St. Clair, Arthur (1734-1818) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.05157 Author/Creator: St. Clair, Arthur (1734-1818) Place Written: Fort Washington, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 September 1791 Pagination: 5 p. : docket ; 30.5 x 18.2 cm. Order a Copy
References a letter he wrote Knox from Lexington on 4 September. Encloses a duplicate of that letter here (not included). Says all the troops he is supposed to have arrived on 9, 10, and 12 September, except the Kentucky militia. Has received Knox's letters of 11, 18, and 25 August with their enclosures. Writes, "The Anxiety Sir, which the President has expressed that the Operations of the Campaign should begin at an early period does not surprise me, and the Delays that have hitherto taken place have been to me the most irksome that can possibly be imagined." Wants Knox to reassure the president that he will do all that he can. Reports that rains kept the troops from reaching the Miami River until 8 September. Describes their camp and supply situation. Writes, "No sort of Suspicion respecting the Quality of the Powder has taken place here - it will be proper however to have the proof made you have been pleased to direct but it must be done with caution otherwise the Suspicion might be raised by it, and at that stage of the Business, it would be ruinous." Will have trouble complying with the order to keep up a line of communication with the War Department while on campaign. States that he will avoid any "coolness or discontent" with General Butler. Encloses a general return of the troops from 1 September (not included). Says there is a total of 2,120 men. Relates that a group of Indians arrived at the fort. They wanted to visit their families who were prisoners. Smoked a calumet and interviewed them. Writes, "They had long been in friendship with with [sic] the Americans, and tho' the stroke had fallen upon them they had done nothing to deserve it, but, on the contrary were themselves in danger from their own People for their attachment to us - They lay all the blame on the Miamies and Shawanese and begged for Peace." Encloses General Wilkinson's speech as well as other extracts of letters (not included). A full list of enclosures is on the docket. Noted that Knox received the letter on 25 October.
Fort Washington Septr 15th. 1791
Sir,
I had the honor to write to you from Lexington on the 4th. instant, and now enclose a Duplicate of that Letter. In my return to this Place on the 9th I had the satisfaction to find Colonel Gibson with the detachment under his command and the [pack] Horses, which he had been obliged to march to [Kenhawa] arrived, and on the 10th. General with another Detachment and the Quarter Master, and on the 12th Captain Newman gained me, so that excepting the Militia from Kentucky my Force is now collected the last I flatter myself there is no doubt will arrive in [a] By those Gentleman I have been favoured with your Letters of the 11th, 18th, and 25th of August with their several enclosures. The Anxiety Sir, which the President has expressed that the operations of the campaign should begin at an early period does not surprize me, and the Delays that have hitherto taken place have been to me the most irksome that can possibly be imagined - they do not [lay] at my Door; but I assure you Sir, and I beg you to assure the President that the utmost [in] Diligence shall be used to recover as much as it is possible the time which has been lost, and fulfill in every - respect both his Expectations and that of the public.
The extreme heavy Rains that fell immediately after my leaving the Place for Kentucky prevented the marching [2] marching of the Troops under Major Hamtramack at the time ordered - they did not reach the Bank of the Miami until the ening of the 8th instant, at a place twenty two miles distant from this. On the 10th I visited the Encampment and found the Troops well posted near a very fine fording Place, and the ground sufficiently high effectually to command and safe from any overflowing of the River - on the 11th. I fixed upon a Place to erect the Fort I mentioned, and left Major Ferguson to [trace] it, and as the timber is tolerably convenient I will be finished in a short time. The Troops have moved from this Place this morning - The commissary is getting the Provisions forward, and things began to near a better Aspect, and I hope and trust there will be nothing more to impede us but the Enemy and General Harmars Court of Inquiry - The sooner one can meet with the first the better, and the Troops seem to be in a perfect good disposition for it, and the last is ordered for this day - and as I shall take the Field tomorrow this is probably the last Letter you will receive from me at this Place.
No sort of Suspicion respecting the Quality of the Powder has taken place here - it will be proper however to have the proof made you have been pleased to direct but it must be done with caution otherwise the Suspicion might be [varified] by it, and at this Stage of the Business, it would be ruinous - I will consult with Major Ferguson upon it, who returned yesterday.
You desire me, Sir, to establish a sure mode of communicating with the War Office during the Campaign, It is not very easy to establish a sure mode. By the Trials [3] I have made of the River it appears to be a very uncertain one, and will probably be more so in the future, for it affords opportunities for Desertion that will be more readily laid hold of when the Army is at a distance. - The communication must be by Kentucky, and Mr. Innes has politely offered to forward by safe Hands any Dispatches I may have occasion to send, and opportunities are now pretty regular twice in every month.
It gives me pleasure Sir to observe that the Militia at Marietta and Gallipolis has been embodied by your Orders - any Explanations on that Subject with General Butler are therefore unnecessary - In the light it presented itself to me from the postscript to his Letter of the 12th. the thing had an odd appearance, and, tho I should have done it in the most delicate manner possible, I must have taken some notice of it-But every thing that can tend, in the most distant manner, to gave rise to any coolness or discontent between him and me ought to be, and shall be, most studiously avoided.
Enclosed is the general Return of the Troops on the first day of this Month, since which Majr Clarks Battalion of 223 non commissioned officers & privates fit for duty; Major Butlers of 231, Faulkners Company of 63, and Majr Hearts Detacht. of 276 have arrived so that the whole effective strength amounts to this time to 2120, but in that the officers Servants are included who do not add much to the real Strength of an army.
The
[4] The [strikeout] Detachment from the southern territory you will procure is reduced to one hundred and seven - an officer has been sent to that Country to hasten up the - remainder, but I have no hopes of their arrival.
I have the honor to be
Sir
Your most obedient Servant
A.St. Clair
Major General Knox
Secretary of War.
P.S.
I had like to have fore written to inform you that the day before yesterday, Les Jambes Croches and three other Indians arrived here with Mr Vigo from S Vincennes - it is their families who are Prisoners here and taken by Genl. Scott - their principal Business is [5] to visit them. - I had an interview with them when they presented me with the Calumet - [declined] they had long been in friendship with the - Americans, and tho the stroke had fallen upon them they had done nothing to deserve it, but, on the contrary were themselves in danger from their own People for their attachment to Us - They lay all the blame on the Miamis and Shawnees and begged for Peace.
That this band has been well dispersed is probably true, and what they say respecting it is confirmed by Major Hamtramarck, and it was really infortunate that the Stroke did fall upon them. In reply to them I observed that they were a very small part of the Nation, and tho they were friendly the rest were at War, and while that the case it was impossible to talk with them about Peace - That they had done well in throwing themselves upon the United States and that as long as they behaved peaceably they would not be molested - they were then permitted to go to their Families. I have not seen them since but intend to talk with them again before I leave this Place.
I neglected in my last to enclose this speech Genl Wilkenson left at L Anguile for the Indians of the [Wabash] - it is sent now and an Extract from a Letter of Mr Gamelin to Major Hamtramarck and copies of my Letters to Colonel Campbell and Genl. Scott.
[docket]
Fort Washington, Sept. 15t 1791
Maj: Genl: St. Clair
-Encloses a duplicate of his letter of the 4t Sept.
-Wilkinson's Speech to the Wabash indians.
-Extract of a letter from P. Gamelin to Maj: Hamtramck 14 July
-Copy - letter to Genl Scott: Sept 4t 1791
-Copy - letter to Col Campbell at the Falls of Ohio, 20 Augt 1740
-Monthly Return of the troops Aug 1791
Recd. Oct 25.
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