LS signed “Willm Henry Harrison,” one page, 6.25 x 8, November 3, 1812. Letter to Captain William Piatt. In part: “I forgot today to inform you that I had promised to send some shoes to the troops, lately commanded by Genl. Beall—be pleased to write to the quartermaster who is with Genl. Crooks to have five hundred pairs forwarded in one of the waggons [sic] which will go from Bealls camp—will you please also direct him to furnish Genl. Crooks command with shoes & blankets.
I have ordered Genl Crooks to send on immediately to Delaware all the Dragoons which are with him, by the way of Mount Vernon & Fredericktown, it will be necessary that funds should be furnished the officer who commands them or forage to be procured for them at convenient states on the rout [sic]. You will please to do the one or the other and inform the General which you have chosen. I am informed also that some of the Dragoons wants swords pistols blankets but the General does not say how many of each article—I have written to him however that you will take our thirty swords & twenty pairs of pistols for them. These I intend should be left at Fredericktown but upon further reflection I think the Dragoons had better come by Mansfield, where they can get the arms and as many Blankets as they want.” Integral second page bears an address panel in another hand. A few partial separations along intersecting folds, soiling and notations to second page, and some mild toning, otherwise fine condition.
Barely two months early, Harrison received command of the Second Army of the Northwest and began preparations for a winter campaign. It was prior to that inclement season that Harrison here discusses sending weapons (”Dragoons wants swords pistols blankets but the General does not say how many of each article”) and footwear for hundreds of men, including the 2nd Pennsylvania Brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Richard Crooks. The brigade served from October 1812 to April 1813. As referred to here, Crooks’ brigade set up camp in October in Mansfield, where it remained for about six weeks awaiting the arrival of a Quartermaster and commissary stores. A supportive letter from the hero of Tippecanoe who, ironically, would be ill-prepared to face the elements during his inaugural address years later and die 32 days later.
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