Even Lord Cornwallis was favorably impressed, especially by Brown’s fervent commitment to the loyalist cause and his seeming acquiescence to some of the general’s most hotly debated decisions about humane treatment of Whig families. All of his subordinates in the room knew that the general had been convinced that Brown was a loose cannon who excessively persecuted settlers and had recruited Indians, prisoners, and other reprobates to serve in the Rangers, and that a few weeks earlier he had planned to have Brown stripped of his military command and replaced in Augusta.

There was another period of silence, and Brown made his final point.

“Your Excellency, it is well known that the superb British forces have had notable success throughout the Carolinas, but there are still a few irritants remaining on the scene in north Georgia and in the Watauga Valley. I realize that Colonel Tarleton and Major Ferguson have primary responsibility to chase them down, but I feel that my Rangers, especially the Indian scouts, can be of assistance in providing information about the whereabouts of the cowardly rebel commanders. Almost all the settler families are living peacefully on their farms and are restrained by their parole oaths or natural loyalty to the crown, but Elijah Clarke and a few other outlaws are hiding in the woods and swamps now. Many of these men are violating their paroles, and my men are hunting them relentlessly. Your Lordship, I pray that you will not decide to disassemble what I humbly consider one of the finest sources of military intelligence ever devised. I shall, of course, accede to your directives.”

Cornwallis was convinced. He rose from his chair, walked around the large table in front of him, nodded in a friendly fashion to the Ranger commander, and said, “Colonel, let me thank you for this helpful report. I feel confident that the few remaining rebels will soon join our forces as we move northward to end this abominable revolution against the crown.”

Brown made a proper exit from the headquarters, smiled and nodded at the waiting Baker, and the two men were soon on the trail back to Augusta. They were accompanied, always at some distance, by two white and two Indian scouts. Baker didn’t break the silence, but waited respectfully for the colonel to describe the encounter. He did so in glowing terms.

“Lord Cornwallis treated me with great respect, and none of his top staff ever dared to speak while I was in the room from which he commands his forces. It was clear that he wanted to hear our report, and was very complimentary about the role our Rangers played in the Savannah victory. He was especially pleased to hear of our determination to root out the few remaining rebels in the vicinity of Augusta.”