Harrison, Charles (1740-1796) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01063 Author/Creator: Harrison, Charles (1740-1796) Place Written: South Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 July 1781 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 33 x 20.4 cm. Order a Copy
Colonel Harrison writes to Knox from the "High hills of Santee," near the Santee River in South Carolina. Gives Knox an outline of events in the South "since the memorable battle of Guilford ... " Reports that Lord Cornwallis and Nathanael Greene have been "manouvering with each other, one marching North the other South..." Relates that Cornwallis has destroyed a large amount of tobacco. Encloses a list of posts that have been recently evacuated by the British (GLC02437.01319). Docketed by Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp.
The Battle of Guilford Court House took place 15 March 1781.
[draft]
State of South Carolina
High hills of Santee 20th July 81
I have my Dr Genl to acknowledge the receit of your polite & friendly address, & at the same time to assure you, no mind is more sensibly impressed, or retains a more greatful sense of your friendly attention, & that more particularly when under your immediate comd, to which you will ever find me happily disposed; nay shou'd I possess one unfriendly idea of a gentleman, whose politeness has ever been dealt to me with a very liberal hand, the hour of reflection wou'd mortally wound my feelings: I can assure you my Dr Sir however respectable my comd may be & added to that the most flattering hopes of having gain'd a [struck: sma] small share of the confidence of my worthy Comd; whose mind cherishes no idea unfriendly to the officer or soldier & is ever happy in partaking off fatigues attending service in this quarter, must still think, it wou'd add to my happiness to be called Northy, provided the good of the service requir'd it, which period my God grant shortly.
As to the situation of affairs in the quarter, may suppose you are not a stranger, however shou'd this be the case some little sketch of operations since the memorable battle of Guilford (a great Day to America & redounds the highest [2] highest honor on our Comdr) his Lordship & our Genl appears to have been manouvering with each other, one marching Northdy the other Southdy; I shou'd naturally supposed the issue wou'd determine the ability of the two Genls; our Genl has most assuredly carried his point, Ld Cornwallis has undoubtedly burn'd and destroy'd a large quantity of Tobacco, & in the interim has lost N & So Carolina: [Quere]// will not Britain be greatly benefitted by this [illegible] kind of War. Inclos'd you have a hist of the posts reduc'd & evacuated since Genl Greene recross'd the River P D. you may then conclude whether this army ([scarsily] ever amounting 1000) has been idle.
As soon as matters can be drawn into a regular channel shall, & my department once more properly arranged, shall enclose you a true state.
Am Sir with great esteem
Your friend & Hmb Servt
Cha Harrison C.Ary
B
My best wishes attend you
Lady & family & all friend
Brigadier Genl Knox
[address]
Honble Public Service
Brigadier Genl Knox
Head Quarters
Northern Army
Express State of N York
[docket]
From
Col. Harrison
20th July 1781.
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