1. See Brodhead to GW, 25 February.

2. These enclosures have not been identified. GW had requested the names and ranks of officers eligible for retirement on half pay (see GW to Brodhead, 10 Jan.).

3. The enclosed letter from Moravian missionary John Heckewelder to Brodhead, dated at Salem in the Ohio country on 26 Feb., reads: “In Killbucks letter you will find the true state of the People of Coochockung I could never learn what they were properly about, for they kept’d their Matters very secret, now it is almost publickly known, that they are about no good business and have been very busy in trying to deceive you this long time They have (as I am informe’d) also told lies of Us brethren. I must wonder at their Stupidity, but let me see, I think Killbuck acquaints you of nearly the same matter they accused Us As a chief Arrrant they themselves are on, therefore I apprehend they will find themselves in the trap at last.

“I indeed believe, that the greatest part will be upon You in a few days, they have already been stop’d once or twice, but I daily hear they will go soon, they have range’d themselves into three partys & if I am right one party is gone of[f] already, but I hope they will recieve what they deserve.

“As I understand the Councellors are to be here in a day or two to have some letters read—brought by Saml Evans. I am Determined to Unmask’d their faces & declare to them, never to write a single Syllable for them any more.

“Since my last letter to you, I found it was an impossibility for Killbuck to lay hold of Bawbee in this part of the Country, for had he offered to have touche’d him, he probably would have lost his life. Killbuck & Monture are those whom bawbee threatens to kill—on account of his being imprisone’d. almost every body that comes from Coochockung says that he Utters the most horid threats against these two Persons, & it is apprehende’d that if he cannot find an Opportunity to Commit his design on the former some of his Friends will have to pay for ⟨it⟩.

“The Councel of Coochocking have also been very busy, as it appears, to blacken the Character of Killbuck, this proceeds from different reasons, of which I believe one to be, that Killbuck is a Frie⟨nd⟩ to the states, which they themselves are not, as it realy now appears by their own Actions, Jno. Mon⟨ture⟩ has been no further, than this place where he has had an opportunity of hearing what is passing he will be able to give you a full account of what is mentioned in Killbucks letter and more besides I cannot think otherwise of either of these two, than that they are true to the States. …

“Should it be concluded on that a body of Men Shall March to Coochockung to punish those wicked People, I trust that your honor will do all that lies in your power to prevent mislesting [molesting] any body belonging to our Towns, and you may depend Sir, that in case any of your Men should have occasion to come by any of our Towns, that they would meet with much kindness from our People. … P.S. my best Compliments to all Officers & Friends” (DLC:GW). For Henry Baubee’s imprisonment at Fort Pitt, see Brodhead to GW, 18 Feb.; see also Brodhead to GW, 7 Dec. 1780, postscript and n.10.

The salutation “listen to me” begins the enclosed letter from John Killbuck to Brodhead, dated at Salem on 26 Feb. 1781: “I have received yours of the 4th Inst. by which I see that some misunderstanding has arose between us which partly derived from a speech brought me in your name, which I now find to be a speech from Captn Thompson.

“Brother, I am not willing that our friendship should be broke or disturbed in the least nor do I think that if Friendship is settled on a good foundation, it will be easily overthrown, therefore have patience a few days longer & I will be with you when we will settle these matters again.

“Now Brother, I have some other matters to acquaint you of, which I think needs your attention more than the abovementioned. You know I told you when I came away, that I should go no farther than the Brethren Towns. I have been here all this time. The Council of Coochocking have entirely stopped my ears so that I know nothing—But Brother a Bird has whispered something in my ear, & this I will acquaint you of viz. Some days ago a Mingoe came to Coochocking & recd a speech from the Council there, which made him go home laughing The Speech was to this purpose. Viz. I am your Friend & on this side, & only wait to see what you are about And then shall join you. There is none of us here who thinks of being Friends to the Virginians. There is one man who is a friend to them namely Cayleylemont [Killbuck].

“Further Tawtpawkski & Mawquot are gone with a speech to the Wyandotts to make up that matter which happened last Spring, Namely when one of their men went with several of yours & took two of their women at Sandusky prisonore. Again every body there now knows that the Coochocking Indians are getting ready to go & fight you & a party of Five are gone off already, the Course they took was towards Wheeling. Three of these warriors are William Penns near relations & one a Friend to White Eyes Cousin, & the Captn of the party is Jno. Lewis’s Brother. Again a party of Five of which Mouse-knife was Captn are come from war & have brought with them the scalps of one old man & one Child. Again I heard some days ago that a pretty large party of Wyandotts was gone of[f] towards Fort Pitt.

“Again I hear three parties of Wingemunds men are gone to war, likewise other small parties from the Shawnese towns But all warriors are ordered in, in a very short time, for immediately at the Change of this Moon (That is the appearance of the next moon) all warriors are to be in one Body with all the English that are at Detroit. These are first to destroy all the Delawares that are Friends to the States & then to proceed to Beaver Creek & Fort Pitt. The latter account I communicate to you as I heard it, the former account you may depend on to be true.

“Now Brother, This letter I send you by Montour as soon as I see those men here from Coochocking which I have sent for I will set off for Pittsburgh with them” (DLC:GW).

4. For commissary William Wilson’s promise to furnish the Fort Pitt garrison with 100 cattle, see Brodhead to GW, 23 Jan.; see also Brodhead to GW, 18 February.

5. See GW to Samuel Huntington, 14 April.

6. For the instructions to deliver ordnance, ammunition, and equipment to support Virginia brigadier general George Rogers Clark’s prospective expedition against Detroit, see GW to Brodhead, 29 Dec. 1780; see also GW to Brodhead, 28 February.

7. Former Continental army officer Augustin Mottin de La Balme, evidently acting with French minister La Luzerne’s authorization, had raised a small force of French-Canadians to lead against the garrison at Detroit. Miami Indians defeated the force and killed La Balme in November 1780 (see Kellogg, Frontier Retreat description begins Louise Phelps Kellogg, ed. Frontier Retreat on the Upper Ohio, 1779–1781. Madison, Wis., 1917. description ends , 200).