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Document Spotlight-Scout Payment Edition

Recently transcriber Dapperlaw transcribed a document that reveals a little more about life on the American frontier. Also, we get a quick look at some of the War Department’s responsibilities with respect to protection of American citizens.

Specifically, the letter from 1795 details a payment made from the War Department to be issued to scouts working in the Woodford County, Kentucky region. For the 18 month period beginning April 1793, scouts were to be paid $697.17. The payments are explicitly meant to be “for the protection of Woodford County.”

Read the original document here.

It is not too late–there are many more documents awaiting transcription. Take a moment to register (http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/register.php) and choose a document to begin your adventure. You will be doing important work by adding to the historical record, and you never know what you will read!