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"The Howard-Smith Collection"

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

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To: James Taylor Gaines, Rossville, Sullivan County, Tennessee
From: George S. Gaines, St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory
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                                                        S. Stephens  M  T.
                                                        February 8th 1814

Dear James.

      It is some time since I received yours in reply to my last.  But so busy
have I been in collecting __________ remnants of my crop & bringing up my public
affairs, that I have not found time to write you.
      We have so much confidence in you Tennesseeans, that now that Jackson has
actually begun to drub our cruel foes we feel ourselves tolerably safe; and I
have for the present declined sending my familly to Tennessee for the present. 
To tell you the truth I have been so much injured by the War that at this
moment I am not able to send off my familly without selling property I do not
wish to part with.  I trust that we shall be ready & able to visit you next
summer.
      We have done but little as yet in this quarter towards subduing the Creeks. 
The enclosed paper has an account of our greatest battle.  Colo. Russell is now
out on an expedition with from 6 to 700 men against the Cahauba towns.  Colo.
M.Ker with 6 or 700 Choktaws & Chickasaws are now on the Black Warrior river
in search of Muscogas.  They will do, I have no doubt, something handsome
before they return.  We expect the Tennessee & Georgia armies arr. by this
time at the Hickory ground, and that the Creek War will soon be over.
      Should the Alabama lands fall into the hands of our Govt. & I will not
doubt it, you must come out & select you a tract of land & bring all our
friends with you if possible.  The Alabama will be the garden of America in
many years.
     My Ann joins me in love to you your lady & to all enquiring friends.
                                                      God bless you all
                                                      Geo. Strother Gaines