1To James Madison from Mary A. Harrison, 24 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
The distress of my family has obliged me to appeal to your justice, and in stating the case, I hope it will meet with attention. My Father Francis Harrison entered the service of the united S in gun boat 121 and was in her at the time of her capture, was imprisoned in Melville Island prison 14 months and part of that time in close confinement, as a hostage under the retaliatory system last...