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, Vol. 2

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Author: Daniel Brodhead

U.S. History

From Colonel Brodhead.

Name: 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, Vol. 2 - From Colonel Brodhead.
Author: Daniel Brodhead

Fort Pitt, 24 April, 1780.

DEAR GENERAL,

I am honored with your favor of the 4th of January, and the 14th of March. That of the 4th of January I did not receive until the 18th instant. Returns of the troops under my command have been duly forwarded to the orderly office, agreeably to general orders, except one or two months in the winter, when the mountain was impassable. As no re-enforcement can be had from your Excellency, the intended expedition against Detroit must be laid aside until a favorable turn of affairs takes place, unless you would recommend a junction of Colonel Clark’s troops with mine.

I have called upon the different counties, on this side the mountain, for eight hundred and twenty-five rank and file, to be drafted from the militia, and intend to visit the Shawanese, provided the men are furnished. But the unhappy dispute of jurisdiction will, I fear, prevent my getting them; and, as many renegadoes from the different Indian nations are collected at the Shawanese towns, I do not incline to make an attempt with an inconsiderable number of men, because a defeat would be attended with fatal consequences to the settlement.

I am honored with a line from the Honorable Board of War, informing me that an officer of Colonel

Proctor’s regiment, with some stores and cannon, was in readiness to be sent up as soon as the roads would permit, and the means of transportation can be procured.

Mr. Arthur Gordon has deserted from his arrest, and will probably avoid a new trial.

With a view of saving land-carriage expenses, when water-carriage was practicable, I suffered only a few of the boats to be used; and greater care could scarcely have been taken, than what I took, to prevent their being lost or spoiled; but it was out of my power to watch every person. I have, however, the pleasure to assure you, that not more than seven are past Fort Henry, which, as I have given orders to some of Colonel Clark’s officers, will, I trust, be saved and sent back to this post.

I was much inclined, last fall, to do myself the honor of waiting upon your Excellency, with a view of proposing some things which, at that time, I expected would have promoted the service in this district in the course of this campaign; but I do not recollect that I expressed my desire to visit my family. I am much obliged to your Excellency for the indulgence; but, as Colonel Gibson is absent on a visit to his family, at Carlisle, and the Indians are remarkably hostile, I must remain, until I see whether it will be in my power to prosecute an expedition against the hostile Indians, or not, and until I have the honor of hearing from you again.

The Lieutenants of Monongalia county, and Ohio, write, that they are happy to hear of the intended expedition against some of the hostile Indians, and that they will exert themselves to furnish the men required; but they conceive that it will be difficult to effect it, on account of the disputed territory.

I take the liberty to inclose the copy of a letter, lately received from the Delaware Council at Coo-chocking, number One; likewise a copy of the Reverend Mr. Heckewelder’s letter, number Two; and an extract from the Reverend Mr. Heckewelder’s letter, number Three; and I will likewise inclose the return of the troops, as nearly as possible, to your wish; but as Colonel Gibson’s regiment, my own, and the independent corps, were chiefly raised within the disputed territory, it will be impossible to determine in which State they were raised, until the line is run.

Fearing a scarcity of salt provisions for the outposts, and the better to enable me to subsist a number of the militia upon the proposed expedition, I have been obliged to reduce the ration of meat one quarter, but I have allowed some Indian meal in lieu thereof. Since the 1st of March, the Indians have killed and taken forty-three men, women, and children, in the counties of Youghiogany, Monongalia, and Ohio, including those killed and taken upon the river; and they have destroyed a number of horses and cattle in Tiger Valley.

The Honorable Board of War mention the expense of expresses in such a manner, as must prevent my employing any; but I will do myself the honor to communicate to you every material occurrence, by such private conveyance as may from time to time offer. I have the honor to be, with the most sincere respect and esteem,

Your Excellency’s most obedient servant,

DANIEL BRODHEAD.

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Chicago: Daniel Brodhead, "From Colonel Brodhead.," 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, Vol. 2 in 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, ed. Jared Sparks (Freeport, NY: Books for Libraries Press, 1853), 437–439. Original Sources, accessed December 9, 2024, http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=9FN16ACRNNAEC56.

MLA: Brodhead, Daniel. "From Colonel Brodhead." 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, Vol. 2, in 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, edited by Jared Sparks, Vol. 2, Freeport, NY, Books for Libraries Press, 1853, pp. 437–439. Original Sources. 9 Dec. 2024. http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=9FN16ACRNNAEC56.

Harvard: Brodhead, D, 'From Colonel Brodhead.' in 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, Vol. 2. cited in 1853, 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, ed. , Books for Libraries Press, Freeport, NY, pp.437–439. Original Sources, retrieved 9 December 2024, from http://www.originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=9FN16ACRNNAEC56.