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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Joseph Martin to Richard Caswell
Martin, Joseph, 1740-1808
March 25, 1787
Volume 20, Pages 653-654

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COL. JAMES MARTIN TO GOVERNOR CASWELL.
(From Executive Letter Book.)


Chotaye, March 25th, 1787.

Sir:

At my arrival in this place I found the Indians in greater Confusion than I had ever seen them before, Owing in part to Col. John Logan’s Expedition against them, together with daily encroachments of the Franklinites on their Lands; they have Actually Opened a Land Office for every acre of Land that the Legislature of North Carolina Ceded to them North of the Tennessee, which Includes Several of their principal Cornfields, and Part of their Beloved Town Chota & the whole Town of Neal, a new settling on the Banks of the River. About forty of their young Men had set out for war before my arrival, as they say to take satisfaction for some of their friends that was killed by Col. Logan, some of which has Returned; they killed a family on Cumberland and some attempt was made on the Traders, one of which was killed; several others lost their property. I this day finished a Talk with them a Copy of which I enclose to your Excellency; three letters have been lately brought to the different Towns and rec’d from the French at the Mussle Shoals, Which Informed the Indians the English, French and Spanish have actually joined to carry on war against America; that the Americans have Stopt their trade from Detroit by seizing several of their Boats on the Mississippi, that they will not undertake to furnish them in the future with anything but Guns, Knives, Tomahawks, Ammunition, them Articles they shall have plenty; the Cherokees inform me the Creeks are now preparing forward, that a large number of the Northern Indians are also preparing which are to set out from Detroit this Spring. I yesterday rec’d a Talk from the Chickasaws a Copy of which I also Inclose. Various are the Conjectures of the Traders Respecting of war with the Cherokees, my opinion is that there will be a great deal of mischief done if not a open war, unless the Franklinites can be removed off their land, which I am well assured cannot be done without an armed force.

Every Assurance worth notice I shall send your Excellency without delay. I set out Tomorrow, to take a Tour through the Different

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Towns & try to lay hold of the above mentioned Letters Which I shall send also.

I have the honor to be, with great respect,
Your Excellency’s most humble & most Obedt. Servt.
JOSEPH MARTIN.

N. B. The Tennessee business is laid over till July next at which time hope Colo. Glasgow will attend, I must beg that your Excellency will send Col. Cleveland on the occasion.