Jackson Andrew


Pres. Jackson Needs an Agent “acquainted with Indians and the Indian character” To Supervise the Removal of Indians from the Southeastern States to Land West of the Mississippi as a Result of the Hermitage Fire


Autograph Letter Signed “Andrew Jackson” as President, 3p, 7.75” x 9.75”, on two conjoined sheets. Washington, August 31, 1835. Addressed by Jackson on fourth page to his wife’s nephew “William Donelson Esqr / near Nashville / Tennessee.” Infill at lower corner of second sheet. Tape remnants across horizontal centerfold of first page and on fourth page do not affect legibility. Pictorial blind embossed seal of Philadelphia papermaker Thomas Amies in lower right of first page. Fine condition.

In full, “Your letter of the 20th instant reached me yesterday. I regret to hear that
your dear Elisabeth is indisposed, but hope that it may not be of long duration. - present to her my prayers for her speedy recovery.
“I have had no intelligence of the death of Major F. Armstrong, only thro’?your letter - I hope it may not be true - he was an excellent officer, and worthy man - it will be difficult to fill the office well - it is one of great responsibility, requires the agent to be well acquainted with the Indian character, and all the laws regulating intercourse with them - and whilst I would with much pleasure serve Mr. Wright, who I believe an honest and worthy man,?still I fear he is not sufficiently acquainted with Indians & and the Indian character to discharge the duties of that appointment - nothing will be done until the death of Major Armstrong is reported to the Dept. of War.”
In 1832, President Jackson had appointed Francis W. Armstrong as Indian agent for the Choctaws west of the Mississippi and, in 1834, as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Western Territory. His assignment was to supervise the removal of the Indians from the Mississippi River to their new home west of Arkansas. On August 6, 1835, after a long illness, Major Armstrong died at his Choctaw Agency home, two weeks before a scheduled council meeting with the Indians. The Treaty of Camp Holmes, signed on August 24, 1835, consisted of 10 articles calling for the Comanche and the Wichita to live in peace with the United States and with the tribes that were being relocated to Indian Territory. His brother, William Armstrong, also an Indian agent, succeeded him.
President Jackson continues, “I sincerely thank you for the information communicated with regard to the situation of my farm, building & health of my family. From the smallpock being raging so near, with the Colera ravaging your country we felt great solicitude about you all, but I feel grateful to a kind providence, for his protecting care of you all & our families - May he continue that blessing to you all. It is a pleasing prospect to me to hear that the Hermitage once more presents the prospect of plenty - it was a source of great regret as well of great expense to me, to see want instead of its usual abundance, When I was last at home - I now hope, under the management of Mr. Hobbs, we will be able without having to buy almost every thing, have abundant supply of all comforts that can be produced on a farm.
“Andrew will be out soon, - he & Sarah [Andrew Jackson, Jr. and wife] are now at Philadelphia - the two little ones were quite ill with cold & cough - Indeed since we returned from the Rip Raps [an artificial island built in 1817 at the mouth of the harbor at Hampton Roads, Virginia; President Jackson used it as a retreat], all the children have been taken sick, but are now getting well, and we may now say that all the family enjoy health - and all join me in kind salutations?to you & all our connections - Andrew will return from Philadelphia in ten or twelve days, and be in Tennessee the latter end of next month.
“I am apprehensive from the great Growth of our cotton & the continued wet that it will be late opening, and an early frost mar be very injurious, & may be impaired thereby - you do not inform me whether any cotton is opening, or any picking out in the neighbourhood - from the newspapers I see, that the new crop?is in the markett in Georgia, and has been sold at 22/100 - This is a good price, and I would engage my crop, the whole, at fifteen cents at home.
“You see I commenced on a leaf instead of a street which you must ascribe to bad vision & haste. give my respects to Stockley [his brother] & say to him as he is reported to be on the roung [sic] calender, we would be glad to hear from him the prospects of the colts – their realments [sic], and that of Mombrino [Major Andrew Jackson Donelson’s race horse], as I wish to bring mine into the market for sale this fall, if I caught a proper price for them.
“Give my kind regards to your Mother, tell her that Emily, Andrew [his wife’s niece and her husband Major Donelson, his private secretary] & all the dear little ones are in good health - the children have been a little sick but are now well Jackson [their 9-year-old son A.J. Donelson, Jr.] is improving fast & learns well. I will thank you occasionally to write me the prospects of the crop - the burning of my House & furniture [October 13, 1834 fire gutted the interior] makes a good crop now necessary to meet my wants. I am affectionately yours Andrew Jackson.”



WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.