Memorandum from William Blount, 31 July 1793
Memorandum from William Blount
[Philadelphia, 31 July 1793]
answer to the Presidents questions1
To the second question
Georgia | 1 Regt | 640 |
South carolina | 2 Regts | |
Do | 1 Do | 1920 |
No. Carolina | 2 Regts | 1280 |
3840 | ||
Virginia | 2 Regt | 1280 |
5120 |
July 31st 17932
In Case of a War with the Cherokees as well as the Creeks General Seveir is a fit Character to command that Part of the force which may be employed against the Cherokees.3
Wm Blount
ADS, DLC:GW.
1. This memorandum is an answer to the second question contained in GW to Henry Knox and Andrew Pickens, 26 July 1793. On the administration’s consideration of an expedition against hostile Indians in the South, see Cabinet Opinion, 29 May, and Knox to GW, 25 July, and the enclosed memorandum from Knox and Pickens of 24 July 1793. Blount, the governor of the Southwest Territory, dined with GW, Knox, and Pickens on 27 July to discuss the need for military action ( , 208). On Blount’s current visit to Philadelphia, see Knox to GW, 13 July, and note 2.
2. Blount wrote over “21” to create the date of 31 July.
3. The administration did not launch a campaign against the Southern Indians at this time. John Sevier was brigadier general of the militia for the Washington District in the Southwest Territory (GW to U.S. Senate, 22 Feb. 1791). On his enthusiasm for military expeditions against the Indians, see Tobias Lear to Knox, 25 Nov. 1792, and note 2; Daniel Smith to Knox, 19 July 1793, , 4:280–82.