LEE, HENRY ("Light Horse Harry"), General, Governor of Virginia . Autograph letter signed ("Henry Lee, Junr.") TO GENL. NATHANAEL GREENE, Richmond, Virginia, 6 March 1782. 6 pages, 4to, each leaf neatly inlaid at the edges. A warm letter to his comrade-in-arms and close friend, complaining of the problems caused by a command consisting of Continentals, paid by Congress, and militia, paid by the State. "My dear Gen'l, I forgot to inform you before I left Camp, that Capt. Eggleston preferred waiting for his promotion, till you could hear from Congress or the Minister of War. I would be much obliged if...you would try to prevail upon Congress to fix my corps in the quota by some one State, or to declare them to be altogether the property [i.e., under the command] of the United States; as on their present system, there is no possibility of doing the officers and soldiers justice, either in supply of money, men or cloathing...This state [Virginia] will not comprehend any part of the Legion within the late act of Assembly concerning paying their troops...No measures are taken for paying men... "The French Legion is at Prince Edward Court House, & it is said that Count Rochambeau is to march the whole or any part of his command, as you may call for them. If you do not halt the cavalry in No. Carolina, they will soon cup up your forage, & I presume you already have as many horse as you need at present. Governor [ ] Harrison declines the scheme I proposed...to negotiate for the supply of the troops of this state, having already adopted measures which promise success.... "The King's speech is mild, the answer from Parliament is firm & bodes the continuation of the war, tho' no conclusion can be drawn from them [Parliament], as they would preserve appearances for the faint hope of negotiation....." He regrets missing Mrs. Greene on her journey, send regards to several acquaintances and asks that Green "remember me to Genl. [Anthony] Wayne in your next let[ter] and accept my prayers for your glory...." Lee had rather unexpectedly left the army in February on leave of absence, after having played a brilliant role as a cavalry commander in the southern theater. "He and Greene remained the closest of friends but it is apparent that 'Light-Horse Harry' was in a depressed mental state that probably can be attributed to true battle fatigue" (M. Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, p.609).
LEE, HENRY ("Light Horse Harry"), General, Governor of Virginia . Autograph letter signed ("Henry Lee, Junr.") TO GENL. NATHANAEL GREENE, Richmond, Virginia, 6 March 1782. 6 pages, 4to, each leaf neatly inlaid at the edges. A warm letter to his comrade-in-arms and close friend, complaining of the problems caused by a command consisting of Continentals, paid by Congress, and militia, paid by the State. "My dear Gen'l, I forgot to inform you before I left Camp, that Capt. Eggleston preferred waiting for his promotion, till you could hear from Congress or the Minister of War. I would be much obliged if...you would try to prevail upon Congress to fix my corps in the quota by some one State, or to declare them to be altogether the property [i.e., under the command] of the United States; as on their present system, there is no possibility of doing the officers and soldiers justice, either in supply of money, men or cloathing...This state [Virginia] will not comprehend any part of the Legion within the late act of Assembly concerning paying their troops...No measures are taken for paying men... "The French Legion is at Prince Edward Court House, & it is said that Count Rochambeau is to march the whole or any part of his command, as you may call for them. If you do not halt the cavalry in No. Carolina, they will soon cup up your forage, & I presume you already have as many horse as you need at present. Governor [ ] Harrison declines the scheme I proposed...to negotiate for the supply of the troops of this state, having already adopted measures which promise success.... "The King's speech is mild, the answer from Parliament is firm & bodes the continuation of the war, tho' no conclusion can be drawn from them [Parliament], as they would preserve appearances for the faint hope of negotiation....." He regrets missing Mrs. Greene on her journey, send regards to several acquaintances and asks that Green "remember me to Genl. [Anthony] Wayne in your next let[ter] and accept my prayers for your glory...." Lee had rather unexpectedly left the army in February on leave of absence, after having played a brilliant role as a cavalry commander in the southern theater. "He and Greene remained the closest of friends but it is apparent that 'Light-Horse Harry' was in a depressed mental state that probably can be attributed to true battle fatigue" (M. Boatner, Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, p.609).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
