From George Washington to Colonel Charles Harrison, 26 January 1777
To Colonel Charles Harrison
Head Quarters Morris Town Jany 26th 1777
Sir
By a Letter from Govr Henry to Richd Heny Lee Esqr. which has been handed to me, I find there is a Vacancy for a Capt. in your Corp, occasion’d by Mr Dandridges declining to accept it. to which I have not the Least Objection. on the Contrary I approve of it provided Mr Johnson can be introduc’d without giving great Offence to any who may think it their right to Fill it1—I earnestly recommend it to you to Compleat your Regimt as soon as poss[i]ble & am Sir Yr mo. Obedt Servt.
Df, in John Fitzgerald’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Charles Harrison (1742–1796) of Virginia served as colonel of the 1st Continental Artillery Regiment, ranking from Nov. 1776, to June 1783. After the war he apparently became a brigadier general in the Virginia militia.
1. Patrick Henry’s letter to Richard Henry Lee has not been identified. John Dandridge (1756–1804), a son of Nathaniel West Dandridge (1729–1786) of Hanover County, Va., and a grandson of Martha Washington’s paternal uncle, William Dandridge (d. 1743) of Elsing Green in King William County, Va., did accept a captaincy in the 1st Continental Artillery Regiment in February 1777. Dandridge was taken prisoner at the surrender of Charleston on 12 May 1780. He was exchanged in July 1781 and served until June 1783.