Sav.^at 4. May 1793. [42/XXXIV-35] 791 D.^r Sir In my last [(363)] I informed you that the Indians had actually commenced hostilities on the People in the two Southern Counties. They have within a few days past come into the [undecipherable] Counties of [undecipherable] and the Murders have been committed on the frontiers of South Carolina. In short every day produces new evidence of their hostile intentions, and they have in the most positive terms refused to return the Property and deliver up the offenders. In addition to the disagreeable intelligence which is daily received from some parts of the nation, it is known that their hunters have returned to their Towns which leads us to conclude they contemplate striking at our frontiers. Is it not seriously [undecipherable] for receiving Peace with the Creeks should prove ineffectual and that a War with them seems inevitable. McGillivray died persuaded that we should never have a Permanent peace with the Creek nation until we had punished their Insolence and made it their Interest to drive out of the nation a disorderly set of White men, who are unblushingly exciting the Young Warriors to do mischief. I fear you will have employment for your Regulars & the North which will compel you to call forth the Militia in the Western Counties of South Carolina and Georgia, in that event I'm persuaded you will see the necessity of [your] commanders being an Officer of Rank and ability who has a talent for employing a Militia to an Advantage in the field, and whose good [un]derstanding, will prevent that mischievous contentions occasioned by the odious distinction which are often drawn between the Soldier and Citizen, and who also will pay the strictest attention to the Principles of oeconomy for Militia are the most expensive Soldiery that ever were employed. Should so fortunate an event prevent our engaging in a War with the Creeks, would it not be well to change your plan, suppose you were to send a [undecipherable] in the Character of Agent to reside in the Neighbourhood of Some of the most influential Men in the Nation, and appoint the [undecipherable] that commanded your Army the Superintendent for Indian Affairs; I am persuaded it would add security to the Public project and put [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] Contentions between [undecipherable] and Traders, for in whilst [undecipherable] are strung along our frontier in the Character of Traders, we may in vain hope for Peace. I leave this on the morrow for St. Mary's and expect to return about the 25.^th Inst. I shall endeavour to ascertain as near as Possible the real fact as it respects both the Conduct of the Indians and Your Agent. The repeated solicitations of those whose lives and Property are in the greatest danger, and a desire to furnish You with such Information as come within my reach, induces me to be thus troublesome. And I entreat you to believe Sir, that it will afford me infinite Pleasure should any Communication of mine contribute to the good of the Public, or to the relief of the unfortunate People of Georgia. I have the Honor to be &c The Hon.^ble Most Ob.^t Ser.^t Henry Knox [undecipherable] [undecipherable]