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[added text (appears to be different hand and ink): [Handley] ]
Savannah;
June 2d 1788.
Dr [Dear] Governor,
I had wrote you early the beginning of last month the state of this district. The adjournment of Council and the hearing of your leaving Augusta, must plead my excuse for not forwarding it. I had the honor of yours with the talk & letter to our neighbour [neighbor] . As at that period we had little prospect of a peace, I made use of the latter, without giving an opportunity for publication, to rouse the Southern Inhabitants. The parting with the Oconee equivalent, is what they cannot relish & which added to other injuries and insults, has pretty generally disposed them for a march, whenever necessity requires it. I am even now of opinion the Indians will require a strict and watchful eye. You will find from one of the inclosed copies of Letters from Colo [Colonel] Weed, how little dependence can be placed on Indian


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faith, or treaty. The whole business unknown & unheard of by me, untill [until] the receipt of that line, was to me a mystery -- Assuredly Governor Matthews ought to have given me a hint of those powers, knowing they were to be exercised within my district. -- had some occasion drawn our force that way, I will vouch the treaty would have been soon ended, with not only reds but whites. In compliance with Colo [Colonel] Weeds last of the
16th ult [ultimo], I have furnished him with every article in my power: as well to prevent our Citizens flying for Florida, as to intimidate the disaffected Outlaws, residing in that province; from advantaging themselves of our situation. Could they be spared -- a company of State Troops would be of the utmost service on St Marys. That constant intercourse between


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the two nations would not be so frequent -- disputes and illblood would be prevented, -- our negroes would find no pass, and the Spaniards would learn respect. -- at present, all those evils occur -- every intelligence Panton, Forbes & Co [Company] wish to convey to McGillvray, is carried in consequence of the first. -- A man by the name of Oneal, a Carolina outlaw, has been killed, and a valuable Soldier, Ashley, who killed him in consequence thereof lost to the State. Mr Spalding sometime since, lost five prime negroes without redress, and Mr Cashen & others of his [unclear text: cast ] teach the Spaniards that we have neither Government nor power. If the State troops cannot be detached for that purpose, an independent company with the sanction of Government, to be regularly enlisted would be necessary & I believe might be [document damaged] expected. Liberty County has


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suffered exceedingly, and some of its wealthy planters are nearly ruined. -- among those, stands Colonel Maybank, who has lost the majority of his working hands. a loss at this period of the rear in particular, irreparable. -- I leave it to those, whose duty it is, to see our innocent & unfortunate Citizens redressed. -- a treaty, would be a treaty of iniquity without it.
The County for the last month has had time to recover. -- not an Indian has been seen, since their second attack on your brave County man, Burnet; who really gave them the [unclear text: rubbers ] . -- from his account to me, he is positive from twenty to thirty of the Indians were killed, and the Indians in Florida have since acknowledged ten killed on the spot. -- Burnet got several of


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their arms, [unclear text: matchcoats ] &c [et cetera], after the action. he had two Whites out of four wounded, one Negroe [Negro] killed & another scalped, and five taken & carried off, which was all his force, opposed, to upwards of one hundred Savages. it was as severe a brush as they have met. it lasted an hour and a quarter, during which they made repeated attempts to storm his Blockhouse. His services deserving attention, I have promised him a [added text: volunteer ] Commission, should the War continue & it meet the approbation of Council. In Effingham, I have been compelled to continue a Captains command of Militia. The State troops here, being barely sufficient in number, for the defence [defense] of this and Liberty Counties. -- Captain Cone & a party the other day, captured the famous & notorious McGirt. I ordered him to Savannah


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Goal [Jail] : as from Captain Cones account he has many friends still remaining in that County, and it was with difficulty he could procure a Guard to keep him. -- As, from his different stories, his [unclear text: smoaked linnen ] & other circumstances, there is probable reason to suppose he has been with the Indians, I have detained him a military prisoner, and shall call a board of Officers to determine, whether or not, he is under the description of a spy. if so, I shall deal with him accordingly; unless otherwise directed by you or the Executive, whose sentiments on that head, I should be glad to learn.
Capt [Captain] Mann, on account of the loss of his Wife, resigning as Commissary; the troops were in the utmost want; as the contract with Hillhouse and Kellogg only


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authorized their delivering to a Commissary expressly appointed to receive. -- What was to be done? -- two questions arose. Shall the power for a moment be exerted? or, Shall the Troops disband themselves, and the Settlements break for the want of that Commissary -- I did not hesitate. -- I expressly appointed Captain Thomson, and whose conduct has justifyed [justified] the appointmen [document damaged] a Commissary, to receive on the part of the State, until the sentiments of the Commissary Genl [General] or the Executive should be made known. As no other motive than the good of my Country induced me to the measure, I hope I shall not be censured for my endeavour [endeavor] to serve them. A Mr Long was since sent down or rather came down to take the business from Thomson. -- The Office was arranged, the State done justice by, and as that Gentleman had no special


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authority from Mr Stubblefield, I coincided in opinion with the receiver General and Col [Colonel] Armstrong, that the interest of the State requird [required] Thompsons continuance. We are informed here of the Contractors notifying the Executive, agreeable to contract, of the failure of supplies. I am informed by Mr Seagrove & I am convinced of it, that in this district there remains twice thirty days provision. The Inhabitants however, alarmed at the quantity drawn from this for the back Country, held a County meeting in Liberty and appointed a Committee, which wrote me the enclosed line on the subject. -- Mr Seagrove and myself on consultation, thought it best to procure the remainder, to suffer twenty five barrels to be kept there, any part of


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which I believe, will be with the utmost difficulty taken from them. -- indeed, they have really suffered & can Scarcely be blamed for providing against contingencies.
Observing that by law you have as Commanding Officer of Glynn, (or Col [Colonel] Hillary) in the first place, the power of recommending volunteer Corps [added text: in your regiment ] on constituting a Brigade board, the power of appointing in the second, as Governor: and having at the beginning of the last month a truly deplorable prospect, and understanding Council had adjourned, I thought the necessity of the case, justifyed [justified] my sanctioning, till your orders, a volunteer corps on Frederica, under the command of John McIntosh junr [junior] esquire to continue under command of the Glynn Officers, as by the consent of Colo [Colonel] Maxwell first obtained. -- I did this at the peoples request


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and on their expressing a wish to cross to the main on the shortest notice, and scour the South side of the Alatamaha, to protect the people then still remaining. -- but, the last settler, Barnet, is now removed. -- They will however, still be of service. should a peace not take place, as their agreement is to keep a good Horse & Furniture Swords, pistols &c [et cetera] & to march on The shortest notice to any part or place; and there are such numbers crouded [crowded] on that Island that they would be otherwise useless. Major West has likewise applied, but I have not taken on me to appoint him, altho [although] I know the service he could be of, should depredations continue. -- I think in that case all those fighting characters should be employed.


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I hope and long for a lasting peace, and I think the happy adoption of the Federal constitution in Carolina & Maryland, gives us a right to form expectations. -- but I am clearly decided for the most determined measures, shoud [should] Whitefields embassy not meet the most willing acquiescence. -- The least break in future to the Southward will leave the Country a desert to the banks of Ogeeche.
Some steps should be taken for redress & prevention of injuries from the Spaniards, and they should be informed that their old formal edict for stealing property is not to be borne with.

I am Dr [Dear] Governor with all our respects
Yr [Your] very Obedt Servt [Obedient Servant]
[Signed] Jas [James] Jackson Brig Genl [Brigadier General] 1st District
Since writing the above I have received the inclosed [enclosed] extract from Col [Colonel] Maxwell by which you will perceive


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the Indians or Whites in their uniforms have again commenced hostilities -- a fresh reason in my opinion for making McGirt an example -- The very night he was secured in Goal [Jail] Cones settlement was robbed of almost every Horse -- The reason it was not done before I conclude was for fear of his being put to instant death -- The Seminolians ought to be among the first punished in case peace does not take place -- The mischief done by Whites is altogether owing to the reception they meet with from them & Panton I request you will lay Mr Girts case before Council & write me their sentiments -- I sincerely wish the Fellow had at first been put out of the way but as it is I think we ought to do what we can -- J [John] McIntosh is you will perceive by the [added text: inclosed [enclosed] ] returns for vacancies recommended for Freed [document damaged] The first officer named in the lists for each commission is the one wished, I only hint it to you be desire