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Expense Receipt from War Against Chief Tecumseh

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War of 1812

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Military Expense Receipt War Against Chief Tecumseh

1812, Receipt for payment of military expenses by Captain James Taylor, during the Indian War with Tecumseh, who had just joined the British on the eve of the War of 1812, Very Fine.
March 5, 1812, Autograph Document Signed, 5.75" x 5.75," at Newport (Kentucky). In this amazing military financial document, John McClure has signed acknowledging receipt of $50 from Captain James Taylor, in payment of military expenses for his unit. Captain (later General) Taylor was a wealthy Kentucky landowner, who during the War of 1812, personally paid military expenses for his units. Although the United States didn't declare war on England until June 1812, the frontier war with Chief Tecumseh and his Indian tribes merged into the War of 1812 when Tecumseh joined the British against the United States. This document reads in full:
"The United States - To James McClure [is indebted] - To one Kentucky Boat 46 feet long $46.00 - Repairing the same fit for transportation ($)4.00 - for transportation of Capt. Taylor's Detach(ment) - [total] $50.00 - Received of James Taylor United States agent at Newport, the above amount of fifty dollars in full of the above account as witnessed [by] my hand this fifth day of March 1812 - John McClure."
Very light foxing, mainly on the back, with archival tape reinforcement on the back. Otherwise this historic document is in great shape.

James Taylor (1769-1848) pioneer and military officer, was born in Virginia. His father was a first cousin of General (and later President) Zachary Taylor. The son moved to Kentucky in 1792, where he became a banker, large landowner, and Captain of frontier troops at Newport. Early in 1811, Newport had been selected as a recruiting station for Kentucky and Ohio. The government in Washington clearly anticipated war along the frontier. Recruits were arriving daily and formed an encampment nearly a mile long beside the Ohio River. Tecumseh was traveling to tribes all over the West, inciting them to rise against the ever growing white community. The Fourth Infantry, garrisoned at Newport, participated in the Battle of Tippecanoe, the battle that presaged an Indian uprising when England and the United States went to war. During the War of 1812, Taylor used his own money and credit to pay the troops, took the field as Brigadier General of Kentucky Militia, served as Quartermaster General of the Northwestern Army under General William Hull, and was active in concerting a plan to displace Hull and confide the command of the fortress at Detroit to General Duncan McArthur. When General Hull ordered him to act with Colonel James Miller and the British officers in drawing up articles of capitulation, he refused to participate in the surrender. After the war, as president of the Newport Bank, he signed currency issued by the bank.

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