TNGenWeb Project/TNGenNet, Inc.,
(a Tennessee nonprofit public benefit corporation).

"The Howard-Smith Collection"

Transcription copyright: 1998, by Mrs. F. A. Augsbury; all rights reserved.
The originals are at the McClung Library in Knoxville.

This file is in text format. Please use your browser's "back" button to 
return to the previous page.

*********************************************************************************

To: James Gaines
From: Edmund P. Gaines, Choctaw Nation, Chickasaw-hay Town
----------------------------------------------------------

                                               Chactaw Nation
                                                 Chickasaw-hay Towns
                                                    August 18th 1803
Dear James

             I a few days since, rec'd your letter of the 22nd June, 
announcing the melancholy fate of our Brother Frank, the very extraordinary 
manner in which He disappeared & the anxious & painful suspence our parents 
and family must have experienced before His ultimate loss ceased to be 
equivocal, together with the loss itself has not failed to excite the more 
painful sensations in my mind, for I cannot, after the most mature reflection 
on the unhappy subject, entertain a single ray of hope that he is still in 
existance; yet I hope you will be able to give me a more satisfactory account 
of the circumstances which attended It.-I am glad you were so particular in 
mentioning whatever Had transpired; as well as the state of His affairs for 
however easy I might Have felt on this score, or However certain I might have 
been that He was not much in arrears, yet to know the precise state of His 
business was essential to me, not only to enable me to remove any unfavorable 
constructions which the tongue of calummy might have induced, but to assist 
in developing the probable causes which might have produced so mysterious & 
extraordinary an event.  rest assured I shall gladly contribute to the final 
adjustment of His asse'r so far as the very limited state of my finances 
will extend.
             You were informed by my letter of the 1st of June that I had then 
set out for this quarter, in order to run a line Between this Nation and the 
Tomby by settlements-I arived at this place two weeks after the date of that
letter and after ____iveing a mess age which was sent by me to the Chiefs of
this Town, I proceeded to the beginning of the old British Line 50 miles
S.E of this place & made such arrangements for runing the new Line as my
instructions from General Wilkinson,/ the commissioner/ directed.  
I then found it necessary to wait His arival, which was retarded by
sickness until a few days since.-The General was the Bearer of your
letter, having taken it out of the Natchez post Office.  He suspected
from the colour of the wafer that it contained disagreeable news which He
apprised me of, before he gave me the letter, and after seeing its contents,
I could not think of withholding it from a man whose friendship I so much
esteem, as the Genl's.  He read your letter & without hesitation acceded to you
r opinion.
           The General Has this day delivered a Talk to the Chiefs of this &
the Six Towns of this Nation, which I trust will have a salutary effect in
forwarding civilization & forming a good understanding with thes tribes towards
the U. States.-
            I shall immediately set out.-this Line which I am authorized [to]
complete, as the General will go direct to the Creek Nation so soon as He
establishes, with the Chactaw Commissioners, a particular point not yet
ascertained.  He is called to the Creek Nations as a Commissioner to attend a
Treaty which is now Holding with that Nation.-
              I have the promise of permission to go to the City Washington
so soon as I complete this survey (say towards Christmas) for the purpose
of settling my life, not having yet rec'd anything for my Extra Services.-
I shall certainly go, or return by that route-in the meantime write me to
the care of Mr. Silas Dinsmore.

P.S.  If Capt. Sparks & His lady are in your vicinity, make my respects to
them.
                                                                E.P.G.