1To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 10 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
About ten years ago I received from your hands a letter that might then be termed admonitory & prophetic. Now seems to be the time to lessen British influence so as to render American independence secure & permanent. “ British subjects , and American trading on English capitals ,” have rendered a large proportion of our fellow Citizens Tenants at Will; or mere peasants; a short War will revive...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 17 January 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the acquisition of the Country West of the Missisippi I have often indulged myself in contemplations of the future greatness of the United States, different from any conceptions I had of the subject in former years. The thing is new in the annals of the World. The great matter now is, to make the wonderful event, a blessing to the human race. With this impression on my mind, I most...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 4 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Of all your old Friends, none can more sincerely rejoice than I, on your elevation to preside in the Councils of the American People. Not so much from personal feelings, or a local attachment; but from a confidence, that you will restore the administration of their government, to the original principles of the Revolution: to the dignity of the Rights of Man. Minute Philosophers, and...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 2 February 1798 (Jefferson Papers)
Your very friendly letter of September last aroused my watchfulness, and induced a recurrence to first principles and first practices I have now more than a suspicion that a Counter revolution is aimed at.—A judicious person lately said “that a certain Foreign Minister had a more regular intelligence by means of the post-offices than the President or Vice-President of the United States.”—I...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 10 December 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to send you some political items received from Correspondents that may amuse you in a leisure moment. They may only be the effusions of the writers on hearing of so important an event . May not all our fears of a war with France now evanish. Let republicans in America also take an erect attitude. Let them loudly proclaim their principles, and unite their voices with their...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 30 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the first instant came safe to hand, by last Post. I have read it over and again, and will treasure up the ideas. We have but little of the party spirit in the Western Country when compared with the great Towns, but we have seen and felt too much. A jealousy must be awakened, and a resistance to foreign influence formed, or we may ere long repent our torpid state as a People. We...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Arthur Campbell, 1 September 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege the reciept of your favor of July 4. and to recognise in it the sentiments you have ever held, and worthy of the day on which it is dated. It is true that a party has risen up among us, or rather has come among us, which is endeavoring to separate us from all friendly connection with France, to unite our destinies with those of Great Britain, and to assimilate our...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 4 July 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Peace being happily restored on the Western Frontier, I had form’d the design of living in quiet, the remainder of my days, that is to decline writing, or almost thinking, of politics. But again we see our Country verging to an eventful crisis. I am fill’d with anxiety respecting her liberty, and independence, lest they are lost, and with them the happiness of so many Millions of the human...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 29 November 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
On my way here I shewed Colo. Preston the tooth I sent you. At first sight, before I told him where it was found, he give it as his opinion that it was of the same animal as those found near the Ohio, a tooth of which he had obtained above 30 years ago and thinks it was sent to England. Doctor Lee says it is the same species, of that sent to England from the Ohio, that being a member, he was...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 7 November 1782 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me to present to you a large Jaw tooth of an unknown Animal lately found at the Salina in Washington County. The Salina lyes near that branch of the Cherokee River called North Holstein in a Plain or Meadow ground of about three Miles in circumference surrounded by a number of high round Hills or Knobs: in the center of the Meadow is a Pond of Water, adjoining it is a Marsh except in...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 20 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I send by this conveyance part of the Papers you desired in your Letter of the 23d. of May last . I have not yet received those that are in the hands of the Carolinia Officers, but this being so good an oppertunity I am desirous of forwarding what I have, at the same time you will please to consider them as sent to you as a private Gentleman or a member of the Philosophical Society, and not as...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 15 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Washington [ co. ] 15 June 1781 . Encloses a letter from Joseph Martin which explains the reference in Campbell’s letter of 4 June “respecting an attack from the Indians and Tories from the South”; in that letter Martin informs Campbell that about 300 Indians are on their way to attend the proposed treaty; recommends that Campbell come immediately; has sent an express to Col. Sevier to come as...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 4 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Okana-Stotes Baggage was first possessed by a detachment mostly Carolinians. The Medals, Belts of Wampum said to be of curious construction were secreted. Colo. Martin has lately purchased one of the Belts; curious enough, he says the wampum in it will answer the purposes at the Treaty (if any). A number of Papers, some curious and perhaps interesting were delivered to me, others I hear is...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 4 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
This day your Orders of the 28th. of May came to hand, and I am sorry our situation at present is such that I have but a small prospect of forwarding the aid required. The murmuring and distresses occasioned by the misconduct of Commissaries and the want of pay for Militia services performed last year, together with the dread a Man commonly has to leave his Family exposed to the danger of...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 25 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose for your Excellencys information a Letter just received from Colo. Martin and another from Major Lewis whom I had instructed to drive off the Indians from their haunts near Cumberland Gap. I have no hopes now that the Cherokees will sue for Peace whilst Augusta in Georgia is in the enemies hands and they can receive supplies from thence; several hundred of the Indian Women and...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Arthur Campbell, 17 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We are sorry it is not in our power to send you the Commissions desired for two Sets of Field Officers. The Act of Assembly allows this only where there are 1,000 Militia in a County and the last Return from yours makes them only 829. Should they be increased to the number required by Law we shall be glad on receiving a return thereof to issue the Commissions desired. Captain Kincaid receives...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 4 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Washington [ County, Va. ], 4 Apr, 1781 . A company to patrol Powell’s Valley was obtained only with difficulty because of the lack of money and the non-payment of the militia for former services. “The Captain solicits me to apply for one Months pay for the men.” If TJ will give an order for payment, “the bearer Capt. Kincaid will give the necessary obligations for its just application.” He...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 28 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last, about 150 Voluntiers from the Wattago have penetrated the Cherokee middle Settlements, destroyed three principal Towns with some scattering Villages, killed upwards of twenty Indians, and brought off fifteen Prisoners, mostly Children. Another Body of Men are now about seting out from this, and Sullivan County to endeavour to drive the enemy from their haunts in the Cumberland...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 28 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellencies Orders of the 15th. day of February came to hand the 23d. and on the 25th. a few odds of one hundred Men under Colo. Wm. Campbell set out to join the Militia of Botetourt and Montgomery on their march to join our Southern army: previous steps having been taken, on hearing the enemy were advancing towards Virginia, to have them in readiness. A larger number would have gone,...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Arthur Campbell, 17 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your several favours by Mr. Lathim and am much pleased at the happy issue of the expedition against the Cherokees. I wish it to be used for the purpose of bringing about peace, which under our present circumstances is as necessary for us as it can possibly be to them. If you can effect this a right should be reserved of building a fort at the confluence of Holston and...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 12 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Late dispatches from General Greene and various Letters from Officers in Carolinia entreats the aid of the Mountain Militia, and I have taken the liberty once more to order them out notwithstanding their circumstances ill suits such a tour now. Matters yet unsettled with the Cherokees, and the Northwards already begun to annoy us; but altho, we have these, and other difficulties to combat...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 7 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It now appears that the Indians that attacked Blackmores Fort, as mentioned in my last , were a small party of Shawanese headed by our noted enemy Logan. The last Travelers that came from Kentucky came thro Cumberland Gap safe, having on their way made no discoveries of Indians. Some attention of Government to former means proposed, I am convinced may bring about a Peace; or make the war with...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 2 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
This moment I have the intelligence that a Body of Indians (supposed to be Cherokees) attacked Blackmores Fort on Clinch, took four Men prisoners and has carry’d off a considerable number of Horses. I must entreat the speedy attention of the Executive to my former proposals of a Garrison in Powells Valley; and on the banks of the Tenasee, as absolutely necessary for the preservation of the...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 27 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Since writing my Letter of the 15th: Instant I am informed that the Indians have killed one of the settlers in Powells Valley and carried off 14 Horses belonging to a party of Men coming from Kentuckey. Whether this is done by Indians that had set out to War before our approach were known in the Towns; or it may be some of the Fugitives that have taken refuge in the adjacent Mountains for the...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 15 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Militia of this, and the two Western No. Carolina Counties, have been fortunate enough to frustrate the designs of the Cherokees. On my reaching the frontier, I found the Indians meant to annoy us by small parties and carry off Horses. To resist them effectually, the apparently best measure was to transfer the War without delay to their own border. To raise a force sufficient and provide...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 5 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
By recent intelligence from the Cherokee country, it appears that the whole of the towns had agreed in a late treaty with our enemies to the southward, to take up the hatchet, and attack the inhabitants of Virginia and Carolina, settled on the back of the mountains, immediately; which country was to be given them by the King over the great water, besides a stipulated quantity of goods for...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Arthur Campbell, 27 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Washington county, 27 Nov. 1780 . He sends extracts from originals in his possession “to elucidate Col. Clarke’s letter, and may shew the world what kind of beings we are contending with,” these extracts including the following: A letter from Cornwallis to Major [Patrick] Ferguson, 23 Sep. 1780, saying he had heard from Lt. Col. Cruger that he had arrived in time to save Brown, had retaken the...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Arthur Campbell, 9 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of July the 13th came to hand two days ago; we are well pleased with the spirited manner in which the insurrection of the tories has been suppressed. As to the appropriation of the plunder of the insurgents among the militia, who were engaged in the expedition, you are too well acquainted with our government not to know that no power of doing that is lodged with the executive. You...