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[Tight binding, right side margin sometimes hard to read]
informed Col. Barbee, that Col. Jennings had
tamed the escort at his post, until the empty
waggons & pack horses should return from fort
Defiance. He said he had got tired of "Fort
Jennings" & had deserted. The Col. was greatly
enraged & ordered me to escort the convoy to
fort Jennings & return immediately to S. Mary's.
I told him, I would try & do so, if he would
give a written order to that effect, which
he did. I reached fort Jennings the third day
with the convoy in safety, & upon my arrival
was warmly greeted by Capts Jordan & [Burn?]
who were very unpleasantly situated there with
out tents or camp equipage. I told them I
intended to return the next day, which pleased
them very much. I waited on Col. Jennings with
whom I had a slight personal acquaintance
and talked over the whole matter about his
detaining the former escort very freely [with?]
[ent?] at that time, informing him of my orders
from Col. Barbee. I drew two days rations of
beef & flour, I directed the men to cook it [?]
night, as I intended to leave early the next
morning. I again waited on Col. Jennings &
informed him of the situation of our post. We
had then 3 or 4 companies left - & I did not see
any necessity for his detaining Capts Jordan &
Burnette any longer. He said they would have
to remain until the empty waggons & post
horses returned from Defiance to escort them
back to St. Mary's - & that I would have to
remain for the same purposes until those
I had escorted returned. I remonstrated with
him against him, in as strong & [decided?]
terms as I could without effect. He was impe-
rative [imperative] "I must remain". I showed him my
orders from Col. Barbee which required me
to return immediately. He said Barbee had
no right to give any such order; I told him
I considered it to be my duty to obey it; that I