( 22 ) Extract of a letter from major Henry Gaither, commanding the federal troops in Georgia, to the Secretary of War, dated Saint Mary's, 13th April, 1794. " THE French are going on with an expedition against the Floridas from this place, and appear to have many friends in this undertaking among the inhabitants of this state. There is now at anchor within musket shot of my fort the sloop of war Las Casas, of eighteen guns, with two hundred men, most of them French, and one company of them infantry; they are last from Charleston—They say there are thirteen sail equally large and well manned, yet to come from different parts in the United States. There is a recruiting post at Temple, eighteen miles up the river from this; the last accounts say, they have eighty men, and expect three hundred from the upper part of this state. This armament and land force they talk of, will be sufficient, they say, to take the Floridas as soon as they please. The sloop of war on her first arrival saluted the Fort. I have not returned the salute—the captain and officers are much offended—this has caused me to begin a three gun fascine battery in front of the Fort, and next the river, for my own defence. I shall be very particular with the French troops, and avoid every thing like giving offence, I don't mean to leave this until matters get better settled." The foregoing is a true extract from the original letter on file in the War Office of the United States. JNO: STAGG, jun. Ch. Clk. W. D. May 15, 1794. [HAA18]