Autograph Letter Signed

Protection of Frontier

Congress passed Act that authorized the calling up of a battalion and several militia for the more permanent protection of the frontier counties in Virginia and Kentucky from Indian attacks. Scouts are no longer needed.

1790

06

10

War Office

Beverley Randolph

Henry Knox

scouts

battalion

militia

President

Congress

commissioned

non-commissioned

Governor

Legislature

Indians

Indian Nation

hostiles

President Washington

Your Excellency

Lieutenant

officer

non commissioned officer

private

Major Alexander Parker

Captain Ballard Smith

Lieutenant John Steel

Ensign Richard Archer

Ensign Thompson Seayres

Colonel Tatham

Secretary of War

Russell County

War Office

Virginia

Kentucky

county

frontier

Russell

Ohio River

river

north

Wythe County

Washington County

frontier counties

militia

protection

Indian attacks

defensive measures

complaints

deliberation of congress

additional battalion

troops

small party of militia

map of frontiers

militia

protection

Indian attacks

1790061000101

1

2

44
Secretary of War
June 10th
1790
X
War Office June 1oth 1790
Sir,

The indispotion of the President of the United States has been the

cause of your Excellencys letter of the 5th of May being unanswered until
this time, as it was necessary to submit the same to him, and take his orders
thereon.
x The same number of scouts which were allowed the Counties of
Kentucky, and the other Counties to the northward thereof, on as near the Ohio,
were extended to Rusell County on the 29th of April last.
Although
Although the President convinced of the inefficancy of the defensive

measures against the hre dalay incursions of the small parties of indians, yet
he was constrained from the complaints of the people on the fromtiers, to
furnish Scouts to be called out in the manner hereto-fore allowed by
Virginia as a tempory measures, untill some other arrangment should be
adopted by the Legislature.
The result of the delibera-tions of Congress on the imformation submitted
to them relative to the frontiers, has been an Act to raise an additioanl Battalion
to the troops before in service, making in the
whole
whole 1216 non commissioned and privates and a general authority to the President
of the United States to callforth the Militia when necessary for the protection
of the frontiers whom the pay established in saind Act which I have the honor
to inclose.
Under the circumstances the President finds himself restrained
from ordering out any more scouts whom apay higher than the Act of Congress
authorizes, and he will shortly be abliged to conform the pat of the scouts
to the pay of fixed by Congress for Militia, unitil, a gerneral arrangment
shall take place on the subject, he is unwilling to take any measures
respect-ing the Counties of wythe and Washington which showed seed to place
them on
an
an inferior footing to the other frontier Counties.
But if your Excellency should judge the case to be really exigent with
respect to the said Counties of Wythe and Washington, you will pleast to
direct a small party of Militia for eact not exceeding a lieutenant and 15
non Commissioned and privates which shall be consi-dered as in the service
of the United States for the time you shall as order them, of which I shall be obliged
to your Excelleny to be informed x
Arrangments are making for the raising of said additional battalion
which will be employed on the frontiers- and I have the honor to inform your
excellency
Excellency that the President of the United States has directed that ninety
non commissioned offciers an privates be raised in Kentucky and the frontiers
of Virginia --- and that Major Alexander Parker, Captain Ballard Smith,
Lieutenant John Sted and Ensigns Richard Archer, and Thompson Seagres citizens
of Virginia are appoint-d officers in the said additional Battalion.
The ideas of Colonel Fathom are more extensive with respect to the map
of the frontiers than would be necessary at this time to have executed ---
The outlines of the respective Counties was the principal object wanted ---
In future, it may
be
be necessary to have an accurate survey made, not only of the frontiers but
of parts of the United States.
I have the honor to be
with great repsect
your Ecxellencys most
Obedient Humble Servant
Knox
His Excellency
Governor Randolph