Captain Randolph, to James Seagrove. Colerain Station 30^th June 1793. Sir, This day (after our scout went out,) M^r Mc Donald 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, I 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^r Sleth (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 Serjeant 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 ultimo and is nearly as follows — M^r Mc Donald 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 from about 20 miles back, but that as he had reason to fear it was by that time a general war. he supposed a runner had been sent after them and turned them back. This made the Captain uneasy, especially as M^c 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 an escape or made resistance then to use force. At a small distance from the station, McDonald turned back and the party pressed 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^c Donald and on perusing my letters which were found in one of the Indian bundles, to our very great sorrow and distress, we find that our worthy 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 Chaves, 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 Cussetah men and boys at this place by me. The 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 me, besides had I let those people go at the time when robbery and murder was committing by their Countrymen all along our frontiers, the people of Georgia would have had just cause to have censured me, and perhaps done worse. These people are very happy, and do not wish to return home until some settlement takes place. One of the men cut his own throat the second night after he came here, in the room with his companions. no blame is laid on the white people, they say it was his own act; and no one is to blame, his time to come and his life was his own. The inclosed letter to Alexander Cornell, and one to the Cussetah king, also to Kinnard, you will forward as you think best. the bearer Chaves will give you further particulars. The President has ordered the Governor of Georgia to act only on the defensive for the present, in consequence the expedition is delayed. I cannot possibly answer your letters by this conveyance, besides I dont know that it would answer any good purpose— your own and the safety of all our white friends in the nation is my object at present. I certainly should have come up if David Cornell had not been killed. Send Chaves back as quick as you can, and give notice as early as possible of this to all our white friends in the nation I am &c. 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