[Copy] Sir. The President of the United States having, by and with the advice of the Senate appointed you a Major General in the Service of the United States, and of consequence invested with the chief command of the Troops to be employed upon the Frontiers during the ensuing Campaign, it is proper that you should be possessed of the views of the Government respecting the objects of your Command. I am therefore authorized and commanded by the President of the United States, to deliver you the following Instructions, in order to serve as the general principles of your conduct. But it is only general principles which can be pointed out. In the execution of the duties of your Station, circumstances which can not now be foreseen, may arise, to render material deviations necessary. Such circumstances will require the exercise of your Talents. The Government possesses the Sincerity of Your Character, and mature Experience, that your Judgment will be proper on all occasions. You are well informed of the unfavorable impressions which the issue of the last Expedition has made on the public mind, and you are also aware of the Expectations which are formed of the Success of the ensuing Campaign. An Indian War, under any circumstances is regarded by the great mass of the people of the United States, as an event which ought if possible to be avoided. It is considered that the Sacrifices of blood & treasure, in such a War, far exceed any advantages which can possibly be reaped by it. The great object therefore, of the General Government is, to establish, just & liberal Peace with all the Indian tribes within the limits, and in the vicinity of the Territory of the United States. Your instructions to the hostile Indians, immediately after the late Expedition & through the Speakers of the Wyandots & Delawares. The arrangements with the Governors, who were lately in this City, that part of the Six Nations should repair to the said hostile Indians to influence them to pacific measures; together with the recent mission of Colonel Proctor to them for the same purpose, will clearly evince the desire of the General Government to prevent the further effusion of blood, and to quiet all disturbances. And when you shall arrive upon the Frontiers, if any other or further measures to effect the same object should present, you will eagerly embrace them, and the reasonable expences thereof shall be defrayed by the Public. Colonel Proctor's Instructions and the Messages to the Miamis &c are annexed, marked A. It is however important to be remarked, that all the persons employed on this account must if practicable return to Fort Washington on, or before the 6^th of May next, for the reasons which will hereafter appear. But if all the recent measures taken, or to be taken, on pacific may be taken, should fail to bring the hostile Indians, to a just sense of their Situation, it will be necessary that you should use such coercive means as you shall possess, for that purpose. You are informed, that by an Act of Congress passed the [undecipherable] instant, another Regiment is to be raised & added to the Military Establishment, and provision made for raising Two Thousand levies for the term of Six months for the service of the Frontiers. The Plan for raising the said levies is herewith annexed, marked B. The Second Regiment of Regulars will be recruited in the free Neighbouring States, excepting one Company to be recruited in South Carolina, and another in the State of Delaware. Recruits will be raised to complete the first Regiment in the States from Maryland to New York inclusively. The Recruits from the Regulars as well as levies will be marched by Companies as soon as they shall be raised, to Fort Pitt, there to receive your further orders. It is contemplated that the Masses of the Regulars, and Levies may be recruited, and rendezvoused at Fort Washington, by the 10^th of July. In this case you will have assembled a force of Three thousand effective at least. Besides being small Garrisons on the Ohio, in order to preserve your main Expedition hereafter mentioned. But in the mean time of the Indians being at peace, I hasten to the Messengers of Peace sent to them. It is most probable they will, unless prevented, spread themselves along the line of frontiers, for the purpose of committing all the depredations in their power. In order to avoid so calamitous an event, Brigadier General Charles Scott of Kentucky has been authorized, by me, on the part of the President of the United States, to make an Expedition against the Wea, or Wabash towns, with Mounted Volunteers, or Militia from Kentucky, not exceeding the number of Eleven Hundred & Fifty, Officers included. That you may perfectly comprehend this Subject, Copies of the Instructions given Brigadier General Scott and the Powers vested in him, in conjunction with John Harmar, Harry Innes, Benjamin Logan & Isaac Shelby, and dated the 9^th instant, are hereunto annexed, marked C. You will perceive by the said Instructions, that if the said Expedition be not prevented by me, on or before the 10^th of May next, that it is to proceed according to the Instructions. The period of the 10^th of May has been fixed, in order to afford time for Colonel Proctor and the other Messengers to return before the commencement of the said Expedition. You will observe, that Colonel Proctor's Instructions are limited as to the time of his return. You will also observe, by the Instructions to Brigadier General Scott, that it is considered to your Discretion, whether there shall be more than one of the said Expeditions of Mounted Volunteers or Militia. Two nearer view of the objects to be effected by a second auxiliary Expedition will enable you to form a better judgment, than can at present be formed at this distance. The propriety of a second operation would in some degree depend on the alacrity and good composition of the Troops of which the first may have been formed. If the success of the first — probable effects a second Similiar blow would have upon the Indians, with respect to their inclining them to Peace, or if they should still be hostilely disposed, of preventing them from desolating the frontiers by their parties. It is to be observed that in case of a second or third desultory operation that you will limit the numbers to be employed to Six Hundred. The manner of their being conducted, both before and subsequent to this march, are stated in Brigadier General Scott's Instructions. And, you will also judge how a desultory operation, made at the time of the Main Expedition, would conduce to the General Success of the Service, or if a party of Mounted Volunteers, or levies, were to form part of your Main force. The Cavaliers for such desultory operations should be formed from Kentucky, and you should decide upon a kind of the same nature to support laterally the main Expedition, I suggest the propriety of your employing Brigadier General John Sevier for the purpose. If circumstances should lead you to decide in favor of employing him, you could send an Express to him, between the last of November and such time, so that he should have three weeks or a month to raise men; or perhaps it should be the Battalion of levies, which is to be raised in the Territory of the United States South of the Ohio, and with such additions as you should judge, put them under the orders of Brigadier General Sevier. It is however proper to remark, that at the absence of an Expedition of a Mounted Corps would be very considerable, the probable advantages might far to outweigh the degree and expense. If such operations should be successful, and a considerable number of prisoners should be taken, Particularly Women & Children, it would have the certain effect of humbling the Indians and inducing them to sue for mercy. You will observe that in the Instructions to Brigadier General Scott, which is to serve as a basis for the Instructions of the Commander who may succeed him, that all Captives are to be treated with great humanity. It would be sound policy to attack the Indians by kindness, after demonstrating to them our power to punish them on all occasions. While you are making such use of desultory operations as in your judgment the occasion may require, you will proceed vigorously in every preparation in your power, for the purpose of the Main Expedition, and having assembled your force and all things being in readiness, if no decisive indications of peace should have been produced, either by the Messenger, or by the desultory operations, you will commence your march, for the Miami Village, in order to establish a strong and permanent Military Post at that place. In your advance you will establish such Posts of Communication with Fort Washington on the Ohio, as you may judge proper. The Post at the Miami Village is intended for the purpose of awing and curbing the Indians in that Quarter, and as the only preventative of future hostilities. It ought therefore to be rendered secure against all attempts & inroads of the Indians. The Garrison which should be stationed there, ought not only to be sufficient for the defence of the Place, but always to afford a detachment of four to six hundred men, either to chastise any of the Kickback or other hostile Indians, or to secure any convoys for provisions. The Establishment of Said Post is considered as an important object of this Campaign, and is to take place in all events. In case of a previous Treaty, the Indians are to be conciliated upon that point if possible, and all the presumed such arguments may be offered as to reduce their acquiescence. The Situation, nature and construction of the works you may direct, will depend upon your own Judgment. Major Ferguson of the Artillery will be fully capable of the Execution. He will be furnished with three 5½ Inch Howitzers, and three six pounders & three three pounders, all Brass, with a suitable Quantity of Shot & Shells for the purpose of the Expedition. The Appropriation of these pieces will depend upon your orders. Having commenced your March upon the Miami Expedition, and the Indians continuing hostile, you will use every possible exertion to make them feel the effects of your Superiority; and after having arrived at the Miami Village, and put your works in a defensible state, you will seek the Enemy with the whole of your remaining force & endeavor by all possible means to strike them with great severity. It will be left to your discretion whether to employ, if attainable, any Nations of the Six Nations & the Chickasaws or other Southern Nations. Most probably the employment of about fifty of each, under the direction of some discreet and able Chiefs, would be advantageous. But these ought not to be assembled before the line of March is taken up, because they are some hired, and will not be detained. The force contemplated for the Garrison of the Miami Village, and its Communications has been from a thousand to twelve hundred. Non-commissioned Officers & privates. This is mentioned as a general idea to which you will adhere, or from which you will deviate as circumstances may require. The Garrison Stationed at the Miami Village and its Communications must have in Store at least Six Months good Salted meat, and flour in proportion. It is hardly possible, if the Indians continue hostile, that you will be suffered quietly to establish a Post at the Miami Village; conflicts therefore may be expected, and it is to be presumed that disciplined valor will triumph over the undisciplined Indians. In this event it is probable that the Indians will sue for Peace. If this should be the case, the dignity of the United States will require that the terms should be liberal. In order to avoid future wars, it might be proper to make the [undecipherable], and thence over to the Miamis, and from the same to the mouth at Lake Erie, the boundary, her relating so far as the same should relate to the Wyandot & Delaware, or the stipulation of their continuing faithful to the treaties. But if they should join in the war against the United States, and our arms be victorious, the said Tribes ought to be removed without the Boundary mentioned. You will also judge whether it should be proper to extend the boundary from the Mouth of the River [undecipherable] Pass of the Wabash in a due West line to the Mississippi. The Indians besides the Kickapoos would be affected by such a line but this ought to be tenderly managed. The modification of the Boundary must be confided to your discretion, with the single observation, that the policy and interest of the United States dictate there being at peace with the Indians. This is of more value than Millions of unextirpated acres, the right to which may be conceded by some and disputed by others. The Establishment of a Post at the Miami Village will probably be regarded by the British Officers on the frontier as a circumstance of jealousy. It may therefore be necessary that you should, at a proper time, make such intimations as may remove all such dispositions. This intimation had better follow, than precede the possession of the Post, unless circumstances dictate otherwise, as it is not the inclination or interest of the United States to enter into a contest with Great Britain. Every measure tending to any discussion or altercation must be prevented. The delicate situation of affairs may therefore render it improper at present to make any formal arrangements upon Lake Erie. After you shall have effected all the injury to the hostile Indians of which your force may be capable, and after having to Established the Post & Garrison at the Miami Village, and the Communications, and reducing the same under the orders of an Officer worthy of such an high trust. You will retire to Fort Washington on the Ohio. You will please to inform me of all the occurrences of your Expedition, in order to be submitted to the President of the United States, with such observations as may be necessary to form a comprehensive and precise judgment of the campaign and of the further measures proper to be pursued by Government. You will observe by the Treaties with the Chastams, Chickasaws and Cherokees hereunto annexed, marked D, that the President of the United States directed the observance thereof in the Proclamation of the 1^st of August last. This Proclamation became necessary, as information had been received that certain Combinations had been formed in the State of Georgia & the Kentucky for the purpose of seizing the Lands of the said Indian Nations, and that Measures were taking in pursuance thereof, to effect settlements on the said lands, in direct violation of the said Treaties, and the Peace of the United States. And information has lately been received that a certain Doctor O'Fallon is buying Troops in Kentucky, and issuing Commissions in an illegal manner, for the purpose of making certain Establishments upon the said Lands. The Conduct of the said Doctor O'Fallon is considered of such a nature, as that the Attorney of the District of Kentucky has been directed to commence a prosecution against him according to Law, and the nature of his offence; and in order that the persons under him should be warned of their detention, the President of the United States has issued another Proclamation which is hereunto annexed, marked D. It is presumed the arrest of Doctor O'Falton, and the timely [undecipherable] of the proclamation, will operate to prevent the execution thereof; but if they should not, and the party proceed in the execution of their plan, it becomes an important consideration of the Legal Department, and you shall be informed of the result. A Military Post near [undecipherable] upon the Muscle Shoals upon the Tennessee River has been considered as proper to prevent the encroachment of the Indian Lands, and also at some proper place upon the Mississippi. [undecipherable: Next]— But the Approbation of the Indians is essential to the Establishment of either. Governor [undecipherable: Blount?] is to hold a Treaty with the Cherokees in May next; and it is part of his Instructions to make that Nation conform to the measure of Establishing the Post upon the Tennessee. The Post upon the Mississippi is attended with some difficulties relative to the Spanish claims; and it is not to be attempted at present. Indeed, the forces required for the Main Expedition will prevent the Establishment of either Post, until after the termination of said Expedition. The object is now brought to your View, to make that you may upon consideration, suggest such further measures arising from information, as may be necessary to its adoption on the occasion. It is proper to observe, that certain Jealousies have existed among the people of the Frontier Relative to a Supposed Intercourse between their interests, and those of the Maritime States. That these Jealousies are all founded with respect to the present Government is obvious. The United States embrace, with equal care all parts of the Union, and in the present case are taking expensive arrangements for the protection of the frontiers, and partly in the mode too which appear to be highly favored by the Kentucky people. The high Stations, you fill, of Commander of the Troops, and Governor of the Western Territory, will afford you frequent opportunities to impress the frontier Citizens of the entire good dispositions of the General Government toward them in all reasonable things, and you will render acceptable Service, by embracing zealously all such opportunities. The discipline of the Troops and their Economy in all respects, will come under your consideration. Arrangements will be made for furnishing with the first Indians, which shall march, the Bearer to pay, in the last case, so far as the same can be ascertained without the Muster Rolls. The Recruits which shall be engaged for the first Regiment and Artillery, will depend upon the surplus Clothing on hand upon the Frontiers, allowance will be made on the said surplus Clothing for about One Hundred & fifty complete Suits. One Quarter part of the Recruits of the first Regiment and the Artillery will be cloathed, and all will have Blankets. From the Quarter part which shall be completely cloathed, the Officers will make arrangements for rendering all the rest Comfortable. The Second Regiment will be clothed. For the Blankets which will be issued here, the number of which you shall be informed, a deduction must be made from the Clothing of the Troops, and the frontiers, and a transfer thereof made to the Indian Department for the purpose of the proposed Treaty. The Goods necessary for a Treaty shall be furnished, and your Estimates upon this subject shall be duly regarded. Medicines, Instruments, Tools and Ordnance Stores, and all other Articles for the proposed Expedition will be forwarded. Samuel Hodgdon, who has been appointed the Quarter Master under your directions, will repair to the frontiers as soon as he shall have made the necessary arrangements here for the dispatch. He will be entirely under your directions, in all respects, and he must produce your orders for all the general objects of Expenditures, such as Boats, Horses and other arrangements for transportation. The provisions will be transported at the Expence of and by the means to be provided by the Contractor. To the Quarter Master's Department will belong the transportation of the Troops from Fort Pitt to the Rendezvous, and the return Transportation of the levies. The Transportation by land, or by water of the Ordnance Stores, Hospital Stores and such Identical Matters as you may direct upon the Expedition. It would be unnecessary to be particular, to an Officer of your Experience, on the latitude of a great Quantity of baggage. The nature of the Service in which you will be employed, will preclude the idea of all baggage which shall not be indispensable for the Existence of the Officers and Soldiers. The Money therefore for which you may require for such objects may not exceed the number of — — — as you will probably want them for several months, it will be more economical to purchase them, to hire them, and after the Expedition to sell them again. As Mr. Mentges the Inspector will be upon the Spot, you will direct him to muster all the Troops as regularly as the Service will permit. But the Regulars and levies must be mustered on their first arrival at Fort Washington. You will please to appoint some skillfull person to make actual Surveys of your March to be connected, if the case will admit, as by proper Astronomical Observations, and of all the poli— You may [undecipherable: survey] and transmit them to this Office. The Paymaster will place in your hands, the Sum of three thousand dollars. This money will be for such Exigencies as shall arise, either for intelligence, or the objects of the Indian Department, and for which you will account. Besides the desultory operations before visited, for the protection of the Frontiers, the President of the United States has been pleased to direct that the the Lieutenants of the several Frontier Counties of Pennsylvania, Virginia & Kentucky should be invested with the [undecipherable] authority, and under the restrictions mentioned in their Instructions of which the types marked E is a copy. You will receive the authority given to the said County Lieutenants has been put. The Continuance of the said Authority will depend upon you, although the protection to be afforded must be equal to the occasion; but the expence ought not to be unnecessarily continued. You will direct attention upon being convinced that the Rangers which the County Lieutenants may call out in pursuance of the said Authority would not any longer be necessary for the protection of the Inhabitants; direct the said Lieutenants to discharge the Same on account of the United States. It should by George that when me issue such order to discharge, that it should be done by some responsible character, who can testify to you the justice of the delivery of such order, that the public should not pay the Expence of the said Rangers after their notification. You will judge from past experience a similar protection is to be extended to the Settlements in the Territory of the United States North and South of the Ohio. The said Copy has been transmitted officially to the said Secretary of the said Territory. Horses and Equipments will be provided for two Companies of one Hundred Dragoons, for the purpose of the Main Expedition. At the termination of the Expedition, you will direct the Quarter Master to sell the Horses, excepting such as you shall conceive as indispensably necessary for the communication of the Posts. Although it is expected that you will have assembled at Fort Washington by the 10^th of July next, a force of three thousand effective, consisting of regular Troops and levies, under a sufficient number, for securing the posts on the Ohio and Wabash, yet circumstances may possibly arise to prevent the Expedition from being realized. In this event the Expedition must not be postponed. In order therefore to supply the numbers essential for the Expedition, you must call forth in the name of the President of the United States, the Militia of the Frontier Counties of Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky for that purpose. You will ground your orders upon the laws issued upon this occasion, upon the Act of the 2^d of April 1790 & 3^d of March 1791, and direct them to the Lieutenants of such of the Counties as will most readily afford the Militia requisite agreeably to the following form. To wit: "To the Lieutenant of the County of ——" "Sir." "The President of the United States, has been authorised by the two following Acts, to call into Service the Militia of the several States for the purpose of protecting the frontier, to wit. United Act intituled 'An Act for regulating the Military Establishment of the United States passed the thirtieth day of April, one Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety,' and an Act intituled 'An Act for raising and adding another Regiment to the Military Establishment of the United States, and for making further provision for the protection of the frontier, passed the third day of March one Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety One.' "And the President of the United States having by his Instructions to me as the 'Commander in General of the Troops of the United States', bearing date the twenty first day of March one Thousand Seven Hundred and ninety one, and communicated to me by the Secretary for the Department of War, invested me with full Authority in the premises, I do hereby require You, as Lieutenant of the County of — — — to forthwith to detach of the Militia of said County — — — non-commissioned Officers & Privates, and the following Commissioned Officers, to wit, The Said Officers, Non-commissioned Officers & Privates to serve for — — — months unless sooner discharged, and upon the same pay & rations as to the Troops of the Establishment." It will be important that the most perfect communication should be kept up between you and this Office. The regular Post proceeds from this City to Fort Pitt every other Friday. No arrangement will be made after the 10^th or 20^th of next month to obtain a Rider to proceed to Fort Pitt, on the Fridays which the Post omits, so that the Communication will be weekly. I earnestly request that you will make an efficient arrangement from Garrison to Garrison on the Ohio, so that I may receive correspondent information from you of the state of affairs. Mr. Sene, the Contractor for Provisions is now in this City making the arrangements with the Secretary of the Treasury for the furnishing of the Rations for the Troops under your orders. The number of Rations will be estimated, after you have Fort Washington at 4000 p day. The Contractor promises the utmost Exertions, in order to furnish the Rations which may be required, in due Season. As your arrangements and success will greatly depend upon his punctuality, it will be necessary that you should afford him all the facility which the public interest may require. Such other matters relative to the Troops, or the desultory operations as may not have been touched upon in the forgoing Instructions, and which may hereafter occur, will be contained in future letters. In the mean time I have the honor with the greatest sincerity to wish you all possible success. Given at the War Office of the United States, in the City of Philadelphia, this twenty first day of March, one thousand Seven Hundred and ninety one. (Signed) H. Knox Secretary of War. A true Copy (Signed) John Smith Major 1^st Reg^t.