1Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox to George Washington, 2 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
A conformity of opinion, and upon the same grounds, enables us to submit to you a joint Answer to the third of the Questions, which you were pleased to propose on the 18th. of April to the Heads of Departments and the Attorney General. We have concluded that this mode would be more agreeable to you than a repetition of the same ideas and arguments in seperate answers. With perfect respect &...
2Enclosure: Answer to Question the 3d. Proposed by the President of the UStates, 2 May 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
“If received” meaning a Minister from the Republic of France “shall it be absolutely or with qualifications, and if with qualifications of what kind”? It is conceived to be adviseable, that the reception of the expected Minister from the Republic of France should be qualified by a previous declaration substantially to this effect—“that the Government of the United States uniformly entertaining...
3List of Names From Whence to Take a Minister for France, [19 May 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
Georgia Nathaniel Pendleton (District Judge) Baldwin S Carolina J Rutlege E Rutlege CC Pinkney Pinkney (late Governor) North Carolina Virginia T. Jefferson J Madison Mc. Clurgh } Principles as to FR unknown J Marshall E Randolph Henry Lee Maryland
4Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox to George Washington, 5 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The draft of a proclamation and that of an instruction to the Commissioners being both prepared, we take the liberty to suggest that we think a meeting tomorrow morning at such hour as may be convenient to the President, may be adviseable. The Secretary of State & Attorney General being out of town we cannot consult them, but we will engage the attendance of the Attorney General provisionally...
5To George Washington from Henry Knox, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt [of] Sundry papers relative to the cherokees indians —These shall be examined, together with those relative to the North western Indians and reported on to you as soon as may be. I have the honor to be with the highest respect Sir, your Obedient and Humble Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . See GW’s letter of this date to Knox .
6To George Washington from Henry Knox, 13 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The secretary for the department of war humbly submits to the President of the United States the following report and statement of the troops in public service. That the enclosed resolve of Congress of the 3rd of October 1787 is the authority by which all the troops in the service of the United States were enlisted excepting two incomplete companies of artillery, which were returned in service...
7To George Washington from Henry Knox, 23 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary at war having examined the Negotiations of the Governor of the Western territory with certain northern and north western Indians, and the treaties made in consequence thereof at Fort Harmar on the 9th of January 1789, begs leave to Report. That The several treaties of peace which have been made with the northern tribes of Indians, and those North west of the Ohio, since the...
8To George Washington from Henry Knox, 9 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to the desire expressed in your letter of yesterday, I shall immediately proceed to make out a general statement of the present situation of the war department, conformably to the principles you were pleased to suggest, and submit the same to your consideration. I have the honor to be sir with the highest respect Your most obedient and humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . See GW to John...
9To George Washington from Henry Knox, 15 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
The time it will require to complete a full statement of the department of War, induces me to submit to your view in a series of numbers such parts thereof as seem to claim an immediate attention. As most of the nations of indians within the limits of the United States are at present discontented some of them turbulent, I have concieved it proper to commence by a statement of the indian...
10Enclosure, 15 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
(Number 1) By information from Brigadier General Harmar the commanding Officer of the troops on the frontiers, it appears that several murders have been lately committed on the inhabitants by small parties of Indians probably from the Wabash Country. Some of the said murders have been perpetrated on the south side of the Ohio, the inhabitants on the waters of that river are exceedingly alarmed...
11To George Washington from Henry Knox, 6 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Indian Department, Southern District The Creeks. This nation of indians is divided into two districts the upper and the lower Creeks. The former reside chiefly on the waters of the Albama River in about 60 towns or villages. The latter on the waters of the Apalachicola river in about 40 towns. The Creeks are principally within the limits of the United States, but some of the most southern...
12To George Washington from Henry Knox, 7 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
The report of the 23d of May 1789 on the treaties at Fort Harmar, by the Governor of the Western Territory, and the paper Number One of the Indian Department, contain such a general statement of the circumstances relative to the Indian tribes, within the limits of the United States, North West of the Ohio, as will probably render their situation sufficiently understood. The Numbers, two,...
13To George Washington from Henry Knox, 7 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Cherokees. This Nation of Indians consisting of separate Towns or villages are seated principally on the head waters of the Tennessee which runs into the Ohio. Their hunting grounds extend from Cumberland River along the frontiers of Virginia, North and South Carolina, and part of Georgia. The frequent Wars they have had with the frontier people of the said States have greatly diminished...
14To George Washington from Henry Knox, 7 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
The Chickasaws. This Nation of Indians were estimated by the Commissioners in 1785 at 800 Warriors, other opinions make them amount to 1200. The lines of their territory between the Cherokees and Choctaws do not appear precisely fixed. Their limits established by the Treaty hereafter mentioned are bounded on the North by the ridge which divides the waters running into the Cumberland, from...
15To George Washington from Henry Knox, 28 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having examined the report of the Commissioners for treating with the Southern Indians dated the 30th of June last, and the papers accompanying the same, I have the honor to observe. That it is the opinion of the said Commissioners, that the Creek Nation of Indians are generally disposed to enter into a treaty with the United States, for the purpose of establishing a permanent peace. That it...
16To George Washington from Henry Knox, 13 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
The detail of the estimate of the expences for treating with the Southern indians which was formed the 20th of May 1789. It is supposed that at least 1500 Creeks will attend at the treaty, each of whom according to custom, must have one and an half rations ⅌ day; this would require for each day 2250 rations. The treaty may be presumed to last 25 days. 56,250 Rations at ⅛th of a dollar ⅌ ration...
17To George Washington from Henry Knox, 17 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have enclosed the copies of the letters you have been pleased to request. I am persuaded the senate will when they understand the matter fully concur with the house. I will wait on you this afternoon or tomorrow morning with some heads of instructions for the Commissioners. I sincerely thank you for Your kind condolance on the loss of our child—we must submit to events we cannot control. I...
18To George Washington from Henry Knox, 17 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to submit to your view a loose sketch of the general ideas which have occurred to me on the subject of instructions to the Commission[er]s. If any part of them should meet your approbation, they could, together with such additions as you may judge proper be drawn up in form. I will wait on you tomorrow to receive your further orders on this subject. I am Sir respectfully and...
19To George Washington from Henry Knox, 9 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to submit to your inspection a general return of the Ordnance, Arms, and Military Stores in possession of the United States specifying the places at which they are deposited. The stores in general were placed in their present situation by the chances or events of the late War—Springfield in Massachusetts and Carlisle in Pennsylvania excepted—At these places buildings were...
20To George Washington from Henry Knox, 18 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your commands to write to you on all occasions I have the honor to inform you that Mr Kean arrived here yesterday from South Carolina. He brings a report which he received through such a channel as induces him to credit it, That a Mr Clark arrived at Savannah on the 2d of this month from the Rock Landing on the Oconee, and informed that the treaty had abruptly broken up without...
21To George Washington from Henry Knox, 22 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
Nothing of importance has occurred since the letter I did myself the honor of writing you on the 18th instant. I am anxiously expecting to hear from the southern Commissioners. Major Wyllis and the other Officers have been detained by business Untill this day. They have taken young White Eyes under their protection. I have the honor to be Sir Your obedient Servant ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW ....
22To George Washington from Henry Knox, 25 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
No further intelligence has been received from Georgia since the arrival of Mr Kean. This silence, and the powers with which the commissioners were invested to render the treaty advantages to the Creeks generally, and to their cheif particularly are sufficient to arrest the beleif of the report. The report itself originated perhaps in the apprehension or misrepresentations of some of the White...
23To George Washington from Henry Knox, 27 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received a letter from Mr Habersham at Savannah dated the 14th instant informing that he had received a letter from the Commissioners dated at Augusta the 5th instant, directing him to engage a passage for Captain Burbecks company to New York, which he had accordingly done with Captain Schemmerhorn who was to sail about the 20th instant. Mr Habersham adds “You will doubtless...
24To George Washington from Henry Knox, 21 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to submit to your inspection the report and letter which I have just received from the Commissioners of Indian Affairs for the Southern district. I have the honor to be Sir With the highest respect Your Most Obedient Humble Servant. LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Knox is undoubtedly referring to the letter of 17 Nov. 1789 to him from Benjamin Lincoln, Cyrus Griffin, and David...
25To George Washington from Henry Knox, 27 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to submit to you a letter from Brigadier General Harmar dated the 19th of October with several enclosures shewing the State of affairs on the Western Frontiers. I have the honor to be Sir, with the highest respect, your most obedient humble servant ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . Josiah Harmar (1753–1813) was appointed in 1784 to command the United States Army on the frontier....
26To George Washington from Henry Knox, 4 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I humbly beg leave to submit to your consideration a general statement of the Indian Department, and of the South Western frontiers, the same being intimately blended together. The invitation of the United States to the Creek Nation of Indians, to treat of peace on terms of mutual advantage has not been accepted —The report of the Commissioners a will fully show the precarious state of this...
27To George Washington from Henry Knox, 18 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Having submitted to your consideration a plan for the arrangement of the militia of the United States, which I had presented to the late Congress, and you having approved the general principles thereof, with certain exceptions, I now respectfully lay the same before you, modified according to the alterations you were pleased to suggest. It has been my anxious desire to devise a national system...
28To George Washington from Henry Knox, 20 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have but this moment been able to obtain two correct copies of the plan for the Militia. I will have the honor if convenient to you to wait upon you at nine O Clock tomorrow morning to receive your orders respecting it. I have the honor to be Sir, with the highest respect Your Most Obedient Servant LS , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . GW noted on 20 Jan. that Knox’s report “altered agreeably to the...
29To George Washington from Henry Knox, 26 January 1790 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of the act of the United States in Congress assembled of the 29th of September 1789 for the payment of the invalid pensions, the Secretary of the Treasury submits it as his opinion that the persons whose names are stated on the enclosed paper would be proper persons to pay the pensions to the said invalid pensioners under the said act—All the said persons being collectors of the...
30Henry Knox’s Notes on the State of the Frontier, January 1790 (Washington Papers)
Although I experience a reluctance in again bringing before you the subject of a treaty with the Wabash indians, yet as some recent events have happened evincing to my mind the propriety of the measure, I conceive it to be my duty to make the following communication, and to request your advice thereon. The indians residing on the Wabash river and its branches, and the people residing on the...