Now I have all pages. Let me compile the complete transcription. Loftus Heights Head Quarters Western Army 15^th April 1799 Sir It is in consequence of an Order, received from the Minister of War on the 4^th Inst, that I have now the Honor, to begin [strikethrough: commence my correspondence] with [strikethrough: communications to] you's. — Accustomed to the frankness of a Soldier, nothing less than the fear, of incurring the imputation of adulation or of impertinence, could [strikethrough: stop] prevent the expression of my feelings on the occasion; but with I [strikethrough: may wave the recommendation], [strikethrough: cannot forbear to] express the high satisfaction I feel at finding [strikethrough: I give you the assurance that you will find] myself under the orders of a Gentleman [strikethrough: on all the occasions of our profession,] able to instruct me in all Things — prompt, & Zealous, pressing forward for the National Glory & for personal Fame, without obliquing to the right or to the left. — I avail myself of the Return of Lieutenant Hyde, of the 1^st Regiment, who goes to the seat of Government, to adjust his public Accounts, to send forward this Letter, (with a Return of the Troops, stationed at Fort Massac & on the Mississippi) to Cincinnati on the Ohio, from whence it will be transmitted to you by the ordinary Mail: I shall, in the course of the month, endeavour to make up returns from the several Departments, to comprize every [strikethrough: appurtenance] appertenance to the Service, in this Quarter. Refering you for information to my Communications, made the Minister of War on the Subject, [strikethrough: for information], I am now to report the sailing of the Detachment, destined to the Mobile River, on the 10^th Inst.: under the orders you will find copied within, which may I hope meet your approbation. Daily occurrences tend to evince, the necessity of a Cordon of Posts, to extend from this Point, along the National Boundary, to the Settlements of Georgia, in Order to exclude foreign Machinations, to lay the Savages at our feet, & repress the licentiousness of our own [strikethrough: greater] population Men, to [strikethrough: controul] external licentiousness: The Testimony inclosed, relative to a late Robbery, committed on the Trace leading from this Territory, to Nash-ville [strikethrough: on the Cumberland River] may be defended on; and it remains a matter of doubt whether this party was purely Savage; whether sent from Pensacola, or excited by one [undecipherable] [strikethrough: border Ruffian, who is at his] corner at Massac; for trespassing on the Indian Lands, N.W. of the Ohio; [strikethrough: from whence he made his Escape and Escape from his Guards]. — [marginalia: A Very Volu[undecipherable] Commandant, &c. &c. entitled.] The Minister of War, in his letter of the 31^st January, having expressed some doubt of the policy & expediency of taking post at this place, it becomes [undecipherable] to state [undecipherable], the motives which governed my Conduct in this instance. — The distance of this Territory from [strikethrough: immediate] succour, and its proximity to a foreign power, exposed it more to dangers from invasion, than any other point of the Union. — The same causes will render the conquest more easy, and the recovery more difficult; and the occupancy would preserve a Communication with the Southern Indians, and greatly facilitate Intrigues & the acts of Corruption among our wide extended Western Settlements. The people of this Territory, in general, have too often changed Masters, to foster any fixed principles of policy, or to cherish any permanent attachments to Government. They are besides soured by various causes; in this temper & with such dispositions, a position to controul as well as to protect appeared to me political. — The Spaniards are subordinate to the French, & the regular Military of Louisiana, is insufficient to defend the Government for an Hour against a general rising of the Inhabitants, who have been all armed, are almost exclusively French, & as frantic in their politics, as the [strikethrough: fi]rst Women of Paris. — The heavy Artillery and portable Magazines of an Invading Army, must move by Water, and the Voyage from New Orleans, to the Center of the population of the Territory, may be computed at twenty Days, tho' it has been performed in fourteen. — The preceeding reflections, which are in my judgment, well founded & determined me to condense my small Forces, to take post here, & fortify, a resolution which may I hope be justifiable on the following specific grounds: — 1^st Because it is the only spot on the Mississippi, below the Ohio, which is safe from the wash of the Current, and Effectually commands the Pass of the River at all seasons. — 2^ndly Because the site is uncommonly strong, and the Natural form of the Ground, highly susceptible of defensive Works, on Oeconomical terms. — 3^rdly Because the position is approximate to the National Boundary, and at the lower extremity of the Territorial Settlements. — 4^thly Because an insidious Enemy, such as we have to apprehend, meditating a stroke at this Territory, could masque his preparations behind Baton rouge, the frontier Post of Louisiana on the River, and from thence; was no Barrier interposed, by an Energetic movement, might in eight or ten Days gain possession of the Country; a period too short for the transmittal of the intelligence, to any position we could take on the Mississippi, above the mouth of the Yazoo. 5^thly Because this position properly fortified, will enable us to repel superior force, & to check an Host, until succour may be drawn from the upper Country — Or should Offence become necessary, to carry a Coup-de-main against the Capital below — I forbear to remark on its Vicinity, to the direct route into the Mexican provinces of Tephas & St Afee & St. Andero, or to enlarge on the advantages this Circumstance might afford us, should Events compel us to attack. — and. 6^thly I proposed by condensing my force, to save the hazard of being beaten in detail, and by fortifying at this point to cover the country, to give Confidence to the Inhabitants, and to make demonstration of the power & decision of the Government. — I submit the case to you Sir, without further trespass on your time, in the belief, that should you find cause to condemn my judgment, you will not discredit my Motives. Anterior to the Death of Captain Dunbar, the Senior Officer of Engineers, I had relied on Him for the Plan, Elevation, and Section of the ground to be occupied, but I have since discovered his Measurements & Calculations to be Erroneous; and am now engaged in Correcting his Errors; by the next Conveyance, I hope it may be in my power, to give you ample information, & in the mean time I send you under Cover an accurate Section of the Site, from High Water Mark to the summit of the Hill, which Commands the Circumjacent Country. — Solicitious for the pleasure of an interview with you, I am preparing to meet the Summons, which the Minister of War, has notified me to expect from you, with the utmost promptitude; I beg you to believe, that the expectation interests not less my inclinations, than my duty, but it will occur to you, that the arrangements indispensable, to the preservation of due responsibility, over such an Extensive chain of Posts, seperately commanded and instructed — To provide for the security of the public property, & the progression of the public service, every where within the Sphere of my Authority — and to guard the health of the Troops against the ravages of this Climate, on the Margin of the River, will require three or four weeks; You may however rest assured, I shall not waste one Moment, after the arrival of your Mandate, which may I hope, for the sake of [undecipherable] convenience & expedition, allow me discretion as to the route, by which I may approach you. — I have just heard from unquestionable Authority, that Mr Gayoso is soliciting a Voluntary Loan at 10 p^r Ct. Interest, throughout his Jurisdiction, for the use of the Crown, under the pretext that it is to support the War against Great Britains, but in reality I believe to support his own immediate Government, as His [Missing Page/s — Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part missing, and we have not been able to locate a more complete copy of the document.]