[undecipherable] Encampment on the [undecipherable] river. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Little River and [undecipherable] 11^th of [undecipherable] [17]97 We left General Pu[undecipherable] [undecipherable] and arrived at [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable]^th of march: then we expected to have met General [undecipherable] and there was expected to make the necessary arrangements for [undecipherable] ing and [undecipherable] the boundary from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [Holston?] towards the North[undecipherable] line [undecipherable] as far as [undecipherable] even the most likely to in- crease. The letter to the Generals was received at [undecipherable: Knoxville] and sent by express and his reply to M^r Dinsmore [undecipherable] extraordinary [undecipherable] and the reply and you have the substance in [undecipherable] our [undecipherable] letter to M^r Dins- more a copy of which we enclose with [undecipherable] extract from him in reply. If there is real intention to post[undecipherable] the running of the line under the idea that the three trees from [undecipherable] are indispensable, and [undecipherable] to give time to the intruders to [undecipherable] [undecipherable] votes so wishes frustrate it. We have as far as we could endeavoured to comply with the stipulations, "that all of us would be present at the running of the [undecipherable: Cherokee] line." But as we see where the [undecipherable] is, we will mark a line here from [undecipherable] to the [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] need to [undecipherable]. We have been for three days endeavouring to obtain the required information to fix a point where the line is to [undecipherable] [undecipherable], we visited all the necessary points ourselves and [undecipherable] from a number of the neighbors who accompanied us, information as to [undecipherable] and are ready to decide on the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] as soon as we see the Indians. The Gentleman who accompanied us, all of whom may [undecipherable] have conducted towards us, very satisfactorily, [undecipherable] they express that they have been the [undecipherable: dupes] of misinformation. We have sent a several of them in our way and paid [undecipherable] attention to [undecipherable]. They express entire [undecipherable] in us, we have by [undecipherable] many places with them been able to let them [undecipherable] decide [undecipherable] for themselves [undecipherable] in [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] can [undecipherable] for them [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of whom arrived [undecipherable] arriving at [undecipherable] [undecipherable] at the [undecipherable]... although much [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to have a fine [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable: Cherokees] [undecipherable] negotiate the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable: Eaton] [undecipherable] we are informed that [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] are arrived or advised, arising in some degree out of the [undecipherable] and an apprehension that [undecipherable] their [undecipherable] [undecipherable] their [undecipherable] [undecipherable] measures are taken to [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] as little [undecipherable] as possible. We beg you to assure the President of our sincere wishes for a long continuance of his health and happiness, and to [undecipherable] yourself with great respect [undecipherable] your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] The [undecipherable] [undecipherable] James McHenry Andrew Pickens Secretary of War.