Resurrecting the First American West

Richmond 2nd July 1780

D^r Col.

I am bound to return you thanks on behalf of the Kentucky Inhabitants for your late attention shewn to their distresses. - The assembly will sit about 10 days longer I expect - The House were yesterday in Com^ee upon the Bill for recruiting 5000 regulars I expect will pass the whole House nearly as in Com^ee. The County to be laid off in 4 Divisions of 44 men making each division as equal in ability assigning a certain district for each division If the Bounty of 2 or 3000 will not raise the four men or 11th part of the Militia. The property of the District is to be charged I make good the Residue - The Finance [page damaged]s only been read the first time & altho' I am a friend to [damage]et I find it extreme ly exceptionable & doubt whether it [damage]ls - a False Alarm yesterday occasioned the House to [damage] absence to many of the Members for the Rem^r & I fear the [damage] will be thin

Gen^l Clinton with 4000 men arrived about 2 Weeks ago at N. York. Kniphausen had advanced before to Eliza^th Town Point and Gen^l Washington was at Springfield on his Flank I expect the the Enemy are thus industrious this spring to affect something of Moment before the arrival of the French Fleet & I much fear their vigour will exceed ours. As to Kentucky news - the Coun ty is divided into three- Bensons Creek & the Beach Knobs separate Jefferson the lower County from Lincoln the upper one both on the South side the River - Fayette is the name of that on the N^o Side Kentucky - Connolly's 1000 Acres of the Falls is given to Trustees for a Town Louisville - a Bill is running the Gauntlet for vesting the escheated lands in Trustees for a publick School But parsimony still holds a Seat among us & I fear a Majority will at last prevail against it -

Pray what news about the Tories? Acc^ts from your Quar ter alarm us much. You dont want precedent for the proper punishment if you succeed - I shall be about Richm^d till the Middle Aug^t I will be glad of a line or two. Comp^ts to your Lady I am D^r Col. Your mo. obed^t Hble Servant

Jn^o [Toddy's?]

Historical 1780 "Connoll's 1100 acre grant is given to trustees for a town Louisville"

Campbells Washington

Richmond Dec.29th.1787

Sir

It will no doubt be pleasing for you to hear that a vast multitude of emigrants hath passed through the wilderness, this season, to Kentucky, and Cumberland, and to the joy and admiration of many with out the least molestation from the Indians. I could assure Congress that so fortunate an event, would hardly have taken place from the measures of their late Super. - But it was chiefly owing to the industry of other instruments, under the auspices of Governor Randolph. There is now a probability that the peace will be broken, from the injudicious and ill-conceited war begun against the Creek Indians, which I fear will spread to Holstein Kentucky, and Cumberland; and eventually make enemies of the three other southern tribes. - And all this mischief impending,

for want of proper men, to adopt proper measures, in due time. - As all is not yet lost, I have consented that my name might be put in nomination for the Superintendancy of the Southern Department. I am not diffident of my knowledge of the business, at least equal to any man in the Southern States; but it will cross my purposes of retirement, and I do not know how i shall obtain the consent of my best friend. Nothing therefore could have induced me to offer for os perilous and unprofitable an undertaking, considering the deranged state of the District; but a hope, that I might be useful at this peculiar crisis of American affairs, to promote peace, and security to the Western people, and facilitate the adoption of federal measures. Such communications as you will be so good as favour me with may be sent by the post, to Richmond, from whence I can have them carefully forwarded. I am Sir with regard your very humble servant Arthur Campbell

John Brown Esq. a Delegate from Virginia at New York

Bill to Brown M. C 1787 offering for superintendent of South n Dept.

Lexington March 4th 1812 Dear Isaac You expressed a wish to know what has become of I. L. Baker. S. Todd arrived in town last night from Fort George. he states that Isaac was taken prisoner by an Indian and was bought by a Wm Smart of Detroit for one hundred and fifty dollars _______

My Dear Uncle is no more. he was wounded and left at Rasin with the other wounded men when the [masichore?] [commenced?] he gave an Indian one hundred dollars to carry him to Malden. and on the way was shot through the head by a drunken Indian and expired without a groan. Our freind E. Blythe was killed with the wounded. S. Elder was killed in the retreat. S. Todd states that Coloner Wells was ordered by Winchester to piquet himself in but Wells made answer that he was not affraid. nearly all Wells men were killed only Ten of Lewis'. I. Parker has just arrived

We expect in town on Saturday. I. Bickly, I. L. Baker, L. Todd, C. Bradford. and all the rest of our freinds

Your freind T. P. Hart Locust Grove

N.B. I have just come from down [street?] and have heard the death of my Uncle was only a report in Detroit we have yet some faint hopes of his Living TPH R. Gwathmey show this letter to nobody

20 LEXINGTON [MAR?] KENTUCKY

Mr. Isaac R. Gwathmey Louisville Kentucky

Oct 21 1812 Fort Winchester Late F. Defiance, Dear Friend,

I will give you a short account of our movements in this quarter of the country. We have been lying here since the 30th of last month. In the intermediate time we have built a small fort, at which place a Major's command will be left for the purpose of maintaining the Post and escorting provisions for the army. We have not a peace of Canon to leave at this Post, an unfortunate thing indeed. We have made ten [perouges?] for the purpose of transporting our baggage and provisions down to the Rapids. More [perouges?] are to be built. We have 30,000 rations now at this place and more coming in daily.

When we will get away from this place I am unable to say. But I suppose we cannot remain long at this place.

When we leave this we will pursue the tracks of the British and Indians that fled before us on the latter part of last month. They are now, in all probabilitity, glutting their vengeance on our inocent inhabitants about the settlement of Detroit, and fortifying Malden, to meet the assaults of this army. Again, it is possible that they may be embodied between this place and Detroit for the purpose of attacking our forces. This you will remember, is only my private opinion as respects those things.

Since we left Fort Wayne we lost 7 scalps, among them was Ensign James Leggette an officer in 17th Regt. In the loss of this officer we have lost a devoted friend to his country, a valuable officer and worthy young man.

This seems to be our movements at present. My friend, I could tell things that would touch the