John Laurens to His Father on a Regiment of Freed Slaves, 1778
Jean Baptiste Antoine de Verger's Soldiers in Uniform (Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University Library)
Henry Laurens of South Carolina was a merchant and rice planter who owned several plantations and hundreds of slaves. One of the wealthiest men in America, he was also the president of the Continental Congress in 1777–1778. His son John joined Washington’s army and fought bravely at Brandywine and Germantown. In January 1778 a group of Rhode Island officers proposed that their state fill its undermanned battalions with slaves. With this as a backdrop John Laurens was inspired to come up with a plan of his own, and wrote his father on January 14, 1778, while stationed at Valley Forge with an idea for a regiment of freed slaves.
A Letter from John Laurens to Henry Laurens, January 14, 1778
Head Quarters 14th Jan 1778
I barely hinted to you my dearest father my desire to augment the Continental Forces from an untried Source. I wish I had any foundation to ask for an extraordinary addition to those favors which I have already received from you. I would solicit you to cede me a number of your able bodied men slaves, instead of leaving me a fortune— I would bring about a twofold good; first I would advance those who are unjustly deprived of the rights of mankind to a state which would be a proper gradation between abject slavery and perfect liberty, and besides I would reinforce the defenders of liberty with a number of gallant soldiers. Men, who have the habit of subordination almost indelibly impressed on them, would have one very essential qualification of soldiers. I am persuaded that if I could obtain authority for the purpose, I would have a corps of such men trained, uniformly clad, equip’d and ready in every respect to act at the opening of the next campaign. The ridicule that may be thrown on the color, I despise, because I am sure of rendering essential service to my country. I am tired of the languor with which so sacred a war as this, is carried on. My circumstances prevent me from writing so long a letter as I expected and wish’d to have done on a subject which I have much at heart. I entreat you to give a favorable answer to
Your most affectionate John Laurens
The Honble Henry Laurens Esqr., President of Congress Document Source: Teaching American History
A Letter from John Laurens to Henry Laurens, January 14, 1778
Head Quarters 14th Jan 1778
I barely hinted to you my dearest father my desire to augment the Continental Forces from an untried Source. I wish I had any foundation to ask for an extraordinary addition to those favors which I have already received from you. I would solicit you to cede me a number of your able bodied men slaves, instead of leaving me a fortune —
I would bring about a twofold good; first I would advance those who are unjustly deprived of the rights of mankind to a state which would be a proper gradation between abject slavery and perfect liberty, and besides I would reinforce the defenders of liberty with a number of gallant soldiers. Men, who have the habit of subordination almost indelibly impressed on them, would have one very essential qualification of soldiers. I am persuaded that if I could obtain authority for the purpose, I would have a corps of such men trained, uniformly clad, equip’d and ready in every respect to act at the opening of the next campaign. The ridicule that may be thrown on the color, I despise, because I am sure of rendering essential service to my country. I am tired of the languor with which so sacred a war as this, is carried on. My circumstances prevent me from writing so long a letter as I expected and wish’d to have done on a subject which I have much at heart. I entreat you to give a favorable answer to
Your most affectionate
John Laurens
The Honble Henry Laurens Esqr.,
President of Congress
Document Source: Teaching American History
augment: make larger
solicit: request
cede: give, surrender
gradation: change by degrees, change in stages
subordination: lower position, subservient
indelibly: can never be eliminated
languor: lack of energy or spirit
Background
Henry Laurens of South Carolina was a merchant and rice planter who owned several plantations and hundreds of slaves. One of the wealthiest men in America, he was also the president of the Continental Congress in 1777–1778. His son John joined Washington’s army and fought bravely at Brandywine and Germantown. In January 1778 a group of Rhode Island officers proposed that their state fill its undermanned battalions with slaves. With this as a backdrop John Laurens was inspired to come up with a plan of his own, and wrote his father on January 14, 1778, while stationed at Valley Forge with an idea for a regiment of freed slaves.
Transcript
A Letter from John Laurens to Henry Laurens, January 14, 1778
Head Quarters 14th Jan 1778
I barely hinted to you my dearest father my desire to augment the Continental Forces from an untried Source. I wish I had any foundation to ask for an extraordinary addition to those favors which I have already received from you. I would solicit you to cede me a number of your able bodied men slaves, instead of leaving me a fortune— I would bring about a twofold good; first I would advance those who are unjustly deprived of the rights of mankind to a state which would be a proper gradation between abject slavery and perfect liberty, and besides I would reinforce the defenders of liberty with a number of gallant soldiers. Men, who have the habit of subordination almost indelibly impressed on them, would have one very essential qualification of soldiers. I am persuaded that if I could obtain authority for the purpose, I would have a corps of such men trained, uniformly clad, equip’d and ready in every respect to act at the opening of the next campaign. The ridicule that may be thrown on the color, I despise, because I am sure of rendering essential service to my country. I am tired of the languor with which so sacred a war as this, is carried on. My circumstances prevent me from writing so long a letter as I expected and wish’d to have done on a subject which I have much at heart. I entreat you to give a favorable answer to
Your most affectionate John Laurens
The Honble Henry Laurens Esqr., President of Congress Document Source: Teaching American History
Excerpt
A Letter from John Laurens to Henry Laurens, January 14, 1778
Head Quarters 14th Jan 1778
I barely hinted to you my dearest father my desire to augment the Continental Forces from an untried Source. I wish I had any foundation to ask for an extraordinary addition to those favors which I have already received from you. I would solicit you to cede me a number of your able bodied men slaves, instead of leaving me a fortune —
I would bring about a twofold good; first I would advance those who are unjustly deprived of the rights of mankind to a state which would be a proper gradation between abject slavery and perfect liberty, and besides I would reinforce the defenders of liberty with a number of gallant soldiers. Men, who have the habit of subordination almost indelibly impressed on them, would have one very essential qualification of soldiers. I am persuaded that if I could obtain authority for the purpose, I would have a corps of such men trained, uniformly clad, equip’d and ready in every respect to act at the opening of the next campaign. The ridicule that may be thrown on the color, I despise, because I am sure of rendering essential service to my country. I am tired of the languor with which so sacred a war as this, is carried on. My circumstances prevent me from writing so long a letter as I expected and wish’d to have done on a subject which I have much at heart. I entreat you to give a favorable answer to
Your most affectionate
John Laurens
The Honble Henry Laurens Esqr.,
President of Congress
Document Source: Teaching American History
augment: make larger
solicit: request
cede: give, surrender
gradation: change by degrees, change in stages
subordination: lower position, subservient
indelibly: can never be eliminated
languor: lack of energy or spirit
