Now I have all the images. Pages 1–3 are the primary document; page 4 is an archival "Other Copies" divider; page 5 is an "Illegible Text" notice; pages 6–11 are alternate copies provided to aid decipherment. I'll transcribe the primary document (pages 1–3), using the cleaner alternate copies to resolve damaged passages. Hopewell on Keowee 19 march 1797. I set out from Fort Tideus on the 11^th and arrived here on the 16 of this month. I applied to Col° Gaither for an escort he had not received any orders from you on that head but said your letter to me was quite sufficient. I ask only for a Sergeant [undecipherable: Corporal] and 12 dragoons and have them with me. They are bare of cloathing, and I have at the request of Col° Gaither purchased some linen for [them] and [undecipherable: one Shirt for each will be] made in this neighbourhood and I shall furnish them with such other [undecipherable] as are indispensable and attainable on the route. General Pickens will be ready on the 23 and we shall set out on that day go over the Ocuma mountains [undecipherable] to Tellico block house. I have made all the necessary arrangements in conformity with the [undecipherable: intimations] in yours of the [undecipherable]. I have with the concurrence of the General appointed two discreet honest men of this frontier, acquainted with surveying to accompany us as surveyors. We give them two dollars each per day and find them. they find their [own] horses and instruments. Some of the Cherokees [undecipherable: apprised of my intention of being here have] visited [us] they [will] some of them accompany us through their [undecipherable: nation]. [undecipherable] I wrote my last [undecipherable] by [undecipherable: Doct Gillespie] I saw many of the citizens [who] live contiguous to [undecipherable: Oconee], some of whom I was personally acquainted with; I saw also as I [undecipherable: travelled] through the [State] of Georgia some of those who had embarked in the project of [undecipherable: Zachariah Coxe] for settling the [undecipherable: limit] of [undecipherable: Tennessee]. I conversed freely and in a friendly manner [undecipherable] hope that by a temperate prudent and firm [undecipherable] of conduct in the affairs of the government in this quarter we shall be able to carry the [views] into effect without much difficulty.— General Pickens from [some] defect in [his] post [undecipherable] has not received the original dispatches to him [and] got the duplicate [on] the [7^th] just before my messenger arrived.— I beg you to mention me [respectfully] to the President [and] to [undecipherable] of my sincere [undecipherable] for his happiness and to believe me yourself with sincere regard & Esteem Sir your obed[ient] [undecipherable] [The Honorable James McHenry Secretary of War]