To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 4 December 1806
From William C. C. Claiborne
New Orleans Decr. 4th. 1806.
Sir
The importance of the inclosures marked A, B, C, & D, will plead my justification in forwarding you this dispatch by a special express.1
The troops from Nachetoches are momently expected—as is also a detachment from Mobile. General Wilkinson is repairing the old fortifications, & contemplates picketting in the City.
I shall remain faithful at my post—and with all the means in my power, will unite with the General, in the defence of my Country, her Government and Laws. I am, dear Sir, with great respect & esteem, Your mo. obt. Servt.
William C. C. Claiborne
PS. When the troops from Nachetoches and Mobile shall have arrived, there will be in New Orleans about 800, including officers. The Orleans Volunteers may muster 180 men—but it is impossible for me to say on what portion of the regular militia I can rely. Captain Shaw of the Navy has under his command on the Orleans station, two Bomb Ketches, and four Gun Boats. The Ketches are in this port—two Gun-boats are cruizing in the Lakes—and two others have ascended the Mississippi—but have all been ordered to New Orleans.
William C. C. Claiborne
RC (DNA: RG 59, TP, Orleans, vol. 8); letterbook copy (Ms-Ar: Claiborne Executive Journal, vol. 16). RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Claiborne; cover docketed by Wagner. Enclosures not found, but see n. 1.
1. The first enclosure was likely a copy of the 3 December 1806 private statement signed by Claiborne and Capt. John Shaw, naval commander at New Orleans (Ms-Ar: Claiborne Executive Journal, vol. 16; printed in Rowland, Claiborne Letter Books, 4:38–40), relating that James Wilkinson had informed them of a conspiracy whose object was “the revolutionizing of Louisiana and Mexico” and had shown them encoded letters addressed to Wilkinson that he claimed had come from Aaron Burr and Jonathan Dayton and interpreted as speaking “of an association, having some grand object in view.” Claiborne and Shaw indicated that Burr was to be in Natchez on or before 15 December with five hundred men, with more expected to join him soon thereafter; that Burr claimed “the Navy are with us” and wanted Wilkinson to come to Natchez to determine subsequent movements; and that Burr promised to make Wilkinson second-in-command, ordering him to choose his officers for the mission and to bill Burr, “who says he is in funds.” Claiborne and Shaw stated that Dayton had written about Mexico and Louisiana, about Burr and Wilkinson, and about the fame and glory that would follow the expedition; Dayton also promised to be in Natchez “soon” and asked if Wilkinson was “ready.” According to Claiborne and Shaw, Wilkinson had also told them that he received Burr’s letter from Samuel Swartwout, who was “acquainted with” Burr’s plans and who reported “that Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio would separate from the Union, that Louisiana would be revolutionized, and that the French were prepared for it.” Swartwout also reportedly intimated that the scheme would be funded by money taken from New Orleans banks and repaid later, and he named Robert Spence “of the Navy,” Peter Ogden, and Dr. Justus Erick Bollmann as “agents of Colonel Burr” who “either were or had been in New Orleans.”
The other likely enclosures were 1) Claiborne to Shaw, 1 Dec. 1806 (Ms-Ar: Claiborne Executive Journal, vol. 16; printed in Rowland, Claiborne Letter Books, 4:38), in which Claiborne acknowledged receipt of Shaw’s 29 November letter, stressed the critical nature of “the situation of affairs” in New Orleans, and instructed Shaw to make all necessary preparations to defend New Orleans and to consult with Wilkinson “as to the manner […] you can best serve your Country”; 2) Shaw to Claiborne, 29 Nov. 1806 (not found); and 3) Wilkinson to Claiborne, 12 Nov. 1806 (printed in Rowland, Claiborne Letter Books, 4:55–56), in which Wilkinson warned of the impending danger to New Orleans, provided information on troop movements and suggested defensive measures to protect the city, and announced his plans to leave Natchez and join forces with Claiborne in New Orleans “in a very few days.” Wilkinson charged Claiborne with keeping the communication “in the most solemn confidence” because “safety and success depends vitally on the concealment of our intentions.”