Encampment at Chastain's Cherokee Internment Site
Encampment at Chastain's =
This article is adapted from "Cherokee Removal: Forts Along the Georgia Trail of Tears" by Sarah H. Hill.
To this point, the most useful material has been found in microfilm copies of papers relating to Cherokee removal. Originally from various collections in the National Archives, the papers have been combined into one record group (393) and are available on film at the National Archives Records Administration in East Point, Georgia. In addition, information about the location of Chastain’s can be found in the cartographic branch of the National Archives. The proximity of Benjamin Chastain’s home to the North Carolina border resulted in the location of his home on the survey maps made by the North Carolina troops in preparation for removal. North Carolina archaeologist Brett Riggs has interpreted the militia maps and places Chastain’s in or near Garren Cove on the east side of the Toccoa River. In 1925, construction began on a dam across the Toccoa, which was completed in 1930. Lake Blue Ridge was formed by the dam and inundated the site where Chastain lived.
The encampment at Chastain’s raises so many questions that the absence of records about the post has proven particularly frustrating. It seems the post’s establishment was not initially planned. No mention was made of northeast Georgia until late May when other companies were already underway with their collection of prisoners. The assignment of three companies to Chastain’s indicates the expectation of a high number of prisoners, yet the late assignment and failure of command suggest a lack of attention about their capture. The delayed arrival of Gen. Eustis to his command at Ft. Butler exacerbated the problems since no one was sufficiently near to monitor the post’s establishment. Most puzzling of all was the behavior of and toward the commander, Lt. Col. Benjamin Camp, whose leadership and discipline failed from the very beginning. Yet he was allowed to pass from Ft. Buffington to Ft. Floyd and on to Union County, with complaints following him along the route. Although he resigned his commission, it is surprising that he did not face a court martial. The discovery of additional papers, particularly those of Gen. Eustis, will be a welcome addition to this body of literature about the removal of Indians from Chastain’s.
Military Occupation.
The earliest mention of a post at Chastain’s occurred on May 11, 1838 when orders were sent from Ft. Cass for the disposition of Georgia regiments about to be mustered into service. From the first companies received, an unnamed lieutenant colonel and three companies were ordered to a post “near Chastain’s in Union County.”ccxlvi The infantry companies, one of which was commanded by Capt. John W. Fowler of DeKalb County, were marching from Ft. Buffington in Cherokee County (where they obtained their arms?) to Chastain’s in then, Union County. Their probable route was from Canton to Dahlonega (by way of Ft. Campbell), then to Ft. Hetzel in Ellijay and on to Chastain’s. By the end of May, Capt. Peake’s company of Tennessee Volunteers was stationed at Chastain’s awaiting the arrival of the three Georgia companies.ccxlvii
When Lt. Hetzel notified V. M. Campbell of his responsibility for the post at Chastain’s, he noted that Gov. Gilmer would appoint the new post’s quartermaster. Campbell’s job was to instruct and furnish him with the necessary funds.ccxlviii An early June letter identifies the new quartermaster as A.P. Bush, who was, according to Campbell, inexperienced.ccxlix In the same week, another letter identifies the commander of the three companies as Lt. Col. Camp.ccl
The first sign of trouble appears in the records in early June when quartermaster Bush wrote that the commander was drunk, absent half the time, unable to command, and had so offended the soldiers at Ft. Buffington that they had “presented their muskets at him.” He also pointed out that the companies did not march until the middle of the day and had already run out of rations.ccli The day after Bush complained to Col. Turk, quartermaster Campbell reported that he anticipated considerable trouble from the companies because Bush was inexperienced and both the officers and the men were “as rough and uncouth a set” as he had even seen.cclii
As soon as Floyd learned about the militia’s behavior, he ordered Col. Turk to lead a cavalry party to pursue and arrest Camp. Meanwhile, Gen. Scott also was informed. He instructed Floyd to turn the matter over to Eustis at Ft. Butler.ccliii By mid-June, Col. Camp resigned his commission and returned home, leaving the three companies at Chastain’s under the command of Maj. Kemp.ccliv On June 17, Eustis ordered two of the three companies to Ft. Wool and the following day he proposed sending Capt. Peake back to Chastain’s to relieve the third.cclv
Construction.
No mention of construction was found in any of the records. It is unlikely Peake constructed anything of substance since his assignment was temporary. The late arrival of the three Georgia companies makes the construction of barracks unlikely and the fact that they were infantry companies rendered stables unnecessary. Storage facilities would have been necessary unless the companies utilized buildings at Chastain’s.
Supplies.
The quartermaster department at Chastain’s was put under the supervision of Ft. Floyd’s V.M. Campbell, but in the review of correspondence from the quartermaster’s department, no records of supply shipments have emerged. On the other hand, in early June, Eustis notified Lt. Col. Worth that 60 days’ rations for three companies had been sent to the post.cclvi The delivery may have been in response to Bush’s complaint that the companies had run out of rations by the time they reached Dahlonega.
Prisoners.
No record has been found of prisoners taken by the companies at Chastain’s.
SOURCES
cccxlvi NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0319-22
cccxlvii NA RG 350 Box 2 Vol. 2
cccxlviii NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 p 137
cccxlix NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0637-39
cccl NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0319-22
cccli NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0405
ccclii NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0455
cccliii NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0572-75
cccliv NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0554-56
To this point, the most useful material has been found in microfilm copies of papers relating to Cherokee removal. Originally from various collections in the National Archives, the papers have been combined into one record group (393) and are available on film at the National Archives Records Administration in East Point, Georgia. In addition, information about the location of Chastain’s can be found in the cartographic branch of the National Archives. The proximity of Benjamin Chastain’s home to the North Carolina border resulted in the location of his home on the survey maps made by the North Carolina troops in preparation for removal. North Carolina archaeologist Brett Riggs has interpreted the militia maps and places Chastain’s in or near Garren Cove on the east side of the Toccoa River. In 1925, construction began on a dam across the Toccoa, which was completed in 1930. Lake Blue Ridge was formed by the dam and inundated the site where Chastain lived.
The encampment at Chastain’s raises so many questions that the absence of records about the post has proven particularly frustrating. It seems the post’s establishment was not initially planned. No mention was made of northeast Georgia until late May when other companies were already underway with their collection of prisoners. The assignment of three companies to Chastain’s indicates the expectation of a high number of prisoners, yet the late assignment and failure of command suggest a lack of attention about their capture. The delayed arrival of Gen. Eustis to his command at Ft. Butler exacerbated the problems since no one was sufficiently near to monitor the post’s establishment. Most puzzling of all was the behavior of and toward the commander, Lt. Col. Benjamin Camp, whose leadership and discipline failed from the very beginning. Yet he was allowed to pass from Ft. Buffington to Ft. Floyd and on to Union County, with complaints following him along the route. Although he resigned his commission, it is surprising that he did not face a court martial. The discovery of additional papers, particularly those of Gen. Eustis, will be a welcome addition to this body of literature about the removal of Indians from Chastain’s.
Military Occupation.
The earliest mention of a post at Chastain’s occurred on May 11, 1838 when orders were sent from Ft. Cass for the disposition of Georgia regiments about to be mustered into service. From the first companies received, an unnamed lieutenant colonel and three companies were ordered to a post “near Chastain’s in Union County.”ccxlvi The infantry companies, one of which was commanded by Capt. John W. Fowler of DeKalb County, were marching from Ft. Buffington in Cherokee County (where they obtained their arms?) to Chastain’s in then, Union County. Their probable route was from Canton to Dahlonega (by way of Ft. Campbell), then to Ft. Hetzel in Ellijay and on to Chastain’s. By the end of May, Capt. Peake’s company of Tennessee Volunteers was stationed at Chastain’s awaiting the arrival of the three Georgia companies.ccxlvii
When Lt. Hetzel notified V. M. Campbell of his responsibility for the post at Chastain’s, he noted that Gov. Gilmer would appoint the new post’s quartermaster. Campbell’s job was to instruct and furnish him with the necessary funds.ccxlviii An early June letter identifies the new quartermaster as A.P. Bush, who was, according to Campbell, inexperienced.ccxlix In the same week, another letter identifies the commander of the three companies as Lt. Col. Camp.ccl
The first sign of trouble appears in the records in early June when quartermaster Bush wrote that the commander was drunk, absent half the time, unable to command, and had so offended the soldiers at Ft. Buffington that they had “presented their muskets at him.” He also pointed out that the companies did not march until the middle of the day and had already run out of rations.ccli The day after Bush complained to Col. Turk, quartermaster Campbell reported that he anticipated considerable trouble from the companies because Bush was inexperienced and both the officers and the men were “as rough and uncouth a set” as he had even seen.cclii
As soon as Floyd learned about the militia’s behavior, he ordered Col. Turk to lead a cavalry party to pursue and arrest Camp. Meanwhile, Gen. Scott also was informed. He instructed Floyd to turn the matter over to Eustis at Ft. Butler.ccliii By mid-June, Col. Camp resigned his commission and returned home, leaving the three companies at Chastain’s under the command of Maj. Kemp.ccliv On June 17, Eustis ordered two of the three companies to Ft. Wool and the following day he proposed sending Capt. Peake back to Chastain’s to relieve the third.cclv
Construction.
No mention of construction was found in any of the records. It is unlikely Peake constructed anything of substance since his assignment was temporary. The late arrival of the three Georgia companies makes the construction of barracks unlikely and the fact that they were infantry companies rendered stables unnecessary. Storage facilities would have been necessary unless the companies utilized buildings at Chastain’s.
Supplies.
The quartermaster department at Chastain’s was put under the supervision of Ft. Floyd’s V.M. Campbell, but in the review of correspondence from the quartermaster’s department, no records of supply shipments have emerged. On the other hand, in early June, Eustis notified Lt. Col. Worth that 60 days’ rations for three companies had been sent to the post.cclvi The delivery may have been in response to Bush’s complaint that the companies had run out of rations by the time they reached Dahlonega.
Prisoners.
No record has been found of prisoners taken by the companies at Chastain’s.
SOURCES
cccxlvi NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0319-22
cccxlvii NA RG 350 Box 2 Vol. 2
cccxlviii NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 p 137
cccxlix NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0637-39
cccl NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0319-22
cccli NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0405
ccclii NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0455
cccliii NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0572-75
cccliv NARA RG 393 m1475 r1 fr 0554-56
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