National Gazette

Extract of a letter from Washington county, Dec. 25.

“The Indians are, beyond all controversy, a more formidable enemy than is generally apprehended; and there is nothing wanting to convince the United States of this truth, but unanimity amongst the different tribes. That it has now become their interest to unite must be evident to every man who will think on the subject; and it is not to be doubted that there are characters among them well qualified to effect a general combination. The Indians do not want either understanding or courage; their mode of war will always give them a superior advantage over a regular army, when their numbers are nearly equal; and, by their situation, we labor under nearly the same disadvantages that Great-Britain did in the late war with us, and in some particulars, worse. No supplies can be had in the Indian country, and when those for our troops are exhausted or intercepted by the enemy, the consequence is fatal. —I think it a mistaken policy to establish posts in the enemy's country, without planting settlements in their neighborhood, If sufficient encouragement were given to settle on the frontiers, men in plenty would be had in every respect qualified for such a situation. There are at this moment thousands of hardy, able bodied men in Kentucky and on the frontiers of Virginia and Pennsylvania, that do not possess an acre of ground; and consequently do not feel a sufficient interest with, and attachment to the community. Nine pence a day is no inducement to a man to fight in a cause in which he is not immediately interested; but give such men wages, and a reasonable share in the lands for which they are to contend, and they will be as eager to take possession of the western lands as the Indians are to keep them. But it may be relied on the savages are not to be subdued by mercenaries who fight for nine pence a day, nor eighteen pence neither. It will probably not be in the power of the general government to raise and send out troops with the alacrity that circumstances demand. An interference therefore of the state governments seems necessary, to furnish men for a temporary defence of the frontiers; and if this be not done without delay, the present line of frontiers will be driven in, and the enemy suffered to penetrate what distance they please into the settlements. At present, twelve hundred active troops will hardly be sufficient to protect the frontiers of Pennsylvania only, and if the general government were to embody twenty thousand men (including five thousand riflemen) I should not think it an over-proportion."