Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

May 3

1525 Spaniard Pedro de Quejo piloted two ships from Hispaniola on a preliminary expedition for Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon to explore the coast of land granted Ayllon by the king of Spain. On this day, Quejo's ships land at the mouth of the Savannah River, marking the first known time Europeans set foot on present-day Georgia.

1765 Planter Roswell King was born in Windsor, Conn. He moved to Georgia's coast, where he became a successful planter and manager of the Pierce Butler plantation on St. Simons Island. In 1837, at the request of the Bank of Darien, King traveled to Dahlonega to visit the new U.S. mint. During the trip, he became impressed with an area of land on the north bank of the Chattahoochee River. He believed the river could be used to power mills, so King decided to begin a town, which came to bear his first name. He urged relatives and friends on the coast to join him -- and many did. Though some of Roswell's original settlers saw this as a summer home to escape the malaria season on the coast, many stayed. With the help of his son, King established a successful cotton mill on the river. King died in Roswell on Feb. 15, 1844.

1816 Union Army Quartermaster General Montgomery Cunningham Meigs was born in Augusta, Ga. At age 16, he enrolled at West Point, graduating in 1836 fifth in his class. He soon was assigned to the U.S. Army's Corps of Engineers. In May 1861, Meigs was appointed brigadier general of U.S. volunteers, but more importantly, Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army. Though he held the post for 21 years, Meigs is perhaps better known for the advice he gave Lincoln in 1862. At a time of repeated Union military losses and a near-empty U.S. Treasury, Meigs advised the despondent Lincoln to take to take the initiative in the war effort. After 46 years in the Army, Meigs retired in 1882. Ten years later, he died in Washington D.C. on Jan. 2, 1892.

1863 In eastern Alabama near Rome, Ga., Confederate forces under Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest captured a Union raiding force under Col Abel Streight. The raiders were headed for Georgia in an effort to disrupt the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which was supplying Gen. Braxton Bragg's Confederate force in northwest Georgia. Streight had sent a Union cavalry force under Capt. Russell to capture Rome, but in a story reminiscent of Paul Revere's midnight ride, an Alabama mailman rode horseback for eleven straight hours to warn Rome of the pending attack. When the Union cavalry arrived on May 3rd, they found Rome's civilian population armed behind barricades and ready to burn the bridges should the cavalry try to enter the city. While Russell debated whether or not to attack, Gen. Forrest's forces arrived at Rome.With escape blocked, Russell surrendered.

1864 The 15th Wisconsin Volunteers marched southward out of McDonald's Station, Tenn. on the road to Catoosa Springs, Georgia. The 15th Wisconsin was serving as an advance skirmish unit for the Federal Army of the Tennessee. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign had begun. [Click here to read a report of the activities of the 15th Wisconsin during the Atlanta Campaign.]

1913 Detectives investigating Mary Phagan's murder had a new problem; two imposters posing as Pinkerton detectives had interviewed George Epps (Phagan's friend who had reported she was afraid of Leo Frank) and Phagan's mother.

1933 Soul-singer James Brown was born in Barnwell County, South Carolina, but he grew up in Augusta, Georgia. In the early 1950s, Brown sang with a group in Macon that became known as the Flames. In November 1955, they recorded "Please, Please, Please," which in 1956 reached number 6 on the rhythm-and-blues chart and went on to become the first of over 20 million sellers for the "godfather of soul." In 1983, James Brown was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

1937 Margaret Mitchell was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, Gone With the Wind.

1984 Carlton Gary is arrested on suspicion of being the culprit in a series of murders in the Columbus area since 1977; the killer had been called the Wynnton Stock Strangler. Gary would be convicted of the murders in 1986.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1825 Following the murder of Creek Indian chief William McIntosh, his two wives -- Peggy and Susan McIntosh -- wrote U.S. Indian commissioners Duncan Campbell and James Meriwether requesting help. McIntosh's two wives (one was Creek, the other Cherokee) reportedly were both attached to McIntosh and well as on good terms with each. Now, they had lost everything and were desperate. As indicated in the first sentence, the letter was actually stained with their husband's blood:

"May 3, 1825. Line Creek Fayette County

"To Col. Duncan G. Campbell and Major James Meriwether U.S. Commrs

"Gentlemen,

"When you see this letter stained with the blood of my husband, the last drop of which is now spilt for the friendship he has shown for your people, I know you will remember your pledge to us in behalf of your nation, that in the worst of events you would assist and protect us. And when I tell you that at day light on Saturday morning last [April 30] hundreds of the Hostiles surrounded our house, and instantly murdered Genl McIntosh & Tome Tustennugge, by shooting near One-hundred balls into them (Chilly and Moody Kenneard making their escape through a window) they then commenced burning and plundering the most most unprincipled way, so there here I am driven from the ashes of my smoking dwelling, left with nothing but my poor little naked hungary [sic] children, who need some immediate aid from our white friends, and we lean upon you while you lean upon your government. About the same time of the morning that they committed the horrid act on the General another party caught Col. Saml Hawkins, and kept him tied until about 3 oclock when the Chiefs returned from our house and gave orders for his execution in the same way, and refused to leave his implements to cover his body up with, so that it was left exposed to the Fowls of the Air and the beasts of the Forest, and Jimmy and her child are here, in the same condition as we are -- this party consisted principally of Oakfuskies, Talledegas, and Muckfaws, tho' there were others with them. The Chiefs that appeared t head the party were Inlockunge of Muckfaw, Thlocco-cosco mico of Arpachoochee, Munnauho, but I know not where he was from, was said they were ordered to do it by the Little prince and Hopoethyoholo, and that they were supported and encouraged in it by the Agent and the Chiefs that were left after the Big Warriors death in a Council at Broken Arrow where they decreed that they would murder all the Chiefs who had any hand in selling the Land, and burn & destroy and take away all they had, and then send on to the President that he should not have the Land. I have not heard of the murder of any others but expect all are dead that could be catchd [sic]. But by reason of a great freshet in the Chattahoochee they could not get Col. Miller nor Hogey McIntosh nor the Darisaws, and they and Chilly are gone to the Governor. Our Country is in a most ruined state so far as I have heard (this by reason of the high waters word has not circulated fat) all have fled from their homes in our parts and takin [sic] refuge among their White friends, and I learn there are now at Genl. Ware's (near this place) from 150 to 200 of them who are afraid to go to their homes to get a grain of what little Corn they have to eat, much more to try to make any more, and if you and your people do not assist us, God help us. We must die either by the Sword or the famin [sic] -- this moment Genl. Ware has come in and will in a few minutes start with a few men and a few friendly Indians, to try to get a little something for us to heat. I hope so soon as you read this, you will lay it before the Governor and the President that they may know our miserable conditions, & afford us relief as soon as possible. I followed them to their Camp about 1/2 miles to try to beg of them something to cover the dead with, but it was denied me. I tryed also to get a Horse to take my little Children and some provisions to last us to the White Settlements which was given up to me and then taken Back, and had it not have been for some White men who assisted in burying the dead and getting us to the White Settlements, we should have been worse off than we were if possible -- before I close I must remark that the whole of the party so far as I know them were hostile during the War."

Source: Original manuscript in the collection of the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

1864 From Gordon's Mill, Ga., Maj. Fredrick Winkler of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers wrote to his wife:

"A march of about fifteen miles from our encampment in Lookout Valley, across the battle field of Chickamauga, brought us to this place at three P.M. yesterday; there were troops here; they left this morning and it was understood that we were to take their place and remain for a few days at least; therefore we commenced building camp and were already quite comfortable when, at six o' clock, a circular from Colonel Wood tells us that the Major General commanding directs him to inform regimental commanders that orders for marching to-morrow will be received during the night. I wanted to go to Chattanooga to-morrow to see whether I could learn anything of my valise. We are on Chickamauga Creek, about twelve miles south of Chattanooga, part of the Battle of Chickamauga was fought here. A portion of the road we passed over yesterday is covered with skeletons of horses, and every tree bears the mark of the battle, many strong trunks were broken down by artillery fire, many graves too attest the deadliness of the conflict. There is a wagon train just starting for Chattanooga after provisions; I will send this by it."

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

1865 In Washington, Ga., Eliza Frances Andrews noted in her journal that amidst the steady stream of Confederate soldiers passing through hometown, one notable person stood out -- perhaps too much so for his own safety:

"After noon the town was thrown into the wildest excitement by the arrival of President Davis. He is traveling with a large escort of cavalry, a very imprudent thing for a man in his position to do, especially now that Johnston has surrendered, and the fact they are all going in the same direction to their homes is the only thing that keeps them together. He rode into town ahead of his escort, and as he was passing by the bank, where the Elzeys board, the general and several other gentlemen were sitting on the front porch, and the instant they recognized him they took off their hats and received him with every mark of respect due the president of a brave people. . . . About forty of his immediate personal friends and attendants were with him, and they were all half-starved, having tasted nothing for twenty-four hours. . . .The party was all worn out and half-dead for sleep. They travel mostly at night, and have been in the saddle for three nights in succession. Mrs. Elzey says that Mr. Davis does not seem to have been aware of the real danger of his situation until he came to Washington, where some of his friends gave him a serious talk, and advised him to travel with more secrecy and dispatch than he had been using."

Source: Eliza Frances Andrews, The War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl, 1864-1865 (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1908), pp. 201-202.

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 May 3

Go to Georgia History page

Go to GeorgiaInfo table of contents