[undecipherable] 24 April 1797 [undecipherable] 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. [undecipherable] is here. — Just after we wrote you we had [undecipherable] made publicly a misunderstanding with the [undecipherable] commanding in this quarter... [undecipherable]ment for a while we should be under the necessity to send to you an [undecipherable] [undecipherable] He has since visited us, and promised his corporation. And appears to [undecipherable] posed to fulfill the duties of his [undecipherable]... as we have promised to our [undecipherable] [undecipherable], and to agreed with him, that his [undecipherable] we would reject. We deem it neces- sary 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 informations of a determi- nation expressed by lawless persons of an intention not to insult the [undecipherable] of the U. States, but to at- tack the Indians who may accompany us, we shall be prepared against such an attempt. We have just had a letter from General Winchester, of the 4. we do not expat him here. — 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 inti- mated to us, that General Winchester is one of the white member, indispensable and that on his [undecipherable] [undecipherable] in the contemplation of some persons, [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the intentions of the government. — we have no expectations of visiting [undecipherable], nor [undecipherable] the General who knows well that the line is to be continued on the ridge between the waters of Cumberland and Tennessee. — Our cor- respondence with the governor explains itself. x We have the honour to be with much and sincere regard for, your obedient sers. James McHenry Secretary of War. † The officer intrusted with the com[undecipherable] on this frontier should be a prudent [undecipherable] from character.