1Baron d’Arendt to Lieutenant Colonels Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens, 26 October [1777] (Hamilton Papers)
Fort Mifflin [ on Mud Island in the Delaware River ] October 26 [ 1777 ]. Discusses plans for defence of Fort Mifflin. ALS , MS Division New York Public Library. This letter is in French. There is no addressee on the MS. In unidentified handwriting on the last page the following is written, “Col Hamilton Col John Larens.” The contents of the letter indicate that it was written to someone at...
2Major General John Sullivan to Lieutenant Colonels Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens, [21 September 1777] (Hamilton Papers)
[ September 20, 1777. On September 21, 1777, Hamilton and Laurens wrote to Sullivan : “We have just received your favour of Yesterday.” Letter not found .] Laurens, like H, was an aide-de-camp of Washington. A native of South Carolina and the son of Henry Laurens, John Laurens was H’s closest friend in Washington’s official family.
3From Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, [April 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
Cold in my professions, warm in ⟨my⟩ friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it m⟨ight⟩ be in my power, by action rather than words, ⟨to⟩ convince you that I love you. I shall only tell you that ’till you bade us Adieu, I hardly knew the value you had taught my heart to set upon you. Indeed, my friend, it was not well done. You know the opinion I entertain of mankind, and how much it is my...
4From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 28 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours from Lebanon and that from Point Judith. You have my warmest thanks for the great expedition of your Journey and for your exertions since your arrival at Rhode Island. I anxiously wait an account of the Admirals arrival, and of the effect which the appearance of the Fleet had. I wish you success and safety as I am My dear Sir sincerely and Affecty Yrs LS (photocopy), in Tench...
5From George Washington to John Laurens, 10 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
The last Post brought me your Letter of the 19 May. I must confess that I am not at all astonished at the failure of your Plans. That Spirit of Freedom which at the commencement of this contest would have gladly sacrificed every thing to the attainment of its object has long since subsided, and every selfish Passion has taken its place—it is not the public but the private Interest which...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 2 March 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, March 2, 1782. In July 1782, Laurens wrote to Hamilton : “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.” Letter of March 2 not found. ]
7From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, 15 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with your request I shall commit to writing the result of our conferences on the present state of American affairs; in which I have given you my ideas, with that freedom and explicitness, which the objects of your commission—my intire confidence in you—and the exigency demand. To me it appears evident: 1st—That, considering the diffused population of these states—the consequent...
I wrote you fully by the post and have just time to tell you that I have received your letter of the 8th. & that tomorrow morning I set out with the General for Hartford to an interview with the French General and Admiral. My hopes increase, that Guichen is coming to enable us to act. For your own sake, for my sake, for the public sake, I shall pray for the success of the attempt you mention;...
9From George Washington to John Laurens, 18 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive your favor of the 19th of Decr and also the Report of the judicious & successful Movement of General Greene, by which he compelled the Enemy to abandon their Out Posts—This brilliant Manoeuvre is another proof of the singular abilities, that officer possesses. Since my last Dispatches from So. Carolina, I have been informed, via Virginia, of the intelligence...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, [4 February 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
I had finished my letter when I received a respite of another quarter of an hour which I shall improve in writing you another ⟨let⟩ter. The Marquis thinks the Generals ⟨lett⟩er will have more weight if the Ministry ⟨see⟩ it, as it were undesignedly by you, than if you formally communicate it to them; and with a view to this he has mentioned the letter to them and advised them to ask for a...