Colonel Laurens left Paris, and reached Philadelphia towards the end
of August, having been absent from the country but little more than
six months. As soon as he had made a report of his doings to Congress,
he repaired again to the army in time to be present at the memorable
siege of York Town. Here he displayed great courage and gallantly in
storming and taking a British battery, as second in command to
Hamilton. After the capitulation he joined the southern army under
General Greene, having previously acted as a representative in the
legislature of his native State, which convened at Jacksonborough in
January, 1782. While with the army, during the following summer, he
was ill with a fever, from which he had hardly recovered when
intelligence came, that a party of the British were out on a marauding
excursion to Combakee. He went in pursuit of the enemy, and while
leading an advanced party, he received a mortal wound, which
terminated his life on the 27th of August, 1782, in the twentyseventh
year of his age. His death was deeply lamented by the army and the
nation.
THE
CORRESPONDENCE
OF
JOHN LAURENS.
* * * * *
INSTRUCTIONS TO JOHN LAURENS.
In Congress, December 23d, 1780.
Sir,
You will herewith receive a commission appointing you our Minister at
the Court of Versailles; in pursuing the objects of which, you will
conform to the following instructions.
Upon your arrival you will communicate fully to our Minister
Plenipotentiary at that Court the business on which you are sent, and
avail yourself of his information and influence for obtaining the aids
mentioned in the estimate delivered to you. Instructions to him for
that purpose are herewith transmitted, which you will deliver
immediately on your arrival. You will convey to his Most Christian
Majesty the grateful sense Congress have of the noble and generous
part he has taken, with regard to the United States, and use every
possible means to impress him with the urgent and critical state of
our affairs at present, which induced the appointment of a special
Minister to solicit his effectual aid.
You will, in particular, give him full information of the present
state of our military affairs, and the measures taken for providing a
respectable force for the ensuing campaign. It will be proper, at the
same time, to point out the causes which rendered the last campaign
unsuccessful.
You are to use every effort in your power to enforce the necessity of
maintaining a naval superiority in the American seas. You will assure
his Most Christian Majesty on our part, that if he will please to
communicate to us his intentions respecting the next campaign in
America, we will use every effort in our power for an effectual
co-operation. You are to give his Majesty the most positive and
pointed assurances of our determination to prosecute the war for the
great purposes of the alliance agreeable to our engagements.
Should his Majesty grant the aids requested, and send to our
assistance a naval force, you will take advantage of that conveyance
for forwarding the articles furnished. If no naval armament should be
ordered to America, you will endeavor to obtain some vessels of force
to transport the said articles, or take advantage of some convoy to
America, which may render the transportation less hazardous. You will
call upon William Palfrey, our Consul in that kingdom, for such
assistance as you may stand in need of for forwarding any supplies
which you may obtain. You are authorised to draw upon our Minister
Plenipotentiary for such sums as you may from time to time stand in
need of, giving him early notice thereof, that he may aid you from
funds procured on our account, without doing injury to our other
concerns. You may also draw upon any other funds, which you may know
to have been procured for us to Europe.
You will, on your arrival at the Court of Versailles, present the
letter to his Most Christian Majesty, which you will herewith receive.
Previous to your departure from the United States, you are to confer
with the Commander in Chief of the American army, the Minister
Plenipotentiary of France, the commanders in chief of his Most
Christian Majesty's fleet and army at Rhode Island, the Marquis de
Lafayette, if it should not retard your voyage, upon the subject of
your commission, and avail yourself of every information you may
obtain from them respectively. You will embrace every opportunity of
informing us of the success of your negotiations, and receive and obey
such instructions, as you may from time to time receive from Congress.
When the purpose of your mission shall be as fully effected as you may
deem practicable, you are to return, and report your success to
Congress without delay, unless you shall previously receive other
orders.[15]
We pray God to further you with his goodness in the several objects
hereby recommended and that he will have you in his holy keeping.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.
FOOTNOTES:
[15] For Additional Instructions to Dr Franklin respecting Colonel
Laurens's mission, see _Franklin's Correspondence_, Vol. III. p. 185.
* * * * *
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO JOHN LAURENS.
In Congress, December 27th, 1780.
Sir,
With respect to the loan, we foresee that the sum which we ask will be
greatly inadequate to our wants. We wish, however, to depend as much
as possible on our internal exertions. In this negotiation, the state
of our finances require that you should endeavor to procure as long a
respite after the war, for payment of the principal, as may be in your
power. You may agree for an interest not exceeding the terms allowed
or given on national security in Europe, endeavoring to suspend the
discharge of the interest for two or three years, if possible.
You are hereby empowered to pledge the faith of the United States, by
executing such securities or obligations for the payment of the money,
as you may think proper, and also that the interest shall not be
reduced, nor the principal paid during the term for which the same
shall have been borrowed, without the consent of the lenders or their
representatives.
You are to stipulate for the payment of both principal and interest in
specie.
The loan must prove ineffective unless the specie is actually
remitted. Experience has shown, that the negotiation of bills is
attended with unsupportable loss and disadvantage. His Most Christian
Majesty, we are persuaded, will see in the strongest light the
necessity of despatching an effective naval armament to the American
seas. This is a measure of such vast moment, that your utmost address
will be employed to give it success. By such a conveyance, the specie
may be remitted in different ships of war with a prospect of safety.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, _President_.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Philadelphia, January 3d, 1781.
Sir,
Although my instructions relative to the objects of my mission do not
explicitly direct what conduct I am to observe, in case the aids
solicited from the Court of France cannot be obtained in their full
extent, yet I presume it is not the intention of Congress to confine
me without alternative to the precise demands which they have made.
There is the more reason that this matter should be clearly
understood, as my prospects, especially in the important article of
pecuniary succors, are far from being flattering. I apprehend then,
that I shall have satisfied my duty by aspiring, with every effort, to
complete success, and upon failure of that, by approaching it as
nearly as shall be found practicable.
With regard to the estimate of the Board of War, as it descends into
the minutest detail, and includes a great variety of articles, it
appears to me that it will be necessary to attach myself in preference
to the objects of first necessity for the ensuing campaign, that the
most indispensable supplies may not be retarded by those of a
secondary nature, and that the former being secured as far as
possible, and the latter left in a train of execution, I may the
sooner be at liberty to return and make my report. As I apprehend that
these ideas need only to be submitted to Congress to obtain their
sanction, I shall consider myself authorised to act in consequence,
unless I receive new orders to the contrary.
I have the honor to be, with the profoundest respect, &c.
JOHN LAURENS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Boston, February 4th, 1781.
Sir,
I do myself the honor of informing Congress, that I arrived at this
place on the 25th ultimo.
After passing two days at Morristown in fruitless expectation of
meeting the Commander in Chief, I proceeded to head quarters, where my
conference with the General, on the objects of my mission, detained me
three days. The impediment of floating ice in the North River, which
induced the necessity of crossing it much higher than at the usual
place, and other difficulties of the season, will account for the rest
of my delay on the journey.
Upon delivering my despatches to the Navy Board, I found, that the two
indispensables, men and money, were wanting to fit the Alliance for
sea. I urged the necessity of the most prompt and decisive exertions
on their part. They returned me such assurances as left me no reason
to doubt, that the General Court would authorise an impressment to
complete the deficiency of our crew, and that a sufficient supply of
money would be procured. This determined me to devote the interval of
preparation to making my visit to New York. On my return this day, I
learned with great surprise and mortification, that the motion for an
impressment had been rejected, private motives having superseded those
of general good. In these circumstances I was obliged to apply to
General Lincoln for authority to engage such recruits of this State,
and such soldiers of the invalid corps, as might be qualified for the
marine service. This resource however has afforded us but a few men. I
have just obtained permission from Governor Hancock to enlist
volunteers from the guard of the Castle. The Navy Board has
commissioned a merchant of popularity and influence among the
seafaring men, to offer a tempting bounty, with such precautions as
will prevent uneasiness among those who entered for a smaller
consideration. I am now addressing the principal merchants to spare a
few men from their ships, to be replaced from the Navy Board. In the
mean time the rendezvous of the frigate continues open.
But these are all precarious expedients, and my expectations are by no
means sanguine. Nothing however shall be left unattempted; if my
prospects do not brighten, I shall try the effect of a second memorial
to the General Court, and finally insist upon Captain Barry's putting
to sea with the crew he can obtain by the middle of the week. There is
an additional difficulty in procuring the remainder of the ship's
compliment, which is the necessity of hiring not only seamen, but
natives, as a counterbalance to the bad composition of the men already
on board, too many British prisoners having been admitted; their
numbers, the value of the ship, and the business on which she is
employed, are temptations to an enterprise, in favor of their ancient
connexions.
Several gentlemen go as passengers, on condition of serving on the
quarter deck in case of an encounter, and they will reinforce the
party of the officers in case of a mutiny. I have endeavored to
procure every useful information in the several conferences directed
by Congress. The General and Admiral at Newport received me with that
politeness, which characterises their nation, and professed an earnest
desire to promote, as far as depends on them, the objects of my
mission. I must however apprize Congress, that the French army and
navy are demanding in the most pressing terms, pecuniary supplies for
themselves. Their bills of exchange sell at a discount of from
twentyfive to twentyeight per cent. This demand and the tenacity of
the Spaniards in pursuing their favorite object, Gibraltar, are
unfavorable to my negotiation. Upon the whole I am more than ever
convinced, that the most powerful and unremitting efforts at home will
be required to accomplish the great objects of the war.
I have the honor to be, with the profoundest respect, &c.
JOHN LAURENS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Boston, February 7th, 1781.
Sir,
Since my letter to your Excellency on the 4th instant, the measures
taken by Governor Hancock relative to the Castle guard proving
insufficient, I addressed a Memorial to the General Court. Their
permission to engage volunteers from that corps, and a sum of specie
granted for the purpose, the volunteer draft from the continental
troops, and the unremitting exertions of General Lincoln, have put us
at length barely in condition to go to sea. I shall embark today, and
expect Captain Barry will sail with the first fair wind. I have to
acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 12th
ultimo, and the letter and packets enclosed. Particular attention
shall be paid to your instructions relative to the latter.
I have the honor to be, with the profoundest respect, &c.
JOHN LAURENS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
L'Orient, March 11th, 1781.
Sir,
I have the honor of informing Congress, that I arrived at this place
on the afternoon of the 9th instant; and should have proceeded,
without an instant's repose, to Passy, had not the commandant of the
town assured me, that the Marquis de Castries would arrive here that
evening on his way to Brest, where he was going to accelerate by his
presence the execution of his naval disposition. The prospect of an
immediate conference with the Minister on the objects of my mission,
which relate to his department, the danger of missing him by our
travelling different routes, and the repeated assurances of his
expected arrival, have detained me till this morning; but as the delay
has been much greater than I apprehended, and the Minister's approach
is not announced, I have determined to pursue my journey.
The accounts, which the commandant has communicated to me of the naval
preparations at Brest, are, that twentyfive sail of the line are ready
for sea, with ninety transports, on board of which are six thousand
troops; that the ships of war are destined part for the West Indies,
and part with the troops for North America.
The rupture between England and the United Provinces has hitherto
proved very prejudicial to the latter, as they were exceedingly
vulnerable by having so great a number of merchant ships at sea. On
our voyage we captured a British privateer in company with a Venetian
ship, of which she had made a prize, contrary to the laws of nations.
This appeared to me a happy opportunity for manifesting the
determination of Congress to maintain the rights of neutral powers, as
far as depends on them. After a short consultation, Captain Barry and
his officers very readily acceded to the liberation of the Venetian,
and the complete restoration of the cargo and property, which were
very valuable. The captain was accordingly left to pursue his voyage,
and the privateer was brought into port. Mr Palfrey, our consul, is
not yet arrived at this port; it is generally feared that this ship
foundered in a storm, which separated her and the Franklin in the
commencement of their voyage, as she has not been heard of since.
I have the honor to be with the profoundest respect, &c.
JOHN LAURENS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Passy, March 20th, 1781.
Sir,
I had the honor to write to your Excellency from L'Orient the 11th
instant. On my journey hither, I met the Marquis de Castries, and
obtained a hasty conference with him, in which I insisted principally
on the necessity of a constant naval superiority on the American
coast. He observed on his pert, that the dispositions of the fleet
were already made; that it was not in his power to alter them; that it
was necessary at the present juncture to make naval exertions in more
places than one; that the French West India possessions, a nearer
interest, must naturally be first secured; at the same time he
repeatedly assured me, that the United States had a very considerable
share in the present armament, the movements of which he was going to
accelerate; that he hoped a maritime superiority would exist on the
part of the allies, but that it must depend upon the events of war. He
excused himself from descending into particulars, and urged me to
proceed with all possible despatch to Versailles. Upon my arrival
here, I found that the letter of Congress to his Most Christian
Majesty, of the 22d of November, 1780,[16] had been delivered by our
Minister Plenipotentiary; that he had proceeded to negotiate the
succors solicited by Congress, and had received the following
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 the support of the war; but his Majesty, in order to give a signal
proof of his friendship for the United States, grants them under the
title of a donation, a sum of six millions livres tournois. As the
American army is in want of arms, clothing, &c. Dr Franklin will be so
good as to deliver a note of them. The articles will be procured of
the best quality, and on the most reasonable terms. General Washington
will be authorised to draw for the remaining sum, but the drafts are
at long sight, in order to facilitate the payment at the royal
treasury. The Courts of Petersburg and Vienna have offered their
mediation. The King has answered, that it will be personally agreeable
to him, but that he could not accept it as yet, because he has allies
whose concurrence is necessary. Dr Franklin is requested to acquaint
Congress of this overture and the answer, and to engage them to send
their instructions to their Plenipotentiaries. It is supposed that
Congress will eagerly accept the mediation."
In my first interview with the Count de Vergennes, I represented to
him, in the strongest terms, the insufficiency of the above mentioned
succor, and the danger to which France was exposed of losing all her
past efforts in favor of America, unless the requests of Congress were
complied with. I afterwards addressed to him the enclosed letter, in
which I transcribed the result of my conference with General
Washington on the objects of my mission, contained in a letter from
the General to me of the 15th of January. In consequence of the Count
de Vergennes' desire, that I would select from the estimate of the
Board of War the articles of most urgent necessity, I extracted a list
in which I confined myself to the artillery, arms, military stores,
clothing, tents, cloth, drugs, and surgical instruments, and
accompanied it with a letter.
My personal solicitations have not been wanting to hasten an answer to
these letters, and render them favorable. The constant language of the
Count de Vergennes is, that our demands are excessive, that we throw
the burthen of the war upon our ally, that the support of it in
different parts of the world has cost France exertions and expenses,
which fully employ her means, that the public credit, however well
established, has its limits, to exceed which would be fatal to it. He
adds, at the same time, the strongest assurances of the good will of
our ally. This Minister and M. de Maurepas inform me, that nothing can
be determined until the return of the Marquis de Castries, which will
be the day after tomorrow; that the matter must be deliberated, and
that they will consider what can be done. My expectations are very
moderate.
We have received no intelligence of the sailing of the Brest fleet. It
consists of twentyfive sail, five of which are destined for the East
Indies with troops, but it is said they will be detained for want of
transports. The remaining twenty are to proceed to the West Indies,
where ulterior dispositions will be made, of which the Chevalier de la
Luzerne is instructed. The British fleet, of twentyeight sail of the
line, with the convoy for Gibraltar, sailed the 13th instant, and
Commodore Johnston's squadron put to sea the same day. The Spanish
fleet is likewise at sea.
I am firmly of opinion, that the British in the present moment of
success will not accede to those preliminaries, which France and the
United States can never depart from, and, consequently, that the news
of the mediation of Petersburg and Vienna should have no other effect,
than to redouble our ardor and exertions for the campaign.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN LAURENS.
FOOTNOTES:
[16] See this letter in the Secret Journals of Congress, Vol. II. p.
343.
* * * * *
_Memorial to the Count de Vergennes._
As in presenting a Memorial to your Excellency on the objects of my
mission, I should necessarily repeat in part a conference, which I had
by order of Congress with General Washington, previous to my
departure, I prefer presenting your Excellency with such extracts from
it as relate to my purpose. They are as follows.
"1. That considering the diffused population of these States, the
composition and temper of a part of its inhabitants, the want of a
sufficient stock of national wealth as a foundation for credit, and
the almost extinction of commerce, the attempts we have been
compelled to make for carrying on the war, have exceeded the national
abilities of this country, and by degrees brought it to a crisis,
which render immediate assistance and efficacious succor from abroad
indispensable to its safety.
"2. That notwithstanding from the confusion always attendant on a
revolution, from our having had governments to frame, and every
species of civil and military institution to create, from that
inexperience in affairs necessarily incident to a nation in its
commencement, some errors may have been committed in the
administration of our finances, to which a part of our embarrassments
are to be attributed; yet they are principally to be attributed to our
essential want of means; to the want of a sufficient stock of wealth
as mentioned in the first article, which, continuing to operate, will
make it impossible, by any merely interior exertions, to extricate
ourselves from these embarrassments, restore public credit, and
furnish the funds requisite for the support of the war.
"3. That experience has demonstrated the impracticability of
maintaining a paper credit, without funds for its redemption; the
depreciation of our currency was in the main a necessary effect of the
want of those funds, and its restoration is impossible for the same
reasons, to which the general diffidence, that had taken place among
the people, is an additional, and in the present state of things, an
insuperable obstacle.
"4. That the mode, which for want of money has been substituted for
supplying the army, by assessing a proportion of the productions of
the earth, has hitherto been found ineffectual, has frequently exposed
the army to the most calamitous distress, and from its novelty and
incompatibility with ancient habits, is regarded by the people as
burthensome and oppressive, has excited serious discontents, and, in
some places, alarming symptoms of opposition. This mode has besides
many particular inconveniences, which contribute to make it inadequate
to our wants, and ineligible but as an auxiliary.
"5. That from the best estimates of the annual revenues, which these
States are capable of affording, there is a balance to be supplied by
credit. The resource of domestic loans is inconsiderable, because
there are, properly speaking, few monied men, and the few there are
can employ their money more profitably otherwise; added to which, the
instability of the currency and the deficiency of funds have impaired
the public credit.
"6. That the patience of the army, from an almost uninterrupted series
of complicated distress, is now nearly exhausted, their wants carried
to an extremity, which has recently had very disagreeable
consequences, and demonstrate, the absolute necessity of speedy
relief, a relief not within the compass of our means. You are too well
acquainted with all their sufferings, for want of clothing, for want
of provisions, for want of pay.