Circular Letter to the Lieutenants of Counties of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky
Item
Type
Contemporary Copy of Letter
Title
Circular Letter to the Lieutenants of Counties of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky
Description
Refers to order of the President to authorize power in the case of imminent danger from Indians on the western frontier. That power has now been rescinded. Experience has showed that defensive means do not succeed. Speculates that the Shawaneese and Cherokees are the banditti. Seeks to rotate authority for militia. The President is anxious to protect the frontier and will take any reasonable measure. County lieutenants shall determine local needs. Establishes details, pay.
short description
Circular Letter to the Lieutenants of Counties of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky
year created
1790
month created
07
day created
17
author
secondary recipient
in collection
in image
recipient note
Beverly Randolph; William Harrison.
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Indians
George Washington
Patrols
Scouts
Militias
Arthur St. Clair
Shawanese
Cherokees
banditti
Brigadier General Josiah Harmar
County Lieutenants
Subaltern
Sergeant
Corporal
Private
Ensign
Paymaster
rangers
Commanding Officer
notable location
War Office
Western Frontier
Western Territory
Ohio River
Virginia
Treasury
Pay Office
Washington County
Pennsylvania
Harrison County
Randolph County
Ohio County
Monongahela County
Kenhawa County
Russell County
Virginia
Mason County
Bourbon County
Woodford County
Madison County
Lincoln County
Mercer County
Nelson County
Jefferson County
Kentucky
notable item/thing
cases of imminent danger
conditional orders
depredations
internal security
rates of pay
rations
Virginia currency
return of the names, rank, ages, residence, and times of service
pay abstract
account
abstract of rations
return
payments
receipts
vouchers
conducted with the highest economy
notable phrase
experience has demonstrated the inefficacy of defensive measures for an extensive frontier
document number
1790071700101
page start
1
transcription
(Duplicate)
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, certain species of patroles, denominated scouts, at the expence of the United States.
I have now the honor, by the 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 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 Shawanese and outcast Cherokees, joined with them, inhabiting Northwest 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 Union, 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 judgment the case may require, and for which he shall be by the constitution, or by the laws authorised.
He has therefore directed me to 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.
2nd 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 the militia, viz:
Lieutenant - twenty two dollars
Ensign - eighteen dollors
Serjeant - five dollars [vertical line brackets all of the rates of pay] } per 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 sixpence Virginia currency, or eight and one third hundredth
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 will be required.
1st a return of the names, rank, ages, residence and times of service of each of the said rangers
2d a pay abstract or account for the number of said rangers agreeably to the aforesaid return
3d an abstract of the rations agreeably 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 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 these 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 lieutenants may order out the rangers herein mentioned, under the regulations prescribed, on condition that as soon as may be, the said lieutenants of the county and two magistrates, make a statement 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 payments will not be made.
It may perhaps be considered as necessary, after stating the vouchers before mentioned, 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 considered with the highest oeconomy. 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 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
(Circular)
To the Lieutenants of the County of Washington - Pennsylvania} and Harrison, Randolph, Ohio, Monangahalia, Kenhawa and Russell in Virginia, and Mason, Bourbon, Woodford, Madison, Lincoln, Mercer, Nelson and Jefferson in Kentuckey.
Indorsed
"Copy of a circular letter written by the Secretary of War to the lieutenants of the counties of Washington in Pennsylva, and Harrison, Randolph, Ohio, Monongahalia, Kenhawa & Russell in Virginia, and Mason, Bourbon, Woodford, Madison, Lincoln, Mercer, Nelson & Jefferson in Kentuckey -- those to Penna & Virginia dated ye 17th July, those to Kentuckey ye 29th 1790
134 189
Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War to the county Lieutenants of Harrison, Randolph, Ohio, and Monongalia dated 17th July 1790:
"That when any service shall have been performed by said Rangers, the following evidence thereof will be required
1st A return of the names, rank, ages, residence and times of service of each of the said Rangers.
2d A pay abstract or account for the number of said Rangers agreeably to the aforesaid return.
3d An abstract of the rations agreeably 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 sums 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
135. 190
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 Lieutenant, and the said county Lieutenant will pay each of the 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
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, certain species of patroles, denominated scouts, at the expence of the United States.
I have now the honor, by the 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 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 Shawanese and outcast Cherokees, joined with them, inhabiting Northwest 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 Union, 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 judgment the case may require, and for which he shall be by the constitution, or by the laws authorised.
He has therefore directed me to 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.
2nd 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 the militia, viz:
Lieutenant - twenty two dollars
Ensign - eighteen dollors
Serjeant - five dollars [vertical line brackets all of the rates of pay] } per 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 sixpence Virginia currency, or eight and one third hundredth
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 will be required.
1st a return of the names, rank, ages, residence and times of service of each of the said rangers
2d a pay abstract or account for the number of said rangers agreeably to the aforesaid return
3d an abstract of the rations agreeably 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 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 these 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 lieutenants may order out the rangers herein mentioned, under the regulations prescribed, on condition that as soon as may be, the said lieutenants of the county and two magistrates, make a statement 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 payments will not be made.
It may perhaps be considered as necessary, after stating the vouchers before mentioned, 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 considered with the highest oeconomy. 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 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
(Circular)
To the Lieutenants of the County of Washington - Pennsylvania} and Harrison, Randolph, Ohio, Monangahalia, Kenhawa and Russell in Virginia, and Mason, Bourbon, Woodford, Madison, Lincoln, Mercer, Nelson and Jefferson in Kentuckey.
Indorsed
"Copy of a circular letter written by the Secretary of War to the lieutenants of the counties of Washington in Pennsylva, and Harrison, Randolph, Ohio, Monongahalia, Kenhawa & Russell in Virginia, and Mason, Bourbon, Woodford, Madison, Lincoln, Mercer, Nelson & Jefferson in Kentuckey -- those to Penna & Virginia dated ye 17th July, those to Kentuckey ye 29th 1790
134 189
Extract of a letter from the Secretary of War to the county Lieutenants of Harrison, Randolph, Ohio, and Monongalia dated 17th July 1790:
"That when any service shall have been performed by said Rangers, the following evidence thereof will be required
1st A return of the names, rank, ages, residence and times of service of each of the said Rangers.
2d A pay abstract or account for the number of said Rangers agreeably to the aforesaid return.
3d An abstract of the rations agreeably 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 sums 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
135. 190
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 Lieutenant, and the said county Lieutenant will pay each of the 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
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (10 pages) | DAA10 (10 pages) | Collection: Alfred T. Goodman Papers | C: 1, F: 11 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: George R. Clark Papers | V: 52-55 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Lieutenants of Counties in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky | [unknown] | [n/a] |