- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1797 Mar. 28, Knoxville, [Tennessee to] the warriors and cheifs [sic] of the Cherokee Nation / John Sevier of an image
- Creator:
- Tennessee. Governor (1796-1801 : Sevier)
- Publisher:
- Manuscript held by the The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN, Governor Sevier, box 1, folder 3, document tl039.
- Date of Original:
- 1797-03-28
- Subject:
- Cherokee Indians--Government relations
Cherokee Indians--Violence against - Location:
- United States, Kentucky, 38.20042, -84.87762
United States, Tennessee, 35.75035, -86.25027 - Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This document is a letter addressed to the warriors and chiefs of the Cherokee Nation, written by Tennessee Governor John Sevier (1796-1801, 1803-1809 ) on March 28, 1797. Sevier reports that he has been requested by the Governor of Kentucky to have the two Tennessee citizens who murdered Red Bird and another Cherokee apprehended and sent to Kentucky to be tried for their crime. Sevier states that he has sent forth orders in compliance with this request, and he is now urging the Cherokee leaders to capture those from amongst their people who were responsible for the murders of several white citizens. Sevier warns the Cherokees about the dangers of bringing about a war, which could be the consequence of further acts of aggression between the citizens of the United States and those 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:
- gs039
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs039
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs039#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_gs039/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Governor Sevier, The Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, TN, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Holding Institution:
- Tennessee State Library and Archives
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Knoxville
28 March 1797
Brothers
I have recd. [received] an express from the Governor of Kentucky which informs me that two men Citizens of the State of Tennessee, [added text: has ] murdered two men of your nation (one of the name of Red Bird. ) This murder was committed within the bounds and State of Kentucky, and the Governor thereof has demanded of me to send them into that State to be tryed [tried] for the murder agreably [agreeably] to the laws of the [deleted text: that ] State -- I have sent forth orders to have the Murderors [Murderers] taken, and when taken to be immeadiately [immediately] sent to Kentucky in order that they may [deleted text: receive their ] [added text: be ] tryed [tried], and receive [deleted text: their ] [added text: the ] punishment [added text: due their crime ] if found Guilty -- now my brothers you have had time enough to find out the persons that have killed the [added text: several ] people belonging to the state of tennessee, one has been Killed and another wounded on the Kentucky
Page: [2]
road Since I wrote you before; I therefore request and demand of you, that you have those Murderors [Murderers] apprehended and punished Agreably [Agreeably] to the treaty entered into between your nation And the United States. I am determined to have the white transgressors taken and punished if it Can be done, And I shall expect [added text: You will apprehend themurderors [murderers] on your part & have them punished ] [deleted text: it will be the Case with your nation ] -- let us convince Such disorderly people, that they Shall not be the Cause of Sheding [Shedding] the blood of innocent people And bringing about a War, which never fails to produce very fatal and disagreable [disagreeable] event
[deleted text: I have frequently Wrote you the disadvantages a war would ]
I have frequently informed you how disagreable [disagreeable] A War would be to the white people [added text: of this State ] And the United States in General, and also the dangerous consequences, that in all probability might and would attend your nation Should Such an [deleted text: thing take ] event take place --
I hope your nation will consider well the dangerous consequences, and put a [added text: final ] Stop to the further effusion of blood, otherways [otherwise] I am a fraid [afraid] it will
Page: [3]
tend to bring about Very disagreable [disagreeable] events, which [deleted text: it ] is the wish of this government to prevent
Your friend
[Signed] John Sevier
The Warriors & Cheifs [Chiefs] of the Cherokee Nation
Page: [4]
Letter to the Cherokees
28 March 1797 --
No [Number] 10
Recorded
I will thank the Secy. [Secretary] to make out the copy early this morng. [morning] having an opportunity to Send it to the Nation --