Negotiations Have Failed, Wayne to Commence Offensive; Problem with Infected Clothing
Document 1793The treaty negotiations have failed so Wayne is ordered to begin the campaign against the hostile Indians. There is a possibility that some of the clothing stores have been infected with yellow fever so the appropriate preventive measures will be taken before the clothes are transported.
No.o60 Major General Knox
Secretary of War
War Department September 3.d 1793
Sir
The Indians have refused to heal. The enclosed has been just received from the Com-missioners.
You are now to judge whether your force will be adequate to make those audaci-ous savages feel our superiority in arms. Eevery offer has been made to obtain peace by milder terms than the sword - the efforts have failed under circumstances which leave nothing for us to expect but war. Let it therefore be again and for the last time impressed deeply upon your mind that as little as possible is to be hazarded, that your force be fully adequate to the objects you propose to effect, and that a defeat in the present time and under present circumstances would be pernicious in the highest degree to the interests of our country.
You will see by the Commissioners letters
that that they have used due means to communicate the result to you. But lest their messengers should have miscarried, I transmit you the information by express.
Some apprehensions have taken place lest part of the Clothing may have been tainted by a malignant putrid fever which prevails in this town, known by the name of yellow fever. I have directed Major Craig to smoak all which left this City after the 6 Ultimo at Pittsburgh in order to remove all possibility of doubt on the subject.
I now direct Lt. Colonel Clarke and the attachment of troops under Lieutenant Read at Pittsburg to descend instantly with the rear of all the Clothing at Pittsburg which it is expected will embrace all excepting part of the fourth Sub Lesion. All the Stores destined for the army it is expected have reached you.
Your arrangements having been prepared for this event if no unforeseen circumstances should occur to prevent your proceeding nothing further remains but to commend you and the Troops employed under you to the protection of the Supreme being hoping you and they will have all possible success in the measures which you may be about to take to prevent the murder of helpless women & children
The The months pay will be transmitted immediately and also a duplicate of this letter.
I am Sir with great esteem Your Obdt Servant H Knox Secretary of War
Major General Wayne
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