1From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 29 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Count Pulawski of Poland, an Officer famous throughout Europe for his Bravery and Conduct in Defence of the Liberties of his Country against the three great invading Powers of Russia, Austria and Prussia, will have the Honour of delivering this into your Excellency’s Hands. The Court here have encouraged and promoted his Voyage, from an Opinion that he may be highly...
2From Benjamin Franklin to [George Washington], 11 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I do every thing in my Power to discourage foreign Officers from going over to enter into our Service, knowing well how difficult it is to place them, to their Satisfaction and the public Utility, particularly as most who apply are unacquainted with our Language. The Person who will have the Honour of presenting this Letter to your Excellency, M. le Baron de...
3From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington: Two Letters, 13 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy of each: National Archives The Person who will have the Honour of delivering this to your Excellency, is Monsieur le Baron de Frey, who is well recommended to me as an Officer of Experience and Merit, with a Request that I would give him a Letter of Introduction. I have acquainted him that you are rather overstock’d with Officers, and that his obtaining Employment in your Army is...
4From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 21 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society The Gentleman who will have the Honour of delivering this into your Hands, is M. de Bretigny, Captaine d’Infanterie, who has been well and strongly recommended to the Commissioners here as an Officer of Distinction in his Profession. He proposes to raise a Corps in America, to be employ’d in our Service and in that View carries over with him at his...
5The American Commissioners to George Washington, [August or September 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft ): Library of Congress The Marquis de la Fayette, a young Nobleman of great Expectations and exceedingly belov’d here, is by this time probably with you. By some Misapprehension in his Contract with the Merchants of Bordeaux he was prevented from using the Produce of the Cargo he carried over, and so was left without a Supply of Money. His Friends here have sent him over about £500...
6From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 24 August 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress M. de Knobelauch, who will have the Honour of delivering this to you, is recommended to me as an Officer of much Experience, and capable of rendring good Service in our Armies if employ’d. He goes over at his own Expence, and without any Promise from me, as indeed we are not authoris’d to give any: But I beg leave to recommend him to your Excellency’s Notice, and to...
7From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 3 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress M. Gontier de Biran, who will have the honour of delivering this into your hands, is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Merit and Distinction at this Court, as a Gentleman of Family, and of excellent Character for his Morals, Prudence, and Attention to the Duties of his Profession as a Soldier. He is desirous of improving himself in that Profession, under...
8From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 4 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress The Gentleman who will have the Honour of waiting upon you with this Letter is the Baron de Steuben, lately a Lieutenant General in the King of Prussia’s Service, whom he attended in all his Campaigns, being his Aide Camp, Quartermaster General, &c. He goes to America with a true Zeal for our Cause, and a View of engaging in it and rendring it all the Service in...
9From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 10 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress The Bearer, M. de Cambray proposes to go to America with a View of entring into our Service. He is strongly recommended to me by the Duke de Rochefoucauld, who is not only a warm Friend to our Cause, but an excellent Judge of military Merit. I enclose his Letter, with a State of M. de Cambray’s Services which I receiv’d from another Hand, whereby it appears...
10From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 21 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress Three Spanish Gentlemen, Natives of Peru, and Officers in the Army of that Country, [ in the margin : here insert their Names] propose to pass into North America with a View of entring our Army, being ambitious of serving as Voluntiers under your Excellency, whose Reputation as a General stands high all over Europe. They are represented to me by Persons of...