Natchez February 25^th 1798 24.41 Sir On the 18^th of December last twelve days after my arrival at this place, I was honored with Your several communications of the 22^d and 29^th of September from the vicinity of Brownington & I speak to the interior, which also the honor to announce to you in my letter of the 22^d of Octob^r from the Chickasaw Bluffs, I left that place on the 9^th of November having garrisoned Fort Adams with an Subalturn and thirty non commissioned and privates, provisions for six months, and stores in proportion to the strength of the detachment, and notwithstanding the lowness of the waters to and difficulty and hazard of the descent in that state of the river, arrived with all my fleet in good order at this place on the 6^th of December following. The ill state of health in which I have been for more than three months, and from which I have not yet recovered, and the difficulty of communicating, owing to the unsettled state of affairs in the Indian nations, as the Secretary will observe by the correspondence with M^r Mitchell, added to the daily expectation of having it in my power to declare the evacuation of the Posts in the territory of the United States in this quarter, have all conspired to procrastinate my communication. By an conference with the Spanish Officers of which are inclosed, you will be able to ascertain the State of the questions of which they relate. The place of my encampment, and the redoubt alluded to in the letters between Captain Minor and myself is the spot on which M^r Ellicott has his tent when he first came to this place it is about one thousand yards from this Fort. The hills field work will be constructed much to the operations that are now going on, and will without doubt, be compleated in the course of the next month. Although Governor Gayoso does not say in what manner the Posts are to be left at the Walnut Hills and this place yet he has directed Captain Minor to assure me that all the buildings &c will be left in the same state as when in their occupancy. The fort at this place is in a ruinous condition, and was at first very badly plann'd being a square without lines of defence for the faces, and has little command of the river. I should recommend a battery below and near to the line. The inhabitants of this Country are very anxious for the establishment of some government from the existence of the United States they are critically situated, and I hope have had the consideration of the Government. The Spanish post nearest to the boundary where the stores and troops that have been withdrawn from the hills are sent to, is at a small river called Baton rouge about one hundred miles below the line; it is contemplated I am informed, to build extensive works at that place & a strong Garrison — in him all their military force now in this quarter is not more than six hundred men, and by no means a formidable people. Two days ago I received a letter from Major Kersey stated the 8^th instant at Fort Adams, that he arrived with two Companies of the third Regiment on the 9^th [undecipherable: inst] — The troops of my detachment are much in want of Clothing, especially the summer or light articles. Linen short Coats would be useful in this climate, the summer heat being so intense as to sicken a Soldier doing duty in woolen clothes; the mercury is now at 79^o by a Thermometer on Farenheits scale and has been up to 78^o only three days past. With the most respectful esteem I have the honor to be, Sir Your Obedient Humble Servant — Guion Captain &c. The Honorable The Secretary of War