Now I have all pages. Let me compile the full transcription. War department October 9 ^th 1792. [undecipherable — bleed-through text from reverse of page] I have this day received a letter by Express from Governor Blount dated at Knoxville on the 11^th ultimo. He states that the five lower towns on the Tenisee, headed by John Watts, have formally declared war against the United States and that the Warriors had set out upon some expedition against the frontiers probably against the Cumberland settlements. The numbers of the Warriors who had set out, are stated variously from three to six hundred including one hundred banditti Creeks. Governor Blount had ordered one Regiment of the militia of Washington district into service and had also dispatched an Express to Miro district on Cumberland river, with orders to Brigadier General Robertson to put his brigade in the best possible state of defence. Although the details transmitted do not admit of the least doubt of the authenticity of the information as to the disposition of the five lower towns, yet as the Express has been so long on the road and no further information having been received, some hopes may be entertained that there has not been any sudden and [undecipherable] of the Indians. It is observed by Governor Blount that the Cherokees have not complained to him of a single instance of the infraction of the treaty of Holston, and that the Little Turkey and the greater part of the nation have now given the strongest assurances of their attachment to the United States and their desire for peace. Governor Blount has long been invested with ample discretionary powers to call into service such portions of the militia of his Government as he should judge necessary for its defensive protection. The nearness of the time at which Congress is to meet, who only are invested with the powers of War, will render it essential to wait the result of their deliberations, before offensive measures can be directed, Supposing the information transmitted by Governor Blount to be authentic. In the mean time your Excellency will be the judge whether any further measures should be necessary for the defence of the South western parts of Virginia at the expence of the Union of the nature, and in addition to those before taken. I have the honor to be with great esteem your Excellencys most ob^t Ser^t His Excellency — (Signed) Henry Knox Sec^y of War Governor Lee. War department. Oct^r 30 ^th 1792. Sir I have the honor by the post of this day to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencys letters of the 19^th & 24^th instant. The officers of the militia called out for the defensive protection will be allowed the pay stipulated in the Act of the 5^th of March last since the passing of the same. I have the honor to transmit you a copy of Governor Blounts last intelligence of the 7^th of October, since which nothing further has been received. As the Constitution has invested the Congress with the powers of War, and as that body are on the eve of assembling, the whole subject of the Chickamages will be laid before them for their consideration and decision. In the mean time it is the sense of the President of the United States, that only defensive measures should be used. If to this object, it should be your judgement, that the militia in the South western parts of Virginia should be increased, you will please to order the same under former regulations. The organized companies of Virginia would indeed be a handsome body of troops, to be employed against the lower Cherokees in case Congress authorizes an expedition against them, in which case the orders of the President of the United States, will be taken upon the subject. The Accountant has not reported upon the Militia rolls you forwarded, but I have directed him to do it immediately, and Arrangements shall be made for transmitting the Amount. I have the honor to be Sir with great respect your very humble Serv. (Signed) Knox His Excellency The Governor of Virginia. War department. [undecipherable] November 1792. Sir The President of the United States has directed me to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellencys letter to him, of the 27^th ultimo enclosing resolves of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia, relatively to the temporary defence of the frontiers thereof; and the copy of a letter from Colonel Arthur Campbell dated the 13^th of October. The letters which have been written at various times will enable you to take such steps with the militia for the temporary defensive protection of Virginia, as you shall judge proper, but any thing further or more permanent must result from such measures as Congress may please to direct. The inefficacy of a defensive protection against Indians, must be well understood by your Excellency. If they contrary to the desires of, and from cause which the General Government cannot control, are influenced to and decided for War, they must be made to feel the effects of our Superiority before tranquility can be permanently established. If the present threatening aspect of Affairs constrain a course of Hostilities against the Indians, humanity may be pained, but the Justice of the United States cannot be impeached even by the most malignant. For it has been the incessant endeavour of the President of the United States, to satisfy every equitable demand of the Indians without the further effusion of blood. The last information from Governor Blount was dated on the 10^th ultimo. the purport of which was, as I mentioned in mine of the first instant, contained in the printed paper you transmitted. It is therefore to be expected that the information of Colonel Campbell may be premature. I have the honor Sir, to be with great regard your Excellencys most ob^t Servant. His Excellency. (Signed) Knox The Governor of Virginia. Richmond November 14^th 1792. Sir For the information of the President of the United States, I beg leave to acquaint you that the Executives of this Commonwealth have in pursuance of the Authority vested in them determined to engage six companies of Volunteer militia on the terms heretofore prescribed, for the protection of the Southwestern frontier. In our division of the frontier, we have considered all the territory lying on the great Kanawhа and from thence to the Southern boundary of the State as forming the Southwestern frontier. The extent of the line to be guarded may possibly require an augmentation of forces at a future day, but at present it is considered equal to the object of defence. The officers appointed to this Corps are directed to proceed with all possible dispatch in recruiting their respective quotas as the militia now in service in that quarter will be discharged on the first day of December agreably to their enlistment, and protection from the Indians is deemed requisite throughout the Winter. Representations are daily made to the Executives of the necessity for the adoption of similar measures for the defence of the monongalia district. As it seems that the Army of the United States is far from being complete and the inhabitants from habit or other causes prefer the system of defence heretofore established to any other, I flatter myself the Executive of this Commonwealth will not only satisfy their fellow citizens exposed to Indian hostility by continuing the requested protection but promote the designs of the President in such offensive operations as he may please to order in as much as detachments from the Army must necessarily be employed in defence of our Northwestern frontier unless the militia are assisted to. While we anxiously wish to save our Countrymen from the evils to which their Situation submits them, we desire to do so in that way which comports with the plans of the President, and we confidently hope for the honor of his approbation to the measures adopted in the part of this Government on the present occasion. As the Aspect of Indian hostility in the south forebodes serious consequences it was thought proper to engage the Volunteer Militia in such a manner as would subject them to offensive service if future events should so require. The enclosed letter to the President, be pleased to present. I have the honor to be &c. (Signed) Henry Lee. The Hon^ble Henry Knox Secretary of War. War department 24^th November 1792. Sir Your Excellencys letter of the 19^th the receipt of which was acknowledged on the 21^st has been submitted to and duly considered by the President of the United States. And I am directed, in his name, to observe to you, that while he is impressed with the propriety of affording reasonable protection to the exposed parts of the frontiers, he is conscious that different opinions arising from different Situations and Views, will be entertained as well of the degree as the nature of Such protection. But as it is his duty to measure out the public force, and means, according to law, as various occasions may require, so it is his desire that the motives of his conduct may be well understood. It is his opinion, that although Small Garrisons stationed in Blockhouses or other fortifications, will secure probably whoever may be therein, yet they are entirely inadequate to protect a line of frontier against incursive parties of Savages. That the Indians soon ascertain the strength of such Garrisons and either insult or avoid them at pleasure. That the expence therefore generally of such Garrisons and fortifications, so far as covering the country is useless and nugatory. That the patroles [termed scouts] formed of the most active, bold and experienced hunters are of the highest service in order to discover the approach of Indians and alarm the inhabitants. That the expences of a reasonable number of these Scouts will be readily paid by the General Government, even at the high rate of pay heretofore allowed, which has been five sixths of a dollar per day. That during the ensuing Winter, a season in which the Indians do not commonly act offensively, it is presumed the usual proportion of Scouts might be deemed a sufficient security, combined with that general and habitual vigilance, which the frontier inhabitants ought, for their own safety, to observe. But if in addition to those means, one or at most two companies of rangers should act upon the line of the South Western frontier of Virginia, it would appear to be entirely adequate to any probable demands. The pay and rations as fixed by Law, of such companies the President consents shall for the present be defrayed by the United States. But he considers, that the expence of the six Companies, ordered out by the Executive of Virginia, in pursuance (it is supposed) of the resolves of the General Assembly of the 16^th Ultimo, would not form a proper Charge against the General Government. It is however always to be understood, upon an invasion or an immediate threatening danger thereof, so as to render necessary the calling out the force of the country, that in such a case the United States will be responsible for the expences according to the nature of the circumstances. But it is not considered as at all necessary, to keep up constantly, on all parts of the line of frontiers, from the St. Marys to Lake Ontario, a force calculated to resist possible invasions of considerable bodies of Indians. The last intelligence from Governor Blount was dated on the 10^th Ultimo. The distance of time gives birth to the hope that the threatening appearances have in some degree subsided in that quarter. The entire information upon the subject of the Chickamagas has been laid before the Legislature, but as yet, no measures have been taken thereon. If the Chickamagas continue their depredations, it is difficult to conceive any other mode of insuring future tranquility, but that of chastising them Severely and desolating their Towns. But offensive measures must arise from such Acts as Congress may think proper to pass on the Occasion. Major General Wayne, will for the present, assume a position for the troops immediately under his orders a little above the big Beaver Creek, and probably continue therein until March next. He is directed in the mean time to encrease the force at Gallipolis, below the great Kenhawa, and at the Muskingum, to such a degree as to afford considerable and constant patroles along the line from Gallipolis to his Camp, and thence to Fort Franklin. These patrols, it is conceived, in addition to the Scouts which all the exposed counties will be permitted to have during the Winter will prevent the necessity of ordering any of the Militia of Monongalia District into service for the present, as suggested in your letter. I have the honor to be your Excellencys Most obed^t hum^ble Servant His Excellency (Signed) Knox The Governor of Virginia. (copies)