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.

Penn, John, 1741-1788 to Jethro Sumner

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00621 Author/Creator: Penn, John, 1741-1788 Place Written: Hillsborough, North Carolina Type: Letter signed Date: October 5, 1780 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; Height: 22.5 cm, Width: 18.5 cm Order a Copy

Written by Penn, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a Continental Congressman to Brigadier General Sumner in North Carolina. Informs Sumner that the militia must serve three months from the time they were at headquarters, not counting the time they were absent from their regiments since the defeat. Mentions insubordinate soldiers by saying, "those Men that are refractory ought to be informed that they must be obedient to the Laws of their Country." States that the board has written to Colonel Polk to furnish provisions for Sumner. Tells Sumner that Colonel Daniel Morgan and General William Smallwood will leave tomorrow with troops to join Sumner. The weather has delayed them for two days.

Penn, John, 1740-1788
Sumner, Jethro, 1733-1785
Smallwood, William, 1732-1792
Morgan, Daniel, 1736-1802

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources