[412] Delivered by Brigade Major Harris in presence of (signed) Henry Gaither, Major. I certify the above to be exact copies from the original in my possession. James Seagrove, Agent. I hereby certify on honor that the information, contained in the following lines I received on my way to Fort Mathews Ninety one men including officers set off on a Sunday morning (14^th inst.) on the trail of some horses that had been stolen almost a week before, above Greensborough — As soon as the horses were missed, five men pursued them as far as the Oakmulgee. the Indians had encamped at the mouth of a creek and waylaid their own trail, or in other words lay in ambush — As soon as the party had passed them the Indians fired in their rear — mortally wounded two of their horses, and obliged them to make a precipitate retreat into the settlement. In consequence of this defeat, the above party set out — headed by Col. Alexander, Col. Mellon, Col. Lemar, Major Fouche Major Adams and several subaltern officers, they were to rendezvous at the high shoals of the Appalachee — Col. Alexander expressed a wish to waylay the path between the Oakmulgee and Fort Fidius to intercept any Indians that might be coming in to treat with Major Seagrove. Colonel Mellon rather wished to follow the trail into the towns and destroy that to which it went — from the course of which they think it almost certain to be one of the Eufaula towns — they were to settle this difference on their arrival at the [catchword: Appalacha] Appalachee M^r Adams (near Shoulderbone) expressed a great wish that Major Seagrove and his deputy, M^r Barnard should be both sacrificed — that instead of pacifying the Indians they were only encou- raging and paying them to destroy our frontier inhabitants. and as all Congress are a set of rascals, and the Secretary of War an enemy to his country— if he had it in his power he would drown them in the Sea— observing at the same time that he was confident the Executive offices of the federal government wished that the Indians might destroy the whole state of Georgia— the federal troops he supposes are of no service in protecting the frontier and longs at the 200 men which the Governor is authorized to raise and put under the command of Major Gaither— One of Adams' sons is a spy or ranger, who patroles over the river. I asked Adams in his sons presence whether he supposed any of the spies would kill an Indian or party of Indians either coming in with a flag or to hold a treaty of peace with Major Seagrove, by order of the federal government? He answered one, they were determined to kill any they saw. let their looks or business be what it would. I con- sidered the scheme of his son as a tacit acquiescence of the declarations. I enquired by what authority they went out? they told me it was recommended by Col. Melton. ~ M^r. Fenner (of Greensborough) also confirmed the substance of the above— particularly as to Col. Alexander's intentions. Done at Fort Fidius this 25^th day of September 1793 Fred^k Dalcho, Surgeons Mate in the legion of the United States. Attest James Seagrove, Agent Ind^t. affairs.