Page "Fort Mitchell National Cemetery" Paragraph 7

The hopelessness of the military ’ s position was reflected in the celebrated Hardeman Owen killing.

Owen had planned but failed to murder the U. S. marshal.

Troops at Fort Mitchell were called out to capture Owen, and in the ensuing melee he was killed.

Georgia authorities charged the trooper who fired the fatal shot with murder and demanded the Army hand him over.

The commandant refused.

Tensions ran high and almost erupted into open warfare.

In an attempt to settle the dispute, Francis Scott Key was dispatched by the administration to investigate the affair.

He took up residence at Fort Mitchell and composed a report on the condition of the Creeks and the cause of the recent turmoil.

He charged that the evils perpetrated on the Native Americans were caused by the weakness of the U. S. government in facing the aggressive actions of the settlers.

Key went on to negotiate a settlement, which, after he returned to Washington, was rarely honored.