![Transcription Center logo](/themes/custom/tc_theme/assets/image/logo.png)
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
[[start page]] page is blank [[end page]] [[start page]] [[underlined]] Sept. 26 1849 [[/underlined]] "The Colonel" makes an occasion to tell me that [[underlined]] he [[/underlined]] is in perfect health - can ride hard all day - camp out & carry his provisions for days - is a woodsman - & is not [[shortunided ?]] or faulty in any respect & all of which is very consoling to one who earns his [[underlined]] breath [[/underlined]] by the sweat of his now & only lives from mouth to mouth by great care & prudence! He intimates too that [[underlined]] fear [[/underlined]] is a thing unknown to him, and seems to regard his journey hither from Palatka as ample proof thereof. He is in short known as "Colonel Wisegrass." "I do not know whether I can spare time to go with you Captain, to Ch Harbor or not. I want much to see the chiefs as I am their agent. I am in doubts whether to wait & go down with you or not" - to which I replied "to remove your doubts I may tell you that you will [[underlined]] not [[/underlined]] go down with me." Whereupon he desclaimed all idea of forcing himself on my company & I told him that I should have business enough on hand for myself with Indians without adding the complication of introducing a new agent to enpound all his plans etc etc He then proposed to give me a letter to Bowlegs as he learned that B. was well educated etc. I told him that Bowlegs could sign his name, but could not read. He then proposed a belligerent message - to this purport "You must all quit this country. It is not yours - I am your Agent I tell you my orders etc etc" I declined learning any such "talk" and advised him to go & transact his own business with the chiefs. "Why" replied he "how & where & when can I see them? No one will pilot for any money - I can't hire any one white or black to carry a message - what can I do!" I answered "Just as I have done - go into their country" "Ah! but I don't know the way - I have no guide etc" "Well, you need no guide I can give you plain directions that will not fail when you are ready" "How can I find them?" I then told him -----"Col. Spencer! you can travel many days on horseback [[underlined]] without fatigue [[/underlined]] carrying yr. own food - Now if you will travel 1 1/2 or 2 days due East & then say 1/2 a day S.E. my word for it if you don't find Indians they will find you." You say can't speak that language no matter, they can understand a little, & will carry you to their Head Qr. where Sam Jones & Bowlegs both have interpreters" [[end page]]