[1797 June 23 - July 25] 121 Extract from the Sec^y Letter of 21 July - 97 "In looking over your talk to the Shawanoes, I find in it an advice to them to treat of the speeches of Bad Birds who should come among them and tell them lies, and send them to you. — There is certainly nothing improper in requesting that they should drive out of their nation or seize & bring to you, if you please, incendiaries & spies who would sow between them & the United States the seeds of discord & hostility, but as it may be going too far to call upon them to put them to death such persons before their Crimes can be ascertained, I will hope that the advice to kill, may be considered by them merely, as a strong expression of your desire, that they should be expelled or given up to the United States to be dealt with according to the nature of their Crime". — Gen^l Wilkinson's Answer to the above — The expression in a talk which I delivered to the Shawanoes & to which you except, was intended to have its full force & effect, & I think it may be vindicated on the most obvious grounds of Justice and sound policy — I can conceive of nothing more proper & political, than that the Savages should themselves be the executioners of every inhuman Monster who may go among them to excite them to War with the United States, and to let fly the tomahawk on helpless women & Children; I can anticipate no injurious consequences from such Conduct, I shall not however again employ the term. — Extract from the Sec^y of War July 25. "I wish sincerely to render the Army as respectable as worth & talents can make it." Gen^d Wilkinson's answer — I have confidence in your disposition to promote the respectability of the Army, and therefore must hope, that you may be so obliging as to consult me as to the merits of such candidates for Commissions as have seen Service — I am particularly led to this request by a survey of the late appointments, among whom I find a Levi Lane formerly a private & a most worthless one in Bradford's Company of Artillery, he has been more than once disgraced as a line Com^d Officer and reduced to the ranks. — From the Sec^y of War 23 June — "I enclose you a copy of my letter of this date to L^t. Col. Butler relative to the three companies of the 2^d Reg^t which has gone as bad circumstances will authorize — here follows the letter to L^t. Col. Butler Viz: Sir I have rec^d information from Brigadier Gen^l Wilkinson by yesterday's mail, that the Indians on the northwestern frontier have recently discovered such symptoms of hostile intentions towards the United States as to render it a desirable thing that some of the force under your command might be detached to Natchez, in the contemplation of which the General has directed Boats to be prepared and held in readiness in Tennessee for their transportation thither. Should you find on a view of the state of things on the frontier where you command that you can accomplish without the three Companies alluded to, the objects of my instructions to you of the 12 of May last. I leave it with you in that case to direct the change of position to Natchez or the Northwestern frontier, upon a requisition to you from Brigadier General Wilkinson. — Gen^l Wilkinson's answer. — I will repeat my intention that the Detachments of the 2^d in the State of Tennessee, may be ordered without delay to Natchez — but as I cannot consistently with due regard to my own Station, or with the principles of my profession, make requisitions to my Superior which he is authorized to reject — and as the communication hence is dilatory & precarious, I shall depend on you for the necessary orders to L^t. Col. Butler should the Detachment [undecipherable] from his Command, which I have required of you be deemed necessary to the security of our Posts & the preservation of peace in the Ohio. —