Author's Letterbook Copy

Worthlessness of Peace Council; Necessity of Keeping Force in Readiness

Wayne proclaims that the terms of the peace council were so demeaning as to render them worthless. More than ever he proposes a state of readiness that will enable the Legion to move against the Indians at the earliest possible time, pending Congressional and public reaction to the affair at Ft. St. Clair.

1792

12

21

Legion Ville

Spans Images 152-153 of this collection.

Henry xxxx Knox

Anthony Wayne

hostile tribes

friendly Indians

Congress

Mr. Simcoes Legion of 2500 men

Queens Rangers

Guard to the Governor

the Council

Smally

Legion Ville

the Shipyards near Fort Erie

Wheeling

Fort St. Clair

dictatorial terms of Peace from the hostile tribes

insolent propositions from the friendly Indians

the waters of the Lakes

the affair of the 6th of November

depredations within seven miles of this place

Smally's information

we ought more than ever to seize every favorable opportunity in taking new advanced ground & striking at them in every quarter within our reach by volunteer desultory parties--

1792122140055

152

N^o. 36. To Major Gen^l Knox.
Sec^y of War.


Legion Ville 21st Dec:^r 1792.

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge <s>the</s> your letter of the 7th instant with the enclosures. -

The dictatorial terms of Peace from the hostile tribes, together with the insolent propositions from the friendly Indians respecting part of the Commissioners maps, plans, papers & supply of provision, carries such strong features of B-h policy, interest & influence that I should be induced to conclude there will not be a single member in either house of Congress, who will not see thro this cobweb, insidious state intrigue, by which we are to be excluded from the waters of the Lakes; it may also answer another purpose: i.e. to enable them to comply with part of the conditions upon which M:^r Simcoes Legion of 2,500. men are to obtain their bounty of Land. at the expiration of five years, the term for which they are enlisted. - if my information is true, & I have no cause at present to doubt it - there are bout seven hundred of that Legion (or Queens Rangers) hutted at a place called the Shipyards near Fort Erie, who probably will attend as a Guard to the Governor, should there really be a treaty - that business will probably be out of the question if it ever was intended. - the affair of
of the 6th. of November, which by my calculation was at least four weeks after the Council actually broke up, and it is said with a determination to <ins>continue</ins> hostile - be that as it may, they most certainly made their appearance nearly about the same time & committed depredations within seven miles of this place, at Weeling & at Fort St. Clair. -

Upon the whole, I am rather inclined to believe that Smally's information is the true state of facts notwithstanding that the other would seem to bear strong marks of authenticity were it done away by the continuation of ferocious hostilities. -

I could say much upon this subject to shew, that so far from remaining inactive, that we ought <ins> more than ever</ins> to seize every favorable opportunity in taking new advanced ground & striking at them in every quarter within our reach by voluntier desultory parties. - but I wish first to know the effect which the affair of Fort St. Clair has on the public mind or, rather that of Congress. -

Interim, I am with sincere esteem

your most obed^t.

hum^l Servant

Ant^y Wayne

the Hon^ble

Maj. Gen^l H. Knox.

Sec^y of war.