Lot 254

John Jay ALS Re: Col. Laurens, In SC to Raise a Regiment of Slaves to Fight Against the British, Memorialized in the Play "Hamilton"

Previous image preload Next image preload

John Jay ALS Re: Col. Laurens, In SC to Raise a Regiment of Slaves to Fight Against the British, Memorialized in the Play "Hamilton"

Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000

Current Bid: $4,000

(3 Bids)

June 17, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

John Jay
Philadelphia, PA, March 31, 1779
John Jay ALS Re: Col. Laurens, In SC to Raise a Regiment of Slaves to Fight Against the British, Memorialized in the Play "Hamilton"
ALS

John Jay autograph letter signed as President of the Continental Congress. 1p with blank integral, 7.25" x 8.75"; Philadelphia; March 31, 1779. John Jay writes to Major General Benjamin Lincoln, Commander of the Southern Department introducing Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens (son of Henry Laurens). With Alexander Hamilton's assistance, Laurens had arrived in South Carolina to raise a Black regiment of soldiers to help defend the state. (So iconic is this incident, that it is portrayed in the Broadway show, "Hamilton" and in the song "My Shot" Laurens sings ""Wait 'til I sally in / On a stallion with the first black battalion.".) The letter is housed in a custom portfolio with a handsome engraving of Jay. Reinforced along the integral fold at an earlier time. Light wear along folds. Bold ink on gently toned paper. With letter of authenticity issued by PSA.

The letter reads in full:

"You will receive this from the hands of Lieut. Colonel Laurens. This gentlemans Zeal for the american cause, & his Bravery in support of it, have induced Congress to honor him with the Commission he now holds. His Excellency General Washington has in compliance with the Colonel's Request, consented to his joining in the Defense of his native State; and it would be very agreable to Congress that he should have a Command suitable to his Rank as soon as the Service in in your Department will admit of it. Permit me to recommend him warmly to your attention, and to assure you that I am of the number of those, who from Public as well as personal Considerations, are sincerely disposed to promote his Welfare and Honor –

I am Sir with great Respect
Your most obedt Servt
John Jay."

By March 1779, the Southern theater had become increasingly perilous for the American fight for liberty. British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell had captured Savannah on December 29, 1778, in a devastating surprise attack that left most of Georgia under British control. With Georgia lost and Charleston increasingly vulnerable, American defenses were crumbling. Continental forces in the South were severely undermanned; local militia units were inconsistent; and the vast territory, swampy terrain, and scattered population made defense difficult.

When Jay writes that Congress was induced "to honor him with the Commission he now holds", he is referring to the Congressional resolution passed two days earlier on March 29 offering to compensate slaveholders in Georgia and South Carolina up to $1,000 for each enslaved person enlisted in the Continental Army. The resolution also declared that any enslaved individuals who served until the end of the war would be emancipated.

Laurens had first approached Alexander Hamilton on this matter, and Hamilton proposed the radical measure to Jay in a letter dated March 14, 1779: "Colonel Laurens, who will have the honour of delivering you this letter, is on his way to South Carolina, on a project which I think, in the present situation of affairs there, is a very good one, and deserves every kind of support and encouragement. This is to raise two, three, or four battalions of negroes, with the assistance of the government of that State, by contributions from the owners, in proportion to the number they possess. If you should think proper to enter upon the subject with him, he will give you a detail of his plan. He wishes to have it recommended by Congress to the State; and, as an inducement, that they would engage to take those battalions into continental pay." Hamilton's letter is expansive on detail, and his regard for Laurens is unmistakable. A full transcript of Hamilton's letter is included.

Jay, who was a moderate opponent of slavery and later become president of the New York Manumission Society, saw this as an opportunity to address the manpower shortage in the Southern theater and begin addressing the moral contradiction of fighting for liberty while maintaining slavery. Despite the dire situation, both state legislatures rejected the plan, with South Carolina's legislature refusing to even consider it. A remarkable letter linking Jay's presidency of Congress to one of the Revolutionary War's most forward-thinking yet unsuccessful initiatives.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

  • Dimensions: 12.5" x 9" (portfolio)
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000