Knox, William (1756-1795) to Henry Knox

William, attending to business in Henry's absence, reports on white settlers' infringement on Cherokee lands in the western territories. Congress recently directed Knox to prepare troops to protect the Cherokees (the troops are to march from Ohio to Chota, a Cherokee town in present-day Tennessee). The troops are to disperse Congress's proclamation among white settlers "in the vicinity of the hunting grounds secured to the Cherokees by the treaty concluded between them and the United States Nov. 28th 1785..." William has sent copies of the proclamations to the Northwest Territory via Mr. Heckenwelder (possibly John G. Heckewelder), a missionary from the Moravian Society at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who had come to the War Department seeking protection for land surveyors (including Thomas Hutchins). Heckenwelder will deliver the proclamations to Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory, and to General Josiah Harmar (at Fort Harmar in Ohio). Notes that Congress has also ordered the Governor of North Carolina "to proceed against the persons concerned in the lawless depredations on the frontier Indians of that State." Comments on John Sevier's "abuses," referring to his unauthorized negotiations with Indians and white settlers in the State of Franklin (part of present-day Tennessee). Predicts that action taken against Sevier may "induce him to become another [Daniel] Shays."