Natchez April 19^th 1798. Sir, Your communications by Major Freemon were handed to me by that Gentleman on the 9^th Ultimo — and a few days after he left this place for New Orleans. I had the honor to write to you on the 25 of February and at the same time forward by the same conveyance a letter to Forbes — To insure for pies of all my correspondence to that date which I hope came safe to your hands — I have now the satisfaction to announce the evacuation of the posts of Walnut Hills and Natchez by the troops of Spain. The first took place on the night of the 28^th and that of the latter on the night of the 29^th Ultimo — The buildings and works were left in the same state as when occupied by the troops of his Catholic Majesty — As I have reason to believe from Major Freemon's reports, that Major Henry would shortly after that time be with his command at the Walnut Hills and in conformity to my instructions that in certain cases I should take no notice of that place, I only sent on a ship with a letter to Major Henry a Copy of which is enclosed — Contrary to my hopes Major Henry did not arrive there before the 2^d instant, yet by the attention of my troops of a few well disposed inhabitants the works and buildings were preserved from destruction, some of the locks & hinges and some planks excepted — The troops are much in want of Clothing, particularly no Company which having been many years deprived have been less regularly supplied, and still more distressed by an overcharge of labour on public works from the others — Medical aid and medicine we are likewise very deficient in — You will see that Doctor M^cCorkry [?] on furlough and the steps I have taken to supply his place until the pleasure of the Executive of the United States on that subject may be known; it is indispensably necessary that some one Physician should be at the Walnut Hills, as it is considered an unhealthy spot, or I should not have taken it upon me to make an engagement such as that with Doctor Burtley — I have in several instances been obliged to make advances to the Contractors agents for supplies of provisions for the troops, and on the 28^th Ultimo drew on the Secretary of War in favor of Silas Wilkins for 2434 Dollars to be exchanged to arms O'Hara at the treasury for Bills purchased for the troops — agreeable to your instructions and power contained in your letter of the 16^th of October received by Major Freemon, have drawn on the Secretary of War to the amount of 15086 Dollars. In favour of Dan.^l Clark for 12000 — In favour of Sam.^l C. B. Young for 3000 — In favour of [undecipherable] Mitchell Hunt for 881 Dollars, these three sums for the to d pay of the troops — and in favour of P^t M^cCho. Cortran for 1205.⁹⁶ for [undecipherable] — the 2 W^tr & Gen^l department making as first stated in the whole the sum of fifteen thousand once eighty Dollars — Captain Wade is now here from the U. H^dts to receive the pay & c for the troops at that post — The Indians are very importunate and desirous to know when any supplies will be sent for them, I have never ventured to declare any period, but till the Spanish troops were all below the limits of the United States as well form a post they still have on the Tombigbee as elsewhere; gave them little hopes of receiving any thing more than a little prohibition — With the Utmost Respect, Sir, I am Your Obed.^t and very Humble Serv.^t I Guion C^pt James McHenry The Honorable the Secretary of War U.S. [duplicate of this the 13^th of June — by Mitchell's post]