Autograph Letter Signed

Wayne discusses Indians, small arms, and militia with Knox

Letter, discusses small arms, Indian warfare, and militia; mentions river navigation.

Ltr, dis arms & Indian warfare.

1790

03

20

Richmond, State of Georgia

Cited in Knox to Wayne, 04/10/1790.

Cited document addressed to the War Office

Henry Knox

Anthony Wayne

Greene

McGilivray, the Planter

Cornplanter

Richmond, State of Georgia

North Carolina

South Carolina

United States

Western lands

Savannah

Ogeekee River

Georgia

Pensacola

Albama River at the head of navigation

Bahamias

kindest & best wishes

stationing the troops destined for this quarter agreeably to the orders of the President

the most economical truest & best policy wou'd be a force in the first instance equal to effectual coercion

which I fear must ultimately be the case

after much blood shed & devastation has taken place

honor to be with severs esteem

for godsake let us have at least the skeleton of an army if it is only for the militia to assemble

proper & efficient force can be sent forward

permit me also to suggest the expediency of the immediate appointment of a Continental General Officer to be ready on the spot to assume the command upon the first appearance of any hostile intentions of the Indians

power to call forth so many & such proportions of the militia

sincere wish of 19 out of 20 inhabitants of this state that the grant may be set aside

certainly much exasperated at the conduct of the Legislature upon that occasion

just to involve the guilty with the innocent & commit the state at large to the depredations of the Indians by withholding the troops & protection of the general government

the state either had or had not the right to dispose of the Western lands

a right to protection

dignity & honor of the Union as well as justice & humanity join in stimulating them to vigorous exertions of their authority & power

produce a conviction to the world that a legation of the United States cannot be insulted with impunity

where he plants largely

esteemed a man af varacity, well informed sensible and intelligent & perfectly acquainted with the Indian country

good ground to believe that his information is correct & true

business of the Western lands

twenty miles

possesses a considerable property in lands & negros

settled

adds that he is apprehensive of the hostile intentions of the Indians

afraid to venture again into the nation

has very considerable sums of money due him by the many of the traders & certain of the protection of the Indian

as far as is in his power

confident that in case of hostilities that power wou'd not be sufficient to secure him a safe return

certain knowledge it was with the utmost dificulty that he did prevent the Indians from breaking out a little time previous to the late proposed treaty

this gentle man is a citizen of Georgia

house is situated

at the head of navigation

vessels desiring qo feet of water can come up as far as that house in the spring of the year

some by water & some by land

principally brought by the Indians themselves on pack horses

procure as many as were deficient

arrived whilst he remained with his namesake the indian

came to hand a few days since

you ask if I do not think my informant was mistaken as to the number

muskets having receivedfrom the Spaniards by the Creeks

answer to this

particular conversation with Mr. McGilivray the Planter no later than yesterday upon that subject

positive as to the number

adds that the Spaniards had not when demanded a sufficient number of that kind of smooth bore arms that suited the indians

a vessel was dispatched

1790032040201

1

Genl Wayne (underlined)
Richmond 20th March
1790
D.53 Genl.Wayne XXVI-3 3807
Richmond State of Georgia
20th, March 1790 722

Dear Sir

Yours of the 7th ultimo came to hand a few days since, in which you ask "if I do not think that my informant was mistaken as to the number of 6'000 muskets, having been received from the Spaniards by the Creeks" in answer to this--I had a very particular conservation with our Mr.Gilvery /the Planter/ no later than yesterday upon that subject,-he is positive as to the number of 6'000, & adds, that the Spaniards had not when first demanded, a sufficient number of that kind of smooth bore arms, (last three words underlined) that suited the Indians That a vessel was dispatched to the Bahamias, in in order to procure as many as were deficent, & that the had all actually arrived whilst he remained with his namesake (underlined) the Indian MrGilvery,
some
some by water, & some by land, but were principally brought by the Indians themselves on pack horses from Pensacola, that MrGilvery's house is situated on the Albama (underlined) river at the head of Navigation distant about 160 miles from Penscola, that vessels desiring 10 feet water can come up as far as the house in the spring of the year! he also adds that he is so apprehensive of the hostile intentions of the Indians, that he is afraid to venture again into the Nation, (underlined) altho he has very considerable sums of money due him by many of the Traders & certain of the protection of the Indian MrGilvery as far as is in his powers, but is confident that in case of hostilities-that power wou'd not be sufficient to secure him a safe return-for to his certain knowledge it was with the utmost difficulty that he did prevent the Indians from breaking out a little time previous to the late proposed treaty;
This
This Gentleman is a citizen of Georgia, & pofsefses a considerable property in lands & negros, & is settled in the Ogeekee river about twenty miles from Savanna where he plants largely; he is also esteemed a man of varacity, well informed sensible & intelligent, & perfectly acquainted with the Indian Country- I have therefore good ground to believe that his information is corret & true.

As to the businefs of the Western lands, I am confident, that it is the sincere wish of 10 out of 20 of the inhabitants of this State that the grant may be set aside or repealed. They are certainly much exasperated at the conduct of the Legislature upon that occasion! Is it therefore wise is it-undecipherable is it just, to invoice the innocent with with the quilty, & commit the State at large to the depredations of the Indians, by with holding the troops & protection of the General Government, from us?
The
4
The State either had-or had not aright, to dispose of the Western lands,--if she had that right-she has aright to protection-altho she acted imprudently,-if she ^had not that right-,the grant is a nullaty! in either case-the dignity & honor of the Union as well as justice & humanity-join in stimulating them to a vigorouis exertions of ^thier authority & power; & to produce a conviction to the world that a legation of the United States cannot be insult with impunity
For godsake let us have at least the skeleton of an army, if it is only for the Militia to assemble to, until a more proper & efficient force can be sent forward, & permit me also to suggest the expediancy of the immediate appointment of a Continental General Officer to be ready on the spot, to assume the Command, upon the first appearance of any hostile intention of the Indians-with power to call forward- so many-& such proportions of the
Militia
Richmond 20 March 1790 Wayne
SSVI-3
Militia of North, South Carolina & Georgia, as may be deemed necessary-& also that of stationing the troops destined for this Quarter, agreeable to the Orders & instructions of the President.
But the most Economical, truest & best policy, wou'd be a force in the first instance, equal to effectual coercion-& which I fear must ultimately be the case-after much blood shed & devastation has taken place!
I have the honor to be with sincere esteem
Your most obet. & very Humblest.
Ant.y Wayne
Shou'd MrGreene be with you pray present him my kindest & best wishes-

The Humble
Major Genl Henry Know
Sec of the War Department