From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 July 1779
To Major General William Heath
Stony point [N.Y.] July the 17th 1779
Dr sir
I have been favoured with Your Two Letters of the 15th. I wrote you Yesterday upon the subject of your conduct and now inclose you a Copy,1 Lest my Letter should have miscarried. I have written to General Glover and commit the Letter to your care, which you will forward to him,2 if you have not already given him orders to join you with his Brigade, in consequence of my Letter of Yesterday.3 General Howe has directions to open a Battery as soon as possible against the Enemy’s Works on Verplanks point and to carry on matters as vigorously as he can for the reduction of the Garrison. When you arrive, as the command will devolve upon You, you must make the Instructions to him the rule of your Action.4 I am Dr sir Yr Most Obedt sert
Go: Washington
P.S. if there should be occasion to send Genl Glover’s Letter—seal it—I will speak to the Commissary about the Wheat you mention.5
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS. The postscript does not appear on the draft manuscript or the Varick transcript.
1. This enclosure presumably was the draft manuscript of GW’s second letter to Heath of 16 July.
2. GW is referring to his letter to Brig. Gen. John Glover of this date.
3. Both GW letters to Heath of 16 July contained instructions for these orders to Glover. For the orders sent Glover, see Heath to GW, this date, and n.1 to that document.
4. GW gave instructions to Maj. Gen. Robert Howe in a letter to him of 16 July and two letters to him of this date.
5. Heath mentioned wheat available for purchase in his first letter to GW of 15 July.