Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

October 17

1870 Gov. Rufus Bullock signed legislation creating Douglas County--Georgia's 133rd--from portions of Campbell and Carroll counties. The county was named for U.S. senator Stephen A. Douglas, who in 1860 unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. presidency with former Georgia governor Herschel Johnson as his vice-presidential running mate.

1879 Gov. Alfred Colquitt signed legislation creating Georgia's first official state flag. The flag was based on the Confederate "Stars and Bars"--but with the stars removed and the blue canton extended to the bottom of the flag.

1918 Medical authorities reported 209 new cases of Spanish influenza in Atlanta, still far less than most comparable cities. By now the flu had appeared in every state but was deadliest along the eastern seaboard.

1930 Georgia Power put Plant Atkinson on the Chattahoochee River into service.

1932 Strongman and Christian witness Paul Anderson was born in Toccoa, Georgia.

1976 A Louis Harris poll indicated the presidential race was narrowing, with Jimmy Carter holding a 44%-40% lead.

1991 John Smoltz pitched the Atlanta Braves to a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates to win the National League Championship Series and to put the Braves in their first World Series since 1958.

1992 Behind the pitching of Tom Glavine, the Atlanta Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 in the first game of the World Series.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1734 Citrus plants can indeed grow in South Georgia, though edible varieties are not able to sustain themselves on a long-term basis because of occasional sub-freezing winter temperatures. Still, four months after moving from South Carolina to Savannah, Elisha Dobree wrote to Georgia's Trustees in London about his agricultural efforts in Georgia -- including his plans to grow oranges.

"Mr. Causton and I talking the other day, we both agreed in our opinion that madder [a berry-producing herb whose roots were used for dyeing] would grow well in this province, especially in our swamps or moist lands, of which we have enough. . . .

"I will also try a small spot of ground for hemp and flax. I have about two acres ready for vines, mulberries and olives. I only want the seeds and plants which Mr. Amatis tells me he will not be ready to deliver me this year.

"I have put few lime seeds to try if they will produce here though I have no great hopes of them.

"As for oranges Mr. Eveleigh of Charles Town has promised me to help me with many, which together with the help of other friends hope to raise up a nursery of 1000 trees to plant in my 45 acres, which I have reason to think may as well produce as those in Carolina, especially in Charles Town where a good tree produces about £5 Sterling per annum. . . ."

Source: Mills Lane (ed.), General Oglethorpe's Georgia: Colonial Letters, 1733-1743 (Savannah: Beehive Press, 1990), Vol. I, pp. 51-52.

1739 The Trustees' secretary in Georgia, William Stephens, recorded this day a non-military assault led by General James Oglethorpe:

"The General Observing, that since the Land of the Common being cleared of Trees, Abundance of Shrub-Wood was daily growing up, which filled the Ground; and that the publick Squares, and most open parts of the Town, were filled with an offensive Weed, near as high as a Man's Shoulders; both which were a great Annoyance, and besides hindering Grass from growing up, harboured and increased many troublesome Insects and Vermin; and moreover if set on Fire when dry, might endanger the Burning of the Town: For these reasons, he was pleased over Night to send out Orders, that upon the Beat of the Drum, this Morning, all Persons inhabiting the Town, whether Freeholders, or Inmates, and Boys of a competent Age, should appear at Sun-rising this Morning, and go to work in clearing this great Nusance: Which accordingly they readily did; and falling to Work heartily, before night they had...laid smooth some Hundreds of Acres: The General was pleased to be among them himself..."

Source: William Stephens, A Journal of the Proceeding in Georgia ([no city cited]: Readex Microprint Corporation, 1966), Vol. II, p. 161.

1864 From near Macon, Madison Kilpatrick of the 5th Georgia Infantry wrote his wife. His letter is interesting -- not for the little he said about the war effort but rather for what the wives of soldiers had to do in their husbands' absence:

"I drop you a few lines to let you know where I am. We are in about four miles of Macon, camped in the piney woods. I am well at present. I do not know where we will be sent. The men come in slowly. You must be reconciled to my absence, for I expect nothing to be a soldier for the balance of the war. But there is a Providence that shapes our destinies, and we should submit to His decrees with humility. You know I had rather be at home, but it is impossible for me to get there. So I must think of it as little as possible. When John finishes the orchard fence, let him gather the house field of corn. Let the hogs in when they eat out the river field. Put the cows, horses and sheep in the river field. Join the fence to the river at each end. Let the sheep go in and out by the slip gap. Let John have all the Negroes four days to pick peas. Pick before gathering corn in head field and bluff bottom. Put peas in school, hasp lock or nail [it] up. sow barley and rye first rain. Kiss the children 500 times for me. You must do the best you can. Make slip gaps and let the hogs run in the fields after you gather corn. Put the potatoes up with open shelters over them. Direct your letters to Company H, 5th Regiment, Army of Tennessee, but no place on it. Write me all about the business, what is done, &c."

Source: Mills Lane (ed.), "Dear Mother: Don't grieve about me. If I get killed, I'll only be dead.": Letters from Georgia Soldiers in the Civil War (Savannah: Beehive Press, 1990), p. 333.

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© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia

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