Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

The University of Georgia

July 9

1793 Future Georgia governor and supreme court justice Charles J. McDonald was born in Charleston, S.C. His parents moved to Hancock County, Georgia, the year after his birth. Here, McDonald began a varied career that would include lawyer, prosecutor, judge, state militia general, state representative, state senator, governor (1839-43), wealthy planter, and finally supreme court justice (1855-59). As early as 1848, McDonald predicted that southern states would form a confederacy, and in 1850 he ran again for governor on a pro-secession platform. Ironically, he died four days before South Carolina seceded.

1835 William J. Northen was born in Jones County. He would become an educator, agricultural expert, state representative, state senator, governor, and Baptist leader. During his term as governor (1890-94), Northen stressed education and was successful in getting the school year extended, new schools created, an agricultural and mechanical school for blacks in Savannah, and a state normal school for training white teachers. He later became interested in history, writing (1907-1912) the 7-volume set, Men of Mark in Georgia, and becoming compiler of state records in 1911.

1864 During the night, retreating Confederate forces in Cobb County crossed over the Chattahoochee River into Fulton County near the Western & Atlantic railroad bridge several miles south of Paces Ferry. After crossing the river, they burned the bridge. Meanwhile, six miles upstream, Sherman's 23rd Corps, having crossed the Chattahoochee the previous day, was now advancing southward.

1906 Gov. Joseph Terrell signed legislation on this day prohibiting public dance halls and commercial places of amusement in the unincorporated areas of any county in the state having a city with 8,000 or more residents without the consent of half of the voters within a two-mile radius of the proposed location of such dance hall or amusement place.

1985 University of Georgia Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, now playing professional football for the New Jersey Generals, was named MVP of the United States Football League.

1986 For the first time in 740 games, Atlanta Braves outfielder Dale Murphy did not play -- thus ending the longest consecutive games played by a Brave in franchise history.

2002 President George Bush awarded long-time Atlanta Brave outfielder Hank Aaron the Presidential Medal of Honor--the nation's highest civilian honor--in recognition of his lifetime baseball accomplishments--including the major league record of 755 career homeruns--and his efforts to fight discrimination.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1736 In the Aug. 4, 1736 entry of his journal, the Earl of Egmont recorded events in the journal of William Stephens, who had been hired by Col. Horsey to go to South Carolina to survey Horsey's land grant on the Savannah River. Georgia Trustee and founder James Oglethorpe would later be identified as having a "barony" at Palachocolas, S.C. However, Egmont's recitation of Stephens' journal entry for July 9, 1736 suggests another reason for Oglethorpe's ties to Palachocolas:

"He [Stephens] Set out very early, Stopt at Noon to dine in the Woods, and at 5 arrived at Palachocolas, computed 24 Miles by Water from Ebenezer, and about 60 or 62 from Savannah. This is a Fort on the Carolina Side of the River, maintain'd formerly at the expence of that Province, but upon a Colony being Settled in Georgia, they thought themselves Secure, and gave this Fort up to Mr. Oglethorpe and all the Artillery which belong'd to it, he promising to maintain it, which the Colony of Georgia Since did with a garison of 10 Men, and Capt. mackIntosh the Governor."

Source: Robert G. McPherson, The Journal of the Earl of Egmont: Abstract of the Trustees Proceedings for Establishing the Colony of Georgia, 1732-1738 (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1962), pp. 192-193.

1743 William Stephens recorded Oglethorpe's intentions to return to England, while noting how some violent weather had marred one of the young colony's landmarks:

"July 9. Saturday. The Generals preparations to be going soon for England was now no longer doubted, being universally known, . . . the storms of Thunder and Lightning were of late more frequent and severe than common; and since the last Marks noted of it, it fell heavy on some tall Pines that grew on top of the Bluff, just at the place of landing, two of which were split from Top to Bottom. These Trees (five in Number) grew in a round Clump near one another, and under them the General pitched his Tent at his first landing; wherefore they were left as a Standing Monument of it, and with all a good Mark for any Vessels coming up or down the River in the Night."

Source: E. Merton Coulter (ed.), The Journal of William Stephens, 1741-1743 (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1959), p. 225.

1864 From north of Atlanta, Sherman wrote Gen. Webster in Nashville, Tn.:

"I have ordered the arrested operators at the Confederate manufactories at Roswell and Sweet Water, to be sent North. When they reach Nashville have them sent across the Ohio River and turned loose to earn a living where they won't do us any harm. If any of the principals seem to you dangerous, you may order them imprisoned for a time. The men were exempt from conscription by reason of their skill, but the women were simply laborers that must be removed from this district."

Source: Franklin M. Garrett, Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1954), p. 597.

1866 Frances Butler, daughter of coastal planter Pierce Butler, wrote a letter to a friend or relative only designated as "S" from her father's plantation about life after the Civil War:

"I am just learning to be an experienced cook and doctress, for the Negroes come to me with every sort of complaint to be treated, and I prescribe for all, pills and poultices being my favorite remedies. I was rather nervous about it at first, but have grown bolder since I find what good results follow my doses. The other day an old woman of over eighty came for a dose, so I prescribed a small one of caster oil, which pleased her so much she returned the next day to have it repeated and again a third time!

"We are living directly on the point in the house formerly occupied by the overseer. Of course, it is all rough and overgrown now, but with the pretty water view across which you look to the wide stretch of broad green salt marsh, which at sunset turns the most wonderful gold bronze color. The fishing is grand, and we have fresh fish for breakfast, dinner and tea. . . ."

Source: Mills Lane (ed.) Georgia: History written by Those who lived It (Savannah: Beehive Press, 1995), pp. 209-210.