Dr Sir this will be handed you by Mr. Beard who is going down
as an express we arrived here a few days ago and met with five of
their Nation in the Village they appeared very friendly towards us
the rest being out on War parties against the Osages and a buffaloe
hunting yesterday Say ten or fifteen families came in and we had
a talk with them they denied positively the murder of Tumlinson and
likewise the stealing of any horses from the Americans or any knowl-
edge of those that had committed those outrages and from their
conduct appear to be friendly disposed towards us we have seen one
Sorrel mare mule marked with the brand that you requested us to
enquire after but have not as yet made no demand for it being in
hopes that we may see some more that have been stolen— A fiew
Minutes ago two Wacos came in and inform us that the Towaash
Indians had started with a party that half were to go against the
Spaniards and the others against the Americans, they told us in
the council that the Towaash Indians were enemies of ours and wished
them to go to war against us but that they would not concent to it the
Towaashs live some where towards the head of this river about Six
days travel from here—We have consulted amongst ourselves and
think that if you approve of it that now would be a fit time for us to
make a campaign against them as we have a faithful Chicasaw Indian
with us who could pilot us to the Towaash town and now is the time
to strike a decisive blow as we can keep it secret from the Wacoes and
will be certain to find a part of them in their towns when we may
destroy their corn etc We have acted pretty independently since
we have been here and I am certain that a campaign would make
[them] take care how they tamper with the Americans we shall wait
here fifteen—or twenty days for men—to come on and in case we
start before you come on we have preconcerted signals and marks
with Beard who will know them this town is situated on the West
Bank of the River about half a mile from the River they have a
spring almost as cold as Ice itself all we want is some Brandy and
Sugar to have Ice Toddy they have about four hundred acres planted
in corn beans pumpkins and melons and that tended in good order
their Village consists of about Sixty houses built in pretty good
order I think they cannot raise more than One Hundred Warriors,
one of the Tawackanaw towns is about three miles below this on the
opposite side of them consisting of seven houses their principal town
is some distance from this on the Waters of the Trinity for any
particulars enquire of Mr Beard