Instructions to Capt. Guion Concerning Management of U.S. Posts in U.S.-Florida Border Region

Item

Type

Letter Signed

Title

Instructions to Capt. Guion Concerning Management of U.S. Posts in U.S.-Florida Border Region

Description

Directs Capt. Guion to see that the terms of the treaty with Spain concerning the border region between the U.S. and Spanish Florida are enforced. Specifically mentions: keeping Indians under U.S. jurisdiction from attacking Spaniards; keeping U.S. posts in a condition to resist attack ("as though at war"); various articles of management of the posts; gaining the goodwill of the inhabitants, Spanish and Indian; and drawing funds to pay reenlisting troops or muster new ones.

year created

1797

month created

06

day created

15

author

sent from location

War Office

recipient

sent to location

Natchez

in image

note

Cited in McHenry to Guion, 07/13/1797, McHenry to Guion, 07/27/1797, and Guion to McHenry, 08/20/1797. This Claliborne collection contains three copies of this document -- the signed recipient copy, a duplicate, and another contemporary copy. In addition, there are two other copies available : Document 2 in Report by the Secretary of War to the President, 06/30/1797--one a manuscript version, the other printed.

cited note

Cited document sent from the War Office

notable person/group

Isaac Guion
James McHenry
Spanish
Indians
Catholic Majesty
President of the United States

notable location

Natchez
War Office

notable idea/issue

keeping Indians under U.S. jurisdiction from attacking Spaniards
keeping U.S. posts in a condition to resist attack
articles of management of the posts
gaining the goodwill of the inhabitants: drawing funds to pay reenlisting troops or muster new ones

notable phrase

as though at war

document number

1797061500101

page start

1

number of pages

4

transcription

2nd Sepr G W
Received the 26th July at the Bluffs
[illegible] 15th June. No. 1
No 1 of 15th June 1797
Sergt Campbell
From James McHenry
Secy War
15th June 1797
To Capt Gunion
of [illegible]
41
War Office 15 June 1797.
Sir,
Should this dispatch find you where I expect it will, at the Natchez, [ink blot] Garrison still in possession of the works at that place, you will [blot] in communicating to the commanding Officer there the enclosed copy of a message from the President of the United States to Congress, and to the Inhabitants of the Natchez its contents, that both may be fully possessed of the intentions of Government. You will also inform the Spanish Commandant that you are instructed to pay the strictest attention to the engagements the United States have entered into by the treaty with his Catholic Majesty; to permit the demolition of the works; to use your utmost endeavours to preserve a continuance of the pacific dispositions of the Indians' within our limits towards the subjects of his Catholic Majesty on his Indians, and to prevent their commencing hostilities of which there is no appearance against either, conformably to the fifth article of the said treaty. That you flatter yourself after these candid assurances, that you will have the immediate pleasure to announce to the President, a full compliance with the treaty on the part of the Commander of his Catholic Majestys forces within the United States.
With
With respect to the Government of your posts. You will keep the Works always in a condition to resist attacks; practise the same precautions against surprize as if the United States were actually in war; fix upon regular and stated hours for exercise; pay the strictest attention to the arms, accoutrements and Clothing of the men; direct four Roll Calls every day; viz the first at Sunrise, the second at the hour of dinner, the third at that of supper and the fourth an hour after retreat by a a visit made to their huts or quarters by a Sublaltern Officer; have the sick and the Soldiers quarters visited everyday by a Subaltern Officer who shall examine into their situation, see there is nothing out of orders; that their provisions are wholesome and well cooked; that no quarrels exist among them, that they do not game, get drunk or commit debaucheries. You will also examine, in conjunction with the next Officer in command, once very Month, the state of the Works, Barracks, Huts, Magazines, public buildings Stores of every description and all articles the property of the United States, and make a written report thereof to the Secretary of War to be sent as often as occasions or opportunities may offer.
With respect to your general conduct. You will endeavour to gain the good will of the civil Officers and inhabitants of the district, without losing sight of those measures necessary to be inforced for the preservation of the peace of the frontier, and will as far as in your power be kind and attentive to such of the Indians as may visit you. --
As
As the times of service of some of the Soldiers of your detachment may expire who maybe inclined to reinlist, I enclose you inlisting instructions and authorize you to draw on me for such sums as may be necessary to keep up this complement of your command by fresh inlistments either of old soldiers or others
I am Sir with respect Your obed servant
James McHenry
Captain Isaac Guion


War Office, June 15 1797
Sir,
Should this dispatch find you where I expect it will, at the Natchez, and the Spanish Garrison still in possession of the works at that place, you will be pleased to lose no time in communicating to the Commanding Officer there, the enclosed copy of a Message from the President of the United States to Congress, and to the Inhabitants of the Natchez it's contents, that both may be fully possessed of the intention of Government. You will also inform the Spanish Commander that you are instructed to pay the strictest attention to the Engagements the United States have entered into by the Treaty with his Catholic Majesty, to permit the demolition of the Works; to use your utmost endeavour to preserve a continuance of the pacific dispositions of the Indians within our lines towards the subjects of his Catholic Majesty or his Indians, & to prevent their commencing hostilities (of which there is no appearance) against either, conformably to the fifth Article of the said Treaty. That you flatter yourself after these candid assurances, that you will have the immediate pleasure to announce to the President a full compliance with the treaty on the part of the Commander of his Catholic Majesty's force within the United States.
With respect to the Government of your posts. You will keep the works always in a condition to resist attacks;
practice
practise the same precautions against surprize as if the United States were actually in War; fix upon regular and stated hours for exercise; pay the strictest attention to the Arms, Accoutrements and Clothing of the Men; direct four Roll calls every day, viz: the first at Sun-rise, the second at the hour of dinner, the third at that of Supper, and the fourth an hour after retreat by a visit made to their huts or quarters by a Subaltern Officer; have the Sick and the Soldiers quarters visited every day by a Subaltern Officer who shall examine into their situation, see there is nothing out of order, that their provisions are wholesome and well cooked; that no quarrels exist amonth them, that they do not game, get drunk or commit Debaucheries. You will also examine in conjunction with the next Officer in command, once every month the state of the works, Barracks, Huts, Magazines, public buildings, Stores of every description and all Articles the property of the United States and make a written report thereof to the Secretary of War to be sent as often as occasions or opportunities may offer.
With respect to your general conduct. You will endeavour to gain the good will of the civil Officers and Inhabitants of the district without losing sight of those measures necessary to be enforced for the preservation of the peace of the frontier and will as far as in your power be kind and attentive to such of the Indians as may visit you.
As the times of Service of some of the Soldiers of your detachment may expire who may be inclined to re-inlist,
I
I enclose you inlisting Instructions and authorize you to draw on me for such Sums as may be necessary to keep up the Complement of your Command by fresh inlistments either of old Soldiers or others.
I am Sir with respect, Your obedt servant.
(signed) James McHenry
Capt. Isaac Guion
Copy
Jno Stagg Junr
[illegible] from the Secretary of War to Captain Isacc Guion
15 June 1797
[illegible]
42
War Office 15 June 1797
Copy [left margin] (Solid)
Sir
Should this dispatch find you where I expect ti will at the Natchez, and the Spanish Garrison still in possession of the works at that place, you will be pleased to lose no time in communicating to the commanding officers there the inclosed copy of a message from the President of the United States to Congress, and to the Inhabitants of the Natchez its Contents, that both may be fully possessed of the intentions of Government -- you will also inform the Spanish Commandant that you are instructed to pay the strictest attention to the engagements, the United States have entered into by the treaty with his Catholic Majesty to permit the demolition of the Work; to use your utmost andeavours to preserve a continuance of the pacific disposition of the Indians within our limits towards the subjects of his Catholic Majesty or his Indians, and to prevent their commencing hostilities (of which there is no appearance) against either, con-
[con]formity to the fifth article of the said Treaty, that you flatter yourself after these candid assurances, that you will have the immediate pleasure to announce to the President a full compliance with the treaty on the part of the Commandant of his Catholic Majestys forces within the United States.
With respect to the government of your Posts, you will keep the works always in a condition to resist attacks; practice the same precautions against surprize as if the United States were actually in War; fix upon regular and sated hours for exercise, pay the strictest attention to the arms accoutrements and clothing of the men - direct four rolls calls every day, viz the first at sunrise, the second at the hour of dinner - the third at that of supper, and the fourth an hour after retreat, by a visit made to their huts or quarters by a Subaltern Officer; - have the sick and the Soldiers quarters visited every day by a Subaltern Officer who shall examine into their situation; see there is nothing out of order - that their provisions are wholesome and well cooked
that no quarrels exist among them - that they do not game, get drunk or commit debauchries. You will also examine in conjunction with the next officer in command, once every month, the state of the Works, barracks, hutts, magazines, public buildings stores of every description and all articles the property of the United States and make a written report thereof to the Secretary of War, to be sent as often as occasion or opportunities may offer.
With respect to your general conduct you will endeavour to gain the good will of the civil officers and Inhabitants of the district, without losing sight of the measures necessary to be inforced for the preservation of the peace of the frontier, and will as far as in your power be kind and attentive to such of the Indians as may visit you --
As the times of service of some of the soldiers of your detachment may expire, who may be inclined to reinlist I inclose you inlisting instructions, and authorize you to draw on me for such sums as may be necessary to keep up the complement of your command, by frest inlistments either of old soldiers or others -- I am his &c James McHenry
Capt. Isaac Gunion

Item sets

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (14 pages) EWD06 (14 pages) Collection: Clairborne (JFH) Collection Guion Letters & Papers, B:10

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author James McHenry War Office [n/a]
Recipient Isaac Guion Natchez [n/a]