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Camp, near the Oconee river,
October 26 1786.-
Dear Sir,
I should have acknowledged the receipt of your favor of the
19th: September before this, but wished to have it first in my power to inform you with tolerable certainty how far a rupture with the Indians might be expected to take place or not. I think I can now assure you that there is every appearance of our securing a Peace.
We delivered them a Talk the 21st:, to which they replied the day following, promising a full compliance with our demands, the principal of which were "Satisfaction for the murders committed last Spring, by putting to death six of the Indians who were of the Parties that came into the settlements. That the white People who sent them to do the mischief should be removed from the Nation, And that all Negroes, Horses, and other property now among them, belonging to Inhabitants of this State should be restored as soon as possible.". As they had made similar promises in former treaties, which had not been carried into effect, the Commissioners judged it necessary that some more effectual security than bare promises should be required on the


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present occasion, and therefore in their reply of the 23d:, called for six of [deleted text: them ] the Indians to remain with us as Hostages, for the security of our frontiers until the terms should be complied with. They desired until the next day to consider of the proposal. One of the Chiefs whom we had pointed out and nine of his Warriours [Warriors] went off in the night, and the next morning the Indians gave us a positive refusal, at the same time represented how liable they who returned home (& particularly the Talassee King who conduct their business) would be to incur the resentment of their Countrymen, if they left any of their people behind among those whose customs and manner of living they were not accustomed to &Ct: [et cetera] We in several conferences that afterwards took place, told them that there could be no treaty without Pledges were given, but that as one of their Chiefs had gone off and they were alarmed at the number six (that being the number of our people who were murdered) we should be satisfied with five. They still, however, persisted in a refusal, and we took leave of them yesterday morning under a firm persuasion that it was the last meeting we should have, and consequently that nothing would be done. At parting we told them, as the principal part of those present had long been in


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friendship with us, that we did not wish to do them, or any of the other Towns any injury provided they would give us some proofs of their desire to lay quiet when the Army marched into the Nation. They held another Council, the result of which was a request that we would reduce the number of Hostages to three - we returned an answer that nothing short of the number we had mentioned would do, which they at last agreed to
You will perhaps be tired of the foregoing minute detail, but knowing how critically your moveable property is situated, I thought I could not well be too particular.
We expect the Indian Goods to arrive tomorrow, when they will be given out with all expedition, the Treaty signed, and other necessary matters done, that the State may be relieved from the load of expence [expense] it is daily incurring.
Some broad hints were given to the Commissioners that another Cession of Land should be demanded, as a compensation to the State for the expence [expense] of maintaining such a Number of Men in the field. But they


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rejected the idea. Indeed had they been inclined to adopt it, the number of Towns represented (being only fifteen) is too few to sanction such a business. And we have already experienced the ill effects of such partial work. And were it not for the Hostages, I should very much doubt the power of the Indians who are present to perform their engagements; but with them we may promise ourselves security from their Murdering or Predatory Parties in future.
I have the pleasure to inform you that the most perfect unanimity has subsisted between their Commissioners in every thing that has been done. And the Commanding Officer (General Twiggs) has shewn [shown] the best disposition to promote the public service by every means in his power.
This is a charming country, and wants nothing but a sufficient number of good industrious Inhabitants. There are some settlements within four or five miles of Camp, and a good many between Ogechee and this river.

I am, Dear Sir, with real regard,
Your most Obedt. [Obedient] Servant.
[Signed] John Habersham
John Houstoun, esqr. [esquire]