1From 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...
2From 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...
3From 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...
4To 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...
5From 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...
6From 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...
7From 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...
8From 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....
9From 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...
10To 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...