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Headquarters Fort Strother Jany [January] 31st 1814 Majr Genl [Major General] Cocke Sir,
yours of the 16th Inst. [Instant] I have received you had reported to me that the time of service of Colo. [Colonel] Lillard s reg't [regiment] would expire on the 14th Inst. [Instant]— They were ordered to return on the 12th and were no doubt near Knoxville previous to the reciept [receipt] of your letter requesting me to detain the arms that were in his possession — You will use every exertion to have your men armed — They are a useless burthen to the government without arms and need not be marched into the field unless you can procure them. It appears from your letter of the 10th Inst. [Instant] that old Ratliff is dismissed, his property of course must have been given up — that being the case nothing now remains but to restore the property of the whooping boy & [unclear: Duck ] I have not time to reply to your letter in full at this time — I will barely remark, that altho [although] I had some suspisions [suspicions] against Ratlif , yet neither the papers found in his or Catawba 's possession or any thing I could
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learn respecting his conduct would Justify me in arresting him — and if the proff [proof] had been sufficient to arrest him, it would not Justify a convescation [confiscation] of his property — or a seesure [seizure] thereof — On the arrival of the troops at Ross 's the commanding officer will report to me at which point they will receive my orders — I am respectfully &c [et cetera] Andrew Jackson Major Genl [General] [added: Major Genl [General] John Cocke ]
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Majr [Major] General John Cocke Knoxville East Tennessee [added: Express { {]
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