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                                                                                                                           Red Clay 18th June 1838

Col W. Lindsay,

                  Sir,
                      We the subscribers beg leave to present ourselves before you as humble petitoners. We are in your power, and at your mercy, but bear with us while we make known to you our case; for we approach you believing that you will be moved at our distress.
    Between the Cherokees and our brethren the Creeks there has for a number of years existed a brotherly, family friendship so that there was no intrusion for members of one tribe, to remove on to the lands of the other, and embrace, and enjoy all the privileges, of their near neighbors and brothers on account of this mutual intercourse, when a part of our brethren the Creeks chose to take up arms against the white people, to avoid all difficulties on our part, we removed into the country of the Cherokees. Here, we did not remain long in peace, but we were hunted, and many who came with us were taken and removed to the far west.
   We fled to the Chiefs of the Cherokees as we would have done to our own Chiefs, for protection. Our case was made known to the Secretary of War, who we learn from Gen. Smith, directed that we should remain and share with the Cherokees. Let us then, Sir, share with them in the few privileges left them, as well as in their sufferings.
    We have at all times wished to be peaceable, and