Guide to the James Wilkinson Papers, 1790-1818 DAR.1937.09
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
James Wilkinson Papers
Creator
Smith, Samuel Harrison
Creator
Wilkinson, James
Collection Number
DAR.1937.09
Extent
0.42 Linear Feet(1 box)
Date
1790-1818
Abstract
The papers contain correspondence to and from James Wilkinson, governor of the Louisiana Territory, high ranking official in the United States Army, and informant of, and suspected co-conspirator in the Aaron Burr conspiracy. Also included in the collection is a copy of a letter from Andrew Jackson to the governor of New Orleans, William C. C. Claiborne, and a letter written by Harman Blennerhassett, a plotter in the Burr conspiracy. Of note is the official document Wilkinson writes as commander in chief of the United States Army to Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante, governor of Coahuila and acting governor of Texas, Wilkinson's dispatch of Lieutenant Zebulon Pike to explore and chart the new frontier. Digital reproductions of this collection are available online.
Language
English
.
Author
Kristin Justham.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives & Special Collections Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Biography
While James Wilkinson was embroiled in various scandals and plots, such as the Aaron Burr conspiracy, he managed to attain prominent military and government posts. Eventually, at the height of his military career, Wilkinson would rise to the position of commander in chief of the Army of the United States.
Wilkinson was born in Benedict, Maryland, in 1757, and died in Mexico City, Mexico, on December 28, 1825. He married Ann Biddle of Philadelphia on November 12, 1778, and had four children. After her death in 1810, Wilkinson married Celestine Laveau Trudeau, with whom he had twin daughters.
Enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, Wilkinson's studies in medicine ended in 1775 when he joined Thompson's Pennsylvania rifle battalion to fight in the Revolutionary War. Wilkinson served under Colonel Benedict Arnold, General George Washington, and as an aide to General Horatio Gates; he was eventually brevetted as a major general from November 1777 to March 1778. He also served as secretary to the board of war from January to March 1778. Due to his participation in the Conway Cabal, Wilkinson was forced to resign his positions as major general and secretary in 1778. This was a conspiracy to replace George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental Army with Horatio Gates. He served as clothier general of the army from 1779 to 1781.
In 1803, Wilkinson and Governor William C.C. Claiborne took possession of the Louisiana Territory on behalf of the United States, and in 1805 Wilkinson was appointed the first governor of the territory by Thomas Jefferson. That same year, Wilkinson came under suspicion of being a co-conspirator of Aaron Burr in a treasonous plot to separate the western states from the Union. After receiving Burr's notorious ciphered letter in October of 1806, Wilkinson informed President Jefferson of Burr's plan and claimed no knowledge of the conspiracy.
In 1811, Wilkinson was court-martialed for taking payment from Spain while serving as general of the United States Army. Though he was acquitted, after his death it was revealed that he had, in fact, drawn a regular pension from Spain for his work to separate the western areas from the United States. He served as a senior officer in the United States Army for over a decade and was commissioned a major general in the War of 1812.
After leading two failed campaigns, the Battle of Crysler's Farm and the Second Battle of La Colle Mills, Wilkinson was relieved of his military duties and went on to publish his autobiography, Memoirs of My Own Times, in 1816. Intending to settle a colony in Texas, he was awaiting approval from the Mexican government when he died.
Scope and Content Notes
The collection mainly consists of letters from James Wilkinson to his friend Samuel H. Smith, a major general in the Maryland Militia during the War of 1812, and United States senator and representative from Maryland. It is in these letters that Wilkinson is the most open, with frank comments about his foes in the territorial government, as well as about Burr, his allies, and the conspiracy trial. An example of Wilkinson's candidness can be seen in a postscript in a letter dated December 10, 1806. In it he writes, "I shall live to laugh at my vile detractors as I have done all my life -- and after being crowned Emperor of Mexico, in place of Burr, I will return to spend the eve of my life in my native state and not far from Baltimore." In another letter dated June 20, 1807, he forthrightly states that he believes the conspiracy trial will not last more than four months, as Burr will attempt to flee justice. In the same letter, Wilkinson remarks that he believes an assassination attempt will be made on his own life.
Many of the letters reference Wilkinson's ongoing political conflicts with Return J. Meiggs, a politician from Ohio and judge in the Louisiana and Michigan territories; Judge John B. C. Lucas, chief justice of the Louisiana Territory; and Samuel Hammond, a member of the armed forces and Georgia state senator. Lucas served as a congressman from 1803 until he replaced Wilkinson as civil and military governor of the upper Louisiana Territory in 1805. Wilkinson often writes of his thoughts on political and military matters, discussing tensions with England and talk of an embargo against them, which would become the Embargo Act in December, 1807. The letters also frequently refer to Aaron Burr and detail Wilkinson's involvement in the ensuing conspiracy trial from his point of view.
The first letter in the collection introduces a friend, John Coburn, to the governor of the District of Natchez, Manuel Gayoso. Wilkinson's papers contain a copy of a letter from Andrew Jackson to Claiborne. In it, Jackson warns Claiborne to guard against internal and external enemies, which refers to Wilkinson as "the General." There is also a letter from Harman Blennerhassett, a wealthy Irish immigrant who was one of Burr's co-conspirators, to a Dr. Wallace. In this letter, Blennerhassett requests the retrieval and shipment of personal effects left behind after his attempted escape and capture for his involvement in the Burr conspiracy. James Brown, who was appointed attorney for the United States in New Orleans by Thomas Jefferson, writes personally to Wilkinson. Brown's letter covers political matters and Wilkinson's professional struggles.
Envelopes do not accompany the letters and in some cases the addressee is not known. In one instance, denoted by brackets around the name, it has been assumed that the recipient of the letter is Samuel H. Smith, as at that time, he was a confidant of Wilkinson and was in frequent correspondence with him.
Arrangement
The Wilkinson letters are arranged chronologically and include description at the item level.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Custodial History
This collection was located in the Darlington Memorial Library in the University's Cathedral of Learning until 2007 when it was moved to the ULS Archives Service Center for processing, storage, preservation and service. However, it remains in the custodianship of the ULS Special Collections Department.
Acquisition Information
Gift to the Darlington Memorial Library in 1937.
Existence and Location of Copies
Copies of the letters and typed transcripts of eight of the letters (April 25, 1806; June 1, 1806; June 8, 1806; June 10, 1806; June 10, 1806; June 16, 1806; June 17, 1806; and October 14, 1806) are on file. Included is a copy of a morning report of the Garrison of New Orleans dated December 23, 1806. Digital reproductions of this collection are available online.
Preferred Citation
James Wilkinson Papers, 1790-1818, DAR.1937.09, Darlington Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Previous Citation
James Wilkinson Papers, 1790-1818, DAR.1937.09, Darlington Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Kristin Justham in October and November of 2006.
Copyright
No copyright restrictions.
Related Material
There is a copy of a letter in the James Wilkinson Papers from Martin Luther to an unknown recipient, which briefly refers to the Burr trial. The original letter is housed in the Darlington Autograph Files, along with other materials related to this collection.
Subjects
Corporate Names
United States. Army -- Officers
Personal Names
Wilkinson, James
Smith, Samuel Harrison
Burr, Aaron
Meiggs, Return Jonathan
Lucas, John B. C. (John Baptiste Charles)
Hammond, Samuel
Hodgdon, Samuel
Dearborn, Henry
Jackson, Andrew
Claiborne, William C. C. (Charles Cole)
Cordero y Bustamente, Manuel Antonio
Gayoso de Lemos, Manuel
Geographic Names
United States -- History -- 1783-1815
Spain -- Relations -- United States
United States -- Relations -- Spain
Louisiana -- Politics and government -- 1803-1865
Louisiana -- History -- 1803-1865
United States -- Politics and government -- 1789-1809