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Document Spotlight-“Murder of Some Friendly Indians”

Transcriber Dawoogie recently came across a letter from from Henry Knox to the governor of Pennsylvania detailing the murder of some Indians who had been friendly to the United States. Knox laments the murder, and ponders the potential consequences: in the first place, Knox writes, recent progress in peace overtures will be lost. In the second place, it is liable to spark a war between the Indians and Americans.

Further, Knox vows to put the resources of the government to work to find the murderer. Interestingly, though, he reminds the governor that prosecution of the murderer is a state, not a federal, issue.

Finally, Knox calls on the military officer in the vicinity of the murders, Major General St Clair, to investigate the circumstances (the second page of the letter is here: http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/mediawiki/index.php?title=.MTAwMjM.Nzk3MQ&rcid=2515.)

Read the original document here: http://wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/mediawiki/index.php?title=.MTAwMjM.Nzc1MA&rcid=2514.

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