1From John Adams to William Tudor, 27 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
Aha!—exchanging the Pride, Pomp and Circumstance of Glorious War, for the soft Charms of Wedlock and domestic Felicity, I suppose—abandoning Gun, Drum, Trumpet, Blunderbuss and Thunder, for the less terrible Sounds of the Wranglers at the Bar. Well! Young Folk must have their Way. But I suppose by that Time you have laid the Foundations of a Young Tudor or two, you will be on Fire again with...
2From John Adams to William Tudor, 27 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
I had yours by Coll Palfry last night. General Green is just taking his Departure so that I can, only write you a Line. I blame you not for determining either to rise at the Bar or in the Army. I wish you to rise in both. It is a critical, and delicate Thing to give Advice to our best Friends, and therefore I hope you will pay no more Attention to any that I may give you, than just to weigh it...
3From John Adams to William Tudor, 22 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 16th. I got Yesterday. If Howe imagines that one fourth of Pensilvania are Quakers, he is mistaken one half: for upon the most exact Inquiry, I find there is not more than one in Eight of that Denomination. If he imagines that 99 in 100 of these are his Friends, he is mistaken again. For I believe in my Conscience that a Majority of them are Friends to Nobody but themselves—And...
4From John Adams to William Tudor, 11 March 1777 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 7th. instant, I just received. Am glad to find the Post begins to do its Duty, and that Intelligence, is like to be more regular. I doubt, whether the Enemy have at Amboy and Brunswick So many as near 10,000 Men. But are they not posted in Smaller Numbers at other Places? Cannot these Places be attacked or Surprised? We must continually harrass them. As to their marching to...
5From John Adams to William Tudor, 25 February 1777 (Adams Papers)
I had last Evening yours of the 12 Instant. Am much obliged to you for it. Why did not the Court martial find Buckner guilty of Cowardice? Why did they only cashier him? When shall We have any Discipline? When shall We be decisive? When shall We punish, the worst Crimes, with the last Punishment? I shall very soon become as clamorous an Advocate for Order, Subordination, Government, and...
6From John Adams to William Tudor, 29 August – 20 September 1776 (Adams Papers)
I Sett down now in the Character of a School Master, or a Fellow of a Colledge to give myself Airs, the Pedantry and Impertinence of which I have no doubt you will pardon, as the Precepts I am about to deliver are of such vast Importance, to the public, and so little practiced, altho they are so very easy, and natural. You must be sensible that Intelligence, is of the last Consequence to the...
7From John Adams to William Tudor, 24 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favours of 18 and 19 of August are before me. I am much obliged to you for them, and am determined to pursue this Correspondence, untill I can obtain a perfect Knowledge of the Characters of our Field Officers. If the Colonell quits the Regiment Austin will certainly be promoted, unless Some Stain can be fixed upon his Character, Since he has been in the Army. His Genius is equal to any...
8From John Adams to William Tudor, 14 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
By a Return from the Adjutant General of the 10. instant, I see a new Brigade, makes its appearance, under the Title of General Fellow’s Brigade, composed of Coll. Holman’s Coll. Smith’s, and Coll. Carys Regiments, making in the whole 1544 Men. These I conclude are from the Massachusetts. Neither the Council, nor the House nor any Individual, of our Province, have ever mentioned one Word, in...
9From John Adams to William Tudor, 10 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the 7th. instant I received yesterday. I wish to see you here for Several Reasons. But particularly, to hear your Observations upon the Articles of War. I am perfectly of your Opinion, that they must be amended, for the Value of an Army depends upon its Discipline. The Discipline of Rome and Britain, occasioned the Tryumphs of their Arms. I am Sorry you are tired of your situation in...
10From John Adams to William Tudor, 24 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of May 4th. has lain by me, till this Time unanswered, and I have heard nothing from you Since. I have entertained Hopes of seeing you here before now, as I heard you intended Such an Excursion. I was much obliged to you, for your particular Account of Major Austin, and Mr. Rice. The first I find has the Command of Castle William. The last is gone to Canada, where if he lives...