So I’m really passionate about John Laurens, if none of you knew that before you do now lol.
So can we just talk about John Laurens for a few minutes? He was the son of a wealthy, well respected family, was a great artist and a scientist, became envied by all who knew him for being a Southern Bell, was dumped by his close friend Francis Kinloch, and decided to write the following about him:
“If you please, every disgraceful germ known to humanity lies luxuriously embedded in your admires form of government.”
Then he messes up, gets his mentor’s daughter pregnant, and is still responsible and respectful enough to marry her so she and their child aren’t made a disgrace.
Then he feels torn apart and decides to join the army due to probably no longer feeling like he belonged. Then he meets a Caribbean boi and a Frenchman and the three stay up late at night after days of battle just to talk about philosophy. John becomes anti-slavery and is pretty consistent about fighting against it.
His “black mission” is denied like what ten times, and he doesn’t give up? He is willing to spend most of the time away from Hamilton and Laffayete if it means he even gets a shot at freeing some slaves.
Finally his plan gets through the South Carolina congress, and he goes to fight. However, he got so excited he led the men recklessly, even though he was sick at the time.
He gets shot off his horse with none of his dreams (becoming an artist or scientist, or freeing the slaves) accomplished.