[undecipherable] Chilico 24 april 1797. We wrote to you on the [undecipherable] inst. The information there given that the Indians had arrived was premature. They arrived only this day, and we are, in the morning to meet them. almost every town in the nation has sent 1. 2 or 3. Watts is here. — Just after we wrote you we had very near publicly a misunderstanding with the [undecipherable] commanding in this quarter. [undecipherable] report for a while we should be rendered the necessity to send to you an [undecipherable] — he has since visited us, and promised his corporation. and appears [undecipherable] posed to fulfill the duties of his [undecipherable] — as we have promised to our back port, and to agreed with him, that his [undecipherable] we would reject. We deem it [undecipherable: necessary] to go into [undecipherable]. — As soon as we have had an explanation with the Indians we shall proceed, we have obtained an escort of 3^d Infantry. We have had conveyed to us from several persons information of a determination expressed by lawless persons of an intention not to insult the [undecipherable] of the U. State, but to attract the Indians who may accompany us, we [undecipherable] be prepared against such an attempt— We have just had a letter from General Winchester, of the 4. we do not depict him [undecipherable];— On reviewing our instructions you will judge of the propriety of an alteration so as to give authority to 2 of us, if from any accident we cannot also attend. It has been intimated to us, that General Winchester is not the white member, indispensable and that on [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the contemplation of some persons, [undecipherable] the intentions of the government— we have no expeculations of visiting [undecipherable: Duckriver], nor [undecipherable] the General who knows well that the line is to be continued on the ridge between the waters of Cumberland and Tennesee— Our correspondence with the governour explains itself— x We have the honour to be with much and sincere regard Sir, your obedient [undecipherable] James McHenry Secretary of War. + The officer intrusted with the com[undecipherable] on this frontier should be a prudent [undecipherable] tions from character.