Scope and Content: The Continental Congress appointed John Allan as agent (later superintendent) of Indian affairs in the Continental Army’s Eastern Department, including New England, the St. John River region, and Nova Scotia generally (Journals, Jan. 14-15, 1777). Later that year, at the urging of Allan and others, and at the request of Congress (Journals, May 13, 1777), the State of Massachusetts Bay’s General Court authorized the raising of troops at Machias to protect settlers of its Eastern (Maine) District and appointed Allan colonel of Indian troops serving the state in the area (Resolves 1777-78, c 277, Sept. 16, 1777), and, the next day, also named him colonel of the troops just raised (c 281) –In these various federal and state posts Allan was to maintain good relations with the Indians who lived in the region to ensure their loyalty to the state and to the Revolutionary American cause, by setting up and supplying truck houses, protecting the Indians, and consulting with them to learn their concerns.  The state funded Allan’s activities, expecting ultimate reimbursement from the federal government.  Col. Allan wrote extensively to the Council, the General Court’s upper chamber, to gain recognition for Indian loyalty, forward intelligence on British actions, and ensure adequate supplies for the Indians and for colonial troops in the Machias region.
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