1

War Department
July 18^th 1803

Sir,

I was three days since
honored with your Excellency's letter of
the 9^th Ulto. - The President of the United States
is desirous of affording every and in his
power for rendering the intercourse between
Tennessee and Natchez as safe & convenient
as circumstances will permit. To effect
which he has directed measures to be taken
for establishing [houses?] of entertainment
on different parts of the road through the
Indian Country, and there is reason to hope
the measury will not be unavailing-
Directions will be given for Posting a de-
tachment of Troops on the Tennessee Ri
ver and also a small detachment at
Duck River, for the express purpose
of giving all the protection to travellers
in our power - The President has also
thought it advisable to authorise a pro-
clamation to be circulated through that
Country generally, offering a reward of four
hundred