252 FLOYD COUNTY. 



Gen. Floyd, who died in Camden county, 24th day of June, 

 1829. He was the son of a revolutionary soldier, who, it is 

 said, wore on the front of his helmet, a silver crescent with 

 the words " Liberty or death." Gen. Floyd came from South 

 Carolina, where he was born in 1794, and settled in the south- 

 ern part of Georgia. In 1803, he became a member of the 

 State Legislature. His associates were such men as Jackson, 

 Tattnall, and Milledge, all of whom had the highest respect for 

 his inflexible patriotism, and his unimpeachable integrity. In 

 1806, he was appointed Brigadier General of the 1st brigade, 

 Georgia militia. In this command he established so great a 

 reputation as a military man, that Gov. Early, in 1813, select- 

 ed him to command the Georgia troops in an expedition 

 against the Creeks, who for some time had been engaged in a 

 sanguinary and unprovoked massacre upon the helpless fron- 

 tier settlements of Georgia and Alabama. On one occasion, 

 the savages surprised a fort where there were 300 men, women 

 and children, and with the exception of 17, who made their 

 escape, all were cruelly put to death. This affair created a 

 great feeling of indignation in Georgia, and it is no won- 

 der that a universal desire was felt to avenge the death of 

 their countrymen. The direction of such an important matter 

 as defending the frontier settlements, and of punishing the 

 Indians for their aggressions, could not have been committed 

 to a man possessing more energy of character than Ge- 

 neral Floyd. Too much space would be required to follow 

 him on his march, in which he displayed his ability as a most 

 skilful commander. Suffice it to say, that co-operating with 

 General Jackson, he waged a destructive war against the 

 savages. At Autossee, Tallassee, and Camp Defiance, the 

 enemy were defeated with great loss. In one of these en- 

 gagements Gen. Floyd was severely wounded ; but, although 

 labouring under acute pain, he refused to retire from the 

 field. After the close of the Creek campaign. Gen. Floyd 

 was invested with the command of the troops at Savan- 

 nah, which command he retained to the end of the war. In 

 1826, he was elected a representative to Congress, where 

 he served two years. As a private citizen. Gen. Floyd, in 



