To George Washington from James McHenry, 18 July 1796
From James McHenry
War office 18 July 1796.
Sir.
The annexed packets contain the most essential letters received since my last.1
No. 1. Gen. Wilkinsons letters of the 11th, 16, 17th ulto. I have not thought it necessary to send the continuation of his charges which came by the same mail.2
No. 2. Is copy of a letter to Major Gen. Wayne resulting from Gen. Wilkinsons information relative to Fort Miamis.3
No. 3. A dispatch from Mr Seagrove and extracts of letters to Mr Habersham.4
No. 4. A letter from Capn Bruff.5
With the greatest respect, I have the honour to be, Sir your most ob. st
James McHenry
ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW. GW acknowledged this letter when he wrote McHenry on 22 July (second letter).
1. See McHenry to GW, 16–17 July.
2. These documents from Gen. James Wilkinson have not been identified but probably related to his dispute with Gen. Anthony Wayne (see McHenry to GW, 6 July, and n.1 to that document).
3. McHenry wrote Wayne on 16 July: “It has been stated to me that Fort Miamis has proved fatal to a majority of the British stationed there, that the sickly season is at hand—and that wine, bark, and Brandy have proved ineffectual to the prevention or cure of intermittents and bilious fevers, which has prevailed at that post.
“Assuming this state of facts, it may be proper, if Miamis is not absolutely essential as a place of depot, and link in the chain of communication and defence, that it should be left ungarrisoned. If necessary only as a place of depot, a subalterns command, may be sufficient; if as a link in the chain of defence, still the troops to be subjected to its climate ought to be as few as possible” ( 499–500).
4. The dispatch from Creek agent James Seagrove, and the extracts (probably of letters to John Habersham, collector at Savannah), have not been identified.