Near Downings Town 16^th October 1799. Sir, Having been called upon, to perform the following services— viz. 1^st To facilitate the progress of two detachments of troops, to a station on the Mississippi; the one, from Tennessee which is to rendezvous at Majac, and the other, on the Oba board and now on its march to Pittsburg— 2^d To achive a letter which you will receive from Brig.^d Gen.^l Wilkinson, to the Governor General of Louisiana at New Orleans— 3^d To transmit the said Governor's answer to the Department of War— 4^th To resume the functions of agent for the department of War in the State of Georgia. You will be pleased to proceed 1^st to Pittsburg and immediately on your arrival there, call on Col. James O'Hara the army contractor or his Agent, and inform yourself, within the requisitions in my letters of the 28.^th July, 29.^th September and 6.^th and 10.^th October with copies of which are annexed, have been duly complied with— 2^d If you find that provisions, conformably thereto, have only been partially forwarded, you will observe and see, that immediate measures be taken to send forward or supply the deficiency. 3^d You will call on Mr. Wilkins the D.M.G. or Mr. Isaac Craig [undecipherable] Q.M. to learn whether the military and other articles ordered to be sent to Majac, have been all forwarded— and obtain a list of the same and their quantities— These are intended for the detachments mentioned above— 4^th You will request the B.^t D.V. Master, to have in readiness for the detachment on its march to Pittsburg, a sufficient quantity of tents, for its accommodation, and boats for its removal to Majac, with its baggage and provisions— 5^th You will see that the Contractor is prepared to furnish the Provisions as well for the detachment during the Voyage, as for its supply agreeably to requisition after after their arrival at [undecipherable] station— 6^th The necessary besides, that the B.^t D.V. Masters be directed to hold in reserve as and forward sufficient quantity of tools, to the detachments— more transmitted to Majac, being too inconsiderable to be useful— 7^th You will see that the detachment is provided with an Acting Commissary by the Contractor— This Point answered and settled, you will proceed to Majac to prepare for the expeditions departure of the detachments from thence. There you will 1^st Ascertain that the articles mentioned to have been sent by the B.^t D.V. Master arrived and their State and condition— 2^d You will see that the boats, destined to transport them, are in good order— and will fail everything on the best consideration for the removal and safe keeping— 3^d If you should find the detachment from Tennessee in any part of it at Majac, you will hasten its departure to the Chickasaw Bluffs or Iron Banks on the Mississippi— 4^th If that from the Sea board arrives first, its departure is to be facilitated in the same manner, with a proportion of the artillery, without waiting for a junction with that from Tennessee— 5^th Should Brig.^d Gen.^l Wilkinson be at Majac on your arrival there, you will deliver to him my letter, shew him your instructions, and commence under his directions, your superintendance as aforesaid— 6^th Should he be at a distance, you will send my letter to him, by a trusty person or officer, request the favoured with your dispatch to the Governor General of Louisiana, and in the mean time occupy yourself as aforesaid— 7^th You will besides these particular duties, with respect to the detachment in question, consider yourself authorized to do every thing necessary and required to facilitate their safe, transportation, and that of their artillery and provisions— 8^th Should the detachment from Tennessee have reached from Majac— Majac before your arrival there, You will after making such arrangements as may in your opinion be proper to facilitate the expeditions junction with it of that from the Sea board, hasten after Brig.^d Gen.^l Wilkinson for his letter to the Governor of Louisiana— 9^th. Should you find the General at Mashakias or on the Mississippi you will dispatch thence for New Orleans, without returning to Majac— Having finished these duties and received General Wilkinson's dispatch for the Governor General of Louisiana— You will proceed to New Orleans, without stopping at any port on either side of the Mississippi, except that of the Chickasaw Bluffs, if in possession of our Troops. This precaution is to prevent delay in its delivery or in obtaining an answer, which might happen were you to be prevented from proceeding to New Orleans under some frivolous protest— Having delivered the General's letter to the Governor General of Louisiana and obtained his answer, you will take the nearest route to the State of Georgia where you will resume The functions which you have heretofore exercised in that State under the denomination of Agent for the Department of War. If then is a Vessel at New Orleans for Philadelphia or New York, you will send the Governor's answer by it under cover to the Secretary of War, taking a receipt from the person to whom it is intrusted for its safe delivery at the Port office of the Port to which he may be destined. Should... none offer, you will send it, by the next Mail for Philadelphia on your arrival in Georgia. With respect to your Salary, appointments and extra expenses as Agent for the department of War— These will remain on the same footing as heretofore, and be settled on the same principle, as governed in the late settlements of your account as Agent— As to the expenses of your present mission— These will will be paid by the Public— It is however expected, that Vouchers will be produced to substantiate your expenses in all cases when they may be attainable— It may be proper perhaps to notice, That your pay as Agent for the Department of War is not intended to affect in any wise, your pay in the line of the Army. Neither is your Agency to prevent you in case circumstances should require your military services in Georgia, from rendering them, in which conjuncture it is permitted you to appoint a Deputy, who is hereby authorized to discharge the functions and duties of Agent for the Department of War— Your Agency to commence from the 18^th of October instant— with respect &c. J. McH— P.S. It is ordered that you are to command the detachment under Cap.^tn Pierce, till its arrival and departure from Majac— [Copy] Major Constant Freeman— [16 Oct. 1799 (C) Copy of instructions to Maj. Const. Freeman.]