Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

February 8

1733 As the Georgia colonists began their second week at Yamacraw Bluff, each family was issued an iron pot, a frying pan, three wooden bowls, a Bible, a Common Prayer Book, and a copy of The Whole Duty of Man. The previous day, a work crew of colonists had begun cutting down trees to clear an area for laying out the new town of Savannah. Today, another work crew began splitting the tree trunks into sheets of wood for use on the sides of clapboard houses.

[Note: Letters, diaries, and records of this time show dates based on the Julian calendar (referred to as "Old Style") then in effect in Britain and the American colonies. The Gregorian calendar ("New Style") was adopted in 1752. Thus, Feb. 8, 1732/33 (Old Style) represents Feb. 19, 1733 under our calendar now in effect. For a fuller explanation, click here.]

1751 Georgia's first provincial parliament, and which had convened in Savannah on Jan. 15, 1751, adjourned after submitting a list of grievances and memorials to the Trustees in London. Having learned that the Trustees planned to surrender their charter early, a major concern of the delegates was about what would happen to Georgia. Foremost, they feared that Georgia would be annexed to South Carolina.

1775 Because of the failure of Georgia's Provincial Congress to join the other colonies in agreeing not to export goods to Britain, nor to import or consume British goods, South Carolina patriots passed a resolution to have no trade, commerce, or dealings with Georgia but to rather "hold them as unworthy of the rights of freemen, and as enimical [sic] to the liberties of the country."

1779 Minister Moses Allen died in Savannah, Georgia. Allen only lived in Georgia a short time, being born, raised, and educated in New England. After coming south to Charleston in 1775, he became pastor of the Midway (Ga.) Congregational Church in 1777. Almost immediately Allen became involved in the revolutionary movement and used his pulpit to call for the colonists to take arms against the British. Allen became personally involved as well, serving as chaplain for the First Georgia Continental Battalion. Allen was among the patriots taken prisoner when the British captured Savannah on December 29, 1778. He drowned just over a month later while attempting to escape from a British ship.

1796 Gov. Jared Irwin signed legislation creating Bulloch County as Georgia's 21st county. Created from portions of Bryan and Screven counties, the new county was named for Archibald Bulloch, who presided over Georgia's Provincial Congress in July 1775 and then in January 1776 became president of the Whig's Council of Safety--in effect serving as the first governor of the state (1776-1777).

1820 William Tecumseh Sherman was born in Lancaster, Ohio. After graduating from West Point in 1840, he served in the Mexican War and in the West. In 1844, Sherman had a six-month tour of duty in Marietta, Ga. [See Feb. 17 entry for more information.] He resigned his commission in 1853, subsequently becoming a banker, lawyer, realtor, and superintendent of a military academy in Louisiana. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Sherman became a colonel in the 13th U.S. infantry. In May 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general for volunteers, and a year later to major general. In 1863, he commanded the 15th Corps in the Vicksburg campaign, and in July 1863 was promoted to brigadier general in the regular army. Sherman was involved in various battles and campaigns, but his claim to history came during the Atlanta Campaign and subsequent March to the Sea in 1864, and his march through the Carolinas in 1865. He continued military service after the Civil War, eventually being promoted to General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army. He declined suggestions that he run for political office, and after retiring from the military in 1883 became an author. He died on Feb. 14, 1891 in New York City.

1828 Lawyer and Confederate general John K. Jackson was born in Augusta, Ga. Before the Civil War, he practiced law and served in the state militia. In May 1861, he became a colonel in the 5th Georgia. Jackson was promoted to brigadier general in Feb. 1862, subsequently serving as a brigade commander at the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge. Jackson was initially involved in the Atlanta Campaign, but was made commander of the District of Florida and was responsible for the defense of Savannah. After the war, he returned briefly to the practice of law before dying on Feb. 27, 1866 in Milledgeville.

1850 Gov. George Towns signed two measures relative to the national controversy over the slavery. One was a joint resolution incorporating a lengthy defense of the South's position and outlining possible responses. [Click here to see full text of resolution.] The second measure was an act authorizing him to call a convention to respond to the proposed outlawing of slavery in the District of Columbia, admission of California as a free state, the prospect that other territories were about to seek statehood as free states, and fear that slavery would not be allowed in the western territories. [Click here to see full text of act.] Later, delegates were elected and the convention convened in Milledgeville on Dec. 10, 1850.

1861 At the direction of Gov. Joseph E. Brown, military authorities in Savannah seized five ships loaded with goods to take to New York. The seizure came in response to New York police having seized 200 guns purchased by a Macon firm for shipment to Georgia on Jan. 22, 1861. Georgia Gov. Joseph E. Brown had contacted the governor of New York to have the guns released, but Gov. Morgan had failed to respond. Finally, on Feb. 8, Gov. Brown ordered that Georgia military forces seize every ship at the port of Savannah belonging to citizens of New York.

1888 Former Confederate general Robert H. Anderson died in Savannah. Born there on Oct. 1, 1835, he graduated from West Point in 1857 and was assigned to duty in the state of Washington. After Georgia's secession, Anderson resigned his commission and became a lieutenant -- and later major -- of artillery at Fort McAllister. In January 1863, he became a colonel in the 5th Georgia Cavalry in Wheeler's cavalry division. Anderson was involved in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, and in July 1864 was promoted to brigadier general. He commanded Allen's Georgia Cavalry Brigade during Sherman's March to the Sea and during the subsequent march through the Carolinas. After the war, Anderson served as Savannah's chief of police.

1917 Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield National Park was added to the National Park System.

1955 Gov. Marvin Griffin signed a joint resolution of the General Assembly calling on Congress to call a convention to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution providing for separation of the races in the U.S. military. [Click here for full text of resolution]

1956 By a 179-1 vote, the Georgia House of Representatives adopted HR 185 invoking the doctrine of interposition to declare the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decisions null and void in Georgia.

1986 At only 5' 7" in height, Atlanta Hawk Spud Webb amazingly defeated teammate Dominique Wilkins and other basketball stars to win the annual NBA Slam Dunk Competition.

2003 In ceremonies in Macon, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame inducted Gayle Barron, Kevin Butler, Wallace Childs, Josh Gibson, Anne Paradise Hansford, and DeWitt Weaver into membeship.

2004 Atlanta group OutKast won three Grammy awards.

2006 Two Georgians won Grammy awards - Amy Grant for Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Album: "Rock of Ages ... Hymns & Faith," and Gladys Knight for Gospel Choir or Gospel Chorus: "One Voice."

Georgia cities and towns first incorporated by acts approved by the governor on Feb. 8:

1854 Adairsville (Cass, now Bartow County), Butler (Taylor County), Cedartown (Polk County), Dallas (Paulding County), and Montezuma (Macon County)

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1733 Early Georgia colonist Peter Gordon recorded the basic supplies provided each family, and the beginning of construction on houses:

"Thursday the 8th each family hade given out of the stores, an iron pott, frying pan, and three wooden bowls, a Bible, Common Prayer Book, and Whole Duty of Man. This day we . . . sett about sawing and spitting boards eight foot long in order to build clapp board houses, to gett us under better cover till our framed houses could be built. . . ."

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. 15.

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© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

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