William Henry Harrison Northwest Indian War provision

Signed provision from William Henry Harrison during the Northwest Indian War, August 1794. This letter was written just a few days after the Battle of Fallen Timbers, and the reverse of the letter mentions “Indian Prisoner.� While it is unclear which individual this refers to, he was probably captured at or shortly after Fallen Timbers. Harrison (1773-1841), who later served as president of the United States from March 4-April 4, 1841, joined the army after receiving a commission as an ensign in the 1st Infantry Regiment, which was then engaged in the Indian War in the Northwest Territory. In 1792, General "Mad Anthony" Wayne took command of the western troops after Arthur St. Clair's defeat. Harrison seems to have been a "natural" soldier, particularly in adherence to discipline and order. He was promoted to lieutenant, and the following year to aide-de-camp. Harrison learned much about frontier warfare from Wayne, and participated in the victorious Battle of Fallen Timbers, August 20, 1794, near what is today Toledo, Ohio. This order for provisions for prisoners is associated with these battles in northern Ohio. Snake's Town was a Shawnee town along the lower Maumee River. Harrison remained associated with the Northwest Territory one way or another - soldier, governor, representative - for most of his career, before being elected president.