31From 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...
32From 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...
33From 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...
34From 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...
35From 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...
36From 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...
37From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote to you on the 8th Int. I have been compelled from the spreading of the Small pox in our Army to submit to the necessity of Innoculation, & have accordingly ordered all the Continental Troops now here & coming from the Western States, to be innoculated immediately on their Arrival—You will therefore give Orders for the Innoculating the Connecticut Troops; and as Govr Cook is...
38From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 12 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will find by my last letter of the 11th instant, that I considered the circumstances of your brigade on the receipt of my orders for its march, as a sufficient reason for the measure you took on the occasion. I mention this in answer to your favor of the 6th instant. In case the brigade is at its old post, you will continue it there, agreeable to my instructions on this subject—but should...
39From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I learn from undoubted authority that General Clinton Quarters in Captn Kenedys House in the city of New York which you know is near Fort George and by the late fire stands in a manner alone. What Guards may be at or near his Quarters I cannot with precission say & therefore shall not add any thing on this score least it should prove a mis-information—but I think it one of the most practicable...
40From George Washington to Samuel Holden Parsons, 27 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Favor of Yesterday—and am very sorry to observe its Contents—I can think of no Mode more elegible, than to transmitt the Letter, with some Observations on the probable Consequences, to the State of Connecticut—This Mode I shall pursue—and hope that the State, on further Consideration, will do all the Justice to their Line, that they have a Right to expect. With much Regard...
41From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 18 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 16th—I am fully of opinion that those people who undertake to procure intelligence under cover of carrying produce into New York, and bringing out Goods in return, attend more to their own emoluments than to the Business with which they are charged, and we have generally found their information so vague and trifling, that there is no placing dependance upon it....
42From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 25 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 21st instt from New Haven came safe to hand by Colo: Henley to which mine of the 20th instt is an answer, so far as relates to inoculation. I am very glad to find, that to morrow is the day fixed on for the completion of your Regiments; but I begin to think, that with respect to the continent at large, it is almost a matter of moonshine, whether they are completed or not,...
43From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 1 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 25th April has been duly received with its several inclosures. I am pleased to find every thing wear so much the appearance of preparation for motion. I shall take immediate measures with Genl Knox to have the deficiencies in the arms, and accoutrements furnished the Troops in your quarter. At the same time I cannot help regreting that so great deficiencies should occur...
44From George Washington to Brigadier Generals Samuel Holden Parsons, Enoch Poor, and James Mitchell Varnum, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Situation of our Affairs again compells me to call upon you in express, and positive Terms to hasten the Troops of your State (those Inlisted for the Continent I mean) to Peeks Kills, or head Quarters, without one moments loss of time. I do not mean by this to interupt the Inoculation of them; but, that nothing which can facilitate the March of the whole, or part (under proper Officers)...
45From George Washington to Samuel Holden Parsons, 30 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have had the pleasure to receive Your Letter of the 20th Inst. and am glad to find by it, that You are in a fair way of recovering Your health again, and that the measures You had taken previous to Your illness have been attended with some degree of success. As soon as the circumstances will possibly admit, I wish the Detachment of Continental Troops at Danbury may be sent back to the Army:...
46From George Washington to Samuel Holden Parsons, 15 July 1788 (Washington Papers)
By some unusual delay in the Post office, I did not receive your kind letter of the 21st of April untill the 30th of June; or I should have sooner done myself the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt and of returning my best thanks for your friendly sentiments and wishes. I beg you will be persuaded of the satisfaction I take in hearing from my old military friends and of the interest I feel...
47From George Washington to Major General Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Representation has been made to me, that in determining the Rank of Leiutenants in the New Arrangement of the Connecticut Line; regard hath only been paid to the time of their several appointments, as Leiutenants, without reference to the difference of rank as first or second Leiutenants. If there was a distinct grade between these Officers, as between a Colonel & Leiut. Colonel, (which, I...
48From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 1 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I return you my thanks for the intelligence contained in your letter of this date & shall be ob[l]iged to you, to communicate any thing further that may come to your knowledge—especially if it should be of importance. I have not the least objection to your employing the corporal & six men as you propose. If Mr Pomroy has accepted the appointment you mention, he cannot hold, his rank in the...
49From George Washington to Samuel Holden Parsons, 12 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have to request that you will be pleased to send one of your Aides de Camp, to give Orders to Brigadr genl Waterbury from me, to put the whole of his Troops in motion to morrow morng & to march them to Marineck or North Street—at one of which places, he will recieve further orders, respecting the position he is to take. General Waterbury will move at the time appointed without fail & give...
50From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 7 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 2nd Instt and am happy to hear, the order for drafting of men, is likely to be attended with so much success. The loss of the Stores at Danbury, is to be regreted, but I cannot consider it, in the important light you seem to do. Those at Derby are to be removed, by a Resolve of Congress, and I hope, the work is begun ’ere now, having wrote Generals...
51From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 13 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of the 11th last night, and I beg you will present my particular thanks to Capt. Betts and such others of the Officers and men, as well of the Militia as of the Continental troops, who distinguished themselves upon the present occasion—I shall be obliged to you to take the speediest measures to procure me an exact detail of the mischief done by the enemy at the different...
52From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 18 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 10th instant, and thank you for the Attention you shew to the Completion of the Eight Continental Battalions to be raised in your State. I doubt not but the people prefer inlisting in the small coasting Guards who are to stay at home, rather than in the Regiments, but this inconvenience must be submitted to for it would never do to have the continental Regiments detatched...
53From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 18th Feby inclosing your remarks upon Colo. Drakes representation of your Conduct. As I did not chuse to give any determination upon the matter exparte I sent the representation back to Genl putnam that you might see it, and vindicate yourself if any of the charges were not founded in truth. It would appear from your State of the matter, that Colo. Drake and his...
54From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23–25 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I this morning received your favor of the 15th Instant. One of the Detachments you mention, I presume was that under Lieutt Colo. Butler, who arrived here the latter end of last Week. The Other has probably stopped at Pecks Kills agreable to directions lately transmitted General McDougal, till further Orders. This I was induced to direct, ’till the designs of the Enemy became unfolded and so...
55From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 23d February, & 6th March. So far from allowing the Goods brought off from Long Island to be sold for the Captors or rather plunderers, that if you had not assured me the Officer delivered up all the Goods to you and seemed to think he acted for the best, I should have ordered him to be tryed by a Court Martial for disobedience of Orders. But I desire he may be...
56From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
A day or two ago, you expressed a desire to go towards the Sound on some private business—At present you may Unite this object with the public service—It is probable from different accounts the enemy have made an incursion into Connecticut; if so you may be useful by taking the direction of the militia which may be assembling to oppose them, if you can arrive in time—You have therefore my...
57From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 6 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 19th Feby accompanied by one from Mr Jonathan Welles in behalf of his Nephew Major Welles who was made prisoner on Long Island. I am obliged to give the same Answer to this request that I have given to many others of the same Nature and that is, that I have endeavoured to avoid all imputations of partiality in negotiating the Exchange of prisoners, and therefore constantly...
58From George Washington to Major General Samuel Holden Parsons, 22 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Walker has communicated to me some discoveries made of a plot among the tories of Stratford and Fairfield Counties of which I have directed him to give you the particulars. It seems a clue has been found to it which if rightly improved will enable us to detect the affair in all its extent and punish the principals and their accomplices. I need not observe to you of how dangerous a...
59From John Adams to Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Last Evening I received yours of 7 July. It should have been August I suppose. I am perfectly of your opinion of the Policy, and the Necessity of offering Land to inlist Soldiers. There is a Difficulty attends it—some Colonies have no Lands to give. However this might be got over, if the General would recommend the Measure—but it seems to me it never will be done, untill he does. Congress has...
60From John Adams to Samuel Holden Parsons, 22 June 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your obliging Favour of the third of June, has been too long unanswered. I acknowledge the Difficulty of ascertaining, the comparative Merit of Officers, and the danger of advancing Friends, where there is no uncommon Merit. This danger cannot be avoided, by any other Means, than making it an invariable Rule, to promote officers in succession. For if you make a King the Judge of uncommon...