1. Brodhead enclosed a copy of a letter to him from John Bowman, lieutenant of Kentucky County, Va., dated 27 May at “Kentuckey County”: “At this most alarming Period I think it Necessary to inform you of the Designs of our Cruel Enemy the British and Indians against thi⟨s⟩ Post of the Western Frontiers of Virginia—Lieuten⟨ant⟩ Abraham Chaplin, who was taken Last November at the time Col. Rogers was Defeated by the Indians on the Ohio & George Hendricks who was Likewise taken at the Salt Springs on Licking in the year 1777 with Major Boone made their escapes from the Windot Nation of Indians living on the Waters of St Dusky the 27th or 28th Ultimo who brings intellige⟨nce⟩ that a Large number of the different tribes of Indians in Conjunction with some of the Troops Belonging to th⟨e⟩ King of Great Britain to the Amount of two thousands in the whole 600 of which are Green Coat Rangers from Cannady were preparing to Attack the Garrison at the Falls of Ohio with Cannon &c. and after Reduceing the same their next destination is to Illenios in Order to take that post Likewise that Capt. Mathew Elliot gave them information that the different Tribes of Indians were gathering their Horses in Order to assist ⟨the⟩ Enemy on their Expedition over the Carrying Plac⟨e⟩ from [Little Mi]Amey to Large Meami & that they expect the Enemy will be at the Falls of Ohio in about four weeks fro⟨m⟩ this time—tho I have not had the Honor of being personally aquainted with you, but from Charect⟨er⟩ am well Assured of your great zeal for the welfa⟨re⟩ of the United States in General & that you have been always ready to render them your Services on all occasions—Therefore I am induced to Request of y⟨ou⟩ all your Assistance of Men Amunition and provision together with Artillery in Order to relieve us from the Approching Danger which seems to threaten this part of the World as far as is in your Power Consistent with the Line of your Duty which I am in hopes you will not deny I am certain you are Sensible that should this County give Way the Illenios will Fall of Corse which will ennable our Enemy the Britains to Call all the Indians to the Westward into their Service which would I am persueaded be of very bad consequence to the United States in General Pray pardon the freedom I have taken as I assure you It is from no other motive but the Publick good” (DLC:GW).

Brodhead also enclosed copies of three letters sent him from Moravian missionary David Zeisberger. The letter dated 1 June at Schonbrunn in the Ohio country reads in part: “Of Major Lanctots affair and what sucksess he had at Coochocking I can mention nothing as I only had a little Intelligence from here say, but I believe Mr Heckewelder who undoubtedly knows more of it has wrote to you—Your Last message to the Chiefs at Coochocking I hear has given them much uneasiness & they are comeing to speak with you concerning that matter—A muncy Indian who was in the Company you had a Skirmish with at or near Conawaw last year came here some days ago from Niagara, he says he tells no Lie that all the Mingoe & muncy towns were destroyed & not one Left—That those Munceys are on their way to come this way again & would be here this Summer, that at Niagra three hundred Indians Men, Women & Children Dyed of a distemper Last year & at Conawaw Eighty by the small Pox. Cayashooto [Kiashuta] with a party of Mingoes is gone to the Wyandotts so as we hear to treat of good Matters We are and have been very quiet all this Spring but it seems by your last message the Councill of Coochocking as if the road betwen here and the Fort would be unsafe to Travel, if it should be so you will be pleased to Let me hear more of it, for our people will be most in danger because we are on the Frontiers & if our Indians go out hunting they might easily meet with some of your parties” (DLC:GW).

Zeisberger’s letter to Brodhead dated 7 June reads: “I wrote to you some days ago when Major Lanctot came here from Cooshocking on his return to the Fort, but was afterwards detained by Capt. Killbuck and the Councillors who turned back again from this place to Cooshocking.

“By these two Mesengers you will receive all the News from Mr Heckewelder in Writing which Capt. Killbuck brought to him from Cooshocking, but Major Lanctot will not give Credit to it, that Three Hundred English are marched, but perhaps only some few along with the Shawneese—He is very much for going with these Messengers, to the Fort but Capt. Killbuck sent Word to him to wait yet four days when he and others would go with him in a few days hence—He has sent Messages to the Wyandats and Shawneese but the latter was gone to War before his Message arrived there, and they are waiting yet for an Answer from the Wyandats” (DLC:GW).

Zeisberger’s letter to Brodhead dated 12 June reads: “This is the third time I write to you sin[c]e the French Officer is here in our Town waiting for the Chiefs to go with him to the Fort—He has sent speeches to the Wyandats, and Shawnesse, but it seems they are not Attentive, for they are already at War—He sees very well there is nothing to be done now, Fifty English and Fifty French, with some Hundreds of Indians are Marched to Kentucke, but most part of the French are Deserted. they have with them some Canon, At Detroit there Cayashootoe with a party of Mingoes is gone, and where a great Council is to be held, undoubtedly a new Indian War is preparing for—for that is I think, not the place to treat for peace—We have no peace to expect so long as that place remaineth in that Situation, by the Gentleman who was a prisoner among the Wyandats, you will a good deal of Inteligence, concerning that place, Sixteen Wyandats, in one, and Six Delawares from thence in another Company, are gone by Tuscarawas towards Pittsburgh to War, it is likely we shall have troublesome times this Summer” (DLC:GW).

2. Brodhead may be referring to his earlier speeches to Indian tribes. For reference to these speeches, see his letter to GW of 22 Nov. 1779. More recently, Brodhead had informed the Delaware council at Coshocton that he planned an expedition against the Shawnee towns in the Ohio country (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., 12:228–29; see also Brodhead to GW, 30 May 1780).

3. Brodhead is referring to Fort Henry, Va., and Fort McIntosh, Pa., on the Ohio River, and Fort Crawford, Pa., and Fort Armstrong, Pa., on the Allegheny River.

4. For the march of this artillery company, see Brodhead to GW, 13 May.

5. GW had not written Brodhead since 14 March.