Ed Jackson and Charly Pou

Carl Vinson Institute of Government

The University of Georgia

1743 James Oglethorpe arrived back in London never again to return to Georgia.

1864 Hood ordered his army to move out of Palmetto, where they had been encamped for the past week. From their position southwest of Atlanta, they crossed the Chattahoochee River and headed north. Hood's goal was not to engage Sherman but rather to have him withdraw his troops occupying Atlanta in pursuit of the Confederates. In fact, Sherman did follow Hood, though he also left the 20th Corps behind to continue the occupation of Atlanta.

1889 Georgia governor -- and former Confederate general -- John B. Gordon signed an act of the General Assembly making January 19--Robert E. Lee's birthday--a state holiday.

1895 The Parade of All Nations was held at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta. The parade,which was followed by another big fireworks show, attracted some 20,000 visitors, the largest crowd since opening day

1900 Banker, politician, and promoter Charles Augustus Collier died in his hometown of Atlanta, where he was born July 19, 1848. Attending the University of Georgia, he obtained an undergraduate degree in 1869 and a law degree two years later. Though admitted to the bar, Collier quickly embarked on a career in banking and investment. In the late 1880s, he managed one of Atlanta's most important banks, in addition to serving as president of several companies. Collier served terms on both the Atlanta City Council and the Fulton County Commission, additionally serving as Atlanta mayor (1897-99). Additionally, he served as president of the Piedmont Exposition (1887) and the Cotton States and International Exposition (1895). In 1900, President McKinley named Collier to the 12-member U.S. commission to the Paris Exposition.

1931 The Atlanta Constitution reported that among the efforts to deal with the Depression, a special committee headed by Atlanta city councilman George Lyle would be recommending that Fulton and DeKalb counties, as well as cities in those two counties, consolidate into a single government. Equally controversial would be another committee recommendation -- that all married women with no dependents working for the city be replaced with men or other women who are heads of families.

1981 Atlanta Braves outfielder Dale Murphy began a streak of 740 consecutive games in which he played -- a franchise record.

2002Tom Wright, Clarence Carter, The Harmonnners (with Mary Tallent), and TLC were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Georgia cities and towns incorporated by acts approved on Sept. 28:

1889 Richland (Stewart County)
 
 

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1739 Fear of a slave rebellion was a constant concern for whites in South Carolina -- and one of the reasons for the Trustees' policy of prohibiting blacks in Georgia. But, as the following journal entry of John Martin Boltzius indicates, James Oglethorpe's opposition to slavery went deeper than that of his fellow Trustees:

"A man brought the news that the Negroes or Moorish slaves are not yet pacified but are roaming around in gangs in the Carolina forest and that ten of them had come as far as the border of this country just two days ago. In answer to the request of the inhabitants of Savannah to use Moorish slaves for their work, the Lord Trustees have given the simple negative answer that they will never permit a single Black to come into the country, for which they have sufficient grounds that aims at happiness of the subjects. Mr. Oglethorpe told us here that the misfortune of the Negro rebellion had begun on the day of the Lord, which these slaves must desecrate with work in other ways at the desire, command, and compulsion of their masters and that we could recognize a jus talionis [law of vengeance] in it.

1863 John Banks of Columbus had two sons -- Eugene and Willis -- to fight in the Battle of Chickamauga. Shortly after the battle, he learned that Willis had received what was described as a flesh wound. Actually, the wound was much more serious, as his father noted in this day's journal entry:

"Willis got home on the 26th and badly wounded. The ball passing through both thighs and lodging in clothing. Today his fever was subdued and we think not dangerous. He has not walked or sat up, lies quiet in bed. He fell on Sunday. Chickamauga is the name of the battle in Georgia. Of four officers, Eugene is the only one who escaped unhurt. Three privates were killed and five wounded. Kelly [another son that John Banks had sent in search of his wounded brother] missed him as he went up. Got a letter today from him. He is still hunting for Willis."

1931 Atlanta city councilman George Lyle, who was proposing that all city employees who are women with no dependents be replaced by men or other women who head families as a move to ease the suffering from the Depression, explained his position to an Atlanta Constitution reporter:

". . . Employment of women in various positions formerly filled by men was begun during the World War and has been continued in some degree since then. In the borough government there are many women employees whose husbands make an ample salary to meet the demands of the family. It is these women employes who should give way to men who are heads of families and who need employment now to care for the needs of their dependent. . . ."

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 Charly Pou.

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