Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Laurens, Henry (1724-1792) to Silas Talbot

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00737 Author/Creator: Laurens, Henry (1724-1792) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Manuscript letter Date: 17 November 1778 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 29.7 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy

Knox's retained copy of a letter from Laurens, President of Congress. Laurens congratulates Talbot and his men for taking the schooner Pigot, and on behalf of Congress grants Talbot a commission as lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. Copy is in Knox's hand.

[draft]
A Copy of a letter from Henry Laurens Esq.r president of Congress
Dated Philadelphia Nov:r 17:th 1778
Sir
I feel a very high degree of pleasure in obeying the orders of Congress by transmitting an Act of the 14 Inst. for expressing the sense of the House of the Bravery and good conduct of yourself & of the Officers & men under your Command in taking the Schooner Pigot, & for granting you a Commission of Lieut.t Collonel in the Army of the united States in acknowledgement of your merit.
You will receive Sir within the present inclosure the Commission annexed to the Act & will be pleased to signify to your Officers & men the applause due to them on this occasion - I entreat you to accept my best wishes that you may have many future opportunities of distinguishing your Character in the annals of your Country & that you will be assured
I am with great respect
Silas Talbot Esqr } & Esteem, Sir
Lieut.t Col.o in the} your obedient & mo.
Army of the united} Humble Servant
States of America } Henry Lauren's
Providence President
of Congress

[docket]
A Copy of a Litter
from Henry Laurens
Esq.r president of
Congress
To
Silas Talbot

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792
Talbot, Silas, 1751-1813

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