Communications from Constant Freeman Agent to the department of War in the State of Georgia to The Secretary of War [accompanying a letter from the Secretary of War Dated December 16^th 1793] Augusta 4^th September 1793 Sir, I informed you in my last that the arms and ammunition intended for the Militia of this State were put on board a flat for this place they may be expected to arrive in about ten days. On the road from Savannah I met with Major Gaither, who was going to St. Marys for his health, he returned with and tomorrow he will accompany M^r Seagrove to Fort Fidius, to assist him in his proposed interview with the Indians on the tenth instant at Oahmulge. I have not had the honor to see the Governor of this State, he is now in Burke county, and will not return until tomorrow, I cannot therefore inform you of any measures being taken to pay those Militia dragoons whose pay rolls I have brought with me. As soon as I shall have placed the money for this purpose in the hands of the paymaster who may be appointed, and concerted with the Governor and Major Gaither measures for the future muster of the Militia now in service, I shall proceed to Fort Fidius and pay the regular troops agreeably to your instructions. I am informed that there are at this time about six hundred Militia in service, who are distributed upon the frontiers. I am not able to transmit you a return of them, I shall request one from the Governor when he returns and forward it to you. The hundred Cavalry, and hundred Infantry which you some time ago authorized the Governor to call into service, have never been raised. I cannot assign the reasons why your orders have not been complied with. I have not heard any thing of consequence relatively to Indian affairs. M^r Seagrove assures me that the Creek Indians have not committed depredations upon the frontiers for these two months past, and that the Majority of the Creeks are well disposed and desirous of continuing at peace with the United States. But It is proper I should inform that the Executive of this State thinks differently — preparations are now making to march into the Indian Country a powerful body of Militia to chastise the refractory towns. In consequence of your letter to the Governor of the tenth of June last, he called a council of general officers of the Militia which was held on the eighth ultimo, the result was an expedition should be carried on this Autumn against the Creeks, accordingly five thousand men are to be ordered for this service in the following proportions to wit, One thousand cavalry, and fifteen hundred infantry from this State, to rendezvous on the Oconee at a place called Fort Twiggs. One thousand Cavalry and fifteen hundred infantry from the State of South Carolina to rendezvous 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 the 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 ration as heretofore; but the transportation is to be at the expense and risque of the United States after the Militia shall have crossed the Oconee. I will endeavor to procure a copy of this contract and transmit it by the next post, the time fixed for the rendezvous 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 more perfect through other channels. M^r Seagrove apprehends that little good can be expected from his intended meeting with the Indians on the Oahmulge, 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 Sir 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 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