The Cherokee are coming Now? Why?
During these times of muddy and unpassable roads, and rivers icy and treacherous blocking progress, you got to wonder why 600 to 800 Cherokee allies are coming now to Fort Loudoun Winchester VA?
There are hardly any "presents" and supplies waiting for them when they do appear. They won't like that.
Last year in 1757,
the presents were NOT enough at Clement Reade's place in old Lunenburg County Virginia. His letter In March 1757 describes a horrifying encounter with the Cherokee displeased at the lack of presents.
After leaving Clement Reade's place, they travel to Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
Same problem.
The run into a broken promise at Fort Loudoun in April 1757.
There were 3 days of speeches and arguments to resolve what action they will take. They finally decide to help scour the woods for enemy French and their Indians.
They have some successes. They killed a few French, captured some, got some scalps. But they lost the warrior Swallow who was really mad about the Long Knives (the White Virginians) not keeping their promise to give them "presents" for helping. Swallow got shot in the head. And Swallow's son gets shot in both legs. An epic hike from today's Pittsburgh area results with the men taking turns carrying Swallow's son all the way back to Fort Cumberland living only on spring onions.
Now in 1758,
will all this disappointment happen again?
President John Blair, acting as Lt Governor, is recommending that the 600 to 800 Indians heading towards Clement Reade in Lunenburg VA and then to Fort Loudoun Winchester VA, be redirected to Lord Loudoun in New York City.
Lord Loudoun would have the money to provide them "presents" and supplies.
". . . Once Mr Adam Dickinson from Augusta who came to me the 28th Ult. for some Arms & Ammunition for his Son John, Captain of a Company of Rangers, told me he heard that 600, were at Col. Reads,
and that they were going to my Lord Loudoun,
but that afterwds he heard it was a Company of 40 or 50, only, & that the rest were behind; of which however we have no certainty.
On the Report of their going to my Lord [Loudoun] , Sir John St clair seem’d pleased, & said my Lord [Loudoun] would make them wellcome;
and by Mr Nelson’s advice I have writ, by that Mr Dickinson, to Mr Gist, (as I intended to write to you) to encourage the Indians (of any number) to go to my Lord [Loudoun] , who would receive & reward them well: and I desire you will press it upon him [Lord Loudoun].
But we are much surprised to hear that Mr Gist is in no wise prepared to receive them, as our late Govr told us that he had above a £1000. pounds worth in Indian Goods left in his hands for such purpose.
I desire a particular Accot of what he has.
We do not imagine their numbers will be any thing near so large as talkt of,
and I hope they will not come this good while yet,
unless they are going to my Lord [Loudoun]. They are said to be Creeks & Cherokees together."
Letters between Blair and Colonel George Washington indicate agreement that this time of the year is useless to have the Indian allies.
Little will get done.
will mount to cover their stay in these winter months. The need for the Indians is best left for the Spring, when war can begin again.
Gist writes to GW they heard about these numbers of Cherokee coming.
He did not know whether to believe the news.
Gist covers another issue.
Recently departed Lt Gov Dinwiddie claimed Aktin, absentee head of Indian Affairs, said Gist was given 1000 lbs. worth of presents and supplies to be given to the Indians. Christopher Gist thinks what he has is not much more than 300 lbs, but he allows if Atkin or Dinwiddie thinks the amount could have a higher value than he thinks.
Below is Gist's letter is printed in its entirety down below.
A little biographical note on Gist:
Christopher Gist doesn't know he will not live past 1759. His son Nathaniel Gist is alleged to later sire a George Guess, aka Sequoyah, the Cherokee who created a written language for his nation.
BTW, Blair's letter of 5 Feb 1758 claims they finally got the transports assigned to bring back the two Virginia Regiment companies on loan to Charleston SC. On the day Lt Gov Dinwiddie departed to England on 12 Jan 1758, the House of Burgesses acted on an October 1757 directive from Lord Loudoun to bring back those 2 Virginia companies. They were Adam Stephen's and George Mercer's companies.
We will add more. We will put in more links to confirm our claims. We will add more about those Cherokee coming to Winchester VA.
This story contains the seeds of the coming Anglo Cherokee War, where the British colonies fight their own Cherokee allies while they fight the French.
Back to the issue of the Cherokee coming and if there is enough presents and supplies for them at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA:
To George Washington
from Christopher Gist,
3 February 1758
From Christopher Gist Winchester Febuy 3d 1758
D. Sir
yours of the 31st Ultimo I recd this day,
am very much Oblig’d to you
for the Acct of the Indians being on their March,
Some flying repot
we had before which few Credited,
your account is all we have for certain as yet.1
I have made up the Accts for the last year and Sent them down by Mr Cromwell2
with a Return of all the goods on hand to the Last day December last. very little has been Disposed off Sence. Blankets guns and Ammonition is none excpt 12 guns in the last cargo and they very bad. but as you are going to Williamsburg you will See the returns with President Blair, you will then be a Judge what May be Nessary, for the ensuing Season.
As to the Price of Goods left in My hands by Mr Atkin I cant Say,
what the a mount May be,
but I think I Could have bought as Much and as good for £300—
if the Governor Says they are worth £1000
it may be so,
I have render’d the Acct where they are and how Disposed off to the President.
Inclos’d is my Ac[c]t for Recruiting3
I have Sent Certificate of Jacob Sowers omitted in my Accts Sent4
please to get it5
for the Poor Man Pray Excuse hast I am with the Kindest wishes for your helth—Dr Sir Yr Most Humle & obedt Servt
Christr Gist
ALS, DLC:GW.
Founders Online Footnotes:
1. GW’s letter has not been found. See GW to John Blair, 31 Jan. 1758.
2. Mr. Cromwell was perhaps William Cromwell whose back pay “as conductor and sundry Expenses” the Virginia council settled, 25 May 1763 (Exec. Journals of Virginia Council, 6:255–58).
3. This recruiting account of Christopher Gist has not been found.
4. Jacob Sowers lived in Winchester where he kept an ordinary.
5. Gist inadvertently wrote “if” here instead of “it.”
Source:
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Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 2/6/2022, updated 2/8/2022, 3/20/2022
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Notes on Lord Loudoun having not left yet
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We said Goodbye to Lord Loudoun for December 1757.
That's because he was relieved of his command of all North America.
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But he's still here in NYC.
He's still Governor of Virginia, even though, yes, once again we have to say he never stepped foot in it.
His Lt Gov Dinwiddie left 12 Jan 1758.
But here it is February 1758 and Lord Loudoun has not left yet.
Acting Lt Gov is President John Blair.
Blair is recommending that the 600 to 800 Indians heading towards Clement Reade in Lunenburg VA ought to be redirected to Lord Loudoun who would have the money to provide them "presents" and supplies. Letters between Blair and Colonel George Washington indicate agreement that this time of the year is useless to have the Indian allies. Little will get done. Expenses will mount to cover their stay in these winter months. The need for the Indians is best left for the Spring, when. War does not like the cold in these days.
And two other matters bring up Lord Loudoun's names.
He is still dealing with Robert Rogers.
And his recommendation of Lt Col John Young, paymaster of the Royal American Regiment to succeed Lt Gov Dinwiddie is considered to guaranteed, so much so that the House of Burgesses announced Lt Col Young's imminent assumption of the office.
So let's review these 3 matters before Lord Loudoun: The Indians, Robert Rogers, Lt Col John Young.
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