Brown’s face flushed with pleasure and excitement, and he eagerly accepted the assignment. “I will never disappoint you, sir. During the last year I have acquired some experience in gathering information and relaying it to Governor Campbell. I will carry out this duty to your satisfaction, will demonstrate my complete loyalty to His Majesty, and devote myself to ensuring that the traitors and criminals are identified and brought to justice. To speak with complete frankness, however, I must state again that I know little about how to prevail in combat, either in an open military confrontation or in the wilderness. With your permission, I would like to learn as much as possible.” And then he added, “Always subject to serving well in my primary duties, of course.”

With a smile, Furlong added, “What you learn about military matters will be up to you. First, your wounds must heal and during this time I want you to learn as much as possible about the political and military circumstances that affect our duty. Later, I will assign one of my most competent sergeants to accompany you, and he can recommend, perhaps, one or two Indians as well. You must remember that the loyalty of the redskins is to whomever they consider to be best for them at the time, but you can depend upon their personal courage and knowledge of the wilderness.”

Ten days later, as Brown was studying documents and maps in Furlong’s office, the major came in and said, “I have some information that might be of concern to you. The brig Hinchinbrook is coming to St. Augustine within a day or two, and Lord William Campbell will be on board. Under threat of being arrested by the radical Whig faction in Charles Town, he traveled to Savannah and boarded the ship.”

Brown was surprised, and also disappointed, but he had an immediate hope that having a respected former advisor nearby might be helpful to him personally. He asked, “Sir, if I may ask, how will another governor fit into the situation here?”

Furlong thought for a few moments and then replied, “It will depend on whether Lord William stays here or is soon to be returning to London for another assignment. Of all the leaders I know in this region, he has the most influence with General Clinton. I have heard that he is a special friend of Governor Tonyn, but has had some differences with Colonel Prevost in the past. It may be just that the colonel is Swiss, or that so many of the Prevost family have been given positions within this military command. As you may already have learned, he has two brothers, a son, and several cousins serving under him.”