Adams, John Tudor, William

To William Tudor

Dear Sir Philadelphia August 29. 1776

I Sett down now in the Character of a School Master, or a Fellow of a Colledge to give myself Airs, the Pedantry and Impertinence of which I have no doubt you will pardon, as the Precepts I am about to deliver are of such vast Importance, to the public, and so little practiced, altho they are so very easy, and natural.

You must be sensible that Intelligence, is of the last Consequence to the Congress to the Assemblies and to the Public at large; it ought therefore to be transmitted as quick and frequently, and with as much Exactness and Particularity as possible. In Time of War, the Letters from Generals, and other Officers of the Army, are usually the Memorials, and Documents, from whence Annals are afterwards compiled and Histories composed. They cannot be too carefull, therefore to transmit circumstantial Narrations of Facts, any more than for their own Safety, success, and Glory, they can omit any Means of obtaining the most exact, particular and constant Information.

I have Suffered inexpressible Vexation upon many Occasions, when I have seen public Letters, containing vague Sketches, and imperfect Hints of Enterprizes, and Movements both of Friends and Enemies.

When an Officer Setts down to write a Relation of a Skirmish, or a Battle I should think his first Care would be to ascertain and describe the Force of the Enemy—their Numbers—their Commanders—their Appointments—their Motions—the Situation of their Encampment—the Ground they occupied or were attempting to possess themselves of. In the next Place I should think he would tell you the Number of Men which he sent against the Enemy—the Officer to whom he gave the Command, the other General Officers under him—the Names of the Regiments which composed the Party. And then give you a Detail, of the Marches and Countermarches, the Motions and Maneouvres of both Enemies and Friends during the Contention, the Result of the whole Transaction on which Side Victory declared 2herself, and the Number of killed and wounded on each Side—the Number of Officers especially, and among them the most eminent by Name. All these Particulars together with the Loss or Acquisition of Arms, Ammunition, Baggage, ordinance and stores,1 ought to be related with as much Precision, as the Writer can obtain.

Recollect the Letter of Coll. Campbell lately taken Prisoner at Boston,2 relating the Circumstances of his Captivity. How clearly, and precisely he States his own Strength and that of his Enemy! How minutely he remembers every Circumstance of the Engagement!

When Facts are related in this manner the Reader, the public, and Posterity are enabled, to form a Judgment upon the whole; to decide, what is the Consequence of the Event, to determine the Character and Conduct of Commanders and of Troops, to ascertain their Merit or Demerit. In short to pass just Reflection to praise or blame with Propriety, to reward or punish with Justice.

Read the Relation of the Battle between Cataline, and his Adversaries, in Sallust. You See the Combatants—you feel the Ardor of the Battle—you see the Blood of the Slain and you hear the wounded sigh and groan.

But if you read our american Relations of Battles and Sieges, in our News Papers, or in private Letters, or indeed in public Official Letters, you see none little3 of this Accuracy. You are left in Confusion and Uncertainty about every Thing. It may one day be your Fortune, to be obliged to convey Information to the Public, of the Course of the Events and Transactions of a War and whenever it is, I doubt not, it will be faithfully done. At present except by the Commander in Chief, and one or two others, it is done very Superficially crudely and confusedly.

A General Officer Should Spare no Pains to make himself Master of the Epistolary Style which is easy natural Simple4 and familiar, and of the historical Style too, which is equally Simple, altho a little more Grave, Solemn and noble. Xenophon, Caesar, Wolf, Lee,5 are all indebted for a very large Share of their Fame, to their Pens.

The Strange Uncertainty, in which We are Still involved, concerning the late Skirmishes, upon Long Island, have given rise to the foregoing Observations. My Friends have been a little negligent, in not writing me a Line, upon this Occasion, I think We 3have Suffered in our Reputation for Generalship, in permitting the Enemy to Steal a March upon Us. Greens Sickness6 I conjecture has been the Cause of this. We have not been Sufficiently vigilant in obtaining Information of the Motions and Numbers of the Enemy after their Landing on Long Island, in reconnoitering them and in keeping out advanced Guards and patrolling Parties. Our Officers dont seem Sufficiently Sensible of the Importance of an Observation of the King of Prussia, that Stratagem, Ambuscade, and Ambush are the Sublimest Chapter in the Art of War.7

Regular Forces are never Surprized. They are Masters of Rules, for guarding themselves in every Situation and Contingency. The old Officers among them are full of Resources, Wiles, Artifices, and Stratagems, to deceive, decoy, and overreach their Adversaries. We must oppose Art to Art. We must not disdain, to learn of them. Fas est et ab Hoste doceri.8

My mind is more and more engaged, with the Thoughts of the Importance of introducing into our Army Officers, of Parts and Ambition. Captain Lee9 has been constantly upon my Mind, ever Since you mentioned him. His Fathers Merit, and his own demand Promotion for him. Pray let me know, who are Nixons Lt Coll and Major? Who are Learneds Lt Coll and Major?10 You Said there were other young Officers of Parts and Spirit in Glovers Regiment. Let me know the Name and Character of every one of them, I conjure you.

Have We not put too much to the Hazard in sending the greatest Part of the Army over to Long Island from whence there is no Retreat? Will not the Enemy by making regular Approaches upon us, be able to force Us, by Means of their Bombs and Carcasses, out of our Lines.

Septr. 2. So! The Fishers, have Set a Seigne, and a whole School, a whole Shoal of Fish, have Swam into it, and been caught. The Fowlers have set a Net and a whole Flock of Pidgeons, have alighted on the Bed, and the Net has been drawn over them. But the most insolent Thing of all, is Sending one of those very Pidgeons,11 as a Flutterer to Philadelphia, in order to decoy the great Flock of all. Did you ever See, a Decoy duck, or a Decoy Brant?12

Thank you for your last Letter.13 There are a few Words in it, which contain a Hint of Something, which if Fact has been in-4dustriously hidden from Us. “By the Action of last Tuesday, We are convinced that many of our Men are Cowards.” I beg of you to explain this, in detail. Do you mean the Men who were in the Skirmish? Those in the Lines on Long Island? Or those in New York? Dont subscribe your Name. It shall be a secret. But I conjure you, as You love your Country to let me know.

Septr. 20. We have So many Reports here of the infamous Cowardice of the New England Troops especially of Fellows's and Parsons's Brigades, in running away,14 in Spight of their two Generals, and General Wash. too, that I am ashamed of my Country. Pray let me know the Truth and whether there is less Courage in the Northern than southern Troops. The Report of Fellows's and Parsons's Brigades is confirmed by the Generals Letter.

LbC (Adams Papers); notation: “Coll Tudor. Sent.”

1.

The words “together with . . . stores” were written above the line in the same pale ink used for the conclusion, written some days later. On rereading, JA made two other alterations, both noted below.

2.

See vol. 4:471, note 3.

3.

The substitution was a later thought; see note 1.

4.

The word “Simple” is interlined; see same.

5.

Gen. Charles Lee, who was the author of several skillfully written pieces defending the American cause. Best known is Strictures upon A “Friendly Address to All Reasonable Americans,” which went through six printings in 1774 and 1775. For this and other published writings, see Alden, General Charles Lee , p. 62–65, 69–70, 84–86.

6.

Greene had been sick for about three weeks (Nathanael Greene to [Jacob Greene?], 30 Aug., Greene, Papers , 1:291).

7.

What work of Frederick II, JA refers to here is uncertain. See vol. 3:195–196, and note 5.

8.

It is allowable to learn even from an enemy.

9.

Joseph Lee, son of Jeremiah (vol. 4:475).

10.

Cols. Thomas Nixon and Ebenezer Learned of the 4th and 3d Continental Infantry regiments, respectively (Heitman, Register Continental Army , p. 20).

11.

Gen. Sullivan arrived in Philadelphia with a message from Lord Howe, which was read in the congress on 3 Sept. The brothers Howe, authorized to compromise the dispute between Britain and the colonies, requested a meeting with some of the members of the congress in their private capacities ( JCC , 5:723, 730–731).

12.

JA copied this paragraph into his Autobiography ( Diary and Autobiography , 3:424).

13.

Tudor to JA, 29 Aug. (below).

14.

During the British assault at Kip's Bay on 15 Sept. The next day Washington wrote to the president of the congress describing the panic (Johnston, Campaign around New York and Brooklyn , p. 236; Washington, Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, 6:58).

Parsons, Samuel Holden JA

1776-08-29

Parsons, Samuel Holden Adams, John

From Samuel Holden Parsons

Sir Long Island 29th. Augt. 1776

In Answer to your last1 in which you desire some further Information respecting Shephard &c., I can inform that Lt. Colo-5nel Shephard2 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 will I think be exceeded by few if any, perhaps others may be as capable of a higher Command; Major Brooks3 is a Young Gentleman of about 28, by Profession a Physician an Inhabitant of Mystic near Boston. Whether he has a College Education I do not know but his Education is liberal his Knowledge extensive, his Soul filled with noble generous Sentiments and in any Command in my Opinion will be equaled by few. Before this Reaches you, the Account of the Battle of Tuesday last4 will arrive; tis impossible to be particular in a Narrative of the Matter as many are yet missing who we hope may come in. In the night of the 26th. Nine Regiments of the English Troops, perhaps about 2500, with Field Artillery &c. passed the Western Road near the Narrows from the Flat Land for our Lines, we had a Guard of 400 or 500 Men posted in the Wood, who about 3 o'Clock Tuesday Morning gave Notice of the Enemy's Approach, a Body of about 1500.5 We immediately marched down to oppose the Progress of the Enemy. We took Possession of a Hill about two Miles from Camp and detached Col. Atlee6 with a Regiment of Delaware to meet them further on the Road. In about 60 Rods he drew Up and received the Enemy's Fire and gave them a well directed fire from his Regiment which did great Execution, and then retreated to the Hill; from thence I was ordered with Col. Atlee and part of his Regiment and Lt. Col. Clark7 with Col. Huntington's Regiment to Cover the left Flank of our main Body.8 This we executed though our Number did at no Time exceed 300 Men, and we were Attack'd Three several Times by Two Regiments the 44th. and 23d. and repulsed them in every Attack with considerable Loss. The Number of dead we had collected together and the Heap the Enemy had made we supposed amounted to about 60, we had about 12 or 14 wounded Prisoners who we caused to be dressed and their wounds put in the best State our Situation would Admit. About 10 o'Clock we found a large Body of the Enemy had advanced on the other Road near our Lines but a Constant Fire was kept up on the Enemy till about 12 when we found them fast Advancing on our Rear to cutt off our Retreat, our Little Main Body advanced boldly up to the Enemy in Rear and broke through their Lines and secur'd the Retreat of most of 6the Party; but it far'd still harder with my little Party who had 3 Times repulsed the Enemy in Front and once in Rear; we had no notice of the Retreat of the main Body till twas too late for Us to join them the Enemy having cutt off our Retreat on three Sides and the main Body having broke through the Enemy's Lines on the other Side and left them between Us: we had no alternative left but force through one Line into a thick Wood which we attempted and effected with Part of our Men, the other Part with Col. Clark being before sent into the Wood. When we had made our Way into the Wood I was accidentally parted from Col. Atlee and most of the Men whom I have never seen since. I came in with 7 Men Yesterday Morning much fatigued. Our Loss is impossible to be Assertaind. In my party a Lt. Col. Parren9 was killed and one Wounded. Our Loss in killed and Wounded is inconsiderable, but many are missing amongst whom are Genl. Sullivan and Ld. Sterling: Colonels Miles, Atlee, Johnson, Lt. Colonel Clark, Major Wells,10 and several other Officers of Distinction are yet missing. I think the Trial of that Day far from being any Discouragement but in General our Soldiers behaved with Firmness. I ought not omit to mention Col. Atlee and Lt. Col. Clark who were with me, with Peculiar Respect, as Intrepid, Cool and brave Officers. I hope soon to be able to give you some more satisfactory Accounts of this Day's Work.

The Bearer Mr. Halsy,11 is a Friend of mine who last year served as an Officer in the Army at St. John's, by some Intriguing which he will be able to inform you off He is refused his Wages under the Idea of his deserting; The Accusation Appears groundless to me. Perhaps he can satisfy you of it: He is willing to submit to Court Martial but not of Genl. Schuyler's Appointment for Special Reasons of which he will inform you: if you will be kind enough to aford him your Advice in his Affairs, I shall be greatly obliged as I know he is a Man of Spirit who may be Useful if this supposed Blemish is removed. I am Sr. wth. Esteem & Regard yr hl Servt.12

Sam H Parsons

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To The Hon. John Adams Esqr. Member of Congress In Philadelphia”; docketed: “General Parsons. 29. Aug. 1776”; notation: “Philadelphia recivd & forwarded by his humble servt. S. Huntington.” Huntington's note suggests that Parsons' letter arrived while JA was absent with the committee sent by the congress to meet with Lord Howe. JA left Philadelphia on 9 Sept. (JA to James Warren, 8 Sept., below; JA, Diary and Autobiography , 3:417).

7 1.

JA to Parsons, 11 Aug. (vol. 4:443).

2.

William Shepard of the 3d Continental Infantry, of whom Parsons had written favorably in his letters to JA of 20 May and 15 Aug. (vol. 4:206, 464).

3.

John Brooks of the 19th Continental Infantry, whom Parsons had mentioned in his letter to JA of 15 Aug. (vol. 4:464, 465). See also DAB .

4.

The Battle of Long Island, which began on 27 Aug.

5.

British troops commanded by Maj. Gen. James Grant, whose orders were to delay making any serious attack while the main body of the British forces went through Jamaica Pass to outflank the Americans (Johnston, Campaign around New York and Brooklyn , p. 160–161).

6.

Samuel John Atlee, colonel of the Pennsylvania Musket Battalion, a militia organization (Heitman, Register Continental Army , p. 78).

7.

Joel Clark in Jedediah Huntington's 17th Continental Infantry (same, p. 22).

8.

That is, troops commanded by Lord Stirling, under whom Gen. Parsons was acting (Johnston, Campaign around New York and Brooklyn , p. 166).

9.

That is, Caleb Parry (same, p. 196).

10.

Sullivan, Stirling, Samuel Miles, Atlee, Clark, and Levi Wells were captured; Philip Johnston was mortally wounded (same, passim; Heitman, Register Continental Army , p. 581).

11.

Jeremiah Halsey, whose petition for back pay, referred to the Board of War, was favorably acted upon by the congress on 7 Sept. ( JCC , 5:736, 745–746).

12.

In his answer of 2 Oct., JA, although happy with the commendation that Parsons had received, attributed the loss of Long Island to the neglect and incapacity of American officers. In typically vigorous language, he denied any excuse for a general surprised in daylight ( Diary and Autobiography , 3:444–445).