Printed Document Signed

Report of the Committee Regarding Intelligence of the Hostile Inentions of the Indians

Resolve to gather and ready troops to protect against hostile Indians gathering in Shawnee towns near American frontier. List of troops required from each state included. States must pay Federal Treasury to finance the soldiers and officers.

Report of the Committee Regarding Intelligence of the Hostile Inentions of the Indians

1786

10

20

printed document does not contain final paragraph from hand written document (page 6).

United States Congress

Committee

Charles Pettit

Lee

Charles Pinckney

Henry

Smith

War Office

Indians

Shawnee

Puteatamies

Chippewa

Tawa

Twightwee

banditti

desperadoes

troops

Pottawatomie

Mingoes

Cherokee

outcasts

warriors

Americans

Troops

non-commissioned officers

privates

Secretary of War

Executive Authorities

Board of Treasury

Charles Thompson

Western Country

Shawanese towns

frontier

town

border

Western territory

Mississippi

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Connecticut

Maryland

Virginia

intelligence

hostile disposition

war

plunder

speediest measures

consequences

augmented

surveying and selling

troops are to be raised

pay and allowance

Act of Congress

articles of war

contract

supply of clothing and rations

protection

war

peace

hostilities

1786102090001

1

Oct 20th 1786
By the United States in
Congress aſſembled.
O C T O B E R 20, 1786.

The Committee conſiſting of Mr. Pettit, Mr. Lee, Mr. Pinckney,
Mr. Henry and Mr. Smith, to whom was referred the Letter from
the War Office with the Papers Encloſed containing Intelligence
of the hoſtile Intentions of the Indians in the Weſtern Coun[try]
having R E P O R T E D:
T
HAT the uniform tenor of the intelligence from the Weſstern Country; plainly indicates
the hoſtile diſpoſition of a number of Indian nations, Particularly the Shawaneſe, Poteotamies, Chippewas, Tawas and Twightwees.
That theſe nations are now aſſembling in the Shawaneſe towns, and are joined by a banditti of deſperadoes, under the name of Mingoes and Cherokees, who are outcaſts from other nations, and who have aſſociated and ſettled in that country for the purpoſe of war and plunder.---That they are labouring to draw in other nations to unite with them in a war with the Americans.---That is expected, one thouſand warriors will ſoon be collected in the Shawaneſe towns. from whence they have already diſpatched parties to commence hoſtilities.---That from the motions of the Indians to the ſouthward as well as the northward, and the exertions made in different quarters to ſtimulate the various nations againſt the Americans, there is the ſtrongest reaſon to believe that, unleſs the ſpeediest meaſures are taken effectually to counteract and defeat their plans, the war will become general, and may be attended with the moſt dangerous and laſting conſequences:
That the committee therefore deem it highly neceſſary that the troops in the ſervice of the United States be immediately augmented, not only for the protection and ſupport of the frontiers of the ſtates bordering on the weſtern territory and the valuable ſettlements on and near the margin of the Miſſiſſippi, but to eſtablish the poſſeſſion and facilitate the ſurveying and ſelling of thoſe intermediate lands, which have been ſo much relied on for the reduction of the debts of the United States; whereupon
Reſolved, That the number of one thouſand, three hundred and forty non-comiſſioned officers and privates, be raiſed for the term of three years, unleſs ſooner discharged, and that they together with the troops now in ſervice, be formed into a legionary corps, to conſiſt of 2040 non-commiſſioned officers and privates. That the additional troops be raiſed by the following ſtates, in the following proportions, to wit,


New-Hampſhire
260
Infantry and artillery
1220


Maſſachuſetts
660


Rhode-IÅ¿land
120


Connecticut
180


Virginia and Maryland each 60 cavalry, making
120





1340

That the ſecretary at war inform the executive authorities of the reſpective ſtates in
which the troops are to be raiſed, the number and rank of commiſſioned officers to be furniſhed by each ſtate in proportion to the men.
That the pay and allowances to the troops be raiſed by this reſolve, be the ſame as eſtabliſhed by the act of Congress the 12th of April 1785.
That the ſaid troops ſhall be ſubject to the exiſting articles of war, or ſuch as may hereafter be formed by Congress or a committee of the ſtates.
Reſolved, That the ſtates above mentioned be, and they hereby are requested to uſe their utomſt exertions to raiſe the quotas of troops, reſpectively aſſigned to them, with all poſſible expedition, and that the executives of the ſaid ſtates be, and hereby are requeſted in caſe any of their legiſlatures ſhould not be in ſeſſion, immediately to convene them for this purpoſe, as a delay may be attended with the moſt fatal conſequences.

[Signed] Chas Thompson Secy

By the United States in
Congreſs aſsembled —
October 20th. 1786. —
The Committee to whom was referred the Letter from
the War Office, with the Papers enclosed containing
intelligence of the hostile intentions of the Indians in
the Western Country having reported. —
"That the uniform tenor of the intelligence from
the Western Country; plainly indicates the hostile disposition
of a number of Indian nations, particularly the Shawanese, Puteotamies, Chippewas, Tawas and Twightwees—
"That these Nations are now AÅ¿sembling in the
Shawanese towns, and are joined by a banditti of desperadoes,
under the name of Mingoes and Cherokees, who are
Outcasts from other Nations, and who have aſsociated &
Å¿ettled in that Country for the purpose of War and plunder.
"That they are laboring to draw in other Nations to
Unite with them in a War with the Americans.—
"That is expected, one thousand Warriors will
soon be collected in the Shawanese Towns from, whence they
have already dispatched parties to commence hostilities.—
"That from the Motions of the Indians to the
Southward as well as to the Northward, and the exertions
made in different quarters to Å¿timulate the various Nations
against the Americans there is the Å¿trongest reason to believe
that, unleſs the ſpeediest measures are taken effectually to
Counteract and defeat their plans, the War will become
general, and may be attended with the most dangerous and laſting consequences. —
That the committee therefore deem it highly
"neceſsary that the Troops in the ſervice of the United States
be immediately Augmented, not only for the protection and
Å¿upport of the frontiers of the States bordering on the
Western territory and the valuable Å¿ettlements on and near
the Margin of the Miſsiſsippi, but to establish the poſseſsion
and facilitate the Å¿urveying and Å¿elling of those intermediate
lands, which have been so much relied on for the
reduction of the debts of the United States" whereupon
Resolved Unanimously That the number of One thousand
three hundred and forty Non-Comiſsioned Officers and
Privates, be raised for the term of three years, unleſs ſooner
discharged, and that they together with the Troops now in
Å¿ervice, be formed into a Legionary Corps to consist of 2040
Non-Commiſsioned Officers and Privates — That the Additional
Troops be raised by the following States, in the following
proportions — to wit



New Hampſhire
260
Infantry and artillery


Maſsachusetts
660


Rhode Island
120


Connecticut
180

Maryland and Virginia each 60 Cavalry, making
120. —
That the Secretary at War inform the Executive Authorities
of the respective States in which the Troops are
to be raised, the Number and Rank of Commiſsioned
Officers to be furnished by each State in proportion
to the Men.
That the pay and allowances to the Troops be raised
by this Resolve, be the same as established by the Act of
Congress the 12th of April 1785. —
That the said Troops shall be subject to the existing
Articles of War, or such as may hereafter be formed by Congress
or a Committee of the States. —
That
That the Board of Treasury, Contract for a Å¿upply of
Clothing and Rations, at such places and in such quantities
as the Secretary at War shall judge necessary
Resolved Unanimously, That the States abovementioned
be and they are hereby requested to use their utomst exertions
to raise the Quotas of troops, respectively aſsigned them,
with all poſsible expedition — And that the Executive of the
said States be and hereby are requested in Case of any
of their Legislatures ſhould not be in ſeſsion, immediately
to convene them for this purpose, as a delay may be attended
with the most fatal consequences.
Ordered that the Board of Treasury without delay
devise ways and means for the pay and Å¿upport of the
troops of the United States on the present establishment
and report the same to Congress. —
[Signed] Chas Thompson Secy

October 21st 1786.
On the Report of the Board of Treasury pursuant
to the Orders of yesterday to devise ways and means for
the pay and Å¿upport of the troops of the United States
on the present establishment —
Resolved Unanimously That the Å¿everal
States in the Confederacy be and they are hereby required
to pay into the Federal Treasury on or before the first
day of June 1787, their respective Quotas of the Å¿um of Five
hundred and thirty thousand Dollars in Å¿pecie - which quotas are


New Hampshire ......18,603
Maſsachusetts ......79,288
Rhode Island .......11,395
Connecticut ........46,746
New York .......... 45,386
New Jersey..........29,415

Penna.