[Pages 1–8 are heavily fire-damaged microfilm images. Only a central portion of each page survives; text at all four margins is lost. Transcription follows what is legible; each line break represents an incomplete line with text lost at left and/or right edges.] [War] Department, 6089 April [undecipherable] Sir, I have the honor [undecipherable] [Your] Excellency, in confidence, th[at] of affairs upon the fron[tier] at all the Indian[s] will in the cou[rse] from circumstances, not under the con[trol of] the general government, have proceeded from one stage to another, until it seems, but too probable that force only can decide the con[test]. As it is to be apprehended [that] [th]e Six Nations may be brought to a[ction,] [it] has been conceived importa[nt] [the]m together; particularly [at] [on]ly a period as possible [th]e chain, and to[o] Aware of your [influence] over Captain Joseph [Brant,] the idea that you might ima[gine] arrang[e]ments to undertake to[o] with [the] Indians to pacify m[e,] then to hold a general tre[aty] would be abundantly more [consonant with] the feelings and interest [of humanity] than to extirpate the [Indians,] to see the inevitable [consequence of the] long continuance [of war,] able to [undecipherable] And, it is also proper that you [should] understand, that a mortal enmity ex[ist]s ifts between Brandt and the Complanter, In this situation of things, [if] [Your] Excellency [should] entertain the [opi] [opi]nion stronger that Brandt might be [employed] with good effect, and consistently [with] [Com]planter's mission, and that [he should not] clash in the business [it is desired] that you would take [measures for] the pu[rpose] He will be on [the spot and] should consider the idea practicab[le,] give him such information, an[d] as would tend to success. [The] Colonel might repair to[o] to make the further nece[ssary arrangement] —Your Excellency could [write] to Brandt to meet [him, or] Colonel Pickering [or some] other, as you sho[uld judge proper] persuaded that nothing but a solid con[viction] viction of your Excellency's regard to the public welfare, would have compelled me to trouble you on this occasion. — I take the liberty of requesting a line from you immediately in answer to these suggestions. For if you should judge [it] practicable, no [ti]me is to be lost. I have the honor to [be] with [the greatest respect &c.] [Endorsement:] [Apr.] 12. '91 [Sec]r[etary of] War to G[overno]r [undecipherable] as to the Indian war at the West the practicability of employing Capt. Brant as a pacificator — [17]90.