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Fort Gains
May 20th 1819
Dear Sir,
Much delay, I am sorry to state, has been produced by waiting for the Indian guard, which your Excellency proposed to furnish the Surveyors with; and at last Doctor Green has arrived from the Agency disappointed, bringing with him the unpleasing intelligence of this failure of your proposals. He passed through this Place on Friday last on his way to Fort Scott, where he expected to obtain a guard of Regulars. I was informed of Dr. Green's arrival here and his hope of obtaining a guard from Fort Scott on Sunday after his departure. I was below this about thirty miles at Col. Jackson's when the Doctor passed this. I regret I did not see him and he did not even leave me a letter. However, I shall hear from him shortly, and I feel convinced that his application for a guard at Fort Scott has not succeeded, as the southern boundary is to be now under the authority of our state, over which you preside. McIntosh


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and the other great men among the Creeks say that none of their countrymen shall accompany any of the surveyors on the terms you have proposed. You can form your own conclusions with regard to this procedure on the part of General McIntosh; and I cannot help thinking it strange indeed when 'tis [it is] well known that many of the Indians are almost starved, and would gladly go with the surveyors for a sufficiency of bread and meat, if they were permitted. All the citizens in this part of the country, or at least, the best informed of them, consider it hazardous to embark without a guard and a strong one too. The Seminoles say that they have not relinquished the country, that they were born in it, and that they love it. But two days past the chief of a large town near this, who has been an active and uniform friend of the whites, was here and in the quarter of lieutenant Mallory who commands [deleted text: [unclear text: here ] ] at this Place, and he stated to the lieutenant that one of his men had lately come in from the neighborhood of Flint River, and that this man had brought news that the Seminoles


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under McQueen had assembled in considerable numbers and were becoming fools again. Lastly the chief stated through his interpreter that it would not be safe for the surveyors without a guard. Just before Lieut. Mallory saw this chief he advised me to proceed, as he thought that no real danger existed: but upon this communication he said that it would be extremely rash & dangerous to advance without a strong escort. He says that the utmost confidence may be placed in this chief. If Mr. Lumpkin [added text: or ] [deleted text: and ] any other surveyors were ordered to survey up this country under the authority of the General Government I have no doubt that a strong guard would have been furnished, and why should not Georgia extend the same protection to her surveyors in similar circumstances. My men cannot be induced to go on without a guard, and I can assure your Excellency that the situation of this country requires that the Surveyors should be protected; otherwise I feel convinced that the Surveying will be greatly delayed to the injury of


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the state and that of the Surveyors. I trust your Excellency will consider this as a serious appeal and that you will take such measures as the present emergency imperiously requires. I shall wait your reply with impatience and will communicate your intentions in this matter to Col. Jackson & Dr. Green so soon as your letter comes to hand.

I am, with great respect, your Excellency's Obt. Sert. [Obedient Servant]

[Signed] Benjamin H. Sturges





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Letter
Benj. [Benjamin] H Sturges Esqr. [Esquire]
dated
20th May 1819

Indian Surveys --
Answer written

1 June 1819