From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 11 November 1779
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters West point 11th Novr 1779.
Dear Sir
Your several favors came to hand yesterday while I was absent.1 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,2 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.3 I cannot therefore grant the prayer of Edwards’s petition.
Be pleased to acquaint Colo. Armand of my approbation of his behaviour, and return him my thanks for the good conduct of his enterprize against Majr Bearmore.4 I shall take an opportunity of representing the matter to Congress the first time I have occasion to write to them.5 The Horses &ca taken are for the benefit of the Captors.
On my way to Pompton, I was met at Ramapough by Golding, one of the persons mentioned by you.6 He had a pass from General Hogun who commands at Philada and came up with a request, that he might be discharged from Colo. Nichola’s Regt, in which he is at present inlisted, upon his obtaining a Man to serve in his room.7 I, knowing nothing further respecting him, signified my approbation of this, and he returned immediately to Philada. He says he married a Woman of some property there, and produced Deeds for real Estates, which he has acquired in consequence of his marriage and some dealings in trade. I think you had best, in answer to Mr Sargent, represent the above, with the antecedent circumstances with which you are acquainted. Golding having married and acquired property will probably remain quietly with us, and it will perhaps be as well to overlook his former inlistment and desertion, and recommend it to the Attorney General, as he is still a person of suspicious Character, to lay him under security for his good behaviour. I know not what to say respecting Gaffney. He seems from your account to know too much for a soldier, and the bringing him to trial would probably occasion much trouble in procuring Witnesses. I therefore think you may as well acquaint Mr Sargent with his Character also, and let the Civil Authority either confine him or take security as they may judge proper.8 I am Dear Sir Your most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For GW’s departure from West Point on 7 Nov. and his return on the evening of 10 Nov., see James McHenry to Clement Biddle, that date, found at GW to Moses Hazen, 6 Nov., n.5; and GW to Duportail and Alexander Hamilton, this date.
2. Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge of the 2d Continental Dragoons provided this harsh characterization of Pvt. Josias Edwards. For the court-martial of Edwards, his petition for clemency, and his execution, see General Orders, 7 Nov., and n.8 to that document.
3. Col. Stephen Moylan commanded the 4th Continental Dragoons.
4. For Colonel Armand’s capture of Loyalist major Mansfield Bearmore on 7 Nov., see Heath to GW, 8 and 10 (second letter) November.
6. GW is referring to Heath’s first letter to him of 10 November.
7. Col. Lewis Nicola commanded the Corps of Invalids.
8. Heath subsequently wrote Pennsylvania attorney general Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant from camp at Peekskill, N.Y., on 12 Nov.: “I have been honor’d with your favor of the 1 Inst ⅌r Mr. Cardill. Not thinking myself fully authorized to give directions for the apprehending and ordering to this place the deserters mention’d in your Letter, and having some doubts on my mind respecting them, I laid the matter before his Excellency Genl. Washington, and among other things represented to his Excellency … His Excellency has been pleased in answer to the foregoing to express himself as follows. …
“You will therefore take such measures as you may think proper” ( 1st ser., 8:6–7; see also Heath’s first letter to GW, 10 Nov., n.1).