[Letter], 1813 Oct. 10, Milledgeville, [Georgia to] Major General Allen Daniel / [Governor of Georgia David] B. Mitchell

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Mille [added text: d ] geville
10th octr [october] 1813
Dr [Dear] Sir
I have this moment received your [unclear text: fovr [favor] ], of the 7th instant by Esqr. [Esquire] Kennady I had received a copy of the letter of mr Baily to Col. Harris some days since as well as some other information from an other quarter upon the said Subject, but from some circumstances which I will now mention, to you, I was not disposed to treat it so seriously as Mr Baily seems to do, Since that letter was written three troops of Cavalry, with major Freeman, at their head [unclear text: now ] turn out at the agency & [unclear text: condryd ] a supply of provisions with a reinforcement of troops for the fort at that place & the Cavalry have returned to camp & report, that they did not see an indian, or any sight of them, except some friendly ones at the agency. & that Col. Hawkins people were occupied at their usual labor without any fear of an attact [attack] from the war party. I have also certain informotion [information], that it is the object of the hostile creeks to attack the settlements on Tombigby & distroy [destroy] them before they meddle with us & that their pretences [pretenses] of attacking our frontier is only a front to cover their real designs


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independent of all this a large detachment from the army now at camp hope, will move off in a day or two for the agency & the Chattahouchee & will be followd [followed] by the balance at A convenient distance in the rear. When this movement takes place not an indian will venture on this Side of the Chattahouchee When I first got the informotion [information] which You now possess. I was doubtfull [doubtful] it might Create Some uneasiness on the frontier among the people who would not be in possession [unclear text: of an ] the information I have on the Subject. & I therefore thought it advisable to write to Col. Jones of Jackson County a note authorising [authorizing] him to employ some spies & Send them out on the Indian land, to Keep a watch upon them & if the [unclear text: sow [show] ] any appearance of hostility to return directly to the Settlements & give the alarm & it was my intention to write you to prepare one class of the Militia of your command & have them ready to to [to] me the field in case of need at a moments warning. I have now Stated to you the information I possess as well as my own impressions upon it. & as it is impossible for me at this distance to decide upon the best [illegible text] to be adopted, for Keeping the frontier


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people safe & quiet, I must leave it to your own discression [discretion] who [added text: are ] on the spot & can act as circumstances may require I however conceive that it will be unnessary [unnecessary] to Keep a large body of men in the field, & whatever you do on the indian Side let it be done by Spies & not by large detachments in the one case you stand a chance of gaining a Knowledge of the Situation of the enemy & can thereby be enabled to defeat his object but in the other you gain nothing, but run the risque [risk] of having them waylaid & Killed, for the Indians will certainly discover a detachment sooner than they can two individuals residing quietly along. I have also certain information that the Cherokees are preparing at least one thousand men to go immediately ajacent [adjacent] the creeks this of itself will deter their parties from approaching our frontier you must however be governed by circumstances & in the use of the means which you may adopt, to gain informotion [information] I have to regret, that you [deleted text: [unclear text: wish ] ] employ such persons only as can be relied upon for veracity, courage & vigilance


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because false alarms created on the frontier only tend to render the people uneasy & run the County to great & unnecessary expence [expense], Should any ammunition be in your quarter you can purchase a moderate quantity & I will pay for it, It will Save time & the means of conveyance is not easily procurd [procured] at this place, at this time
Any [illegible text] which you in your Judgement deem best, you will adopt & I will Sanction them

Yours Dear Sir
with great regard &
esteem your very obed. Servt [obedient Servant]
[Signed] D B Mitchell Honble [Honorable] Major Genl [General] Allen DanielI do Certify that the above is truly copied from the original in my possession
3rd May 1814
[Signed] Allen Daniel Majr Gen [Major General] [added text: [deleted text: Major Genl [General] Daniel ] ]

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