Although Brown had heard that Cornwallis did not look with favor on him as an irregular officer, he was taken aback by this direct and personal accusation in the presence of so many witnesses. For a few moments, his self-confidence was replaced by the same sense of inadequacy and uncertainty with which he had first left this same city and embarked in disgrace for what was to be a new career in St. Augustine.

At first in a fumbling way and then with increasing confidence and fervor, Brown described the organizational structure and more notable accomplishments of the Florida Rangers. He was careful to be brief, to minimize his own role, to refer often to General Prevost, and to mention the wide intelligence network that extended southward throughout Florida, westward to the Mississippi, and north to the Great Lakes. He mentioned as one example, almost in passing, his providing the detailed plans of the French and Continental forces, which frustrated their attack on Savannah.

He could tell that his words had a strong effect on his listeners, and there was no response when he paused for a moment. Brown decided to continue: “All my men are volunteers, having left their families and always having served without pay. Many of them have had their homes burned, their wives abused, and their property stolen by rebel criminals, sir, and I have to admit that it is difficult to control them in their desire for retribution. Another serious problem that I have to face is that even the slightest skirmish among the frontier settlements is deliberately and greatly exaggerated by the disloyal Whigs, who always want to discredit the king’s men and hope to convince the Continental commanders to concentrate more attention here in the south.”

This report was fairly accurate in its general terms, but Brown didn’t hesitate to add a deliberate lie, which he rationalized as being necessary under the circumstances and because he believed strongly that his own policies in the backcountry battleground were a correction of the ill-advised directives of Parliament.

“The Rangers have strict instructions to comply fully with your orders in refraining from abuse of any settler family that renounces the rebellion and demonstrates loyalty to the king. We consider it very important to convince the doubtful ones of the lawful nature of British citizenship and the inevitability of our victory. Our policy is that only men who reject this opportunity may be punished in any way. I have prepared a complete listing of every family in the northern region of Georgia and a substantial number in Carolina, and my own personal assessment of their loyalty, which I will leave with subordinates for possible examination by Your Lordship. Furthermore, sir, we do not permit any Creek or Cherokee to participate in battle, but restrict their services to the delivery of messages, the collection of information, and efforts to prevent Indian support for the rebels.”