1. Laurel Hill (Laurel Ridge, Laurel Mountain), located in southwestern Pennsylvania some fifty miles east of Pittsburgh, runs for seventy miles from north to south with an average elevation of 2,700 feet.

2. Brodhead is referring to the postscript of a letter from Moravian missionary John Heckewelder to him, dated 28 May at Coshocton, which apparently was enclosed in this letter to GW. Heckewelder’s letter reads: “I have the pleasure to inform you that by John Monture who came here from the Wyondot Towns we are assured that the Wyondots are ready to make peace with the States, and on thier way to Pittsburgh already, They rejoiced greatly when your Speech was dilivered to them and had waited a long time for Something from the Americans themselves, when Monture came away they had yet three days to Council, the first they were to make out how many of them were to go to the Council at Pittsburgh, The Second day they were to get Speeches ready to the Tawas and Chibaways that they also might go with them and the third day they were to Speak to thier fathers at Detroit, and to tell them now you have cheated us long enough. we desire therefore tell us the truth and keep our eyes Shut no longer, and then to tell him, now we are going to Shake hands with the Virginians, we are their freinds already. John Monture particularly desires me to inform you of the following: That [George Rogers] Clarke had taken a Fort lately in which he got Govr [Henry] Hamilton, Hays [Jehu Hay] and Desyoung [Philip Dejean], three worthless fellows Prisoners. The Cannonading lasted from the Middle of the day till, and began next Morning again after which the Govr Surrendered, without the loss of one man on either Side, Mr Clarke Treated all the Prisoners very well and the report of his killing So many Indians is false and only reported that the Indians Shall beleive that the Virginians are ill disposed towards them all.

“That further in the letters which Mr Clarke had Sent to Kentucke, but Which were taken by Some Warriors he (Mr Clark[)] wrote to the people there, that he had the Governor and would deliver him into the hands of those Women who had lost their Husbands by his Wickedness, in Sending the Savages to kill them, they then might do with him what they pleased—further that the English had built a very Strong Fort at Detroit, and that he Monture thinks it will be very hard taking, without bomb Shells, tho he Says he does not know but What they will leave the Fort immediately when they See an Army Coming. That further there were two Vessels posted out to Watch for the American Army, the one up and down by Guyahoga [Cuyahoga] to Prisqueile and the Other at the Mouth of Twechtwee or Miami River, That the Shawanese, Mingoes, and Wyondaughala Gang were to go with Capt. [Henry] Bird and Ten English Soldiers to Attack and take Fort Lawrens that he did not know the Number, but that the Capt. Said he would have about 3 or four hund⟨r⟩ed Men, but he Monture thinks there will be Scarce half that [N]umber no Wyondots will be along and as the Capt. knows this he Says he does not Want Them for they were all turned Rebels. Bird told Monture that he would fix his Swivels (for now we know for certain they are but Small Swivels) on Sixty Yards from the Fort and knock it down in a hurry, to which Monture replyed he would do the Virginians a great Service if he would go that Near, he intends to Shoot double headed Shot which he makes himself; the Merchants and Others in Detroit desired Monture to do all he could that the Captn Might be taken, and he thinks it could easily be done. When the Wyondots were a Counciling near Detroit the Commandt Sent a file of Men to take Monture Prisoner (because as they Said) he was turning the Wyondots to become Rebels. These Men were Nine days after him but Could not get him, That Thomas McCarty is gone he thinks down Scioto with 40 Men to Cross the Ohio to War, a few days after Monture left Detroit, They had great rejoicing there, the Cannon being heard firing, That 160 Men came lately from Niagara to Detroit, 100 of them regulars and 60 Prisoners who were bought of the Indians and made Soldiers off. That by a late Information of a Mercht who came from Quebec to Detroit it appears that there has not above 800 soldiers between them two places, This far John Monture to you.

“I understand by Monture that after this Battle at Fort Laurens is over the Mingoes will all go home to their own Country, and then the Six Nations will fall on the Wyondots, he Says nothing is Surer than this, but they (they Wyondots) Say if we have the Americans to our friends, they will Certainly help us to fight them when they Come.

“Monture likewise tells me that perhaps when the Shawanese See what the Wyondots are about, and that they are a going to Treat at Fort Pitt, they may alter their Minds and not go along against Fort Laurens, but he Says this is uncertain and a great many will go if ever they turn back, he wishes that you might be ready for them.

“The letter from the Wyondott Chieff [Captain] Bawbee to you was wrote by a prisoner for them.

“Monture tells me that at that time when he was called to come to Pittsburgh it was impossible for him to go, and would have cost him his life, but if he had recd Mr Dodges letter a few days Sooner Much Mischief might have been prevented.

“Excuse Sir this letter not being wrote in a Proper Manner, tis Impossible for me at this time I having So Much to do and could not Rem[embe]r every thing directly, therefore all is mixt together,

“Simon Gurty acts Wickedly and does all he can against you. . . .

“P.S. paper is So Scarce with me that I hardly can Write another letter. . . .

“I was Obliged to open my letter again as John Monture informs me as a Certain fact that Legonir and all this Side of the Lawrel hil will be Attacked by the Six Nations, and Butlar at the head of them with two hundred Rangers, the Private News of this runs thus.

“We have found out a piece of Ground where no disturbance has been made, where there is Provision and every thing plenty the farmers there are busy at thier farms and Suspect Nothing, we will now as Soon as the Strawberrys are ripe fall in that Country all at once, then let the Virginians try to Carry on a Campaign against us. This is Guyashuta [Kiashuta] his private Speech to the Mingoes Monture desires you to be ready for them, and not Consider this as a false report for he says it is a fact” (DLC:GW). For Brodhead’s reply to Heckewelder on 3 June, see Pa. Archives, description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends 1st ser., 12:124–25.

3. For Brodhead’s order on 17 June to build what became known as Fort Armstrong at Kittanning, Pa., see his letter to GW, 25 June, n.6.

4. This is a reference to Fort Randolph.

5. James O’Hara (1754–1819) was born in Ireland and educated in Paris. He briefly served as an ensign in the British army, went to Philadelphia in 1772, and became an Indian trader on the Pennsylvania and Virginia frontiers. As captain of a Virginia independent company, he was stationed at Fort Pitt from 16 Sept. 1777 to 20 May 1778 and then took part in George Rogers Clark’s expedition to Vincennes. Resigning his captaincy, O’Hara oversaw the general hospital at Carlisle, Pa., before becoming an assistant quartermaster under Q.M. Gen. Nathanael Greene. O’Hara left the army in 1783, opened a general store in Pittsburgh, secured army contracts, and was active in politics. GW nominated him as quartermaster general on 17 April 1792, and he served in that capacity until his resignation in May 1796. O’Hara subsequently promoted the development of Pittsburgh as an industrial center.

6. For GW’s reply to this concern about militia pay, see his letter to Brodhead of 23 June.

7. The enclosed copy of a letter from Thomas Clare to Capt. Joseph Skelton, written at Georges Creek, Monongalia County, Va. (now W.Va.), on 28 April, reads: “I have made Return of the Provisions Purchased by me since my last settlement but some few Articles which I intend sending down by Serjeants Blake & Porter—The chief part of the Bacon I have sent to you the remainder Colonel [John] Evans has taken and does insist on all that I have of every kind—I show’d him Colonel Broadhead⟨’s⟩ orders—his answer was that Colonel Broadhead should have not one pound of any kind, likewise Colo. McCleery [William McCleary] said he looked upon it that Colo. Broadhead had wrote for Nothing but Bacon—I then show’d your letter to them, they seem’d to give little or no answer—I told them as soon as the River raiz’d I should send all the Provisions to Pitt—Colo. Evans said the Militia could not starve and he would not let it go—As for the Flour I have some, and a good deal paid for, but the Water is so low the Mills cannot grind—I should be glad to get an answer concerning of this for I am pretty shure that before the Provisions goes the Militia will stop it, for the Savages is seen every day in the Neighbourhood and committs Murder and Kill the peoples Cattle—I am much afraid that Beef will be very scarce & dear in short they ask two hundred Dollars for a Cow” (DLC:GW).

Thomas Clare (d. 1814) migrated from Ireland to Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He purchased substantial properties in the vicinity, apparently prospered through various ventures (including operating a ferry over the Monongahela River), and became friendly with Albert Gallatin, who leased a portion of Clare’s land for a store.

Joseph Skelton was appointed deputy commissary for purchases at Fort Pitt in 1777 and apparently worked closely with George Morgan.

8. Brodhead had raised the issue of merging Capt. Samuel Morehead’s independent company into Continental regiments in a letter to GW of 17 April. GW replied to Brodhead on 23 June.

9. For this Virginia recruiting law, see Brodhead to GW, 17 April, n.14.

10. This enclosure contained copies of four letters: Big Cat “and the Councillors of Coschocking” to Brodhead, 29 May; Big Cat to John Killbuck and Delaware “Chiefs who went to Philadelphia,” undated; “Capt. Bawbee” (Wyandot chief) at Detroit to Brodhead, 12 May; and John Montour at Coshocton to John Dodge, 28 May (all DLC:GW). Each letter suggested increased support for the American cause among tribes in the Ohio country.

11. Conewango was found to be deserted when Brodhead led an expedition up the Allegheny River valley from Pittsburgh between 11 Aug. and 14 Sept. (see Brodhead to GW, 16–24 Sept., NNGL).

12. Brodhead probably is referring to a portion of the general orders for 1 Jan. that set regulations for liquor sellers (see Brodhead to GW, 3 May, and GW to Brodhead, 21 May, and n.2 to that document).

13. The proceedings of this court-martial, held 6–14 June at Pittsburgh, are in DLC:GW. The man accused of murdering a Delaware Indian, Pvt. James Beham of the 13th Virginia Regiment, was acquitted on 9 June. GW had called this incident “an unfortunate affair” in his letter to Brodhead of 21 May.

14. A mark at this place in the letter matches a similar mark at the end of the letter where there is an identification that reads “the name of the young Delaware Man.”

15. Brodhead first mentioned this seizure of provisions in his letter to GW of 3 May.

16. For an outline history of Fort Laurens from its construction in November 1778 to its evacuation in August 1779, see GW to Brodhead, 3 May, n.2; see also Brodhead to GW, 31 July–4 August.

In a letter of this date to Joseph Reed, president of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council, Brodhead discussed the difficulties connected to maintaining Fort Laurens and asserted that “Genl McIntosh must have influenced his Excell’y into a favourable opinion of the use of that post as well as Fort McIntosh. Or the General must have reasons that I am a stranger to … You may depend on my close attention to the protection of the Settlements, but I have told his Excellency the Commander in chief that I can more effectually protect them with one thousand men acting offensively than with three times that number on a defensive plan, and I have received no answer to induce me to alter my opinion” (Pa. Archives, description begins Samuel Hazard et al., eds. Pennsylvania Archives. 9 ser., 138 vols. Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949. description ends 1st ser., 7:465–66; see also Brodhead to GW, 6 May).

17. Brodhead apparently is referring to his letter to GW of 6 May.

18. Brodhead failed in his efforts to separate the Wyandots from the Mingos and to side the Wyandots firmly with the American cause (see Kellogg, Frontier Retreat, description begins Louise Phelps Kellogg, ed. Frontier Retreat on the Upper Ohio, 1779–1781. Madison, Wis., 1917. description ends 66–72; see also GW to Brodhead, 23 June).

19. Brodhead is referring to a British force at Natchez along the eastern bank of the lower Mississippi River. The British relinquished Natchez to the Spanish later in 1779 (see Juan de Miralles to GW, 2 Oct., DLC:GW).