From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 July 1779
To Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons
Hd Qrs [New Windsor] July 10: 1779
⟨Dear⟩ Sir
I have received Your favors of the 9th from Luddington’s1 & Redding. It gives me ⟨g⟩reat concern to hear of the ravages of the Enemy. The conduct of the Militia at New Haven does them the highest honor. I had heard of it before thro several channels. I have written to Genl Heath to move with ⟨th⟩e Two Connecticut Brigades towards the Enemy, ⟨b⟩y the way of Crompond in the first instance ⟨a⟩nd from thence to Rid[g]efield & Bedford,2 ⟨w⟩hich I hope will animate the Militia ⟨a⟩nd in some measure prevent the Enemy’s ⟨i⟩ncursions.3 I am &c.
G.W.
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Mutiliated matter from a torn left edge of the draft manuscript is supplied in angle brackets from the Varick transcript.
1. GW is referring to the location of Henry Ludington’s mills and home in Dutchess County, N.Y., which is now part of Kent, Putnam County (see 38–40). The letter that Parsons wrote to GW at this place has not been found.
2. See the first letter from GW to William Heath, this date. For the Connecticut brigades placed under Heath’s command, see that letter, n.2.
3. For the British raids on Connecticut in early July, see GW to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 July, source note.