To George Washington from Colonel Daniel Brodhead, 13 December 1779
From Colonel Daniel Brodhead
Pittsburgh Decr 13th 1779
Dear General
I am honoured with your favour of the 21st last month enclosing a duplicate of your letter of the 18th October.
I have tried every method to obtain the necessary intelligence from Detroit, but fear it will not be so perfect as is wished: My principal reliance is on the moravian missionaries who have it in their power to send very intelligent Indians of their congregation to Detroit and as the[y] appear not to be concerned in hostile measures they will of consequence gain the readier admittance into the Enemys Works.1
I am informed that the enemy were last fall in expectation of a Visit from our Troops and therefore laid in the greater part of their provisions at a Blockhouse on a large Island in the Lake about fifteen miles on this side Detroit.2
The late Captain O’Harra’s Compy is already mustered and their pay is already drawn in the 9th Virga Regt and having received no answer from Lt Govr Page, I apprehend he is satisfied with the junction.3
Altho I sincerely wish to have the honor of waiting on your Exclly I am far from requesting leave of Absence untill a Suitable period arrives.
The Honorable Board of War have forwarded a considerable quantity of Clothing for the Troops under my Command but they appear to be destitute of hatts and deficient in the Number of Shoes, & I hear nothing of the Supplies for Indians.4
I am still so ignorant of affairs that I cannot determine whether it will now be proper to send an estimate for ordnance and military Stores to the Board of War and I feel a diffidence with respect to forming a proper judgment on that head. I apprehend an ingenious Engineer will be necessary and if they can be indulged with a sight of the Military stores on hand I conc[e]ive they will be able to form a proper estimate. Unfortunately I have not a single person of experience to consult.
This frontier is at present a perfect state of tranquility and many of the Inhabitants who were driven away by the savages are returned to their respective habitations.
Colo. Gibson informs me that the terms of many at least one hundred of his men will expire before the first of february and altho the late laws of Virga seemed calculated to fill their Regts with great rapidity yet the Officers of the Militia have been so very inattentive to the execution of them that he has not recd above fifteen additionals or Drafts.5
The Quarter Master Commissaries of Purchases & of forage are still complaining for want of money to make the ordinary purchases and I have been reduced on that account to Barter some salt for forage to keep the horses from being quite reduced; but of flour I have a considerable supply.
I observe that individuals can procure Indian goods and I sincerely wish the Hon: Congress would take the trade into their own hands as it will soon be very considerable and the certain profits very large. By doing this and appoint[i]n[g] a proper person to seperintend the trade I concieve we shall streng[t]hen our alliance with those we have treated with & draw over those to our Assistance against the more Savage Britons. With the most sincere respect & esteem I have the honor to be your Excellencie most Obt & mo. Hble Sert
Daniel Brodhead
LB, NNGL. Below Brodhead’s signature is a notation that reads: “By Capt. Jas O’Harra.” GW replied to Brodhead on 4 Jan. 1780 (Ia-HA).
1. A letter from Brodhead to Moravian missionary David Zeisberger, written at Pittsburgh on 26 Nov., in part reads: “I am very anxious to know the strength of the Garrison at Detroit, and likewise the strength of the works, but particularly whether there are any Bomb proofs and of what construction, whether they are arched with Brick or stone, or of wood, and whether the Bomb proof are only for the safety of the Enemy’s provision and Military stores or whether there are any for the security of the men. What number of Cannon are mounted and of what size, and how the Inhabitants stand affected with respect to our cause. If you can employ a proper person to confide in and bring me intelligence of those circumstances you will render your Country essential service, and you may rely on my paying the spy eighty Bucks or one hundred if eighty is insufficient. I intend to send one in like manner to Niagara to gain similar intelligence.
“Please let me hear from you by the first opportunity and be particular as to the news you hear respecting the enemy, and even pretended Friends” ( 1st ser., 12:192–93). Another letter from Brodhead to Zeisberger, written at Pittsburgh on 12 Dec., in part reads: “I hope you rec’d my former letter requesting you to send a proper person to examine the Enemies works at Detroit, & report the strength of them & the Garrison also, whether there are any Bomb proofs and of what kind.
“Our Friend Joshua seemed willing to undertake this Business, & I think him a very intelligent & ingenious man, but as you from a long experience must be the best judge of your people; the fitness of a person for this undertaking must be left to you, I hope you have already sent a man that can be relied on for his integrity as well as his ingenuity—You may rely on my making the person you have or may employ, a very suitable reward for his trouble” ( 1st ser., 12:196). Brodhead expressed frustration in a letter written to Zeisberger from Pittsburgh on 10 Feb. 1780: “I wrote to you twice relative to procuring intelligence but have not been happy enough to receive a line in answer” ( 1st ser., 12:203–4).
2. Brodhead probably is referring to modern Grosse Ile, Mich., situated south of Detroit. It is the largest island in the Detroit River.
In a letter dated 18 Oct., GW had ordered Brodhead to “make such preparations & obtain such necessary information” as possible, “without exciting much alarm,” for an expedition against Detroit.
3. For the proposal of Virginia lieutenant governor John Page that resulted in the absorption of Capt. James O’Hara’s independent company into the 9th Virginia Regiment, see Brodhead to GW, 9 Oct., and n.7.
4. For Brodhead’s appeals to the Board of War for winter clothing and Indian supplies, see his letter to GW, 10 Nov., and notes 2 and 4 to that document.
5. For recent recruiting measures in Virginia, see Thomas Jefferson to GW, 28 Nov., and notes 2, 5, and 6 to that document.