31To 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...
32To 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...
33To 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...
34To 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 &...
35To 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...
36To 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...
37To 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...
38To 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...
39To 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...
40To 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.”
41To George Washington from John Laurens, 28 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased to pay to the order of Major General Lincoln the Sum of Thirty five Guineas on account of Your Excellencys Most obedt Servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
42To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 23 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
By General Duportails leave I inclose a rude Sketch of the Roads and principal points, which have relation to the ground your Excellency desired to have reconnoitred —The Chain of Sourland hills as nearly as I can judge runs north by east—its nearest distance from Prince Town is five miles—Genl Duportail has reconnoitred as well as time would permit a Position in that part of the chain—the...
43To George Washington from John Laurens, 12 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have written a letter of this date to Congress inclosing one to me, from Mr Moses Young my fathers Secretary, by which it appears that our Minister plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles had not so late as the 28th Septem: received official notice of the Resolve of Congress for exchanging Genl Bourgoyne. I likewise inclosed a letter from Genl Cornwallis in which he assures me that all...
44To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 9 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
When I last had the honor of writing to your Excellency, the Enemy had not extended their operations beyond their place of arms on Wappoo Neck —On the 29th Ulto They crossed Ashley River in force one mile above the ferry —the next day they advanced to Gibbes’s a convenient Landing about two miles from town —having previously collected a number of boats at the opposite shore, for the purpose of...
45To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 25 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
Being suddenly disappointed in my expectation of retiring from this place by land in company with Colonel Ternant—I have scarcely a moment for paying Your Excellency my respects and informing that I am in the number of prisoners by Capitulation—It is the greatest and most humiliating misfortune of my life, to be reduced to a state of inactivity at so important a juncture as the present —My...
46To George Washington from John Laurens, 28 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from John Laurens, c.28 June 1778. Laurens’s other letter to GW of this date begins with the words “Since I wrote Your Excellency,” implying that he had sent an intelligence report to GW earlier on the same day or perhaps late on 27 June.
47To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 14 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Enemys present disposition of his force and all his late operations indicate a design to attack Charles Town by a siege in form. To complete the investiture he must introduce his Ships of war into the harbour—that it is his intention appears from his fixing buoys on the bar, barricading his Ships wastes—and anchoring them in a station where they may embrace the first favorable spring-tides...
48To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 25 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to your Excellency from Lebanon—the 23d inst.—the day following at 3 oClock in the afternoon I arrived at Providence—as soon as I had delivered Genl Sullivan Your Excellencys dispatches and instructions —I set out for this place with Col. Wall and an ample number of Pilots whom General Sullivan had provided and put under his command—Col. Wall is a man of Character...
49To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 23 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I delivered Your Excellencys letter to Governor Trumbull this evening —his deep affliction on account of his sons death seems to incapacitate him for public business—his council is to be convened to morrow and he desires me to assure you that the militia will be collected and marched with the greatest expedition—Pilots he thinks will be found in great abundance at Providence—As there is a...
50To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency previous to the Action of the 29th. my letter was committed to the care of Major Gibbes—and he destroyed it as soon as the engagement commenced, to guard against accidents—As Your Excellency has already received minute accounts of the transactions of that day from those who saw them in a more collective View, than the nature of my command afforded...
51To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 7 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
On my arrival at this place last night, I learnt that Major Fishburn had announced Your Excellencys intention of coming this way immediately —The uncertainty whether you wd give a preference to the boon-town road or that by Mr Lotts, and the indispensability of a conference with Your Excellency on the subject of my mission to Europe, determine me to expect you here. Generals St Clair and de...
52To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 6 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Lt. Col. John Laurens, 6 Aug. 1778. On 10 Aug., GW wrote Laurens: “I have only to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th Inst. and to wish that this may find you in the full possession of the object of the enterprize” (Df, DLC:GW).
53To George Washington from John Laurens, 11 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
The approaching session of the Georgia Legislature, and the encouragement given me by Gov. Howley, who has a decisive influence in the Councils of that Country—induce me to remain in this quarter for the purpose of taking new measures on the subject of our black Levies. The arrival of Col. Baylor whose seniority entitles him to the command of the Lt Troops. affords me ample leisure for...
54To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 28 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote Your Excellency the two columns of the enemy which were only as I apprehend two Regiments marching by files, to envelop the party of Cavalry with which I was reconnoitring —have retired from the woods into which they were gliding on our right and left—their advanced videts have been withdrawn, and the whole appears to be moving off. I am with the greatest respect Your Excellencys...
55To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 14 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I should have done myself the honor of writing to you earlier, but postponed my intention in hopes of obtaining satisfactory intelligence of the force and designs of the enemy in this quarter—Altho’ my expectations are far from being answered, I must entreat your Excellencys acceptance of what I have been able to collect on those subjects, lest the expected siege prolong my silence beyond the...