Part 20

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.

(106) _Tallmadge finds Woodhull ill from fright._

_Sir._ FAIRFIELD, April 21, 1779.

Agreeable to your Excellency’s instructions I have forwarded the Vial delivered me and the directions for C----s future conduct. In answer to which he wrote, but as I wished to see him to communicate many things, I appointed an interview at Brook Haven, Long Island, where I met C. on the 16th instant, and was detained on the Island till this morning by a violent storm and contrary winds.

In addition to what C. informs by the enclosed, he has given me some memorandums. You may perceive in the close of his second letter No. 10 he mentions something respecting the transport lately arrived at New York from Rhode Island. He assures me that the business of their mission is a proposed feint, and that by diligent attention and enquiry he finds they are taking on board the remaining baggage of the troops now at Rhode Island. The conjecture among them is that they intend to evacuate that post, and by their taking their baggage from New York they cannot be returning there.

He thinks there never has been such a prospect of peace as at present. Bets are now laying 2 to 1 that there will be a peace in less than 2 months from this. Many of those who have been

## particularly active against us are selling off their estates.

General DeLancey and Mr. McAdams in particular have proposed their estates for sale, neither of them in want of money. In England Government takes up money at most enormous interests, from 10 to 14 per cent.

The Troops at the East End of Long Island are ordered to supply themselves with forage for 14 days, and by the beginning of next month it is thought they will move westward. Most of the flat boats have moved thro’ South bay for New York.

In addition to the 20 Guineas acknowledged to have been received by Culper in the enclosed, I have handed him 30 more. He informs that his expenses are necessarily great, but whenever your Excellency may wish him to discontinue his present correspondence he will most cheerfully quit the employment, as he proposes no advantage to himself from the undertaking. I have urged by letter and verbally the plan of forwarding letters by some shorter route to Headquarters. C. wishes as much as your Excellency to hit on some more speedy mode of conveyance, but finds such a step difficult and dangerous. That same Brown at Bergen, whom your Excellency mentioned to me, C. informs is now in provost on suspicion of having given information of the late movement of the enemy to Elizabeth Town. If he should soon get released C. thinks he would be a very proper man for the business. He will in the mean time pay the greatest attention to the proposal. He says a man may be engaged to reside on Staten Island (if he can be supported) who will receive his dispatches and forward them at all times. In this case some person must be appointed to go across with a boat to an appointed place.