Report on the Condition of the Dragons in fief to the Six Nations

Sent in August 1778, from the desk of Lieutenant Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs at Detroit, Henry Hamilton, to General Sir Henry Clinton, this intelligence report outlined the state of the dragons of the League of Six Nations, who were allies of the British forces.

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Publication Status

The report is completely clandestine as an intelligence report of an ally.

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Report on the Condition of the Dragons in fief to the Six Nations

Detroit 4 August 1778
Sir
I have received the honour of Your Excellency's letter dated the 7th and beg leave to acquaint you with the summary of information on the conditions of the dragons in service to the Indians of Six Nations, in consequence of your inquiry of the same. 
Upon receipt of your inquiry, I am informed that there are presently some 38 dragons in service to the Indians in this part of the country, with some 400 Indians serving with the dragons. 
Many of the dragons and their crews are based in and around the central villages of each nation, with a larger complement in the area surrounding the Onandaga village. All of the dragons are of Indian breeds native to this area of the country. 
The conditions of these dragons is princely with the Indians providing a larger portion of their provisions to their dragons. I scarcely think that they will be able to provide themselves with beef in this country. At any rate, the supplying Oswego with fresh beef will be too precarious to place dependence upon.
As to the specialties of these native dragons, I have not received accounts. I will prevail upon the Indians for this information and shall consult with the chiefs and if they find there is no issue, hope to prevail upon them to interbreed our lineages with theirs. 
It affords me great satisfaction to find Your Excellency is making every exertion to forward supplies and that you are determined to reinforce this area with dragons of the Corps. 
On His Majesties' Service Lt Gov H. Hamilton/
His Excellency General Clinton

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Type

Report, Intelligence

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

4 August 1778