19. BENJAMIN HARRISON (1726-1791) Signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Continental Congress and later Governor of Virginia. A war-date important A.N.S. "Benj Harrison" at bottom of an A.L.S. from Virginia's Secretary of War WILLIAM DAVIES, 1p. 4to., "War Office, Aug. 29, 1782", asking for instructions concerning the recently defeated Indians. In full: " Sir: I enclose to your Excellency a letter from Colonel Campbell which came to hand last night . Should your Excellency choose to give me any directions, they may be put into execution by the return of the messenger. Your most humble svnt, William Davies? Harrison, then Governor of Virginia responds: "Every step has been taken in Indian affairs that is is [sic] in the power of the Executive to take - Benj Harrison". Although the capture of British forces in Yorktown had practically ended serious conflict in the Northern colonies, the struggle in the south continued, including a number of vicious small scale raids waged against the people and their settlements. Shortly after this letter was written, in what is often described as the last battle of the war, hostile Indians and British Loyalists conducted an unsuccessful three day attempt to take Fort Henry, Virginia, giving up after the fort was reinforced on September 11, 1782. By saying that the executive had already done everything in its power to do, Harrison was telling his Secretary of War that the time for talking was over, thereby giving the military a free hand in dealing with the Indians. Very good. $700-900