Commisioners' Report on Negotiations with the Creek Nation
Item
Type
Letter Signed
Title
Commisioners' Report on Negotiations with the Creek Nation
Description
The Commissioners--Lincoln, Griffin, and Humphreys--report on their mission to negotiate a treaty with the Creek Nation. Since their mission was unsuccessful, they make recommendations regarding the measures needed to protect frontier settlers. They also suggest that further efforts should be made to improve relations with the Creeks. They have much to say about the Creeks and other southern tribes with respect to their culture, traditions, governments, etc.
year created
1789
month created
11
day created
20
author
sent from location
New York
recipient
in collection
in publication
in image
note
Lincoln, Griffin, and Humphreys are the Commissioners appointed to treat with the Indians south of the Ohior River.
author note
Benjamin Lincoln; Cyrus Griffin; David Humphreys.
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Benjamin Lincoln
Cyrus Griffin
David Humphreys
Creek Nation
Spaniards
Lower Creeks
Alexander McGillivray
the White Lieutenant
the Mad Dog
Upper Creeks
Cusetah King
Tallassee King
King of the Seminoles
Head Men
hunters
slaves
Indian traders
Cherokees
Choctaws
Chickasaws
Commissary of Indian Affairs in the Southern Department
notable location
New York
settlements upon the Cumberland River
stations in Georgia
navigable waters of St. Mary
Breed's Bluff upon the Altamaha
Rock Landing
Augusta
Flint River
Bryant's trading house on St. Marys
Spanish settlements
Mississippi
Choctaw and Chickasaw Country
great bend of the Tennessee [River]
Appalachacola
notable item/thing
treaty of peace with the United States
sudden impassions of the Indians
magazines
alarm of dangers
middle trading post
offensive plan
arms of the Union
navigation
wagon road
boats
rifles
ammunition
presents [gifts]
time of war
Great Council
Indian corn
potatoes
cattle
plough
furs
beaver
otter
mink
fox
squirrel
deer
skins
European goods
good roads
intelligence
permits to those employed in Indian commerce
Treasury of the United States
disbursements
notable phrase
...defensive and offensive measures as may be thought best to protect the citizens on the frontiers
a line of six posts ought to be established on the frontiers of Georgia
places of deposit of magazines
should hereafter be formed
the mother towns have the principal direction in national affairs
Mr. McGillivray, of the half-breed, is the most influential chief throughout the [Creek] nation
Among the Upper Creeks the White Lieutenant has the ascendency and is considered in some respects the rival of McGillivray
the Mad Dog is the next in authority
Their kinds of government approach the qualified monarchy...
they have Head Men who are much respected and have authority, both in peace and war, in their respective towns
They are in great measure hunters, however they cultivate some Indian corn and potatoes, possess cattle, a few slaves, and lately some instances have introduced the plough
We could not with precision ascertain the nature of the connection which the Creeks have formed with the Spaniards...
Mr. McGillivray has often mentioned and declared that a connection with the United States would be more natural to the Creek Nation if they could obtain such conditions of inerest and friendship that would justify and induce them to break with the Spanish government
the Cherokees and Chicasaws cultivate the ground more than other Indians and possess cattle proportionately in greater numbers
...It appears to us expedient that some adequate means of supplying them with goods and ammunition at moderate prices should immediately be adopted
While we sincerely regret that our negotiations with the Creek Nation have not terminated in a Treaty of Peace, we hope it will be found the the Commissioners have been as diligent and attentive to the subjects of the mission and as economical in the expenditures of public money as the nature of things would permit
document number
1789112040001
page start
1
Item sets
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Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (10 pages) | NMR06 (10 pages) | Collection: Transcribed Treaties and Conventions Advised and Ratified by the Senate. (RG46) (M200, roll 2) | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: American State Papers | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Benjamin Lincoln | New York | Additional authors: Cyrus Griffin and David Humphreys |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |