James Seagrove to the Secretary of War, dated St. Mary 17^th March 179[2] Sir, Since I had the honor of writing to you from Savannah on the 3^d of January last, I have been on the frontier, where every thing in my department appeared in perfect tranquility and all my advices from the Creek nation promised a continuance of peace and friendship, until the 11^th instant when I received information from a friendly Indian of a party of about thirty of the lower Creeks being on our frontier, near traders hill on the River St. Marys; and that from what he could discover they were bent on doing mischief. I could scarcely give the least credit to this Information, but as it came so direct from an Indian who I knew to be friendly, I thought it would be wrong to totally disregard it. I therefore called on my neighbours and in two hours from my receiving the information Sent off with nine gentlemen Volunteers well mounted. It being [strikethrough: three] nine OClock on the 12^th we proceeded to Colerain, where we arrived by dawn of day. There we received the truly alarming and melancholy account of the Indians having on the night of the 11^th broke into the store of Robert Seagrove and killed Mr. John Flemming the Store keeper and Mr. Daniel Moffett a Gentleman who came there on business, and that another man was missing. I proceeded without a moments delay with my small party to the place where the murder was committed in hopes of coming up with the Murders but found that they were fled having robbed the store of upwards of two thousand pounds sterling in Goods. I was preparing to follow them when the Indian who first gave the information came in and informed me that he had followed them upwards of thirty miles on their way to the nation. That they were well provided with horses and travelled with all possible haste. I therefore concluded it would not answer any good purpose to follow them, so returned to Colerain to cover the public Stores at that place, not knowing but that the other parties might be out. I remained there on the night of the 13^th, and on the morning of the 14^th received information that a party of Indians had killed some people on the 13^th about six miles from us. I then mustered twenty three volunteers and immediately pursued and within one mile of a place called the Burnt fort on Great Satilla found three men and a girl most inhumanly butchered by the Savages. We took their trail and pursued them upwards of forty miles but could not overtake them. Our horses being much tired and not having any provisions for two days, we returned on the afternoon of the 15^th to where the last mentioned people were killed. Had them buried and returned to Colerain which place I am putting in a state of defence. In a few days I hope to have it in such a situation as to assure it against any attack from savages. As the Country is now alarmed, I am in hopes further mischief will be prevented. I have sent this news by express to our Governor and to Major Gaither Commander of the Federal Troops in this State. A post established at Colerain and one at the Burnt fort on Satilla with 30 good horsemen to scout between (it being no more than six miles) would effectually cover the whole Country below and between the river St. Marys and Satilla. I hope Major Gaither will find himself at liberty to embody a Company of Militia horse for this purpose, this new frontier is in a very defenceless situation. The cause of this sudden change in the conduct of the Creeks remains as yet a secret, further than you have been informed. My private dispatches of this date to the President of the United States, will throw light on this business. Having received an express from town that a vessel was on the point of sailing to Philadelphia, I left Colerain and am just arrived here for the purpose of giving the most early intelligence of this affair. I inclose herewith copies of two affidavits concerning the Murder at Traders-hill, in a day or two I shall forward you circumstantial authenticated proofs of the whole. On the 15^th an Indian was taken at Traders-hill by a small party of my people. I have saved his life, tho' there is little doubt of his being one of the party who did the mischief, but until we know whether or not the nation sanctioned the late outrage, or would give satisfaction, I thought it best to detain him a close prisoner. I therefore brought him here and lodged him in Fort St. Tammany, should any more be taken I will observe the same by them as far as in my power. Should there be a war, they will serve to exchange for our people who may be so unfortunate as to fall into their hands. I cannot believe that the Chiefs of the Creek Nation are acquainted with this party being out. And I am in hopes satisfaction will be given by the nation. I shall send an account of this business immediately into the nation and demand satisfaction on part of my Country. Had the Creek nation determined on a general war I am confident I should have known it from different quarters, but all my late advices are to the contrary. That you may be enabled to judge of the situation of the Country, I take the liberty of enclosing you a draft of the same, which will also serve to inform you of the course of the boundary line from the