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When Brown reported to the headquarters of Colonel Augustine Prevost, Major Howard Furlong met him and took the envelope into the colonel’s private office. Brown was deeply concerned about the possible contents of the message and waited impatiently until the major reappeared and led him down the hall to his own room. Brown hoped the man was well aware of the rumor that his father was the prime minister.

“Lord William has given us a brief report of your unfortunate experience in Augusta and has informed us of your limited military experience and your eagerness to be of service. The colonel doesn’t have time to meet with you, but I have set aside time to hear your own, more complete description of what happened.”

Brown recounted the events in Georgia, struggling to control his almost overwhelming feeling of anger. The major asked a number of questions, and Brown was impressed with his personal interest and obvious intelligence. Here was a man who seemed to have all the attributes of a competent field commander and was the first person who showed Brown the respect of discussing in any depth what had happened.

Furlong said, “You have to understand the need for you to leave Carolina, and to minimize public knowledge of what happened in Augusta. We don’t have enough military forces in either Savannah or Charles Town to move into the backcountry with any hope of success. Such an effort, as desirable and justified as it might be, would be unlikely to succeed. It is better not to reveal this weakness of our troops or the extent of the building rebellion. The top officials decided, I think rightly, that it is better to let this be treated as your personal problem, and not as an official incident that would require retribution. As unpleasant as it is, you must accept the responsibility for what happened, although I have to add that I do not hold you to blame for the confrontation. I hope that I would have acted similarly. The next decision to be made is what you shall do here in Florida.”

Brown restrained himself as he considered what Furlong had said and then, with an intensity that surprised and somewhat concerned his new superior, he replied, “Sir, I shall soon be adequately healed of my present injuries and ready for any assignment that you might give me. I have never commanded men and have little actual military training, but I am willing to do anything to correct these deficiencies. If you will give me the opportunity to learn how to be a soldier, on my own time, I will also perform other regular duties to the best of my ability.”

“Come back tomorrow at this time, and your assignment will be ready.”