remain here ln\lil some favorable change should present itself promising more permanent security to this frontier. lntelligcnce however having reached me by the last mail that the malady of my wife has assumed a more dangerous aspect, compels me to visit her. I delay my movement now only to provide for the temporary defensive measures which may be necessary, and lo which the force in this quarter must be principally restricted until the arrival of the volunteers for which I called on the 28th of last month. They will probably arrive at this place in the ensuing month. Should the recent reports ()f the confederacy of the different tribes, referred to by Lieutenant Bonnell be confirmed, the neces- sity of a rapid movement against their principal force seems to me obvious. The point upon which they are supposed to be concen- trating on the head-waters of the Trinity river, is believed to be within 5.0 to 70 miles south of that secion of Red river at or immediately above the mouth of the Falsa Washitaw. The move- ment to their position must be made principally by mounted men, and, if possible, before the· grass is destroyed by frost; and it should be made without a word being said or written publicly upon the subject. If it is spoken of here, the Indians will know it through their friendly traders as quickly as the troops of a civilized nation would know it. They are in the immediate vicinity of the great herds of buffalo upon which they subsist. The distance from this place is but little if any more than 250 miles, in nearly a northwest direction-probably a few degrees west of northwest. The country but slightly undulating and principally prairie, I know of no better plan of operations against Indians than to march as Generals Wayne and Harrison, and more recently General Jackson, and officers who served with him, have marched, in open order, (as the new system of tactics unfortunately does not prescribe,) and this march direct to the point at which the families of the warriors are placed, (if to be found,) and then search for their main force until they are found. The great advantage of this plan over all others is, that as soon as they learn through their spies that we are taking the direction to their women and children, their army will concentrate in the same direction, and a fight is certain. I have directed the construction at this camp of a block-house and eight store-houses, 20 feet square, with a covered passage between each 12 feet wide: they are completed. These store-houses are principally filled with 2,290 bushels of corn and 155,000 rations of subsistence, of excellent quality-are in good condition.
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