Does anyone here have knowlege of Robert Harrison, who was said to be private secretary to George Washington during those RW years? Thanks. Diane in Iowa, USA mailto:meregra@cableone.net icq# 8679306

Diane: Robert Hanson Harrison was never "private" secretary to the Great General. He was "Military Secretary" from 16 May, 1776, to 25 March, 1781. He also served as ADC (Aide-de-Camp) from 5 November, 1775, to 16 May, 1776. In Sep, 1775 he was a Lt in the 3rd VA. He was appt'd LtCol when he joined Washington's "family". After the war he served as Chief Justice of the Maryland State General Court and in 1789 declined an appointment to the United States Supreme Court.He died 2 Apr 1790. In the 18th century the expression used to describe the staff of a general officer was "his family". By examining his choice of family members is one of the best methods of judging a general's administrative ability. The men chosen by General George Washington is a study in excellence. >From surviving accounts, being a member of George Washington's family was exhausting. It required the Aide-de-camp to get up before sunrise and work until the late hours of the night. An army exists because of paperwork! In the 18th century, that meant quill and paper. There were only two means of communication available to Washington, person-to-person conversation and hand-written letters, laboriously prepared, always by quill, and often by the inadequate light of a flickering candle. The method of preparing and preserving written communications is a story in itself. Generally a subject was discussed between the General and his Aides-de-camp, a draft letter or order was prepared, corrected and approved by the General, then re-written in final form for his signature. A copy was then written in the "Letter Book", along with the letter it referred to, or the answer to the General's letter was inserted. If the letter was important enough, it was personally delivered by one of the Aides-de-Camp. These duties were constant, whether the army was encamped, or on the march. The duties of the Aides-de-Camp were often dangerous. On the field of battle, they galloped about the battlefield delivering the General's orders or observing the action for him. At the Battle of Monmouth, in 1778, three Aides-de-Camp; Alexander Hamilton, John Fitzgerald and John Laurens were all wounded. On more then one occasion the Aides-de-Camp had to gallop through a hail of musket balls to force the utterly fearless Washington to retire to safety. Is it any wonder that General Washington when through twenty-nine ADC's and Military Sec'y's during the war? Best regards, Ed -- For Revolutionary War information on the Internet, your first choice should be AMERICANREVOLUTION.ORG