1From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 21 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon my return to this place last night, I met your private & friendly letter of the 25th of February. I do not delay a moment to thank you for the interesting matter contained in it, and to express my surprize at that part which respects a pension for my Mother. True it is, I am but little acquainted with her present situation, or distresses, if she is under any. As true it is, a year or two...
2From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 27 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
On my return from New port, I found your favor of the 16th of February, with its inclosures, at Head Quarters. I exceedingly regret that I could not have the pleasure of seeing you, not only from personal motives, but because I could have entered upon the subject of your mission in a much more full and free manner, than is proper to be committed to paper. I very early saw the difficulties and...
3To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 4 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your favor by Mr Mathews come safe to hand and was immediately sent down to the Assembly, what they will do to complete their Quota of troops I cannot say, tho’ I am extremely unhappy least they should not be able to fall on effectual means of doing it, the deranged state of our finances and the total want of hard money is a bar to every salutary measure that can be thought of for the common...
4From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 10 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am under the disagreeable necessity of inclosing you the Copy of a representation signed by several Officers of the Virginia Line, in behalf of the whole assembled at Cumberland Court House, and addressed to Colonel Febiger, on giving them orders to prepare to march with a Detachment to join General St Clair—This was transmitted by Colonel Febiger to Genl St Clair, in excuse for not sending...
5From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 15 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Unacquainted as I am with the cause of my friend Nelson’s resignation, I shall say nothing respecting it—but as the event has taken place, permit me to congratulate you, and my Country on your late appointment to the Government; and to assure you that you have few friends who wish you more honor and satisfaction in managing the Reigns of it than I do—You have certainly embarked on a troubled...
6From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 6 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honoured with your Excellency’s Letter of the 4th of Janry by Colo. Carrington. The disagreable picture you give of the embarrassed situation of the finances and other public Matters in your State, is the more distressing to me; as I flatter’d myself the reduction of the Enemy’s force in Virginia would afford a favourable opportunity for reestablishing your affairs, and making...
7From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 28 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with Your Excellencys favor of the 8th of February, since the receipt of which, letters of a later date from Colo. Febiger and Lt Colo. Posey have come to hand. From their reports, (notwithstanding the imprudent steps which had been taken) I am glad to learn, the Officers who had signed the representation were convinced of, and sorry for, the impropriety and unguardedness...
8From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 10 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I sincerely sympathize with you in the arduos task imposed upon you as first Magistrate of the State of Virginia, in consequence of the present distressed and embarrassed situation of affairs; which you so pathetically describe in your Letter of the 15th of Feby. For it is well known from experience, that in times of War & public Calamity, whoever is engaged in the management of public affairs...
9To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 23 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
It gives me great pleasure to find that measures are taking to put the Continental Staff Departments in this State on a proper footing as they really are so distressed that very little Service can be expected from any of them and the State is at this time too poor to give them the least assistance—I am much obliged to you for the cloathing you propose sending on, and think they will be a means...
10From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 5 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
The subject of your Excellency ’s favor of the 23d of March was immediately referred to Major General Knox, who has direction to negociate that business, so as to obtain the Brass Artillery, belonging to the State of Virginia, as soon as possible. (It is probable His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau will soon put the french Troops in motion; ‘tho as yet, the Objects of the Campaign are not...
11To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 24 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of your favor of the 8th Instant which was immediately laid before the Assembly, who seem to have every disposition to serve the common cause, and I am happy to have it in my power to say that, that body, has not been composed of more respectable characters for many years. I perfectly coincede with you in opinion that, the present Ministry will not be more favorably inclined...
12To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 31 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
An affair has happen’d in this State in which I must beg your kind assistance. A Flag Brig. that came from South Carolina with American prisoners lay at Hampton with a Sloop belonging to Suffolk bound up the Bay. In the night after the Sloops arrival, she was carried off by five men, and there is every reason to suppose that they belong’d to the Brig., as Hart the Captain, acknowledged he had...
13From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 18 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s Favor of the 31st —of May—covering your Letter Addressed to Sir Guy Carleton. As your Letter, with the Depositions which accompany it, contain everything that is to be said on the Subject, it is needless for me to impress it with any Observations of mine. The Letter to Sir Guy is forwarded by a flag to N. York, and any Reply he may be pleased to commit to my...
14To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 23 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I should long since have acknowledged the rect of several of your favors, if any thing worthy of notice had occur’d, but that not being the case, and my situation being precisely the same as when I wrote last, I would not call your attention for a moment from your business to a letter which, at best could contain nothing more than a compliment. The Assembly has been long sitting, some things...
15From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 22 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Just before the receipt of your Favor by the post, I had written your Excellency by a private conveyance, which will in a great measure anticipates necessity of this. The removal of the french Garrisons from York River with their Stores will relieve your Militia from the Service they were particularly called on for by the Count de Rochambeau, & will effectually relieve you from the...
16From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 22 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Count de Rochambeau havg come to a Resolution to remove the Garrison of French troops with their Artillery & Stores from Virginia, I think it necessary to inform you of that Event, and to acquaint you that it will be no longer necessary for the Militia of your State to be keept up for their Security. It is also my Opinion, as well as of the Count, that upon removal of the Garrison &...
17To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 26 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
No appology was necessary my Dear Sir for opening my Letter, I rather wish you had done the same by the other as it was my intention you shou’d see General Carletons answer to the Letter enclosed to You. He has acted in every respect as I expected He would do, is useing every means to come at the Villains who carried off the Sloop, and will make satisfaction to the owners of Her and Her...
18To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 1 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I receiv’d your Excellencys favors of the 22d and 23d Ulto by post. General Lincoln had given orders for the destruction of all the works at York Town without even writing to me on the subject and they would most certainly have been demolish’d before your letter got to hand (leaving it with the State) if Colo. Lavalette had not been more complaisant than the General. I have desired that the...
19From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 12 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have this Day received your Excellencys Favor of the 26th of July—covering a Letter directed to Sir Guy Carleton, which has been immediately forwarded to him. From whatever principle it may be, Sir Guy appears to be disposed, in every Instance, to make himself perfectly agreeable to the people of America. A late Letter of his to me announces a "Negociation havg been opened at Paris, for the...
20To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 25 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
In June 1780 a party of British Troops and Nothern Indian made an incursion into Kentuckey and carried of between three and four Hundred people to detroit and its neighbourhood, where I am inform’d the Men are at present detain’d, and many of the poor Women separated from their Husbands and given to the Indians who use them as Slaves this piece of Cruelty calls for redress, and I know of no...
21From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 13 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 25 Ulto and have the pleasure to inform you that all the Prisoners taken and carried into Canada have been lately released upon what terms I do not know—about 170 mostly Women and Children may be expected here every moment by way of the Lakes about 400 more mostly Men are sent round to New York by Sea. I shall immediately write to General Muhlenberg...
22To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 23 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to be under the Necessity of troubling you again with a Letter to Sir Guy Carleton your goodness I am sure will excuse it as there is no other proper Way of transacting the Business, I leave the Letter open for your Information, and request the favor of you when it is entirely convenient to send a proper person to receive the Money. £262.16.0 is to be remitted to Mr Samuel Ingles of...
23From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 11 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellencys Letter of the 23 November inclosing one to Sir Guy Carleton which I have forwarded to New York and I have directed Colonel Smith our Commissary of Prisoners to receive any monies that may be sent out on that account. I am sorry to hear that the ragged state of your Soldiers in the line, should prevent your recruiting, it cannot be attributed to any partiallity...
24From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 25 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have now the honor to inclose your Excellency a Letter from Sir Guy Carleton, and to acquaint you that One hundred and Eighty seven Guineas and a half and one Dollar equal to £262.16 Virga Currys has been paid into the hands of Colonel Smith our Commissary of Prisoners on your account—which sum I have directed Colonel Smith to transmit to Mr Saml Inglis of Philadelphia agreably to your...
25To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 31 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I was in hopes General Chatileause would have furnished you with the quantity and price of his Claret that was carried off from Hampton road that the disagreeable correspondence entered into with Sir Guy Carleton on that Subject might have been closed. As he has not done it and I know the Count expects payment and looks to me to procure it I am under the necessity of renewing it and again...
26From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 5 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter I have lately receiv’d from Brigadier General Mulenberg, I find he has reported the proceedings respecting Captain Fox to your Excellency, and requested your farther directions. I am also informed by that General Officer, that there are two obstacles which still greatly oppose & retard the success of collecting your Recruits, viz. the want of Provisions to support and carry them to...
27From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 4 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 31st of Jany came to my hands the Post before last, & the acct from Genl Lavalette by the last Post. Upon the receipt of the latter, your Letter & Lavalettes acct was sent to Sir Guy Carleton with a request to remit the money to Colo. Smith at Dobbs’s Ferry; who is desired to forward it to the Chevr de la Luzerne at Philadelphia. You ask what my expectations of Peace are? I...
28From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 19 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty of forwarding to your Excellency a Letter from a Mr Wormly in New York—His present application I suppose is in consequence of the information I had given him that a Passport for his Return to Virginia could only be granted upon his obtaining permission for the purpose from the Executive of the State. I now leave his Request to its own operation & the wisdom of Government....
29From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 19 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
About the first of this Month I wrote you along letter. I touched upon the state of the Army—the situation of public Creditors—and wished to know from you, as a friend, what causes had induced the Assembly of Virginia to withdraw their assent to the Impost Law; & how the Continental creditors without (adequate funds) were to come at, or obtain security for their money. I little expected at the...
30To George Washington from Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 31 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
Give me leave my Dear Sir to congratulate you on the establishment of our independence and the glorious conclusion of the war, the great share you have had in bringing us to this happy period, calls forth the grateful returns of your Countrymen in particular, and of every honest American. Providence hath also its share in the work, having done more for us on many occasions than we had a right...
31From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 30 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
I thank you very sincerely for your kind congratulations on the close of the War, & the glorious Peace which is held out to us, but not yet made definitive; I return them with great cordiallity & heartfelt pleasure; & only wish that the business was so far wound up as that I might return to the walks of private life & in retirement enjoy that relaxation & repose which is absolutely necessary...
32From George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, Sr., 7 May 1783 (Washington Papers)
A Few days ago I wrote to you from Newburgh; and inform’d you (if I mistake not) of the meeting I was to hold with Sir Guy Carleton; consequent of a resolve of Congress directing me to make arrangemts With him for delivery of the Posts, Negros, & other Property belonging to the Citizens of the United States. This Meeting I have had; but the indisposition of General Carleton has taken him back...