[Copy] Fort Hamilton Nov. 6 [17??] 11 o'Clock [a.] m. Sir I reached this post in the dawn of yesterday, and [I?], being unwilling to [undecipherable] not [fall?] in with [James?], agreed [undecipherable] to approach it in Day light with ten men only, [they?] in the woods about three miles distant, with [the men approach?] of the [gate?], lighted by the light of the moon, I was [struck?] [undecipherable] only march — I now consider that [undecipherable] recognized from the friends of the Garrison, and on reconnoitering I found the had crept to the woods at this post, and marched towards [Jellins?], but as this [undecipherable] the precaution to warn Major Adams of their appearance here, and as then [they?] did not [undecipherable] rule them [forces?] to exceed [fifty?] many, all [calculated?] for his safety, and [this?] of the above Convoy in Charge had [addressed?] when a few minutes — a [more?] of the Rifle Corps [into?] [this?] — a dozen inside [their?] [appearance?] — I draw of the [Savages?] about [fifty?] of [my?] it attracted the Major in his Encampment which [is?] hundred yards of the [whites?] of Fort [Ellins?], and [reported?] him in the instant of the [apostle?] her [fugitives?] inform one only that they [undecipherable] was [undecipherable] by any order from this post, or [undecipherable] of the Rifle [undecipherable] had previously reached [Ellins?] and [give?] the Major information of the [attacks?] made by the Enemy, and warned him against their [enterprize?]. If [Adams?] had [been?] encamped one mile from the Garrison, I would pay no regard to the report, but it may be that [keeping?] on his proximity to the post [for?] [during?] he has been [unwarded?]. [I?] [think?] not in this course of [the?] years experience [yet?] a man who could maintain that [sub?]ient vigilance necessary at all times, [undecipherable] is [an?] [opposing?] [strategy?] of [undecipherable] [Enemy?] will not close this letter while sunset, upon which time I hope I shall receive further particulars — [6?] o'Clock P.M. — Just as I was about to dispatch this, I rec^d a letter from Maj. [Gen.?] [Adams?], Command^r of the Kentucky mounted Infantry, in which he informs me Capt. [undecipherable] The Chills which the Enemy have experienced in [thirty?] little affairs, will produce [good?] effects, and the [undecipherable] from the Maj — and the yeomanry of Kentucky, had [threatened?] [undecipherable] consequent with the assistance stop to the transport of troops to the advanced posts, as [their?] pack horses are either destroyed or disabled, and the Rifles men dismounted. In this situation I am perplexed by difficulties, [on?] my [undecipherable] measures of the decisions of Government, and of the worst expedient before [me?] I [undecipherable] a [spy?] who [is?] to direct the [undecipherable] — [more?] pack horses — [undecipherable] the Rifles over [undecipherable] to [surmount?] the [undecipherable] — As this affair happened [more?] to [undecipherable] and [out of?] Fort [undecipherable] it may be [curious?] why the Commanding Officer did not support Maj [Adams?]. The answer is plain and will [prove?] [undecipherable] is posted for defense and not offence, and [undecipherable] it appears that in this instance to have [hazard?] — as would have been [judicious?] yet as I have considered it urgent to the national interest, to [confine?] my subordinate officers by rigid instruction to defensive measures solely, they are bound to [undecipherable] in no case whatever, which does not [undecipherable] and essentially [interest?] the safety of the [trust?] which may be confided to them; and [undecipherable] be added that in this Instance before us, the attack was a most daring one and that neither the number, nor ultimate object of the Enemy could be developed before it was discovered that Major Adams was a full match for them — I have this moment dispatched twenty of my mounted Infantry, who will reach [undecipherable] before day light, to aid in bring[ing?] in the wounded and the weary — and [undecipherable] from the [force?]. [undecipherable] A. [undecipherable] [B?]. [undecipherable] [Endorsement:] [undecipherable] The [Sec?] of War —