George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 11 May 1778

From Henry Laurens

York Town [Pa.] 11 May 1778

Sir

Since my last of the 6th Instant by Sharp I have not received any of Your Excellency’s favors.1

Colonel Gimad takes the trouble of conveying this & also of a Packet containing 50 Copies of an Address by Congress to the Inhabitants of the United States of America—Your Excellency will be pleased to direct a dispersion of these papers so as most effectually to answer the purposes intended.2

Congress by a Ballot this Morning elected Colonol Francis Johnson Commissary of Prisoners to succeed Colo. Boudinot, as I am informed Colonel Johnson is in the Army under the immediate Command of Your Excellency I inclose the Resolve of Congress of this date for that appointment & I shall by an additional line transmit the proper notifications to the Gentlemen abovementioned.3 I have the honor to be With the highest Esteem & Respect Sir Your Obedient & Most humble servant

Henry Laurens.
President of Congress

ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DNA:PCC, item 13.

1. Laurens’s most recent letter to GW was dated 9 May, but his last letter by the messenger Sharp was dated 6 May.

2. For the address, see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 11:474–81.

3. For the resolve, see ibid., 11:490; see also Laurens to Francis Johnston, this date (DNA:PCC, item 13). Johnston declined the appointment, and Congress appointed John Beatty in his stead on 28 May (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 11:546).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 11 May 1778
    Author
    Laurens, Henry
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    11 May 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 11 May 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-15-02-0091. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 15, May–June 1778, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2006, p. 103.]

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