Commissioners for Indian Affairs in Southern Department

Talk of the Commissioners to the Chiefs, Head-men, and Warriors of the Creek Nation

09/24/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Reference to calamities of late war with Great Britain; how the United States has recovered and obtained liberty and independence; that the United States is at peace and its numbers are increasing. …

Printed Versions

Talk of the Commissioners plenipotentiary in reply to the talk of White Bird King

09/26/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Commissioners express disappointment that Alexander McGillivray has left camp. They point out their propositions for peace and friendship. If the terms were not agreeable, they ask, why was that not …

Printed Versions

Request to keep Indians together in preparation for treaty talks

09/18/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Commissioners honored by receipt of letter addressed on 16 August. They are astonished at the information from Pickens and Osborne, which is diametrically contrary to ideas of Governor of Georgia. Ask …

Printed Versions

Request for Terms to be Agreed Upon

09/25/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Commissioners received note informing that chiefs were in council until late evening; appeared they were not entirely satisfied with some parts of talk. Objected to boundary line. Ask for the terms …

Printed Versions

Report of proceedings of Federal Commissioners for restoring and establishing peace between United States and Indians south of Ohio River

09/11/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Federal Commissioners report that they sailed from New York on 31 August and arrived at Savannah on 10 September. They wrote letters to Governor of Georgia, George Walton, and Mr. Pickens and Mr. …

Printed Versions

Report of Federal Commissioners for making treaty with Indians south of Ohio River

09/12/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

From Savannah, the Federal Commissioners for making treaty with Indians south of Ohio River report to Knox. The number of Indians attending Alexander McGillivray estimated at three to four thousand. …

Printed Versions

Report from Federal Treaty Commissioners to Governor of Georgia

09/11/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Federal Commissioners for negotiating treaty with Indians south of Ohio River report to governor of Georgia. They note that the negotiations are to be held at Rock Landing, and discuss the procurement …

Printed Versions

Regarding the Failed Treaty Talks with Alexander McGillivray

09/28/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

The commissioners state that they are sorry that McGillivray did not provide objections, nor propose terms acceptable to Creek nation. Colonel Humphreys said that he did not offer any articles as an …

Printed Versions

Regarding request to receive talks on west side of Oconee River

09/23/1789 Printed Document

Commissioners agree to receive talks on the west side of Oconee River.

Printed Versions

Readiness to make further communications

09/21/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

So that there will be no complaints of partial or defective representation, commissioners will be ready to make further communications as soon as the third member of the commission, the honorable Mr. …

Printed Versions

Questions regarding legitimacy of previous treaties between Creeks and Georgia

10/03/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Request for information regarding treaties at Augusta, 1783, Galphinton, 1785, and Shoulderbone, 1786. Principal points are whether all lands belonging to the upper and lower Creeks are common …

Printed Versions

Notification that Creek Parties have Separated Without Forming a Treaty

09/28/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

US Commissioners inform Knox that the parties have separated without forming a treaty. The terms were not agreeable to Alexander McGillivray, but neither would he come forward with written objections …

Printed Versions

Notification that commissioners have not concluded a treaty of peace between United States and Creek nation

10/02/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

US Commissioners inform Governor of Georgia that they have not concluded treaty between United States and Creek nation. However, positive and repeated assurances were given by Alexander McGillivray …

Printed Versions

Message to the Cherokee from the Commissioners Plenipotentiary for Restoring and Establishing Peace and Amity

09/13/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

A message to the Cherokee nation of Indians, from the commissioners plenipotentiary for restoring and establishing peace and amity between the United States of America and all the Indian nations …

Printed Versions

Message for the White Inhabitants Contiguous to Cherokee Nation

09/13/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Federal commissioners entrust friendly messages to Ballew. They request that Ballew transmit message to white inhabitants contiguous to Cherokee nation. Informs them of a truce just negotiated …

Printed Versions

Message for the Citizens Bordering on Towns and Settlements of Cherokee Nation

09/13/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Commissioners forward copy of message intended for the citizens bordering on towns and settlements of Cherokee nation. Note that any infraction of the tranquility will incur the displeasure of the …

Printed Versions

Letter to Alexander McGillivray Expressing Astonishment that Indians May Leave Before Treaty Talks

09/18/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

In a copy of letter to Alexander McGillivray sent to Pickens and Osborne, commissioners express astonishment that the Indians might disperse shortly and tell McGillivray that they will be at the Rock …

Printed Versions

Draft of a treaty entitled: Articles of peace and amity agreed upon between the President of the United States of America and Creeks

1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Draft of a treaty entitled: Articles of peace and amity agreed upon between the President of the United States of America, in behalf of the said States, by the underwritten commissioners …

Printed Versions

Dissatisfaction with Alexander McGillivray's Behavior

09/26/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

The commissioners are unhappy that McGillivray has fallen back under false pretexts. They recount that they asked for treaty objections in writing and were promised by McGillivray that he would not …

Printed Versions

Arrival of Mr. Griffin and initiation of treaty talks

09/23/1789 Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document

Commissioners inform that Mr. Griffin arrived and the three are preparing communications for the next day. General Lincoln and General Pickens will attend this forenoon at the black drink. Indians …

Printed Versions

Speech of the Commissioners prior to Signing of the Treaty of New York

08/07/1790 Document

This is the speech of the the Commissioners of the Southern Department prior to the signing of the Treaty of New York with the chiefs of the Creek Nation.

Henry Knox Papers. [Microfilm]