To George Washington from Major General Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 January 1781
From Major General Samuel Holden Parsons
Camp in Highlands [N.Y.] Jany 10th 1781
Dear General
On my Return to Camp I was favor’d with the Act of Congress for releiving the Garrison of Wioming and would beg Leave to inform your Excellency that many of the Inhabitants of New Jersey are interested in the Land on the Susquehanna under the Claim of Pensylvania and at different Times have assisted the Pensylvanians in their Attempts to remove the New England Settlers.1 this being a Matter which will exceedingly affect the contending States I am persuaded your Excellency would wish to place in that Garrison Officers & Soldiers who will least alarm the Jealousies of the contending Parties. the New England Settlers will have no Objection to any Troops from Virginia, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts Bay, or New Hampshire, or from Colo. Hazen’s Regt not being Citizens of Connecticutt or Pensylvania, indeed the last mentiond Regiment has about Twenty Men of Schott’s Corps which are at Wioming & will be annex’d to that Regiment, perhaps a Command from Col: Hazen’s Regiment will be as unexceptionable as from any Corps in the Army. I have an Opportunity of sending to Wioming, and could I be able to inform them that the Garrison is not to be releiv’d from the Jersey Troops their fears will be quieted. the Bearer will wait an Answer if your Excellency pleases to favor me with One. I am with the greatest Respect Dear General yr Obedt Servt
Saml H. Parsons
ALS, DLC:GW. GW’s aide-de-camp David Humphreys docketed the letter: “Ansd by D. Humphrys that this Garrison had Marched” (see GW to Samuel Huntington, 2 Jan., postscript; see also Israel Shreve to GW, 8 Jan.).
1. For the congressional resolution and the differences between Pennsylvania and Connecticut officials that led to its adoption, see Huntington to GW, 16 Dec. 1780; see also , 18:1147–48.