Instructions on Supplying Indians
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Instructions on Supplying Indians
Description
Order to provide supplies to Wolf Friend and his party not authorized therefore compensation for supplied denied but settled after discussion with Wilkinson. Hereafter all requests by unauthorized persons to supply Indians will be denied. Specific instructions on how to deal with Indian interactions detailed.
year created
1799
month created
12
day created
12
author
sent from location
War Department
recipient
sent to location
Nashville, N.W. Territory
in collection
in image
notable person/group
James Robertson
James McHenry
General Winchester
Wolf Friend
party
General Wilkinson
Indians
Indian Nation
superintendent
agent
President
notable location
Nashville, N.W. Territory
War Department
North Western Territory
frontier
notable item/thing
supplies
supply
rations
instructions
requisition
visit
journey
notable idea/issue
compensation
Indian relations
reimbursement
deny
claim
authorization
document number
1799121200401
page start
1
transcription
James McHenery
letter
1799
War Department
December 12, 1799
Sir
I have received your letter dated Nashville the
9th September last covering one from General Winchester to you dated
the 22nd November 1797.
These letters relate to an account for Supplies furnished the Wolf
Friend and his party, by your order which was heretofore presented to
this Department, and refused payment on the ground that you had no
authority to give the order and that no circumstances appeared, to show
the propriety of furnishing the supply.
In response of a representation made to me by General
Wilkinson. I have recently directed the settlement of this account, but
to refuse settlements of all accounts for supplies to Indians, furnished by
other than authorized persons, or by their special direction.
Superintendants and Agents now reside in, or near most of the
Indian Nations charged to attend to their wants and concerns. These
however act under special Instructions and they even have no authority
to direct such Supplies as have been furnished under your requisition.
If Indians will visit the Seat of Government without previous permis-
sion obtained from the president _ they must be suffered to get along as
well
[Ac.No 923]
well as they can. If their visit is authorized it must be left with them
duly instructed to facilitate their Journey. In both cases it is not expected
that Individuals will interfere, or if they do it must be at their own expense
you will perceive that were a different rule to prevail every Gentleman
living upon the Indian Frontiers or exposed to their visits might conceive
having to have a claim upon Government to be re-imbursed for what
ever he might think it necessary to furnish them to acquire their good
will, to avoid their depredation or facilitate their journies (whether au
thorized or otherwise) to the president or elsewhere. It is requisite to
put an end to all such expectations in future. I request that you
will excuse this free communication and ascribe it to its proper cause
and not to want of confidence in you.
I am Sir,
with great at
Your obedt. Servant,
James McHenry
General James Robertson
Nashville
N.W. Territory
letter
1799
War Department
December 12, 1799
Sir
I have received your letter dated Nashville the
9th September last covering one from General Winchester to you dated
the 22nd November 1797.
These letters relate to an account for Supplies furnished the Wolf
Friend and his party, by your order which was heretofore presented to
this Department, and refused payment on the ground that you had no
authority to give the order and that no circumstances appeared, to show
the propriety of furnishing the supply.
In response of a representation made to me by General
Wilkinson. I have recently directed the settlement of this account, but
to refuse settlements of all accounts for supplies to Indians, furnished by
other than authorized persons, or by their special direction.
Superintendants and Agents now reside in, or near most of the
Indian Nations charged to attend to their wants and concerns. These
however act under special Instructions and they even have no authority
to direct such Supplies as have been furnished under your requisition.
If Indians will visit the Seat of Government without previous permis-
sion obtained from the president _ they must be suffered to get along as
well
[Ac.No 923]
well as they can. If their visit is authorized it must be left with them
duly instructed to facilitate their Journey. In both cases it is not expected
that Individuals will interfere, or if they do it must be at their own expense
you will perceive that were a different rule to prevail every Gentleman
living upon the Indian Frontiers or exposed to their visits might conceive
having to have a claim upon Government to be re-imbursed for what
ever he might think it necessary to furnish them to acquire their good
will, to avoid their depredation or facilitate their journies (whether au
thorized or otherwise) to the president or elsewhere. It is requisite to
put an end to all such expectations in future. I request that you
will excuse this free communication and ascribe it to its proper cause
and not to want of confidence in you.
I am Sir,
with great at
Your obedt. Servant,
James McHenry
General James Robertson
Nashville
N.W. Territory
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (3 pages) | CYF11 (3 pages) | Collection: James Robertson Papers | 4, 12 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | James McHenry | War Department | [n/a] |
| Recipient | General James Robertson | Nashville, N.W. Territory | [n/a] |