Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

The University of Georgia

October 5

1739 Yamacraw Indian chief Tomochichi died near Savannah. There is no record of the place or date of his birth, but as a Creek, he probably was born in present-day Georgia or Alabama. Reports that Tomochichi was age 97 at the time of his death seem to be greatly exaggerated, for when painted from life during his visit to London in 1735 he has the appearance of a much younger man. At some point (probably in the 1720s), Tomochichi and his band of followers were banished from the Lower Creek Indians. They then moved to a location on the banks of the Savannah River, which came to be known as Yamacraw Bluff.

It was here that James Oglethorpe requested permission from Tomochichi to locate Georgia's first settlement in 1733. Subsequently, they became close friends. On several occasions, Tomochichi assisted Oglethorpe in negotiating land cessions with Creek chiefs for the growing colony. In 1734, Tomochichi and other Yamacraws sailed with Oglethorpe for England, where they visited the Trustees and King George II. Tomochichi also was important in the Creeks' military assistance to the English colonists. After his death, Oglethorpe directed that his friend be buried in Percival Square in Savannah. In 1899, Georgia's Colonial Dames had a large granite stone and brass plaque placed in Wright Square (formerly Percival Square) to mark Tomichichi's grave site. Click here for the text of the plaque.

1864 The Battle of Allatoona Pass was fought marking the final engagement between Hood's retreating Confederate forces and Sherman's invading Union force. Confederate Gen. Samuel French led the attack on a small Union fort atop the mountain guarding the Western & Atlantic Railroad's tracks at Allatoona Pass.

Image Courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library / University of Georgia Libraries

Despite artillery bombardment and repeated charges, the Union forces held the fort. Casualties totaled 799 Confederate and 706 Union killed and wounded. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has erected an interpretative marker shown here at the site of the battle, which is located near the edge of Lake Allatoona.

1881 The International Cotton Exposition, the first of three international fairs to be held in Atlanta to promote the city and the state, opened in Oglethorpe Park. It would continue through December 31.

1918 Four days after the initial breakout of two cases of Spanish influenza, Augusta's Camp Hancock reported 3,000 cases of the flu.

Already, 52 soldiers had died of the disease. Furthermore, the epidemic had now spread off base with 47 cases reported in the Augusta area.

1976 Campaigning in San Francisco on the eve of his second presidential debate, Jimmy Carter accused President Ford of being an "election year chameleon" by signing the 1976 Tax Reform Act after working all his political career to find "fat cat tax loopholes."

1991 After a last-place finish in 1990, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Houston Astros to clinch the western division title – a feat labeled "from worst to first." The pennant would be the first of fourteen consecutive division titles for the Braves, from 1991 through 2005 (excluding 1994, when the baseball strike eliminated post-season plan and pennants).

In 1991, the Braves would go on to the World Series and make major league baseball history by having gone from the worst record the year before to the World Series.

2001 The Georgia Supreme Court overturned use of the electric chair to execute prisoners sentenced to death.

In the case of Adams v. Georgia Department of Corrections, the court upheld a trial court's decision that death by electrocution was unconstitutional because it resulted in cruel and unusual punishment.

2001 Playing in Atlanta, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Florida Marlins by a score of 20-3. More importantly, the win gave the Braves their 10th consecutive division championship--a record for professional sports in the U.S.

2010 Atlanta Braves' pitcher Tim Hudson was named National League comeback player of the year. Hudson had ligament-replacement surgery in his elbow in late 2008, and only pitched a handful of games late in 2009, before coming on strong to lead the team the wild card spot in the playoffs in 2010. Hudson had a record of 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA.

Georgia towns and cities incorporated by acts approved on Oct. 5:

1891 Omaha (Stewart County)

Other acts affecting Georgia towns and cities approved on Oct. 5:

1885 Charter of DeSoto (Floyd County) repealed and its territory and residents annexed by the city of Rome.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1739 From Savannah, James Oglethorpe wrote to the Trustees following his visit to the heart of the Creek Nation to renew alliances of friendship:

"I am returned from the Indian Countrey and thank God in good health. I have received the Kings Commands to anoy the Spaniards and am going to Execute them. I've been obliged to make large presents to the Indians, who are now thoroughly engaged to us. Tooanhowi is gone with 200 Men against the Spaniards. The Cherokees are raising 600 Men and the Creeks 400 who are to act with me. The Affairs of the Colony are much mended but the Accounts are not gone through. Mr. Jones will let you know the Progress that is made in them. I am forced to make severall Expences upon this Rupture, which I hope will be laid before the Parliament not as the Trustees, but as a Governmentall Expence. There has been a great Sickness in Charles Town, but Georgia is health. Pursuant to his Majesty's Orders the inhabitants of Savannah have fitted out a Privateer. . . .

"P.S. As soon as possibly I can get time to write I'll send You the State of the Colony to lay before Parliament.

"P.P.S. I fear I have tired you with the length of the Inclosed and for more particulars of the Province I must refer you to Colonel Steven's Journals. I've been forced to put 30 Rangers upon footing, to employ several Scout Boats, to promise pay to the Indian traders for raising the Indians to preserve the Province in this critical Juncture."

Source: John T. Juricek (ed.), Georgia Treaties, 1733-1763, Vol. XI in Alden T. Vaughan (ed.), Early American Indian Documents: Treaties and Laws, 1607-1789 (Frederick, Md.: University Publications of America, 1989), pp. 98-99.

1779 Savannah merchant turned military leader Joseph Clay wrote to William Palfrey this day, describing their desperate lack of money and briefly detailing attempts to re-capture Savannah from the British:

". . . We shall very soon be out of Money, the Gen'l has already drawn on me for near 400,000 Dollars, not one farthing of which is for Pay to the Army, so that unless you have Money on the way we shall very soon be in a Distressed Situation. Our Batteries were opened Yesterday w'th what effect we are not able to Judge, – their firing on us has been very inconsiderable, a few Days I am hopefull will put us in Possession of the Town -- the Count D'Staing [French Admiral Count D'Estaing, the American ally who would play a large role in the decisive victory at Yorktown two years later] we are informed took a Frigate & Two Transports. . . ."

Source: Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, Vol. VIII, Letters of Joseph Clay, Merchant of Savannah, 1776-1793 (Savannah: Georgia Historical Society, 1913), p. 149.

1864 Col. Fredrick Winkler of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry wrote his wife from occupied Atlanta:

"How shall I write, when my letter cannot go out; all communication with the north is cut off. Our corps is still here, but we are alone. It seems that the rebels are trying to force us from Atlanta in the same manner that we did them. Hood's main army is in our rear; it is reported that he is heavily re-enforced. Sherman has left Atlanta in charge of the 20th corps, and has gone back with the rest to fight for the railroad. He is bound to succeed. We cannot give up Atlanta again. It is to be expected that the enemy will destroy a good deal of railroad, and it will be some time before trains can run again. We may be put on half rations and suffer privations, but we can suffer a good deal, but we can't and will not give up Atlanta again. We are all well and in good spirits. The men have to work very hard on a new line of fortifications, which will be a good deal shorter than the one along which we are now stretched out. The paymaster commenced paying my regiment this afternoon. Eight and nine months' pay, gives the boys more Money than they know what to do with, when there is no opportunity to send it home. It has been raining for several days. This morning the sun shines and not a cloud is to be seen. It is of a deeper hue than in the north. Copy of a despatch from Kenesaw Mountain sent me just now says that General Corse signals from Allatoona, 'Had right cheek and ear shot off, but am able to whip hell out of the rebels yet; repulsed two assaults with heavy loss to the enemy, who retreated south and west.' Despatch than adds that Sherman is well pleased. I think General Corse commands a division of the 16th Corps. His language is emphatically army style. Allatoona's an important place, as we have heavy supplies stored there. One of the most important and most curious things in the army is doubtless the Signal Service. By brandishing a white flag with a crimson square in the center in the day, and a brightly burning torch by night, the signal officer transmits orders and intelligence to distant points, where communication by courier or telegraph is impossible. Signal stations are always located on very high points. They all have very powerful glasses, by means of which they observe each other's motions. Unfortunately, I cannot send you any letters by signal; must, therefore, keep on writing until the mail goes north, which I trust will be soon. If they all do as General Corse does, it will be soon."

Source: Civil War Letters of Major Fredrick C. Winkler, in 26th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers Home Page

For more, see This Week in Georgia Civil War History.

1868 At the end of the Civil War, the U.S. created the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands (or Freedmen's Bureau) to assist and protect former slaves. From Athens, Howell C. Flournoy – who had openly expressed his Union sympathies during the Civil War – wrote to Gen. C.C. Sibley of the Freedmen's Bureau of his concerns about efforts by white Democrats to keep blacks from voting Republican in neighboring Jackson County:

"I have the honor to call your attention to very great excitement in Jackson County, Georgia. Reports have come to me that both white and colored citizens are arming themselves. The whites say the colored citizens are arming themselves to murder all the whites at a certain time not particularly specified. This, as they pretend, has caused them to arm themselves for self-defence. On the other hand, the colored citizens contend that they are desirous of living in peace with the white people and attend to their daily work, that large bodies of armed white citizens [are] roving through the district of Newtown and Harmony Grove in Jackson County, hatting and hailing every colored man they see and compelling them with threats of violence and drawn weapons upon them to make them sign certain written articles of agreement which they term as an association of peace between them. The articles are nothing more or less than that they, the colored people, solemnly pledge themselves with an oath that they will vote the Democratic ticket in November, 1868! If they sign these, they are let along with warning. If the colored people violate their pledge, death is their doom, and, if they refuse to sign, they are driven out of the county, their lives threatened and many of them have been driven from their homes. Such are the reports that reach me.

"I am daily looking for an outbreak in that section and nothing can prevent it, unless some U.S. troops are sent here. The excitement appears to be intense in these two districts. I am afraid it will extend through the whole of Jackson County and the adjoining counties and this place. These two districts were very strong [for] secession and there a great many reckless and lawless men there from the sign of the times. No white Radicals or colored men will be allowed to vote at the next election for President unless he votes the Democratic ticket. If the government don't give us protection we will be at the mercy of a lawless band. I have lived here for nearly fifty years. I was here during the rebellion. I was more than forty times reported for arrest for my Union sentiments. But I have never seen such times in my life as a Union man's life was so insecure as at this time."

Source: Mills Lane (ed.), Georgia: History written by Those who lived It (Savannah: Beehive Press, 1995), pp. 224-225.

1895 The Sunny South - a newspaper in Atlanta - carried the following advertisement for a supposed cure-all: