1

War Office, March 2. 1798.

Sir,

I have received your letter of the 6^th of February
with its enclosures.

My last will have informed you of the negociation which
it is proposed to open with the Cherokees. As this may lead to an alte-
ration of the present Indian boundary, it may be proper to suspend ma-
king any collection of materials for additions to the works at Tellico and
South West Point, till such time as the fate of the negociation is known.
In case the Indian boundary is altered, new Scites [sic] within it will be taken,
as well for the factory as the forts. As your presence may be necessary
at the Treaty, you will be able to satisfy the Indians of the propriety
of such an arrangement.

Altho' Coxe has delivered up some of his military apparatus,
he still continues, as I have been informed, to prepare boats, and his
Associates to hold themselves in readiness, to seize the first favourable
opening for carrying his project into execution. It is proper therefore
that you should not cease to observe his motions, and to be fully pre=
pared to defeat his enterprize. Should you find that he still persists, you
may send him the following notice, and have it published in the Knox
ville Gazette, and continued there for a length of time, viz:

"Lieut. Col. Thomas Butler, commanding the Troops of the
"United States in the State of Tennessee, thinks it his duty to make
"known, that he has orders from the proper authority, to resist all per=
"sons whatever will have entered into the service of Zachariah Coxe
and