Early Governors' Papers

Davidson County, [ash?] December 20.^th 1796.

Sir,

The horse designated in the enclosed paper as being the property of William Dever were described and given in last spring to Governor Blount by Robert Reid. And we were in=formed that the Governor sent the description to the Indian nation by M.^r Chisolm, and M.^r Chisolm hearing of horses of the same description with some others which he demanded and obtained. But before he left the Nation they were stolen from him: Some of the Chiefs finding them out were sending them back to M.^r Chisolm when a party waylaid them and killed the greater part of them. This is the information we have recieved, and therefore think it is scarcely worth while to make ap =plication to the Indians for the re=covery of our horses. We hope, if your Excellency has it in your power to obtain any indemnification for us for the