- “the first of October 1775 I first entered the service as a private in the District of Abbeville (formerly Ninety Six) and as a volunteer under Captain Robert Anderson (afterwards general). About the 2nd of July preceding my entering the service, the inhabitants along the frontiers and back settlements of Georgia and Carolinas, had generally forted up, in consequence of the Cherokee Indians, who were extremely troublesome at this time; having been instigated by the British.”
- “To protect themselves from Indian warfare, and to defend the country as much as possible, the frontier inhabitants had constructed a line of forts along the Savannah River and had mustered themselves into companies, stationed principally at these forts. As soon as I joined the service, which was to aid in guarding the frontiers and in repelling the Indians, Captain Anderson, stationed himself at one of these forts called Fort Independence, situated on the Savannah [River], where we remained fourteen months in constant service against these Indians in scouring the country and protecting the inhabitants. “
- “In the latter part of the year 1777 (I think in December) General Williamson [Andrew Williamson] made a campaign into the Indian country and defeated the Indians first at Seneca and next at Tomassee, or some such name; which gave the frontier inhabitants an interval of peace, as the Indians were driven off. A fort was built at Seneca called Rutledge, which was afterwards left under the care of Captain John Moore, with a company of Independents, as they were called. I was not in this campaign, having been left with others under Captain John Pickens (my brother) to guard the fort. “
- “In the year 1782 the Indians still continued troublesome on the Georgia frontiers. The inhabitants being weak and unable to defend [?] themselves, dispatched messengers into South Carolina for assistance. I again volunteered to aid these people, and with a company of volunteers, marched to the Oconee River, and there had a battle with the Indians across the river—they were defeated and we took several prisoners.”