaining a law degree from the University of Georgia, Talmadge practice law with his father, Eugene Talmadge, in Atlanta. In November 1946, Eugene Talmadge ran unopposed for the office of governor, but died on Dec. 21 before taking office--precipitating the "three governors affair." As no one else's name was on the ballot, it was not clear who should become governor. M.E. Thompson, who won the newly created post of lieutenant governor, thought he should serve as governor. There had been several thousand write-in votes in the governor's race, with Herman Talmadge receiving 617 votes to 669 for James Carmichael and 637 for D. Talmadge Bowers. Based on some additional write-in votes "discovered" in Telfair County, Talmadge was credited with 675 votes. His supporters then called on the General Assembly to declare Herman Talmadge governor. However, outgoing governor Ellis Arnall refused to give up the office until the matter was settled in court. So, in January 1947, there were three people claiming to be governor of Georgia. Meanwhile, Herman Talmadge took the oath of office on Jan. 14 and proceeded to act as governor (though Secretary of State Ben Fortson refused to allow any of the three contenders use of the official state seal). The state Supreme Court ruled in favor of Thompson until the next general election, and on March 18, 1947, Talmadge stepped down. However, he came back to win a 1948 election to fill the remainder of the term of his father. Taking office in November 1948, Talmadge served as Georgia governor until January 1955. In November 1956, he won the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Walter F. George. In the Senate, he became an expert in agricultural and tax matters. Problems with his personal financial affairs led the Senate to denounce Talmadge, contributing to his 1980 election loss to Republican Mack Mattingly.

1966 After the firing of previous manager Bobby Bragan, Atlanta Braves first base coach Billy Hitchcock had his first game as the struggling team's new manager. In a sell-out game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a crowd of 52,000 fans came to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium to watch the Braves take on Dodger pitching ace Sandy Koufax. The game was a classic pitching duel, with Atlanta pitcher Denny Lemaster retiring 19 consecutive Dodgers at one point. In the bottom of the 9th, with the game tied 0-0, Braves third baseman Eddie Mathews homered off Koufax to give the Braves an exciting 1-0 victory.

1967 Former Atlanta Brave and Atlanta Falcon player Deion Sanders was born on this day.

1990 Voters in the city of Athens and Clarke County voted to unify the two governments.

1999 In ceremonies at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Pres. Clinton awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the nation's highest civilian honor -- to former president Jimmy Carter in recognition of his role in the Camp David peace accords, his signing of the Panama Canal treaty, and his resuming normal diplomatic relations with China. Carter was also cited for his work with Habitat for Humanity in building homes for the needy. Pres. Clinton awarded a second Presidential medal of Freedom to Rosalynn Carter for her efforts on behalf of mental health care, care for the elderly, childhood immunization, and women's equality.

Georgia cities and towns incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 9:

1904 Scott (Johnson County)

1909 Avalon (Stephens County)

1912 Ducktown (Forsyth County)

1920 Talmo (Jackson County) and Twin City (Emanuel)

Other acts affecting Georgia cities and towns approved on Aug. 9:

1920 The charters of Summit and Graymont (both in Emanuel County) were repealed, and all their powers and jurisdiction were placed in the newly created Twin City.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1738 William Stephens recorded one of the many perils colonists faced:

". . . Upon Mr. Whitfield's going for Frederica, he rode as far as Vernon River, taking Mr. Habersham, the School-Master's Brother, with him, with Intent that he should bring the Horses back, whilst he himself proceeded by Water; but the young Man missing his Way home, and getting into a Swamp, through which he could not get his Horse that he led to follow, he left him tied to a Tree, and with Difficulty got Home in the Morning, after much Wandring [sic] and Fatigue: A Day or two after he took two People out of the Town with him, to try if he could get the Horse which he left tied; but whereabout it was he could not tell, which occasioned them to ramble far and wide from each other, till at length they could not tell how to meet again; and the Townsmen at length returned home again, hoping to find Mr. Habersham there also: But nobody hearing any Thing of him yet, since he and his Companions parted Yesterday in the Forenoon, his friends with Reason began to be alarmed . . I thought it advisable on such an Emergency, to get some damaged Powder out of the Stores, and ordered a Gun to be fired now and then...so that if happily he was in hearing it might be a Guide to him which Course to take. . . ."

Source: William Stephens, A Journal of the Proceedings in Georgia (London: 1742) as reprinted (no city cited: Readex Microprint Corp.,1966) Vol. I, pp. 258-259.

1864 Wounds and death in battle were bad, but to some even worse were the injuries and deaths caused by sporadic Confederate firing into Union camps, as evidence by this letter from Lt. Col. Fredrick Winkler of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry to his wife:

"I rode over to General Howard's headquarters this forenoon. They are three miles from here. The rebel pickets have been firing into our camp today very disagreeably. One excellent man was dangerously wounded about ten paces from our fly this morning. This constant firing, when not really fighting, is the greatest annoyance of this campaign, and the losses it involves are so painful. This poor boy this morning seemed to feel it so deeply; he sobbed amid his groans and faltered forth, "Oh, I have gone through so many battles, and now I must be wounded here In camp." He gave directions to write to his father and said he could not live. In a pitched battle, we have so much to occupy us, but here in camp it is horrible to see our men wounded."

Source: Civil War Letters of Major Fredrick C. Winkler, in 26th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers Home Page

1864 From City Point, Va., Gen. Grant wrote Sherman encouraging him to use as many blacks as he could get for non-combat duties:

". . . Your views about showing no despondency, but keeping the enemy, with his last man now in the field, constantly employed, are the same I have often expressed. We must win, if not defeated at home. Every day exhausts the enemy at least a regiment, without any further population to draw from to replace it, exclusive of the losses in battle. I would suggest the employment of as many negroes as you can get for teamsters, company cooks, pioneers, &c., and keep the enlisted men in the ranks, and the shipment to Nashville of every unemployed negro, big and little. . . . I think no troops have gone from here to Hood."

Source: U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (originally printed 1891, reprinted by The National Historical Society, 1971), Part 5, Vol. 38, pp. 433-434.

1865 After spending almost a year in New York City, Atlanta merchant Samuel P. Richards returned home. On the final day of his train ride, Richard recorded in his diary:

". . . Our ride today was a slow one through a desolated land. Every village and station we stopped at presented an array of ruined walls and chimneys standing useless and solitary, with no signs of returning life about them. Marietta, ever so pretty and prosperous, is now a desolate ruin, thanks to the destroying vandal W.T. Sherman. . . . ."

Source: Franklin M. Garrett, Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1954), p. 683.

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© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The 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.

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