Employment of Scouts
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Employment of Scouts
Description
Two scouts employed for the protection of frontiers of Washington County, more to be engaged. Scouts will have to be deployed in parties of three or more.
year created
1792
month created
01
day created
16
author
recipient
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Absalom Baird
scouts
Indians
hostiles
Indian Nation
spies
notable location
War Department
Washington County
Pennsylvania
frontier
Virginia
notable idea/issue
protection
document number
1792011640001
page start
1
number of pages
1
transcription
Washington 16th Jany 1792
Sir
I received your letter of the 29th Decr 1791 giving me permission to engage Scouts for the protection of the frontiers of this county. I have imployed two and as soon as the exigency of the case may require shall engage the others. The Frontier of this county extends about eighty or ninety miles owing to the vastness of the upper & lower parts of this county in Virginia which are almost entirely destitute of inhabitants, so that we are obliged in order to defend ourselves to extend our Spies round part of their county. To do the duty of Spy's to advantage it requires at least three together that upon the first discovery of the Enemy one may come in to alarm the inhabitants while the other two follow them to discover where they will [illegible]. If a few more could be allowed us they would be (I think) necessary. I shall from time to time inform you of anything of importance such may be necessary. I am Sir with due respect your most obedt & very Humble Servt A Baird
The Hon H F Knox hq: Secy of War
Sir
I received your letter of the 29th Decr 1791 giving me permission to engage Scouts for the protection of the frontiers of this county. I have imployed two and as soon as the exigency of the case may require shall engage the others. The Frontier of this county extends about eighty or ninety miles owing to the vastness of the upper & lower parts of this county in Virginia which are almost entirely destitute of inhabitants, so that we are obliged in order to defend ourselves to extend our Spies round part of their county. To do the duty of Spy's to advantage it requires at least three together that upon the first discovery of the Enemy one may come in to alarm the inhabitants while the other two follow them to discover where they will [illegible]. If a few more could be allowed us they would be (I think) necessary. I shall from time to time inform you of anything of importance such may be necessary. I am Sir with due respect your most obedt & very Humble Servt A Baird
The Hon H F Knox hq: Secy of War
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (1 pages) | EDD15 (1 pages) | Collection: Draper MSS-Frontier Wars MSS | 4U198 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | NAE08 (0 pages) | Collection: Draper MSS-David Shepherd Papers (SS) | 4U198 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Absalom Baird | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |