and heard of the late intended expedition, I gave it as my opinion that nothing contained in your letter to the Governor of the 15^th of June, could justly be construed as authorizing him to carry on an offensive War against the Creeks by marching an army into their country. This I did from a conviction that had any such invasion been contemplated by you, that you would not have suffered me to have left Philadelphia entirely unprepared for such an event. I do not recollect that I ever saw your letter above alluded to. As you could not Sir foresee, that I should be called upon to act in a business of this nature, you have not instructed me to interfere in any measures concerted by the Governor upon Indian affairs. I have however thought myself authorized to declare that the true construction has not been put on your letter, and this also has been the opinion of several of the general officers who assisted at the council mentioned in mine to you of the 4^th instant. I have endeavored Sir, to transmit you the best information on public business, what I have written relatively to the force and destination of the Militia, who was to have been employed against the Creeks, I had from a General Officer, one of the council before mentioned. M^r Seagrove's letter to one of the 4^th is the only authentic communication I can make relative to the State of the frontiers. Reports circulate which confirm in part what he has written. I am induced to believe that his person is really in danger. One of the Governor's Secretaries who has lately returned from the frontier informs me that, from what he heard while he was there, he makes no doubt, that should M^r Seagrove attempt to go to the Indians he would lose his life. It is certain that the people have great prejudices against him, they entertain an opinion that he has misrepresented the state of Indian affairs, and that while the Indians were making depredations he has reported them as peaceably disposed. M^r Seagrove appears to me to have great zeal in the public service, he may however have erred in the measures he has pursued. It will not however be in his power to preserve the peace by any interview he may have with the Indians, And his attempts for this purpose, will fail because of the strong disposition which the people of this country generally, and of the frontiers in particular have to a War with the Creeks, and it cannot be long before the flame will break out. It is with difficulty the people are now restrained. they had calculated upon the late intended expedition, that failing them disappointment is excessive, and should any Indian unfortunately fall in their way they would be sacrificed. The Indians are continually making depredations, and tho' I do not hear of their killing any person yet scarce a day passes but we are told of some theft committed by them. these exasperates the people they are generally pursued, and when overtaken killed. Add to these causes of discontent and animosity, the intrigues of certain malicious Whites, who reside in the Creek nation, and who are continually instigating the Indians to acts of hostility, and misrepresenting the conduct of the United States towards them. This seems to be the present state of the frontiers. The militia have not been reduced since I have been here. I have made frequent applications to the Governor for a return of the force at present in service, but without effect. he says that the adjutant General has not yet made his return to him. It doth not appear that it is his intention to raise the hundred cavalry and hundred infantry for the present, but to continue the force now employed, he urges the necessity of this measure to protect the inhabitants from the depredations of the Indians. I have the honor to be Sir &c Augusta, 24 October 1793 Sir, M^r Seagrove has communicated to the Governor that on the 22^d of last month talks had been received by him from the Creek expresses of their desire to have a conference with him and to treat upon measures of preserving peace. He complains to the Governor against the parties of volunteers here, who have gone the Oconee to prevent him from fulfilling this important object. He also informs him that the Cherokees have invited the Creeks to join them in a War against Cumberland, and that the Northern frontiers of this State are in danger from the former. And he requests the Governor to suggest to him any thing he may wish to be made an object at his proposed interview. In consequence of this letter the Governor has written to him and pointed out the particulars for which he is to insist on the part of Georgia as preliminary conditions to a peace. I have the honor to enclose you an attested copy thereof. When the governor gave me this paper he observed to me that he had made the demands high, but that he did not expect they would all be complied with. You will be pleased to observe by the enclosed extract of a letter from Major Gaither to M^r Heals of this place that M^r Seagrove intended to set off from Fort Fidius on the 29^th Ult: and that the danger from parties of militia has been altogether ideal. In my letter to you of the 18^th of last month I have mentioned that a certain M^r Alexander had gone out with a party of Militia to prevent an interview between M^r Seagrove and the Indians, and that a trail of forty had been discovered on this side the Oconee. I have now to communicate to you, the true state of these reports. It appears by a letter from Col^o Melton to General Irvin, dated 27^th Ult: from which I have extracted what follows, that on the 7^th the Indians stole five horses from Green County, near Fort Clark, above the Rock Landing, that they were pursued by a party of five men, whom the Indians ambushed and obliged to retire, without their object and with the loss of their horses killed, that on the 11^th Col^o Melton with Cap^t Fancher dragoons and Cap^t Melton Rifle men crossed the Oconee at the [blank] shoals, that on the 16^th near General Clarks battle ground on Jack Creek he was joined by Col^o Alexander of Militia with eight men and Lieutenant Col^o Lamar of Green with twenty twenty six men, chiefly officers. Fancher had his horse and thirty six non commissioned and privates, Cap^t Melton had fourteen, the whole party including the commanding officer amounted to eighty eight. that they proceeded on the trail of the aforesaid Indians, until the 21^st when they were stopt by a large river, and from the sound of bells and the crowing of cocks, they supposed themselves near a town, with some difficulty a ford was discovered by Major Adams of Sumers regiment, that just before day they crossed the river and made an Attack on the town, but not before the Indians had taken the alarm and fled to a neighbouring swamp. six warriors were killed, the number wounded unknown, eight women and children were made prisoners and brought off, the militia lost one killed and one wounded, the town was destroyed, that on their return at Flint river, they left a talk for the Indians whose town they had destroyed, a copy of which the governor transmits you by this post. The prisoners report that a number of Warriors had gone from the Creeks against Cumberland, one hundred and few Warriors were in the town when it was assaulted. It is not ascertained what town has been destroyed, it is supposed to have been the upper Cowetau on the Chatahoochee river. I make no doubt but this stroke will put a stop to any meeting with M^r Seagrove. The Governor thinks that Colonel Melton has acted conformably to orders heretofore issued for repelling the Indians. He has ordered the prisoners to be sent to this place. Enclosures, in the forgoing letter. Copy of the conditions to be required of the Creeks as preliminaries to a treaty. State House, Augusta, 26^th Sept 1793 A letter from Timothy Barnard Esq^d dated Creek Nation the 18^th Instant and also a letter from James Seagrove Esquire of the 22^d instant were received this day and read. Whereupon it is Ordered. That each of them be served with the following. Conditions, that will be required on the part of the State of Georgia on the establishment of peace between the United States and the Creek Indians. The captured property to be restored, and all the individual contracts with the Citizens of this State fulfilled. The prisoners in captivity to be brought and delivered up within the settled parts of Georgia. The perpetrators of the murders committed in this State to the number of thirteen to be surrendered as objects of retaliation. Ten head men from the Upper and lower Creek towns to be surrendered as hostages to the United States, and to be placed in the safe keeping of the executive of the State of Georgia for the due performance of the several stipulations that respect her. That under the laws of the United States, as well for the security of this State, the government of Georgia cannot recognize the establishment of peace without having commissioners at the Treaty. Attest H: Merewether Sec & D. Extract of a letter from Major Gaither to M^r Joshua Heals, Merchant Augusta dated at Fort Fidius the 27^th September 1793. "Major Seagrove it is probable will leave this to morrow for the Bahanlges where the Chiefs and head men of the Creek nations are now waiting for him. There are at this time several parties of militia around, that have threatened the lives of those concerned in making peace and any Indians they may fall in with. Demand to furnish the agent of Indian affairs with a guard, pack horses &c, and very probably accompany him to morrow; I should have wrote Captain Stroman, but having occasion to believe he is on his way to this place, I have declined it." Augusta, 7^th October 1793 Sir, I have had the honor to receive a duplicate of your letter of the 5^th Ultimo. Enclosed is a duplicate of mine to you of the 2^d instant. I received on the 3^d inst. a letter from M^r Seagrove dated at Fort Fidius the 28^th of last month which confirms the account of the Militia having destroyed an Indian town. He differs with Col^o Melton in the relation of this affair. I should rather suppose the account of the latter ought to be the most relied on as M^r Seagrove has obtained his information at second hand from the Indians. I enclose you extracts from this letter. It appears from the reports of several persons from the Westward, that M^r Seagrove has not gone himself the Indians as he proposed, but that he remains at the Fort, and that since the return of Col^o Melton, many of the frontier settlers have moved, and that all are putting themselves and their stations into a state of defence. We may expect every day to hear of the Indians having made retaliation, tho' it is generally believed that they will be quiet as long as their women and children are detained prisoners. There is not however any prospects of peace, and this country may now be considered as in an actual State of War. I am extremely sorry that the intelligence I have hitherto communicated has been of the disagreeable kind. I forgot to mention to you in my last that the conditions to be required on the part of Georgia, on the establishment of peace between the United States and the Creeks, have been published in the newspapers of this part of the country. I does not appear to have been done officially. I have the honor to be Sir &c