I do not know what number of Chickasaws are expected at Nashville; should the war progress; or that in your opinion those indians will be serviceable;—you may order them to join you: of this however you are constituted the Judge, & will act accordingly.— The troops collect very slow;— but I am informed by the Secretary of War that a considerable number of recruits are now on their march, from the several states, to form a junction at this place. I have the honor to remain &c Brig^d Gen^l James Wilkinson.— N^o 11 To Gen^l Knox Sec^y of War Pittsburgh aug^t 6^th 1792 Sir, I have the honor to enclose you a copy of Gen^l Wilkinson's letter to you of the 9^th ult^o which was mentioned in my last of the 3. instant. I am sorry to inform you, that the report of the murder of Col^s Harding & Major Trueman by the indians appears to be reduced to a certainty.— I have this moment examined two men just from Detroit, by the way of Niagara who were taken prisoners by the indians— one of them near Fort Jefferson in the 27^th of october; and the other M^r John Cleghorn, near the falls of ohio in april last, who was carried to Michilimackinac, & from thence to Detroit, where he arrived on the 24^th of June, and says, that whilst he was at Michilimackinac accounts were received that a Captain Harding and one or two others were killed by the indians, and the papers that were found upon them, were sent or given to Capt. M'Kee. he was also informed at Detroit (when the report was common) that a Captain Trueman, & another man were killed, near the miamis towns, by two indians who were in company with them on the Evening— that the indians affected to be very uneasy, upon which Capt. Trueman told them they might tie the other man, so that their number should be equal which was accordingly Done— that they then [strikethrough: Capt. Trueman & tomahawked the man that was] tied— that the interpreter made his escape into a swamp or wood— that the indians called to him & promised not to hurt him— upon which he came to them & they carried him to the Council as a prisoner and reprobated the foolish conduct of Captain Trueman (as they termed it) for suffering the man to be tied— that those papers were also given up to M'Kee, and said this was a fifth flag they had killed, nor had they any intention or wish to make peace with us, as the Americans has already deceived them, both last Summer & before. He further says, that a certain Simon Girty, with four hundred indians, had left Detroit some days before he arrived— say about the 15^th of June, and swore that he would make an immediate stroke at the americans— and kill, or, be killed in the attempt— Query! may not this be the person in red, or Scarlet, who was seen with the indians, in the attack upon the Serjeants party near Fort Jefferson, on the 25^th of June as mentioned in Gen^l Wilkinson's letter of the 6^th ultimo; & do not all the accounts from the different quarters & channels strongly corroborate, so as to amount almost to positive proof of the murder of our flags and the inveterate hostile spirit of the indians.—? This will be handed you by Major Asheton, who has obtained my permission to go to Philadelphia on business of consequence to himself— he is a vigilant & good Officer, & promises to return with all possible expedition. Under present circumstances, I have thought proper to authorise Gen^l Wilkinson to retain the hundred mounted volunteers from Kentucky, until the arrival of Captⁿ Rodger's & Bowyer's troops of Dragoons— I have also constituted him sole judge of the policy & expediency of bringing forward the Chickasaws, from Nashville in case the war should progress. I have the honor to be with much esteem Your most obedient and very humble Servant. Anty Wayne The Hon^ble Major Gen^l Knox Sec^y of War. N^o 1 To Brigadier Gen^l R. Putnam. Pittsburgh 6^th aug^t 1792 Sir, I am sorry to inform you that the report of the murder of Col^o Harding & Major Trueman by the indians appears to be but too well founded. I have this moment examined two men just from Detroit, by the way of Niagara, who were taken prisoners by the indians, one of them near Fort Jefferson on the 27^th of october, and the other, a M^r Cleghorn near the falls of Ohio, in april last, who was carried to Michilimackinac, & from thence to Detroit, where he arrived on the 24^th of June, & says that whilst he was at Michilimackinac, accounts were received that a Capt. Harding & one or two others had been killed by the indians, and the papers that were found on them sent to Capt. McKee— he was also informed at Detroit (where the report was common) that a Capt. Trueman and another man, were killed near the miami towns, by two indians, who were in company with them in the evening; that the indians affected to be very uneasy— upon which Captain Trueman told them they might tie the other man, so, that their numbers should be equal, which was accordingly done— that they then shot Trueman, and tomahawked the man that was tied— that the interpreter made his escape into a swamp or wood— that the indians called to him & promised not to hurt him— upon which he delivered himself up, & they carried him to the Council as a prisoner: and reprobated, the foolish conduct of Trueman, (as they termed it) for suffering the man to be tied: that their papers were also given to McKee— and said this was a fifth flag they had murdered; nor had they any wish or intention to make peace, as they had already been deceived by the Americans, last Summer & before:— He further says that a certain Simon Girty, with Four hundred indians, had left Detroit, some days before he arrived, say about the 15^th of June; and swore that he would make a stroke upon the americans immediately, & either kill or be killed in the attempt— Query,— may not this be the person in scarlet, who was seen with the indians, in the attack upon the Serjeants party near Fort Jefferson on the 25^th of June.— however this Man, Cleghorn, goes with this conveyance to Fort Washington, where you can have an opportunity of examining him more minutely; upon the whole I believe, that the Death of those two unfortunate Gentlemen, is reduced to a certainty.— You'l please to make Gen^l Wilkinson acquainted with this information— your letter of the 16^th ultimo came safe to hand. I have the honor to be, with Sincere esteem your most obed^t & very hum. Serv^t. Anty Wayne. Brig^d Gen^l Rufus Putnam.