Thomas Brown was proud of what his Rangers had been able to accomplish, especially since he could now use his influence as Indian superintendent to expand the participation of native tribes. During recent months he had been able to send eight hundred Creeks to help defend Pensacola against the Spaniards and at the same time help coordinate the activities of northern and southern Indians through his communications link with the British at Fort Detroit on the Great Lakes. On one occasion, his men had intercepted a message from Virginia’s Governor Patrick Henry to the Spaniards in the Gulf of Mexico that led to a notable victory for the British fleet. Meanwhile, in Florida and Georgia, Brown was now the undisputed leader of Tory militiamen, including commanders James and Daniel McGirth and James Grierson. They all understood the importance of Clinton’s move against Charles Town, but Brown’s top personal goal was still the taking of Augusta. Lincoln’s most recent decision to strengthen this post with troops under Colonel Andrew Williamson was proof enough that the rebels also recognized its importance.

In March, Colonel Brown was surprised and intrigued to receive a sealed message from Williamson in Augusta, asking for a private meeting. It was hastily arranged, and the two men met secretly, and alone, a mile north of the tavern at New Goettingen, a hundred yards from the main trail on a bluff overlooking the Savannah River. There, Williamson expressed his belief that the British would soon control all of Georgia and the Carolinas and said he wanted to see them join Florida as part of Great Britain even if the northern states should become independent.

Brown was astonished, but he nodded and murmured that such a victory in the south would lead inevitably to control of all the colonies, though he shared Williamson’s hope that, under the most adverse of circumstances, England and the deep south would be united.

Williamson shuffled his feet, looked at Brown, and finally stated that he had always had a natural loyalty to the crown and suggested that he might deliver Augusta to the British under the proper circumstances.

Attempting to conceal his excitement, Brown asked, “What do you consider to be the proper circumstances?”

“I would like to be in a position to serve the king,” he said, then added after some hesitation, “but not in a subordinate position.”

“Sir, what is your present rank in the militia?”

“I am a colonel.”

Brown looked the man in the eye and then replied, “Let me see what can be done.”