Extraft of a letter from Conftant Freeman, Agent for the Department of War, in Georgia, to the Secretary of War, dated Fort Fidius, 18th April, 1794. " WE have been for a long time held in fufpence by the different reports which have circulated, relatively to certain perfons being employed in this ftate, to recruit a corps of troops for the fervice of France. There cannot now be any doubts remaining upon this fubject. Officers have been appointed, and are now acting under the authority of the French Republic. Parties of recruits have already marched to the rendezvous appointed for them. Several men of this corps have croffed the Oconee, and encamped oppofite to Greenefborough. A fmall party was for fome days oppofite to the Rock Landing; they have fince marched to Carr's bluff to join with thofe that had affembled at that place. The general rendezvous we are told is to be on the river St. Mary. An agent is appointed to furnifh the fupplies, and he has for that purpofe received ten thoufand dollars. A perfon who was formerly the contractor's clerk at this poft, is employed by him to purchafe four thoufand rations of provifions. He has gone down the country to execute this bufinefs. On the 8th inft. a Col. Carr and major Williamfon came to this garrifon: They ftayed the day and night with Capt. Martin: They are faid to be officers in the French legion. This was confirmed by major Williamfon who fhewed Capt. Martin a letter of inftructions which he had received from general Clarke, directing him to repair to Fort Phillips, the Rock Landing, and Carr's Bluff, for the purpofe of paying to the recruits of the French legion, an allowance for mileage from their homes to the places of rendezvous. He fhewed Capt. Martin a lift of the men whom he had paid, and who are encamped on the other fide of the Oconee oppofite to Greenefborough, under the command of the late Lieut. Bird, who is now a captain in the faid legion; and he alfo fhewed Capt. Martin his faddle bags, and told him that he had more than a thoufand dollars in them for the purpofes above-mentioned; and he farther informed him, that general Clarke would crofs the Oconee in ten days from that time to take the command, and that Col. Carr would be one of the adventurers. Major Williamfon has been employed as paymafter. Colonel Carr told me, that large detachments had marched from the back fettlements of South-Carolina and from the ftate of Kentucky. That the men were to be engaged for three months, and were to receive bounties of land in the provinces of Eaft and Weft Florida and Louifiana, which they were to conquer from the Spaniards. That M. Genet is appointed a major-general, and is to command in chief, and that meafures would be taken to conciliate the Creeks, that the legion might march through their country. The next day they left this garrifon and proceeded on their journey to Carr's bluff. That morning a foldier deferted from Capt. Martin's company, and as it was apprehended he had joined the party of the French legion then encamped oppofite to the Rock Landing, Capt. Martin fent a meffage to major Williamfon, requefting him that the man might be returned. He has received the enclofed letter as an anfwer, which I have defired him to give me, that I might fend it to you. This letter confirms what I have above-written relatively to major Williamfon being connected with this bufinefs. There are many other perfons named as officers in this new corps, but as it would be rather imprudent to mention them without fome evidence of the fact, I forbear to fend you their names. It appears that the Spanifh government in the Florida is greatly alarmed at the preparations which are making to invade thefe provinces, and the governor of Eaft-Florida has made complaint to the governor of this ftate, who has iffued his proclamation, dated the fifth of laft month, forbidding all perfons joining with thefe adventurers, or aiding or affifting them in any way whatever. Although fir, you may have been fully informed through other channels of the above facts, I conceive it highly proper that I fhould give you fuch farther information therein as is to be obtained in this quarter. It doth not, however, appear, that the officers of this new legion make any great progrefs in the recruiting fervice; and it is generally believed, by the moft fenfible and orderly inhabitants of this country, that the propofed expedition of thefe adventurers will fail." I do certify, that 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. May 13, 1794.