Queens County Loyalists, had fortified himself in the Presbyterian
Meeting House at Setauket, on the Long Island shore nearly opposite
Fairfield and at the head of the little bay of that name. About the
middle of the month, General Parsons prepared an expedition to surprise
and capture this force. The following are the orders issued to him by
General Putnam, the commander of the Connecticut Division:--
_Headquarters_, August 16, 1777.
You are hereby required to take under your command a detachment
from the Continental Army and proceed to the sea coast near
Fairfield and procure a number of boats to transport four or
five hundred men, and small armed or other vessels as you find
necessary and proper.
You are to make a descent on Long Island and deplete and
destroy such parties of the enemy as are found at Huntington
and Setauket or other place on the Island, and, if you find it
practical without too great hazard, you are to retake and bring
off all the officers and soldiers of the Continental Army now
on Long Island.
If any military stores, magazines, provisions, forage or naval
stores are found on the Island, you are to bring off and
destroy them. You are to procure such information before you
attempt to go on as will render the descent possible and the
design practicable. If you find the position of the enemy on
the Island or the ships in the Sound such as you judge will not
facilitate the carrying the design into execution, you will
not attempt it. This is left to your judgment. If that should
be the case you will return by way of White Plains and receive
further orders. You will take such men from the militia or the
troops necessary for the defense of the State of Connecticut,
in addition to the Continental troops, found necessary, and
also a field piece. From the sea coast you will be careful
to secure the return of your men to the Main in such manner
and from such place as you judge most effectual after having
affected the business you were sent to perform.
Wishing you success, I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ISRAEL PUTNAM.
Parsons’ order of August 16, to Colonel Samuel B. Webb of his brigade,
was as follows:--
_Sir._--You will have your command parade in the street in
front of Colonel Wyllys’ regiment at 12 o’clock, provided with
arms, thirty rounds of ammunition and three days’ provisions,
and march them to Crompound where you will open the enclosed,
which will give you further directions. This you will
communicate to no one until you march forward.
* * * * *
FAIRFIELD, August 21, 1777.
Order of Brigadier General Parsons:
On the present expedition, ’tis of the first importance to the
success of the enterprise and the credit, honor and safety
of the troops, that the most exact order and discipline be
observed, and the honor of our arms and the righteousness
of our contest will be made manifest to the world and our
enemies by the regular and orderly behaviour of the officers
and soldiers. ’Tis not from base and mercinary motives, ’tis
not to distress the helpless women and honest citizen we
draw our swords, but from the noble and generous principle
of maintaining the right of humanity and vindicating the
liberties of freemen. The officers and soldiers are therefore
most earnestly exhorted and strictly commanded to forbear all
violation of personal property; not the least article is to be
taken but by orders; we are to convince our enemies we despise
their practices and scorn to follow their example. But should
any person be so lost to all virtue and honor as to infringe
this order, he or they may depend on the most exemplary
punishment.
No officer is to suffer a soldier to leave his ranks on any
pretense whatever and the greatest silence on the march is to
be observed.
SAML. L. PARSONS.
These orders effectually tied the hands of the men who accompanied him.
“Landing at Crane’s Neck very early in the morning, General
Parsons demanded the surrender of the Post; but ‘by means of
some infernal Tory’[64] says the Boston Gazette, ‘which shows
how much we suffer from internal foes who get knowledge of our
most secret movements and find means to convey it to the enemy’
Hewlett had obtained intelligence of the intended surprise,
and protected the church so effectively by breastworks six
feet high, thrown up thirty feet from the building, in which
were mounted four swivel guns, that, with the means at hand,
the Post was practically impregnable. The enemy refused to
surrender, Parsons opened on them with his guns, but failing
to make any considerable impression, and fearing that the
British fleet on the Sound might be attracted by the firing,
he withdrew, not, however, without capturing a quantity of
blankets and twelve or thirteen horses belonging to the
British, and returned to Connecticut the next day in safety.”
This expedition had long been contemplated; at least as early as March,
at which time the Connecticut Legislators were in session. Parsons had
received instructions from General Washington which he took with him
and read in the presence of William Heron. The British, therefore, had
ample time to prepare themselves.[65]
* * * * *
Henry Onderdonk in his Revolutionary Incidents of Suffolk County
publishes on p. 66 the letters that passed between Parsons and Hewlett,
as follows:
August 22d, 1777. Brig. Gen. Parsons, the Commanding officer
of the troops of the United American Army, now investing
the enemy’s Post at Setauket, to prevent the effusion of
human blood, requires the immediate surrender of the Post;
the officers and soldiers, and those who are under their
protection, shall be entitled to their baggage, and treated
with that humanity which prisoners are entitled to. Your
answer is desired in 10 minutes. I am fully sensible of your
condition, and as my whole strength and artillery will soon be
here, if your refusal should oblige to the effusion of blood
you must charge it to your own obstinacy.
The flag brought this reply: “Col. Hewlett’s compliments to
Gen. Parsons, and requests half an hour to consult his officers
on the subject of his summons.”
Then Parsons sent another flag: “Gen. Parsons’ compliments
to Col. Hewlett, and grants 10 minutes only for
consideration--longer time will not be granted.”
And back came this: “Col. Hewitt presents his compliments to
Gen. Parsons, and is determined to defend the fort while he has
a man left.”
The final message in this battle of words reads: “Gen. Parsons’
compliments to Col. Hewlett, and should have been happy to have
done himself the pleasure of paying him a longer visit, but the
extreme heat of the weather prevents him.”
In Vol. I, page 182 of Thomas Jones’ “History of New York during the
Revolutionary War,” a paragraph will be found covering this exploit. It
reads:
“In July (should read about August 22d) 1777, General Parsons,
with 1000 men (should read about 500) and several pieces of
cannon, passed from Fairfield in Connecticut to Long Island,
and laid siege to a small fort at Brookhaven, in Suffolk
County, garrisoned by about 300 men of DeLancey’s brigade,
under the command of Richard Hewlett, Esq., of Hempstead in
Queens County, Lieutenant Colonel of the 3d Battalion of
that Brigade; a bold, spirited, resolute, intrepid man. He
had served as an officer in the New York provincials to the
preceding war, with honour, credit, and applause. Parsons took
possession of some high ground at no great distance from the
fort, and having mounted his cannon, he sent a summons to
the garrison requiring its immediate surrender, in which case
he promised honourable terms, but in case of refusal a storm
should be the consequence, in which if attended with success,
no quarter was to be expected. To this summons Hewlett replied,
that though his garrison was not large, he had men enough to
man all his works; that he had provisions and stores enough
to stand a longer siege than the enemy could possibly carry
on by regular approaches, with any possibility of success,
before relief could be had; as to the threats of a storm, he
minded them not, his garrison consisted of loyal subjects who
were determined to spend the last drop of their blood in the
cause of their Sovereign rather than submit to a rebel banditti
commanded by a shoemaker. This answer irritated the General. He
began his cannonade. It was as warmly returned by the fort ...
the rebel General, after sustaining a considerable loss, drew
off, embarked, and returned to Connecticut. Hewlett’s garrison
was so small, and the rebels so numerous, that a pursuit would
have been a piece of madness. It was therefore declined. In
this expedition the rebels lost about thirty men, the garrison
one.”
FOOTNOTES to “A CREW THAT DOUBLE CROSSED”:
[63] In folio 212 of the William Smith papers in the New York Public
Library a memorandum in Smith’s Diary dated August 23d, 1781, reads:
“In an interview with Sir Henry Clinton this day ... he said a late
letter of General Parson’s said the Rebels dealt out 10,000 Rations--He
allowed for 3000 less--but I recollect that Parsons made both armies
but 8000 as Henry Van Schack had it from Colo. James DeLancey who saw
and delivered the Letters.”
[64] This “infernal Tory” was William Heron, a good friend and close
associate of Parsons.
[65] See R. R. Hinman, Connecticut during War of the Revolution, page
419.
NOTES AND AMPLIFICATION
(101) For ten years an endeavor to discover a handwriting that
corresponded with the existing documents written by Samuel Culper
Junior, was continued without success, until, upon examining a chest of
old documents, once the property of Robert Townsend of Oyster Bay, Long
Island, a startling resemblance was discovered. This led to a critical
examination of the letters written under the _alias_ of Samuel Culper
Junior, still preserved among the papers of General Washington, and it
was found that the paper upon which they were written was identical.
The same watermark, the same shade, the same weight, the same laid
marks minutely varying one from the other on the same sheet, but
corresponding exactly with all the little variations and flaws with
other sheets among the Townsend Papers. The handwriting, looking so
similar, was not declared identical until the world’s greatest expert,
Albert S. Osborn, had examined it. The books showed accounts with
Abraham Woodhull, who had already been identified as Culper Senior,
and with several others known to be engaged in the secret service
work. The movements of Culper Junior corresponded with those of Robert
Townsend as revealed in his documents, and the stain invented by James
Jay had been twice tested on documents still carefully preserved among
Townsend’s effects. Long before all the evidence was discovered, it was
certain that the identity of Culper Junior, that most active spy of the
Revolution, had been revealed. Everything since gathered adds to the
confirmation of that identity.
[Illustration: Handwriting that discovered Robert Townsend to be
General Washington’s Culper Junior.]
(102) Robert, although not yet of age, like his brother, Solomon,
traveled extensively before the Revolution. From Wilmington, North
Carolina, on November 22, 1774, he addressed his father as follows:
“_Honored Father_: I wrote you a few days since from Brunswick.
Have now to advise you of my arrival here the 18th. Instant.--I
am much afraid whether I shall be able to purchase any Flaxseed
being very little yet come to markett.--There is considerable
to come from the country, which they cant yet bring owing to
the waters being so very low in river.--I am with Duty to
Mother, love to Brothers & Sisters,
“Your Dutyfull Son,
“ROBT. TOWNSEND.
“P.S. Expect we shall sail about the 1st. of Decr.”
(103) Besides what will be found in these pages regarding Nathaniel
Woodhull, there is much of interest that appears to have escaped the
historians in the Journals of the Provincial Congress of the State of
New York. There are still preserved many letters written by cousins
of Abraham Woodhull, among the most interesting of them being those
from the Reverend John Woodhull, son of Culper Senior’s uncle John,
and therefore one of his first cousins. In writing to his wife, he
describes the Battle of Long Island as he witnessed it from a distance
as follows:
“_Near Midnight_, Aug. 27, 1776.
“_My Dear Sally_:--The solemn Day is come at last,--Long
Island is made a field of Blood--now the cannon & small arms
make a continued roar, even at this time of Night: Day before
yesterday the battle began, and with some intermission has
continued till now, yea now is roaring in my ears and God only
knows when it will end.
“Yesterday morning it was very hot, as yet we have no account
which may be fully depended on, only that in general that Howe
has landed with most of his men upon Long Island. Small parties
engaged till yesterday morning, when they made an attack upon
us, they were beat back three times, the last time our People
pursued them too far, when a strong reinforcement of the Enemy
endeavored to cut off our retreat and did us a good deal
of damage, tis reported that General Sullivan and Stirling
are missing. Tis also said we have made great havoc amongst
them--but I can tell but very little for certainty as yet,
except that there is a mighty Battle which is continuing--May
a good God grant that it end in our favor and for the glory of
his Name! Goodnight!”
* * * * *
“Aug. 30th, 1776.
“_My Dear Sally_:--Thro’ divine goodness I am very well as are
our congregation in general that are here. Adam Woods has the
ague. General Washington has thought proper to draw his men
from Long Island, this was done last night.
“The enemy are now firing upon New York, from Long Island; our
men here are drawing up to be in readiness, in case we are
needed.
“How many were lost upon the Island is yet uncertain, some say
we have 700 missing and that we have killed twice as many of
the enemy, tho I believe it is but guess work as yet.
“Generals Sullivan and Stirling who are missing are said to be
prisoners, it is also said general Grant on the other side is
killed, they talk of another General of theirs Killed.
“It is reported that Col. Atly is wounded and a prisoner. Think
it likely that our people will burn New York, and retreat into
the chain of Forts which are above it--when that is done am in
hopes our Enemies will get no farther. Poor Long Island! I know
not what will become of my Relations there. May God help them.
They are left to the mercy of our Cruel Enemy.
“Our men are in high spirits and I trust we shall, thro’ ye
help of God soon break the power of our Foes.
“My Love to the Girls, my little son, and the Neighbors.
Remember me to Elsy and the boys--and accept yourself the best
affections of your....
“JOHN WOODHULL.”
(104) _Abraham Woodhull meets with the inhabitants._
November 23, 1778.
_Sir._ The enclosed will explain to you a meeting of the
inhabitants, at which I was present, and with satisfaction
beheld their dijected countenances. The Commissioners sales
this day in the Roebuck, it is sd. Lord Cornwallace is a going
with them. The second division under Brig. Genl. Cambell that
have laid some time at Sandy Hook, on the account D’Estaing
sailing consisting of about three thousand troops, are to sail
this day. Two ships with Troops drove to sea in a violent
gale of wind from the northward about the 10th inst. and have
not been heard of since. A friget sent yesterday with all
expedition to Rhode Island said for transports, The Bedford in
the Harbour lost her fore and Missen Mast, is to go home under
Jurey Masts with expedition. She was one of four in A. Byron’s
fleet that was missing after the gale of wind the beginning of
the month. With her came in the Richmond Friget dismasted. The
cannon and field pieces are removed from the common to Fort
George. Some of the cannon on that Fort and the Battery near
it are put as ballace on board several transports, on the 19th
Inst. Some Capital Merchants were very buisy the day and night
following in packing and putting their goods on board ships.
The whole of the Kings Troops on York Island includeing out
posts, doth not exceed three thousand five hundred men, and not
much to be feared from the inhabitants. The whole City seaged
with a Panike and a general dissatisfaction taken place.
(105) _Woodhull’s longest letter._
SETAUKET, Feby. 26, 1779.
_Sir_. No. 8.
Your No. 4 and 5 came to hand. The former forgot to acknowledge
the receipt of in my No. 7. The latter have carefully observed
and will follow your directions. I shall now endeavour to give
you as an authentic of affairs and transactions that hath
past since my No. 7 (together with the state of the enemy) as
I possibly can. The troops within these lines have not been
augmented by any arrivals from Europe. The number consequently
remaining the same, save two companies of Light Infantry from
Rhode Island landed on Long Island and marched immediately
for Southampton, about fifty came down to New York, said to
be deserters from General Burgoin’s Army. The force of the
enemy on this, Staten, Powles Hook and York Island are as
follows: and think you may very safely rely upon it as I have
been for some time engaged to find out the true state of the
Enemy, and to correct my former accounts. The 44, 57, 63,
Colls. Robinson’s and Emmerick with three German Regiments all
commanded by Governor Tryon, are cantoned from King’s Bridge
to and within four miles of the city. From these posts to and
within the City are two Battallions of Guards, 28 Regm. Welch
Fusileers, The Volunteers of Ireland, called Lord Rhoden’s
Regm. and four German Regm. Also in the City are Genls.
Clinton, Jones, Mathews, DeLancey, Knyphousen, with one other
German Genl. think his name is Smyth--64th Regm. Powles Hook,
26, 37, one German, Colls. Buskearks and Barton’s, with Genls.
Leslie and Skinner on Staten Island, Long Island and Brooklyn
ferry one German Regt. 33 at Bedford, a small part of the 42
and 71 with three companies of Germans commanded by Genl.
Vaughn are at New Town. One German Regm. Yaigers at Flushing,
Queen’s Rangers Coll. Simcoe at Oyster Bay, Coll. Ludlow’s
Regiment under Genl. DeLancey New Levies at Lloyd’s Neck. The
17th Regm. Dragoons, Coll. Burch and Lord Cathcart Legion are
at South Hampton together with all the Grenadeers and Light
Infantry belonging to the enemy within these lines, except
about two hundred left at Jamaica. Their several movements to
South Hampton make that body about two thousand men. They have
lived upon the miserable inhabitants of Suffolk County ever
since they have been in it and there is a great probability
of the inhabitants wanting the necessities of life. They give
receipts for cattle, hay and etc. but are not paid. They have
been out of money nearly two months. I compute the whole
force of the enemy to be thirty four Battallions, equal to
two hundred and fifty in a battallion, and believe it to be
a very just computation. I saw a private letter from London
brought in the Packet that left Falmouth the 20th of November
and arrived here the 24th January, which I think you may rely
on, that Spain and the two Sicily’s have followed the steps of
France in favour of America which compleets the whole family
of the House of Bourbone. The Dutch have demanded satisfaction
of his Brittannick Majesty of all damages sustained on their
shipping by seasure ever since the year 1734, and His Majesty
hath complyed with their request. Bergoin a discarded Lord and
General Howe are both to undergo parliamentary examinations.
15 Privateers and 300 sail of Merchantmen and 2 ships of War
have been lately taken by the French. No prospect of any troops
being sent to America but a great probability of the King
giving up the contest. This sir agrees in substance with the
English papers, which I have seen up to the 3d of November.
Other accounts say his Majesty will continue the war and that a
large body of troops will be sent to America in the Spring, but
I doubt if any troops comes, but begin to be fearful that these
troops here will stay longer than some time ago I expected. I
can positively inform you that Genl. Clinton had liberty from
his Majesty to leave New York the first of November last on
which a council of war was held and concluded it was not for
the interest of the Crown to do it. I think if it had not been
for the sake of the Tory’s they would have quit America then.
The cannon that was taken from the Battery near Fort George
and put on board the Lord Townsend transport was some time ago
relanded. On the first instant a Cork Fleet, consisting of
eleven sail arrived with provisions but brought no news. On the
8th six transports arrived from Hallifax under convoy of the
Delaware Frigate. Same day some ships from Rhode Island with
the troops before mentioned. On the 14th Instant his Majesty’s
Speech was handed us from Jersy, it appears very mild and not
very pleasing to the enemy; it is all we have had from England
since the November Packet. It is said the December Packet is
taken. There is a fleet of Victiallers and private adventurers
preparing for Georgia. It is said some Troops will go in the
Fleet. I think it very likely. Their convoy will certainly be
weak. I do not know to be but three or four ships of war in and
about the city, their ships of war are all gone to the West
Indies. Six ships of the Line could now very easily block up
the Port and reduce New York. It is reported fifteen hundred
troops have sailed from Rhode Island for Georgia but it wants
confirmation. On the 15th Inst. a fleet sailed for Ireland
consisting of about ten or fifteen sail. The enemy will shortly
be in great want of forage, which they will endeavour to get a
supply from the Jersey’s before long, their flat boats in the
King’s yard have lately been put in good repair. I frequently
see General Clinton amongst the Carpenters, in particular
viewing the boats. Ther’s upwards of Seventy Privateers and
Letters of Marque from this port and have been very successful.
A large French ship arrived here on the 15th with upwards of
500 hhd. of Sugar and 5 tons of Indigo, with some specie and
other articles. Sir William Erskin is a fortifieing at and
about Southampton and building flat boats, probably they intend
to cross and do you some damage. On the 17th it was said a
fleet was at the Hook from England but being obliged to leave
the city that afternoon I can give no further account about
it. Their movements puzzles the greatest politicians and I am
at a loss to judge whether we shall have peace or war this
Spring. I think upon the whole there is a greater prospect of
war than peace. I believe now that the King will endeavour to
see if his fleet can get the better of the French Fleet. If
they should not he will then make peace with France and quit
America. I don’t doubt but by the next appointment we shall
know the determination of Parliament and give a better guess.
Their success in Georgia under Campbell and as they say Adml.
Byron blocking up Count D’Estaing in Martineco and Genl. Grant
defeating the French with great loss at St. Lucea, hath given
the Enemy fresh spirits. I cannot bear the thoughts of the
war continuing another year, as could wish to see an end of
this great distress. Were I to undertake to give an account of
the sad destruction that the enemy makes within these lines I
should fail. They have no regard to age, sex, whig or tory. I
lament to hear the depreciation of your money and in particular
the civil dissentions among you at Philadelphia. I think them
very alarming. It sinks the spirits of our suffering friends
here and pleases the enemy. Cannot the disturbers see that they
are working their own ruin. Is there no remedy to apply. Better
had they be cut off from the land of the living than to be
suffered to go on. There’s nothing will give the enemy greater
courage than Civil dissentions, and as long as there’s any hope
they will endeavour. Thus sir, I have wrote you as fully and
clearly as is in my power at this time, and please excuse any
imperfections that you may discover. Coll. Floyd returned on
his Parole the 16th. I earnestly wrote you for his discharge. I
repeat it again, I anxiously desire you would not forget it. I
am very likely to stand in need of his services. I desire you
will send me one hundred Pounds by the next appointment without
fail, as I have spent already forty pounds more than I have
received from you. Board is £3 pr. week in New York besides
other necessary expenses, postage, &c. I now conclude with my
sincere regard and desire for your health and safety.
SAMUEL CULPER.