Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison, [27 October 1780]

From Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison

[Philadelphia, October 27, 1780]

My Dear Hamilton we are only leaving Philadelphia.1 The most flattering attentions have been paid to Meade & myself and such as would not permit us to progress before, unless we had shown ourselves entirely disregardless of the great world. Besides mot⟨ives⟩ of a public nature concurred to make us stay thus long. From all I have seen and heard there is a good dispostion ⟨in⟩ Congress to do all they can for the Army and the public interest; and there are many very sensible men among ⟨them.⟩ In general they are most warmly attached to the General ⟨and⟩ his Recommendations will have their weight while ⟨the⟩ same spirit prevails. It is said there has been infinitely more harmony among ’em for some time past than has appeared since the first years of ⟨their⟩ appointment. I am not however without some apprehension that if they proceed in the case of ⟨General⟩ Lee2 &c. the Monster ⟨party⟩3 may show itself again & we may have a second edition of the measures adopted in the instance of Dean.4 Our Friend⟨s⟩ Sullivan5 & General Cornell6 have been of great service, and Gent[lemen] who are or pretend to be in the secrets of ⟨the⟩ Cabinet, say they have contributed immensely, by an independent conduct to destroy the Eastern allian⟨ce.⟩ Bland7 is very clever & without question wishes to push on in the true & right road. Grayson8 says this is the best Congress we have had since the first ⟨&⟩ our Dear Laurens9 respects many of the Members. General Greene’s appointment I believe is entirely consonant to the wishes of Congress in general; ⟨though we⟩ have heard that there were Members much dispo⟨sed⟩ against if facts had not been so obstinate, to excuse Gen⟨eral⟩ Gates. The former is here & I suppose will set out ⟨in⟩ a day or two. Meade & I will serve him all we can. We have done what we could already. Ap⟨ropos,⟩ you delivered him my letter. Our Finances ⟨are⟩ almost entirely deranged and there is little or no money in ⟨the⟩ treasury. I believe they are a subject of much consid⟨eration⟩ & puzzlement. The supplies of the Army are also mat⟨ters⟩ of present attention; but I don’t know what will be done. I hope we shall by Christmas have some Cloathing from the W Indies, if the moth have not destroyed it. A quantity it is said has been lying there. It is much to be wished that Genl Greene were at the Southw⟨ard.⟩ The Delegates from that Quarter think the situation of Cornwallis delicate and that by management and a proper application & use of the force there; the late check given Ferguson10 might be improved into the Earl’s total defeat. This I fear is too much even to hope. The sending the Baron is considered, as far as I have heard, perfectly right, and Lee’s Corps gives great satisfaction. I am just about to mount my Horse and therefore shall say but little more. I inclose you your Commission.11 There must be something done with ⟨res⟩pect to our worthy Tilghman12 now or on a future ⟨o⟩ccasion. It would have been well if it had taken place before. Perhaps it had better be postponed for the moment on account of the reduction. Laurens will ⟨wr⟩ite you, in a few days I suppose, and will com⟨mu⟩nicate any new occurrences. My Love to the ⟨rest⟩ of the family. The same to your Lady. May ⟨you⟩ be long happy. My most respectful Compliments to ⟨the⟩ General

Adieu Yrs.   Most truly & affecty

Rob H. Harrison

The Board have absolutely been too poor to procure parchment for the many promotions that have been required.

ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1Lieutenant Colonel Richard Kidder Meade was going to Virginia to be married, and Harrison was going to Virginia for a short visit.

2On October 3 and 8, 1780, Charles Lee wrote to Congress asking that he be reimbursed for the losses he sustained in the service of the United States and complaining of “illiberal insinuations” concerning his conduct (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937). description ends , XVIII, 1190).

3This is a reference to the faction in the Congress led by the delegates from Massachusetts and Virginia. Until his resignation in 1779, Richard Henry Lee was probably the most outspoken representative of this faction.

4Largely at the instigation of the Massachusetts-Virginia faction, Silas Deane in 1778 had been recalled and discredited by Congress.

5John Sullivan who entered Congress as a delegate from New Hampshire in 1780.

6Lieutenant Ezekiel Cornell, delegate to the Continental Congress from Rhode Island.

7Theodorick Bland, delegate to the Continental Congress from Virginia.

8William Grayson of Virginia, a commissioner of the Board of War.

9John Laurens.

10Colonel Patrick Ferguson who was in command of the Loyalist forces defeated at Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780.

11On February 21, 1780 Congress resolved: “That all aids de camp now in service, who were appointed before the 27th of May, 1778, and are not admissible into any state line, receive commissions agreeably to the rank they are entitled to, under the resolution of June 5th, 1776; the commissions to bear the dates of their appointments” (JCC description begins Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (Washington, 1904–1937). description ends , XVI, 182). H’s commission has not been found.

12Lieutenant Colonel Tench Tilghman.

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