Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

December 26

1831 Gov. Wilson Lumpkin signed legislation creating Cherokee and Sumter counties as Georgia's 79th and 80th counties. Cherokee County was created to include the 6,900 square miles of Cherokee Nation lying in Georgia. Sumter County, created from portions of Lee County, was named for Revolutionary War general Thomas Sumter of South Carolina.

1835 Gov. William Schley signed an act prohibiting the employment of any slave or free black in any apothecary shop or drug store involved in the mixing and dispensing of any drug or medicine. The penalty was a $100 fine for the first conviction and $500 for any subsequent convictions, with half of the fine to go to the informer.

1848 Having applied for a Christmas pass to visit her sick aunt, slave Ellen Craft -- daughter of her original white master-- and her slave husband -- William Craft -- began a dramatic slave escape. Ellen was light enough to pass for white, so she dressed up as a male slave holder, while her husband -- who was much darker -- posed as her servant. During their three-day escape, she pretended to be traveling to Philadelphia to see a medical specialist and stayed in the best hotels, while husband William stayed in stables. [For the full account of their escape and subsequent life, see Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom.]

1864 Sherman issued Special Field Order No. 143 so that Savannah citizens would understand their duties and obligations during the occupation. First on his list was the following:

"During war, the military is superior to civil authority, and, where interests clash, the civil must give way; yet, where there is no conflict, every encouragement should be given to well-disposed and peaceful inhabitants to resume their usual pursuits. Families should be disturbed as little as possible in their residences, and tradesman allowed the free use of their shops, tools, etc.; churches, schools, and all places of amusement and recreation, should be encouraged, and streets and roads made perfectly safe to persons in their pursuits."

1892 Thirty-four black editors and publishers representing twelve newspapers met in Augusta and formed the Negro Press Association of Georgia. The meeting came about as a result of Augusta Sentinel editor Silas X. Floyd's initiative. One of the resolutions adopted by the editors called for capitalizing the word "Negro" and refraining from using the word "Colored."

1894 Writer Jean (Eugene) Toomer was born in Washington, D.C., son of an allegedly white man and a mulatto woman. Toomer was raised primarily by a domineering grandfather after his father abandoned the family. Toomer's future was largely focused on his struggle with the authoritarianism of his grandfather and the ambiguity of his race. While he was light-skinned enough to pass for white, he felt kinship with blacks. After studying at several places in the North, he came to Georgia in 1921 as a temporary superintendent of a school -- where he was able to observe the lives of rural blacks and explore his own ethnic background.

Resulting from this was Cane, published in 1923 and Toomer's only work that is remembered. Cane was an autobiographical work -- but not openly so. Written in an unique style, it is composed of poems, short stories, and a play with subtle interrelating themes. After its publication Toomer became involved in mysticism and veered away from his interest in his heritage. While none of his other writings were notable, Cane remains a classic, if difficult to understand, work of American literature. Toomer died in Doylestown, Pa. on March 30, 1967.

1895 Each day of Atlanta's Cotton States and International Exposition had a theme. Today was "Negro Day."

1948 Former Atlanta Braves first baseman Chris Chambliss was born in Dayton, Ohio.

1939 President Franklin Roosevelt was given a private viewing of "Gone With The Wind" at the White House.

1964 Georgia beat Texas Tech 7-0 in the Sun Bowl.

1999 Singer and composer Curtis Mayfield died in his adopted home of Atlanta.

2000 The University of Georgia signed Florida State offensive coordinator Mark Richt to a five-year contract as new head coach of the Bulldog football program. The 40-year-old Richt has been at Flordia State for the past 15 years and agreed to come to Georgia immediately after Florida State's Jan. 3 appearance in the Orange Bowl.

Georgia cities and towns first incorporated by acts approved on Dec. 26:

1888 Sparks (Berrien County)

1890 Asburn (Worth County), Bishop (Oconee County), and Roberta (Crawford County)

Other acts affecting cities and towns approved on Dec. 26:

1845 The name of Marthasville (then DeKalb now Fulton County) was changed to Atlanta.

1845 The charter of Davisville (Pike County) was repealed.

1888 The name of Ocean City (Chatham County) was changed to Tybee.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1735 Early colonist Benjamin Ingham kept a journal of his voyage to Georgia. After enduring some stormy weather early in the voyage, he recorded a welcome change:

"Monday Dec. 26: We are now past the Latitude of 25 degrees and are got into what they call the Trade winds, which blow much the same way all the Year round. The Air is balmy, soft and sweet. The Ship glides smoothly & quickly along; the Clouds are finely variegated with numbers of pretty colours. The nights are mild and pleasant, being beautifully adorned with the shining Host of Stars. . . ."

Source: [no author or editor cited], Our First Visit in America: Early Reports from the Colony of Georgia, 1732-1740 (Savannah: Beehive Press, 1974), p. 172.

1864 In Savannah, Maj. Fredrick Winkler of the 26th Wisconsin Volunteers wrote in his diary :

"We have an order to move to the north side of the river tomorrow, there to camp for the present; that will take us into South Carolina, that hot-bed of secession. If the people of that state had been listeners to the conversations of officers and soldiers here lately, they would know that their doom is no enviable one. It seems to be a favorite contemplation with all, how they will plunder upon getting into South Carolina. I think General Sherman will take his army into the interior of that state before long. It is a good plan. Soldiers like sweet potatoes and young pork, varied with poultry, much better than lean beef and hard tack. It is cheaper also for the United States. Then there are some railroads there too, that ought to be fixed. I think we will operate some this winter without very hard work, and what is still better, won't be cut off from communication. I have read the President's Message and Secretary Fessenden's Report today. The latter is a very interesting document; I have never studied finances at all, but it becomes a subject of great interest now. The weather is like summer. We are commencing our daily drills again."

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

1864 From Washington, D.C., Pres. Lincoln wrote Gen. Sherman in Savannah in response to Sherman's Dec. 22 letter presenting Savannah to the president as a Christmas gift:

"MY DEAR GENERAL SHERMAN: Many, many thanks for your Christmas gift, the capture of Savannah. When you were about leaving Atlanta for the Atlantic coast, I was anxious, if not fearful; but feeling that you were the better judge, and remembering that 'nothing risked, nothing gained,' I did not interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is yours; for I believe none of us went further than to acquiesce. And taking the work of General Thomas into the county, as it should be taken, it is indeed a great success. Not only does it afford the obvious and immediate military advantages, but, in showing to the world that your army could be divided, putting the stronger part to an important new service, and yet leaving enough to vanquish the old opposing force of the whole -- Hood's army -- it brings those who sat in darkness to see a great light. But what next? I suppose it will be safer if I leave General Grant and yourself to decide. Please make my grateful acknowledgments to your whole army, officers and men."

Source: U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington:
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1893, reprinted by The National Historical
Society, 1971), Series I, Vol. XLIV, p. 809.

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© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

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