Autograph Letter Signed

Termination of Scouts for Protection

Notification letter that ended the use of scouts and patrols to protect against Indian attacks. Although the scouts were held in high esteem by the public, they are overall inefficient for protecting an extensive frontier. Militia, or rangers, will be used instead of the scouts. Knox then describes the composition of the militia to be established and regulations relating thereto.

Termination of Scouts for Protection

1790

07

17

War Office

Ohio County

D Shepherd

David Shepherd

Henry Knox

Indians

Indian Nation

President of the United States

George Washington

scouts

militia

Arthur St. Clair

troops

Commanding Officer

Shawanesse

Cherokee

banditti

rangers

Brigadier General Josiah Harmar

county lieutenants

subaltern

sergeant

corporal

privates

attorneys

magistrates

Ohio County

War Office

west

western frontiers

Ohio

incursion

patrols

ceased and terminated

defensive measures

straggling parties of Indians

depredations

expense

Constitution

rates of pay

rations

Virginia currency

return of names, rank, ages, residence, and times of service

pay abstract of account

abstract of hte rations

abstract

triplicate receipts

regulations

certificate

vouchers

protecting the frontiers

so expensive a species of troops as the said scouts

1790071700001

1

8

[Page] 126
War Office July 7th 1790
Sir
I had the honor on the 13th day of April last to address you on the subject of the incursion of small parties of indians on the western frontiers. In that letter I authorized you in the name of the President of the United States, in certain cases of imminent danger to call out for the protection of the county certain species of patroles denominated scouts at the expence of the United States.
I have now the honor by direction of the President of the United States, to inform you that the authority contained in said letter relative to said scouts, is to be considered as having ceased and terminated upon your receiving this letter, duplicates of which I have written and transmitted to you.
The representations of the then deplorable situation of the frontier counties, and the high estimation the said scouts were held in by the inhabitants were the inducements of the President
[Page]127
of the United States, to consent to calling forth that expensive species of militia, as a temporary measure for the protection of the exposed counties.
But as experience has demonstrated the inefficacy of defensive measures for an extensive frontier, against straggling parties of indians; and as conditional orders have been transmitted to the governor of the western territory, and the commanding officer of the troops of the United States, to act offensively against the Shawanees and outcast Cherokees joined with them, inhabiting north west of the Ohio; who are probably the banditti which has for some time past committed depredations on the counties lying along the ohio; And as the militia or rangers hereafter described will in cases of necessity be permitted at the expence of the United States, in lieu of the scouts: it is presumed that no injury will be sustained, by revoking the authority for calling into service so expensive a species of troops as the said scouts.
The President of the United States is anxiously desirous of effectually protecting the frontiers, and he will take all such reasonable measures as in his judgement the case may require,
[Page] 128 183
and for which he shall be by the constitution, or by the laws authorized.
He has therefore directed me to inform inform you that in addition to the general measures aforesaid which have been ordered, he has empowered the governor of the western territory and brigadier general Harmar, or either of them to make arrangement hereafter described for the internal security of the exposed counties.
The said governor and commanding officer, or either of them, will under their hands and seals empower the lieutenants of such counties lying along the ohio, as they shall judge necessary, to call forth the number of militia or rangers hereafter mentioned, and under the regulations prescribed.
1st The said militia or rangers shall not exceed for the internal defence of any county - one subaltern - one serjeant - one corporal - and twelve privates - But such less number may be ordered, as the said governor and commanding officer, or county lieutenant may judge requisite.
[Page] 129 184
2ndy The said militia or rangers, shall during the time of their actual service, receive the following rates of pay, which are the same as is by law established for the regular troops of the United States and militia. (Viz)
Lieutenant.......twenty two dollars
Ensign...........Eighteen dollars
Serjeant.........five dollars [one right brace brackets rates of pay] } p month
Corporal.........four dollars
Private..........three dollars
3rd The said rangers shall be furnished with rations in such manner as the lieutenant of the county shall think proper. The United States will allow for each ration six pence virginia currency or 8 1/3/100 th parts of a dollar. The subaltern to have two, and the non-commissioned and privates one ration each.
4th The lieutenant of each county will be responsible on oath that the said rangers shall be called into service only in cases of imminent danger; and that they be discharged as soon as the danger shall cease.
That when any service shall have been performed by said rangers, the following evidence
thereof
[Left marginalia written vertically in lower half of page] Secretary of War
July 17th 1790
[Image cutoff]ont dismissed - Harmar's campaign permitted
[Page] 130 185
thereof will be required.
1st A return of the names, rank, ages, residence and times of service, of each of the said rangers.
2nd A pay abstract or account for the number of the said rangers agreably to the aforesaid return.
3rd An abstract of the rations agreably to the aforesaid return.
4th These papers to be signed and verified upon oath by the lieutenant of the county or commanding officer of the militia who will transmit the same to brigadier general Harmar, or the commanding officer of the troops of the United States on the Ohio.
5th Brigadier general Harmar or the commanding officer of the troops will certify on the the said return that the said rangers were ordered into service in pursuance of his authority or the authority of the governor of the western territory.
6th The paymaster of the regiment of regular troops will receive the amount of the said abstracts from the treasury or pay office of the United States and pay the same to the county lieutenants, and the said county lieutenants will pay each of the
[Page] 131 186
rangers respectively, taking triplicate receipts for the payments; two of which he must transmit to the paymaster aforesaid, within two months from the time he shall have received the money from the said paymaster, and until the said receipts shall be transmitted to the said paymaster, the lieutenants of the counties will be held responsible for the sums they may have received or such proportions thereof for which they shall not have produced receipts from the individual rangers (or their attornies) who performed the service.
And whereas some of the counties may be involved in such immediate danger, as not to permit the county lieutenants sufficient time to obtain the authority, herein mentioned, from the said governor or commanding officer: in which case, the county lieutenant may order out the rangers herein mentioned under the regulations prescribed; on condition that as soon as may be, the said lieutenant of the county and two magistrates, make a statement
[Page] 132 187
to the said governor and commanding officer, of the reasons which induced them to order out the said rangers.
This statement will be considered as essential in order that general Harmar or the commanding officer may ground thereon his certificate on the pay abstracts, without which, payment will not be made.
It may perhaps be considered as unnecessary, after stating the vouchers beforementioned to add any further precautions against unnecessarily calling out the rangers before described. But as the said service is at best only to be viewed as an expedient rather temporary and desultory than permanent and regular, it is the earnest desire of the President of the United States, that it should be conducted with the highest œconomy. He therefore has desired that the county lieutenants may be strongly impressed with this idea, as well from a personal regard to themselves, as to the common welfare of the western country and the United States.
If
[Page] 133 188
If the permission now given, be used with great discretion, and only in cases of real necessity, every consideration, will in future justify a more extensive and perfect protection should the situation of the frontiers require the same.
I shall beg that immediately upon your receiving this letter that you will inform me thereof.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedient Humble Servant
[signed] Knox
Secretary of War
The Lieutenant of
Ohio County,
Virginia
[Left marginalia written vertically in lower half of page]
[undecipherable] Knox
Instructions
Oct 1790
To Col. D. Shepherd

[Page] 126
War Office July 17th 1790
Sir
I had the honor on the 13th day of April last to address you on the subject of the incursion of small parties of indians on the western frontiers. In that letter I authorized you in the name of the President of the United States, in certain cases of imminent danger, to call out for the protection of the county, a certain species of patroles denominated scouts, at the expence of the United States.
I have now the honor, by direction of the President of the United States, to inform you that the authority contained in said letter relative to said scouts, is to be considered as having ceased and terminated upon your receiving this letter, duplicates of which I have written and transmitted to you.
The representations of the then deplorable situation of the frontier counties, and the high estimation the said scouts were held in by the inhabitants were the inducements of the President
[Page] 127
of the United States, to consent to calling forth that expensive species of militia, as a temporary measure for the protection of the exposed counties.
But as experience has demonstrated the inefficacy of defensive measures for an extensive frontier, against straggling parties of indians; and as conditional orders have been transmitted to the governor of the western territory, and the commanding officer of the troops of the United States, to act offensively against the Shawanees and outcast Cherokees joined with them, inhabiting north west of the Ohio; who are probably the banditti which has for some time past committed depredations on the counties lying along the ohio; And as the militia or rangers hereafter described will in cases of necessity be permitted at the expence of the United States, in lieu of the scouts: it is presumed that no injury will be sustained, by revoking the authority for calling into service so expensive a species of troops as the said scouts.
The President of the United States is anxiously desirous of effectually protecting the frontiers, and he will take all such reasonable measures as in his judgement the case may require,
[Page] 128 183
and for which he shall be by the constitution, or by the laws authorized.
He has therefore directed me to inform inform you that in addition to the general measures aforesaid which have been ordered, he has empowered the governor of the western territory and brigadier general Harmar, or either of them to make the arrangement hereafter described for the internal security of the exposed counties.
The said governor and commanding officer, or either of them, will under their hands and seals empower the lieutenants of such counties lying along the ohio, as they shall judge necessary, to call forth the number of militia or rangers hereafter mentioned, and under the regulations prescribed.
1st The said militia or rangers shall not exceed for the internal defence of any county - one subaltern - one serjeant - one corporal - and twelve privates - But such less number may be ordered, as the said governor and commanding officer, or county lieutenant may judge requisite.
[Page] 129 184
2ndy The said militia or rangers, shall during the time of their actual service, receive the following rates of pay, which are the same as is by law established for the regular troops of the United States and militia. (Viz)
Lieutenant.......twenty two dollars
Ensign...........Eighteen dollars
Serjeant.........five dollars [one right brace brackets rates of pay] } p month
Corporal.........four dollars
Private..........three dollars
3rd The said rangers shall be furnished with rations in such manner as the lieutenant of the county shall think proper. The United States will allow for each ration six pence virginia currency or 8 1/3/100 th parts of a dollar. The subaltern to have two, and the non-commissioned and privates one ration each.
4th The lieutenant of each county will be responsible on oath that the said rangers, shall be called into service only in cases of imminent danger; and that they be discharged as soon as the danger shall cease.
That when any service shall have been performed by said rangers, the following evidence
thereof
[Left marginalia written vertically in lower half of page] Secretary of War July 17th 1790 [Image cutoff]ont dismissed - Harmar's campaign permitted
[Page] 130 185
thereof will be required.
1st A return of the names, rank, ages, residence and times of service of each of the said rangers.
2nd A pay abstract or account for the number of the said rangers agreably to the aforesaid return.
3rd An abstract of the rations agreably to the aforesaid return.
4th These papers to be signed and verified upon oath by the lieutenant of the county or commanding officer of the militia who will transmit the same to brigadier general Harmar, or the commanding officer of the troops of the United States on the Ohio.
5th Brigadier general Harmar or the commanding officer of the troops will certify on the said return that the said rangers were ordered into service in pursuance of his authority or the authority of the governor of the western territory.
6th The paymaster of the regiment of regular troops will receive the amount of the said abstracts from the treasury or pay office of the United States and pay the same to the county lieutenants, and the said county lieutenants will pay each of the
[Page] 131 186
rangers respectively taking triplicate receipts for the payments; two of which he must transmit to the paymaster aforesaid, within two months from the time he shall have received the money from the said paymaster, and until the said receipts shall be transmitted to the said paymaster, the lieutenants of the counties will be held responsible for the sums they may have received or such proportions thereof for which they shall not have produced receipts from the individual rangers (or their attornies) who performed the service.
And whereas some of the counties may be involved in such immediate danger as not to permit the county lieutenants sufficient time to obtain the authority, herein mentioned, from the said governor or commanding officer: in which case, the county lieutenant may order out the rangers herein mentioned under the regulations prescribed; on condition that as soon as may be, the said lieutenant of the county and two magistrates, make a statement
[Page] 132 187
to the said governor and commanding officer, of the reasons which induced them to order out the said rangers.
This statement will be considered as essential in order that general Harmar or the commanding officer may ground thereon his certificate on the pay abstracts, without which, payment will not be made.
It may perhaps be considered as unnecessary, after stating the vouchers beforementioned to add any further precautions against unnecessarily calling out the rangers before described. But as the said service is at best only to be viewed as an expedient rather temporary and desultory than permanent and regular, it is the earnest desire of the President of the United States, that it should be conducted with the highest œconomy. He therefore has desired that the county lieutenants may be strongly impressed with this idea, as well from a personal regard to themselves, as to the common welfare of the western country and the United States.
If
[Page] 133 188
If the permission now given, be used with great discretion, and only in cases of real necessity, every consideration, will in future justify a more extensive and perfect protection should the situation of the frontiers require the same.
I shall beg that immediately upon your receiving this letter that you will inform me thereof.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedient Humble Servant
[signed] Knox
Secretary of War
The Lieutenant of Ohio County, Virginia
[Left marginalia written vertically in lower half of page]
[undecipherable] Knox
Instructions
Oct 1790
To Col. D. Shepherd