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McARTHUR TO WORTHINGTON

Chillicothe Decr 25th 1812

Dear Sir,

I feel much indebted to you for the active part and interest you have taken in procuring the pay for the troops of my Regt.

By last mail I recd. a letter from Mr. Brent, at your instance, together with instructions to John McDonald to pay the troops of my Regt. and draw on him for the a mt. at ten days sight. but on inquiry I find that Bills of this kind cannot be sold here at par, I therefore see no way of procuring money on them to pay off the troops. Should I fail in the attempt to draw it from Genl. Taylor, both men and officers will be intirely out of patience. I have written the inclosed letter to Mr. Brent on the subject. I wish you to examine it, and if you find nothing amiss in it, I wish you would seal it, and hand it to him. I cannot but think that Huntington has treated my Regt. estreamly amiss. It is however, consist with the opinion I have for a long time had of him.

A very unpleasant report has reached Town this evening, but I hope there is nothing in it. It is that the Secret expedition was I believe published in almost all the western paper[s] long before it set off, and the Indians who pretend to be cur friends and consequently the hostile ones, were as well acquainted with the intention and destination of this secret expedition, long before it was set on foot, as Genl. Harrison was. This circumstance makes the news of the defeat more probible.

I have ever been confident that it was very impolitic, for the government to suffer those [illeg.] Indians to reside between our frontier and the hostile Indians. There is no doubt a constant communication between them.

They must either be removed into the settlement next spring or drove off, they are in their present situation more injurious to our cause than if they were all our enemies.

I nevertheless believe that some of them Light be made serviceable to our army, but imploying them as spies and guides, in company with white men in whom we can trust.

In haste and the midst of bustle I am Dear sir, your ob hb. Servt.

Duncan McArthur

Genl. Worthington

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