Reducd to the necessity of taking Every step to carry my point the Ensuing campa[i]gn I hope your Excellency will Excuse me in taking the liberty of troubling you with this Request, The Invasion in Virga put it out of the power of the governor to furnish me with the number of men proposd for the Enterprise to the west1 but informd me he had obtain’d leave of the Baron Stuben and agreeable to your letters for Colo: John Gibson and Regiment together with Hieths company to Join my forces, An addition he suposd of more worth than the malitia we were disapointed of,2 On consulting Colo. Broadhead he could not Conceive that he was at liberty to Suffer them to go as your Instructions was pointed Respecting the troops & Stores to be furnishd by him,3 From your Excellencies letters to Colo. Broadhead I conceivd him to be at liberty to furnish what men he pleasd, Convinc’d he did not think as I do or otherways he would have had no objections, as he apeard to wish to give the Enterprise every aid in his power—The hopes of obtaining a grant of those troops has Enducd me to address your Excellency myself as it is too late to consult Governor Jefferson farther on the Subject, Wishing to Set out on the Expidition Early in June as our Stores of provisions are nearly compleat, If our force should be Equal to the task proposd I cant Conceive that this post with a very Small garrisson Even of malitia will be in any danger as it is attach’d to a popular country and during our time in the Enemies McEntosh and weelin will be useless or might also be garrissond by Small parties of malitia,4 Those I know to be your Excellencies Ideas, If you should aprove of the troops in this department Joining our forces tho they are few the acquisition may be attended with great & good consequences as two Hundred only might turn the Scale in our favour, The advantages that must derive to the State from our proving Successfull is of Such Importence that I think deservd a greater preparation to Ensure it, But I have not yet lost Sight of Dutroit, nothing Seem to threaten us but the want of men, But Even Should we be able to cut our way thro’ the Indians and find they have Receivd no Reenforcements at Dutroit we may probably have the assurance to attack it though our force may be much less than proposd which was two thousand as defeating the Indians with inconsiderable loss on our Side would almost Ensure us Success, Should this be the case a valuable piece with them will probably Ensue, But on the contrary should we fall through in our present plans and no Expedition takes place it is to be feard that the consequences will be fatal to the whole frontiers as Every Exertion will be made by the brittish party to Harrass them as much as possible and disable them from giving any Succours to our Eastern or Southern forces, The Indian war is now more general than Ever, any attempts to appease them Except by the Sword will be fruitless, Capt. Randolph waits on your Excellency for an answer to this letter which I flatter myself you will honour me with Immediatly, Colo. Gibson who Commands in the absence of Colo. Broadhead will keep the troops ready to move at an hours warning conducting myself as though this Request was granted—Impatiently waiting for the happy order.5

It is with gratitude I thank your Excellency for the honour you have done me in your Several letters; The greatest Earthly happiness I could possibly Enjoy would be to conduct myself with Such propriety as to be Entitled to your Esteem I have the Honr to be Your Excellences most Devoted & Humbl. servt