[Footnote: State Department MSS., No.

51, Vol.II., p.

45: "JAMES COLBERT TO CHAS.

STUART.
"CHICKASAW NATION, May 25, 1779.
"Sir,--I was this day informed that there is forty large Cannoes loaded with men women and children passed by here down the Cherokee River who on their way down they took a Dellaway Indian prisoner & kept him till they found out what Nation he was of--they told him they had come from Long Island and were on their way to Illinois with an intent to settle--Sir I have some reason to think they are a party of Rebels.

My reason is this after they let the Dellaway Indian at liberty they met with some Cherokees whom they endeavoured to decoy, but finding they would not be decoyed they fired on them but they all made their Escape with the Loss of their arms and ammunition and one fellow wounded, who arrived yesterday.