To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 16 July 1808
Washington July 16th. 1808
Sir
I have the honor to inclose my Account of disbursements for Secret Service, pending the Scenes in which I was engaged, in the Autumn 1806 & the Winter 1807: the Items of which I beg leave to explain in the following numerical Order viz.—
No.—1. This Sum is vouched, see No. 1 under cover, & was paid to Establish the Person Employed at the River Trinity, about sixty Miles in the rear of Nacogdoches; to advise me of any reinforcement, which might be sent from the Spanish interior, to aid the operations of Cordero & Hercara.—
No.—2. This Sum is vouched, see no. 2 under cover, & was paid to a foreigner, who pretended a confidential connection with Burr, & engaged to await his arrival at Batton Rouge, should he reach that place, and with the Aid of an Associate, to carry Him off from his Quarters & deliver Him to me in New Orleans.—
No.—3. This Sum advanced Mr. Philip Reibelt, (& was vouched but the receipt is mislaid or lost) to be distributed among certain officers of the police in New Orleans, to engage them to give Information of the Arrival of Strangers, and to make nocturnal visits to the Taverns, Boarding Houses & places of public Assembly, & to report their Observations daily.—
No. 4. This Sum advanced a French Man (& was vouched but the voucher is lost or mislaid together with a Cypher) who resided at Mont El Rey in the Kingdom of New Leon, & accompanied my Agent to the City of Mexico as his Interpreter—This Person whose Name I am bound not to write, but have no Objection to mention to the President, was engaged to advise me of extraordinary Measure in relation to the United States, which might occur in the provinces nearest our frontier; but I have heard by Majr. Pike, that he was at Nacogdoches in a state of duress—
No— 5. This Sum has been accounted for in the Journal transmited the President from New Orleans; and altho’ it is considerable, it was disbursed solely for the Expences of the Individual, who undertook the delicate & arduous Enterprize. All which is respectfully submited to the President for his decision, which the Urgency of my Affairs impels me to hope may be prompt—
With perfect respect I am Sir your faithful & obliged
Ja: Wilkinson
DNA: RG 59—ML—Miscellaneous Letters.
Enclosure
Washington July 16th. 1808
1806. | Account of Secret Service Money appropriated by General James Wilkinson, pending his operations against the Spaniards on the frontier of the Territory of Orleans, and during the Commotion excited by the Sinister designs of Colo. Aaron Burr— Viz. | |||||
Octr 4th. | No. 1. | For So much | $ 800. | } | ||
1807. | ||||||
Jan’y. 4th | “2. | " ditto | 1196. | 396. | ||
March | “3. | " ditto | 200. | |||
" | “4. | " ditto | to wait for voucher | { | 150. | |
" | “5. | " ditto | 1750. | |||
$ 3296. |
certified upon Honor By
Ja: Wilkinson