Captain Randolph to James Seagrove. Colerain Station 30^th June 1793 Sir, This day (after our scout went out) M^c McDonald arrived from the nation, he informed me that he saw some Indians on the path. He first said that they were six miles, and afterwards that they were twenty miles from the station. Immediately sent out seven men in order to discover their trail. they took it, and fell in with the Indians near Spanish Creek; one of the Indians on coming up to them, snapt his gun at M^c Stalk (who was one of the party) within ten steps of him, our people then charged on them and killed them all four in number, without loosing a man, they got five excellent horses from them which we wanted much. Alexander Young Esq^r and M^r Wright was here today. they want to take possession of Bullhead blockhouse, they have but three men. I think it will be necessary to send a Seargent and six men to assist them. they are in want of ammunition, but am afraid I cannot spare them any. I am &^c John T Randolph— James Seagrove to Timothy Barnard. St. Mary's 5^th July 1793 Dear Barnard, I now address you under great distress of mind on account of a most unfortunate affair which took place on the 30^th ult. and is nearly as follows — M^r McDonald with my dispatches from the nation arrived at Colerain about noon of that day and gave Captain Randolph a very confused and contradictory account of his coming, and after remaining some time informed that some Indians came with him who he parted from about 20 miles back, but that as he had reason to fear it was by that time almost war, he supposed a runner had been sent after them and turned them back. This made the Captain uneasy, especially as M^r Donald then told him one of the Indians had all the dispatches which were of great consequence. Upon this seven men were ordered to accompany McDonald, and to go in search of those Indians, and bring them in as friends, but if they endeavoured to escape or made resistance then to use force. At a small distance from the station, M^r Donald turned back and the party pushed on, and about ten miles distant they discovered four Indians mounted, who on being seen set up a shout and ran, on which the horsemen followed and came up. one of the Indians then took to a tree, and snapt his gun several times at one of the party, upon this a charge took place, and in an instant all four of the Indians (it is said) were killed. On enquiry of M^r Donald and on perusing my letters which was found in one of the Indian bundles, to our very great sorrow and distress, we find that our friend David Cornell was among those that fell, and by the hand of the identical man whose brother Cornell killed last Winter on the frontier of Cumberland. The other three were people who accompanied Cornell — their horses &c I have secured for their friends. Thus my friend I have given you a just account of this affair, which occasions me more uneasiness of mind than any thing I ever experienced in a political line. I have lost no time in dispatching the bearer Chivas, to you with the news that you may take such measures as may seem best for your own security, and that of all our friends in the nation. The business is now done and it is unfortunate, but still I have a hope that it may be settled. every satisfaction shall be made the friends of the deceased by presents and otherwise, if they will not take any rash steps. They must be convinced it was altogether an accident, and they ought to remember that when our people were killed by them we took no hasty measures but applied for satisfaction in a regular way and I expect they will do the same. If you are obliged to quit the nation, I wish you to come to me, where you shall find a home as long as I have one. There is another matter which you ought to know, it is the detention of eight Crefalah men and boys at this place by me. They came to Colerain near a month past and had a confused story, the people were disposed to injure them, in order to prevent their being hurt, I brought them to this town and lodged them in the fort giving them liberty to walk about my house all day, to eat and drink as much as they chose. another reason for my detaining them was, that I was certain of parties being out all along the frontier of Georgia, and going into the nation, who might fall in with these people and kill them, which would have been considered by their friends as done designedly by our leaders had I let those people go at the times when robbery and murder was committing by their countrymen all along our frontiers, the people of Georgia would have