Henry Dearborn (1751 - 1829) Manuscript Signed Letter, dated August 14th,1802. At this time he was recently appointed Secretary of The War Department by Thomas Jefferson. Addressed to Captain Callender Irvine (1775 -1841), Dearborn goes into detail about rising tensions between the Seneca Indians and those living in the vicinity of what is now the Canadian border. "It appears that uneasiness exists among the Seneca Indians and the white people in their neighborhood, a white man has been lately killed and another wounded by one of the Senecas - you will immediately visit the Senecas after calling on Major Porter Commanding Officer at Niagara, who I have requested to give you all the aid and advice in his power and who I wish may accompany you on your visit to the principal men of the Seneca Nation near Buffalo Creek - you will by all mild & friendly means in your power endeavour to satisfy the Indians, of the friendly intenentions of the General Governement towards them, and impress on their minds the absolute necessity of their rigid attention to the stipulations of the treaty existing between them and the United States..." From the Francis Hopkinson Family Archives