William Henry Harrison (March - April 1841)
HARRISON, William H. (1773-1841). Letter signed ("Willm Henry Harrison"), to unidentified recipient, St. Mary's, September 1812. 1 page, oblong (4¼ x 7½ in.).
Details
HARRISON, William H. (1773-1841). Letter signed ("Willm Henry Harrison"), to unidentified recipient, St. Mary's, September 1812. 1 page, oblong (4¼ x 7½ in.).
HARRISON PREPARES FOR HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST DETROIT
A fine Harrison military letter from the War of 1812. "In consequence of a disappointment in procuring the number of mounted men I had calculated," writes the hero of Tippecanoe, "I have found it necessary to have the company of U States Rangers under the command of Capt. Menary, and have given him orders accordingly."
Though undated, the content of Harrison's note suggest that it was written during the latter half of September, after Harrison led a relief expedition to Fort Wayne, and then set up camp at nearby St. Mary's River. This was an important moment in his career, for not only did he plan an ambitious expedition against Detroit and Canada, but he received a promotion to brigadier general, and was given command of both state and federal troops in the region. "The President is pleased to assign you command of the Northwestern Army," wrote Secretary of War William Eustis on 24 September, "which, in addition to the regular troops and rangers in that quarter, will consist of the volunteers and militia of Kentucky, Ohio, and three thousand from Virginia and Pennsylvania, making your whole force ten thousand men." Already the governor of Indiana, and a brevet major general in the Kentucky militia, President Madison's order gave him a powerful, consolidated command. But it was still not enough to take Detroit or Canada while the British controlled Lake Erie. In the face of strong resistance, Harrison stalled his invasion, waiting until the Washington authorities recognized the inevitable and called it off.
HARRISON PREPARES FOR HIS EXPEDITION AGAINST DETROIT
A fine Harrison military letter from the War of 1812. "In consequence of a disappointment in procuring the number of mounted men I had calculated," writes the hero of Tippecanoe, "I have found it necessary to have the company of U States Rangers under the command of Capt. Menary, and have given him orders accordingly."
Though undated, the content of Harrison's note suggest that it was written during the latter half of September, after Harrison led a relief expedition to Fort Wayne, and then set up camp at nearby St. Mary's River. This was an important moment in his career, for not only did he plan an ambitious expedition against Detroit and Canada, but he received a promotion to brigadier general, and was given command of both state and federal troops in the region. "The President is pleased to assign you command of the Northwestern Army," wrote Secretary of War William Eustis on 24 September, "which, in addition to the regular troops and rangers in that quarter, will consist of the volunteers and militia of Kentucky, Ohio, and three thousand from Virginia and Pennsylvania, making your whole force ten thousand men." Already the governor of Indiana, and a brevet major general in the Kentucky militia, President Madison's order gave him a powerful, consolidated command. But it was still not enough to take Detroit or Canada while the British controlled Lake Erie. In the face of strong resistance, Harrison stalled his invasion, waiting until the Washington authorities recognized the inevitable and called it off.