Sir

As you are appointed Lieu^t. Col^o. Commandant of a regiment to be raised for the defence of this Province by His Excellency Governor Chester, you will of course act in your military capacity under the Governors orders and instructions. At the same time as the assistance of the Chactaw & Chickasaw Indians appears to be absolutely necessary for the effectual service of His Majesty in the protection and defence of the settlements at the Natchez and elsewhere upon the Mississippi, against the incursions and ravages of the Rebels. And as by your great knowledge of said Indians and particular acquaintance with their Chiefs you are every way qualified for managing and conducting them,—I therefore think it necessary for the good of His Majestys Service, to invest you with power and authority, and I do hereby Authorise you to Collect as many of the Chactaws and Chickasaw Indians as you can with the assistance of my Deputies and Commissarys in said Nations, and to lead and employ said Indians in annoying His Majestys Enemies, and assisting and protecting His faithful subjects, For which purpose you are hereby fully deputed and invested with my full power and Authority.

The protection and defence of the Inhabitants of the Natchez District appears to me to be the first object of attention but in this you will be directed by such instructions as you shall receive from His Excellency the Governor, and by your own judgment upon learning the situation of the Enemy and the posture of affairs.

For the better carrying on the Service jointly with M^r. Bethune who has before now set out for the Natchez District in consequence of orders from me, I furnish you with a Copy of my instructions to him. And I now send him further Orders to Co-operate with you and give you every Aid and assistance in his power, and that you may require of him

As His Excellency the Governor points Out to you the mode of defraying the expences which shall arise in your military Department, so I must request of you to appoint some person to keep separate and distinct Accounts of the expences which shall arise by furnishing provisions for the Indians which may accompany you, and other Contingencies in the Indian Department, and upon sending me your Accounts, your bill for the same shall be duly Honoured.

Upon the whole I have the greatest confidence in your own good sense and judgment to which I must principally refer you,—I have only to add that I think Cap^t. Colbert¹ ought to be immediately sent to the Chickasaw Nation to collect and lead as many of said Indians as he can, under the direction and with the assistance of John M^c.Intosh Esq^r. my Commissary in said Nation, to whom I write upon the Occasion, and that he will have your instructions how said Indians are to be employed.

In case the enemy should be in force to attempt penetrating through the Chactaw Nation I hope they will meet with a spirited resistance from said Indians, who with the Chickasaws in my opinion can frustrate such an attempt.

I am to inform you according to your desire that the Officers of the Corps already raised by me have British pay, and the private Men 40s Serling per Month, Serjants £3— ⅌ Month Corporals 50s with rations.

Orders are herewith sent to Charles Stuart Esq^r. to furnish you with such proportion of presents as you may judge necessary, and if the quantity of Amunition now sent be insufficient, I will thankfully replace whatever the Gentlemen in trade will lend upon this Occasion.

I have no further to add at present but to request of you to give me punctual and early intelligence of every material Occurrence by expresses hired for that purpose, so wishing you all success I remain [&c.]