To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 11 May 1777
From Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons
Hartford 11th of May 1777
Dear General
The 5th Inst. I was honord with the Rect of your letter of the 23d of Aprl—I have order’d all the Troops in this State who are of the Continental Army to N. Haven, & Danbury; in the western Parts of this State; Govr Trumbull desire’s me to post them there untill he shall receive an answer to a letter he has sent your Excellency, respecting the Defence of this State;1 As their March to Peekskill, if they Should be Order’d there will be very little retarded by it; I have Directed their rendevous at those two Places, & shall order them from New Haven, westward on the Sea Coast; & hope the Govenor will soon receive your Excellency’s Answer, so that I may be able to give satisfaction to you & him.
I cannot think a Descent on the Coast of this State, very probable unless it be to distract our Attention from some Capital attempt on the post near North River, or some other Place of more Consequence, than the possession of any Post within this State; however of this your Excellency has the best means of Judging. The Draft order’d by the Govenor & Council I fear has not been so effectual as I hop’d, but the Number of Recruits added by that Measure is not yet fully known, there are but few (as I am yet able to learn) who have Inlisted to the first of Jany only, most have ingagd during the War; I have not had Certain Returns from all the Regiments; but as nearly as I can find the 3d of May Noncommisioned officers & Soldiers were as follows
Huntington’s | 480 |
C. Webb’s | 220 |
Durkee’s | 299 |
Doughlas’s | 320 |
Swift’s | 300 |
Wylly’s | 292 |
Chandler’s | 268 |
Bradly’s | 350 |
S. Webb’s | 200 |
Lt Col. Meig’s | 92 |
2821 | |
Officers | 374 |
Total | 3195 |
The Descent of the Enemy on this Coast & Subsequent Death of General Wooster has prevented the Execution of Wm Stone; the Warrant for his Execution is in my Hands, as tis Signd by your Excellency I cannot make the Necessary Alterations therein without your Directions, which I Should be glad to receive, and obey. I am with the greatest Esteem yr Excellency’s Obedt hbl. Servt
Saml H. Parsons
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. See Trumbull to GW, 4 May, and GW to Trumbull, this date.