General Wayne writes to the Secretary at War
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
General Wayne writes to the Secretary at War
Description
Letter, discusses Indian agents and warfare; discusses Indian aggression.
short description
Ltr, dis Indian agents and warfare.
year created
1789
month created
10
day created
25
author
sent from location
Savannah, State of Georgia
recipient
in collection
in image
note
Cited in Knox to Wayne, 11/28/1789.
cited note
Cited document addressed to the War Office
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Anthony Wayne
Osbourn
Charles the 4th, King of Spain
McGilvery
Col. Irvine
notable location
Savannah, State of Georgia
Spain
Mississippi
New Orlains
Rock Landing
Kemp's Fort
Washington County
notable item/thing
late commissioner assures me on his sacred honor he both seen & read
permanent peace with the Creek nation who are numerous and insolent until they were made to experience our superiority in the Field
army stationed for the protection of the Southern States
incursions of the indians
ideal claims of the Spaniards
late conduct verifies this opinion
indispensable necessity of compeling the Creeks to treat upon our own term in the heart of their country
pledge myself to effect at the head of the Four Battalions of Infantry of six hundred effectives each
regiments of Cavalry
Artillery
properly officerd & well appointed
as large an operating force as can be conveniently supplied with provision
draft of militia in addition to this force may be necessary for the purpose of keeping open the communication between the country from which we draw our supplies & the Indian nation
defence of proper deposits & places of arms in case of serious operations
number of gun men which can be opposed to us
formerly a trader now a rich plnter near this place
list of the towns and number fighting men in each
aggregate of the Upper & Lower Creeks
Chocktaws
Cherokee
enemies
frequently at war
general confederacy
cannot support themselves but for a very short time in a body
numbers will only serve to confuse & render them an easy prey to our cavalry after being routed by the infantry & artillery
open wood & Champaign country
his excellency the President
command of or in the Expedition
collect the best information
excuse the incorrectness of the letter
writing whilst the vessel is getting
guaranteeing to the Indians all the lands they possess or claim to possess in the East side
instrument of writing
King of Spain
ratification of a treaty commenced some time since between the Spanish and Creek Nations
overtaken by an express
reason for their refusing to treat may possibly be accounted for by the following circumstatnces
"Indians have burnt down Kemps fort in Washington County & some houses"
commenced hostilities in the frontiers of this state
express
militia
much obliged to your very polite favor
answer to my letter
military arrangement
commissioners have not been able to succeed in holding a treaty with the indians
deigning to return an answer to the talk
apprehend an immediate and serious war
document number
1789102540001
page start
1
transcription
I am much obliged by your very polite favor of the 9th., August in answer to my letter of the 15th June, the Military arrangement then suggested appears now to be necefsary, as the Commifsioners have not been able to succede in holding a treaty with the Indians
undecipherable undecipherable (six lines of writing undecipherable)
Col Irvine of the Militia (three words undecipherable) who says the Indians have beat down Kemps fort in Washington County & some houses"_
The reason for them refusing to treat may pofsibly be accounted for by the following circumstance as Mr. Gilvery was on his way with the Indians to the rock landing, and was overtaken by an exprefs from New Orlains, with the ratification of a treaty commenced sometime since between the Spanish & Creek Nations, & lately confirmed by Charles the ? the present King of Spain guarenting to the Indians all their land
they profsefs or claim on the East side of the Mifsifsifpi, this instrument of writing Mr Osbourne one of the Cats Commifsioners,afsures me ^ (upon his Scared Honor)he both seen & read, being handed to him by Mr.Gilvery for that purpose;
I believe I told you on the 15th June "that I was decidedly of Opinion, we never should have a permanent peace with the Creek Nation; who are numerous & insolent, until they were made to experience our superiorty in the Fields & an Army stationed for the protection of the Southern States, not only against the incursions of the Indians, but also against the ideal claims of the Spaniards" Their late Conduct verifies this Opinion, & points out the indispensible neglect of compeling the Creeks to treat upon our own terms in the Heart of their Country, which I pledge myself to effect, at the head of Four Battalions of Infantry of Six hundred effectives each two Regiments of Cavalary of Four Hundred Forty forenty pin each & ^ (a Corps of) two Hundred & fifty Artillery-purposely Offered & well appointed, which is as large as a Operating force, as can be conveniently supplied with provisions & a draft of Militia in addition to this force may be necefsary for the purpose of keeping open the Communication between the cavalary from which we undecipherable draw our supplies
& the Indian Nation, & for the defense of proper deposits & places of Arms in case of a serious Operation; I expect shortly to obtain an accurate acct of the numbers of Gun men which can be affored to us from a Mr Gilvery, and a trader of the Indians. Mr Gilvery, formerly a trader, now a rich planter near this place / I undecipherable had a list of the towns & number of fighting men in each, but it is mislaid, however I recollect that the aggregate of the Upper & lower Creeks was some where about 6'000 the Chocktaws 5'000 the Cherokee, 1'500 & the (Cherraws?) 800 Gun mans,
We have nothing to apprehend I believe but from the Creeks, on the Contrary we may probably have the afsistance of the Chocktaws & Cherokees if necefsary as they have heretofore been enemies to the Creeks & frequently at war with them; but should a general confederacy take place, they can not support themselves but for a very short time in body- & should they collect upon the undecipherable of the Occasion, it may be the happy means of puting a speedy conclusion to this war, as their numbers will only serve to confuse & render them an easy undecipherable to our undecipherable Cavalry often being routed by the Infantry undecipherable & artillery, in an open wood & champaigns undecipherable County, such as that professed by the Creek Nation for thier most part is,
is I shall be much Obliged by the earliest
informtion
information should a Military Arrangement be thought necefsary, & also for your undecipherable with His Excellency the President, in Obtaining (meStrike-through text) me the Command undecipherable this Expedition.
I am undecipherable to Co Clark the best information & is the most undecipherable
Circumstances will admit in order to facilitate an affectual Operation, should such measures be adopted.
Inten? I have the honor to be undecipherable Esteem
Your Most Able
Giving
Humblest
Anthony Wayne
undecipherable undecipherable undecipherable as to excuse undecipherable
undecipherable of their undecipherable, for having
undecipherable undecipherable moments notice of this
Opportunity, I am undecipherable & forundecipherable
& writings whilst undecipherable undecipherable is getting
undecipherable was undecipherable undecipherable I will
last four words undecipherable
(Written sideways on the right hand side of the paper)
Savannah 25 October
No?g__________
Gen Wayne
______________
______________
Anfwered & Savannah
28 Nov 1789
______________
The Man???
undecipherable Henry Knox
undecipherable undecipherable
undecipherable undecipherable (six lines of writing undecipherable)
Col Irvine of the Militia (three words undecipherable) who says the Indians have beat down Kemps fort in Washington County & some houses"_
The reason for them refusing to treat may pofsibly be accounted for by the following circumstance as Mr. Gilvery was on his way with the Indians to the rock landing, and was overtaken by an exprefs from New Orlains, with the ratification of a treaty commenced sometime since between the Spanish & Creek Nations, & lately confirmed by Charles the ? the present King of Spain guarenting to the Indians all their land
they profsefs or claim on the East side of the Mifsifsifpi, this instrument of writing Mr Osbourne one of the Cats Commifsioners,afsures me ^ (upon his Scared Honor)he both seen & read, being handed to him by Mr.Gilvery for that purpose;
I believe I told you on the 15th June "that I was decidedly of Opinion, we never should have a permanent peace with the Creek Nation; who are numerous & insolent, until they were made to experience our superiorty in the Fields & an Army stationed for the protection of the Southern States, not only against the incursions of the Indians, but also against the ideal claims of the Spaniards" Their late Conduct verifies this Opinion, & points out the indispensible neglect of compeling the Creeks to treat upon our own terms in the Heart of their Country, which I pledge myself to effect, at the head of Four Battalions of Infantry of Six hundred effectives each two Regiments of Cavalary of Four Hundred Forty forenty pin each & ^ (a Corps of) two Hundred & fifty Artillery-purposely Offered & well appointed, which is as large as a Operating force, as can be conveniently supplied with provisions & a draft of Militia in addition to this force may be necefsary for the purpose of keeping open the Communication between the cavalary from which we undecipherable draw our supplies
& the Indian Nation, & for the defense of proper deposits & places of Arms in case of a serious Operation; I expect shortly to obtain an accurate acct of the numbers of Gun men which can be affored to us from a Mr Gilvery, and a trader of the Indians. Mr Gilvery, formerly a trader, now a rich planter near this place / I undecipherable had a list of the towns & number of fighting men in each, but it is mislaid, however I recollect that the aggregate of the Upper & lower Creeks was some where about 6'000 the Chocktaws 5'000 the Cherokee, 1'500 & the (Cherraws?) 800 Gun mans,
We have nothing to apprehend I believe but from the Creeks, on the Contrary we may probably have the afsistance of the Chocktaws & Cherokees if necefsary as they have heretofore been enemies to the Creeks & frequently at war with them; but should a general confederacy take place, they can not support themselves but for a very short time in body- & should they collect upon the undecipherable of the Occasion, it may be the happy means of puting a speedy conclusion to this war, as their numbers will only serve to confuse & render them an easy undecipherable to our undecipherable Cavalry often being routed by the Infantry undecipherable & artillery, in an open wood & champaigns undecipherable County, such as that professed by the Creek Nation for thier most part is,
is I shall be much Obliged by the earliest
informtion
information should a Military Arrangement be thought necefsary, & also for your undecipherable with His Excellency the President, in Obtaining (meStrike-through text) me the Command undecipherable this Expedition.
I am undecipherable to Co Clark the best information & is the most undecipherable
Circumstances will admit in order to facilitate an affectual Operation, should such measures be adopted.
Inten? I have the honor to be undecipherable Esteem
Your Most Able
Giving
Humblest
Anthony Wayne
undecipherable undecipherable undecipherable as to excuse undecipherable
undecipherable of their undecipherable, for having
undecipherable undecipherable moments notice of this
Opportunity, I am undecipherable & forundecipherable
& writings whilst undecipherable undecipherable is getting
undecipherable was undecipherable undecipherable I will
last four words undecipherable
(Written sideways on the right hand side of the paper)
Savannah 25 October
No?g__________
Gen Wayne
______________
______________
Anfwered & Savannah
28 Nov 1789
______________
The Man???
undecipherable Henry Knox
undecipherable undecipherable
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | AJK14 (4 pages) | Collection: Henry Knox Papers. [microfilm] | V: 25, P: 25 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Anthony Wayne | Savannah, State of Georgia | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |