#amrevwar

[foundingfatherjohnlaurens]

“Although I had the pleasure of saluting you but two days ago I cannot suffer this conveyance by Doctor Read to pass without a repetition.”

The mental image of Henry saluting John in uniform is warming my heart today.

[zowiemortem]

Say Happy Birthday to our dear Nathan Hale!! 6 June 1755: U.S. Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale was born in Coventry, Connecticut. 

  "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.", 

[lauriehalseanderson]

Headed to the West Coast and then the Brooklyn Book Festival next week. Join me!!

[foundingfatherjohnlaurens]

General Mattis actually spoke of Laurens, and Hamilton, in a speech he gave this week. 

Just after the 15:00 mark, he talks about John and the sacrifice he made for America. 

[foundingfatherjohnlaurens]

13th August, 1777

“My Dear Father:

We moved to this place on the 10th inst. Here we received the account from Synnepuxent, and remain at fault till some more particular accounts of the motions of the enemy enable me to judge of their designs. In the meantime our soldiers are recruiting in a plentiful country, as well as strong drink and women will permit them.

These impediments, however, to their laying in a stock of good health are not so general as might be expected in an army situated as ours is.

The men are exercised in smaller or greater numbers every day. The country people bring in a plenty of vegetables, &c.-and we hear very few complaints from those immediately about us of the violations of private property. We are all anxious to hear some thing that will give us employment of a different kind from that which we have at present. My best regards to all our friends, and I remain ever

Your most affectionate

John Laurens.

I have no prospect yet of horses or servant.                                                           The Honble Henry Laurens, Esq.,                                                                           at Mrs. Aries, Market street, near 4th street.”

1. Strong drink and women are an impediment makes me laugh.

2. I find it interesting that John signed his letters to his father, “John Laurens.” Like he’d be unclear as to which John would be addressing him as “My Dear Father”.

3. “near 4th street”. I find it so charming that an address can include this remark.

[foundingfatherjohnlaurens]

Today is the last day of Laurens’ death month and I’ve managed to post something every day. 

I thought for this last day we could say what we love about him, what we admire, how we remember him, etc. and just reblog and add your thoughts and hopefully this will become a big tribute post to him.

I’ll start...

I love John Laurens because he was a Patriot first. It always surprised me how willing he was to leave Hamilton to join the fight in the south to defend his neck of the woods. Even before he went to Europe to study, however, he was passionate about defending his country should he ever be called upon to do so.

...

[foundingfatherjohnlaurens]

To Benjamin Franklin from John Laurens, 9 June 1781

I promised nice John next...This is a letter from John to Ben Franklin. I enjoyed reading this because John was at sea making his way back from his emissary mission and he understandably had some time on his hands. He’d been weighing some of the things Franklin had said about his intent moving forward and John wanted another opportunity to offer his thoughts and advice. I love that they were such good friends.