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Gwinnett Co., GA 1836 Militia - Lt John N. Reeves

1836 GA Militia - John N. Reeves

John N. Reeves Military Service, Gwinnett County-1836


Period of Service
1st Lieutenant, Gwinnett County, December 5, 1832 – June 18, 1836
1st Lieutenant, Gwinnett County, May 31, 1836 – October 24, 1836

Correspondence with Governor of Georgia
Camp Georgia
19th June 1836

To His Excellency Wm. Schly

Dr. Sir
It becomes my duty as first in command of my command to report to you the present disorganized State of my company and await Your order

When mustered into Service the company consisting of 76 men including officers – one has been elected Lieutenant Colonel – one has been appointed adjutant we had Eight men Killed at Shepherds plantation – four wounded one of whom is now fit for service – the captain & two privates yet unfit for service We are now 63 men in the company fit for service including officers

We have 36 horses

35 Saddles
36 Bridles
17 pair of Saddle Bags

Many our of men have lost their Clothing & Blankets a part of these things were lost at the Battle on Shepherds Plantation and part of the Horses were lost at the Battle at Fort Jones on last Thursday

We now await the order of Your Excellency

John N Reeves 1st Lieut
of the Gwinnett mounted men

Note: This service was during the Creek War of 1836. Captain Hammond Garmany’s Georgia Militia Company from Gwinnett County was mustered and sent to Stewart County to defend the settlements. The Battle of Shepherd’s Plantation in Florence, GA was fought June 9, 1836, between the Georgia Militia and an attacking party of Creek warriors. Captain Garmany had divided his force several times, sending some to Fort McCreary and others to scout. Not knowing how closely they were being watched, Garmany’s unit was at its weakest point and highly susceptible to attack.

Garmany's soldiers were sitting down for dinner on the afternoon of June 9, 1836, when they heard shots in the distance. Thinking that it was another local militia company, they went to investigate, falling into a trap set by the Creeks. Overwhelmed, Garmany retreated as more Creek warriors joined the fight. The company fell back to the plantation and took up defensive positions and close fighting ensued. Disaster was avoided only after reinforcements arrived from Fort Jones. The Battle of Shepherd’s Plantation was the most aggressive Creek attack of the war, but soon thereafter the tide turned against them. Garmany was shot in the thigh and eight men of the company were killed

Sources

Military Records 1829-1841, p. 104, Georgia’s Virtual Vault, General Names File, http://cdm.sos.state.ga.us:2011/cdm/compoundobject/collection/gnf/id/83800/rec/1702; RG-SG-S 004-02-046, Doc. 2132, File II Names, Georgia Archives; “Stewart County GaArchives Photo Place – Battle of Shepherd’s Plantation (Florence)”, April 7, 2006, http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/stewart/photos/battleof10206gph.txt; “The Battle of Shepherd’s Plantation – Florence, Georgia”, http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/GAShepherds.html.

Contributors to this page: Beverly and Richard .
Page last modified on Wednesday 07 of August, 2013 08:48:24 CDT by Beverly.