Parsons, Samuel H. (1737-1789) to Benjamin Huntington
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03413 Author/Creator: Parsons, Samuel H. (1737-1789) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 September 1780 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 22 x 18 cm. Order a Copy
Brigadier General Parsons complains about insufficient provisions and decreasing numbers of troops, in which he did not see "in the present Temper of the Country a possibility of recruiting them again. Rails against Congress and the promotion of General Smallwood (to Major General after the Battle of Camden), which he took as a personal offense because his own service was overlooked.
Camp Sepr. 24th 1710
Dr Sir
I have set down to acknowledge the Receit of your Letter for which you will please to accept my Thanks.
I find on my Arrival at Camp it will probably be a happy circumstance to Us, that the 2nd (Division of the Fleet have not arriv'd ; with half the propos'd Force & no Provisions, and very little Supplies of any kind, I beleive we should make a very indifferent Figure in besieging New- York - yet I cannot but feel myself exceedingly unwilling this campaign should end without any offensive Operations against the Enemy: our Army will soon be again reduc'd to a very inconsiderable number nor do I see in the present Temper of the Country a possibility of recruiting them again even for a short period, nor are any measures taking to raise an Army to continue for the War, without which I own I have very little Expectations of soon closing the Distresses of our Country. I know [inserted: this] Idea is not a popular one [2] but since the Southern Defeat I believe it must be more relish.d than before should the Enemy remain in profession of what they have acquird & we obtain no advantages I fear our Char[illegible]ter as a Nation will sink among the People of Europe whose good Opinion we were never more in Need of; but tis your Province to decide on the Fate of Nations & mine to remain a silent spectator of the Events producd by the Wisdom & Councils of the Supreme Legislature of this extended Empire -
like the rest of the World I find Congress can please themselves without consulting the General if their Inclination leads them to the Measure; and refuse to gratify any Person when they choose, because the General has not been consulted. I think however it would be more manly to avoid openly their real Sentiments that their Pleasure is the Rule of their Conduct ; Sic Volo Sic Jubeo, may apply when we see no other Reason for their Conduct, you [3] know me too well to believe I can patiently rest under the Promotion of General Smallwood, though I really esteem seem a very deserving Officer & who merits every Thing you can bestow upon him yet I can see no reason why the profes'd Line of promotion should be broken over in this Instance; Since common Justice has long Since requird the promotion of his two Senior Officers; I have Two Years done that Duty which belongs to a higher Rank, not from Accident but want of a Sufficient Numb[text loss] Officers for the Command; under the circumstances I think have been long intitled to that Rank: however I shall make [inserted: no] further Remarks on the Subject; I feel the Indignity offerd to me and could have wishd. Some other Mode had been adopted to reduce the Number of Officers then that of affronting them by rendering them contemptible.
I am Dr. Sr. with Sentements
of personal Respect
y.r Obedt. Serv.t
Sam H. Parsons
[4] [address leaf]
Hon.
Benjamin Huntington Esqr
Member of Congress
Philadelphia
[docket]
Genl [Parsons] [illegible]
Septr 24th 1780
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