25 October 1834

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Printed document signed

Title: [Land indenture for the sale of Creek Indian land in "Talladega Town of Indians" to Benjamin Mattison]

Partially printed indenture between Fullote Logan, a Creek Indian woman of Talladega County, Alabama, and Benjamin Mattison. Mattison purchased the land for $500 on 9 May 1834. An autograph note by Hugh G. Banlay, clerk of the Talladega County court, confirms that the indenture was recorded in his office on 17 September 1834. Leonard Tarrant, the certifying agent, certified the document on 9 May 1834 and signed on the verso. A signed note by Jackson on the verso, indicates that he approved the document on 25 October 1834.

GLC04679

4 May 1793

Gunn, James, 1753-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says that the Indians have committed several murders in Washington County, with two murders committed on the frontier of South Carolina. Reports they refuse to return property or give up the offenders. Mentions the hunters have returned to the towns, which indicates a coming attack on the frontier. Believes war is inevitable and that the militia will have to be called out in the western counties of South Carolina and Georgia. Wants a commander of "Rank and Ability who has a Talent for employing Militia to an Advantage in the field..." If war is avoided, wants a man of talent to be a resident…

GLC02437.05887

10 June 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to James Gunn

Thanks Gunn for his letters of 26 April and 4 May. Says the idea of the "commanding officer" being a speculator is news to him. Hopes Gunn can send some confirmed information. Believes the situation with the Indian agent can be rectified, as President Washington has always wanted the agent to live among the Creeks. Tells Gunn that Washington has seen all the information on the situation in Georgia, but that troops cannot be sent to the South because of the situation in Europe. Notes militia will have to suffice to protect the frontier. Says the governor has permission to raise more…

GLC02437.05898

26 April 1793

Gunn, James, 1753-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Georgia Senator Gunn writes to Knox to inform him of problems with the Indians in the Southeast. References a previous conversation they had where Knox pledged two companies of troops would arrive in Georgia by April. Says "The death of General McGillivray and the late murders committed by a party of Indians headed by John Galphin makes it necessary that Troops be sent to protect the low country and I am persuaded you will find on inquiry the Troops are badly posted." Reports that if the troops were more strategically placed, Georgia would be better protected. Believes General Thomas Posey…

GLC02437.05880

10 June 1793

Gunn, James, 1753-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he returned from a tour of St. Mary's on 24 May. Describes the situation in Georgia after Alexander McGillivray's death. Says James Seagrove, the U.S. Indian agent amongst the Creeks, has done all he can to prevent war. Reports that Panton's party prevailed amongst the Creeks after McGillivray's death and determined on war. Panton's Indians attacked a group of Indians friendly to the U.S. who were on their way to attack the Chickasaws. Panton stopped them and convinced them to turn back and attack the U.S. Says complaints against the agent (as mentioned in a previous letter to Knox) stem…

GLC02437.05899

22 August 1790

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jackson acknowledges Secretary of War Knox's letter of 15 August 1790. Mentions that he and "the Colonel" are making their way to Portland. Describes the journey, his sea sickness, and the help they received during the trip. Says a Mr. Gregory "has a high idea of the value of the Patent, and considers it a source of immence wealth." Mentions paying a visit to Captain [Thomas] Vose whose farm had "some of the best butter and Cheese" they have eaten this year. Reports that Vose will be disappointed if Knox does not pay him a visit. Suggests Knox come on 15 September 1790 when the…

GLC02437.04699

6 September 1789

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions the illness of Lucy Knox, related to the recent passing of one of the Knox children. Discusses the recent bill describing the salaries of the various executive departments. Mentions General [Benjamin] Lincoln's recent appointment and his leading troops to negotiate with the Creek Indians in Georgia. Comments on his own prospects for receiving an appointment in the Revenue office or as Marshall. Also mentions the arrival of a French ship in the Boston area, as well as a bill from Captain [Thomas] Vose, Knox's agent in the Waldo patent.

GLC02437.04350

27 August 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Few

Has shown their request to the President regarding going to Georgia to be present at the signing of the treaty with the Creek Indians. The President has approved the plan, and hopes that they will help the Commissioners "obtain the most perfect information" on past interactions between the Creeks and Georgia. Has also mentioned this to the Commissioners in this city, who agreed to help Few.

GLC02437.04337

23 April 1814

Russell, Benjamin, 1761-1845

Newspaper

Title: Columbian centinel. [No. 3135 (April 23, 1890)]

Claims that the Creek Nation had received a crippling defeat from General Andrew Jackson in Georgia. Describes battles between the French and Russia in France (as part of the Napoleonic Wars). Includes on page two an account of the Creeks' defeat by Jackson which took place on 17 April 1814.

GLC08777

7 August 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to George Washington

A draft of a letter to Washington from Secretary of War Knox sketching out elements of a treaty with the Creek Indians. Signed a public treaty with the Creeks, represented by Alexander McGillivray and all the Creek leaders able to attend. Additional, private articles were signed by McGillivray on behalf of the Creek Nation. Reports that since recent negotiations had failed to produce a peace treaty, and since the informal truce had almost expired, the government felt it necessary to take up new negotiations to protect settler families. Discusses the issues at stake in the negotiation,…

GLC02437.04673

14 August 1790

McGillvray, Alexander, 1750-1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Oath of allegiance]

Creek chief McGillivray swears an oath of allegiance to the United States government and swears to obey the President of the United States as well as "orders of the officers appointed over me." He further agrees to obey "the true intent and meaning of the secret articles of the treaty of peace" signed between the Creeks and the American government. Sworn before and signed by Supreme Court Justice John Blair, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and chief clerk of the War Office John Stagg.

GLC02437.04691

16 December 1790

Briggs, Isaac, 1763-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Hawkins

Briggs opens his letter to Senator and Indian agent Hawkins with an allegory of a drunken servant beaten by master; other servants and lower types told the beaten man to commit suicide to escape his situation, others counseled patience, some wanted to take his goods, others to take his position. He was dosed with wormword and in delirium talks on. Briggs quotes his ravings at length. Briggs then shifts to Creek Treaty reception in Georgia: "But excuse the allegorical flight, and I will descend to a more plain, matter-of-fact stile. If, my dear sir, I were detailing the politics or describing…

GLC02437.04798

circa 1789-1795

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Expenses for recruiting]

Written in Knox's hand. List of expenses for the recruiting service. Goods and services include clothing, transportation, bounties, rations, medicine and pay to recruiters. Tens of thousands of dollars was allocated and spent. Page 4 has a reference to the "Indian department." Line items for the "Creek" and Cherokee" add up to $8,000 and a line item for "Indians N West Ohio" is $10,000.

GLC02437.08413

circa 1790-1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: The present number of troops

Notes the number of troops stationed in Ohio, Florida, the North Carolina frontier, Georgia. Troop totals add up to 1,680. Lists reasons for the proposed troop augmentation. These reasons include: to awe the Wabash and Creek Indians, to draw "a line of posts around them [the Creeks]," and to protect frontier settlements. Writes on "The situation, Temper, and views of the frontier people to be stated - and the general policy considered of protecting and regulating them - or of suffering them to protect themselves and of the immediate and ultimate consequences of such a measure." Makes…

GLC02437.08454

7 July 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Written from the War Office. Provides an extensive analysis of the United States's relationship with the Creek Nation in the Ohio territories as well as Georgia. Also provides information on other nations, such as the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Cherokee. The Indians were facing threats from white settlers encroaching on their land. Knox warns that the situation was growing critical, "Already the Cherokees have taken refuge from the evidence of the frontier people of North Carolina within the limits of the Creeks," Knox wrote. "[T]heir remote situation is their only present protection" and "…

GLC02437.04272

circa 1790

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Drafts of secret articles in a treaty between the United States and the Creek Nation]

A working manuscript that has been corrected by Knox probably intended for George Washington. Consists of several secret articles pertaining to the proposed treaty; in each case, "secret" has been struck. One article grants trading rights in United States ports. If the Spanish obstruct Creek commerce, promises to transport Creek goods through United States territory until the obstruction is removed, as long as the goods do not exceed 60,000 dollars in worth. Another article appoints Alexander McGillivray, Chief of the Creek Nation, as Brigadier General in the United States Army with 1,200…

GLC02437.09459

29 August 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Countersigned by Henry Knox. Instructs Knox regarding his conduct (notes that the principles imparted are to remain secret). Indicates that the Government of the United States are determined that their administration of Indian Affairs shall be directed with justice and humanity. Refers to Knox's negotiations with the Creeks. Text is obscured due to a large water stain on page two.

GLC02437.09398

October 23, 1816

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Monroe

Writes to Secretary of State Monroe after his successful treaty negotiations with the Cherokee and Chickasaw regarding "their claim South of the Tennessee that interferes with the [C]reek cession." Comments on difficulties with the Chickasaw, who claimed rights to lands based on treaties from 1794 and 1801. States that they "will now have good roads kept up & supplied by the industry of our own citizens, and our frontier defended by a strong population. The sooner therefore that this country can be brought into market the better." Indicates that they will create two districts and surveyed…

GLC00151

1 November 1790

Pendleton, Nathaniel, 1756-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Pendleton describes and discusses attempts by a consortium of settlers along the frontier to buy land along the same lines as was done by the Yazou [Yazoo] Companies. Writes, "These are the kind of People who are constantly endeavoring to provoke hostilities with the Indians, in hopes of profiting either by a War, or a treaty. They are endeavoring all in their Power to stir up an opposition to the late treaty with the Creeks, & I am informed, with what foundation in truth I can't say, that Mr. Henry and Mr. Ross of Virginia are in conjunction with them, and propose to be at the House of…

GLC02437.04764

October 5, 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Memorandum on the visit of John Pope to Henry Knox]

This document describes the visit of "Mr. John Pope or Colonel Pope" who was from near Richmond, Virginia. Reports that Pope claimed to have gone down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers last spring in the employ of Patrick Henry and David Ross of the Virginia Yazoo Company. Pope claims to have met the governor of New Orleans (Miro Estevan) traveling up the Mississippi to the Walnut Bluffs to build a military base. He then went to Pensacola, and up the Alabama River, meeting Alexander McGillivray of the Creek Nation. He arrived at McGillivray's on 27 May, staying at his house 7 days, and staying…

GLC02437.05187

6 September 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Minutes of a conversation]

Minutes of a conversation between Knox and two "Commissionaires of his Catholic Majesty" from Spain, José Ignacio de Viar and José de Jáudenes y Nebot. Discusses relations between Spain and the United States as well as those with the Indians. Mentions a gentleman named Bowles being jailed in Cadiz and what the likelihood of him being sentenced to death is. Also mentions a new Spanish character (who is a Frenchman by birth), and the Spanish's take on the recent Creek treaty signed at New York. Discusses a letter that [Thomas Jefferson] had written to the gentlemen. Notes some of the…

GLC02437.05601

October 1791

Pope, John, 1749-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Refers to his travels from Richmond, Virginia through Kentucky, Louisiana, and the two Floridas "under the governance of" Alexander McGillivray. Says he cannot return home without monetary help from Knox. Chooses to ask Knox because of "the Representation Mr. McGillivray gave me of your Temper and Disposition." Will pay Knox back upon his arrival in Virginia. Holds several letters and papers from McGillivray as well as letters of introduction from people in Richmond. This letter was written at some point before 14 October, because in GLC02437.05187 and GLC02437.05195, Knox discusses…

GLC02437.05216

9 August 1790

Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Ogden writes Secretary of War Knox to report that four Cherokee Indians traveled to Canada via the West Indies to "procure my Lord Dorchester's permission for the western and northern Indians to join them, and the Southern Indians in the war against the United States." Ogden believes President Washington should know this information in light of the recent treaty with the Creeks. Ogden also informs Knox that the previous autumn there had been another conference of Six Nation Indians in Buffalo decrying American treatment and looking for help from England. Mentions the participation of…

GLC02437.04682

12 August 1790

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jefferson, Secretary of State, responds to Secretary of War Knox's letter about the ratification of the Creek treaty (see GLC02437.04688 and GLC02437.04691). Jefferson asks Knox whether he can invite "the three charge's de affaires" and "respectable strangers of their nation" to the signing. Also asks, "do ladies go?" If so, asserts that Mrs. Otto should be on Mr. Otto's invitation. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04689

28 November 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Wayne

Thanks Wayne for his letter of 25 October (GLC02437.04397). Discusses the treaty negotiations underway in Georgia with the Creek nation, referring to Creek leader Alexander McGillivray: "Mr McGillivrays influence over the creeks has been exerted to ill effect in persuading that nation against an immediate treaty with the United States upon the terms the commissioners offered He has sacrificed the interests of the nation to his own avarice." Relates that one commissioner, [Henry Osborne], claims he saw and read a treaty between the Spanish and the Creeks in which Charles IV guaranteed the…

GLC02437.04421