Chief Justice John Marshall Seeks Justice for a Merchant Who Had Provided Supplies to the Virginia Regiment in the Revolutionary War, But Never Been Paid

Philip Bush was a merchant in Winchester, Virginia, who also owned the noted Golden Buck Tavern in the town. He had known George Washington since the latter’s days as colonel of the Virginia Regiment in the 1750s, and George Washington had an account with him. Bush was on friendly terms with James Madison and John Marshall as well. Bush was a patriot who provided supplies for the Virginia Regiment in the Revolutionary War.

Bush was willing to advance supplies during the Revolution, and receive an IOU, in the hope of getting paid later. But when he died in 1812, he still had not been paid by the War Department for a major outlay he’d made during the war. In 1820 his heirs petitioned the House Committee on Pensions and Military Claims, which then filed a report. It stated in part: “The petitioner states that his testator Philip Bush in consideration of provisions furnished for the use of the army of the United States on the 31st of March 1780 received a certificate from J. Brown Jr., for [on behalf of] A. Steel, deputy quartermaster general, for the sum of $32,842…That in the year 1785 the said certificate was lost and that neither the petitioner’s testator nor any one for him has received one cent therefor…” The petitioner had sought “that justice done towards him to which he is entitled.” The House Committee denied the claim, but the Bush heirs apparently appealed the decision or decided to take the matter to court.

Seeking to see justice done for an old friend, Chief Justice Marshall became involved and provided a letter attesting to Bush’s character and honestly. This is that letter. Autograph letter signed, as Chief Justice, February 16, 1823. “I was very well acquainted with the late Mr. Philip Bush of Virginia. Through his life he maintained the reputation of a strictly honest man. I know no person whose character for integrity stood more entirely free from suspicion.”

The ultimate resolution of this case is lost to history. But what has survived shows that John Marshall was a man who sought justice, for merchants and tavern keepers as well as the wealthy and well-connected.