Armstrong’s letter specified that Jackson was to confiscate his men’s weapons and to “take measures to have [them] delivered” to James Wilkinson, the overall commander of the American forces in the West.11 Essentially, Armstrong was asking Jackson to disband his army, disarm his men, and leave them to find their way home as best they could. They would not be paid, nor would they be issued supplies. Jackson faced a dilemma: he must follow orders—but to do so would put his men in grave danger.
