Letter from George Washington to Henry Laurens

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Description

In August 1778, the paymaster general of the Continental Army informed Gen. George Washington that the military chest was entirely exhausted. Washington passed this letter on to the President of the Continental Congress, South Carolinian Henry Laurens, along with the information that one third of the army had not received pay for March and April 1778.

Notes on this document written by history scholars are available on Founders Online, a searchable archive of the correspondence and other writings of several of the Founders of the United States government.

Transcript

White plains August 11th 1778

Sir

I take the liberty of transmitting to Congress the Inclosed Letter, which I just now received from the pay Master General. They will perceive by it, that the Military Chest is entirely exhausted, and, that a third of the Army remains unpaid for the Months of April and May. The importance & necessity of an immediate and large supply will at once appear—and I am persuaded it will be ordered and forwarded with all possible expedition.

Since I had the honor of writing by Colo. Heth on Sunday last, I have not received any advices from Rhode Island. I have the Honor to be with great respect & esteem sir Your Most Obedt sert

Go: Washington

Citation

This primary source comes from the Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention.

National Archives Identifier: 1663337

Full Citation: Letter from George Washington to Henry Laurens; 8/11/1778; Letters from General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Army; Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774 – 1789; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, Record Group 360; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/letter-washington-laurens/, April 10, 2026]

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