Petition of Samuel B. Turner

Item

Type

Copy of Signed Document

Title

Petition of Samuel B. Turner

Description

In considering the petition of Samuel B. Turner, Knox wrestles with the question as to whether a prisoner of the Indians should receive full pay and emoluments while in captivity and also be rembursed the amount of his ransom. While refusing to establish a general precedent for such cases, he concludes that the $42 requested by Turner is not unreasonable.

year created

1792

month created

05

day created

01

author

sent from location

War Department

in image

notable person/group

Henry Knox
Samuel B. Turner, Ensign of the Maryland Battalion of Levies
Major General St. Clair
prisoner of the Indians
French trader
Major Smith
Colonel Gordon
civilized enemy
savage enemy

notable location

War Department
Indian towns
Detroit
Niagara

notable item/thing

greatest humanity
credit
prompt payment of the ransom
expenses attending his captivity
vouchers
the late war
pay and subsistence
extra expenses
medical assistance
rations
personal risk
sacrifice to savage fury
exorbitant charges
impulse of a generous mind
new principle unsupported by the practice of the late war
full pay and emoluments
disagreeable consequences

notable phrase

If the Indians were certain of a prompt payment of the ransom, they would probably be induced to spare the lives of their prisoners.

document number

1792050100001

page start

1

Transcribe this document

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (5 pages) NMO05 (5 pages) Collection: Transcribed Reports and Communications Transmitted by the Executive Branch to the Senate, 1789-1819. (RG46) (M1257, rolls 1-3) M1257, rolls 1-3

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author Henry Knox War Department [n/a]
Recipient United States Senate [unknown] [n/a]