[undecipherable] Answer To the Chiefs and Warriors of the [undecipherable] Nation [undecipherable] a letter [undecipherable] which was delivered to the Secretary of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable], His [undecipherable] and Shoppemohanna He is glad that you are well, and shall not let his [undecipherable] which unites you to the United States and desires that you may not suffer it to be broken. Caskiehoqua has described the boundaries of your Country. Your father does not know whether the lines he has mentioned corresponds with those laid, down in the treaty of Hopewell: but he will have them written in a Book, that they may known and considered hereafter. You wish that your lands may be protected from the Whites. This is right. Your father will always use his endeavours to prevent settlements on it; and as soon as Spain shall leave the Natchez and Walnut Hills he intends to send some of his Warriors to those posts who will help to keep bad white people from doing you wrong. Tushkahoka says that you will be glad after the Spaniards leave the fort on Tumbeckbee River, that it should not be occupied. Your father does not know that it will be wanted for a trading post. By the treaty of Hopewell concluded in January 1786 you know that it is agreed that the United States may establish three trading posts and that such Military [undecipherable] are named by that treaty to each post. Nothing however is going to be done at present about those trading posts on the fort on Tum- beckbee and care will be taken whenever it shall be convenient to the United States to meet and to consult the Nation before any thing is done. That it may always in future be easy to hear from your father, the Resident and for him to hear from you when any thing goes wrong with you [undecipherable] can act right. he has appointed M^r. Benjamin Hawkins his [undecipherable] Agent to reside in the [undecipherable] States and [undecipherable] him to visit from time to time his children the [undecipherable], and to appoint some person if he sees fit to write with you to keep him [undecipherable] [undecipherable] about his children and the Conduct of any whites that may come into your nation as Traders or Visitors. He desires you therefore to regard M^r. Hawkins as his beloved Man and to believe whatever he says to you. Your chiefs who have been to visit your father have asked him to send some presents annually to the whole Nation. Your father would very gladly help his children in this manner: but the great Council of the United States has not given him any money to bestow in this manner and while he gets it from them he cannot send it to his children. He will, however, should they enable him to make an annual present inform them of it by his beloved Man M^r. Hawkins. Your father has requested his Secretary of War to give some presents to your chiefs who have been to visit him and to send by them to some of his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] some marks of his kindness. He is glad to hear that most of the old chiefs and young Warriors who signed the treaty of Hopewell are living. He sends his love to them and to all his children and wishes them never to forget that treaty and to be assured that the United States will always consider them as their friends and Children. Given at the War Office in Philadelphia this twenty first day of December A^o 1796 and in the twenty first year of the Independence of the United States of America. James McHenry Secretary of War