Disposition of Indian Forces and Threat of Smallpox
Item
Type
Author's Letterbook Copy
Title
Disposition of Indian Forces and Threat of Smallpox
Description
Wayne discusses a number of matters concerning the garrison at Pittsburgh, including the disposition of Indian forces and the threat of small pox. His plan is to separate those troops who have had the disease from those who have not had it.
year created
1792
month created
07
day created
06
author
sent from location
Pittsburgh
recipient
in collection
in image
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Anthony Wayne
recruits
Judge Addison
Major Ashton
Major Asheton
Captain Cass
Indians
hostile Indians
Captain Brant
British
Captain Brady
woodsmen
Quartermaster General
Colonel Hamilton
Samuel Hodgdon
James O'Hara
notable location
Pittsburgh
Big Beaver
blockhouse
Washington County
Ohio County
the frontiers of Washington & Ohio Counties
New Hampshire
Pittsburgh
Fort Washington
Omee River
notable item/thing
smallpox
inoculation
disease
security
enclosed letters
furlough
resignation
provision
notable idea/issue
weather
disease
peace
war
notable phrase
the Indians can't continue long in any considerable numbers for want of provisions unless they are supplied by the British--the reports are they had assembled to the amount of four thousand at that place about the first of June
schedule of the recruits already marched, and ordered to march
small pox
block house
security to the frontiers of Washington and Ohio Counties
intentions of the hostile Indians with respect to peace or war
some Intelligence from that Quarter by the famous Cap. Brady
the present residence & situation of the Hostile Indians
a kind of clashing between the late Quartermaster General's duty & that of the present
document number
1792070640255
page start
16
transcription
To Gen<sup>l</sup> Knox-N<sup>o</sup>/5/
pittsburgh 6<sup>th</sup> July 1792
Dear Sir, I had the honor of receiving yours of the 22 ultimo , with a schedule of the recruits already marched, and ordered to march;/ after 5 o'clock P.M. the last post Day/ but as it did not require an immediate answer, i did not avail myself of the opportunity of writing to <ins>Judge Addison</ins> There is one disagreeable, circumstance which I omitted to mention in my last, i.e. that the <ins>Small pox</ins> prevails in this place at this warm season, which has occasioned the insulation of ten or twelve Soldiers of the Garrison: I have felt very uneasy, lest there should be a considerable number of the recruits, now advancing, who have not had that disease, as I can't bring myself to again to a constant succession of <ins>inoculation</ins> as the detachments arrive; & to risk their taking it in the natural way would be unpardonable. I have therefore come to this resolution- to seperate those who have not had it-from those who have, previously to their arrival in town, agreeably to the enclosed Copy of a
Letter to major Ashton (who has not yet arrived) there recruits I mean to send to Big Beaver, to take post at the block House, under a competent number of officers--at the same time that they are kept out of the way of what disorder, they will give security to the frontiers of Washington & Ohio Counties, until I have your orders & directions whether to <ins>inoculate</ins> or not.
The inclosed letters from Cap. [Cals?] will inform you of some of the measures taken in this quarter to obtain the intentions of the hostile Indians, with respect to <ins>peace</ins> or <ins>war</ins>: I was not a little astonished at Cap's letter asking for a Furlough to go to New Hampshire, at a period when he cannot well be spared--and at a <ins>crisis</ins> rather delicate, for a soldier to request it--under those circumstances & with those [undecipherable] I am inclined to accept of his resignation, and have therefore left it in his own choice, to continue in the Command of his post--or quit the Service.
Whilst I am writing, your Letter of the 29<sup>th</sup> will--with the inclusions arrived; I rather think
that Captain Brant will be too late at the <ins>Amie river</ins> to be of much Service, as the Indians can't continue long in any considerable numbers for want of provisions, unless they are supplied by the <ins>British</ins> -- the reports are that they had assembled to the amount of <ins>four thousand</ins> at that place about the first of June, however I [homly?] expect some intelligence from that Quarter by the <ins>famous</ins> Cap. Brady -- who with two more active woodsmen, well acquainted with the Country set out from big Beaver, four weeks since, for the purpose of gaining information, of discovering the present residence & situation of the Hostile Indians, of which you shall be duly advised -- at present all is quiet -- You have me sole judge "to direct the Quarter M<sup>c</sup> General to stay at Pittsburgh, or to [repair] to Fort Washington." He will therefore remain here for the present. <ins>apropos</ins> Col.<sup>o</sup> Hamilton maintained that a systematical direction, for that department, I would be made out & forwarded to me -- it has not yet been sent, at this much wanted, there appears a kind of clashing__between the late [Q.<sup>m</sup> M<sup>2</sup>?] Generals duty, & that of the present, therefore, the sooner that department is organized the better.--
I have the honor to be with much Esteem, your most obt & very Huml Serv
Anthy Wayne
The Hon<sup>ble</sup>
Major Genl. Knox--Secy of War.
pittsburgh 6<sup>th</sup> July 1792
Dear Sir, I had the honor of receiving yours of the 22 ultimo , with a schedule of the recruits already marched, and ordered to march;/ after 5 o'clock P.M. the last post Day/ but as it did not require an immediate answer, i did not avail myself of the opportunity of writing to <ins>Judge Addison</ins> There is one disagreeable, circumstance which I omitted to mention in my last, i.e. that the <ins>Small pox</ins> prevails in this place at this warm season, which has occasioned the insulation of ten or twelve Soldiers of the Garrison: I have felt very uneasy, lest there should be a considerable number of the recruits, now advancing, who have not had that disease, as I can't bring myself to again to a constant succession of <ins>inoculation</ins> as the detachments arrive; & to risk their taking it in the natural way would be unpardonable. I have therefore come to this resolution- to seperate those who have not had it-from those who have, previously to their arrival in town, agreeably to the enclosed Copy of a
Letter to major Ashton (who has not yet arrived) there recruits I mean to send to Big Beaver, to take post at the block House, under a competent number of officers--at the same time that they are kept out of the way of what disorder, they will give security to the frontiers of Washington & Ohio Counties, until I have your orders & directions whether to <ins>inoculate</ins> or not.
The inclosed letters from Cap. [Cals?] will inform you of some of the measures taken in this quarter to obtain the intentions of the hostile Indians, with respect to <ins>peace</ins> or <ins>war</ins>: I was not a little astonished at Cap's letter asking for a Furlough to go to New Hampshire, at a period when he cannot well be spared--and at a <ins>crisis</ins> rather delicate, for a soldier to request it--under those circumstances & with those [undecipherable] I am inclined to accept of his resignation, and have therefore left it in his own choice, to continue in the Command of his post--or quit the Service.
Whilst I am writing, your Letter of the 29<sup>th</sup> will--with the inclusions arrived; I rather think
that Captain Brant will be too late at the <ins>Amie river</ins> to be of much Service, as the Indians can't continue long in any considerable numbers for want of provisions, unless they are supplied by the <ins>British</ins> -- the reports are that they had assembled to the amount of <ins>four thousand</ins> at that place about the first of June, however I [homly?] expect some intelligence from that Quarter by the <ins>famous</ins> Cap. Brady -- who with two more active woodsmen, well acquainted with the Country set out from big Beaver, four weeks since, for the purpose of gaining information, of discovering the present residence & situation of the Hostile Indians, of which you shall be duly advised -- at present all is quiet -- You have me sole judge "to direct the Quarter M<sup>c</sup> General to stay at Pittsburgh, or to [repair] to Fort Washington." He will therefore remain here for the present. <ins>apropos</ins> Col.<sup>o</sup> Hamilton maintained that a systematical direction, for that department, I would be made out & forwarded to me -- it has not yet been sent, at this much wanted, there appears a kind of clashing__between the late [Q.<sup>m</sup> M<sup>2</sup>?] Generals duty, & that of the present, therefore, the sooner that department is organized the better.--
I have the honor to be with much Esteem, your most obt & very Huml Serv
Anthy Wayne
The Hon<sup>ble</sup>
Major Genl. Knox--Secy of War.
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | DTB01 (266 pages) | Collection: Anthony Wayne Letterbooks Vol.1-3 | V: 1 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Anthony Wayne | Pittsburgh | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |