Newberry Library - Letters and appointment 1792-1795

Title Letters and appointment 1792-1795

Date 1792-1795

Place Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh, United States--Old Northwest

Subjects Cherokee Indians, Indians of North America, Northwest, Old, Shawnee Indians, United States

Description Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
formerly known as Ayer MS 967.
formerly known as Ayer MS 968-969.

Summary Three letters, 1792-1795, and one appointment, July 1, 1793, regarding Indian affairs in the Northwest Territory and preparations for war. To Secretary of War Knox on Oct. 3, 1792, Wayne comments that there will be no peace with the Indians unless the U.S. agrees to a boundary line excluding it from the Great Lakes region. On Sept. 4, 1793, Wayne excerpts a letter from Henry Knox to inform Charles Scott, major general of the Kentucky mounted militia, that while preparations for war were to proceed, there were to be no actions that would jeopardize the efforts of the peace commissioners. In the third letter, written Aug. 19, 1795, to Northwest Territory Governor Arthur St. Clair, Wayne reports that he has received a talk from the Cherokees in which they promised to refrain from attacks on U.S. citizens or their property and to return from north of the Ohio to their own nation. Wayne also notes that the depradations of a Shawnee war party would cease and that citizens of the frontier would now be able to live in peace unless their misconduct prevented it. The appointment lists officers selected to command the Kentucky mounted militia, including Charles Scott, and requests that troops be raised and made ready to march.

Biographical/Historical Note Soldier of the Revolutionary War and early republic. In April, 1792, Wayne was appointed major-general in command of the American army in the Northwest Territory (Legion of the United States). He spent 1792 and 1793 first in Pittsburgh and later at Hobson's Choice and Fort Greenville, Ohio, organizing and training his forces for war against the Indians. When U.S. peace commissioners returned in late August, 1793, after having declined to meet with the Indians who demanded an Ohio River boundary with the U.S., Wayne was free to begin his successful military campaign, which culminated in the Battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) and the Treaty of Greenville (1795).

Extent 4 items (3 folders) ; 34 cm or smaller

Format Appointments, Correspondence, Records

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 966

BibID 148608

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2555px × 4001px 29.27 MB

Filename 991486088805867_Ayer_MS_966_fol_001_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11ICXR