Letter from George Washington to Controversial Treasonous Gen. James Wilkinson

Description

GEORGE WASHINGTON
.  Historically important letter from President George Washington to controversial and treasonous Brigadier General James Wilkinson responding to the current Northwest Indian War and complimenting Wilkinson’s second-in-command of the American Legion.  The letter was handwritten on President Washington’s behalf by his secretary with his signature having been removed; in addition, there is an integral leaf with a docket handwritten by General Wilkinson acknowledging receipt of the letter: “From President Washington, April 2nd, 1794.”  The letter is two pages on a single leaf, measure 9 by 7.5 inches, and in poor condition with three large areas of paper loss, toning along the right border, and heavy wrinkling and folding.
HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT LETTER FROM PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON TO THE CONTROVERSIAL AND TREASONOUS GENERAL JAMES WILKINSON RESPONDING TO THE NORTHWEST INDIAN WAR AND COMPLIMENTING WILKINSON’S SECOND-IN-COMMAND OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
The letter reads in full with the bracketed sections missing, full transcriptions are available at the Library of Congress and National Archives: “United States April 2, 1794, Sir, I have received the letter which you addressed to me accompanied by a n[ew map of the present the]atre of wa[r North West of the Ohio,] which I [consider as the best descrip]tion extant of the country to which it relates.  [The val]ue of the object is great[ly enhanced in] my estimation by [its being the pr]oduction of the Officer Second in the command [of the] American legion. This desire of being useful in the highest degree to the service in which you are employed, affords me great Satisfaction. Nothing should have prevented my having it published, but an apprehension that an improper use may be made of the information it contains in this apparently eventful moment.  This appre[hension howev]er may be obviated at [a future period. I am Sir,] Your most ob. & hble. Servant, [Go: Washington.] Brigadier Genl. Wilkinson.”
James Wilkinson (1757–1825) was an American soldier and statesman who fought during the American Revolution, Northwest Indian War, Quasi-War, and War of 1812 and was associated with several scandals and controversies.  He served as a Captain in Benedict Arnold’s unsuccessful Quebec campaign, Deputy Adjutant General for General Horatio Gates in the Saratoga campaign and was given the honor of bringing to Congress the news of General John Burgoyne’s defeat, twice as the Commanding General of the United States Army, and First Governor of the Louisiana Territory.  Wilkinson was also involved in the Conway Cabal, Aaron Burr conspiracy, and, after his death, was discovered to have been a paid spy of the Spanish Crown.
After distinguishing himself during the Revolution, General Wilkinson was chosen by President Washington to lead an expedition in the Northwest Territory in 1791 in efforts to expand American settlements northwest of the Ohio.  Due to General Arthur St. Claire’s defeats, the Northwest Indian War was disastrous for the American forces suffering tremendous casualty rates and making little progress. In 1793, General Anthony Wayne was appointed by Washington as commander of the American Legion and Wilkinson as his second-in-command.  Both Wayne and Wilkinson were able to turn the war around and lead troops to victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794, the last major battle of the war. They negotiated the Treaty of Greenville the following year on August 3, 1795 which ended the war and ceded large portions of Ohio territory to the United States.
“[THE VAL]UE OF THE OBJECT IS GREAT[LY ENHANCED IN] MY ESTIMATION BY [ITS BEING THE PR]ODUCTION OF THE OFFICER SECOND IN THE COMMAND [OF THE] AMERICAN LEGION.  THIS DESIRE OF BEING USEFUL IN THE HIGHEST DEGREE TO THE SERVICE IN WHICH YOU ARE EMPLOYED, AFFORDS ME GREAT SATISFACTION.”
Correspondence from Washington to Wilkinson or with content on the Northwest Indian War is excessively rare and highly desirable.  We were unable to locate any available for sale at auction in the past 25 years.