George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Robert Hanson Harrison, 21 October 1781

Annapolis Octr 21. 1781

Be pleased to accept my sincere congratulations My Dear Sir, upon the surrender of Lord Cornwallis—They are the Offerings of a Heart very warmly attached to Your Excellency, & most zealously so to the interest & happiness of the States. This Event, for the wisdom & vigor of the measures leading to it, it is the Voice of all here, is as honourable to You & the Allied Army as it is advancive of, & interesting to the Common Cause. It cannot but have, with the other Important Occurrences of the Campaign, a most powerful operation in the British Councils; and I ardently hope it will give Your Excellency & Your Country, before it is long, Peace, Liberty & Independence. It must also, if they are not destitute of gratitude & a sense of favors, attach the affection of the States inviolably to the French Nation.

I flatter Myself that circumstances will permit me the pleasure of seeing You in the course of the Fall or Winter. I hoped for it when you were on your way to Virginia & made, after I heard You were coming, the only effort then in my power to do it. I have had but a Minute or two allowed me to write, & as the Express is waiting I have only to request that You will do me the favor to present me to the Gentlemen of the family & to be assured that I remain with sentiments of great respect & regard Yr Excellency’s Most Obedt & Afft. Hbl. Servant

Rob: H: Harrison

The Account of the surrender was received by Govr Lee in a short line of the 18th from Count deGrasse by the Return of Express Boat—he had sent with dispatches.

DLC: Papers of George Washington.

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