[450] cricks gone out against the Chickasaw. The bearer of this M^r Grawn has agreed to proceed on to S^t. Mary's with an express to Major Seagrove, as I think it necessary he should know how matters are going on here. Therefore have to beg you will give him every necessary assistance he may stand in need of for that journey as far as Hero post. Should be glad of a small hint of your opinion what steps you imagine will be taken with respect to retaliating on those savages for what they have done, whether you think if an army comes, that there will be a possibility of making a distinction, &, between friends and enemies, as I have assured the Cusitahs they may expect it, and what few of my own family that are about me and if I thought it would prove to the contrary, should be sorry to deceive them. I have enclosed you a copy of a talk I gave the heads of the nation from myself at a public meeting for your perusal for your own satisfaction, this I told them and a great deal more at the same time, and at every opportunity, for their good. Those [undecipherable] wretches want for no information respecting their downfall if they would have listened to it. I am Sir &c &c (Signed) Timothy Barnard Major Henry Gaither to the Secretary of War Fort Fidius 23^d May 1793 Sir, We are and have been in alarm ever since the 18^th April, many of the inhabitants on the frontier of this State have left their homes, the most industrious of them are forced on their own soil, many of them I have furnished with arms, and the Militia & Generals have ordered them rations, the Contractor for supplying the federal troops issues to them about 2,000 rations per day, the male & negroes in some of these families are included in the provision returns, I have been called upon to certify these issues by Major Habersham which I refused to do for these reasons I expect there will be great abuses in this busi- ness and not knowing whether it will be a State or general charge. Gen^l Telfair I am informed will in a few days form an encampment at the mouth of Shoulder bone on the Oconee which is about 20 Miles above this, after getting the Militia there he means to advance into the Indian country with them that will go voluntarily. I am in a very disagreeable situation here occasioned by a suspicion among the people that I have power to call the militia into service and afford them protection. If my conduct during my command here has met your approbation I care not what those people may think or say otherwise it is my wish to be reliev'd as early as may be convenient. I am Sir &c &c Henry Gaither Major Commandant. [452] Major Henry Gaither to the Secretary of War Fort Fidius 9^th June 1793 Sir, Major General Twiggs with Brigadiers Henry Clark and Blackburn with about 600 inferior officers and privates, the half of them mounted on good horses, crossed the Oconee yesterday at this place, and marched this day against the hostile Indian towns. I believe the general means to avoid all those towns that have sit still this summer and proved friendly to us. On my first hearing of this intended expedition I informed M^r Seagrove, and this day received his answer shortly after the troops marched, I immediately sent Ensign Sedgwick after the General with the names of the six inimical towns which M^r Seagrove sent me. I expect Ensign Sedgwick will get up with him this night. I have the honor to be &c (Signed) Henry Gaither Major Commandant June 11^th 1793 Sir, Since the departure of General Twiggs which I mentioned the 9^th I am informed the General dont mean to discriminate between the friendly and inimical Indians, the Cusitahs only excepted, should this be the case I fear he will do much mischief to the United States on this expedition, as many of his command have been in open rebellion against the general government.