1To George Washington from John Laurens, 11 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Not to trouble Your Excellency with a detail of writings, conferences, attendances and importunities, I pass at once to the result as communicated to me by the Count de Vergennes—It is His most Christian Majestys determination, to guarantee a loan of ten millions of livres to be opened in Holland in favour of the United States—in addition to the gratuitous gift of six millions granted before...
2To George Washington from John Laurens, 10 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
General Greene will have given Your Excellency a detail of his brilliant and rapid manoeuvre on the enemys left, which induced the abandonment of their posts at Goose Creek and Dorchester, and their contracting themselves within the limits of their works on Charles Town Neck. By every report of fugitive Tories and other deserters from thence, they appear still to be laboring under all the...
3To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 23 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am just returned from a fruitless pursuit of the french Squadron—General Sullivan will inform Your Excellency of the fatal determination of the counts officers in a Council of War—as well as of the several Remonstrances and final solemn protest made by the American Generals —The Admirals Ship being dismasted fore and aft, at the moment that he had overtaken the british fleet and was...
4To George Washington from John Laurens, 19 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am much obliged to you for honoring my bill in favor of Genl Lincoln—it includes the whole sum expended on your account in France—The Plan which brought me to this country, was urged with all the zeal which the subject inspired, both in our privy council and Assembly—but the single voice of reason was drowned by the howlings of a triple-headed monster in which Prejudice Avarice &...
5To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 4-7 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon my arrival here the 25th Ulto I found that men and money were still wanting to fit the Alliance frigate for sea—I immediately insisted on the necessity of an impress, and of having recourse to extraordinary means for the necessary supply of money—The Head of the navy board who is at the same time, a leading member in the house of Representatives gave me such positive assurances on both...
6To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 4 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
With the triumph of a republican, and the more tender emotions of one who sincerely loves his General, I congratulate Your Excellency on your late providential escape—I congratulate my country whose safety is so intimately united with yours and who may regard this miraculous rescue of her champion, as an assurance that heaven approves her choice of a defender—and is propitious to her cause. in...
7To George Washington from John Laurens, 24 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon my arrival here, I found that our Minister plenipotentiary had received the instructions &ca transmitted to him, and commenced the negotiation with which we were charged—and that he had received the followg communication from the Count de Vergennes. "It is impossible for His Majesty to favor a loan in this kingdom—because it would prejudice those which he has occasion to make himself for...
8To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 6 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
Riveted to head quarters by my attachment to Your Excellency and the patronage with which you have been pleased to honor me, nothing but the approaching critical junction of southern affairs and the expectation of my countrymen could induce me to sollicit a farther leave of absence in case of my exchange —I profess myself too much a continentalist to be affected by local interests—but I...
9To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 4 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Excellencys letter of the 28 Ulto the day before yesterday. The following is a short journal of what has passed since the date of the letter which I wrote from point Judith. July 25. Our situation at the point being dangerous from the facility with which the enemy might land a party in our rear and cut off our retreat, I sent the greater part of our pilots to...
10To George Washington from John Laurens, 4 August 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Laurens, 4 Aug. 1777. On 5 Aug. GW wrote to Laurens that “Your favour of Yesterday came to my hands late in the Afternoon.”