William Henry Harrison Manuscript Letter Signed...

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Jun 4, 2008 for:

Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

William Henry Harrison Manuscript Letter Signed "Willm Henry Harrison" in full, one page, 7.5" x 9.75". Head Quarters, Buffalo, October 25, 1813. To Major General [John S.] Gano [Ohio Militia]. In full, "I arrived here yesterday with a detachment of the army and will proceed immediately to Fort George. Nothing of consequence had taken place, when the last accounts came from Genl Wilkinsons army. He has certainly however before this entered Canada at the head of a very large force which he had assembled at and in the neighborhood of Sacketts Harbour. There was a man by the name of Crandell in custody at Lower Sandusky on suspicion of being a spy - there is no positive proof against him, be pleased therefore to release him. I will thank you also to deliver the three Mingo or Delaware Indians which you have in your possession to the Delaware Chief Anderson, who has promised to be responsible for their good behavior - Indeed I believe that they never intended any harm - if Anderson has returned home, you can send them to him or to Mr Johnson at Piqua." Penciled biographical information at lower blank edge. Blank lower right corner missing. On laid paper. Numerous horizontal folds and tiny holes in blank areas do not materially detract from its appearance. Overall, in fine condition, bearing the rare, full signature of the future President.

On October 5, 1813, General William H. Harrison's force of about 3,500 infantry and cavalry decisively defeated a force of about 800 British soldiers and 500 American Indians led by Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames which took place near Chatham, Ontario. Shawnee Chief Tecumseh was killed. Continuing east along Lake Erie, Gen. Harrison arrived at Buffalo on October 24, 1813. By order of Secretary of War John Armstrong, Harrison then began an expedition against the British at Burlington Heights, at the west end of Lake Ontario. Armstrong had told Harrison that the "capture or destruction" of Burlington Heights "would be a glorious finale" to his campaign. Harrison then received another letter from Armstrong instructing him to send Col. Duncan McArthur's brigade to Sackett's Harbor, because Montreal, not Kingston, would be the point of attack on the enemy by Wilkinson's army. General Wilkinson had left Fort George on October 2nd and arrived at Fort Prescott, Canada, on the St. Lawrence River, on November 6th. Mentioned in this letter, William Anderson had become Chief of the Delaware Indians in 1808. In 1813, General Harrison had moved the Delaware from Indiana to Piqua, Ohio.