51From George Washington to Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 14th Instant was forwarded to me in my absence from this place, and met me on my return; since which this is the first leisure moment I have had to attend to its contents. I am sorry to find the evil so deeply rooted—and that the defection is still gaining ground. From its extensive nature & pernicious tendency; I think every measure which policy and precaution can dictate...
52To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 4 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
some of The Troops of this State began their March to join the Army Yesterday. they probably will arive at the North River about next Tuesday or Wednesday, the Number I am not able to inform your Excellency as they march from distant Parts of the State & are to rendezvous at Danbury where I expect Lt Col. Butler will take the Command of the Party; I shall be able by next Post to give the...
53To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
You certainly fully understood me, when you suppos’d me fixed in my Determination of leaving the Army at all Events; the Reasons I then assignd were such as I could not surmount, and they continue in full force to this Time. but the Matter being undecided, when I last saw you, whither a Derangment of General Officers would take Place, agreable to a Resolve of Congress, and that being the only...
54From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I recd yrs of the 3d Inst. Since Genl Heath, by his retreat to White plains, has given the Enemy time to recover themselves, I do not know at this Time what can be better done in that quart. than adopting the Plan you propose of crossing over to the East end of Long Island & destroying the forage. I am so fully convinced of the Good Effects of this Enterprize, that I have ordered it...
55To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
the Weather has been so boisterous as has prevented passing the Sound some Days: The inclosd Examination of a Prisoner from Newyork I have sent. A Woman from thence the Day before Yesterday says a considerable Body of Troops are relanded in the City, that She Saw them land last Fryday & Says She was informd the Fleet was returnd whither the Storm had Shatterd so that they were obliged to put...
56To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 21 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since the 15th Inst. I have had no Returns by which I can give any further particular Information of the State of the Regiments; in General small Additions are daily making: next Monday the finall Draft is to be made which I hope will nearly compleat Us: at present we have very few who have ingagd to the first of Jany Only. So great a proportion of our men when raisd will not have had the...
57To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 16 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
An Officer sent to Long Island returnd the 14th and informs the Enemy’s Troops at the East End of the Island have their Baggage pack’d Up, and that One Regiment have marchd Westward by the South Road. That a Packett has lately arriv’d in New York from England, and tis reported that the Ships in the Sound are orderd to New York. He says there are very few Troops on Lloyd’s Neck and about Thirty...
58To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of your Letter of 5th Inst: previous to which I had orderd the March of the Troops from Horseneck agreable to the Order of the 2nd Inst. & had gone to take a Command there. on Receit of your Last Letter I shall join the Army as soon as possible. I should set out to Morrow but the Return of my Son last Night from a Cruize necessitates me to continue one or Two Days longer in the...
59To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 28 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
From the Inteligence I have receivd from the Country and from my own Observation, I am convincd that the Inhabitants in the Rear of the Army are intimately connected with the Refugees who are on the Roads in our Rear & at many Times form part of the Robbers who are constantly distressing the Inhabitants & render it dangerous to pass the Roads. I would therefore propose as a further Security...
60From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 29 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favor of the 22 Inst. I wish some positive and clear evidence could have been procured against Mr Hammel. It is painful, to be obliged, at any time, to take away the personal liberty of a subject, on mere presumption of guilt. However I have reasons to expect some further proofs from another hand to justify any vigorous proceedings, which it may be necessary to use. I am &c. Df ,...
61From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 16 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The number of Officers who are absent from the Connecticut line on the recruiting service & for other purposes is so great, that those remaining in Camp are scarcely sufficient to perform the necessary duties of it—I entreat you therefore to order on all the latter, and as many of the former as can possibly be dispensed with—Your knowledge of the circumstances, will enable you to point out the...
62From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received Yesterday both Your Letters of that date. The Note Mr Tilghman gave was only intended to authorise Hatfield to meet his Brother once, whom he expressed a desire of seeing and from which occasion he expected he might obtain some interesting intelligence. From the information I have had of the character of this family of people—I am by no means satisfied that they would answer any...
63To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 16 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am informed General Prescott who was made Prisoner last Week, is order’d to Windham; I think it my Duty to express my Fears respecting that Matter, I am perfectly acquainted with the People there & am fully persuaded tis in his Power to effect his Escape at any Time he pleases, unless a Guard is sent there under the Care of a vigilant Officer to Secure him. The Credulity of Friends to their...
64From George Washington to Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received your favr of the 27th ulto which with its inclosure I have put into the hands of the Secretary at War to be acted upon. I thank you for your kind congratulations upon our late success to the southward, which as you observe, if properly improved, must be attended with most important advantages—I would wish you and every other Gentleman of influence to exert yourselves with the...
65From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is probable that the public may have occasion or at least wish to know at some period—the extent of the Enemy’s depredations and cruelties; indeed it is right that the World should know ’em. I therefore request that you will endeavour as far as Opportunity will permit to ascertain, as precisely as you can, what number of Houses they have destroyed in their expedition up the sound,...
66To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 26 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Comittee from the Connecticut Line appointed to adjust their Accounts with the State have returned without effecting a settlement, the Lower House of Assembly refuse to pay any part of the Subsistance of the Officers before the first of April last, & from that time no more than Eight pence half penny per Ration; the Resolutions of Congress notwithstanding. In stating the accounts the...
67To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
According to your Excellency’s Direction, I am to State in writing the Claims of the different Ranks of officers in the Connecticutt Line to a Board of officers to settle their relative Rank: or that your Excellency would decide the Claims without a Board. Captains Bulkley & Morris at the Time of settling the Rank of Captains were Prisoners and have never had Opportunity to be heard & suppose...
68From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 18 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 7th inclosing a letter from the Revd Mr Dwight to whom I have written upon the matter proposed by him. I am sorry to hear that any seeming inconsistency in my letters should among other things have retarded the execution of the Works, but if you will revert to my letters of the 2d and 27th of Decemr you will find that my orders were express to keep the Troops,...
69To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment arrivd here after a Tour of Sixty Miles Since 11 o’Clock last Night: The few Militia at New Haven behavd exceeding well, repulsd the Enemy several Times & considerable Loss was sufferd by the Enemy; they burnt a Number of Houses at East & West Haven & plunderd New Haven: they have destroyd Fairfield, almost every House: the Abuses of Women, Children & Old Men are unparaleld:...
70From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Below you will receive a copy of my last dated the 5th to which I will add a thought which has occurred since the writing of it, & which if the Scheme is practicable at all may add not a little to the success namely to let the Officers & Soldiers imployed in the enterprize be dressed in red and much in the taste of the British Soldiery—Webbs Regiment will afford these dresses & it might not be...
71To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 3 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
On reviewing my Letter of Yesterday I find I have not fully expresd my Intentions respecting the March of the Brigade under my Command. I suppose from the Tenor of your Excellency’s Letters an immediate Danger is apprehended at the North River and in that Case it becomes necessary to reinforce those Posts sooner than it will be possible to collect my Baggage & out Guards and march my Brigade;...
72To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
Messrs Reuben Smith Norton, Samuel Mix & Ezekiel Cowles are young Gentlemen whose Family Connections render them respectable in this State & whose personal Accomplishments give fair Prospects of their being Serviceable if admitted to Command in the Army. They are desirous of Subalterns Commissions in the Corps of Sappers & Miners: I beleive they will not disappoint your Excellency’s...
73From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 1 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
In mine of the 25th Ultimo, I consented to your detaining some of the Continental troops to execute the expedition you proposed to Long Island. I have now to desire in the most positive manner, that you send on as fast as possible all who are not absolutely necessary for that purpose, and as I am morally certain, that till the field officers are forced from their scenes of ease and dissipation...
74To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I this Day receivd your Excellency’s Letter of the 29th of June; previous to which I had orderd the Drafts from the Troops of Horse within the State to join Sheldon’s Regiment until your Excellency’s Pleasure should be known, assuring them at the same Time that they were not to expect to act on Horseback unless the Service requird more Cavalry than were mounted already, and that I had no...
75To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 27 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
After a long Confinment to a sick bed, I have just recovered Strength to be brought Home; and am able to attend to a little Business though I have not strength to go abroad. The Board of War in a Letter to me of the 23d of October, directed that the disabled Officers of the Connecticutt Line might, if they consented, go out of Aervice as retireing Officers, a Copy of which Letter is enclosed....
76From George Washington to Samuel Holden Parsons, 19 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favoured with your Letter of the 11th of March, on the subject of your retiring from service on certain conditions—therein Mentioned. I have without delay referred your application to the Secretary at War; which is now the only proper Channel thro’ which all business of this kind can be negociated—in two or three days I shall set out for the North River, where I shall expect...
77From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 8th March, Those of the 4 & 6th likewise came duly to hand. I wish you had sent the Cover of the letter of mine that you suspect had been opened and put under a fresh Cover, as by comparing the direction with the hand writing of the Gentlemen of my family, the matter would have been reduced to a certainty, and the fraud, if any, might perhaps have been traced. I am...
78From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 25 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Colo. Lamb informs me that there are some men in the Connecticut line who had been inlisted for three Years who would now reinlist for the War in the Companies of Artillery raised and adopted by the State, but that you did not conceive yourself at liberty to allow such a measure without order. I am clearly of opinion that if those Men will not reinlist in the Corps of Infantry to which they...
79From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favour of the 15th inclosing the order of your Governor, founded upon a Resolve of Congress for detaining two of the Continental Battalions in Connecticut. My Letter of the 17th, fully expresses my opinion upon the impolicy of this measure, of which I am more and more convinced. From some late accounts, I have good reason to believe that the Enemy do not expect an early...
80From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 28 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favours of the 11th and 15th instant came duly to hand with Lieut. Jackson’s and Ensign Tuttles resignations. I have on several occasions expressed my sentiments on the policy of preventing as much as possible all plundering parties. I would only observe on the present that the Officers are to persue my former instructions on this head which I beleive extends to all cases where the...