1From 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...
2From John Adams to Samuel Holden Parsons, 3 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Favour of 24. July is before me. Your Observations concerning the Encouragement We ought to give, to soldiers to inlist I think are just, but a Wisdom Superiour to mine determines otherwise, and therefore I must take it for granted that it is Superiour Wisdom to live from Hand to Mouth, to depend upon fresh Reinforcements of raw Militia every three Months, instead of a regular well...
3From 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...
4From John Adams to Samuel Holden Parsons, 19 August 1776 (Adams Papers)
Philadelphia, 19 August 1776. Printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 3:447–449 . printed : ( JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 3:447–449 ).
5From 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...
6From 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...
7From 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...
8From 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...
9From 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...
10From 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)...