222 The Winning of the West 



King was really bent on treating the United States 

 in general, and the West in particular, with all pos 

 sible benevolence and generosity. 38 Yet in 1786, 

 midway between the dates when these two letters 

 were written, Miro, in a letter to the Captain-General 

 of the Floridas, set forth that the Creeks, being 

 desirous of driving back the American frontiersmen 

 by force of arms, and knowing that this could be 

 done only after bloodshed, had petitioned him for 

 fifty barrels of gunpowder and bullets to correspond, 

 and that he had ordered the Governor of Pensa- 

 cola to furnish McGillivray, their chief, these mu 

 nitions of war, with all possible secrecy and caution, 

 so that it should not become known. 39 The Gov 

 ernor of Pensacola shortly afterward related the 

 satisfaction the Creeks felt at receiving the powder 

 and lead, and added that he would have to furnish 

 them additional supplies from time to time, as the 

 war progressed, and that he would exercise every 

 precaution so that the Americans might have no 

 "just cause of complaint." 40 There is an uncon 

 scious and somewhat gruesome humor in this offi 

 cial belief that the Americans could have "no just 



38 Gardoqui MSS., Gardoqui to "Col. Elisha Robeson" of 

 Cumberland, April 18, 1788. 



39 Do., Miro to Galvez, June 28, 1786, "que summistrase 

 estas municiones 4 McGillivray Jefe principal to las Tala- 

 puches con toda la reserve y cantata posible de modo que ne 

 se transiendiese la mano de este socorro." 



40 Do., "sera necessaria la mayor precaucion, y mafia para 

 contenerle ciSendose a la suministracion de polvora, balas 

 y efectos de treta con la cantata posible para no dar a los 

 Americanos justos motives de gueya." 



