1To 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...
2To 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...
3To 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.”
4To 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.
5To 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:...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To 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...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Supposd Strength of the Enemy, and our own Numbers and Preparations as Stated by your Excellency to the Council will in my Opinion oblige Us to adopt a defensive System until our Army is considerably increasd in Numbers and other Preparations for offensive Operations; the Posts in the Highlands are of so much Importance as ought to induce Us to defend them at every Hasard; for that Purpose...
12To George Washington from Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 31 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
last Night I receivd the inclosed Depositions of the Savage Conduct of the British Troops at New Haven; these are but a small Number of many Instances of similar Barbarities in that Town, the Depositions from Fairfield I expect every Hour when they arrive I will transmit them. I am Yr Excellencys Obedt Servt ALS , DNA:PCC , item 152; copy, DNA:PCC , item 169. GW enclosed the ALS in a letter to...