TRACING THE McINTOSH TRAIL.

Previous

The McIntosh trail begins as far west as Talladega, Ala., and perhaps further, going eastward 3 miles above Senoia, in Coweta County, Georgia, where it diverges, one trail going to Augusta and the other via Indian Springs to Macon. Mrs. Yeandle has traced the trail from Augusta to Senoia. Perhaps some daughter will trace it to Macon from its point of divergence. I am tracing it west from the neighborhood of Senoia to Talladega, Ala. The trail runs about 3 miles north of Senoia, and near there McIntosh built a fort, the ruins of which may still be seen. Senoia was given the name of a princess of the Cowetas. Her name is about all that remains of her, her history being buried in oblivion. The trail runs north of Turin, crosses Hegg Creek near the home of the Rev. Mr. Rees, then through Sharpsburg, north of Raymond, following part of the old McIntosh road entering Newnan on the southeast, down Greenville street across Mrs. Atkinson's lot to LaGrange street, across Miss Long's lot and a livery stable lot into Spring street. The direct route is here uncertain, because of home-building, but it crosses the Central Railroad into Ray Park, on to an unusual road called Rocky road, which leads over a creek to the Chattahoochee, where it crosses the river west of the McIntosh reserve. The reserve is a square mile in a sharp bend of the river, and on both sides of the Chattahoochee, being partly in Carroll County and party in Coweta, and at this bend the river runs for some distance west instead of south. On the Carroll side the Chief McIntosh had his home, and there he was murdered by his race, in 1826. And there he is buried. The trail now runs almost due west across the southern part of Carroll County, Georgia, and across the northern parts of Clay and Randolph Counties, Alabama, into Talladega County, to the town of Talladega. This part of the trail is more certain than elsewhere, because the pioneers blazed the trail, cutting three notches into the numerous trees of the unbroken forest. Over this trail Andrew Jackson marched his troops against the British in 1812-13-14-15, McIntosh and his force going with him. The forests have gone down before the fields, and here is perhaps the finest white yeomanry in Georgia. It is considered that they produce the finest short staple cotton in the world. Schools and churches abound and the population is fast advancing in culture. But to take up the trail again: It leaves the reserve, going through Lowell, thence to Tyrus by Mexico campground; then one-half mile north of Black Jack mountain through Buchanan town into Alabama, one-half mile north of Gratan postoffice by Bethel campground. Then crossing the little Tallapoosa on Saxon's bridge near Saxon's mill, on the Big Tallapoosa, where it crosses at Ridley's bridge through Chillafinnee, then goes on north of Ironton to Talladega, Alabama. Perhaps this trail goes further west than Talladega, but an effort to trace it has failed so far. Our Chapter still hopes to find whether it continues. No doubt the whole country was a network of trails, and this must antedate the time of McIntosh. It must go back to the days when the Indians had no beasts of burden.—Mrs. R. H. Hardaway, Newnan, Ga.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Clyx.com


Top of Page
Top of Page