[10. May 1799 Gen^l. Hamilton [undecipherable] [vertical text:] [undecipherable]] War Depar[tment] 8^th May 1799 Sir The enclosed papers are, No 1 a copy of a letter from Major D. Bradley, No 2 a copy of a letter from Col^o Hamtramck. No 3 a copy of a letter from Col^o Strong. No 4 the Speech of [undecipherable] Naugui, ohia, Abeezay & Mackibus [undecipherable] who returned from Philade[lphia], and Col[onel] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the Chippewa, Ottawa and Potowato[mie] nations, No 5 [undecipherable] answer to the Speech delivered in Philad[elphia] by the above mentioned chiefs — No 6 contains the returns of the Troops under the command of Col Hamtramck for April, of Col Strong, for Feb^y & March, and those under the command of Captains D. Butts, Whistler, Turner, Brack and Lebrun, for March, April and May. respec[undecipherable] The information relative to the above men[tioned] tribes of Indians, is given as per [undecipherable] your opinion, and it is left to you to decide, whether as the garrison of Detroit consists of but about 100 men non commissioned officers and privates, it will be adviseable, and proper it should be rein[forced]. [undecipherable] has been weakened by draughts [undecipherable] the Mississippi. The [undecipherable] who have speculated illegally in Indian land[s] and who have gotten them to complain to govern[ment], no doubt, con[undecipherable] to [undecipherable] them, and even to stimulate them to acts of hostility, should they consider such a proceeding calculated, eventually to procure to them from the united states a title to their purchases. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect, Sir, your most obed[ient?] [undecipherable] James McHenry Major Gen^l A. Hamilton