Important Continental Army general during the American Revolution (1737–1789). Revolutionary War–dated ALS signed “Sam. H. Parsons,” one page, 6 x 8.25, West Point, March 11, 1778. Letter to Ezekiel Williams. In part: "A Number of Persons in your case Prisoners of War, have been Bound to inlist in our service against the Resolutions of Congress & to the great Detriment of the Service; those who have joined here I have ordered back to your charge under a proper Guard; when they arrive the clothing rec’d I desire you will take from them & return to some commissary or the Reg’t they inlisted into, as they can by no Principles be intitled to cheat the Public out of the clothing as well as Individuals of their money they were simple enough to give them to inlist; the certificate rec’d if any are given cannot avail the Possessor as the Persons recruited were incapacitated to become Soldiers. I have also sent back a Man inlisted & sent on by Cpt. Keyes of Ashford—the Recruit has but one arm, a perfect Burlesque upon a Soldier. I wish you to inform the Gov’r of this & such like Practices too often gone into by the recruiting Officer of the State as well as our own.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds (with a few repaired separations), scattered staining, and ragged edges. Exceptional content as the Continental Army struggled to bolster its forces against the much larger British troops, enlisting many less-than-qualified candidates for lack of better options. RR Auction COA.
