Ed Jackson and Charles Pou

The University of Georgia

September 12

1708 Planter and politician Jonathan Bryan was born in Pocotaligo, South Carolina. Bryan's first contact with Georgia came when James Oglethorpe and the first settlers arrived at Port Royal in early February 1733. While the colonists stayed in barracks at a Carolina Ranger outpost, Bryan accompanied Oglethorpe on an advance visit to the Savannah River to look for a place to settle. In 1740, he returned to Georgia as an officer in a South Carolina militia unit that accompanied Oglethorpe's unsuccessful military expedition against the Spanish fort in St. Augustine. In 1751, Bryan received a land grant in Georgia and moved to the colony, where he began building rice plantation in the Savannah area. When Georgia became a royal colony in 1754, Bryan was asked to serve on the governor's council. He also served as a justice of the general court, colonial treasurer, road commissioner, and captain of a militia unit. After the Stamp Act, however, Bryan became associated with the patriotic movement. During the American Revolution, Bryan was captured by the British and imprisoned for two years. Upon his release, he found that his wife had died and his Georgia plantations were in ruin. After the war, he regained his wealth. In 1788, he died near Savannah. Five years later, the General Assembly created Bryan County, named in his honor.

1739 Following his successful visit to the Creek Nation, an ill James Oglethorpe arrived at Fort Augusta on the Savannah River. Here he recovered from his long journey for four days before continuing his trip to Savannah and finally Fort Frederica.

1752 Officially, this day did not exist in Georgia. See Sept. 3 entry for reason.

1779 Military operations leading to the siege of Savannah began. With the arrival of darkness, Count d'Estaing's French troops temporarily stationed on Ossabaw Island boarded a flotilla of ships and sailed twelve miles up the Vernon River to Beaulieu. Here, they would spend the next few days unloading soldiers, arms, artillery, and other military equipment and supplies to be used in the assault on British troops holding Savannah.

1919 The purchase of the Coca-Cola Co. from the Candler family by a group of investors led by Trust Company of Georgia president Ernest Woodruff for $25 million was completed. Earlier, the Aug. 22, 1919, edition of the Atlanta Constitution ran a front-page story on the impending sale citing an inflated purchase price of $30 million. The new Coca-Cola Co. was reorganized and reincorporated in the state of Delaware, but the company's headquarters would remain in Atlanta. Five hundred thousand shares of stock in the new company were issued and offered to the public for $40 a share. The sale of Coca-Cola and subsequent chance for the public to purchase stock made national and international news.

1964 Under the overall direction of Walker Hancock, carving was resumed on the unfinished Stone Mountain sculpture.

Chief carver Roy Faulkner used a thermal-jet torch that allowed him to remove tons of granite per day.

In Their Own Words on This Day. . .

1744 Georgia president William Stephens was visited by Mary Musgrove's third husband hoping to collect money his wife alleged the Trustees owed him from five years earlier:

"Mr. Bosomworth called on me in behalf of his wife; desiring to be informed how it came to pass that Mr. Jacob Matthews her former husband, was not paid the Bounty Money allow'd by the Trustees on Corn &c in the year 1739, which I thought a Question somewhat extraordinary so many years after; and (as I was very little Concern'd in the payment of Money in those days) I could not resolve him in it at present, but I told him I would inform myself in it, by making Enquiry back into those former times, and get the best light into it that I could. But I plainly perceived, that Supposing this Demand now made, to be at the rate of two shillings p[er] Bushell for Corn and other Species proportional, and Mr. Matthews' plantation to be very large that year, it must amount to a large Sum. And it seem'd to me a little Strange, that in so long time 'twas not looked after."

Source: E. Merton Coulter (ed.), The Journal of William Stephens, 1743-1745 (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1959), p. 145.

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

"The Major and I took a moonlight ride around the city last evening and lingered some time near General Thomas' headquarters, where that excellent band of the 33rd Massachusetts discoursed some of its exquisite music. Atlanta is really a very fine city; there must have been a great deal of wealth in it. There are many large mansions and it looks much like a western city. Two-thirds of our term of service has now expired, and we can stay only one year more. I have a hope that it won't be a year more, still who can tell. The citizens of Atlanta are all leaving; large wagon trains leave daily with southern families and their chattels – all but the human chattels – and are received into General Hood's lines under flags of truce. Those who are not devoted to the south are preparing for a grand migration northward; thus Atlanta will be left to the soldiers alone. General Sherman has issued a stringent order, that no trader shall be allowed to settle within any fortified place south of Chattanooga. He has no sympathy with those who follow the army to make money out of it. The clerk of the paymaster of our brigade has arrived. It seems that all the armies are being paid; thus relief will soon be brought to your suffering soldiers' families."

Source: Civil War Letters of Major Fredrick C. Winkler, 1864 in 26th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers Home Page

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