War Departm^t. 16^th Octobt 1797 Sir The company of Artillery and Infantry under your command, are to be marched to Pittsburch. There you will have them mustered and paid by Isaac Craig Jr D. M. who has orders for that purpose, and will in conjunction with the Captain of Infantry, appoint provisionally from among the soberest and most intelligent privates, the necessary number of non commissioned officers, giving those thus appointed to understand, that the confirmation of their offices will depend entirely on their good behaviour and attention to duty on them Pittsburch - you are to descend the Ohio, to Mafsac and thence to the Chickasaw Bluff on the Missisipi. The practise to the French and Spaniards, to alienate from the U.S. the affections of the Indians residing on the east side of the Missisippi, and some recent attempts to convert them into actual enemies, renders it absolutely necessary, that you should use all requisite diligence to gain possession of the Chickasaw bluff. You will not therefore wait at Mafsac for information from the Bluff, or any of the Spanish Posts, or be deterred from proceeding with your detachment by any accounts of the intention of the Spaniards to dispute your passage, a firmness on our part to be stopped by any thing short of superior force applied in such manner as shall demonstrate unequivocally their determination to shut up the Missisippi. It is not however supposed that they will proceed to such an extremity, as that you will be opposed by force or other means, than seemingly friendly requests, and such pretexts as they have already used, and may conceive calculated to induce you to suspend the undertaking. Should you therefore be only interrogated in passing New Madreid, or dissuaded from it by any Spanish Officer not to proceed, you will clearly that your destination is for the Chickasaw Nation, which is within the territory of the U.S. that in navigating the Missisippi to carry you thither, you are only exercising a right secured to the U.S. by Treaties. Caried that on no occasion have for their sole object the execution of the Treaty between the U.S. and Spain, to strengthen the bonds of amity between the two Nations, and preserve peace with the Indians within the territory of the U.S. on the east side of the Missisippi. Artillery ammunition and provisions have been sent to Mafsac for your detachment, and for a mortar that has been ordered from Tennefee. The Artillery and ammunition left Pittsburgh's own time since, and hopes no accident will have prevented the Contractor or those from providing in reason the latter - if however the full quantity of rations should not be found at Mafsac, you will borrow from that Garrison what will enable you to proceed. You will also take such proportion of the Artillery ammunition and stores, as may quadrate with the force under your command. - The remainder to be left for the detachment expected from Tennefee. On your arrival at the Bluff in case Capt. Guion (who is said to be a post there) has fallen down the Missisippi, you will send a trusty Indian or non-commissioned officer to [undecipherable] the information of your arrival, and your strength. But should Capt. Guion have left no party at the Bluff, and the Spaniards have reoccupied it, you will in that case, [undecipherable] at the iron banks or any other fit place for a fort short of the Bluffs on the Missisippi. From this place you will give information to Captain Guion as before directed. You will also dispatch a commissioned officer to the Bluff, to request the immediate evacuation thereof, signifying to the Spanish officer your surprise at its having been reoccupied and the unnecessary policy this extraordinary procedure lays you under to take the most instant measures to preserve entire to the U.S. the attachment of the Indians within our territory, which this usurpation of the rights of the U.S. if not remedied by their immediate removal within their own territory, is calculated to disturb. You will instruct the Officer who may carry your remonstrance, to ascertain the strength of the Spaniards at the Bluff, and if found inferior or only equal to yours, will immediately remove your detachment to their neighbourhood, and fortify yourself, but not so near as to insult them or be insulted by them. This step is necessary to preserve our influence with the Indians, ought to be pleasing to them. You will therefore inform them, that your coming there, has appeared to their father the President indispensible to preserve them against the designs of false friends, to afford them protection against enemies, and to counteract the ambiguous policy of the Spaniards, who have not fulfilled their treaty with the U.S. tho they still say, they will comply with it. You are not to mention at Mafsac or on your route the object of your detachment, or to what point destined, except to Brigadier Gen. Wilkinson, should you fall in with him. Every other person is to be left to his own conjectures respecting it, and the Spaniards to theirs. As a General rule — It is to be understood, that in all your intercourse with the Spanish officers, you are to appear them of your sincere desire to unite with them, in every measure calculated to preserve peace and lasting friendship between Spain and the U.S. consistent and conformable to Treaty. I have given instructions to Maj. Freeman to make such arrangements at Pittsburch and Mafsac as may tend to facilitate your voyage and [undecipherable] in us the power to do every thing, that can in any way promote its object. You will write me immediately on your arrival at the Bluff, sending the dispatch by a faithful Indian runner to Knoxville, to the care of the Agent for the Department of War, and another by the way of Pittsburgh - You will also keep me duly informed of every circumstance and occurrence necessary for me to know, by the same or any other equally or more expeditious means of conveyance. Annexed is an order on Captain Turner and [undecipherable] Butler for as many privates as may be wanted to complete the two companies under your command, and for a Subaltern to the Infantry if deficient in Officers. It is indispensibly necessary, that you should pay particular attention to the Contractors department; so as to have always on hand, salted provisions and flour competent to any emergency - You will of course make the necessary regulations from time to time to keep a due supply. Annex for your Government is 1^st Rules and Regulations relative to Munitions and frontier posts or fortified places, [undecipherable] the 28^th March 1797 - 2^d. Regulations relative to discipline, and the defense of fortified places dated the [undecipherable] July 1797 - and 3. Regulations for [undecipherable], dated 1^st July 1797. With respect be [marginal note: This is to be understood, That Major Con^t. [undecipherable] Freeman is to command the Detachment to Mafsac and also its departure thence to its place or destination] [undecipherable] Capt. John Pierce — [Copy]