Sir,
We have been endeavouring to make every Preparation necessary for the indian Expedition, but before a single Man could march from the Battalions below, or the Counties from which we had ordered them out, the Cherokees & Creeks made an Irruption into Fincastle County on Holstein murdered several Women & carried off some children—upon which a Party of Militia 170 in Number marched out in quest of the Savages & on the 20th ulto fell in with an equal Number of Indians whom they attacked & totally routed, killing on the spot 13 without losing a man—we took a great number of Guns, & it is supposed that near half of them were killed or wounded—as our men fought with great Calmness & Intrepidity. The Attack was begun by our Scouts who fell in with the Indian's Scouts, & beat them back, when the Ground being disadvantageous to our Men they thought it best to retire to a breast work they had thrown up not far from the Place; whilst they were on their way to it, the Indian with their whole Force fell on our Rear which bravely withstood their shock—our whole Force was soon drawn out in a Line, & after an obstinate Engagement totally routed the Enemy—I have given you an imperfect but true Account of this Affair written with great haste that I may not detain the Express who happened to be passing through this Town on his way to Chas Town. I could not refrain from doing this, as I could wish that you would always lay hold in the same Manner of every opportunity
to forward to us any Intelligence you may think worth communicating—Excuse my Haste, & my not being able to be more particular.
P. S. We have certain Intelligence by a Person who made his escape from the Cherokee Town that they were marching 600 Men into our Frontiers (that the Party above mentioned was a Detachment from that Army) that they had in the different Towns 2400 fighting Men—that the Creeks had joined & 15 Northern Tribes.