"My bravery however was the effect of assurance for could I have believed the current report, I should have fled as fast as any man, no man can possibly have a greater reluctance to an intimacy with Sir William Howe than my Self"

Henry Laurens is expressing his bravery in the face of a prospective battle with Sir William Howe. He is saying that his bravery is not due to a lack of worry, however rather a sense of assurance that the reports of Howe's technique were incorrect. He is making it clear that he has a great unwillingness to fight Howe, which if he had actually believed the reports, he would have left as rapidly as anyone else. This quote shows Laurens' courage and his dedication to his cause, in spite of his worry of Howe. It also shows his determination to put his own safety aside in order to fight for what he thinks in. Laurens' bravery is admirable, and his words function as an example of courage in the face of fear.