- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1797 Feb. 10, Knoxville, [Tennessee to] Silas Dinsmore [i.e., Dinsmoor] / John Sevier
- Creator:
- Tennessee. Governor (1796-1801 : Sevier)
- Publisher:
- Manuscript held by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN, Governor Sevier, box 1, folder 3, document tl031.
- Date of Original:
- 1797-02-10
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Violence against
Cherokee Indians--Government relations - Location:
- United States, Tennessee, 35.75035, -86.25027
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
military records - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter from Tennessee Governor John Sevier (1796-1801) to Cherokee agent Silas Dinsmoor, dated February 10, 1797. Sevier sends his apologies for several recent attacks upon Cherokee Indians, and he promises to do his best to seek out the perpetrators of the crimes. He warns Dinsmoor that the Cherokees should not retaliate since a war would bring about the destruction of the Cherokee Nation.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Libraries in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- gs031
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs031
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs031#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs031/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Governor Sevier, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 2 pages/leaves
- Holding Institution:
- Tennessee State Library and Archives
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Knoxville
10 February 1797
Sir
[deleted text: Various ]
many reports seem to confirm that two indians were very inhumanly Murdered some where [somewhere] near unto the head of Kentucky River, by two Men supposed to live in Hawkins county; I have Waited to hear from you or the indians on the subject, but as yet neither have sent forward any complaint, [added text: or information ] [deleted text: I was for some time ] from which Circumstance, I was induced to believe for a length of time, that the reports were premature.
[deleted text: The indians have lately killed in several places to wit in Powels Valley and at Cumberland and it is reported five ] The indians have lately killed in several different places, [added text: (to wit) ] [deleted text: as reported ] One in Powels Vally & one More badly wounded, three more killed near the head of Kentucky, & one at Cumberland ; it [added text: is ] also reported that five more are missing and believed to be killed that were out hunting in the Cumberland mountain, tho [though] of this [added text: last ] there is no certain accounts [added text: as ] yet come to hand. I am extremely sorry for these disturbances, and very much fear the approaching consequences, [deleted text: the ] [added text: and ] am fully determined to put an end to Any further [deleted text: disturbances ] Mischeifs [Mischiefs] if in my powers, and will if possible have the perpetrators of the first murder apprehended. [deleted text: and ] [added text: I ] flatter myself that you will use your influence to have peace and [deleted text: [illegible text] ] tranquility restored by endeavoring to restrain the indians from any further depredations, and convince them of the danger of bringing on a war, which would be the destruction of their nation
I have the honor to be & c [et cetera] --
Silas Dinsmore esquire
Page: [2]
Letters, one to the Cherokees; the other to Silas Dinsmore
Feby [February] 10th 1797
[illegible text]
(No [Number] 21)
Recorded
Mr Maclin will please make out copies of these two letters