In early November 1777, Brown submitted another account to his superiors:

Your Excellency:

Since you may not yet have received this information, I feel that I should report the first rebel victory of the Insurrection. I have just been informed by courier that a greatly superior rebel Force of 17,000 under Horatio Gates surrounded General Burgoyne with less than half as many men at Saratoga, in New York, and more than 5,000 of our troops were captured. Prior to this, British forces had taken Fort Ticonderoga and were moving Southward with ease. Although we can easily overcome this temporary military Setback, news of it might be interpreted in Paris as Encouragement to the French in giving Support to the rebels. As we all know, they still resent having lost Canada almost fifteen Years ago, and have been looking for some excuse to give Assistance to the rebellion in order to strike back at us.

There is also a believable Report that General Sir William Howe is planning to take Philadelphia, either moving his Forces by land or sea. An adequate fleet of more than 200 vessels has been assembled near New York to Transport either troops or supplies when the time comes.

Respectfully submitted by the Governor’s agent

Almost three months later, there was another submission:

Your Excellency:

This is a brief and general Report, much more Encouraging than my last. With our taking of Philadelphia, the Continental Congress was forced to flee to York, Pennsylvania. The British are spending the Winter in comfort, well supplied in Philadelphia, while the often-defeated Rebels huddle in misery somewhere further west. They have no funds to pay the troops, no clothing to be issued, and a great sense of Malaise prevails among them. There has been a ridiculous effort by them to exaggerate minor Skirmishes at Trenton and Princeton in New Jersey, which is understandable since these are the only Victories that their so-called commander-in-chief can claim.

Respectfully submitted by the Governor’s agent

Thomas Brown was aware of major changes being contemplated in British strategy, and he and Sergeant Baker discussed the relationships among the British leaders in Florida. As was the case in Savannah, divisions and confusion had evolved among them, and Thomas Brown and the Florida Rangers were the focus of the disputes. Because of jealousy and their relative inactivity, most regular British officers and men despised Brown and the Florida Rangers. Despite this, Brown had the full support of Major Furlong, his original sponsor, and of Florida Governor Tonyn because they could take credit for his successes and utilize the intelligence information derived from his British and Indian scouts.