State House Louisville Friday 23 Septem.^r 1796 The following Communication was made to the Secretary of War State House Louisville Sir 23^d Septem.^r 1796 Your Communications of the 20^th February and 5^th and 6^th of April last I have had the honor to receive, that of the 3^d of March which you mention in yours of the 8^th of April has not come to hand. However painful it may be to recite grievances, yet I feel it my duty to make known to you the disquietture which is felt by our Citizens, in consequence of recent injuries received from the Creek Indians. My [undecipherable] hope, that the measures taken by this Government to punish such of her Citizens as were instrumental in the murder of the Indians on the Oconee last Autumn, would have satisfied the Nation, but we find that neither those measures, an equal quantity of blood (which they have already taken) nor the invitation to attend the Treaty, can or has allayed their thirst for predatory operations, even at the very time when a part of the Nation were with your Commissioners concluding a Treaty of Peace and Friendship, our parties were on our South Western frontier, plundering and carrying off Horses and other property; and on the 10^th of August a party crossed the Oconee River, fired upon and wounded a M^r Lamar, a respectable influential character, who was peaceably pursuing his own domestick business, these unprovoked attacks of the Indians on our Persons and Property at a time when we had a right to expect from them a different conduct, has raised the indignation of all Classes of our fellow Citizens inhabiting the frontiers; and with some difficulty have they been restrained from avenging themselves on the Aggressors, as yet I have directed only small scouts to pursue the trails & ascertain the number of Indians and of possible the Towns to the measures taken by this Government to punish such of her Citizens as were instrumental in the murder of the Indians on the Oconee last Autumm; would have satisfied the Nation, but we find that neither those measures, an equal quantity of blood (which they have already taken) nor the invitation to attend the Treaty, can or has allayed their thirst for predatory operations, even at the very time when a part of the Nation were with your Commissioners concluding a Treaty of Peace and Friendship, our parties were on our South Western frontier, plundering and carrying off Horses and other property; and on the 10^th of August a party crossed the Oconee River, fired upon and wounded a M^r Lamar, a respectable influential character, who was peaceably pursuing his own domestick business, these unprovoked attacks of the Indians on our Persons and Property at a time when we had a right to expect from them a different conduct, has raised the indignation of all Classes of our fellow Citizens inhabiting the frontiers; and with some difficulty have they been restrained, from avenging themselves on the Aggressors, as yet I have directed only small scouts to pursue the trails & ascertain the number of Indians and of possible the Towns to which they belong, but if they should persist in [undecipherable: other?] wanton acts of violence as appearances to plainly indicate they will, I shall be under the necessity of adopting other measures, and by every means in my power, under protection to those committed to my charge, I have no doubt but that the general body of the Nation may be disposed and actually wish to be at Peace, however I am clearly and decidedly of opinion, there are amongst them many of contrary sentiments, who will do every thing in their power to bring on a War in this Opinion I am strongly supported by the losses we have already sustained from the documents in Office it will appear that from the 9^th of June to the 8^th Instant One Man, has been wounded One house burnt Nineteen Horses and sundry articles of Houshold Furniture taken off, to be thus subjected to the injuries and insults of those People, are exceedingly too humiliating, and must if not officially Checked terminate in an open rupture, It is not just neither can it be expected that the Citizens will remain quiet, whilst the Indians are depriving them of every thing they hold dear I perfectly agree with to plainly indicate they will, I shall be under the necessity of adopting other measures, and by every means in my power, under protection to those committed to my charge, I have no doubt but that the general body of the Nation may be disposed and actually wish to be at Peace, however I am clearly and decidedly of opinion, there are amongst them many of contrary sentiments, who will do every thing in their power to bring on a War in this Opinion I am strongly supported by the losses we have already sustained from the documents in Office it will appear that from the 9^th of June to the 8^th Instant One Man, has been wounded One house burnt Nineteen Horses and sundry articles of Houshold Furniture taken off, to be thus subjected to the injuries and insults of those People, are exceedingly too humiliating, and must if not officially Checked terminate in an open rupture, It is not just neither can it be expected that the Citizens will remain quiet, whilst the Indians are depriving them of every thing they hold dear I perfectly agree with my Predecessor Governor Matthews, that the number of Militia Troops allowed to be kept on this frontier, at the expence of the General Government is not adequate even to a Peace establishment, and I am of Opinion that the happiest effects might be expected from the Service of another Troop of Horse, as they would not only check the Indians but keep within proper bounds any ill disposed Persons which may be hovering on our frontier, I must therefore solicit the President for permission to call one other into Service. I must request that the Pay for the Militia whose Muster and Pay Rolls have been sent on may be forwarded as soon as possible. I have the honor to be Sir Your M^t Ob^t Ser^t Jared Irwin The Sec^y of War Philadelphia.