| Summary: | After learning from an acquaintance that the "indians intended to go to war, when the trees put out their leaves," Freeman traveled through the Creek nation in Alabama to observe their behavior. In the letter he reports activities among the Indians "which to a practised eye, shew the propriety of caution": the use of old pathways ("which have been entirely disused for many years"); the purchase of weapons and ammunition; the carrying of arms ("as a general remark, they do not hunt now"); and the assembly of large groups ("A larger collection of indians than has been assembled for 20 years will meet at Lu-che-po-ga on the 23rd inst"). He suggests that "A display of military force in that neighbourhood would in my opinion do more...to hasten the departure of the indians from the state, than the parade thereafter of 10 Regiments & months, or years, of the most strenuous exertions." A transcription is included. [Original spelling retained.]
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