by J. Martin

See previous entry: Logan, Part 7 -- Atrocities Escalate into War -- and End in Sorrow.

Washington, 5 September 1853.
To: BRANTZ MAYER, Esq., Baltimore:

DEAR SIR: Having attentively read "the discourse" (delivered by you before the Maryland Historical Society on its Sixth Anniversary, 9 May 1851) which you were kind enough to send me, and having compared it with Colonel Richard Sparks's Narrative, I now enclose to you the latter, together with Mr. James Magoffin's letter of explanation, addressed to me.

As it is to be presumed the exhibit of the statement of Colonel Sparks, conflicting as it does with old and respectable opinion, will be scanned with critical interest, I beg leave to say how this information came into my possession.

I mentioned to you in a former letter, that while travelling through Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, on a mission confided to me by the late Administration, I became very much interested in the old Indian traditions of the country through which I passed. This history, so full of romantic and thrilling association, is rapidly sinking into oblivion; and, alas! what little remains lies buried in the fading memories of a few pioneers, who are daily carrying with them to the grave every trait of the Indian character.

Among those brief and hasty sketches picked up in my wanderings, I found that it was only from some old enthusiastic settler reliable information was to be obtained. Such a person was Mr. James Magoffin. Living amid the past, in a district whose very name ("Old St. Stephens") seemed to recall as much of antiquity as can exist in the New World, he delighted in relating Indian tales, incidents of border warfare, the struggles of the early settlers, and so on. He found me a willing and anxious listener, and thus many a night was wiled away between us.

One evening, while looking over some papers, hoping to discover something about the "course of De Soto's expedition," I saw an old paper marked "Murder of Logan's family by Col. Cresap's men, Fort Stoddart, Alabama, November, 1812!" Its authenticity could not be doubted; the writer was present, and I seized upon it with great interest.

After I read the paper, "Col. Sparks's narrative," as related by himself, speaking of scenes in which he was an actor, of course I was much gratified to find him corroborating Mr. Jefferson's statement regarding "Logan's speech;" for, if Col. Sparks is correct, Logan did make the speech to his own people, he (Sparks) being present! And Mr. Magoffin repeatedly assured me that he only took down at the time a brief sketch of Col. Sparks's remarks, though he distinctly recollected that Col. Sparks spoke of "Logan's speech" as a thrilling and eloquent effort, and the strange and exciting effect it had upon his hearers at the time.... [See Logan, Part 6 -- Sparks's Narrative of Logan's Tragedy.]

I also think that, as this famous speech was practised and retold along the way, that the charge against Col. Cresap crept in, but was not part of the speech as originally given by Logan, for, according to Sparks, Logan always exonerated Cresap from any participation in the murder of his family! We know that it was only to vindicate Cresap's name that the Hon. Luther Martin attempted to discredit "the speech" as recorded by Jefferson; and let me here add a singular fact, that Sparks had never heard of Jefferson's NOTES ON VIRGINIA before our meeting!

On reading over Gen. G.R. Clark's letter, I find it differs so materially from Col. Sparks's statement, that I must let others decide which is correct, though Clark agrees with Sparks that "Logan was the author of the speech" and also "wrong as to Cresap." As to Askew's leading the men who committed the murder, Sparks speaks confidently, but the name of Greathouse is not mentioned by him, while he asserts that at the time of the murder Cresap was near, and hastened at once to stop it -- the most complete evidence of his innocence.

The original actors and narrators have alike passed away, and we cannot recall them from the grave to say who is right. "History only teaches by example;" and, alas, the most prominent events of our own time are subjects of doubt....

With regard, I remain, dear sir, your obliged servant,
J. MARTIN

See next entry: Logan, Part 9 -- Appendix: James Magoffin's Description of Col. Sparks and Spark's Narrative on Logan.

See the first entry in this series: Logan, Part 1 -- Table of Contents and Introduction: The Effects of a Great Speech.

This entry is adapted from Henry R. Schoolcraft's massive six-volume work, INDIAN TRIBES OF THE UNITED STATES...., which was published during the 1850s and 1860s. This entry has been reedited extensively for inclusion in the Pierian Press Fulltext eBooks database, and is included on the Stratton House Inn Web site by special permission. This entry is licensed for use ONLY on this Web site. It may not be copied or downloaded, but may be used for educational purposes and personal pleasure under fair-use provisions via this Web site. Please note that this Stratton House Inn iteration of this entry does NOT include the subject headings assigned each chapter for use in the Fulltext eBooks database.

DATABASE: Fulltext eBooks: Copyright (c) 1998 The Pierian Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved
ENTRY NUMBER: EBK30000841

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