Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-05-16
F.DMUND p. GAINES,
jfoiar General Commanding.
The iIon. LEWIS Ctss,
Secretary Of II.dr, Washington Cdy.
WAR DEPARTMENT, May 4, ls3


SIN: have received YOUR letter OF the 9Th III
limo. and in answer, have to inform Gu that the
President will sanction tic employment oil what
ever force may be necessary toproteci tie W cS-
tern frontier Of the UHtcd States from hostile m
cursions. Tls Department ha, addressed the
Governors of the States Of Louisiana, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama, requestln"
them to call into service such militia iuree as you
NAV find necessary in carrying into effect the m
structions heretofore given 10 You. Tie theatre
of operations is 80 distant from iii" seat OF Gov
crumcnf, that much must be entrusted to yohr DIS
erection. TIE two ret objects YOU have 10 attain
are frs, the protection of the frontiers, and Sc
condlv, as strict performance of the neutral
duties of the United States rs the great oh ect OF
selr.dctence will permit. You will take care and
do no act which can give uSt cause offence OF Of
fence to any other Government; and, on the other
hand yon will not permit the frontiers to be lnVa-
dcd by any fore whatever. have to request that
the militia YOU may call out may not be more nti-
merous than the eXeonClcs shall sccm to require
They ought 10 be called into service for SIX months
if practicable, to be disbandcd Whenever rot wan
ted and YOU will take care that all due economy IS
preserved, as " ell in your disbursements as i'll the
preservation and accountability Of the public pro-
perry. II is very necessary that you Should conf
muuicate freely to the commanding officers OF any
military parties WHO may approach the hohFIS,
and inform them Of the nature OF your orders
You will state to them, that while ven have been
ordered 10 that quarter ith view to tie execution
Of the neutral obligations ofthe United States, YOU
have also been instructed to defend their ter
rilo,v from any invasion whatever aud that tins
duty will be executed under any Circumstances
HAT maq happen. \ on y i'll also demonstrate aeaiuS,
the employment Of any Of the indians. Although
the dictates of humanity forbid the of this spe
cicS Of force which cannot be restrained, vet the
right of the United States to demonstrate against
its service rests upon other grounds. From the
habits and dispositions Of the Indians, it is
well known that tie power employing them
cannot restrain them within the legitimate rules
Of warfare. If they Approach the frontiers, they
will pay 10 regard to mere imaginary line
but viii carry on their deprcda'ions and massacrcs
wherever inhabitants can he found ard where
there is no force to oppose them. It is aIloerth-
CT idle to expect that in such ST tie Of things the
frontier settlements of the United State, would
not be exposed to these calamitiC>. Whoever
calls the Indians into SERVICE and induces lhem to
approach our border, cannot bat be aware of the
consequences that must cnsue.
All tbs You will represent tothe proper officers,
and Yea viii use yonr best cYerlionS 10 keep such
force from marching towards voor position, and
ii th,y do SO, 10 repel and dispense it.
Yer, respectfully Your most obcdicnt scrrao,
LEW. CASS.
Major General GAINES, !'ori JesHp, Lowsiano.