George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 6 November 1778

From Henry Laurens

[Philadelphia] 6th November [1778]

Sir

Since my last Letter under the 1st Instant I have had the honor of presenting to Congress Your Excellencies favors of the 29th and 31st Ulto together with the Papers which accompanied each the former is committed—Doctor Connelly’s case has been long submitted to a Committee and I am told a Report will be made very soon. I sent your Excellency’s Letter to him in Goal.

Inclosed with this Your Excellency will receive Copy of a Letter from the State of New Jersey without date, but it came to hand the 1st Instant. Congress desire you Sir, to consider the subject matter of that Letter and to take such Measures thereon as to you shall appear necessary.1

I have by Order of Congress Commissioned Major Diricks by Brevet to rank Lieutenant Colonel. Captain Capitaine du Chesnoy to rank Major by Brevet. Both these Gentlemen are going to Europe immediately.2 I have the honor to be &c.

LB, DNA:PCC, item 13. The letter was sent “by Lord Stirling’s Messenger.”

1. The undated letter, signed by New Jersey Council of Safety president John Stevens “By request of the Council and Assembly,” is in DNA:PCC, item 68, filed under 1 Nov. 1778; see also 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 , 12:1090. The letter concerned fears of a British attack upon New Jersey; for GW’s response, see his second letter to Laurens of 16 November.

2. 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 , 12:1105–6. Congress also awarded GW’s aide John Laurens a Continental commission of lieutenant colonel on this date, with a recommendation that GW “be directed, whenever an opportunity shall offer, to give Lieutenant Colonel Laurens command agreeable to his rank” (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 , 12:1105–6).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 6 November 1778
    Author
    Laurens, Henry
    Recipient
    Washington, George
    Date
    6 November 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 6 November 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-18-02-0061. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 18, 1 November 1778 – 14 January 1779, ed. Edward G. Lengel. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, pp. 58–59.]

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