My Dear Sir You will Doubtless be much Surprized At the Movement of his Majesty's Troops. I am most exceedingly hurt at the unfortunate Necessity there was for their Steering to the Northwd; For I am sure had it been possible for them to come here, Success would have been easy; a Month hence will be very Different, having now in our Neighbourhood General [Israel] Putnam and about fifteen Thousand, these are Indefatigable "in fortifying, a great deal has been done already as you will see by the Enclosed Paper, besides which they are now at work upon Governors Island, and at the Narrows; From my being under a Necessity of moving down towards the Hook for want of water, Not that I could possibly flatter myself with a Hope of preventing their carrying on those works, yet think they might have been retarded

I am much Afraid My Dear General you are also greatly disappointed, for if the News Papers say true, you are returned to Virginia our prospect does not appear so Clear at [sic as] when we were last together, may we meet in better Times is the Sincere Wish of Dear Sir [&c.]

Hd Parker

Phenix New York April 13th. 1776