Accusations of their use of traitorous nighttime signals led to them being labeled (*) "Blue Lights," and Theophilus Parsons was a member of this group.
This group included the author of the "Loco" letters, and another member of this group wrote the essay "Laocoon" and gave a notable speech while extremely ill in favor of funding a certain treaty.  In addition to Stephen Higginson and Fisher Ames, they included the supposed author of the "Conciliatory Resolutions."  Accusations of their use of traitorous nighttime signals led to them being labeled (*) "Blue Lights," and Theophilus Parsons was a member of this group. Another member of this group was the author of the Continental Army's drill manual and succeeded Henry Knox as Secretary of War.  Having a name coined by John Hancock, this group's members included George Cabot and Timothy Pickering, who was dismissed as Secretary of State for supporting war with France contrary to the wishes of this group's enemy, John Adams, who labeled them a "British faction."  For 10 points, name this group of radical Federalists mainly from Massachusetts who attempted to secede New England from the union and who dominated the Hartford Convention.
This group included the author of the "Loco" letters, and another member of this group wrote the essay "Laocoon" and gave a notable speech while extremely ill in favor of funding a certain treaty.  
{Essex Junto} [I {suppose} prompt on "{Federalists}"]