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DEAR GENERAL,
Since my last, ten persons have been killed and wounded, taken by the Indians in Westmoreland county. Parties of regulars and militia have endeavoured to overtake them, but without success.
The accounts I have received, relative to the British garrison at Detroit, differ widely, some making it to consist of only two hundred men, some three hundred, and others, upwards of four hundred. This has determined me to send Captain Brady, with five white men and two Delaware Indians, to Sandusky, to endeavour to take a British prisoner, which I hope he will effect. I have likewise offered other Delaware warriors fifty hard dollars worth of goods, for one British soldier, and they have promised to bring him immediately. Should an intelligent one be brought in, I intend to offer him some indulgence upon his giving me the most perfect intelligence in his power.
I had lately called out eight hundred and twenty five rank and file, and a proportionate number of officers, from the militia, to aid me upon an enterprise against the Shawanese towns ; but, upon finding the true state of what provisions could be drawn from the Commissaries, and that they were prohibited from making any further purchases, I was compelled to postpone the attempt until a sufficient quantity of provisions can be procured. The militia appear to be very anxious to aid me, and I sincerely wish it was in my power to indulge them. I expect a small sup ply from below the mountains, which, if it proves to be of good quality, will enable me to subsist the dependent posts until the 1st of September.
The soldiers frequently desert^ and are often apprehended ; and I expect sundry charges will soon be exhibited against some of the civil Staff Officers in this district. I shall, therefore, be much obliged fora few more blank orders, to enable me to assemble General Courts-Martial for their respective trials.
I cannot learn that the ordnance and stores, ordered from Philadelphia, have yet left Carlisle, nor do I know of what kind they are, nor what their number or quality. I have the honor to be, with the most sincere respect and esteem,
Your Excellency's most obedient Servant,
More Resources
- Daniel Brodhead
- Source:
- Correspondence of the American Revolution; Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington, from the Time of His Taking Command of the Army to the End of His Presidency, Volume II., Jared Sparks, 1853
