266 GILMER COUNTY. 



bered, that at thai time the means of education were not as 

 abundant as they are at this period. Now, the Latin, Greek, 

 and Mathematics, are taught in almost every neighbourhood, 

 but then, the only schools which existed were conducted by 

 deserters from the army or navy, or by some adventurer, who 

 with the multiplication table at his tongue's end, and ability to 

 rehearse the Ten Commandments, came to Georgia for the 

 purpose of enlightening the people. Of course, Gilmer derived 

 no important advantages from schools of this description ; and 

 fortunately for him, when he was thirteen years of age his fa- 

 ther sent him to Dr. Wilson's Classical School, near Abbeville 

 Court House, South Carolina, and afterwards to the Academy 

 of Dr. Waddel. At these institutions he studied the languages, 

 and would have entered college, but his ill health prevented. 

 He then employed his time in teaching his younger brothers, 

 and a few of the children in the neighbourhood of his father. 

 After this, he commenced the study of the law with the Hon. 

 Mr. Upson, but was compelled to abandon it, on account of 

 his health, although he had been admitted to the bar. His 

 physician, Dr. Bibb, then a Senator in Congress, believing that 

 an active life might improve his health, obtained a commission 

 for him in the regular army. 



In October, 1813, he was appointed First Lieutenant in the 

 43d regiment of infantry, and took up his quarters near Wash- 

 ington, where Capt. Tattnall had established a recruiting sta- 

 tion. At this period, a friendship was formed between the 

 latter officer and Lieutenant Gilmer, which was never after- 

 wards broken. Both served together in a legislative capacity, 

 not only in the House of Representatives in Georgia, but also 

 in the Congress of the United States. As soon as a few re- 

 cruits were collected, orders were received from General 

 Pinckney to place them under a suitable officer, and to march 

 them to the Creek territory. With this command Lieut. Gil- 

 mer was invested, and by the prompt manner with which he 

 executed his orders, as well as by his subsequent prudent ar- 

 rangements, contributed most essentiaUy to the quiet of the 

 whites, residing near the Chattahooche, and who had been 

 much alarmed by hostile appearances on the part of the In- 

 dians. After the war Mr. Gilmer returned to Oglethorpe, and 



