America Untold:
Forgotten heroes, Forgotten Stories
Scarlet Ingstad
Christian, Independent Author, Historian
Christian, Independent Author, Historian
Welcome back to Revolutionary Voices! The blog series that seeks to uplift stories of lesser-known figures from the American Revolution. These days, John Laurens is a more-popular household name thanks to a certain Broadway musical, but many still do not know much about this incredible man. Join me as I introduce you to the revolutionary abolitionist who helped America achieve independence and also made strides in the effort to end slavery. Revolutionary Beginnings John Laurens was the son of Henry Laurens, a prominent businessman and one of the wealthiest slavers in South Carolina. It is likely that John's beliefs regarding the institution of slavery were greatly influenced by what he witnessed while growing up on one of the largest plantations in America. In fact, he wrote this in 1776: "We have sunk the Africans & their descendants below the Standard of Humanity and almost render'd them incapable of that Blessing which equal Heaven bestow'd upon us all." John went to England in 1771 to begin his education, then went to Switzerland in 1772 to study science and medicine. Two years later, John returned to England to begin studying law. However, when the American Revolution broke out back home, John left his studies, his wife, and their two children, and returned to South Carolina. He joined General George Washington's staff in August of 1777 and quickly earned the admiration and respect from others in Washington's inner-circle, especially that of Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette. Relationship with Hamilton John Laurens' relationship with Alexander Hamilton is still highly contested today. Some historians believe that they were very close friends, while others believe there is a possibility the two men may have formed an even closer, more intimate attachment to one another. One of the reasons behind this belief is a letter from Hamilton to Laurens in April of 1779: "Cold in my professions, warm in ⟨my⟩ friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it m⟨ight⟩ be in my power, by action rather than words, ⟨to⟩ convince you that I love you. I shall only tell you that ’till you bade us Adieu, I hardly knew the value you had taught my heart to set upon you. Indeed, my friend, it was not well done. You know the opinion I entertain of mankind, and how much it is my desire to preserve myself free from particular attachments, and to keep my happiness independent on the caprice of others. You sh⟨ould⟩ not have taken advantage of my sensibility to ste⟨al⟩ into my affections without my consent. But as you have done it and as we are generally indulgent to those we love, I shall not scruple to pardon the fraud you have committed, on condition that for my sake, if not for your own, you will always continue to merit the partiality, which you have so artfully instilled into ⟨me⟩." It was very commonplace during this time for men to express their affection toward one another in what we would consider today to be romantic language. Therefore, it is very possible that they were just very close friends. However, the language in their correspondence does occasionally surpass what was considered to be normal at this time as well. It cannot be confirmed whether or not they were romantically involved and, in my opinion, it would be inappropriate to make such definitive statements. Their relationship, whatever it may have been, is something that only they knew details about. And, perhaps, that's how they wanted it to remain. War and Abolition While many of John's contemporaries were solely focused on the war effort, John was also focused on the issue of slavery. That is not to say that John did not fight with valor on the battlefield. In fact, at the Battle of Brandywine he nearly lost his life, promoting the Marquis de Lafayette to wrote to John's father: "It was not his fault he was not killed or wounded, he did every thing that was necessary to procure one or t'other." John sustained an injury during the Battle of Germantown, and had his horse shot out from under him during the Battle of Monmouth. He even challenged the famous Continental General Charles Lee to a duel after Lee made disparaging comments about George Washington and his closest supporters. John emerged from the duel unscathed, but seriously injured General Lee. While he was fighting in these battles and working as one of Washington's aides-de-camp, John also advocated for the cause that was closest to his heart: abolition. He believed that the first step in this effort was to allow enslaved persons to earn their freedom through service in the Continental Army. John's father was very influential in Congress and John attempted to use this to his advantage. He managed to convince Congress to pass a resolution, however, Congress left the follow-through up to South Carolina and Georgia. These states stood adamantly opposed to John's ideas, and neither legislature would sign any agreements on the recruitment of Black soldiers. John was deeply troubled by the outcome of his efforts and wrote to Hamilton, expressing his frustration and desire to continue pursuing his dream of recruiting Black soldiers and the end of the slave trade: "...but it appears to me that I shd be inexcusable in the light of a Citizen if I did not continue my utmost efforts for carrying out the plan of black levies into execution, while there remains the smallest hope of success." Tragedy and Legacy At the end of 1780, John and Thomas Paine, the famous author of Common Sense, departed for France to obtain loans and soldiers for the 1781 southern campaign of the war. John managed to return to America just in time for the Battle of Yorktown and the surrender of General Cornwallis. Washington thought so highly of John that he selected him to be the lead negotiator for the official terms of surrender. However, after the Battle of Yorktown, John was no longer satisfied with his place in the army. Never abandoning his dream of leading an all-Black battalion, John returned to the Carolinas and joined General Nathanael Greene's forces as an officer. Here, where the war raged on, John engaged in small skirmishes and intelligence-gathering operations. On August 27, 1782, A British force of Tories and regulars began an expedition to gather supplies. John and fifty of his men were ordered to reinforce a position behind the British to cut off their retreat, while the rest of the contingent attempted to intercept them. The British discovered John's plan and sprung a trap. Two Americans were killed in the ambush...one of them was John Laurens. Devastated, Hamilton wrote to General Greene: "The world will feel the loss of a man who has left few like him behind, and America of a citizen whose heart realized that patriotism of which others only talk. I feel the loss of a friend I truly and most tenderly loved, and one of a very small number." George Washington later added his own sentiments: "...in a word, he had not a fault that I ever could discover, unless intrepidity bordering upon rashness could come under that denomination; and to this he was excited by the purest of motives." John Laurens died and was buried on the battlefield. His remains were later moved to Mepkin Abbey near his father's plantation. On his headstone are the words: "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mort," which translates to: "It is sweet and fitting to die for your country." John Laurens was born and raised on one of the largest plantations in all of America. And yet, at a very young age, he realized the horrors and hypocrisy of slavery in the midst of a revolution which stood upon the ideal that "all men are created equal." Instead of ignoring these hypocrisies (like many of his contemporaries chose to do), John dedicated his short life to fighting for the freedom of ALL Americans. His fearlessness and tenacity in battle, coupled with his extreme passion and empathy, made him stand out among the rest. John died at the age of twenty-seven, giving his life for not one, but two causes--both of which he saw as inextricably intertwined. Sources:
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Scarlet Ingstad
I am an independent author and historian seeking to uplift the stories of the lesser-known heroes and heroines of the American Revolution, alongside modern-day heroes and heroines who have served in the U.S. military and continue their service through their historical work. Archives
March 2022
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