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Hartford
Novr. [November] 21st 1814
Sir,
About two hours ago I arrived in this place after an absence of Eight days, and having recd [received] your orders for the dissmission [dismissal] of the Troops under my command, I now take the liberty of giving you an account of my proceedings, when the Troops from Twiggs arrived the cavalry consisted of about Sixty two efficient privates and Non commissioned officers, under the command of a Lieutenant & no Cornet the Troop not being officered I ordered the Troops to hold an Election for Captain on the 12th inst. [instant] to command them during the then contemplated Expedition or Service which they proceeded to do and Captain Thomas W. Harris was Elected whom I Breveted and who proceeded to take upon himself the Execution of the duties of his office; the weather being extremely bad we delayed crossing the river until Monday Evening as I mentioned you in my last and in conformity with the plan I had laid down I proceeded on Tuesday Morning the 15th Inst. [Instant] on Barnards trail about 10 or 12 Miles halted to feed while there Col Wm [William] Jones with about Seventy five men & Captain Barnard with some of his Indians came up who informed me all was well, Barnards Indians proceeded to Hartford he in Company with me I continued on that trail Wednesday Morning four or five miles, when we quit the trail and steered a South course through the woods Marking as I went and


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marching the troops in close order so as to make a tolerable plain Trail in about ten miles we struck what is called the upper Chehaw Trail & continued on that till we struck Flint River twenty three miles above the principal Chehaw Town, crossed over and reached the Town Friday morning about 10 Oclock. understanding that they were friendly I took the Captains and one or two others and went into the principal Chehaw Town where the chiefs and Eighty or Ninety warriors were assembled, with the Chiefs I held a Talk of about three hours length the substance of which was that they must watch our frontiers, when the Enemy attempted to come in & let us know it, that they must separate themselves from the lower Hostile Towns and when it became necessary from the conduct of the Indians to press an Indian War for them to Join us and assist us but they waivrd [waivered] giving an answer as much as possible and declared they could not reconcile it to themselves to send their Young Men to War, they wishing to remain friendly with both sides but after my urging the thing some time they consented and agreed to send on some of their chiefs to the lower Towns and have a Talk with those Indians and let me know the result in Sixteen days from that time they proceeded to nominate Eight of their Chiefs to go on, and in the event of the Hostile Indians continuing their depredations they (the Chehaws)


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would move higher up the River but they would not consent to take up arms; I understood that three Indians supposed to be Hostile were seen the day before I reached Chehaw a few miles below that Town aiming for the Ocmulgee and enquiring for Col. Hawkins' I asked about it and they denied it at first but soon finding that I knew the fact too well for it to be disputed they admitted it, I then insisted on their detaching some of the young men in pursuit of them and pursue them until they overtook them, at first some of the chiefs appeared willing but after some debate they refused, I mentioned our cutting a road through their country on to the Fork of the Rivers they made no reply, this Town in situate about 6. or 8. Miles on the S.W. side of Flint River, Kinards Town about 6. to the S.W. side of Chehaw, on my return I passed through Talihoanna, which lies about 8. miles from Chehaw on Flint River and about 5. above a small Town of which [unclear text: Obone ] is the head. The Indians appeared to be well supplied with British muskets and ammunition which they acknowledged to have drawn from the British down at Perryman's but denie [deny] that there are any Indians [added text: in ] force there now; some of the Indians appear truly friendly but I believe a large portion of them were friendly on account of the force I had with me.


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On my return I came the lower Chehaw Trail a very good road may be had with very little work, the upper not so good but would do very well, from Hartford to Chehaw is between Sixty and Seventy Miles from Chehaw (which is rather too much to the right) to Perryman's near the fork is (the Indians say) about Eighty miles from the apparent disposition [deleted text: disposition ] of the Indians I think it would have a Salutary effect to open immediately a road from at or near this place so as to strike Flint River a little below Talihoana Town there to Erect and Establish a Military Post. I shall pursuant to your orders discharge [added text: as Soon as arrangements can be ] made the Troops under my command with directions for them to hold themselves in readiness to March at a Moments warning.

I remain with the highest consideration your Excellency Obt. Servt. [Obedient Servant]
[Signed] Allen Tooke [deleted text: Lt. ]





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Letter Lieut. Colo. [Lieutenant Colonel] Allen Tooke dated Hartford
21st November 1814.

Indian War



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His Excellency Peter Early Milledgeville Ga. By Mr. Tooke