351From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to put General Nixons brigade under marching orders that it may be ready to move at the shortest notice: You will receive further directions for its destination. You will also send off in the morning early to Fish Kill a subaltern’s guard of chosen men to take charge of the French Minister’s baggage, when it arrives there and escort it to Philadelphia. Let the officer—be of...
352From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Captains Gawen Brown and John Langdon and Lieut. William Davis of Colo. Henry Jackson’s Regiment have requested to resign their Commissions and have lodged Certificates, that they are not indebted to the public. You will be pleased to call for their Commissions and to give discharges upon them. And as there are frequent applications by the Officers, employed at the Eastward, of the same nature...
353From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 21st Instant. I have not received General Du Portails plan of the works necessary for the defence of Boston and therefore, cannot determine the propriety of it. My wish is, that such works as are essential to its safety—and only such—may be erected. With respect to Captain McFall, as I know nothing of him—I can say nothing. He may be sincere in his...
354From George Washington to William Heath, 16 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Fish mention’d by the Secretary of War, are doubtless meant to be those of the Season, as Shad or Herring—whether Salted or fresh I cannot determine, perhaps both. On the subject of your request for leave of absence, Major General McDugal has so early as the first of this month entered his caveat against your obtaining it—his reasons are assign’d in the inclosed copy of his Letter to...
355From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this day favor’d with yours of the 27th & 29th of May. I am surprised at the accounts you give me of the want of Cloathing for the Troops of Massachusetts. I took it for granted that they had been sent forward when it was intended that all your Troops shou’d go the Northward, & that they wou’d meet them at Peekskill. My reason for this was, that the Cloathier General repeatedly assured me...
356From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 7 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you on the 5th from Pluckemin, a Copy of which I inclose, least the Original should have miscarried. I confirm all the Orders given in mine of the 5th only that I would (if it is agreeable to you both) have Genl Lincoln continue with you, and let some other proper Officer conduct the Troops who are to join me. But this I leave intirely to yourselves. I beg you will keep up every...
357From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with Yours of the 23d & 27th of November. If the Recruits intended for Lees and Jackson’s Regiments have not had the small pox, and are not marched when this reaches you, I desire they may be inoculated before they join the Army. After the repeated directions, which I had given to have All the Recruits who had not had that disorder innoculated the moment they were inlisted, I was...
358From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was from home yesterday when yours of the 14th came to hand. I have no doubt but you are sufficiently distressed for forage in your quarter as we are in this. All prospect of our expected cooperation being at an end I purpose to move the Troops towards their places of Winter Cantonments as speedily as possible, with this view you will be pleased to throw the two Connecticut Brigades with...
359From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 25th March. I have had no request as yet from the Council of your State, for part of the new arrived Arms, to put into the hands of such of your Troops as were ready and only waited for them, but I desire that as many as are necessary, may be immediately drawn, and the Troops forwarded. So that there can be no further plea for delay upon that head. One thing I must...
360From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favor of the 6th and 8th Instants. I particularly alluded to Henley’s, Lees, and Jacksons Regiments when I expressed my surprize, that they had not been innoculated, as they had lain so long in Boston. I hope that very strict attention will be paid to that matter against the next Campaign: We find upon a scrutiny there are upwards of Two thousand Men to be innoculated in Camp at...
361From George Washington to William Heath, 15 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with your Letter of the 7th Inst. The Letter from Governor Greene to which you allude, has never been received. Finding that it may be necessary to commence our operations at an earlier period than was expected, I have called upon the States, to have the Militia required of them, raised & marched in such time as that they will join the Army punctually by the 15th of July. It is my...
362From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 3d 7th and 12th. Nothing has given me more uneasiness than the Complaints of want of cloathing for the Troops of your State, especially as I had been led to beleive that they were most amply provided. I have ordered all the Cloathing now coming on to stop at Peekskill, and the Cloathier General has sent up a deputy to distribute it to those who want. As it consists...
363From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that in the night of the 18th Major Lee with a detachment of 400 men surprised the enemy’s garrison at Powles-hook (which you know is within cannon shot of the batteries at New York)—& brought off the garrison consisting of about 150 Men. Such repeated instances of disgrace to the British arms will undoubtedly, make them feel sore, & seek opportunities to...
364From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favs. of the 7th and 10th instants. I am pleased to find from the Copy of the letter from Bordeaux that matters wore so good a face in France, it is more than probable that they will push an advantagious Trade with us before a formal declaration of War, indeed if they were to strike a Blow before the declaration, they would only repay England, for playing a Game of the same kind in...
365From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Some days ago, General McDougall informed me, that a Majr Hayes (I think that was the name)—or Hughes, had suggested to him, that the Inhabitants of Westchester County could, without inconvenience to themselves, spare at least Ten thousand Bushels of Indian Corn and Five hundred Tons of Hay; and that a number of Pettiaugua’s sent to the nearest good Landings to the Foragers (but not too low...
366From George Washington to William Heath, 9 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to proceed immediately to the several Eastern States, with the dispatches, addressed to the Governors of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts Bay and the President of New Hampshire, on the subject of supplies for the Army. The present critical and alarming situation of our Troops and Garrisons for the want of provision, is (from the nature of your command) so perfectly...
367From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the long preparations at New York and the strong appearances of a large Detachment’s being made from thence—it seems certain from very recent advices, that no Troops have sailed as yet, and that the Enemy hold themselves in collected force. What their designs really are I have not been able to learn, altho I have taken all the pains in my power to effect it. The Southern States...
368From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 20 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your very agreeable favor of the 4th Instant, with your acceptable present, came to hand last night. I shall direct a guard to releive Captn Hutchens at Reading, and give every necessary instruction for the safe conduct of his charge. I do not wonder at Gen. Masseys answer to your letter, it is in a stile of ignorant insult that has often, of late, characterised the writings of British...
369From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter just received from the State of Massachusets (Copy of which you have inclosed) I find that they had ordered 6000 Militia to be raised, and appointed the place of rendezvous at Danbury in Connecticut, where they are to meet Genl Lincoln who is to take the Command. You will perceive from the Tenor of the Letter, that the Appearance of the Men of War and Transports off the Coast of N....
370From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of yesterday, I have been favd with yours of the 27th ulto I am happy to hear that the Fire, in the Garrison, has been suppressed with so little damage. The Officers, who lost their Cloathing, may have the liberty of drawing what Articles they may find suitable in the public store, at the prices fixed by Congress, which are, one half more than such Articles sold for in the year...
371From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have, within these few days, received an application from the honorable Messrs Sever and Cushing, for arms and blankets, for the use of the Massachusetts regiments, destined for Ticonderoga. Surely those troops are not, at this day, to begin their march, for that post! And sorry I am to observe, that nothing now will content that government, but the new arms lately arrived there, which will...
372From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
In a letter of the 18th I hinted to you that the detachment which was then forming might be five or six Weeks absent from this post —possibly it may be longer, and advance us into a season when the enemy, if they are in force and circumstances at New York, may endeavour to avail themselves of our weakness. To provide against this, I have as you are already informed, wrote pressingly for the...
373From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 23d and 24th ulto. Finding that Colo. Lee cannot be prevailed upon to remain in the service I have represented his Case and that of Major Swazee to Congress and expect in my next to inform you of their acceptation of their Commissions. If Capt. Aldens circumstances are such that he cannot conveniently continue in the Army you may give him a discharge, first...
374From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received Yesterday your letter of the 29th Ulto. Before this comes to hand you will have been informed that the Fleet in the Sound, which it is generally believed was designed to proceed to Rhode Island, has returned. We have so many accounts of this that we have no doubt of it, and are pursuing measures accordingly. With respect to the return of the Militia who were called for, under the...
375From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14–15 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letters of the 27th and 30th of Decr last and that of the 5th Instant. The measures you have taken to provide against a scarcity, with the assistance of the goverment, will I hope furnish you with a tolerable and constant supply. Our distresses, have been so pressing as to compel me to call upon the several counties in this State for a certain quota of grain and...
376From George Washington to William Heath, 6 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
Before I make a reply to the Subject of the Address of the Generals and Officers Commanding the Regiments and Corps of this Army presented by yourself yesterday I intreat that those Gentlemen will accept my warmest acknowledgements for the confidence they have been pleased to repose in me, they may be assured it shall never be abused—and I beg they will be persuaded that as no man can possibly...
377From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
From the excessive hurry of business, I have not had it in my power, to notice particularly the contents of your Letter of the 20th Instant. I immediately directed the Quarter Master General to have the Provisions you mentioned forwarded to West Point by land or water without a moments delay. I presume he has taken the necessary Measures. Col. Wadsworth informs me there is a probability the...
378From George Washington to William Heath, 15 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief States to the General Officers— That—From the best Information he has been able to obtain, the regular force of the Enemy in N. York, at this Time , including their established provincial Corps, amounts at least to 9,000 Men. That—The City Militia, volunteer Companies, Rangers and some other small Corps in the Town, amounted by a Report made to the Secretary of State in...
379From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favored with yours of that date. I wish it was in my power to comply with your request for leave of absence at this time, but such will be the state of the Army in regard to General Officers, that I shall be left very destitute of assistance. General Sullivan has requested the liberty of Congress to retire from the service —General Putnam has obtained a short leave of absence...
380From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the immense advantages which we shall derive from the acknowledgement of our Independency by, and our late alliance with the Court of France, yet much remains to be done to extricate ourselves intirely from our oppressors. even taking it for granted that the Enemy, from the situation of European Affairs, cannot be further reinforced, their remaining Strength, if Collected and...
381From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 26th overtook me a few Miles from this place where I arrived this day at Noon. The Enemy gave us not the least Interruption upon our March. I am glad to hear that the Stores that were at Tapan and Slotts Landing are all got safely up; I hope you will have the same good Luck with the Flour. I approve of the Steps you have taken to keep the Tories, in the Neighbourhood of your post,...
382From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The time of the reform of Livingstons and Spencers Regiments is so near at hand, that you will be pleased immediately to relieve the Posts at King’s ferry which they at present occupy with a Captain and fifty to each. I would wish you to make choice of good Officers, because I think it will be better to let them remain the Winter, than to be often changing. Inclosed you have the Returns of the...
383From George Washington to William Heath, 19 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
You are to take the Command of all the Troops remaining in this Department—consisting of the Two Regiments of New Hampshire, Ten of Massachusetts, & five of Connecticut Infantry—the Corps of Invalids, Sheldons Legion, the third Regiment of Artillery—together with all such State Troops & Militia as are retained in Service, of those which would have been under my own Comand. The Security of West...
384From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 10th was received the Morning I was last at West Point—a variety of avocations have prevented my acknowledging it untill this time. With respect to the Soldiers who have been Prisoners, I have to observe, that I think it reasonable, the indulgence of Furloughs should be granted to those whose circumstances require it, and for whose return their Officers can become in a great...
385From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with yours of the 13th Instt and wish you may have succeeded in your intended scheme to dislodge the Enemy from Heckensec bridge. In my Letter of the 18th I transmitted you a Copy of a Letter from the Council of the Massachusets Bay advising that 6000 men were coming from that State under Genl Lincoln to supply the place of the militia which had returned Home and of their...
386From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
In making my arrangements for the disposition of the Army this Winter I have found it necessary to assign the command of the posts upon the North River to you. Inclosed you will find instructions for your government. Lt Colo. Pawling with the York Militia has undertaken to finish the Redoubt upon Stoney point. You will therefore have no further occasion to send a fatigue party from Nixon’s and...
387From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your several favors of the 17th—18th 21st and 23d of this month. As it will be less expensive to Major Painter, and to the public, to have his tryal held in your quarter, you will be pleased to order a court martial for the purpose. I return you Col. Scammels letter on the subject. Bostwicks letter which came in yours of the 18th is very ambiguous. At first view one would...
388From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10–11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favd with yours of the 1st and 2d instants. I am convinced if any Ships appeared off your Coast at the time you mention, that they could not have been the Fleet that sailed from the Hook, because they were off the Capes of Delaware just at that time. But I think it more than probable, that you will have heard something of the Enemy before this reaches you. We have not recd the...
389From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 22d. The late European intelligence has so altered the immediate prospects of the Campaign, that I think it adviseable to dismiss the Militia now in service and prevent any other coming out for the present. You will therefore let those now with you return home as soon as their services are no longer thought necessary by the Count de Rochambeau, for as the...
390From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I last evening received your favor of the 24th. By a return of the 15th instant There were then at Westpoint—Fishkill and Ringwood 151 Teirces and 454 Barrels of salt meat and 400 Barrels on the communication from Deleware, which will be coming forward —I have directed the meat from the nearest deposits of Connecticut and Massechusetts to be brought to the River—A very considerable quantity of...
391From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
In the present situation of things I think it necessary that You should Join the Army and request that You will do it. You will come to Head qrs yourself. The rout through Litchfield will be the most eligible for You, on account of security, and You may direct your baggage to halt at Fish Kills for your further Orders. I write to the Count de Rochambeau by this conveyance, & I trust that your...
392From George Washington to Major General William Health, 27 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 16th instant, informing me of an application from the Board of War, of your state for a sufficiency of arms and other necessaries to accommodate a body of men to be employed in a secret expedition to St John’s River, and desiring my instructions upon the occasion. As I am not acquainted by Congress with what steps they have taken in the affair, nor with their...
393From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I gave directions to Generals Glover—Patterson and Huntington to discharge the Levies of Connecticut and Massachusetts, by degrees, upon their arrival at their places of cantonment, beginning with those first who were worst clad and otherwise unfit for service, as this would diminish our numbers insensibly, and not give the enemy an opportunity of knowing the truth before the time which they...
394From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 11 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your several favors came to hand yesterday while I was absent. Edwards of Sheldons Regiment, under sentence of death, was represented, by the Major, as a vicious fellow, and a proper subject to make an example, which seems necessary at this time, as I am informed that two Natives went off from Moylans a few days ago, and carried with them four very valuable Horses. I cannot therefore grant the...
395From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your two favors of the 6th & 13th Inst., have been duly received. I am glad to hear that General Burgoyne is gone, & wish his departure had been much earlier. At the time of his Capture he certainly must have entertained very favourable impressions of our force, & perhaps in point of good policy he should have been allowed to depart, before they were in the smallest degree done away, & before...
396From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just received advice from the Board of War, that they have given directions to Mr Fletcher, to send forward to Springfield and Hartford all the ready made cloathing in his possession, there to be sorted and repacked previous to their coming to Camp, except a few particular articles, which are ordered immediately on; and to deliver Messrs Otis and Andrews all the Cloths, woolens linnens...
397From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your Two favors of the 11th & 14th Instant. I think with you, that it will not be entirely prudent, to deposit All our Stores at one place, not so much from an apprehension that the Enemy will penetrate the Country to destroy them, as that the whole may not be lost, in case of other unhappy events. I have spoke to Genl Knox, who will direct, what he judges proper to be...
398From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from the Marquis de la Fayette announces the expected arrival of several French Officers of distinction upon a visit to the Army. Should they pass the posts under your command I am convinced you will pay them every attention and honor due to their Rank. As I should wish to have notice of their approach to this Camp, you will oblige me by dispatching an Express as soon as they...
399From George Washington to William Heath, 20 May 1797 (Washington Papers)
Your kind and friendly letter of the 17th Ulto has been duly received, and I beg you to accept my sincere thanks for the affectionate sentiments you have been pleas’d to express for me, therein. I can assure you, Sir, I never ascribed a motive to the letter you wrote me, on my Election to the Chair of Government, so unworthy of you as to suppose it was written with a view of: “Pressing...
400From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of this date enclosing a number of permits signed by General Pattison allowing Goods to be sent out of New York—I think, with you, that an allowance of a thing of this kind would be attended with most pernicious consequences, and to which I do not think my self authorised to assent. Those who have Governor Clintons permission to come out and bring their effects must be...