1. See Virginia Delegates to Harrison, 29 October 1782, and n. 3.

2. Ibid., and nn. 5 and 6. In Harrison’s view, “fraud and deceit” characterized the ambivalent policy of the enemy. On the one hand, British representatives in both Paris and New York City were professing a desire to end the war or at least to continue the de facto truce on the American mainland. On the other hand, General Sir Guy Carleton, notwithstanding the pacific temper of his dispatches to Washington, was reinforcing the British forces in Canada, countermanding his earlier orders to evacuate Charleston, and probably intending to strengthen General Alexander Leslie’s command in and near that city sufficiently to menace the safety of “our worthy general” Nathanael Greene. If the enemy should invade northern New York, as in 1777, Washington would be unable to assist Greene.

3. Enclosure not found. For Captain William Leigh Pierce, Jr., his earlier effort to be promoted, the circumstances adverse to the success of his petition, and his attainment from Congress in September 1783 of the rank of major by brevet, see Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , IV, 167; 168, n. 2; 297; Virginia Delegates to Harrison, 26 November 1782, and n. 2.

Following Christian Holmer’s retirement from active service in January 1781 (Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , II, 274–75; 275, n. 4), the “Major in being” of the 1st Continental Regiment of Artillery, allocated to Virginia, had been William Brown (b. ca. 1747) of Cecil County, Md. A native of Ireland, he was first lieutenant of an independent artillery company in 1775 and its captain when on 30 May 1778 it was incorporated in the regiment mentioned. He served in the army until June 1783. The date of his death is unknown, but in 1830 his adopted daughter stated that she was his “Sole heiress” (Hall of Records Commission, Calendar of Maryland State Papers [Annapolis, 1943——], The Red Books, No. 4, Part I [1950], p. 155; No. 4, Part 2 [1953], pp. 49, 51; No. 4, Part 3 [1955], p. 96; ledger of Thomas Green, attorney, p. 45, MS in Virginia Historical Society; Fitzpatrick, Writings of Washington description begins John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington, from the Original Sources, 1745–1799 (39 vols.; Washington, 1931–44). description ends , XVIII, 278 and n.; Heitman, Historical Register Continental description begins F. B. Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution (Washington, 1914). description ends , p. 127).

4. Neither Greene’s nor Carrington’s letter has been found. If Thomas L. Savage made copies of them, they too are missing. For Carrington, see Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , IV, 61, n. 4.

5. Although unnoted in the printed journal, the Virginia delegates or one of them on 19 November submitted to Congress a copy of so much of Harrison’s letter as related to Pierce. Congress referred the matter to Secretary at War Benjamin Lincoln (NA: PCC, No. 185, III, 48). See also Lincoln to JM, 22 November; Virginia Delegates to Harrison, 26 November 1782.

6. In their letter to Harrison on 26 November (q.v.), the Virginia delegates apparently did not return either Greene’s or Carrington’s letter but did enclose copies of two ordinances of Congress relevant to Pierce’s plea for promotion. Both the delegates and Harrison seem to have concluded that the resolutions removed the subject from the purview of the General Assembly. Less convinced, Pierce himself revived the issue in June 1783 (Executive Letter Book, 1783–1786, pp. 185, 186, MS in Virginia State Library).

7. See Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 28 September. In a letter written two days earlier, David Ross had pointed out to Harrison that “under the present arrangement” Robert Morris, in his capacity as superintendent of finance, was to “Cloath the whole army” (Calendar of Virginia State Papers description begins William P. Palmer et al., eds., Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts (11 vols.; Richmond, 1875–93). description ends , III, 328). After attributing the slowness of recruiting in Virginia to a lack of clothing rather than of money for bounties, Harrison remarked to Washington in a letter of 23 November 1782: “the Secretary of War seems altogether to have forgotten the Southern Army” and “I hope you will enquire into this neglect and rectify it, if it is not done no Men will ever be obtain’d from this Country” (McIlwaine, Official Letters description begins H. R. McIlwaine, ed., Official Letters of the Governors of the State of Virginia (3 vols.; Richmond, 1926–29). description ends , III, 384). See also ibid., III, 350–51; and Randolph to JM, 30 August 1782, and n. 9.

8. See Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , IV, 382; JM to Randolph, 24 September 1782, n. 29.

9. By “the demands of Congress” Harrison meant the $1,481,594 requisitioned of Virginia for 1782, and still unpaid (Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , IV, 104, n. 1; 307, n. 9; JM to Randolph, 16–17 September 1782, n. 13). The government of Virginia lacked specie but owned large amounts of tobacco—although rarely of prime quality—which had been received in payment of taxes (Papers of Madison description begins William T. Hutchinson, William M. E. Rachal, et al., eds., The Papers of James Madison (5 vols. to date; Chicago, 1962——). description ends , IV, 153, n. 4; 377, n. 8). Probably at Robert Morris’ request, Congress had declined to accept commodities from states in satisfaction of their financial quotas (ibid., IV, 104, n. 1). See also McIlwaine, Official Letters description begins H. R. McIlwaine, ed., Official Letters of the Governors of the State of Virginia (3 vols.; Richmond, 1926–29). description ends , III, 353; and Randolph to JM, 7 September 1782.

10. For Morris’ reply to the Virginia Delegates, see their dispatch of 26 November 1782 to Harrison.

11. Enclosure not found. For prices paid in Virginia for tobacco, see Pendleton to JM, 12 August and n. 10; JM to Randolph, 20 August, n. 15.