Enclosed Letter to Wilkinson
Document 1797Letter enclosed in case Wilkinson had left post and not conveyed orders.
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[No. II.]
*Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War, to Cap[tain] Isaac Guion, commanding a detachment of the Troop[s of] the United States, destined for the Natchez, dated W[ar] Office, June* 10th, 1797.
" I ENCLOSE you duplicate of my letter to Bri[ga]dier General Wilkinfon of yefterday's date for your [go]vernment, in cafe he fhould have left Fort Wafhingto[n,] or by any accident be prevented from communicating you the contents.—
" Having a perfect reliance on your prudence [and] judgment, I cannot doubt but your command will p[rove] fatisfactory to yourfelf, and advantageous to the Uni[ted] States."
[No. III.]
*Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War to C[aptain] Ifaac Guion, dated War-Office, June* 15th, 1797.
" SHOULD this difpatch find you, where I expe[ct] will, at the Natchez, and the Spanifh garrifon [still in] poffeffion of the works at that place; you will be ple[afed] to lofe no time in communicating to the command[ing of]ficer there, the enclofed copy of a meffage* from [the] Prefident of the United States to Congrefs, and to th[e in]habitants of Natchez its contents, that both may be [pofe]ffed of the intentions of Government. You wi[ll al]fo inform the Spanifh Commandant, that you are inf[truc]ted, to pay the ftricteft attention to the engagements [the] United States have entered into by the Treaty with [his] Catholic Majefty; to permit the demolition of the wo[rks;] to ufe your utmoft endeavours to preferve a continu[ance] of the pacific difpofitions of the Indians within our li[mits] towards the fubjects of His Catholic Majefty, or hi[s]
[* 12th June 1797.]
ans[;] and to prevent their commencing hoftilities (of which there is no appearance) againft either, conformably the fifth article of the faid Treaty. That you flatter yourfelf, after thefe candid affurances, that you will have immediate pleafure to announce to the Prefident, a full compliance with the treaty on the part of the Com[ma]nder of his Catholic Majefty's forces within the United States."—
[No. IV.]
*Extract of a letter from Brigadier General James Wilfon to the Secretary of War, dated Fort Wafhington, [2]d June, 1797, received 22d inftant.*
LIEUTENANT Colonel Howard, of the regiment of Louifiana, an accomplifhed Irifhman, has arri[ve]d at St. Louis, with four hundred regular troops; he [is] ftrengthening the works of that place, and organizing [the] Militia; and I have information, through a confiden[tial] channel, that it was determined as early as September laft, not to give up the pofts on the Miffiffippi."
[No. V.]
*Extract of a letter from Brigadier General James Wilkinfon to the Secretary of War, dated Fort Wafhington, [4]th June, 1797, received 22d inftant.*
" LETTERS from all quarters announce the difcontents and menacing afpect of the favages; two white men have been recently murdered on the Ohio below the Cumberland, and the favages beyond the Miffiffippi, and thofe who pafs Maffac, make no hefitation to avow their purpofe for war; the Shawanefe, at the old Tawa towns, are our neareft neighbours; they profefs friendfhip, but are making no preparations for a crop, which is a certain indication of their intention to change ground."
Type
Printed Document
Description
Letter enclosed in case Wilkinson had left post and not conveyed orders.
Date
06/10/1797
Author
Recipient
Repository
Document number
1797061000002
Page start
4
Note
An Extract; Document 2 of Report of the Secretary of War to the President, 06/30/1797.
Notable persons
Captain Isaac Guion
James McHenry
Brigadier General Wilkinson
Secretary of War
detachment of troops
command
Notable locations
Fort Washington
Mississippi River
post
Natchez
Spain
Notable items
extract

