Indian Biography; Vol. 2 (of 2): Or, An Historical Account of Those Individuals Who Have Been Distinguished among the North American Natives as Orators, Warriors, Statesmen, and Other Remarkable CharactersThatcher, B. B. (Benjamin Bussey)
History
Indian Biography; Vol. 2 (of 2): Or, An Historical Account of Those Individuals Who Have Been Distinguished among the North American Natives as Orators, Warriors, Statesmen, and Other Remarkable Characters
Thatcher, B. B. (Benjamin Bussey)
Indians of North America -- Biography; Indians of North America -- History
Although your letter of yesterday's date fully authorizes me to any act of
hostility against the army of the United States of America in this
neighborhood under your command, yet, still anxious to prevent that
dreadful decision, which perhaps is not intended to be appealed to by
either of our countries, I have forborne for these two days past to resent
those insults which you have offered to the British flag flying at this
fort, by approaching it within pistol-shot of my works, not only singly,
but in numbers, with arms in their hands.
Neither is it my wish to wage war with individuals. But should you after
this continue to approach my post in the threatening manner you are at
this moment doing, my indispensable duty to my King and Country, and the
honor of my profession, will oblige me to have recourse to those measures
which thousands of either nation may hereafter have cause to regret, and
which I solemnly appeal to God I have used my utmost endeavors to arrest.
I have the honor to be, sir, &c.
(Signed) WM. CAMPBELL.
To Major General Wayne, &c.
[No other notice was taken of this letter than what is expressed in the
following letter. The fort and works were however reconnoitered in every
direction, at some points possibly within pistol-shot. It was found to be
a regular, strong work, the front covered by a wide river, with four guns
mounted in that face. The rear, which was the most susceptible of
approach, had two regular bastions furnished with eight pieces of
artillery, the whole surrounded with a wide deep ditch. From the bottom of
the ditch to the top of the parapet was about twenty feet perpendicular.
The works were also surrounded by an abbatis, and furnished with a strong
garrison.]
(IV)
Sir,
In your letter of the 21st inst. you declare, "I have no hesitation on my
part to say that I know of no war, existing between Great Britain and
America."
I, on my part, declare the same; and the only cause I have to entertain a
contrary idea at present is, the hostile act you are now in commission
of,--that is, recently taking post far within the well known and
acknowledged limits of the United States, and erecting a fortification in
the heart of the settlements of the Indian tribes now at war with the
United States.
This, sir, appears to be an act of the highest aggression, and destructive
to the peace and interest of the Union. Hence, it becomes my duty to
desire, and I do hereby desire and demand, in the name of the President of
the United States, that you immediately desist from any further act of
hostility or aggression, by forbearing to fortify, and by withdrawing the
troops, artillery, and stores under your orders and direction, forthwith,
and removing to the nearest post occupied by His Britannic Majesty's
troops at the peace of 1783--and which you will be permitted to do
unmolested by the troops under my command.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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