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Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842

Document: HP022

[Letter] 1795 Oct. 24, Nashville, [Tennessee to] Col[onel] David Hendley [i.e., Henley], Knoxville, [Tennessee] / Ja[me]s Robertson

author: Robertson, James, 1742-1814
date: October 24, 1795
extent: 3p
summary: This letter from General James Robertson, U.S. Agent to the Chickasaws, to Colonel David Henley, agent in the War Department, is dated October 24, 1795. Robertson warns Henley about the Creek Indians, who he believes to be instigating hostilities with the Chickasaws while appearing to be seeking peace with the United States and neighboring tribes. He describes a battle between the two nations that he says was initiated by a Creek offensive and won by the Chickasaws. Robertson says Creek hostilities will prevent the Chickasaws from hunting, requiring the U.S. government to send more provisions. The letter concludes with Robertson offering Henley a deal on a parcel of land. The enclosure Robertson mentions, a letter from Chickasaw Chief Opiomingo (also Piomingo), is document hp023 of the Southeastern Native American Documents database.
repository: Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tenn.
collection: Henley Papers
box: n/a
folder: 15
document: tl022
subject headings:

Letters

Creek Indians--Wars

Chickasaw Indians--Wars

Creek Indians--Government relations

Chickasaw Indians--Government relations

Southern States

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Nashville October 24th 1795
Sir

I take the liberty of troubling you with these lines, believing they will give you intelligiance [intelligence] which may be pleasing to you as well as all the other Officirs [Officers] of the General Govermint [Government] [deleted: [illegible]]

Although the Creeksare at peace with the United States, the deceptive conduct they have made use of, with the officirs [officers] of government, in getting them to Midiate [Mediate] a peace between them & the Chickasawsat the very time they were Midiating [Mediating] the reverse against the latter Tribe, and actually marching [unclear: against] them, cannot be pleasing, or promise any [unclear: Just] grounds for a reliance on their Talks. This morning Sergeant Casselmanreturned from the Chickasaw Nationwith the following information that about the 20th Ultim [Ultimo] A large body of Creeksattacked the Chickasawsin their Town, no doubt, with intent to reduce some of their Forts as the Creekshad Stocks [unclear: prepared] to secure prisoners. As I have inclosed [enclosed] you a copy of Opiomingo' s letter to me, I need only give you such information as that letter does not contain. Since he wrote, one killed & one wounded Creekhas been found, this makes the amount 26 in all which they gotten. This action has [unclear: much] animated the Chickasaws(tho [though] they say they are still willing to be at peace if the Creeksreally

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wish it) they took our Pack-Horse loaded with amunition [ammunition]

Tho [Though] they ask for men to assist them I think they do not expect them, for the reasons I gave them when in their Nation

you will see that the Creekshave got a [unclear: compleat [complete]] flogging as they well deserved and returned home with the Loss of all their baggage [unclear: &c [et cetera]]. This attack on the Chickasawsmakes them give up all hopes of Hunting this Season, and I suppose will need much more Provisions from the United Statesthan if they could.

The Land I was offering to you, I have sold for one thousand dollars; but if you have a desire to purchase one or two 640 acre Tracts for your [document damaged], I will let you have them on [illegible] at [illegible] a dollar per acre, and others are selling at a dollar, if you incline to accept of my proposals, please to write me, or Mr. [illegible] -- I hope you have got safe through the Wilderness.

I have the Honor to be Sir your Obt Humb Servt [Obedient Humble Servant]
[Signed] [unclear: Jas [James]] Robertson

Col D [Colonel David] Hendley

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Col [Colonel] David Hendley
agent Department of War
Knoxville
Mr White

Nashville
24 October 1795
General Robertson
Letter respecting the Chactaw& Creeksbattle