To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 9 May 1778
From Henry Laurens
York Town [Pa.] 9th May 1778
Sir.
My last to Your Excellency was dated the 6th by Sharp.
This will be accompanied by a Petition of Lt Colo. Dircks which I am directed to transmit & to request Your Excellency will do or advise therein as Your Excellency shall judge conducive to public service.1
Also by, several printed Acts of Congress of the 6th Instant contained in a pennsylvania Gazette announcing such parts of the Treaty of Paris of the 6th ffebruary as are necessary for public information & the Government of conduct in particular Cases.2 I have the honor to be With the highest Esteem & Regard Sir Your Excellency’s Most Obedient servt
Henry Laurens.
President of Congress.
ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 13.
1. In the enclosed undated petition to Congress, Lt. Col. Jacob Gerhard Dircks proposes “to raise a Body Composed of two or more Companies which might be Joined to the Corps under the Command of Brigadier General Count pulaski, your petitioner knowledge of the German and french languages gives him hopes that if Authorised by Congress he will be able to raise Such a Corps in less than two months and be ready to proceed with them in the Execution of whatever orders he may be honored with from his Superiors, This or any other method the honourable Congress may approuve of Shall be punctually executed by your petitioner who humbly sollicits Such favour and protection as may enable him to demonstrate his Zeal and attachement to the Glorious Cause of the Liberty and Independance of the american States in what ever manner your wisdom Shall determine” (DLC:GW). Congress read the petition on 8 May and referred it to GW (, 11:481; see also GW to Laurens, 12 May).
2. See ibid., 11:468–71.