Fort Early 30 April 1818 Sir I have the pleasure to inform you that my command has safely reached this place having suffered some [little] for the want of meat the Gods have proved equally propitious to us on our return as on our advance at [illegible] some of my me [sic] were nearly out of corn and searching about some old houses that had not been consumed to see if they could make any discovery in entering one of them to their great astonishment and surprise they came a cross the man who was lost from Captain Patkins Company on the 2d day of April. it appears from his statement that he was taken with a sort of cramp and was unable to move and became senseless. when he recovered he became completely bewildered and never could reach the Camp. he therefore concluded it was prudent to secret himself in some Swamp and after wandering about for some time came across a parcel of Corn on which he subsisted until we found him - he was very much [reduced] and apparently perfectly wild on that Night Gray struck a trail pursued it about a mile and a half came to a small hut which fortunately contained 50 or 60 bushels of Corn and some potatoes and peas which enabled us to reach the Flint opposite Chehaw Village, when arriving within 30 miles, I sent on Brig Robinson with a detachment of 20 men to procure Beef on his arriving there the Indians had fled in every direction the Chehaw Town having consumed [2] about four day before by a party of men consisting of 230 under a Capt Wright now in command of Hartford it appears that after he assumed the Command of that place he obtained the Certificates of several men on the frontier that the Chehaw Indians were engaged in a skirmish on the big bend he immediately sent or went to the Governor and obtained orders to destroy the Towns of [Philemme] and [Oponce], two Companies of Cavalry were immediately ordered out and placed under his command, and on the 22d he reached this place, he ordered Capt Bothwell to furnish him with 25 or 30 men to accompany him having been authorised to do so by the Governor, the order was complied with Capt Bothwell told him that he could not accompany him, himself disapproved the plan and informed Capt Wright that there could be no doubt of the friendship of the Indians in that quarter and stated that [Oponce] brought in a public House that had been lost that day, this [illegible] nothing, mock patriotism burned in their Breasts they crossed the River that Night and pushed for the Town when arriving near there an Indian was discovered grasing some Cattle he was made a prisoner by Sergt James, that the Indian immediately proposed to go with the Interpreter and bring any of the Chiefs for the Capt to talk with, it was not attended to an advance was ordered the Cavalry rushed forward and commenced the massacre even after the firing and murder commenced maj Howard an old Chief who persisted [3] on with considerable Corn, came out from his House with a white flag in front of the line. it was not respected. an order for a general fire was given, and nearly 400 guns were fired at him before one took effect he fell and was Bayoneted. his son was also killed. these are the circumstances relative to the transaction. seven men were killed one woman and two Children, since then three of my command who were left at Fort Scott obtained a furlough and on their way to this place one of them was shot in endeavoring to get a Canoe a cross the Flint I have sent on an express to the Officer commanding Fort Scott approving him of the affair and one to Adjt Porter to place him on his guard on my arrival opposite. Chehaw I sent a runner to get some of them in I succeeded in doing so they are all at a loss to know the cause of this displeasure of the white People. Wolf has gone to the Agent to have it [engraved] [until] we obtained from them a sufficient supply of Beef to last to Hartford at which place I am informed there is a plentiful supply of provision. I have the honor to be very Respectfully Yours Maj Genl Andrew Jackson} Thos Glascock Brig Genl G M