Newberry Library - Ninian Edwards letters, 1813-1814

Title Ninian Edwards letters, 1813-1814

Date 1813-1814

Place United States, United States--Old Northwest

Subjects Frontier and pioneer life, Indians of North America, Military service, Voluntary

Summary Six letters, Mar. 7, 1813 - Apr. 4, 1814, from Ninian Edwards to Kentucky governor and soldier Isaac Shelby, regarding War of 1812-related Indian attacks in the Illinois Territory and the state of defenses there. 1813 letters discuss mounted volunteer companies raised by Edwards, British intentions regarding the upper Mississippi, Indian attacks on settlers in the U.S. Saline and elsewhere, etc. Warning of an impending Indian-British offensive on Illinois Territory, Edwards' 1814 letters list the numbers of warriors in each tribe available for such a campaign, protest the untimely withdrawl of regular troops from the region, and request the military assistance of Kentuckians.

Biographical/Historical Note Lawyer, governor of Illinois Territory, and U.S. senator and governor of the state of Illinois. Born in 1775 in Maryland, and educated at Dickinson College, Ninian Edwards moved in 1795 to Kentucky, where he practiced law and entered state politics. President Madison appointed Edwards governor of the new Illinois Territory in 1809 and he held office until 1818, when the territory became a state. During the War of 1812, Edwards was active in securing the defense of Illinois against Indian incursions. He raised and personally supported mounted militia companies to patrol the perimeters of settlement and led an offensive against the Indians near Peoria in 1812. Following service as a U.S. senator, 1818-1824, and as governor, 1826-1830, Edwards died of cholera in Belleville, Ill., July 20, 1833.

Extent 0.1 linear feet (1 folder)

Format Correspondence, Manuscripts

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection, Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection

Link to Catalog View record

BibID 129888

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 2132px × 3535px 21.59 MB

File Created 09/08/2023

Filename 991298888805867_Ayer_MS_401_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11OKSZ

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