Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0286

To Benjamin Franklin from Horatio Gates, 23 June 1776

From Horatio Gates

ALS: National Archives

New York 23d: June 1776:

Dear Sir

This will be presented you by The Chevallier de Kermovant, who left Old France the Sixth of April, and arrived about Fourteen days ago at Stonington by the Way of Cape François; he desires me acquaint you that his Views are truly patriotic, and that he neither Seeks reward, or Honour, but as he shall Merit; he has Letters for you, and Doctor Rush, they probably will speak more for him, than I can presume to do.7 He professes being an Engineer, and to have served all the last War with The Turks in that Line. I set out tomorrow afternoon, or Tuesday morning, for Albany, but have not yet received either Instructions, or the Resolves from Congress.8 I am Dear Sir Your Affectionate Humble Servant

Horatio Gates

Doctor Franklin,

Addressed: The Honble: / Doctor Benjamin Franklin, / Member of The Continental Congress / at / Philadelphia.

Notation: (Not ent’d.) 23 June 1776 Let Genl Gates to Dr. Franklin relating to Monsr. Kermovan read 27th [?] June 1776 before Board War

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7Kermorvan carried two letters from Dubourg, one to BF and the other to Rush. An extract of the first is printed above, March 24, 1776, where the headnote quotes from the second. The Chevalier delivered both on June 26; see below, BF to Rush of that date and Kermorvan to BF the next day.

8The resolutions creating a separate command in Canada and appointing Gates to it: JCC, V, 448. The General arrived in Albany at the end of the month to discover, now that the army was no longer in Canada, that Schuyler claimed command of it: Force, 4 Amer. Arch., VI, 1199–1200.

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