Proper British Spies — Henry DeBerniere and John Brown

---

In March 1775, Ensign Henry DeBerniere of His Majesty’s 10th Regiment of Foot disguised himself as a land surveyor and headed out of Boston in search of the arms cache of the local militia.  He and Captain John Brown of the 52nd Foot, had been ordered on this mission by Lt. Gen. Thomas Gage, commander in chief of British forces, observe militia companies across the region that had been vigorously drilling and hiding military stores around the countryside.

Determined to prevent a war, Gage sought to disarm the potential rebels by seizing colonial arsenals.  He had already carried out two raids with no loss of life but mixed results in finding the military stores. The success of future raids seemed to depend on more accurate intelligence on his objectives.  He sent DeBerniere and Brown to collect this information. 

When the pair arrived Concord, they noticed a number of armed guards posted throughout the town. Unfamiliar with the town, they asked a woman for directions to the house of Daniel Bliss, Concord’s leading lawyer and a firm Loyalist. Bliss welcomed the officers and shared with them what he knew about the town’s hidden military stores. On their return the officers strongly recommended to General Gage that the Lexington Road was the best approach to Concord. In consequence, that was the route assigned to Colonel Francis Smith when he led his column toward Concord on April 19, 1775.

Want to have the
Regimental Brewmeister
at your site or event?

You can hire me.

https://colonialbrewer.com/yes-you-can-hire-me-for-your-event-or-site/