Early Governors' Papers

about to enter, require, that I should reside in the Mississippi Territory, but here great Injustice would be done my feelings, where I not to add, that in whatever station of Life, it may be my fortune to be placed, or however distant from Tennessee, her welfare will always be dear to my Heart, and I shall embrace every opportunity to manifest my friendship for a people, to whom I am bound by every Tie, which can influence a grateful Breast; - a people who, from my earliest progress in Life, have extended to me, their generous and uniform support, and amidst every change of the political Hemisphere, have honored me, with their undiminished public confidence.

I shall set out in a few days, for the Town of Natchez; - upon leaving my old friends, I feel my sensibility much oppressed; -But I indulge a hope, that it will still be in my power, to be useful to them, and to Tennessee; - indeed, the Interest of every part of united

Natchez 19^th Jan^y 1804

Sir

On the 29^th last month I arriv'd at this City where I was met with halting Orders from General Wilkinson & to recruit ourselves & horses & return to the State from whence we were drawn - I had not a verry agreeable March thro' the Wilderness owing to the weather being so verry wet and the road so excessive bad - Captain Seveir has just reach this City this Evening and seems to be in fine spirits - Three of the Companies will leave this place on the 21^st this In. and the others as soon as they can be provided to go thro' the Wilderness- I verry much dread our return, I am doubtful of being well supplied in the nation - I have heard of no provision being made by Law for to pay us for this Campaign - I have addressed the Secretary of War & our Representatives in Congress on the occasion - and pray that you will also -

Accept assurances of my good will

Geo. Doherty

Governor Seveir

Executive Department 1 February 1804

Sir

With much embarrasment Trouble and Feateague and no little expense to M^r Maclin & myself, the Mounted Infantry called for from the State of of Tennessee by the president was all or a very few lacking, sent forward to Natchez agreably to the request of the Secreatry of the War department_

Ido assure you Sir it has been one of the Most Arduous tasks ever engaged in my attention, nor could any thing ^have occurred that I should had More at heart_

every obstacle has been thrown in the way that malice envy, and disaffection could ^{throw in the Way} devise or invent, and nothing could have surmounted the difficulty, but the Ardor and Zeal of the real friends to the American our own administration_ W^m Maclin Secretary of State, has contributed in an extraordinary degree to the success of the expedition, and I deem it worth and in case he had not taken the trouble upon himself to go ^visit Mero and attend to the business personally, it must inevitably have failed_ Icant suppose that less than four times the number was ^engaged from the commencement before they Marched, Oweing to the insinuations and false reports of designing and malicous persons who was constantly

Executive Department office of State 2 February 1804

Sir

On the 28^th instant I received official information from the Secretary of the War department, that the President of the U, States on the 15 instant had received authentic information that New Orleans with its immeadiate dependencies was amicably given up to the American Agents, in consequence of which the services of the fifteen hundred men required from Tennessee would be dispensed with - You will please without delay to cause regular & proper Returns to be made to this office^department of all those who have been regularly mustard & enrolled in companies agreably to my instruction to the Brigadiers Generals, Issued on the November last, in order that the same may be transmitted to the War office in due time - The Mounted Infantry that proceeded on to Natchez, are all on their return, and probably in a few days will reach their respective homes - I am requested by the President of the U. States to assure them that he feels the highest respect & regard for all of those who was ready to render their services on at the call of their Country - Through the extraordinary Wisdom and wise political conduct of the Executive of the U States our General Government, their is an immense and almost boundless

Executive Department Knoxville - 8 Febr^y 1804

Sir

Ihave been Duly honored with your favour of the 15th Jan^y Ultimo- The five hundred mounted Infantry excepting one Company Marched from Tennessee for the ^to Natchez as soon as possible under the existing Circumstances, the other Company followed on in December and as Ihave been informed, arrived at Natchez about the middle of January- The fifteen hundred

There has marched of provisional Militia have be chiefly organized eight Companies of as brave Militia in My opinion as Ever went into the feild ^Marched Chiefly, or all indeed Volunteers; perhaps there may be one or two of the Companies is not compleat- Ihave been frequently informed that they arrived at Natchez in health & Good order, but found a scarcity of provision marching through so ^such a long & Teadious a Wilderness, and of course must have suffered for want of provisions both themselves and horses- It would be painful to myself & troublesom to you sir,. for me to give a detail and full account of the perplexity myself & William Maclin Secretary of State have underwent in lower endeavoring to dispatch the mounted infantry off in any reasonable ^due time, And suffer me to say, my attention was never more carefully engaged on any occasion, nor has any thing Occurr'd since the revolution I have had so much ^more at heart- I am sorry compelled to inform you that every obsticle has been thrown in the way that malice hatred, and disaffection could have devise or invent by inventing ^& circulating rep[orts of the blackest hue and deepest die- They have not spared the President