George Washington Papers
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From Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 22 May 1795

Timothy Pickering to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr.

War-Office May 22d 1795.

Mr Dandridge will be so good as to lay the inclosed papers before the President; they were received to day by the mails.

From General Wayne—letter dated Apl 7th with inclosures.1

From James Seagrove—May 7. 1795. with the proposals of J. C. Nightingale & Co. for the Indian trade.2

From General Morgan—May 15th

The General has been precipitate in forming a corps for six months longer service; & being without orders, tho’ referring to my letter of May 1st as directing it, I inclose a copy for the Presidents perusal.3

The return of his army is also enclosed.4

The General’s precipitation was peculiarly unfortunate—for Colo. Butler writes me that it put a stop to the recruiting for the federal army.5

From lieut. colo. Butler—inclosing one from Capt. Heth, informing of the murderous attempt of ten white men to kill some friendly Indians on the Allegany—two were wounded—& property abandoned.6

A return of militia officers who have enlisted recruits in expectation of commissions.

A return of the troops at the Upper posts of the Ohio.7

T. Pickering

ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.

1Gen. Anthony Wayne’s letter to Pickering of 7 April, written from Wayne’s Fort Green Ville headquarters, acknowledged the receipt of Pickering’s of 31 January. Wayne enclosed a duplicate of his letter to Pickering of 18 March (no. 1), which also contained his correspondence with Guy Carleton, Lord Dorchester, at Quebec. The general explained in his letter of 7 April that a neglectful error had prevented him from sending Dorchester’s letter on 24 Jan. as he originally intended, and Wayne asked Pickering to forward that letter as soon as possible. A second letter to Dorchester might become necessary, Wayne added, because the former had initiated “an opening” for Wayne “to call upon him to co-operate in every proper measure to promote a lasting & good understanding between Great Britain & the United States.” In other words, wrote the general, “to give the most pointed orders to Colo. McKee, to Father Edmd Burke &ca to forbear in future the nefarious measures they are now practicing to stimulate the Savages to continue the War.”

The above letters, in Wayne’s opinion, reinforced “the good policy, as well as necessity of forwarding all the troops & recruits within your reach without one moments delay; Because advantage might be taken by Certain Characters, to influence the passions of an undisciplined Militia to commit some Act of hostility, to disturb or frustrate the pending treaty, shou’d they eventually be called out for want of a sufficient number of Regular troops to hold the posts, inspire respect, & guard our transports.”

Wayne proceeded to comment about enlistments: “not a single man will enlist after the total expiration of his present term of service. I shall therefore be under the necessity of relinquishing … as much of their times as wou’d require troops to march from the Atlantic States & arrive at this place … or be left with out Garrisons.” Recently, Wayne had “permitted inlistments to take place of such able bodied men—whose times will expire before the 13th of June … on Condition that they engage to serve, for and during the term of three years, from and after the total experation of their former inlistments, this measure had good effect for the moment, but it is now nearly over, they say that times are genenarlly so close upon expiring, that they will go home & have a frolick before they reengage.”

Wayne briefly covered the difficulties he encountered with new contractors as well as his concerns about supplies and funds. He then closed the letter with news “just received” by a runner from the Sandusky Indians, that they had “put one of McKee’s emissaries to death, & … they are determined to treat all others in the same manner who shall attempt to disturb the good work of peace” (PHi: Wayne Papers).

2The letter from Creek Indian agent James Seagrove and the enclosed proposals have not been found.

3These two letters have not been found.

4The return of the troops has not been identified.

5The letter from Lt. Col. Thomas Butler has not been identified, but on 7 April, Capt. Edward Butler informed Wayne that a Pittsburgh gentleman had told him that Colonel Butler and a subaltern had enlisted nearly 300 men stationed there under Daniel Morgan. The two officers “would have proceeded … but for the interference of the Officers of that Corps, who were much disobliged. It is however expected the Men will generally engage” (PHi: Wayne Papers).

6The letter from Thomas Butler and its enclosure have not been identified.

7The return of militia officers has not been identified, but a copy of a letter Pickering sent to Wayne on 30 May included a return of noncommissioned officers and privates at posts on the upper Ohio River:

“Fort Fayette.
Infantry 219.
Artillery  37
Cavalry  93.
349.
Fort Franklin  49
 
Big Beaver Block House  13
Fort Randolph   7.
418
May remain at the upper posts  68
350.”

(PHi: Wayne Papers).

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