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.

Washington, George, 1732-1799 to Henry Laurens re: skirmish with Cornwallis and parole of Burgoyne

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05572 Author/Creator: Washington, George, 1732-1799 Place Written: Head Qrs near the Gulph Type: Letter signed Date: 1777/12/14-15 Pagination: 5 p. : docket : Height: 33 cm, Width: 21.1 cm Order a Copy

Large skirmish with Cornwallis, question of parole for Burgoyne & Burgoyne's new opinion that Britain cannot win and should grant America its independence, and self-criticism for problems taking supplies from inhabitants: "I confess, I have felt myself greatly embarrassed with respect to a vigorous exercise of military power. An ill place humanity perhaps and a reluctance to give distress may have restrained my too far...."; sensitive to evils of "Jealousies of military power." Written from the Gulph, now known as West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Five days after writing this letter, Washington reached his winter headquarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where the scarcity of supplies became critical.

Washington, George, 1732-1799
Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792
Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805
Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources