31To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 22 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have inclos’d an extract of a Letter to me from a prisoner on Long Island, the purport of which you will see. The account there given is correspondant to a variety of transactions which have fallen within the observation of several Gentlemen now with us—who were made prisoners with Major Hammell. I know of nothing antecedent to his being a Prisoner which gave any suspicion of him, but the...
32To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 29 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
By my Son from Long Island, yesterday, I learn that Genl Clinton’s Baggage arrivd at Flushing last Wednesday. he was expected there last Thursday; about forty Field Peices had arrivd at Flushing from New York: that the Hessians at Huntington had marchd for Jamaica: that the Dragoons at Huntington had receivd Orders to march to the Narrows; but when they were ready to march were Orderd to wait...
33To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Q. 1. What or whither any Operations can be undertaken with Probability of Success? 2d Shall any Part of this Army move Eastward? 3. Can any Attempts be made on the Posts at New York with a Probability of Success? An. The Number & Strength of the Enemy. The Situation of Genl Sullivan’s Army the Probable Intention of the Enemy in my Opinion ought to be known with greater Certainty before a...
34To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The march of Part of the Troops towards Boston being determind, it only remains for me to give my Opinion in what Manner the Army shall be disposd during the Winter and how they are to be provided with Forage and Provisions. The Security, good Government, and Discipline of the Troops will be best attaind and Promoted in a compact Body, and Bread will be easier supplied in a Station near the...
35To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I find Capt. George Starr of this Town is appointed by the Board of War to take Charge of the Leather belonging to the Continent, purchase Shoes, Cartouch Bozes [boxes] & other Military Accoutrements, by the inclosd Order you will find the Board have impowerd him to contract for those Articles in Exchange for raw Hides; I am fully Satisfied he will do all that any Man can do in that...
36To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 16 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosd I send you several Examinations taken of Persons who lately left New York. Ld Cathcart’s Corps I am informd have Orders to sell all except European Horses. I am obliged to continue a few Days longer on the Sea Coasts before I return to Camp; the Small Parties of the Enemy exceedingly distress the Inhabitants in this Vicinity, If a Brigade could be posted near the Coast it would Prevent...
37To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 19 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Capts. Lockwood and Leavingworth returnd Yesterday from Long Island where they went to meet a Man sent by Capt. Lockwood to New York: this Man left New York last Monday and informs that Part of Admiral Biron’s Squadron returnd to the Hook last Fryday & part on Saturday, that the Norfolk & One Frigate had come up to the City both dismasted in a violent Storm the Fleet met at Sea, that they met...
38To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
the Weather has been so boisterous as has prevented passing the Sound some Days: The inclosd Examination of a Prisoner from Newyork I have sent. A Woman from thence the Day before Yesterday says a considerable Body of Troops are relanded in the City, that She Saw them land last Fryday & Says She was informd the Fleet was returnd whither the Storm had Shatterd so that they were obliged to put...
39To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
When I last conversd with your Excellency on the Subject of Clothing my Brigade; I receivd your Assurances I Should have my rateable Proportion of the Blankets, Shirts and other small Clothing for my Brigade according to a Return then given in; since which Time I have receivd no Article of any kind; I am sure the great Multiplicity of Business in which your Excellency is ingag’d must have...
40To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 29 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was last Week on my return from this Place to Camp; but on receiving Inteligence of the Enemy’s moving toward this Place have returnd. the Commander in Chief of the Enemy’s Forces is said to be at Southampton, a Fleet of Thirty Sail of Ships and other Vessels have arrivd at Sagg Harbour through the Sound. Thirty Ships have arrivd Yesterday at Newport; a Fleet of Twenty five Vessels left...
41To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 8–11 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I receiv’d a Letter Yesterday from Colo. Gray of which the following is an Extract. “This Moment Lt Tiffany returnd from Long Island who informs me that a Body of Hessians are marching from the Westward, but were not so far up the Island as Huntington: that Officer’s Baggage every Day is transporting toward the East End, that the Militia of the two western Counties are to assemble this Week at...
42To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 16 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
An Officer sent to Long Island returnd the 14th and informs the Enemy’s Troops at the East End of the Island have their Baggage pack’d Up, and that One Regiment have marchd Westward by the South Road. That a Packett has lately arriv’d in New York from England, and tis reported that the Ships in the Sound are orderd to New York. He says there are very few Troops on Lloyd’s Neck and about Thirty...
43To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor of your Excellency’s Letters of the 12th, 17th & 19th Inst. I have in Consequence of your Directions to Put this Division of the Troops in Perfect Readiness to march by the 10th of May next, orderd the Detachments made from the Division to New London and other Places remote from Camp to join the Division immediately and hope Nothing will prevent the Troops being ready to march...
44To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 25 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Letter of the 23d Inst. with the Inteligence from Genl Maxwell inclosd I receivd this Afternoon. I have receivd Information that about the 22d Inst. a large Number of Empty Waggons came up to Fort Washington; the Enemy for about a fortnight past have Prohibited all Passing over King’s Bridge and observe the greatest Secrecy in their Transactions at that Post. The Accounts we...
45To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 2 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 28th Ulo directed to the Commanding Officer here came safe to me about four o’Clock this Morning. according to your Excellency’s former Orders of the 23d I had given Orders to General Huntington’s Brigade (whose Tour of Duty it is mine having perform’d the last) to hold themselves in Readiness to march on the Shortest Notice and on receiving Inteligence of the Embarkation of...
46To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 3 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
On reviewing my Letter of Yesterday I find I have not fully expresd my Intentions respecting the March of the Brigade under my Command. I suppose from the Tenor of your Excellency’s Letters an immediate Danger is apprehended at the North River and in that Case it becomes necessary to reinforce those Posts sooner than it will be possible to collect my Baggage & out Guards and march my Brigade;...
47To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 6 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
by the inclosd Copy of a Letter from Mr Hubbard your Excellency will be able to form a Judgment of the Embarasments in the Way of my Brigade’s marching so early as I could wish. This is no Neglect of mine: on the 23d of April the Day I received your Excellencys Letters of the 17th & 19th I sent to Mr Hubbard desiring him to send in the Horses and Teams belonging to the Brigade and forward the...
48To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 May 1779. GW wrote to Parsons on 28 May : “Your favours of the 11th and 15th instant came duly to hand.”
49To George Washington from Samuel Holden Parsons, 15 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Samuel Holden Parsons, 15 May 1779. GW wrote to Parsons on 28 May : “Your favours of the 11th and 15th instant came duly to hand.”
50To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 23 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have inclosd the Commission and Resignation of Lt Hitchcock of the 8th Regiment, and request your Excellency to discharge him. I am Satisfied the good of the Service and Peace of the Regiment require it. I hope your Excellency will not be troubled with many more from my Brigade. I expect Two or three will resign which I beleive will close the Scene. By your Excellency’s Last Letter I suppose...
51To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 5 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In Answer to your Question by Cpt. Christie of 3d Pensylvania Regt I have deliver’d him a general Information of the State of this Garrison which will be explaind by the Proper Key The Garrison is in high Spirits and are very desirous to receive the Enemys Attack. I cannot promise the Post will be defended, but I am certain every Exertion will be made by the Troops to secure the Possession of...
52To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 12 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
General Patterson joind his Brigade last Evening and is now on the Point; when the public Service will admit I shall be happy to join my Brigade at such Place as will most conduce to the general Welfare. Your Excellency was pleasd to desire my Opinion of the Disposition to be made of the Army. Under all Circumstances I think 3000 Men should be assignd for garrisoning this Post, by which, I...
53To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 8 July 1779. GW wrote Parsons on this date: “I have yours of this day.”
54To George Washington from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 9 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, 9 July 1779. GW wrote Parsons on 10 July: “I have received Your favors of the 9th from Luddington’s & Redding.” The letter that Parsons wrote from the location of Henry Ludington’s mills and home in Dutchess County, N.Y., is the one that has not been found.
55To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment arrivd here after a Tour of Sixty Miles Since 11 o’Clock last Night: The few Militia at New Haven behavd exceeding well, repulsd the Enemy several Times & considerable Loss was sufferd by the Enemy; they burnt a Number of Houses at East & West Haven & plunderd New Haven: they have destroyd Fairfield, almost every House: the Abuses of Women, Children & Old Men are unparaleld:...
56To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here last night and find the fleet which transport the British Incendiaries is returned to Huntington Bay opposite to this Town where they now are. The Troops employd for these purposes are, by the best information I can get, about 2,000 commanded by Governor Tryon. At New Haven the few Militia gathered in season to oppose the enemys progress, behavd with great resolution and...
57To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
In my last, I informd that the Enemy landed last Night: at four this Morning the Enemy on their Advance were met by the Militia & some Skirmishing insued, but without any considerable Effect on either Side; at about Six o’Clock the Troops under Genl Wolcott, & my Small Detachment of 150 Conl Troops were joind & took possession of an Emminece the North End of the Town. the Enemy advanced in our...
58To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
your Excellency’s Letter of the 13th I receivd this Morning and shall pay a particular Attention to procure an exact detail of the Mischiefs done by the Enemy at the different Places both on the Persons & Property of the Inhabitants, the Movments of the Enemy and the apparent Prospects of a speedy Descent upon Stamford has hitherto so far ingagd my Attention as to prevent my paying that...
59To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 15 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment returnd from Sawpitts & Kingstreet, where I am informd that the Enemy have advancd a Party of Horse & Foot this afternoon to Harrison’s Purchase; and that the greater Part of the Troops movd Yesterday afternoon from Maroneck towards White Plains. the Fleet after lying about Twelve Hours before this Town have gone Westward to Day and are now at Anchor nearly Opposite New...
60To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 20 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosd is a Report of the Number of Houses Stores &c. burnt at Norwalk the 11th Inst. the Enemy were so necessarily attentive to their own Safety whilst they remaind in Town and retird with so much Precipitation when they began their Retreat, as left them no Time to perpetrate those Acts of Cruelty & Brutal Savageness they were guilty of in other Places. they had however Opportunity to...