From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 11 February 1781
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters New Windsor 11th Feby 1781.
Dear Sir
The new arrangements of all the Masssachusetts Regiments have been delivered in, agreeable to General Orders;1 but they are not accompanied by the Returns of the names and Ranks of the retiring Officers. As these are equally essential—you will be pleased to call for them immediately, and send them up to me as soon as they come in, that I may transmit them to the Board of War, at the same time that I transmit the new arrangement of the line.2
Inclosed you have the Court Martial upon Oliver Richards of Colo. Sprouts Regimt which was found among the Office papers, upon assorting them.3 I am Dear Sir Your most obt Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. I have recd your favors of the 8th 9th and 10th. I will have a further conversation with Doctr Cochran upon the subject of innoculation—it will depend upon being able to procure proper and separate covering.4
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
2. See eath to GW, 14 Feb. 1781, found at GW’s first letter to Heath, 15 Feb., n.1; and GW to the Board of War, 19 Feb. (first letter).
3. For Heath’s query regarding these court-martial proceedings, see his first letter to GW of 20 January.
4. For Heath’s report on the larger-than-anticipated number of soldiers who had never had smallpox, see his letter to GW, 8 Feb.; see also Heath to GW, 9 and 10 February.