The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-19
LAURENS SAVED
AMERICAN CAUSE

4
ana none who has served his country
lbettcr than Lieut.. Col. John Laurens
of the American Revolution. There
are those who believe, with great
snow OF reason, that but for his
'dlvnts, his engaging manners and
his daring that the American Rev
olution would have failed.
I'm the sixth year OF the war of
! mae pendence. the events OF the cam
paign had been very adverse to the
American arms, and at the close Of
l'hO, the resources OF the United
States were in eXtrem depression"
says Maj. William jackson Of the
Revolutionary army, who accom-
panied John Laurens to Fra.>c. Con-
tinuinS, Major Jackson says: Gen
/ eral Lincoln who commanded in -.
southern department after brave
ana protracted defense OF Charleston
! against the army and fleet under Sin
Henry Clinton and Admiral Arbuth-
not, was compelled to capitulate and
To surrender his gallant garrison
prisoners of war. BY this success
and the subsequent defeat OF General
Gates at Camden. the British forces
/ gained control in the South, which
| threatened the most extensive and
disastrous consequences. The main
army under Gen raj Washington, re-
duced by detachments TO the South
crn states, was badly clothed, irregu-
| larry prOvisioncd and without pay;
the magazines were empty, the treas
ury exhausted. and the public credit
OF no avail In this alarming crisis
~: the national affairs, General
Washington convened council of
his most confidential officers, a faith
ful and minute representation was
submitted To congress, and it was
respectfully suggested as the most
immediate means of relief that Il
special minister should be sent 10
France to- solicit a. loan of money
and supplies OF clothing and mill
tary stores with Il request that
naval superiority might rendezvous
on the American coast at an appoint
ed time, TO enable the commander
in-chiof TO undertake offensive op-
crutions against the dispersed force
of the enemy.
Congress acceded to the opinions
Of this interesting communication
minister to General Washington,
whose selection OF the 'all accom-
plished Laurens' justified the conf
dcnce of government and secured the
successful completion of this impor"
tant trust. AS aide de camp to Gen
eral Washington, Colonel Laurens
was fully informed OF every circuIu-
stance that could give furtheranCc
To the negotiation, and writing and
speaking the. French language with
classical purity, he possessed in an
eminent degree. the power of illus
trating all its objects"
Colonel Laurens arrived in Paris
about March /. 1891. He found DR..
benjamin Franklin. minister To
France. discouraged, the French min
lister OF forcilgp relatio unrespon-
sive. For two months he urged his
cause to the French ministers with
out effect. Then he determined 10
break all conventions and approach
the French king personally. This he
did at levee. 10 the CONSERVATION
of the courtiers. But the personal
ity of Laurens had it's effect and he
obtained supplies and the coopera-
ton of the French fleet. Yorktown
followed, and there Colonel Laurens
conducted the negotiations for the
surrender. He required that the Brit
ism march out with their colors
cascd and playing British or Ger
man march. This they did and the
march played was "rhe World Turn
ed Upside Down.
This did not end the war immedi-
atcly, doe to tedious communica-
tions. but hostilities on smaller scale
continued. Colonel Laurens came TO
south Carolina to take part in the
campaign there. In an insignificant
action on the Combahce. near Tarr
Bluff. he fell into an ambush and
while leading charge was the first
man Of his party slain. And so died
him who was known among his fel-
low partiots as the "Payard of Amer
ica," without fear and without re-
proach. Z.
He was less than IS years OF age.
OF him it has been said: THE com
bination of military talent, intellec-
tuaf brillianCy and maturity of char
aCter which marked him hardly find
a parallel among his associates save
I'm his friend anG fellow officer on
Washingtons' staf. Alexander Hamll-
ton" John Adams said: "Our country
has lost its most promising char
acter."
He was born October 2S, 1854, son
of Henry LaurCns, a very wealthy
merchant "t Charleston and some
time president of the Continental
Congress- He and all o. his fathers
children were taken abroad for their
education in l77l. This he received
i'm London and Geneva. At the
breaking out OF the Revolution he
was studying law i'm London.
lie wished to return to America
Immediately. but his father would
not permit him to do so until about
January, l7I1. He arrived in Amer
IN,