South Carolina, to rendez vous at Petersburg, at the junction of the Broad with the Savannah river. As the Contract for supplying the troops in this State with provisions &c is confined to the limit of this same, the Governor has in the name of Major Habersham entered into a new contract for the purpose of the intended expedition — the same price is to be allowed for the rations as heretofore, but the transportation is to be at the expence and risque of the United States after this Militia shall have crossed the Oconee. I will endeavour to procure a copy of this contract and transmit it by the next post. The time fixed for the rendez vous of the troops is the fifteenth of next month, and the term for which they are to be engaged sixty days. It would have afforded me satisfaction if I could have given you the above information with greater certainty, but I have not seen the Governor and I am obliged to send the best I can procure, you will undoubtedly receive it more perfect through other channels. M^r Seagrove apprehends that little good can be expected from his intended meeting with the Indians on the Okemulgee, while these preparations are making to carry on War against them. The expedition is the subject of conversation in all parts of the State and appears to be a very popular measure. I am induced to believe there must be some mistake in this business for I do not recollect that you mentioned any thing of the kind to me before I left you. Perhaps the posture of affairs in this quarter may require some farther instructions to me, particularly I should be obliged to you to inform me whether it will be expected, that I should accompany this expedition. I have the honor to be &c Augusta 11^th September 1793 Sir, I had the honor to write you by the post on the fourth instant, a duplicate of which I forwarded by the way of Savannah. I have since had an interview with the Governor and have laid before him all the necessary information relative to my business in this country. I expect that in a few days a paymaster will be appointed by him for the militia and that orders will be given for the mustering those now in service. The same numbers Sir, are posted on the frontiers as when I wrote you last, I have not been able to procure a return of the numbers employed. The Governor thinks that it is absolutely necessary, that the present force should be kept up, and that if he were to reduce it to the hundred Cavalry and one hundred Infantry required in several of your letters to him, that the people on the frontiers would leave their habitations from fear of the Indians. I informed you in my last that it was then contemplated to march a large body of Militia into the Indian Country. Your letter to the Governor, dated in July which I handed to him has put a stop to any farther preparations for this expedition. The Governor informs me that Major Habersham has forwarded to the Secretary of the Treasury a copy of the contract which had been made on this occasion. On the seventh instant, M^r Seagrove proceeded to Fort Fidius, on his way to the Okmulgee, accompanied by Major Gaether and M^r Whitney. The Governor is fully of opinion that no good will result from his meeting with the Indians and declares that nothing but chastisement will bring the Creeks to reason, he is therefore strongly advocates an expedition into their Country and avers that this is the very moment, and ought not to be neglected. This would certainly be very grateful to a majority of the People of this State. There are however those who differ in opinion from his Excellency, and assert that it would in the end prove ruinous, should such an expedition fail of the most perfect success. The Indians have lately been troublesome on the frontiers. On the first instant they stole two horses from Long Bluff, Washington County; the next day they were pursued by Captain Stokes and thirteen men to the Okmulgee, when he came up with them he fired upon them the fire was returned the whole of the Indian party consisting of three were killed, the horses retaken, besides three Rifles and other booty. They have also plundered a M^r Cribb, and a M^r Bell in Green County and stolen ten horses, this information was given to me yesterday by the Governor. I have the honor to be &c Constant Freeman