[Copy] A Instructions for Colonel Thomas Proctor Sir, Having offered to you the execution of a Mission on the part of the United States to the Miamie and Wabash Indians, and you having accepted of the same, you are to receive these Instructions as the rule of your conduct. The great object of your Journey is to impress the said Miamies and Wabash Indians with the Candor and Fidelity of the General Government. That the United States require only that they would demean themselves peaceably. That if they should refuse to listen to their invitation, they only, will be liable for the evils which will fall upon, and reach them. That this invitation is not made in consequence of any principles of Fear, but from a desire to pluck them if possible out of the fire which is already enkindled. The Message which is herewith delivered to you will show you the Sentiments expressed to them, and you, and the Indians who may accompany you, are to say all that may be proper to enforce the said Sentiments. You have been informed of the measures taken with the [Cornplanter] Big tree, and Halftown, and other Stockas, who were in the City lately, to go to the said Miamie and Wabash Indians, with Messages from their own Nation of Similar Purport with the one with which you are charged. You will therefore immediately repair to the Jaustanis residence which is on a branch of the Alleghany River near the Creek called Oil Creek — make known to him your intentions and deliver him the Speeches herewith delivered to you for the Six nations and others of the Six Nations. It is possible he may not be at home, in which case it will be necessary to dispatch instantly runners for him, or in case he should be councelling at Buffaloe Creek with the other parts of the of the Nations it may be proper for you to repair thither. You are to endeavour by all possible means to induce the Cornplanter and as many other of the Chiefs as possible to go with you upon your Mission to the Miamie and Wabash Indians, and you will remember that it is of [underline: the highest importance] that you should set off without the least delay. Having obtained as Companions the Chiefs of the Six Nations and others you will proceed by land or water as shall be judged best to Sandusky upon Lake Erie, where reside the Wyandot and Delaware Tribes of Indians. Those Tribes are our friends, and in treaty with us, which at far as is known has been well observed by them. You have also herewith delivered to you two Messages, one to Each of these Tribes written by General St. Clair who made his Treaties with them at Fort Harmar in Janaury 1789. You will inform them of the Object of your Journey and desire that they will appoint some of their Chiefs to accompany you agreeable to the General's desire in his Messages. You will proceed from the Wyandots and Delawares directly to the Miamie Town, where you will assemble the Indians together and Speak to them in the style before mentioned. If you succeed in persuading them to accompany you to Fort Washington, you will set out immediately with them, sending Captain Handen and such Chiefs of all the Tribes present, as shall be agreed upon, to the Glaize or Miamou Town on the Wabash, and to the other Tribes on that River and its Vicinity, in order to persuade those Tribes to repair to a treaty at Fort Washington. But if upon using all your arguments to induce the Miamie Indians to repair to Fort Washington, you should fail, you must leave them, and with the friendly Indians who accompany you, repair to Fort Washington. Let it be impressed strongly upon your mind that every moment after you set out upon your Journey must be most industriously employed, for you must if within the limits of possibility be at Fort Washington by the 15^th of May next. Whether you succeed or not this is of the highest importance as it is connected with collateral arrangements. The great refreshment to be apprehended will be at the Cornplanters residence, or in other parts of the Seneca Nation; but you will endeavour to consider your time as short as possible. A knowledge of your Character induces a confidence you will well execute the high trust reposed in you, with all dispatch & Fidelity. Your mission requires acquaintance with human nature, and the art of managing the hopes and fears of an uncivilized race of men. You will be careful not to promise more than is reasonable to the Indians who may accompany you, and all your promises of that sort shall be complied with. Your business with the Miamie and Wabash Indians will be to persuade them to repair to Fort Washington, where they shall be treated friendly and justly, but you are not authorized to particularize to them any terms. Considering the nature of the Service it is proper to be explicit as to the terms you are to receive from the Public, which are as follows. 1^st Your reasonable Expenses shall be borne by the Public, and upon this point you will be careful to set down your expenses daily in order that a judgement may be formed thereon when your accounts are to be settled. 2^dly As a reward for your Services you shall be allowed the Sum of five dollars for each day while you are actually employed upon this business. 3^dly If you succeed in bringing the real Chiefs of the Miamies and Wabash Indians to a treaty at Fort Washington, you shall receive the further sum of five hundred dollars. 4^thly In case you should in the course of the business be wounded or disabled from obtaining a livelihood by your personal exertions, attempts will be made by those for you a pension of a Lieutenant Colonel Commandant from in the Service of the United States. 5^thly And in case you should unfortunately lose your life in the course of this business the same attempt will be made to obtain the pension of eleven Years half pay of a Lieutenant Colonel Commandant to your Orphan Children. Captain Michael Robert Mondin a French Officer of reputation who served in the late Army in the Massachusetts line will accompany you in the prosecution of this business, and in case of misfortune to you by sickness or otherwise he is to take these Instructions, and to pursue them as if given to himself. Captain Mondin is to be allowed his expenses and two dollars per day as a reward for his Services. And in case he should be wounded, or disabled, endeavours will be made to obtain for him a pension of a Captain wounded in the Military Service of the United States. I have drawn my warrant upon Tench [undecipherable] to pay you Six hundred dollars on Account of your and Captain Mondin's expenses, and for which since you are regularly to account. Your route will be from this City to Newbury and thence directly, on the foot of the Alleghany where the Cornplanter lives, or to Tioga Point as you may find best. If you go through Wyoming, inquire for a Captain Blackarie who has agreed to Keep School among the Stockas, on account of the United States. You will consider your business as secret, and enjoin the same to Capt Mondin. Provided you should bring the Indians to Fort Washington, you will stay there no longer than the treaty shall be accomplished, upon which you and Captain Mondin will return with all convenient speed to this City. You will Keep a Journal of your daily occurrences & deliver it to [undecipherable] when you shall deliver the report of your proceedings. Given at the War Office of the United States in the City of Philadelphia, the Eleventh day of March 1791. (Signed) H. Knox Secy of War