Letter to Thomas Pinckney from Andrew Pickens, October 15, 1787
Dublin Core
Title
Letter to Thomas Pinckney from Andrew Pickens, October 15, 1787
Creator
Date
October 15, 1787
Subject
Description
Pickens confirms a shipment of munitions from Gov. Pinckney, and describes the organization of districts in the upstate. He also describes negotiations with the Cherokee
6.5" X 8"
06/02/2022
600 dpi, 16-bit depth, color, Epson Expression 10000XL, Archival masters are tiffs.
Contributor
Pinckney, Thomas, 1750-1828
Cox, Danielle
Perkins, Erin (transcription),
Rights
This item is in copyright but can be used for educational purposes. Please contact Charleston Library Society for more information for any use not qualifying as educational use.
Format
image/jpeg
Type
StillImage
Source
Ms. 121, Andrew Pickens Papers, 1782-1804
Language
English
Identifier
ms121let01
Text Item Type Metadata
Transcription
Hopewell, 15th October 1787
Dear Sir,
I wrote you the 6th last acknowledging the receipt of your Excellency's favours of the 28th ultamo the ammunition is arrived at this place with about forty five Musketts and Baynets, which if collected from the Militia, after the peace, and which now will be of grait service on the frontier, there is a few more which can be prepaired if necessary- Col Anderson and my self has had a meeting with the principle people in the upper part of Ninety Six [illegible] and laid it out in Company Districts, and sent the notifications to the Different Companys to meet on the 20th inst: to elect their Captains and Leuts:, on the 18th I meet the officers of Greenvelle County [illegible]: where they are to elect their field officers and Receive their commissions - I intended to order exact Returns to be made of each [illegible] and have them Drafted in three devitions and hold themselves in Readiness on the shortest notice- this I presume will give spirit to the inhabitants and show the Indians that we are in some measure prepared for them in case they should make an attack on the inhabitants of our state- I have ordered the independent company to be Raised to consist of one Captain one Leut. two Serjants and twenty five privates, six of which is to be home - to act as spies or other purposes which may be nessassary - to serve till the first of February next if required - these I think will answer every purpose till we see what the Indians intend to doe- enclosed I send you the talks I have Recieved from the head men of the Cherokees- in answer to the letters I sent them about two months agoe- you will see by the one from
[illegible], that the Little Turkey, was appointed to goe to the Creeks, he is a Cherokee and one of their principle head men likewies a King in the Creeks, he is Returned and sent me a messenger who arrived here yesterday- he say that Mr McGilvery had set out for Pensacola three days before he got there, that McGilvery is much against a general war, but the Majority of the nation were determined to have satisfaction for their people which they say were unjustly killed and defend their land which they think the state of Georgia has forceably taken from them McGilvery insisted much that they would not commit hostility till they had an answer from Congress by Mr White which he dayly expected- but when he could not prevail with them- he gave positive orders that they should not cross Toogolo River or molest the inhabitants on the Frounteers of South Carolina, which the Turkey says all the head men agreed to- he further says that their were two large parties set out before he left the nation against Georgia- one against the Frounteers on the Oconies the other lower down- and one other party was to set out in a short time against the people on the south side of Toogolo River- many of the inhabitants are moved to the Carolina side- several of the prinsable men of the Cherokees have been lately here- the all profess grait friendship- and say they will use their utmost influence to prevent the Creeks coming this way- however all those promises ought not to be two much Relyed on- every thing in my power will be done to prevent a war- and to keep
the Cherokees and our own frounteers quiet- the inhabitants on the Carolina side of Toogolo Rivers are mostly in Forts- tho some few are moved off- I hope your Excellency will Remember and doe something Respecting what I mentioned in my last to you and in the last part-
I am Dear Sir
your Excellency
Most Obedient and very Humble Servant
Andrew Pickens
Coppy of a letter
to his Excellency 15th October 1787
Dear Sir,
I wrote you the 6th last acknowledging the receipt of your Excellency's favours of the 28th ultamo the ammunition is arrived at this place with about forty five Musketts and Baynets, which if collected from the Militia, after the peace, and which now will be of grait service on the frontier, there is a few more which can be prepaired if necessary- Col Anderson and my self has had a meeting with the principle people in the upper part of Ninety Six [illegible] and laid it out in Company Districts, and sent the notifications to the Different Companys to meet on the 20th inst: to elect their Captains and Leuts:, on the 18th I meet the officers of Greenvelle County [illegible]: where they are to elect their field officers and Receive their commissions - I intended to order exact Returns to be made of each [illegible] and have them Drafted in three devitions and hold themselves in Readiness on the shortest notice- this I presume will give spirit to the inhabitants and show the Indians that we are in some measure prepared for them in case they should make an attack on the inhabitants of our state- I have ordered the independent company to be Raised to consist of one Captain one Leut. two Serjants and twenty five privates, six of which is to be home - to act as spies or other purposes which may be nessassary - to serve till the first of February next if required - these I think will answer every purpose till we see what the Indians intend to doe- enclosed I send you the talks I have Recieved from the head men of the Cherokees- in answer to the letters I sent them about two months agoe- you will see by the one from
[illegible], that the Little Turkey, was appointed to goe to the Creeks, he is a Cherokee and one of their principle head men likewies a King in the Creeks, he is Returned and sent me a messenger who arrived here yesterday- he say that Mr McGilvery had set out for Pensacola three days before he got there, that McGilvery is much against a general war, but the Majority of the nation were determined to have satisfaction for their people which they say were unjustly killed and defend their land which they think the state of Georgia has forceably taken from them McGilvery insisted much that they would not commit hostility till they had an answer from Congress by Mr White which he dayly expected- but when he could not prevail with them- he gave positive orders that they should not cross Toogolo River or molest the inhabitants on the Frounteers of South Carolina, which the Turkey says all the head men agreed to- he further says that their were two large parties set out before he left the nation against Georgia- one against the Frounteers on the Oconies the other lower down- and one other party was to set out in a short time against the people on the south side of Toogolo River- many of the inhabitants are moved to the Carolina side- several of the prinsable men of the Cherokees have been lately here- the all profess grait friendship- and say they will use their utmost influence to prevent the Creeks coming this way- however all those promises ought not to be two much Relyed on- every thing in my power will be done to prevent a war- and to keep
the Cherokees and our own frounteers quiet- the inhabitants on the Carolina side of Toogolo Rivers are mostly in Forts- tho some few are moved off- I hope your Excellency will Remember and doe something Respecting what I mentioned in my last to you and in the last part-
I am Dear Sir
your Excellency
Most Obedient and very Humble Servant
Andrew Pickens
Coppy of a letter
to his Excellency 15th October 1787
Collection
Citation
Pickens, Andrew, 1739-1817, “Letter to Thomas Pinckney from Andrew Pickens, October 15, 1787,” Charleston Library Society Digital Collections, accessed May 16, 2024, https://charlestonlibrarysociety.omeka.net/items/show/1411.