James Seagrove, to the Cussetah Chiefs. St. Mary's 5^th July, 1793. Brothers, I suppose by this time you have grown uneasy about four men and four boys belonging to your Town, who have been from home above three moons. About one moon ago these people fell on our frontier near Colerain station, and were brought in there, and as soon as they were known to be Cussetahs, were treated with every kindness. There being then several parties of horse out scouring our frontiers and there being an army going in to punish the bad towns; I thought it would be wrong to suffer these our friends to go from this, lest they should fall in with some of these parties and be killed. I consulted with the four old men on the occasion, who were of my opinion, that it was best to remain with me until we could hear how matters were in the nation, or until the path was clear for them to go home. They are very happy here, they have as much as they can eat and drink, and live as well as I do, being at my house every day, and lodge in a house at the Fort at night lest any body should trouble them. Langley Bryant stays constantly with them; they live so well that they are in no hurry to go home - you may depend that I shall take every care of them in my power, and you will tell their friends not to be uneasy as nothing shall hurt them. They shall be sent home as soon as it can be done with safety to them and us. - I am sorry to inform you that the second night after they came here one of the men named Sullapay (from some cause unknown to any body red or white) cut his throat with his knife, and died in a few minutes... His brother Sullaps and all the rest were sleeping along side of him, on the same floor, and knew nothing of it until it was done. His brother and all the rest tell me that nobody either white or red is to blame; - he was well used, had every thing he wanted and no white person was in the House, or near here when he did it. - I am sorry he should be such a fool - this is a true state of the business, and will be confirmed to you, when you see his brother and the rest. Your great father General Washington hath forbid any troops going into the Creek Towns, until it is fully known whether or not satisfaction will be given agreeable to my demands and in consequence of this, the troops that had crossed the Oconce, to punish the bad towns were ordered back and will remain on our frontiers until the final determination of the nation is known. I hope it will be such as to preserve your land in peace which only can be done by punishing the bad men and restoring the stolen property. I am &c James Seagrove