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THE 4th JULY AT CROWELL'S FERRY ON THE FLINT RIVER
MACON GEORGIA TELEGRAPH, July 14, 1836
The celebration consisted mainly of a dinner gotten up in three or four days' notice by Mr. Ferry Carr, Henry Crowell, Jr. and a few other young men of the vicinity, and was furnished gratis. The dinner was served up and prepared, both in its variety and style of cooking, ent~rely different from common 4th of July dinners, it consisted of all the variety of meat common to this country; fowls of various descriptions, tarts and puddings in variety, and tipped off with plenty of good cake and wine; indeed, itwas more like a wedding feast than a 4th of July dinner. For this, the credit is mainly due to the two Miss Carrs and Misss Bacon, who superintended the preparation. There were something like 250 or 300 persons present.

There were laid about eighty plates on the table at one time, and more ladies were there than would have filled the table, but it was thought proper to have a few df the old whiteheads to grace the table. Three parsons ate at the first table; and all unite in saying, that they had never seen a finer dinner, nor had they ever in the most private assembly, seen more perfect good order and decent deportment.

The young men had not prepared an orator or toasts, but a larrge majority of the old men be~ame so pleased with the dinner and deportment of the people, they insisted on returning to the table, and drunk a few toasts, when Capt. Crowell, although indisposed, suffered himself to be persuaded to say a few words, bravely in explanation of the day as follows:

Fellow-Citizens: Nothing could have been more foreign to my expectations than to attempt to address a public audience today. I find age creeping on me; my thirst for personal popularity satiated, my health bad and my spirits considerably broken; all of which, added to my previous incapacity, renders it almost em- phatically certain that I can say nothing today which would edify or amuse the audience, but on the contrary, will likely give myf friends mortification and do myself no credit. Be this as it may, I have suffered myself to be importuned into the attempt by those who have, I expect moregood fellow feeling for me than confidence in any ability in me to do the ~ubject justice today.

To commence the subject, then, the enquiry naturally comes up, for what purpose have we collected together here today? It will be answered that it is the 4th of July. To other nations this day would not give cause to such collections more than any other day; then comes the reason why we, as an American people, should ever venerate, remember and celebrate this day.

We celebrate it because it is the birthday of our glorious independence; the day upon which our forefathers took that stand against tyranny and oppression, that has resulted in ranking us amongst the first nations of the globe for intellect, enterprise and wealth, while it secures to us that, that is not enjoyed by any other nation, liberty and independence.

This country having been discovered by that astonishing man, Columbus; the British Government, our forefathers improved so fast by the examples set them by the CJreeks and Romans, soon learned to form a government; not like those people, hut--------

I feel, fellow citizens, that I have fulfilled my promise, by barely giving the reasons why we celebrate this day, having done so, I offer you the following sentiment:

The Union of the States upon constitutional principles - a sure guarantee to our perpetual independence and recollection the 4th day of July, 1776.

TOASTS
By John S. Brooks, Esq.: Capt. William Carr - may the people of Crawford County remember him, for his bravery in the Creek War at the next October election by electing him to a seat in the Legislature.

By Theodoric Montfort, Esq.: The people know their rights, and have spirit and firmness to assert them.

By Daniel Culpepper, Esq.: May all political dissentions be buried, and all pull one way.

By Francis Bacon, Esq,: Our two new sister states, Michigan and Arkansas - may they never produce in their le~islative councils a man who will secretly or openly advocate the cause of disunion.

By T. Crutchfield, Esq.: The brave volunteers from Crawford County, that were not commanded by Sergeant Brown but by Capt. Carr, and Lieut. Bradford.

By Nathaniel Bradford, Esq,: Long Corns and short shoes, and a long sandy road to travel to all enemies of a free government.

By R.F. Floyd, Esq.: Flint River - may its adjacent citizens realize the benefits from its navigation, which the abundance of its waters so fully authorize.

By Ferry Carr, Esq.: The sons of the Union - Democratic Republican Party - the bright, shining and fixed planet in the elements of the U.S.

By Henry Crowell, Jr.: The festivities of the day, so brilliantly illuminated by the association of the fair, is well calculated to impress on the minds of at'least all young men the necessity of celebrating each and every 4th of July.

By A.P. Willet, Esq.: Here is success to the Crawford Volunteers that left their homes and families to fight the enemy - may Capt. Carr, Joseph Bradford and Ensign Carr be supported as long as grass grows and water runs.

By Paschal H_opkins, Esq : The Fair - a Dro~er stimulous to industry, patriotism, and correct moral de~ortment.

By Col. Henry Crowell, Sen.: Andrew Jackson, our patriotic chief magistrate he has, I know, taken responsibilities, and what may be termed high-minded measures; but I dare the world to point to the act of his that has not terminated radically right, and to the benefit of the government which he was serving.

The party retired by 5 o'clock, all in good order; indeed, I heard of but one that was so much fatigued to go off, for that he had permission in the early part of the day.

Capt. Brown's Affadavits

AFFIDAVIT BY ABSALOM C. CLEAVELAND
GEORGIA CRAWFORD COUNTY
I do hereby certify that I was present at, and took part in the fight at Boykin's Plantation on the third of June last. I have seen the certificate of E.A. Harris in relation to the occurrence which took place on that occasion, and so far as my recollection serves me, I do fully concur in his statements to the time when Maj. Brown left the sight of the company where Capt. Carr had the command and went down the river where Capt. McCrary commanded. In a few minutes after Capt. Carr called me to him and requested me to go to Maj. Brown and tell him to cease firing and come to him, for he (Carr) wished to see him immediately. I, at first, refused to comply, but upon Capt. Carr's insisting, I went to Maj. Brown and made known to him Capt. Carr's wish to see him, Maj. Brown refused to go immediately, but said he would go directly. I then returned to the place to which Capt. Carr at first called me, and ascertained that he had gone. I looked towards the house and discovered him at some distance walking briskly towards the house . I soon afterwards returned to Maj. Brown and told him that Capt. Carr had left and been absent for sometime, and perhaps he had best go and see what was the matter. Maj. Brown, some time after, ordered the firing to cease on our side, the Indians continued firing. Maj. Brown ordered a picket guard to remain and watch the movements of the enemy until he returned, and not to fire unless the Indians attempted to cross the river or approach very near the opposite bank. Maj. Brown, Capt. McCrary, myself and others went to the house, when at the gate we met a number of Capt. Carr's men with knapsacks and other accoutrements, travelling off. Maj. Brown cursed them and ordered them to lay down their knapsacks and return to their places. I saw Capt. Carr standing in the yard near the door. Maj. Brown went to him and asked him what all this meant, and what he wanted with him. Capt. Carr replied, he had sent for him to know if it was not best to leave the place as the Indians were crossing above and below us, and we would all be surrounded and massacred if we staid there. Maj. Brown's reply was that he would rather have every man and himself killed than to have it said that we had left the ground while the Indians were on one side of the river and we on the other. Maj. Brown further told Capt. Carr that it was a damned awkward piece of business his (Carr's) leaving the field without orders. Major Brown then went towards the river with several others, and I went to Columbus with an express.
I have given this certificate by the reqeust of Maj. Brown, with permission to use it in any manner he wishes. ABSALOM C. CLEAVELAND
GREEN P HARP'S AFFIDAVIT
GEORGTA - CRAWFORD COUNTY,
I do hereby certify that I was present at and took a part in the fight at Boykin's Plantation, on the 3rd of June last. I have seen the certificate of Elisha R. Harris in relation to the occurrences which took place on that occasion, and I can fully concur in his statements, up to the time when the order for flanking was given, with the exception of hearing Lieut.Robertson's proposition for Maj. Brown to take the command, or Maj. Brown's reply, my being in the rear of the first division, and there being so much confusion in ranks, I could not distinctly hear all that was said, but saw Maj. Brown form the whole company, or cause it to be done.

He then divided the company off and gave out the several commands as stated by Mr. Harris, Immediately after the order for flanking was given the firing continued along our whole line for sometime, but finally ceased on the right or up the river, in the direction of Capt. Carr's command, about which time I saw part of Capt. Carr's men retreating towards the house. The firing then continued for the space of 15 or 20 minutes, or maybe longer, down the river where Capt. McCrary commanded and where Maj. Brown was then acting in person. I then heard Maj, Brown order the firing on our side to cease, the enemy still shooting from the opposite bank, Being a little distance from Maj. Brown I saw him and several others start towards the house. I went on in the same direction, and reached the house soon after they did; heard Maj. Brown cursing some of Capt. Carr's men for d---d cowards, for leaving the place, and shouldering their knapsacks. I passed On by Maj. Brown and Capt, Carr where they met in the yard,I heard Maj. Brown tell Capt. Carr it was a d----d awkward piece of business his leaving the battlefield at the time he did. All the time I was at the house the enemy kept firing at the river.

Maj, Brown started back towards the river, and I went on to Fort McCrary for a reinforcement of men, and some ammunition; I heard the firing from the enemy for a mile after I Zeft or more. I returned in about three Or faur hours, and remained until Sunday morning, and there was much conversation about the previous fight, and I never heard any person pretend to deny that Maj. Brown commanded, nor to controvert any fact which I have certified tor not until after I arrived at home for sometime afterwards.

During the aforesaid fight I saw Maj. Brown on the river bank encouraging the men to act bravely, all the time ; but never saw Capt. Carr but once during the engaement, and then he was some forty or fifty yards off the river bank, and I never heard him issue an order or exhort his men to act bravely during said fight, for I considered him too bad scared for any use, or to know much about what was going on, on that occasion. I have given this certificate at the request of Maj. Brown with full permission to use it any way he may wish. Greene P. HARP Sept 5, 1836

Additional Affadavits (all similar in nature) were given in favor of Maj. Brown by:
Contributed by Desmond Harp

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