 In a letter from Charles Downing, Delegate to Congress from the Florida Territory, to Waddy Thompson, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Military Affairs, Downing requested the procurement of 500 Colt Ring Lever rifles for distribution to frontier settlers in Florida.Downing recognized the advantage of Colt's ten-shot rifles, and desired to arm settlers with these rifles in order that they may effectively defend themselves and their families against attacks by the Seminoles.In his letter, Downing states that "no man in Florida is safe in his own house" and that military protection by the U.S. Army was ineffective.