[16 Oct^r. 1797. (6) Copy of Instructions to the detachment of troops from Tenessee &c] [Copy] Near Jonesborough 16^th Octob^r 1797. Sir It being represented from my late accounts from Tenessee that you may be delayed there some time, and that a detachment of troops now on their march, [undecipherable] commanded by Captⁿ Pierce, will have occupied the Chickasaw Bluff previous to your arrival at Masac, you will in that case be governed by the following instructions: 1^st If your command should consist of three companies of Infantry and half a company or Artillery. You will have one of the companies of Infantry at the Chickasaw Bluff, one in reserve, and proceed with the rest of the Detachment to the Walnut hills. 2^d Should you find the Spaniards in possession of a post at the Walnut hills, you will land your troops and Artillery on the North side of their works, or between them and the Chickasaw Bluff, taking a position that most effectually commands the river, and at a sufficient distance from their post to obviate the idea of your intending to employ it, to [undecipherable: confict?] them to evacuate theirs. 3^d You will approach rising ground and make your landing with Caution, and under cover of the Infantry, and will lose no moment in fortifying and strengthening your position. 4^th Having landed your detachment, artillery and Stores, and [undecipherable] you are grounded. You will dispatch an Officer to the Commandant of the Spanish Garrison to request to be informed, what has prevented the evacuation of his Post; that this circumstance has served to disturb [the?] attachment of the Indians to the United States, residing within their Territory, that it that it has consequently become necessary to counteract its effects upon the Indian mind, that the preservation of Peace with the Indian Nations, been and still is too important an object with the U.S. to be neglected. That you flatter yourself the answer you are to receive will accord with the sincerity of the U.S. to see their Treaty with Spain, faithfully executed, and that you are the more inclined to reflect this answer, being informed that the objections made to the evacuation of the Posts by the Baron de Carondelet have been fully and effectually removed. 5^th Should your command consist of two companies of Infantry only, or one company and one half company of Infantry and no Artillery. You will in either case proceed to the Walnut hills, taking with you one from the Bluff a detachment of Captⁿ Pierce's company of Artillery. 6^th You will leave orders at Masac for the residue of your detachment expected from Tenessee to join the troops at the Chickasaw Bluff, and to remain there as a reserve and till [undecipherable] the orders. 7^th Should you find an increase of your force at the Walnut hills necessary, you will make a requisition on the Chickasaw Bluff Garrison, [the?] reserve or such part of it as may be wanted. 8^th You will take with you from Masac, the artillery ammunition & which has been sent there, and directed to be in readiness for your detachment. You will also take with you from the raised Post a sufficient stock of provisions, and from [the?] Commissary, and write to James [undecipherable] Rice Contractor to furnish further supplies or any stand in need of, requiring him to furnish them in due season. 9^th You will keep up a Correspondence with the Posts of Natchez and Chickasaw Bluff, or their Commandants, well with with your own. At least all being governed by their discretion, and [undecipherable], it is expected that these three posts will assist each other and additional emergencies as far as their own allowances will permit. 10^th You will write me when you have [undecipherable] Masac and Chickasaw Bluff, and immediately after you have taken your Position at the Walnut hills, and continue to give me the earliest information of every event or occurrence necessary or proper for me to be acquainted with. Communications from Walnut hills may be made by means of Indian runners to Tellico Block house and Knoxville. 11^th There are ordered to be purchased about one thousand dollars in Rifles, saddles, articles of ornament &c for the Choctaw and other Indians in your quarter. These will be sent to you subject to your disposal. You will be pleased to husband these commodities, or even consistently with the circumstances, endeavouring before you bestow any of them, to have some knowledge of the Indians, or certainty that they will not be thrown away, whether given to alienate enmity, attach the wavering or confirm the friendly. 12^th Captⁿ Guion who will command at the Natchez, is authorized to draw bills [undecipherable], from time to time for the Pay of the Troops at Walnut hills, and to have them paid agreeably to [an?] established form of [article?] 15^th [.] (We repeated here what has been expressed to you elsewhere.) That the President requires. That in complying with your instructions, you will carefully avoid giving any real cause of offence to the Spaniards. it being his earnest and sincere [undecipherable] to avoid a rupture with that, or any other nation. with respect [I am,] Sir— Your Obedt Servt James McHenry — The Officer commanding a detachment of the Troops of the United States from Tenessee.