Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

Writing from New Windsor on this date, John Cochran, director of military hospitals, began a letter to eight subordinates: “His Excellency the Commander in Chief, apprehensive that many of the men returned sick, absent and in the service of the Hospitals are not now in being, or cannot be particularly accounted for, has requested me to furnish him with a particular and accurate Return from all the Hospitals under my Inspection, of every man in said Hospitals, specifying their names, the Corps they belong to, and the time of their admission. He also wishes these returns may comprehend the Continental soldiers, who wait on the Medical Gentlemen or are otherwise employed in the Department, and that the particular service they are in, their Names, the Corps they belong to and the time they have served in that capacity, be specified. It is expected the utmost punctuality will be observed in making this return” (Saffron, Cochran description begins Morris H. Saffron. Surgeon to Washington: Dr. John Cochran, 1730-1807. New York, 1977. description ends , 113). Adj. Gen. Edward Hand had written Cochran from New Windsor on 30 April with GW’s directive and that he obtain the requested information “as soon as possible … from all the Hospitals under your direction on this side Susquehannah River” (DNA: RG 93, Edward Hand’s Letterbook).

Col. Samuel Blachley Webb, who then commanded the 3d Connecticut Regiment, wrote GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman from the Highlands, N.Y., on this date: “I intended paying my respects to His Excellency and family this day, but am ordered to relieve Lt Colonel Gray who is President of a Court Martial at Danbury. I will thank you to present the enclosed and endeavor to obtain Mr Parson’s dismission—as his circumstances are such that he cannot longer continue in service, his Character in the old 2d Regt was that of an attentive good Officer, & his conduct while under my command makes me regret parting with him, he has however convinced me his duty requires him to do it—With my most respectfull Compliments to His Excellency & Lady to Mrs Hamilton & the Gentlemen of the family. … I’ll thank you to direct your answer for me at this place—if I am not hear it can be forwarded—to Danbury” (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 755; Tilghman docketed this letter: “Resignation … Lieut Parsons 3d Connecticut”). Lt. Jabez Parsons had written Webb from Hartford on 6 April: “By the enclosed papers you will se[e] my determination, which has been unavoidable. I have therefore only to express my feelings on the occasion, which are unhappy. …

“Having had the misfortune of wounding myself will prevent my comeing to the Regt soon, for which reason I have to request a recommendation from your self to the Commander-in-Chief for my Dismission. This I wish to be done as soon as may, as it will be a matter of Delicacy at the opening of the Campaign. I should have sent sooner but had not opportunity” (Ford, Webb Correspondence and Journals description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford, ed. Correspondence and Journals of Samuel Blachley Webb. 3 vols. New York, 1893–94. description ends , 2:334–35). Parsons’s resignation took effect on 4 May.