Autograph Letter Signed. 4pp. To his son Lt. A.I. [Archibald Irwin] Harrison, Sixth Regiment US Infantry, Benicia, California. With original mailing envelope, marked "Per Land, via St. Louis, Mo.”
The son of the late President William Henry Harrison writes the eldest of his own four sons. Enclosed is the original newspaper clipping praising “the gallant son of Hon. Jno. Scott Harrison… for his perseverance in endeavoring to overtake the hostile Indians…" The incident occurred during the so-called Indian Wars in northern California.
The senior Harrison, who had just retired from service as a Whig in the US Congress sends news of his two younger sons (one “a fine manly boy…excitable at times” but “true and affectionate in his temper”; the other “a good boy, wild and feckless tho he be”). Notably missing is any news of his second eldest son, Benjamin, then a young Indianapolis lawyer –who had deserted his father’s Whigs to join the new Republican Party, beginning a political rise that culminated, 30 years later, in his election as President of the United States. Irwin did not live to see the ascension of his brother, with whom he was very close. He was mustered out of the Army during the Civil War when he contracted tuberculosis and despite medical care arranged by brother Ben, he died in 1870 at age 38.
"...I am in hopes that you may… remain in the Army. But… I shall not have one word of complaint to make at whatever course you may see proper to pursue. I was gratified at the notice taken of your energy in the pursuit of the band of Indians who murdered Wm. Patrick… notice is taken of it in the [Cincinnati] Enquirer of this morning.... I shall send this by Overland Mail...I don’t think we have ever received one line from you by this celebrated Overland Mail tho we hear of its bringing California news in 16 days…”