To James Madison from William Harris Crawford, [ca. 5 June 1816]
From William Harris Crawford
[ca. 5 June 1816]
Genl Gaines’s letter &C
Under existing circumstances the call of the militia seems to be warranted. Colo. Clinch seems Not to suspect Hambly of any agency in promoting the hostility of the Seminoles. Gaines does, & I think there is some reason for Keeping a vigilant eye upon him. The measures which are contemplated will bring things to an issue. Under present appearances this is believed to be desirable. Should orders be given to carry them into execution without delay? It is probable that it will be done before the orders can be recd.1
Wm H Crawford
RC (DLC). Undated; conjectural date assigned based on evidence presented in n. 1. Docketed by JM.
1. On 24 May 1816 Maj. Gen. Edmund Pendleton Gaines wrote to Crawford, enclosing two letters from Lt. Col. Duncan Clinch, dated 7 and 9 May respectively, about the seemingly hostile activities of the Indians in the region around Prospect Bluff and at the “Negro Fort.” Gaines also mentioned that William Hambly, the agent of Forbes and Company at Prospect Bluff, had provided him with information about British dealings with potentially hostile Indians. Gaines, who was mistrustful of Indian promises about their good intentions toward the United States, wrote to Gov. David B. Mitchell of Georgia on 24 May 1816, requesting that he be furnished with one infantry regiment and one batallion of mounted men, ready for service (DNA: RG 107, LRRS, G-55:9).