- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter] 1818 July 8, Nashville, [Tennessee to] General William McIntosh, Creek Nation / Major Gen[era]l Andrew Jackson
- Creator:
- Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845
- Date of Original:
- 1818-07-08
- Subject:
- Creek Indians--Violence against
Seminole War, 1st, 1817-1818 - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This is a letter dated July 8, 1818 from Major General Andrew Jackson in Nashville, Tennessee to Creek leader General William McIntosh. Jackson tells McIntosh that he heard of Captain Obed Wright's unprovoked attack on the Chehaw Village and was outraged. He sent orders for Wright to be apprehended, but he was released in Milledgeville. Jackson writes that he is awaiting the President's instructions on how to proceed further with this matter. Jackson also chastises McIntosh for selling a large portion of the cattle that he had seized and driven from the Seminole territory to the son of David B. Mitchell, U.S. agent to the Creeks. Jackson reminds McIntosh of his order to distribute the livestock evenly amongst the Creeks and goes on to tell McIntosh that he and his warriors will be paid, presumably for their help in the Seminole campaign.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- krc102
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc102
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc102#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc102/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Keith Read, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Keith Read, box 14, folder 04, document 01.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Head Quarters Division of the South} Nashville
8 July 1818
General William McIntosh.
Friend and Brother
Shortly after the capture of Pensacola, I was taken very ill which prevented my writing you; I have continued indisposed ever since & on my return to Nashville was taken seriously ill, -- From this attack I have just recovered sufficiently to write you --
On my march from Fort Gadsden to Pensacola I received the disagreable [disagreeable] intelligence of the wanton and outrageous attack by Capt [Captain] Wright, commanding a detachment of Georgia Militia, on the Chehaw Village -- I immediately sent the Chehaws a talk which you have seen, and ordered Capt Wright to be apprehended & confined for trial. Major Davis executed this order, arrested Capt Wright, and in passing through Milledgeville, Capt Wright was released from his confinement by the Civil Authority. I am awaiting the instructions of your Father the President of the United States on this subject.
Page: [2]
That Capt Wright ought to be punished for this wanton outrage and murder all good men agree, and I have no doubt Your Father the President of the U [United] States will have ample justice done in this case --
I am just informed that a large portion of the cattle you drove from the Seminole territory and which agreeably to my orders were to have been distributed amongst the Creek Nation to stock it, have been sold, and bought by Young Mr Mitchel Son of Genl [General] Mitchel your agent.
If this is the fact it is not right, and the sale is illegal and void. You were in the service of the United States, and all the cattle taken from the Enemy was by law the property of the U [United] States, and ought to have been delivered over to the Qr [Quartermaster] Master General to be sold on public account -- Knowing as I did that the Upper Creeks were destitute of Stock & their children in want of milk, I gave the order that after my army was rationed with beef, all the surplus cattle taken from the Enemy should be delivered over to you to be drove to your nation, and there equally distributed -- So anxious was I to have this effected that my orders were particular to preserve as many of the cows & calves as possible. That the Creek Nation
Page: [3]
might be again stocked, and Our Indian children nourished with milk. My motives being humane & beneficial to those who have always been friendly to the U [United] States, I had no doubt that the President would approve of my order -- The sale of the cattle was not my intention & he cannot sanction it -- You will therefore on the receipt of this call on the purchaser, receive the cattle & have them equally distributed to the Creek Nation agreeably to my order -- or I will have them seised [seized] and delivered to the Quarter Master and sold for the benefit of the U [United] States as the law directs --
I have written to Genl [General] Mitchel on this subject -- whose duty it is to see justice done to your nation & that my orders be carried into effect --
I have the pleasure to inform you that your father the President of the U [United] States has ordered you & your warriors to be paid, and has placed funds in the hands of your Agent for this purpose --
Mr Smith has not received the Cow, which My Friend the Mad Wolf neglected to deliver to the commanding officer at Fort Scott & which you promised should be left at the Agents --
Page: [4]
When Mr Smith applied at the Agency for the Cow he was answered that she was not their [there] -- You know the value I set on this cow for her blood, and how anxious I was to have it crossed with the English -- I relied on your promise and was at considerable expense in employing Mr Smith to go get her & Deliver her at my house -- I hope therefore you will have the Cow got and delivered to Major Alexr [Alexander] Lasley who has promised to bring her to Nashville for me -- I rely on your promise to send me the cow --
I will expect to hear from you on the receipt of this letter
Your Friend & Brother
[Signed] Andrew Jackson
Major Genl Comdg [General Commanding]
Genl [General] McIntosh Creek Nation