Fort Adams, Chickasaw Bluffs October 22^d. 1797 Sir, Since my last communication to you which was of the 24^th of July ultimo, through the Chickasaw nation and via Nashville, I have been, [undecipherable: favour'd] with your several dispatches of the 13^th July, by Capt. Hood with duplicates of yours of the 19^th of June to General Wilkinson, & of the 1^st & 8^th of the same month, to myself; and by Captain Hunter and that of the 19^th July, duplicate of the 19^th of June; and now by Mr. [undecipherable] express from Natchez, with an office letter for and Copy from offices, to present to General Wilkinson. Contrary to my appointment, he Brown this lady, thinking, the Wolfs friends did not are at this place entitled the 1^st & 12^th [undecipherable] and thus people to receive this [undecipherable], this delay, in their chiefs, may be ascribed to different causes. To [undecipherable] at home to defend his [undecipherable] against the Creek Indians, who it was reported meditated an attack on the [undecipherable] Chickasaw. The Wolfs friend, who is a warm, [undecipherable] fellow, had other motives: cunning, designing, his movement was governed by [undecipherable] of the Spaniards, and I am well persuaded that it was pre-conceived that he should come at a certain period [undecipherable], by which time the Spanish Galleys or troops from St. Louis should be at their Garrison of [undecipherable] held opposite this place. To this period they had received their presents brought up from Orleans for distribution to the Chickasaws, and [undecipherable] entertained an opinion that what had, say or a goods to give the Indians, they conceived — this — a favourable moment to carry this point, by an insinuating air of Superiority of force, great generosity, introduced by a strong talk from their Chickasaw orator the Wolfs friend, they were confident that we should not [undecipherable] to remain here when they again contemplated to erect works. On the 12^th of August on the morning Colonel Charles [undecipherable] with about one hundred men of the 1^st Regiment of [undecipherable], and [undecipherable] Galleys arrived from St. Louis. [undecipherable] Wolf friend, immediately crossed the river and held a days conference with his friend there, when he returned he proposed that the next day we should meet for the purpose of having a talk he intended to give, & wished he said his friend Colonel Howard to be present and hear it, as I knew that William Colbert would not be in here before the 15^th I wished to delay it till he arrived, and [undecipherable] falling sick the next day, the meeting was consequently, postponed until the 16^th agreeable to my wishes. Colbert arrived the 15^th in the Evening prepared to oppose the Wolfs friend and determined to support his promise of continuing & fortifying her, which he & John Bro[undecipherable] made on the [undecipherable] of July when they [undecipherable] their Towns, and in consequence of this promise I had begun to erect works. on the 16^th we met and Colonel [undecipherable] came over with two of his [undecipherable], made a great many apologies as it was on us, to gratify the Wolfs friend who had insisted on his presence, to give out that when they distribute their presents that I should come over, to see with in the same manner, which I instantly declined shewing that I had no manner of objection to his being present at what was to be said or done here, that I have very little to say to him more than to recommend them to live peaceably among themselves, and in good neighbourhood with the Indians once Subjects in the Spanish territory. William Colbert who anticipated the Wolfs friends design, began with an animated & bold talk; he told that Chief he knew his intention was, if possible, to turn us away & replace his friends the Spaniards. But this should not be while he was living. That the works we were beginning was done with his own hands, his people, & wished to know who was the man in his nation that should make nothing of his, [undecipherable] that when we were satisfied staying or doing any thing on that ground, we might at our pleasure go but not before; that he has heard that the Wolfs friend had talked of force but that he would do well to recollect who were the Warriors of his nation; that before the Americans should be forced from this ground he would be killed by their Side and buried here. This strong talk was seconded by a short but strong one from [undecipherable] sealed up the great Orators mouth and confronted the Spanish [undecipherable] who came prepared to hear something else. Thus the conference ended, and the day following the goods were displayed and given to them. The liberality of the Supply, the superior quality of the goods at once surprised & contented all present; especially after the Spaniards had made their donation, which was not more than one fourth part as much in [undecipherable] and [undecipherable]; and the remainder [undecipherable] fippery, ridiculed & treated with contempt by [undecipherable]. I heard no word of dissatisfaction from any of them after this, all desirous of our Stay and willing that we Should put up what works we pleased. The 22^d the Wolfs friend and his people left us apparently well Satisfied. Colonel Howard remaining our good neighbour until the 1^st of September when he embarked [undecipherable] troops came down with him, and descended the river, during his stay at Hopefields we reciprocated visits and civilities & the flags of the two nations at his departure received a mutual salute. I continued my working party a very effective Strength, having had for near two months past, three quarters of the detachment down with [undecipherable] & [undecipherable] for duty, the business went on but slowly in consequence, but I have this day having the [undecipherable] finished & put up, and my flag Staff erected, and [undecipherable] a federal salute called the Fort Adams. I shall go on to the completion of the buildings within about the works without until near the end of this month and shall then put such of my flat boats as are in [undecipherable] repair to enable me to take my detachment and leave this place on the 15^th under risk. A plan of the Fort and its buildings is sent to the War Office in my next. I believe him at the place unless ordered to the contrary, on [undecipherable] two [undecipherable] two Corporals of twenty two privates with provisions for [undecipherable] Months, and [undecipherable] equivalent to the Strength of the [undecipherable]. Inclosed are copies of all [undecipherable] with the [undecipherable] Officers and [undecipherable] since the 24^th July, and also, copy of an account [undecipherable] to be charged to the Contractor. set of the vouchers accompanies it, also one receipt for Indian annuities as delivered to the Chickasaws. Agreeable to the permission given to me by the Secretary of War in his several letters of the 10^th of June, I drew a bill at ten days sight on the 10^th of August, in favour of [undecipherable] for five hundred dollars, and on the 14^th following, one other in favour of [undecipherable] for one thousand dollars also at ten days sight. One thousand and eighty four dollars of this money has been applied to the Contractors Service; and the balance is in my hands. There are at this place four white families who came here two and three years ago and have remained; the first and of small consequence is one [undecipherable] a Scotchman and is either a partner or, an agent for the House of Benton & [undecipherable] of [undecipherable], a deserter and [undecipherable] and is the man alluded to in the Wolfs friends letter to the Secretary of State of the 2^nd of April "you know our [undecipherable] &c." He is at [undecipherable] in the Indian trade and was placed here by Governor [undecipherable] to gain the Chickasaws. His people complain much of his extortion and are very desirous to have a store placed here from the United States, such they observe as is at [undecipherable]ville — another of these people is one [undecipherable], a native of North Carolina and who often followed the fortunes of the British arms in the late war as he was at Pensacola when the Spaniards took that place; he is an [undecipherable] service man [undecipherable] in the least to the Spaniards, and has rendered us much service since our halt here, by facilitating Chickasaw affairs which he speaks well, having lived [undecipherable] years with [undecipherable]. I have given him rations, and promised him that I would mention him to the Secretary of War in order that if it should be judged proper, he might receive some compensation for his services.) John Brown & his brother both steady good Chickasaws, have requested me to call your recollection to a claim their nation has on ten miles square of lands in the State of South Carolina opposite Augusta on the Savannah river & [undecipherable] Creek; they say that the Secretary of War has a plot of the Land in question, and that they wish for some decision on this business. That Governor Blount had promised them his good offices in this affair, but hearing of his defect they applied to the [undecipherable] through me. With the most perfect respect Sir, I have the honour to be, Your very Obedient Humble Servant The Honorable James McHenry Esq. Secretary of War [undecipherable signature] in the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable]