1To John Adams from John Laurens, 28 April 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency copies of a representation made to me by Commodore Gillon on the subject of the frigate South Carolina—and a memorandum of articles settled and agreed upon between us. My motives for engaging in this business are That the excellence of the conveyance enables me to transmit immediately a part of the Specie destined for the United States, which...
2From John Laurens to Anonymous, 24 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in chief instructs me to inform you that the troops now arrived are to be debarked at the usual place—he wishes that the greatest possible assistance may be given to the Commanding Officers of the french troops on landing their men, by your flat bottomed boats and every other means in your power—it is of the utmost importance to facilitate & hasten the reunion of our forces at...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, 9 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On the first instant, we had a faint breeze that just served to bring us to sea, where we have been languishing in calms—and buffeting against contrary winds, which at one time were so violent as to oblige us to lay to—till yesterday morning when a favorable change took place— and enabled us to enter the ocean at a convenient distance from Cape Ortegal— As...
4To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, [before 24 April 1781?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With this your Excellency will receive the Book which I mention’d this morning; and a Letter which my Friend R. Izard of S. Carolina has cautiously sent to your Excellency without Signature or Direction— I set out for Bordeaux on Saturday next, my Desire to bear any Commands which Your Excellency may have for America follows of course, and between this and...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, [before 13 May 1781] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send your Excellency the Estimate of the Board of War with the prices— Your note to Mr de La Rouerie was dispatched immediately— As sunday is the day which the Count de Vergennes has appointed for my taking leave, I shall be deprived of the pleasure of dining with Your Excellency—but shall endeavour to pay you my respects as frequently as possible in the...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, 30 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society An obstinate Calm has detained us in port—’till this evening— to morrow I flatter myself we shall have a favorable wind for putting to sea— I am informed that the orders are already received here for preparing a frigate to convey the specie destined for the french Army— and that she will be probably ready in the beginning of next month—if this be the case...
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens: Two Letters, 16 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society I transmit Your Excellency Gourlade and Moylans account of the Alliances disbursements—to be adjusted as Your Excellency shall think proper— and have the honor to be Your Excellencys most obedient Servant Endorsed: Mr Laurence May 16. 1781 Recd. May 23.—at Night Appear’d to have been open’d. Upon paying my accounts I find that I shall be...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-François de Boy with Franklin’s Note to John Laurens and Laurens’ Response, May 7 [–on … (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Sent to you the Copy of the Certificate, and too that of the Some Sundry papers, from the War Office who Given to me, because I have Lost’d my Comission from the Hble. Congress, when the ennemies have Taken Brunswick, and too Besides all my things. I shall desire to Go again in your Country, if you Can Employ me, as you will please, very much oblige, to...
9To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, [on or after 18 March 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Lt. Col. Laurens presents his respectful Compliments to Doctor Franklin, requests the favor of him to spare him a few sheets of large fine paper. Addressed: His Excelly / Benjamin Franklin / Esqr. The first Sunday after Laurens arrived in the Paris area on the evening of March 14: London Courant, and Westminster Chronicle , March 30, 1781. Among the letters...
10To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, 22 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Upon my arrival here yesterday morning I was informed by the Count d’Hector that the Frigate and Store Ship appointed to transport supplies for the service of the United States were fitted and ready as to themselves—that the latter had begun to take on board part of her Cargo—but that some of the articles which I had designated to be embarked in preference...
11To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, 9 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: South Carolina Historical Society The interval between my debarkation and the departure of the post allows me only a moment to aprise Your Excellency of my arrival at this place in the frigate Alliance after a passage of twenty six days from Boston. I should have prosecuted my journey to passy without an instant’s repose, in order to deliver Your...
12To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, [24 March? 1781] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In order to be ready with the memorial for to morrow it will be necessary for me to devote this afternoon to writing— I must entreat you therefore to make my excuse to Mr Chalut— I have the honor to be Dear Sir Yours sincerely and respectfully. Addressed: To / His Excellency Benjamin / Franklin Esqr. The most likely date, as on March 24, above, Chalut de...
13To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens: Two Letters, 28 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society I do myself the honor of acquainting Your Excellency that the Frigate Resolue with the two vessels of her convoy—the Cibelle Store Ship and the Brigantin Olympe—are at anchor in the road ready for sea— my effects are on board and I embark myself this morning—with a probability of sailing— I must confess I was apprehensive of not being...
14To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, 29 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; al (draft): South Carolina Historical Society I do myself the honor to acquaint your Excellency that I embarked this Morng early on board the Resolue, that she weighed with the vessels under Convoy—and made an effort to put to sea—but a calm succeeding we were obliged to reanchor— In the mean time an Extraordinary Courier arrived from the Court, in...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, July 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
[ South Carolina, July, 1782. The printed extract of a letter Laurens wrote to Hamilton reads as follows: “The enemy’s system was perfectly defensive, and rendered the campaign insipid. Many of our sanguine citizens have flattered themselves with the idea of a prompt evacuation of Charleston. I wish the garrison would either withdraw or fight us. Adieu, my dear friend; while circumstances...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, [5 December 1778] (Hamilton Papers)
You have seen, and by this time considered, General Lee’s infamous publication. I have collected some hints for an answer; but I do not think, either that I can rely upon my own knowledge of facts and style to answer him fully, or that it would be prudent to undertake it without counsel. An affair of this kind ought to be passed over in total silence, or answered in a masterly manner. The...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 18 December 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
On my arrival in town I was informed by the president, that Congress had suspended the business of appointing a Secretary to their Minister plenipotentiary at Versailles until my return, in hopes that I might still be prevailed upon to accept the office. I replied that I thought my letter upon the subject sufficiently explicit and assured him of my sincere desire to be excused from serving in...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 8 September 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, September 8, 1780. On September 16, 1780, Hamilton wrote to Laurens : “I … have just time to tell you that I have received your letter of the 8th.” Letter not found. ]
19To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, [July 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
I am indebted to you, my dear Hamilton, for two letters; the first from Albany, as masterly a piece of cynicism as ever was penned, the other from Philadelphia, dated the 2d March; in both, you mention a design of retiring, which makes me exceedingly unhappy. I would not wish to have you for a moment withdrawn from the public service; at the same time, my friendship for you, and knowlege of...
20To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 12 December 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Upon my arrival here yesterday evening I communicated the intelligence received from General Wayne to the President of Congress and the french minister. The latter surprised me greatly by informing me that only one 74 gun ship of the Count de Grasses division and the fier Rodrigue had arrived at Chesapeak. I am at a loss how to account for the absence of the rest. They have not been within the...
21To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 14 July 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Ternant will relate to you how many violent struggles I have had between duty and inclination—how much my heart was with you, while I appeared to be most actively employed here—but it appears to me that I shd be inexcusable in the light of a Citizen if I did not continue my utmost efforts for carrying the plan of black levies into execution, while there remains the smallest hope of success....
22To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 30 July 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia ] July 30, 1780 . Has executed Hamilton’s commission by arranging for a tailor to make a hat for him. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
23To Alexander Hamilton from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 24 February 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
[ February 24, 1780. On March 30, 1780, Hamilton wrote to Laurens : “I have received lately two letters from you, the last dated the 24th of February.” Letter of February 24 not found. ]
24To John Jay from John Laurens, 11 April 1781 (Jay Papers)
In thanking Your Excellency for the letter with which you have honored me, I should have to reproach myself for not paying my respects to you hitherto, if the novel and busy scene in which I have been engaged did not plead my excuse, and if I were not persuaded that Your Excellencys letters from America, which I committed on my arrival to the care of Doctor Franklin, will have given you every...
25From John Laurens to Timothy Pickering, 4 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
The General requests to know what materials you have for making litters, or whether you have any ready made—a number will be instantly wanted for the service of the trenches. Yours &c. DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
26From John Laurens to Timothy Pickering, 4 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
The General requests that you will give immediate orders, to have twenty five bushels of grain, and five hundred weight of the best long forage; sent down to York—to be embarked on board of the Serpent Cutter, commanded by the Chevalier de Maulevrier—to serve as provision for two horses which are to go by Count de Grasse—The Grain should be in Good barrels if possible—the Cutter is to sail...
27From John Laurens to Timothy Pickering, 23 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
In the absence of the paymaster General, The General requested that you would take possession of the british Military Chest—Major Ross of Ld Cornwallis’s family informs me that the Chest remains intact—and that no one as yet, has demanded it. You will be so good as to give immediate orders for the reception & security of it—Your &c. DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
28From John Laurens to Timothy Pickering, 22 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
The General desires that you would forthwith order the flat bottomed boats in your possession to be transported to the most convenient launching place near York—to be delivered to the order of Monsieur de Martelli Commandg the Experiment. DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
29From John Laurens to Timothy Pickering, 23 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
The General requests that you would commission a quarter master to join the escort of General Lawson without loss of time and take his orders—on the road to Winchester. DNA : RG 93—Manuscript File.
30Lieutenant Colonels Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens to Major General John Sullivan, 21 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
We have just received your favour of Yesterday, desiring from us a Testimony of your Conduct, so far as it fell under our Observation, the day of the Battle on the Brandywine. As we had not the pleasure of seeing you in the fore part of that Action when the Line at large was Engaged, We are unable from our own Knowledge, to say any thing of your Conduct at that time. But we can chearfully...