1To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 7 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Want of particular confidential Acquaintance with the Delegates from the State of Connecticutt, occasions you more Trouble than I should think myself at Liberty to give you; As I am Sure what I at any Time say to you will be taken in good Part and as well intended however in any Points we may differ in Opinion; therefore I disclose my Sentiments without Reserve, if they are of any Service I am...
2To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 3 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 26th. Ultimo I duly received. I am fully of I Opinion with you that the Rank of Officers ought to be regarded, but not made the invariable Rule of Promotion in the Army, uncommon Merit in any Officer ought to be rewarded. The Danger lies in the Application of the Rule; Merit is comparative. It is difficult to compare where Two Officers are put to perform different Services...
3To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 17 September 1776 (Adams Papers)
I don’t wish to Complain when the Public Service will not be injurd by Silence: two Things must be attended to in the new raising Army or in my Opinion the Men will not engage in the Service; the One is that Ample Provision be made for the Sick, who the last Campaign have been Scandalously and inhumanly neglected, and made a Sacrifice to Points of Honor between Phi sicians of different...
4To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 October 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your’s of the 2nd. Instant I received last Night for which I am obliged to you. If any Information I can give will contribute to your Satisfaction or my Country’s Good I am happy in furnishing what falls in my Observation. I agree fully with you that you was in the dark as to some Facts relative to the Transactions on Long Island and am fully Satisfied you Still remain so, or you could not...
5To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Our former Acquaintance contracted in early Life, and under Circumstances which Experience Shews is hardly to be effaced by Length of Time or local Distance is Sufficient Apology for calling your Attention a Moment from the Important Considerations now before you, on which the Fate of this our rising Empire depends, to the inccorect Suggestions of a Friend, on Matters he conceives of Some...
6To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 29 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
In Answer to your last in which you desire some further Information respecting Shephard &c., I can inform that Lt. Colo nel Shephard belongs to West Field in the State of the Massachusetts Bay, has passed through all the Various Stages of a Soldier from Private to his Present Station in Actual Service is now about 39 Years of Age, a bold intrepid, prudent Man and in the Command of a Regiment...
7To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 28 July 1777 (Adams Papers)
Upon the Public Affairs of the Country we all have a Right to speak freely and censure where we think there’s Misconduct; to ramble into the Field of Conjecture when we are disposed for it; in Short to turn Politicians if we please. You know from early Life I never Spard Men nor Measures and made Use of my Right to Censure very freely therefore you won’t be Surprized if I tell you I am out of...
8To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 13 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
My sincere Thanks are due to my Friend in Congress for the unexpected Honor, done me in my late Preferment. As it was unsolicited and unthought of by me, I cannot but feel the most grateful Sense of the Obligation my Friends have laid me Under by this Token of their Esteem for me. I wish I may discharge the Duties of this important Trust in a Manner which may fully Answer the just Expectations...
9To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 15 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favors of the 3d. and 11th. Instant I received this Day for which I am much obliged. I know not whither the Promotion of Generals will give perfect Content, the Uneasiness amongst the Brigadiers who are promoted I beleive will Satisfy them, the Promotion of Colonels I dont hear objected to, except that None One from Rhode Island are not promoted; on my Part I ought to be contented when...
10To John Adams from Samuel Holden Parsons, 24 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I received yours in which I find some Encouragement is proposed for raising a new Army. I wish it had been greater; I think there is not a great Inclination in the Soldiers for the continental Service. They in general are more inclined to inlist under the Direction of their own Colonial Authority, where in general they are better provided; this will make it necessary to offer Bounties at least...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, with Enclosure, 8 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote a Letter last Winter acknowledging the Receipt of your Letter of last Sumer July 17, which I received latter End October, and afterwards the Packet of Books you was so obliging as to send me viz. Connoissance des Temps 5 Volumes and Bibliotheque Physico-Economique four Volumes, which at length came to my hand thro’ the hands of Dr. Johnson Member of Congress. They were a Feast to me,...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 14 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Part of my Brigade which were Present & Able to march have cros’d the River according to your Excellency’s Order receiv’d Yesterday. The Number which have march’d I cannot inform with certainty as more Attention has been paid to forwarding them to your Excellency’s Aid, than to a particular Return of Numbers; however I think they will not be far from 1000, about 200 More of the Brigade...
13To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
It is now five Days since I have first walked from my Bed to the I have moved as fair as I have any Right to expect since that continues very weak. I hope the Day to go abroad; and when I gain Strength sufficient hope a Journey will restore my Strength as well as Health; I am at present unable to attend to the Business you committed to my Charge; Captain Walker will take charge of those...
14To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 1 Aug. 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Samuel Holden Parsons, 1 Aug. 1779. On 1 Aug., GW wrote Parsons: “I return you my thanks for the intelligence contained in your letter of this date.”
15To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of your Excellency’s Letters of the 12th, 17th & 19th Inst. I have in Consequence of your Directions to Put this Division of the Troops in Perfect Readiness to march by the 10th of May next, orderd the Detachments made from the Division to New London and other Places remote from Camp to join the Division immediately and hope Nothing will prevent the Troops being ready to march...
16To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 21 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I hope to be able to send to your Excellency’s Assistance One Regiment of continental Troops by the last of next Week. These will be Detachments from all the Regiments raisd in this State; I can send nearly this Number as soon as a Field Officer’s Command as that cannot march ’till the present Class are out from the Hospitals. Colo. Livingston informs me your Excellency’s Orders to him to make...
17To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 19 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Friends of Capt. Wells of Glassenbury in the State of Connectt have applied to me to procure Him exchangd & releasd from his Imprisonment; As tis not a Matter I am impowerd to transact I have referd them to your Excellency Capt. Wells’s Case is perhaps as distressing as that of any Prisoner, A Numerous Young Family, his Wife an Invalid; his Parents very aged these are the Persons who...
18To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 6 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 23d Ulo I recd your Excellency’s Letters of the 8th 10th & 18th of Feby; before I recd those Letters I had establishd Hospitals in several Parts of this State for innoculating the Recruits; most of those who had not the Small Pox before are now in the Hospitals: some will come out in about ten Days. I shall pay a particular Attention to your Excellency’s Orders to send on...
19To George Washington from Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Pursuant to Your Excellency’s Direction I have directed the Commanding Officers of the Companies under my Command to Ascertain the Number of Officers & Soldiers in their respective Companies who are willing to extend the Term of their Inlistment to the first Day of Jany next: by their Returns I find there are Two Hundred & Twenty Noncommissiond Officers & Soldiers who are willing to Serve till...
20To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 14 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your Excellencys directions I have to this time been pursuing the objects of the Enqury you have ordered: but have not been able to make the Discoveries wished for with a sufficient degree of precision, to make any attempt to secure the Persons concernd. I believe it is certain that an Association is formd to submit to British Government, on the terms of the last...
21To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
By a Variety of Accounts from New York the Enemy design a Speedy Mov’ment from thence about Thirty Transports are ballast, Cannon taken on Board & Troops marchd from Kings Bridge to the City last Sunday where their Destination is I cannot conjecture from the Informat⟨ion⟩ I have recd, I hope not Up th⟨is Rive⟩r until our Defence is more perfect; I this Moment hear the Fleet Saild the Day...
22To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Lieut. Colonel Gray waits upon your Excellency for your Directions concerning a Quantity of Goods in his Hands, seis’d last Winter from One Scudder who had Plunderd them from the Inhabitants of Long Island, the particulars of which you was made acquainted with and approv’d of Col. Gray’s Conduct in the Affair. agreable to your Directions the Admiralty Court in Connecticutt tried the Justice of...
23To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 1 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Assembly of this State were delay’d by the severe weather near a Fortnight, and since they have conven’d have not taken up the Subject of recruiting the Army; I have applied to the Governor as well as the Gentlemen of the Assembly on the Subject, and am inform’d that neither your Excellency or Congress have made any Requisition to this State for that Purpose. I am induc’d to beleive the...
24To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am inform’d that forty Sail of Transports fell down to the Narrows last Fryday said to be a fleet for England, no Troops on Board, but Transports with Troops have been faling down every Day since; Genl Clinton’s & Ld Cornwalli⟨s’s⟩ Baggage I am informd (so that I think it cannot be doubted) Are imbarkd—Yesterday a Conversation was had among their Officers on whom the Command would devolve on...
25To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In Answer to your Question by Cpt. Christie of 3d Pensylvania Regt I have deliver’d him a general Information of the State of this Garrison which will be explaind by the Proper Key The Garrison is in high Spirits and are very desirous to receive the Enemys Attack. I cannot promise the Post will be defended, but I am certain every Exertion will be made by the Troops to secure the Possession of...
26To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Letter of the 13th I receivd this Morning and shall pay a particular Attention to procure an exact detail of the Mischiefs done by the Enemy at the different Places both on the Persons & Property of the Inhabitants, the Movments of the Enemy and the apparent Prospects of a speedy Descent upon Stamford has hitherto so far ingagd my Attention as to prevent my paying that...
27To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 4 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
If I should remain silent on the Subject of General Smallwoods Promotion, my Conduct would receive Constructions very different from the real Motives; I therefore feel myself under a Necessity of troubling your Excellency on the Subject. I do most sincerely acquiesce in the Promotion of that Officer, the strong existing Necessity at the Time as well as his own distinguishd Merit in saving our...
28To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 6 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your Letters of the 6th 12th 20th & 29th of March. The first Detachment of the Troops from this State will march from Danbury on Tuesday Morning, under the Command of Lt Colo. Butler of Wyllys’s Regt, Nothing has been or shall be wanting on my Part to forward to Camp every Person who is able to March, from my Soul I ardently wish & desire your Excellency may receive every necessary...
29To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 29 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was last Week on my return from this Place to Camp; but on receiving Inteligence of the Enemy’s moving toward this Place have returnd. the Commander in Chief of the Enemy’s Forces is said to be at Southampton, a Fleet of Thirty Sail of Ships and other Vessels have arrivd at Sagg Harbour through the Sound. Thirty Ships have arrivd Yesterday at Newport; a Fleet of Twenty five Vessels left...
30To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have not been much Us’d to ask Favors of your Excellency nor do I wish in any Instance to be gratified where the Public Service will be injurd by it. As I have had much Trouble in raising & forming the Regiments in this State, I should esteem it a particular Favor if I could be indulged in having the first Regiment, Col. Wyllys’s, Col. Bradly’s & Col. Saml Webb’s arrangd in the Brigade I am...
31To George Washington from Major General Samuel Holden Parsons, 12 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Instances of Firmaness in the Connectt Line exhibited amongst the Privates since I had the Honor of seeing you fully convinces me of the Justice of my Observation Yesterday on that Subject and I beleive the same Spirit pervades the whole of the Line. In two Instances Application was made this Morning for furloughs by Privates who had been three years absent the Men were informd that the...
32To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosd is a Report of the Number of Houses Stores &c. burnt at Norwalk the 11th Inst. the Enemy were so necessarily attentive to their own Safety whilst they remaind in Town and retird with so much Precipitation when they began their Retreat, as left them no Time to perpetrate those Acts of Cruelty & Brutal Savageness they were guilty of in other Places. they had however Opportunity to...
33To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 24 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am inform’d that the Fleet which had fallen down to the Hook Saild Yesterday at 2 o’Clock P.M. and consisted of near 100 sail under Convoy of 1 Ship of 74 Guns & 1 of 40 Guns & one of 36 Guns bound to Europe, No Troops on Board —The Fleet with Troops are still at the Watering Place ’tis expected this Fleet will fall down to the Hook about the forepart of next Week —The Horse on Staten...
34To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 12 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I receivd your Excellency’s Letter’s of the 25th & 29th of May, Yr Excellency’s Approbation of the Expedition to Long Island affords me particular Satisfaction, I hope it will ever be my highest Ambition to promote the best good of my Country—at the Time Genll McDougall made his last Return twas true but about 330 Men were at Peeks-kill from Connecticut; yet it could not be considered as a...
35To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 24 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I did not call at Westpoint on my Way to this place as I thought it of Importance to be with the assembly before the End of their Session; in which I was disappointed the Session being over. I immediately waited on the Governor and Council: and find the assembly have order’d One Thousand five Hundred Men for the Continental Army and apportion’d this Number to the Towns; Two Thousand five...
36To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 4 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was favor’d yesterday with your Letter of the 30h of April & shall as soon as possible send the Men you direct. I find an Uneasiness arises among the Officers respecting the Appointment of several Field Officers in the Light Infantry under the Command of the Marquis; if there shall be any alteration in that Command, I would request your Excellency to appoint Lt Colo. Gray of the Connec ticu...
37To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosd the Commission and Resignation of Lt Hitchcock of the 8th Regiment, and request your Excellency to discharge him. I am Satisfied the good of the Service and Peace of the Regiment require it. I hope your Excellency will not be troubled with many more from my Brigade. I expect Two or three will resign which I beleive will close the Scene. By your Excellency’s Last Letter I suppose...
38To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 21 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Marquis Fayettee cal’d upon me this Morning on his Rout Eastward; and on Conversation with him, on the Subject of procuring Arms, Ammunition & other Supplies, he thought it advisable to request 3000 or 4000 Stands of Arms to be collected in this State, lest there should be a Deficiency in the public Stores to arm all our Levies and also to request the Governer & Council to furnish all the...
39To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 22 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Detachments marchd from the several Regiments in this State are less than I expected owing to a Variety of unforeseen Accidents—435 Non Com. Officers & Soldiers, with a Suitable Number of Officers to command them have marchd to Head Quarters & Peekskill, I expect another Detachment will be ready this Week—every possible Method to forward the Levies & Promote recruiting shall be attended to...
40To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 18 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of receiving your’s of the 16th of January, about Eight Days Since at this Place, where I had returnd to take Charge of my Brigade—In the Present State of the Army I shall continue in my Command lest a different Conduct may prove injurious to the Cause of my Country at this critical Conjuncture of Affairs. However my Inclination may induce me to retire to the Injoyments of...
41To George Washington from Major General Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have this Day receivd Notice of my promotion; and am also favor’d with the present Establishment of the Army. when I left Camp I had no Intention of joining the Army again unless the restoration of my Health should enable me to reassume a Command for the present Campaign; I had therefore turnd my Attention to resuming some Station in civil Life, and joining my pursuits With those of my...
42To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 July 1779. GW wrote Parsons on this date: “I have yours of this day.”
43To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 2 November 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 2 Nov. 1776. The Continental Congress on 6 Nov. read “a letter, of the 3, from R. H. Harrison, enclosing a letter from Brigadier General Parsons of the 2d” ( JCC Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 . 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. , 6:928; see also Robert Hanson Harrison to John...
44To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 25 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am honor’d with your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th Inst.; in which I am desird to join the Army as soon as I can make it convenient, in Consequence of which I intended to have joind my Brigade next Week; but at present I am unable to undertake so long a Journey being troubled with Disorders which prevent my riding any considerable Distance, but I hope within ten or fifteen Days to be able...
45To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 15 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Two detachments from the Regiments of this State have marchd for head Quarters, another will march this Week; I hope some time next week a Considerable Body may be ready to leave the Colony; the Small Pox has been very heavy upon them, they are much reducd by it, & about Twenty have faild; this is one Reason of the Delay—About 150 from Rhode Island and some from Massechusetts Bay are on their...
46To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 3 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
According to your Excellency’s Permission I came into this State the 22nd of Jany to give what Assistance I could to the Recruiting Service & to forming & regulating the Troops; the 25th I receivd Genl Heath’s Order to return to the Camp near Kingsbridge, which I obeyed with some Degree of Reluctance, as I could not see the Necessity of my Presence there; I found Genl Heath at White Plains...
47To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 9 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 9 July 1779. GW wrote Parsons on 10 July: “I have received Your favors of the 9th from Luddington’s & Redding.” The letter that Parsons wrote from the location of Henry Ludington’s mills and home in Dutchess County, N.Y., is the one that has not been found.
48To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 21 April 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am now on my Road to the Settlements forming on the River Ohio; and take this only Method in my power to take leave of your Excellency & to assure you of my most cordial Wishes for your Happiness; should any Occurrances render my Services in that Country of Use to you, I shall never be more happy than in devoting myself to the execution of your Wishes—The State of our Country must give very...
49To George Washington from Major General Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
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. this being a Matter...
50To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
since I came into this State I have been constantly employed in forwarding the Eight Battalions to be rais’d here in which I have many Obs[t]acles both in raising & furnishing them with Arms & Clothing the little Time the Soldiers have been at Home is one Reason why they do not engage yet small Guards are establish’d on our Coast into which they inlist in Preference to a Service abroad where...