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]