George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Henry Knox, 22 December 1792

From Henry Knox

War department December 22d 1792

Sir

I have the honor to submit to you a letter from the Governor of Georgia dated the 5 instant with the deposition of Owen Bowen relatively to the murder of eight white persons.1 I have the honor to be with the highest respect Your most obed. servant

H. Knox

LS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW.

1On 24 Dec. 1792 Bartholomew Dandridge, at GW’s direction, wrote John Stagg, Jr., chief clerk of the War Department, that “the President thinks the letter &c. from the Govr of Georgia had better be laid before Congress” (DLC:GW). Knox submitted Gov. Edward Telfair’s letter to him of 5 Dec. 1792 and its enclosure to the Senate on 24 Dec. (Annals of Congress description begins Joseph Gales, Sr., comp. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature. 42 vols. Washington, D.C., 1834–56. description ends , 2d Cong., 2d sess., 622–23). In the enclosed deposition, dated 3 Dec. at Richmond County, Ga., Owen T. Bowen reported that in late November the Cherokees murdered eight white residents of Franklin County, Ga., leaving their bodies “scalped, and cruelly mangled.” Telfair wrote in his letter: “It will now become indispensable that measures be taken to prevent farther outrage. Three companies of horse have already been ordered to range in that quarter where the murders have been committed, and it may be necessary that additional reinforcements be called in, to give protection and confidence to the settlers” (ASP, Indian Affairs, description begins Walter Lowrie et al., eds. American State Papers. Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States. 38 vols. Washington, D.C., Gales and Seaton, 1832–61. description ends 1:336–37).

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