The Property of
A CALIFORNIA COLLECTOR
ADAMS, JOHN, President. Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") to General [Samuel Holden] Parsons, Philadelphia, 19 August 1776. 3 pages, 4to, 204 x 160 mm. (8 x 6 5/16 in.), closely written, minor repairs to a few fold tears at edges and fold intersection, barely affecting two or three letters text, but otherwise in very fine condition, the ink very dark.
細節
ADAMS, JOHN, President. Autograph letter signed ("John Adams") to General [Samuel Holden] Parsons, Philadelphia, 19 August 1776. 3 pages, 4to, 204 x 160 mm. (8 x 6 5/16 in.), closely written, minor repairs to a few fold tears at edges and fold intersection, barely affecting two or three letters text, but otherwise in very fine condition, the ink very dark.
A MONTH AFTER THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, ADAMS PONDERS THE AMERICAN MILITARY CRISIS: "A MORE EXALTED LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY...MUST BE EXITED AMONG OUR PEOPLE, OR WE SHALL PERISH IN INFAMY"
A very fine, strongly worded letter in which Adams, alarmed about America's military situation, voices his concern for the new army, his displeasure over recent "Flights," and states his belief that every American should take up arms against the British "determined to conquer or die." Adams and Thomas Jefferson had recently been appointed to a committee to draft official articles of war for the Continental armies, then being rapidly organized. Parsons had written Adams to recommend certain individuals for posts in the Continental Army. "The Gentlemen you recommend for Majors, Chapman and Dier [Dyer], will be recommended by the Board of War, and I hope agreed to in Congress. I thank you for your Observations upon certain Field Officers. Patterson, Shepherd and Brooks, make the best figure, I think, upon paper. It is my Misfortune, that I have not the least Acquaintance with any of these Gentlemen, having never seen any one of them, or heard his Name, till lately. This is a little remarkable. Few Persons in the Province, ever travelled over the whole of it, more than I have, or had better opportunities to know every conspicuous Character. But I dont so much as know, from what Part of the Province Shepherd and Brooks come; of what Families they are; their Educations, or Employments. Should be very glad to be informed.
"Lt. Coll. Henshaw has been recommended to me, by Coll. Reed for Promotion, as a usefull Officer. But upon the whole, I think the List you have given me, don't shine. I am very much ashamed of it. I am so vexed, sometimes as almost to resolve to make Interest to be a Coll. myself. I have almost Vanity enough to think that I could make a Figure in such a Group. But a treacherous, shattered Constitution is an eternal Objection against my aspiring at military Command. If it was not for this insuperable Difficulty, I should certainly imitate Old Ol[iver] Cromwell, in one particular, that is in launching into military Life, after forty, as much as I dislike his Character and Example in others.
"I wish I could find Materials, any where, in sufficient Quantities, to make good Officers. A brave and able Man, wherever he is, shall never want my Vote, for his Advancement: nor shall an ignorant awkward Dastard, ever want it for his Dismission. Congress must assume an higher Tone of Discipline, over Officers, as well as these over their Men. With Regard to Encouragements in Money and Land, for Soldiers to inlist during the War, I have ever been in Favour of it as the best OEconomy, and the best Policy. And I have no doubt, that Rewards in Land will be given after the War is over. But the Majority are not of my Mind, for promising of it now. I am the less anxious about it, however, for a Reason, which does not seem to have much Weight, with the majority. Although it may cost us more and We may put now and then a Battle to a Hazard, by the Method We are in, Yet We shall be less in danger, of Corruption and Violence from a standing Army, and our Militia will acquire Courage, Experience, Discipline, and Hardiness in actual Service. I wish every Man upon the Continent was a Soldier, and obliged upon Occasion, to fight, and determined to conquer or to die.
"Flight was unknown to the Romans. I wish it was to Americans. There was a Flight from Quebec, and worse than a Flight from the Cedars. If We dont attone for these Disgraces, We are undone.
"A more exalted Love of their Country, a more enthusiastic Ardor, for military Glory, and a deeper Detestation, Disdain and Horror of martial Disgrace, must be excited among our People, or We shall perish in Infamy. I will certainly give my Voice, for devoting to the infernal Gods, every Man, high or low, who shall be convicted of Bashfulness in the Day of Battle.
In a postscript, Adams notes: "Since the above was written, Congress has accepted the Report of the Board of War, and appointed Dyer and Chapman, Majors. I had much Pleasure in promoting Dyer, not only from his own excellent Character, but from respect to my good Friend his Father." Published (with a number of significant differences from the autograph) in Adams, Diary and Autobiography, ed. L.H. Butterfield et al, 3::447-449. This is one of a very few letters of this crucial period which Adams himself transcribed from his letterbook many years later for use in his uncompleted autobiography.
Adams's remark on the Romans is likely to have been prompted by his recent deliberations on the Board of War, regarding the Articles of War. As Adams relates, "There was one system of articles of war which had carried two empires to the head of mankind, the Roman and the British; for the British were only a literal translation of the Roman. It would be in vain for us to seek...a more complete system of military discipline. It was an observation founded in undoubted facts, that the prosperity of nations had been in proportion to the discipline of their foces...I was, therefore, for reporting the British articles of war, totidem verbis. Jefferson, in those days, never failed to agree with me, in every thing of a political nature, and he very cordially concurred in this. The British articles of war were, accordingly, reported [by the committee], and defended in Congress by me assisted by some others, and finally carried. They laid the foundation of a discipline which, in time, brought our troops to a capacity of contending with Britsih veterans, and a rivalry with the best troops of France" (quoted in Barnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, 2:55fn.).
A MONTH AFTER THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, ADAMS PONDERS THE AMERICAN MILITARY CRISIS: "A MORE EXALTED LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY...MUST BE EXITED AMONG OUR PEOPLE, OR WE SHALL PERISH IN INFAMY"
A very fine, strongly worded letter in which Adams, alarmed about America's military situation, voices his concern for the new army, his displeasure over recent "Flights," and states his belief that every American should take up arms against the British "determined to conquer or die." Adams and Thomas Jefferson had recently been appointed to a committee to draft official articles of war for the Continental armies, then being rapidly organized. Parsons had written Adams to recommend certain individuals for posts in the Continental Army. "The Gentlemen you recommend for Majors, Chapman and Dier [Dyer], will be recommended by the Board of War, and I hope agreed to in Congress. I thank you for your Observations upon certain Field Officers. Patterson, Shepherd and Brooks, make the best figure, I think, upon paper. It is my Misfortune, that I have not the least Acquaintance with any of these Gentlemen, having never seen any one of them, or heard his Name, till lately. This is a little remarkable. Few Persons in the Province, ever travelled over the whole of it, more than I have, or had better opportunities to know every conspicuous Character. But I dont so much as know, from what Part of the Province Shepherd and Brooks come; of what Families they are; their Educations, or Employments. Should be very glad to be informed.
"Lt. Coll. Henshaw has been recommended to me, by Coll. Reed for Promotion, as a usefull Officer. But upon the whole, I think the List you have given me, don't shine. I am very much ashamed of it. I am so vexed, sometimes as almost to resolve to make Interest to be a Coll. myself. I have almost Vanity enough to think that I could make a Figure in such a Group. But a treacherous, shattered Constitution is an eternal Objection against my aspiring at military Command. If it was not for this insuperable Difficulty, I should certainly imitate Old Ol[iver] Cromwell, in one particular, that is in launching into military Life, after forty, as much as I dislike his Character and Example in others.
"I wish I could find Materials, any where, in sufficient Quantities, to make good Officers. A brave and able Man, wherever he is, shall never want my Vote, for his Advancement: nor shall an ignorant awkward Dastard, ever want it for his Dismission. Congress must assume an higher Tone of Discipline, over Officers, as well as these over their Men. With Regard to Encouragements in Money and Land, for Soldiers to inlist during the War, I have ever been in Favour of it as the best OEconomy, and the best Policy. And I have no doubt, that Rewards in Land will be given after the War is over. But the Majority are not of my Mind, for promising of it now. I am the less anxious about it, however, for a Reason, which does not seem to have much Weight, with the majority. Although it may cost us more and We may put now and then a Battle to a Hazard, by the Method We are in, Yet We shall be less in danger, of Corruption and Violence from a standing Army, and our Militia will acquire Courage, Experience, Discipline, and Hardiness in actual Service. I wish every Man upon the Continent was a Soldier, and obliged upon Occasion, to fight, and determined to conquer or to die.
"Flight was unknown to the Romans. I wish it was to Americans. There was a Flight from Quebec, and worse than a Flight from the Cedars. If We dont attone for these Disgraces, We are undone.
"A more exalted Love of their Country, a more enthusiastic Ardor, for military Glory, and a deeper Detestation, Disdain and Horror of martial Disgrace, must be excited among our People, or We shall perish in Infamy. I will certainly give my Voice, for devoting to the infernal Gods, every Man, high or low, who shall be convicted of Bashfulness in the Day of Battle.
In a postscript, Adams notes: "Since the above was written, Congress has accepted the Report of the Board of War, and appointed Dyer and Chapman, Majors. I had much Pleasure in promoting Dyer, not only from his own excellent Character, but from respect to my good Friend his Father." Published (with a number of significant differences from the autograph) in Adams, Diary and Autobiography, ed. L.H. Butterfield et al, 3::447-449. This is one of a very few letters of this crucial period which Adams himself transcribed from his letterbook many years later for use in his uncompleted autobiography.
Adams's remark on the Romans is likely to have been prompted by his recent deliberations on the Board of War, regarding the Articles of War. As Adams relates, "There was one system of articles of war which had carried two empires to the head of mankind, the Roman and the British; for the British were only a literal translation of the Roman. It would be in vain for us to seek...a more complete system of military discipline. It was an observation founded in undoubted facts, that the prosperity of nations had been in proportion to the discipline of their foces...I was, therefore, for reporting the British articles of war, totidem verbis. Jefferson, in those days, never failed to agree with me, in every thing of a political nature, and he very cordially concurred in this. The British articles of war were, accordingly, reported [by the committee], and defended in Congress by me assisted by some others, and finally carried. They laid the foundation of a discipline which, in time, brought our troops to a capacity of contending with Britsih veterans, and a rivalry with the best troops of France" (quoted in Barnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, 2:55fn.).