I this day received your favors of the 20th and 21st of May by Capt. Randolph and am sorry to find that your intended expedition against Detroit stands upon so precarious a footing—When Govr Jefferson first proposed the plan to me he only asked for the Artillery and Stores and an Artillery Officer,1 but as I wished to give every support in my power to the undertaking which I deemed of great public import, I ordered Colo. Brodhead to detach Capt. Craig with his whole Company of Artillery and as many Men from the 8th Penna and 9th Virginia Regts as he could safely spare2—That command I did not imagine could amount to more than a Captain’s or Major’s at most—Your present request of augmenting the number of Continental troops to the whole of the 9th Regt and Heaths independant Company is what I cannot think myself at liberty to comply with, as it would be leaving the post of Pittsburg in too defenceless a state to resist any attempt of an open enemy, to say nothing of the disaffected in the Vicinity, who, from intelligence which comes from the same quarter as that which I communicated to you, are numerous and ready to join the enemy whenever an opportunity offers.3

You have not advised me of the number of Militia on which you can depend if the expedition goes forward, neither can Captn Randolph give me any certain information on the subject. This, were there no other reason, would make me very unwilling to give an order for the number of Continental troops now requested, as I could not answer it to myself nor to my Country should the expedition fail and it should hereafter be found that it was owing to its having bein undertaken with fewer Men than such an object required. I feel not only for the public disappointment, but for your own, as I doubt not but you had the Affair much at heart—and that you would have executed it with your usual ability and address had you been able to have found the means.4 I am Sir Yr most obt and humble Servt.