1896-97-] BRANT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLITION. 247 



informed by Claus, who was in London at the time, that " he made him- 

 self acquainted with gentlemen on both sides of the question, soon find- 

 ing out there was an opinion in favour of the Americans in England, 

 and his penetrating genius soon saw into the motives of that opposition, 

 and plainly discovering that there was no reason of such complaint he 

 was told of in America, and al4 they and the Americans aimed at was to 

 be sole masters of America, an event so destructive of the liberty of the 

 Inds and their country, and being convinced of the anxiety the Ameri- 

 cans for some years showed to dispossess the Inds of the country, had 

 not the Crown interfered. * * * Several gentlemen, of distinction 

 and fortune, took notice of him and used him very kindly, and although 

 some of them were friends of the Americans and argued in their favour, 

 he listened to their arguments with calmness and answered with 

 discretion." 



At length, having received a promise from Lord George Germain that 

 the grievances of their people would be redressed, for which they 

 thanked him with due solemnity, and assured him of their attachment, 

 Brant and his companion sailed with Colonel Johnson from Falmouth 

 for New York in the packet Harriet, early in June, 1776. During the 

 last three weeks of their voyage (which continued nearly two months), 

 the\' were repeatedl}' chased by American privateers and forced out of 

 their course. When near the Bermudas they were overhauled by one 

 of these vessels mounting fourteen six pounders, besides several swivels, 

 and showing a great number of men. The Harriet carried only twelve 

 three pounders and was ver}' weakly manned. Colonel Johnson and his 

 officers armed themselves and joined the crew at their quarters. The 

 two Indians having new brass rifles, presented to them by Lord Towns- 

 hend, distinguished themselves by picking off several persons on board 

 their assailant, whom they supposed, by their dress and actions, to be 

 officers, and after a very hot and close engagement, lasting nearly two 

 hours, the privateer sheered off and sailed away leaving the packet much 

 damaged in masts and rigging, but having only the surgeon of the 

 Indian department and five others wounded. Owing to this, and other 

 disasters, it was not until the 29th of July that they entered the port of 

 New York. 



They arrived at a stirring and critical time. On the 2nd of August, 

 Sir William Howe's army landed at the Narrows, nine miles from the 

 city. On the 27th the battle of Long Island was fought, in which Brant 

 took part as a volunteer. By his bravery and skill as a marksman he 

 not only attracted the notice of P2arl Percy, who commanded the main 

 bod}' of the British army, but of General Howe himself On this 

 6 



