From George Washington to Major Henry Harnage, 11 June 1779
To Major Henry Harnage
Head Qrs [Smiths Clove, N.Y.] June 11th 1779
Sir,
Want of leisure prevented my acknowledging sooner the receipt of your letter of the 28th of May1—I shall be always happy to show you every attention, which circumstances will permit during your residence among us; and I sincerely wish you the speediest relief from your present difficulties.
You may depend on having the earliest notice of your exchange, when it takes place;2 but I am sorry to inform you, no return has yet been made for any of the invalids of the Convention troops which have been sent into New York.
I beg the favour of you to present my respects to Mrs Harnage and assure her of my best wishes for the restoration of her health.3 I am Sir Your ⟨Obdt⟩
G: W—n
Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. GW is referring to Harnage’s letter of 24 May, which Maj. Gen. William Heath had enclosed with his letter to GW of 29 May.
2. Harnage was not exchanged. For his parole in spring 1780, see Harnage to GW, 27 March 1779, n.4.
3. At this place on the draft manuscript, Hamilton wrote and then struck out a sentence that reads: “Permit me to add a return of my compliments to Capt. Hawker.”
Harnage, then at Cambridge, Mass., acknowledged GW’s letter when he wrote Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates on 14 July. That letter reads: “I had the honor of Receiving your obliging favor of 20th June inclosing one from His Excellency Genl Washington wherein he is pleas’d to express his Concern at our Disappointment!
“We are General truely Sensible of your Attention to us, on this, and every other Occasion! Mrs Harnage is at present dangerously ill you will therefore excuse the incorrectness of this letter!” (). Gates received Harnage’s letter with one from John Rice, Boston town major, written to him on the same date. Rice’s letter reads: “Major Harnage informs me that He recieved your Letter, wth one from General Washington. he returns you his particular Thanks Sir for your Kindness, & desird me to forward the Enclosed” ().