Letterbook

Intelligence Report to the Secretary at War

This letter is an anonymous intelligence report from the frontier to Henry Knox, asking him not to reveal the correspondence between them to Judge McComb. Also, in order to prevent the Saganaw and Michillimakina Indians from assisting other hostile tribes on the frontier, the sender of the report recommends that Knox authorize the release of Indian prisoners. Further states that the paroled Indians should be equipped with trade goods, skillfully inoculated, and sent along a designated route with infected articles. Caldwell, Elliot and LaMott are identified in this report as enemies to the States.

1792

02

02

Henry Knox

John McKee

Caldwell's Bloodhounds

Negroes

Captain Bumbrey

Lt. Siloy

Robinson

John Greves

Elliot

LaMott

French

English

Spanish

John Smith

5th Regiment

Judge McComb

Saganaw

Michillimakina

Indians

enemies

hostile tribesl

McKee

English

Miamis

Captain Bumbery

Lieutenant Silvy

Naval Department

King

Lieutenant Turner

Caldwell's Bloodhounds

Turner

savages

Wabash

Saggina

Mammie

commandant

villain

prisoner

Guirty

commissioner

Mr. McComb

Major John Smith

5th Regiment

Secretary of War

Britain

Lexington

Europe

Fort Jefferson

Ohio

Sandusky

carts

wagons

ammunition

Simcoe Papers

intelligence report

embezzlement

lead

presents

horses

negroes

ordinance stores

waggons

wagons

entrenching tools

Indian tongue

gun ship

skillful doctor

inoculation

cannon

anonymous letter

1792020240001

1

5

Simcoe Papers
Packet "Ss"
Sir
Yours of the 12th of June I received which
gave me infinite pleasure to hear of those
resolutions you have entered into to form
a new Campain as the former proved so
unsuccessful, and this last one quite the
contrary as it gave me the greatest concern
imaginable for the loss of so many brave men,
and the exquisite pain I was in for fear any
thing from me may fall into the hands
of the Enemy - Your desire that I should
give you my oppinion as to the strenght of
the Country and how they are affected.
I have already given you all the information
I could get here. McKee has conducted
matters and the pollicy of the English last
year it was in agitation to fortify the
Mamis McKee Caldwell Elliot La Mott
a Captn Bumbery and Lieut Siloy were very
strong advocates for the completion of it as
the above Capn expected the command there,
They have pitched upon a place for a fort
(but from what motives I cannot determine)
it is laid aside. The Line of conduct
that McKee has laid down is of a very
intricate nature he has got over Caldwell
Elliot and La Mott who are implacable
enemies to the States. __ The Embesselment
of the Store has no small share in bringing
those matters about what with purchasing
Negroes and Horses which are purloined from
the Country and with Lead and presents
to
to the savages to induce them to cut off the
poor husbandman from your frontier
sums up but a small share of his Villany.
The Regt that is quartered here ye have a
very good right to know them as they were the first that drew
blood on the defenceless people at Lexington. The
officer who commands them is a very
quiet easy man, he would rather attend
the slaughter house or carpenters shop than
give himself the trouble to exercise his men.
I can assure you uppon my honour he has
not had them thro a fied day since they
were stationed here. __ This faul a great
quanty of ordinance stores come up here
six field pieces Carts, Waggons, Ammunition
and Intrenching Tools I suppose for the
use of this intended post _ All those
matters are of very little consequence as the
French in particular (thro my means) are
no ways attached to their Savage principles,
they in general are well versed in the Indian
Tongue, and have frustrated in a great
measure the above Villians plans. Im possi-
tive if an Army was to appear the Major
part of them and the Malitia would join
you with plenty of provisions and every
necessary you may be in want of there
being abundance of every kind here I
make no doubt if you was once in posses-
sion of this place that you could raise a
compleat Battilion of the inhabitants for
the internal protection of it _ As to the
Naval
Naval department the seem to make a
very great shew they are now building a
Twenty Gun Ship which will be an extra
expense to the King and of as little
service as the above. French or Mallicitens
especially while they have such commanders.
I should be very happy to give you a clear
idea of every thing that would be of service to
you in your undertakings. But to know
things well we should have them in detail
and as that is in a manner infinite our
knowledge is always superficial and imper-
fect. I have had a great deal of conversation
with Lieut Turner about those matters and
to give him a clearer I took him down the
settlement in my barriole and introduced
him to such friends as I could confide in
(they being but few) the residue being a
remnant of Caldwells Bloodhounds the
most egregious raskals existing _ The
plan I mentioned to you in a former Letter
concerted by our friend Robinson and me
to abolish this infernal department I have
had no returns from Europe as yet so that
the following may if well executed I have
mentioned it to Turner who will acquaint you
with particulars more at large than I can
possibly pen it If agreeable to you I think
it will be a means of extirpating the savages
and the Heads of the Bloodhounds _ / If you
can confide in Twelve or fourteen Men of un-
daunted courage with a resolute officer I have
not the least doubt but by what instructions
I
I have given a few friends down the settlement
who are ready and willing that assistance
to be able to carry or cut M K _ C _ C _
LaM and Girty off I have made sure of
an assulum for them at born _ lls or Heagels
until matters may be ripe ___
You have a number of savages now prisoners
with you, let them be brought as far as Fort
Pitt and let them be put under the imediate
care of some skillful Doctor to innoculate
with care and when fit to go abroad Let
him have instructions to infect every individual
arrticle belonging to them and send them by
the rout of Sandusky, the Rapids, Fort Jefferson,
the Mamies, six nations Wabash and the
Isle of Norse which will effectually prevent
the Saggina and Mishillimakina Indians
from comming to the assistance of those now
already in your frontiers _ We have had
accounts lately of three men and a woman
being burned by the Saggina and Mammie
Savages which might have been stopped if
the least mention towards it had been made
by those barbarians _ I should have
sent Turner off some time ago if my Plans
were not frustrated by McKee who insinu-
ated to the Commandant that it was
dangerous merely to gain time as he and
his cursed crew only waited for the Ice to
get good to go with Guirty (a noted Villian)
and a prisoner he has got who was of the
party that buired the intrenching Tools with
intent to dig them up and to secure the
Cannon
Cannon which were hid on some part
of the Field of Battle. Some time ago
a Commission came up to try a Criminal
and Mr McComb was appointed one of the
Judges I was obliged to administer the
oath of allegiance to him I had some doubt
whether he would not make some difficulty
in taking it But uppon my honour he
swallowed it with as good a grace as you
or I would a glass of Madera _ You
must be very cautious how you let him
or his Brother know any thing of our corres-
pondence as Im very confident it would be
of very dangerous consequence to me.
Things have a very different aspect since
Mrs. P. left this place I hope my endeavors
may answer the desired affect I should be
very happy to hear from you by the first
opportunity I am Sir with the greatest esteem
Your Most Obedt Servt
(anonymous) [signature in red in original]
Major General Henry Knox Secretary of War
Philadelphia
Feb 20 1792
Copy
[red]a copy
John Smith
Major 5 Regt
Endorsed N0. 4
Anonymous
Letter /
On wrapper Draft of an anonymous Letter
to General Knox, with 3 relative Papers _