HARRISON TO HAMILTON.
New Windsor, March 26, 1781.
I came here, my dear Hamilton, on Friday night, to bid adieu to the General, to you, and to my other friends, as a military man, and regret much that I have not had the happiness of seeing you. To-morrow I am obliged to depart; and it is possible our separation may be for ever. But be this as it may, it can only be with respect to our persons; for as to affection, mine for you will continue to my latest breath. This event will probably surprise you; but from your knowledge of me, I rely you will conclude, at the instant, that no light considerations would have taken me from the army; and I think I might safely have rested the matter here. However, as the friendship between us gives you a claim to something more, and as I am not indifferent about character, and shall be anxious to have the esteem of all who are good, and virtuously great, I shall detail to you, my friend, the more substantial reasons which have led to my present conduct. I go from the army, then, because I have found, on examination, that my little fortune, earned by an honest and hard industry, was becoming embarrassed—to attend to the education of my children—to provide, if possible, for the payment of a considerable sum of sterling money and interest, with which I stand charged, on account of the land I lately received from my honored father, for equality of partition between myself and two brothers—to save a house which he had begun, and which, without instant attention, would be ruined, or at least greatly injured—to provide, if possible, for the payment of goods, which far exceed any profits I can make from my estate—and because the State of Maryland, in a flattering manner, have been pleased to appoint me to a place, very respectable in its nature, corresponding with my former, and very interesting to my whole future life and support. They have appointed me to the Chair of their Supreme Court. These, my friend, are the motives to my present resolution. My own feelings are satisfied on the occasion, though I cannot but regret parting with the most valuable acquaintances I have; and I hope they will justify me most fully to you, my Hamilton, especially when you consider, besides, the time I have been in service, and the compensation I have received. I wish, seriously, I had been sooner apprised of the good intentions of the State towards me, for reasons which will occur to you. They were but very lately known, and I was no sooner possessed of them, than I communicated the matter (that I should leave the army) to the General—having found, on inquiry, it was only in my power to accept the offer of the Chair, or decline it for ever, as the filling it had become a measure of immediate necessity; and there were other gentlemen, both of ability and merit, who had been mentioned for it, and who would probably have willingly accepted it. You are now to pardon me for this long relation, so very personal. You must do it, as what I owed to your friendship produced it, and as it is my hope and wish to stand fair in your opinion and esteem.
I proceed to tell you that I live in Charles County, Maryland, where I should be peculiarly happy to see you: but as I can have but little hopes of being gratified in this, let me have the next pleasure to it, the favor of a letter now and then; in which, write of matters personally interesting to yourself, as they will be so to me. Present me most respectfully to your lady, to General and Mrs. Schuyler. My best wishes attend you all. Adieu.
Yours in haste, most affectionately,
Robt. H. Harrison.
Colonel Hamilton.
LA FAYETTE TO HAMILTON.
Elk, April 10, 1781.
Where is, for the present, my dear Hamilton? This question is not a mere affair of curiosity. It is not even wholly owing to the tender sentiments of my friendship. But motives both of a public and private nature conspire in making me wish that your woe be not accomplished. Perhaps you are at head quarters—perhaps at Albany; at all events, I’ll tell you my history. Had the French fleet come in, Arnold was ours. The more certain it was, the greater my disappointment has been; at last it has become necessary for them to return to Rhode Island. I think they have exerted themselves for the common good, and this has been a comfort in our misfortune.
Having luckily arrived at Elk by water, which at first I had no right to expect, I have received the General’s letters. If you are at head quarters, you will have seen my correspondence with the General; if not, I tell you that I am ordered to the southern army, and the General thinks that the army under his immediate command will remain inactive. After a march of forty days, we will arrive at a time when the heat of the season will put an end to operations. This detachment is so circumstanced as to make it very inconvenient for officers and men to proceed. Before we arrive, we shall perhaps be reduced to five or six hundred men. There will be no light infantry formed—no attack against New-York—none of those things which had flattered my mind. If a corps is sent to the southward by land, it ought to have been the Jersey line, because if we weaken ourselves, New-York will be out of the question.